Speech by Victor Kepreotis at the 75th Anniversary celebrations of the Roxy
April 9th and 10th, held in Bingara, New South Wales.
Victor Kepreotis is the long-standing President of the Kytherian Association of Australia.
President’s Address at Bingara Ball, 9/4/2011
As President of the Kytherian Association of Australia, now in its 89th year, I would like to congratulate all those responsible in the Bingara Shire Council who had the vision in 1999 to buy the Roxy building and plan to restore it to its former glory. Also many thanks to the Gwydir Shire Council members and staff who raised the funding with the help of the Community of Bingara, the Federal Government, the NSW State Government and the Trustees of the Estate of the Late Nicholas Anthony Aroney, that included the Late Professor Manuel James Aroney AM OBE, the Late Peter Comino, Leo Comino, and Mr Angelo Crones who is with us today.
The Greek Community and in particular the Kytherian Greeks, are truly indebted to all of you who have had a hand in preserving and bringing back to life this symbol of Greek settlement in Australia. Kythera is one of the small islands of Greece, 25 miles long and 12 miles wide that could not support its own population, so migration began in 1856 into the gold fields of NSW. When word would get back to Kythera that this was the ‘land of milk and honey’, fathers brought out their sons and uncles brought out their nephews, especially in the 1900’s and 1920’s.
So a familiar pattern emerged in many towns in country NSW and up to the sugar cane fields of Queensland, where the setting up of a Greek café serving breakfast, lunch and dinner at tables was a training ground for the immigrants.
Many were like my father, who came out as a 15 year old boy and not knowing any English, went to his older brother and uncle in Nowra where he would wash dishes and graduate to serving tables, slowly learning the language in sometimes slave - like conditions. Eventually they would buy the business or move to the next country town and set up their own café.
Others were like the partnerships of Peters & Co that included Emanuel Theo Aroney, George Psaltis and Peter Feros, whose grandson Peter Feros is here today and has written a book about the Great Idea of his grandfather making a success of oneself. These men expanded the successful café concept to include this Roxy complex, in particular the cinema and having the café opening late for the patrons to have supper and get togethers.
My 87 yr old mother and her 6 brothers and sisters were all born not far from here in Werris Creek and still talks about their café with billiard rooms above, and her travels to Quirindi and Tamworth. This story is repeated from Swan Hill in south-west NSW to Mackay in Queensland. However, here in Bingara stands one of the best examples of those entrepreneurial ventures.
Again, full credit to all of you involved in reviving the original meeting place for the townfolk to get together, have a yarn, food and some entertainment.
But just as significant is the concept of the Roxy Museum and Educational Centre focusing on Greek (Kytherian) settlement in country NSW and Queensland. This is because Kytherian Greeks were among the first Greeks to settle here and their cafes and picture theatres changed the course of Australia’s cultural and culinary landscape.
So I very much look forward to stepping 50 yrs back in time, where the efforts of people like my parents and the parents and grandparents of many of you here today, can be acknowledged and put on show for us and future generations to have an appreciation of the struggles, hardships and sacrifices they endured for us, their families here and back in Greece and Kythera.
Thank you very much.
Victor Kepreotis
