A relatively new settlement on Kythera, together with Douriánika, continuing the older villages of Mangounádes and Kominiánika. The name likely derives from the nickname Perlegís or Perlégkos. The surname Perlengi is documented in Mylopotamos in the mid-18th century, and in 1765 it is recorded as a nickname for the surname Kominós. This explains why, although at the beginning of the 18th century the village was also called Kominiánika, it came to be known as Perlegiánika by the mid-century. Within the settlement, churches indicate habitation from the late 13th century: Saints George and Andrew (13th century) and the undated All Saints and Saint Nicholas churches. Opposite the settlement, on a hill, stands a ruined church of All Saints in an area called Grizotiánika, named after the vanished Grizotís family.
Condensed from Emmanuel Kalligeros's excellent Kytherian Geographical Placenames which is available
here
just spent four days in Kythira staying at Perlenggiannika where our grandparent were from. Absolutely loved the place and will be back. A big thank you to Vassilis from Perlegiannika houses pointing us in the right directions.
Leslie James Comino
Father,, Theodore Minas Comino Perlenggianika
Came to Australia 1924 start Wee Waa nsw later to Merriwa Hunter Valley NSW,cafe newsagency,1500 acre cattle sheep and wheat farm.
Married Australian/irish Hazel Irene Donnelly in Bellingen NSW.
Children ; Martina ,Maria , Michael , Leslie , Ellanie.
Granchildren; Jim Michael, Steve Michael, Theo Michael,
Reina Comninos, Thea Comninos, Georgia Comninos
Donna Comino, Timothy Comino
Nicole Trout , Karen Darby, James Comino, Patricia Buekers.
Mark Johnston, Michael Johnston.
Great Granchildren.
All I know is my own. Britany Comino, Caitlin Comino, Nicholas Comino [deceased] [ town Inverell.] children of James and Roslyn Comino Inverell
John Trout, Casy Trout. town [Rockhamton QLD]children of Nicole [deceased ] and Edward Trout Bundaberg QLD
Marjorie Darby, Annabelle Darby.Town [Inverell ]children of Karen and Dean Darby Inverell nsw
please add a caption here
Leslie Comino
WORKING UP PART OF 1000 ACRES FOR WHEAT ON THEO COMINOS FARM AT MERRIWA some share farmed 500 acres on his farm
The lady on the left is my grandmother, Barbara Anastasopoulos (Komninou). She is holding my mother, Kyrani (Anna). The lady on the right is Barbara's mother, Kyrani Komninou (Castrisios). She is holding her grandson, Denis. The little boy in the front is the eldest child, Con. Anastasopoulos was shortened to Poulos when the siblings arrived in Australia in various years during the 1950s.
This photo was taken at the Anastasopoulos family home in Perlegianika. Manoli is Efrosini's (Froso) son and the half-brother of my mother Anna (Kyrani). Froso was my mother's stepmother.
My mother's mother Barbara passed away in 1942 when my mother was four years old.
Manoli still lives in Perlegianika.
'Barba Ilia' was born in Pyrgos Ilia in the Peloponnese. Together with my mother's father Peter and his brother George, they were forced to leave their town as they apparently refused to join the Communist Party. They went to Kythera in the late 1920s aged around 18 years old and settled in Perlegianika where they lived next door to each other.
I clearly remember asking Barba Ilia to take a photo of him and he was very excited. After I took his photo, he asked me if it would be okay to take another photo of him with his apron. When I said yes, he quickly went into his house and emerged wearing his apron. He was so proud to show me that apron!
This photo was taken at my mother's family home in Perlegianika.
Efrosini (Froso) was my mother's stepmother.
My mum's mother, Barbara (Komninou) died in 1942 when my mum was four years old and her two brothers, Con and Denis were also very young.
Her father Peter remarried and had a further three children - Eleni, Bill and Manoli. Bill is pictured on the back wall. The wedding photo is Con's wedding to Irene Liaros.
The lady third from the left is my mother's step-mother - Efrosini Anastasopoulos.
The lady to her right is the wife of the man sitting next to her. HIs name is Ilea.
The man on the right is my maternal grandfather, Peter Con Anastasopoulos. His first wife, Barbara Komninou, the mother of my mother, Anna (Kyrani), passed away in 1942 when my mother was four.
My grandfather then married the lady in the middle, Efrosini (Froso) Frilingos. The boy on the left is their son, Manoli who was born in 1955. He still lives in Perlegianika.
The little boy is Mina Tamvakis, the son of Stavros Tamvakis and Kaity Komninou.
The photo was probably taken in the mid 1960s.
hi
I was going through the war service section of Greeks who served in ww2 and dont see my Fathers name in the RAAF section.
