2023-02-20

Sydney

Kalotheos, Afroditi

Greeks in Australia

Oral history

Proxy marriage

Religion

Kallos, Kathy

Digitised

Copyright holder : State Library of New South Wales
Please acknowledge : Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Interviewer: Kathy Kallos

Occupation: Shop assistant, teacher
Year of arrival: 1970
Method of transport: Ship (Patris)

Afroditi Kalotheos was born on the Ionian Island of Lefkada in 1949. The youngest of three daughters, she was the only one in the family to complete her schooling before migrating to Sydney in 1970. Afroditi was sponsored by her middle sister who had emigrated a few years earlier due to economic hardship. Within a year, Afroditi was married by ‘proxenio’ (marriage by matchmaking) and had her first child soon after. She eventually achieved her lifelong dream of becoming a schoolteacher, teaching Greek and scripture. She also became a chanter in the Greek Orthodox church, a traditionally male-only role.

Interview summary
Afroditi describes her early years in Lefkada and her love of learning at school. She recalls the economic circumstances that prevented her from pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher and which spurred her migration. She describes meeting her husband in Sydney through ‘proxenio,’ and the many happy years they spent together. Afroditi also recounts the joy of achieving her dream of becoming a teacher and the challenges of serving as an Orthodox church chanter.

Sound recording

Siobhan Campbell