L.A.C Theodore Minas Comino joined the RAAF in Inverell NSW and served in New Guinea during WW2
Place of birth Perliggianika Kythera
Martina Michael [Daughter of Theodore Minas Comino] and Husband Bill Michael of Armidale NSW Martina went through as a Chemist after leaving St Catherines College in Singleton NSW and Bill was a Master builder in Armidale building many homes there .
please add a caption here
Picture of Theodore Minas Comino returning from ww2 as Leading Aircraftman with Uncle Andrews wife Georgina and Dads neice Helen Coronios, he later went to Merriwa and bought a cafe from George ans Sam Nicholas,
I believe this is a very early photograph of my great-grandfather, Seraphim Phocas, father-in-law of John D Comino. Taken in either Rhodes or, more likely, Alexandria.
The two oldest sons of John D Comino, Dimitri and Naso (my father) in Greek costume, Sydney, circa 1907. The tinting is likely to have been carried out by my grandmother, Anna Comino.
Dimitri Comino aged 2 years, 2 months, Randwick, NSW. Dimitri was the oldest son of John D Comino and later became a notable industrialist in England, founding the company Dexion.
Back row (l to r): Minas and Cosmas Andronikos; middle row: Eleni Phocas, Antigoni Andronikos (my grandmohther's sisters), Antigoni's son Damianos (Didi), Anezoula (their aunt), Anna Comino (nee Phocas, my grandmother), John Comino (my grandfather); front row: their sons, Dimitri, Nikos, Athanasios (my father) and Costas. The photo is not dated but was probably taken around 1914? Randwick, NSW.
An earlier portrait of John D Comino of Randwick, NSW. See entry in Notable Kytherians Section http://www.kytherafamily.net/index.php?nav=3-10&cid=21&did=8215&pageflip=3
Another studio portrait of John D Comino of Randwick, NSW, who funded and produced Life in Australia. See entry in Notable Kytherians Section http://www.kytherafamily.net/index.php?nav=3-10&cid=21&did=8215&pageflip=3
My grandfather, John D Comino of Randwick, NSW, who funded and produced Life in Australia. See entry in Notable Kytherians Section http://www.kytherafamily.net/index.php?nav=3-10&cid=21&did=8215&pageflip=3
please add a caption here this is the grave of Malamatania Comino second wife of Minas Dimetrias Comino of perlingianika passed away sometime during WW11
This is a picture of Con Mavromatis Theo Cominos Sisters Son, pointing out to my sister, where my Grandmother,Malamatania Cominos was buried.
This picture was taken in about 1978 when Martina and her Husband Bill Michael went to Kythera.
Minas Cominos gravesite in the church yard in Perliggianika Dad was not allowed to touch his grave when he went back to fix them up for some reason. My beleif Minas,s First family might have objected, as that could only be the answer as they took control of all assets on the island.
Dad hardly knew his Father as he died an agonizing death on Christmas day according to Dad his stomach blew up badly and he passed away.
This is Malamatania Cominos grave after Theo went back to Kythera to fix it up.
Malamatania was Minas second wife,she lost Minas in about 1906 and he is buried in the church yard, so Dad could not do anything to his grave.
They had three children Mary, Andrew, and Theo, all living in AustraliaAndrew and Mary are buried in Sydney ,Theo in Merriwa Nsw.
Theo standing next to Hazel [nee Donnelly] Comino,s grave in Merriwa.
These two gave great service to Merriwa and district for over 50 years while in business there and were well regarded from Dubbo to Sydney.
Hazel in her later years contacted Parkinsons disease and was the first person to have brain surgury to try and stop this disease.
She passed away and Theo is buried next to her now in peace. God bless these two hard working souls.
The Theatre shown was run by Theo Comino when he left Wee Waa and it was here he met and married Hazel Donnelly and where their first two children Martina and Maria were born.
It was also here that the first Cinesound film in Australia was shown by Theo,as told to me by a lady from the Historical Society,who came looking for me to get Dad to go to their Historical Society Town Reunion, but alas he had passed away by days when she called.
The Transit Bar and Cafe was purchased by the Comino Family in 1985 namely James and Karen,
James later sold his share to Patricia and went into a courier business on his own carrying specialized freight from Rockhampton Qld to Newcastle NSW for the one company and still carries for them today.
The Transit Bar was Known as the Black and Green Bar when Mr Steve Mitchel purchased the building sometime in 1934 and run the business .
unfortunately the building was built as a hotel in 1885 and went through many floods over its lifespan. It is of the 13 July 2008 been readied for demolishing due to flood damage.
this bag was given to me by a residence in merriwa when she was cleaning her kitchen desk out and is reminicent of what the people of merriwa thought of Theo and Hazel.
The first Kytherian Emmanuel Kritharis is reported to have arrived in Australia as early as 1852.
Another possible Kytherian J. Comino (age 19) arrived at Port Phillip Melbourne Victoria in November 1866 on the ship Albion
Researched
Peter Makarthis
June 2007
MALAMATANIA [MY GRANDMOTHER] SECOND WIFE OF MINA COMINO PERLIGGIANIKA MOTHER OF MARY, ANDREW, THEODORE, ALL IMMIGRATED TO AUSTRALIA 1918 ANDREW / THEODORE 1924 / MARY ABOUT 1956.
from rtol. Leslie, Maria, Theodore, Hazel [before catching Parkinsons] Pasquale Comninos Marias Husband and their two children Marianthia and Rania, and Michael. Taken in Merriwa NSW after the Anzac march which Dad always marched in.
Photo of Hazel Comino having just recovered from a brain operation to try and stop Parkinsons Disease. Dad looked after her like a baby till she passed away .She could not talk or walk and in the end was bedridden but with no help from anyone [mainly because he would not allow help for them, He always said "This is my job and I want no help unless I pass away first" He was not a well man himself suffering from Emphazimia and back problems from war injuries ect.yet he carried on with no grumbles about anything. A real Hero. The town of Merriwa will vouch for that.
Photo was taken in Sydney with Helen Mavromatis [now Conomos from Kensington] and Georgina ? [ now Andrew Comino,s wife from Dover Heights] I note the absence of Hazel at this most important time in their lives with Dad off to war in New Guinea . It must be a Greek thing.
Photo taken in Woolongong NSW in about 1944 Photo is of Michael,Martina,our Granmother Nelly May Donelly me Leslie, Maria, and our Grandfather Leslie Donelly.
This is the only Photo I have of our Granfather Donelly who had the Ford Franchise in Bellingen and was also in Ptnerships with pharos fromInverel with 1000 acres wheat in Moree. He also trained fighters and swimmers on the coast.
wedding , with Pasquale Comninos at back, Michael Comino ,Me leslie, Marjorie, Valerie, Marjories sister, Ellanie ,my sister, Marjorie,s Mother Verla, Sylvia and Patrick
Photo of my sister Ellanie going on the ship to New Zealand for holidays. Dad had trouble getting her back to Australia she loved it so much over there in sheepland.
couple of photos of Theo Comino,s Farm in Merriwa He run Sheep, Cattle, and 500 acres wheat and had another 500 acres sharefarming for wheat on other farms in the district.
Photo of Theo,s Picture Theatre in Bellingen, it was here he met and married Hazel and had Martina and Maria.
He also broke away from the Partnership of Comino Bros Wee Waa. In those days it was not nice for Australians to marry Greeks and visa versa and went to Moree into a partnership of sorts with a Mr Poterios, in the Hollywood Cafe which was caught up in the depression and Theo went out of business hoofing it around the Northwest working where he could get work in Warialda ,Bingara, and Inverel ,it was here I,ve found a paper in the Inverel Times Archives where Theo was in a fire at the IXL Cafe while sleeping there and was pulle dfrom the building nearly deing from smoke inhalation while trying to save a Mr Castrisos, who had already slid down a grapevine unbeknown to Theo. He joined the RAAF in Warialda and was shipped off to New Guinea.
Returning home to go th Merriwa into the Merriwa Cafe.
This Cafe was sold by Peter George and was demolished and a park now stands where it stood.
Picture of Michael, Theo [Dad] me Leslie, Mum Hazel hiding behind me, Helen Mavromatis [now Conomos] and two staff members, Joan Cooper and Stella Coward.
No time to be flash here it was too busy.
We had lots of stars eat here, the film "the Sheralee" with Dana Wilson and Peter Finch and all the film crew always came to eat when not filming at Cassilis and district.
I remember after the Rodeos a man would come in and ask if he could play the violin, this man was the best I,ve ever heard he cold make that instrument talk and then he,d take a box on a flat stick around the tables for money. I reckon he did better than the Cafe.
After football the tables would all be put together in line up the middle of the shop and both teams would come and sit down to dinner, after they finished they would all get up and sing Auld Lang Scene
those were the days .
The back yard was showpeice of every type of fruit trees and roses all hedged and the Pioneer Tourist busses would pull up just to see the yards Mum had fixed.
The Police would bring down the English Imigrants and ask Dad to help them with work till they settle into a permanent job. Hence the showpeice out back.
Dad sold the Cafe to Peter George and his brotherinlaw and they put the grader through the lot ,it ended up as just a little vegy patch in the end .
This Cafe was like all Greek Cafes "the best ever" we had the frontal soda fountains and a huge range of syrups to suit. The syrups were also use to put on the ice cream sundaes. I,d help Dad make these syrups sometimes at 1am in the morning after a very busy day.
I,d be sent out the back to make the soda water from a machine linked up to gas cylinders. While it was going the machine had a musical sound about it and I,d sing away to any tune it sounded like.
Steak vegs and eggs two and six pence
Mixed grill three shillings
Pies and potatoe and peas one and six pence
Like all Greek Cafes the premices were completely rejuvenated with new lino, new backbar etc. Dad was always on the lookout for new things to put in the Cafe.
Each thursday Mum [Hazel] would drive the truck to Newcastle to get vegetables and visit Streets ice cream then to get smallgoods.
I,ll never forget, we always went to Red Funnel Fisheries on the Wharf it was owned by a Comino then I dont know if its still there now , there was always a huge bin of prawns there fresh from the ocean and I use to love going there to see all the seafood.
One day Dad picked a prawn from the big bin and pealed and ate it, so me being about eight years old picked one too. All hell broke loose Mr Comino yelled
" put that bacvk those things cost tuppence each" Dad pulled ten shillings out of his pocket and gave it to him and told him "thats for the two prawns Sir" and we walked out and never went back. He always bought prawns back for a few people who liked them and always had a large bag of oysters in the Cafe,boy after we finished working at night he,d open a glass of oysters and give them to me.
There was a Cafe called Jerry,s Cafe in Darby Street and we always went there for fish and salad now memories are flooding back ,too much to put in here.
Taken when Theo went to Kythera for his first trip home after wife Hazel passed away. We were all glad he took thios trip ,it was his closure to a long time away from home.
Theo Cominoand wife Hazel before Hazel took sick with Parkinsons Disease, with Pasquale and Marias daughters Marianthia and Rania at their house in Meriwa after the Anzac march which Dad always marched in.
Theo Comino[palavras] taking his sons [me]Leslie and Michael to Newington College Sydney with Helen [then]Mavromatis [now Conomos,and Uncle Andrew Comino from Wee Waa [Theos Brother from WeeWaa]
Vic Mavromatis [now deceased] pointing out to Martina Michael [Theo Comino daughter] her Grandmothers Malamatania Comino grave before Theo went back to Kythera and fixed the grave properly on his first visit back to Kythera in 1978.
Vic was the son of Theos sister Mary.
My Uncle Andrew and Aunty Georgina and family from Wee Waa NSW .Uncle came to Australia from Kythera in about 1918 and settled in WeeWaa NSW in Partnership with Andrew Conomos in a cafe /Bottle shop/theatre/ and other.
He later sold out and moved to Dover Heights Sydney with his family and passed away there .He is buried in the Botony Cemetary Orthodox Section.
second wife to Minas Comino [palavras] of Kythera children\\\ Mary \\Andrew\\Theodore. Passed away during WW2 on kythera and is buried in Perliggianika
Theodore Minas Comino was in the Greek Navy like many joining young in Greece .He left Greece in 1924 to come to Australia landing in WeeWaa NSW to work with the Partnership of Big and Little Andrew there. He joined the RAAF from Warialda serving in New Guinea, and later went to Merriwa after the wars end, married an Australian woman Hazel Donnelly and had five children Martina Maria Michael Leslie and Ellanie.
Hazel passed away in 1973 and Theo went back to Kythera Greece to settle his parents properties there. He returned again later for unknown reasons but returned to Australia to live out his life here. He passed away at age 95 in Inverel and is buried in Merriwa next to his wife Hazel in the Catholic section there.
Mary Andrew Theodore Palavros Comino mother Malamatania, Father Minas Comino Perligianika Kythera
Marys children, Anna Coronios, Scone, Helen Coronios, Kensington, Victor Mavramatis, Perliggianika Kythera [deceased]
Andrew Comino Wee Waa, wife Georgina, Daughters Maria and ?
Theo Comino Merriwa, wife Hazel, daughters Martina ,Narelle, Ellanie, sons Michael, Leslie.
Committee Member Kytherian Brotherhood of Australia 1988-1994
President, Kytherian Brotherhood of Australia 1994-1997
Peter John Comino was born in Rockhampton, to John Peter Comino (Perlegianika) and Sophia Venery (Drimona). Although a proud Queenslander, when asked where he was from his invariable reply was “Perlegianika, Kythera” and he later dubbed himself the “Perlegianika Kid”.
Peter spent his early years in Rockhampton, but after the premature death of his mother Sophia, when he was five, his father took him and his brother Manuel on a trip to Kythera. Whilst there, World War II erupted and the family was stranded on the island for the duration of the conflict.
The years on Kythera were formative ones, and Peter often recalled stories from this time. He recalled being known as the Australezo, and of the swimming races across the bay at Kapsali where he would easily beat the local kids. How being given an egg to eat and shoes were a luxury. He recounted the day the German army landed on Kythera and how the shudder of their marching boots shook him to his core, and how he was put into hiding from the Germans, alone, in a cave on the coast below Agia Ellessa, for six months. Always the larrikin on his last day in Greece, Peter jumped out the classroom window, yelling “See you in Australia mate!”
Back in Australia, Peter grew into a handsome young man and fell in love with Helen Notaras of Emu Park. He rode his bicycle from Rockhampton to Emu Park to court her and they married on 19th June 1955. They made a handsome and happy couple and their marriage lasted 51 years.
In 1963 Peter and Helen moved to Sydney as part of the Rockiite community that migrated to Sydney in the 60’s and 70’s. Peter undertook a variety of business ventures including coffee lounges and hotels.
In Sydney, Peter actively contributed to the Greek community, as a committee member and President of the Hellenic Club. He particularly enjoyed taking on brave and unsuspecting opponents for prefa and tavli. People adored him for his good nature and his positive aspect.
Peter served on the Committee of the Kytherian Brotherhood from 1988 to 1997 with the last three of these years as President. During this time he was instrumental in reviving the Friday night Greek dancing.
Peter loved the cricket. He loved the Broncos. But most of all he loved his family. Taking pride of place were his girls Sophia, Catherine and Jacqueline and his ten grandchildren: Marina-Portia, John, Eleni, & Alexandra; Nicholas, Peter & Byron; and his most recent additions Marielle, Panayioti & Mitchell who gave special meaning to his life in his last years. Peter’s sons-in-law, George Anthony, John Economos and George Caponas, and grandson-in-law to be, Scott Wharton, were very dear to him.
Peter suffered a major heart attack on the day of this year’s Kytherian Ball. With his health progressively failing over the ensuing few weeks, he made the very brave and beautiful decision to return home. He acknowledged his fate with clarity of mind and peaceful acceptance. He was nursed at home for his last five days and died peacefully in his room surrounded by all who loved him.
This image is part of a photographic documentary series entitled “One Year on Kythera”. “One Year on Kythera” was created by photographer Kristina Williamson, who spent one calender year living on Kythera, documenting the lives of Kytherians today; what aspects of traditional life remain in practice and in what ways the island is changing.
For more information on this project please visit www.oneyearonkythera.com
Papa always had photos of Anna /Helen/ the daughters of Mary his Sister who theo and Andrew bought out from Kythera and they worked in his shopin Merriwa until theo introduced Helen to Con in Oberon and Anna to Theo Coronios in Scone. These girls Mother Mary [Theo and Andrews sister] was married to Panayiotis Mavromatis, who passed away in Tottenham, where he was in some sort of partnership in a business there.
Theo Comino and Andrew fought a bitter court case over this which cost them some 6000 pounds. I have a letter here regards this. They lost the case for some reason, and Mary went to live with Helen in Oberon then later to Scone with Anna/ later still to Kensington Sydney.
My whole interest in all this is;
I have pictures of my Grandmother from Kythera, Malamatania Comino, but I have no pictures of my Grandfather Minas, and know little of him, or their lifestyle on the Island Kythera.
Uncle Andrews wife Georgina is not interested in this side of the family, so I was wondering if I sent you a photo of your Mother and Helen in Theo's Merriwa cafe in uniform where they worked until he settled them, would you get me a picture of the Comino side of the family if they at all exist.
I understand Minas was married twice and had two families; some went to America, and those of the second marriage to Australia. I beleive his first wife Stephanie died giving birth, and Malamatania died sometime during the WW11 conflict.
I have been contacted by a first marriage son from America, who went to Kythera recently and are anxious to know more of the family which Anna and Helen left behind.
Hoping you can help here.
Leslie James Comino
Your mother has my ph.no. and address
This image is part of a photographic documentary series entitled “One Year on Kythera”. “One Year on Kythera” was created by photographer Kristina Williamson, who spent one calender year living on Kythera, documenting the lives of Kytherians today; what aspects of traditional life remain in practice and in what ways the island is changing.
To view more of her work or to purchase photographic prints please visit her website at:www.kristinawilliamson.com
This image is part of a photographic documentary series entitled “One Year on Kythera”. “One Year on Kythera” was created by photographer Kristina Williamson, who spent one calender year living on Kythera, documenting the lives of Kytherians today; what aspects of traditional life remain in practice and in what ways the island is changing.
To view more of her work or to purchase photographic prints please visit her website at:www.kristinawilliamson.com
Father: Peter Comino born in Rockhampton Qld Parents Angelo Comino (Rousos) Anna Koveou from Amorgos. Mother: Dina Bratsalis born in Fatsadika Kythera Parents Yiannis Bratsalis (Mavreas) from Fatsadika Kythera Maria Lekaniti from Athens
Born in Sydney, on the 28 March 1951.
His parents were Nicholas John Comino & Garyfallia Comino (nee, Kontakos).
His paternal grandfather was John Kominos who was known as the Oyster King and migrated to Australia from Kythera in 1884 on board the Potosi joining his brother Athanassios who had migrated in 1879.
The family village is Perlengianika near Lianianika in Kythera and the nickname (paratsoukli) is Skordilis.
John Comino (the grandson) was educated at Sydney Grammar School between 1956 and 1968.
He then studied Law through the University of Sydney Law Extension Committee and the Solicitors Admission Board.
He was admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in June 1974, and has been practising continuously since that date.
He became a Solicitor of the High Court of Australia in 1975.
He was admitted as a Notary Public by the Archbishop of Canterbury in England in 1985.
He qualified as a trained Mediator in October 1996.
In September 1995, he was elected as a Local Government Councillor to Woollahra Municipal Council (in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs).
In 1999 and 2004 he was re-elected to Woollahra Council and has served on major Committees both as Councillor and Chairman. These Committees include the Urban Planning Committee, Development Control Committee, Strategic Planning Working Party and Legal Committee.
From 2001 to 2004 he served as Mayor of Woollahra Council, having become the first person of Greek Descent to be elected either as Councillor or Mayor to that Council.
In 2003, he joined the Board of the Hellenic Club, Sydney, (established 1926), and in 2004, was elected to the Office of President.
He is married to Elly, and they have two children, a daughter Jana born in 1987, and a son Christopher born, 1988.
Last year he had the honour of being invited to deliver a Paper on Kytherian Identity, at the First International Symposium of Kytheraismos, held on Kythera.
A number of Kytherian families began to migrate to Australia, towards the end of the 19th century. Amongst the more prominent among these were the Kominos families, from the village of Perleyianika near Potamos.
The first Kominos to reach Australia, Athanasios, landed in Sydney in 1873, probably as a seaman on a sailing ship from New Zealand, when he was 29.
One of six children of a farmer, Dimitrios Kominos, and his wife Agapi, née Menega, Athanasios had lived in Smyrna for several years before his further migration. For a time he worked in a colliery in Balmain, but within five years he had saved enough to set up in business.
The serendipitous “origin” of Greek fish-shop proprietorship is now enshrined in an anecdote about him, related to Dr Charles Price by John Raftopoulos:
Joined by John Theodore of Psara, the two found work in the old Balmain colliery. Some time later Comino fell sick, and the doctors told him that he had been affected by colliery work and should find himself some light occupation.
One day, while still without work, he was walking down Oxford Street, Sydney, and saw~ a fish-shop owned by a Welshman. He remembered that the doctors said he could eat fish, so he went in for a meal. While there, he saw that the Welshman did no more than drop fish into boiling fat, fork it out after a few minutes, slap it on a plate or some paper, and hand it to the customer. After some time watching this, Comino began to think that here was an occupation requiring little experience or hard labour—just the solution for his own problem. At all events, he and Theodore decided to try it, rented some premises and opened a small fish-shop at 36 Oxford Street, some time in 1878.
At first they met certain difficulties arising from their ignorance of the language and of the finer points of frying fish. For instance, one day a man came in and asked for fried oysters, and they had not the remotest idea whether such a fish should be fried in or out of the shell; on this occasion they put the complete shell into the fat. Despite these early difficulties, however, they kept at it, began to sell coffee as well as fish, and later became interested in the actual supplies of oysters and fish.
Four years after opening his shop Athanasios acquired the lease of an oyster-bed at Onions Point at the mouth of the Lane Cove River, where he sustained oysters imported from New Zealand. The enterprise did not succeed, but in 1884 he leased 2,000 yards of foreshore for oyster-growing on the Evans River estuary on the north coast, and in that year he was joined by a younger brother, Ioannis Dimitrios Kominos, then aged 30.
John D. Comino, as he became known, was an almost illiterate labourer in the port of Peiraieus. He had nearly completed his Greek army service when he received a letter and some money from Athanasios, of whose circumstances in Australia he had for some years been unaware. Moved by this letter, he left Kythira soon afterwards and arrived at Sydney in the Potosi.
At first as a clerk, later as a partner, John Comino helped to expand his brother’s business. In 1885 he acquired oyster leases on the Bermagui River estuary on the south coast. Other brothers then came out: Dimitrios in 1888, Nikolaos in 1891, Kosmas in 1892.
Their early efforts to develop the oyster industry encountered difficulties; in 1892 John (officially described as a “mechanic”) was declared bankrupt, but was discharged from bankruptcy three years later.
Athanasios died, unmarried, in Sydney in 1897, of a hernia at the age of 53, leaving a modest estate to John and nephews and nieces.
John developed an extensive and complex business supplying oysters to restaurants, fish shops and oyster-saloons in New South Wales, inheriting from Athanasios the popular title of Oyster King.
Naturalised in 1898, he acquired several more oyster leases on the New South Wales coast, and in 1906 joined with three other oyster-merchants to found the firm of Woodward, Gibbons and Comino, which dominated oyster marketing in the state.
Ultimately he owned five shops in Sydney, and seems to have had a financial interest in others in country towns, some of them trading under the name Comino, which became almost synonymous with Greek oyster-saloon proprietorship.
More than anyone else, John Comino encouraged the emigration of Kytherians to Australia. Elected honorary life president of the Greek Orthodox Community of Sydney in recognition of his help in founding Sydney’s first Greek church, he was respected not only for his commercial success, but also for his contributions to Greek national causes and to the welfare of his compatriots in New South Wales.
Among other deeds, he sponsored the first modern Greek book published in Australia, I Zoi en Afstralia (Life in Australia).
In 1901, when he was living at Randwick, John Comino married Anna, eldest daughter of the Reverend Serafeim Phocas, in a ceremony conducted by her father in the Greek Orthodox Church in Surry Hills.
John and Anna had four sons: John Demetrius, Athanasios, Nikolaos and Constantine, of whom John Demetrius was the most notable; after graduating in engineering in London in 1922 he founded the firm of Dexion-Comino International, manufacturers of structural steel components; and as Sir John Comino he was honoured by the British and Greek governments for his contributions to science and industry.
Equally distinguished was John Comino’s nephew, Akhillefs Kominos, Governor of the National Bank of Greece, a representative of Greece on numerous international bodies and the recipient of high honours from the Greek government.
John Comino senior died at Randwick in 1919, a victim of the influenza epidemic, leaving an estate valued at £31,872. Anna returned to her birthplace, Rhodes, and later settled in London, where she died in 1970 at the age of 87.
Of John’s brothers and sisters only Emini, who married Ioanms Frylingos, remained in Australia; Antonios and Kalliopi returned to Kythira and Zakharias settled in Athens.
Of their many descendants some stayed in Sydney, others went to Greece; still others migrated to London, Canada or the United States.
Born in Sydney, on the 28 March 1951.
His parents were Nicholas John Comino & Garyfallia Comino (nee, Kontakos).
His paternal grandfather was John Kominos who was known as the Oyster King and migrated to Australia from Kythera in 1884 on board the Potosi joining his brother Athanassios who had migrated in 1879.
The family village is Perlengianika near Lianianika in Kythera and the nickname (paratsoukli) is Skordilis.
John Comino (the grandson) was educated at Sydney Grammar School between 1956 and 1968.
He then studied Law through the University of Sydney Law Extension Committee and the Solicitors Admission Board.
He was admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in June 1974, and has been practising continuously since that date.
He became a Solicitor of the High Court of Australia in 1975.
He was admitted as a Notary Public by the Archbishop of Canterbury in England in 1985.
He qualified as a trained Mediator in October 1996.
John maintains a law practice in Bondi Junction.
See,
www.cominoprassas.com
In September 1995, he was elected as a Local Government Councillor to Woollahra Municipal Council (in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs).
In 1999 and 2004 he was re-elected to Woollahra Council and has served on major Committees both as Councillor and Chairman. These Committees include the Urban Planning Committee, Development Control Committee, Strategic Planning Working Party and Legal Committee.
From 2001 to 2004 he served as Mayor of Woollahra Council, having become the first person of Greek Descent to be elected either as Councillor or Mayor to that Council.
John is a very active member of Sydney’s Greek Community being a member of the Kytherian Association, a board member of the Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce, and a committee member of the Institute of Kytheraismos, Sydney Branch.
In 2004 John was honoured to be Master of Ceremonies to a Special Testimonial Dinner held by the Kytherian Association to recognise Professor Harry Poulos, a prominent Kytherian engineer, and was also Master of Ceremonies at the Kytherian Association’s Annual Debutante Ball.
In 2003, he joined the Board of the Hellenic Club, Sydney, (established 1926), and in 2004, was elected to the Office of President.
In 2004, he had the honour of being invited to deliver a Paper on Kytherian Identity, at the First International Symposium of Kytheraismos, held on Kythera.
[John Comino's paper on Kytherian Identity.]
John is married to Elly, and they have two children, a daughter Jana born in 1987, and a son Christopher born, 1988.
Dear Comino relatives,
please see my message board entry of 20th May 2005. This is the best place for replies, because it provides for a discussion thread that everyone can read, and not repeat what others have already said. Robert
Those who contact this Guest Book section obviously have things in common. It is a great tool with many opportunities.
My mother was born in Gympie to parents born in Perlegianika, whose houses in Perlegianika were only three houses away from each other. My mother's father was Theodore Comino "Bahas", and her mother is Stamatina Comino "Roussos".
The paternal grandmother of Pappou Theodore was Kaliope Kominou "Psilos", sister to Minas, Grigoris, Vangelis, and Areti (who were all born in Perlegianika).
The parents of yiayia Stamatina were Panayiotis Kominos "Roussos" and Zafeiroula Kominou "Palavras".
The maternal grandparents of yiayia Stamatina were: Theodore Kominos "Palavras" and Vasiliki Kominou "Spetsotes".
My grandmother used to joke with Australian bureaucrats in Gympie when they told her she didn't understand the questions in the forms she would have to fill out. NB, most documents ask women for their maiden name. Hence the joke...
However, after explaining that she had filled it out correctly, they would still persist that she didn't obviously understand English well enough. Her reply was "not only was I Comino before I married a Comino, but My mother was also a Comino before she married a Comino, and so to was her mother."
My grandmother always thought this hilarious.
On another note:-
Perlegianika, Dourianika, and Halepa are very significant townships to Komninoi.
The main reason being for the reason why they were settled in the first place, back in the late 1400's.
They feared Turkish reprisals, and for that reason they refused to settle in Paliohora. A decision they were always proud of since the Turks eventually sacked Paliohora. The first of the Komninoi was Princess Angeliki Komninou of Trebizond, Pontos. She came to Kythira with 3 sons and a daughter Eleni, after 1463.
We all descend from one of the 3 sons. However, Eleni was married to a prominent member of Marko Venieri, and this marriage alliance was to secure military protection from any Turkish reprisal. However, the significance for us today is that this marriage contract maybe still in existence in Venice.
Princess Angeliki was taken in by the monks at Ayio Theodoros and bathed in a special underground domed well on the Monastry's property, which is located behind the residence of the monks, that overlooks the adjoining hills of Halepa, Perlegianika, and Dourianika. The monks advised the family to stay hidden and live apart from all the other Byzantine refugees and settlers in Paliohora (ie City of Ayios Dimitrios).
She was given the opportunity to flee from Greece and settle in other parts of Europe, as the rest of the family had chosen to do so. However, her response was "I and my Family will never abandon the soil of Greece, for one day we may be called upon to again serve our People."
In addition, I was told that she and her sisters fled from Bulgaria, where they lived in luxury with their brother (or father) Emperor David I Komninos "The Grand Komninos of Trebizond".
He was given Land grants and a pension after he surrended The Trebizond Empire to the Ottoman Sultan in August 1461.
However, he was accused of treason. He was executed in Constantinoupoli on the 1st November 1463, along with 3 sons. However, the Imperial Empress, the Princesses, and the remaining Princes were released. Most of them fled Greece at this point.
However, Princess Angeliki fled through northern Greece, with her sisters and an entourage. They settled in Reggina-Komnina, which is north of Athens, where the locals say a battle occurred and some of the Princesses are buried on an adjoining hillside called "Ta Vasilika". A service commemorates this battle, with an annual service on the 26th August, which takes place on the "Ta Vasilika" site.
From there Princess Angeliki made her way to Monemvasia, and urged the local Byzantines to follow her because the Turks would find them, which they didn't do until much later.
From there she fled to Ayio Theodoros.
The Byzantines of Monemvasia eventually fled the Turks and settled in Paliohora.
The loyal bodyguards to the 3 sons of Princes Angeliki were known as Mavromatis. Hence all Mavromatis families come from these 3 Imperial soldiers.
PS. My thoughts were that some professional needs to be financed to research the marriage certificates of her children in either Kythira, or in Venice, because in such documents they would be referred to as "the child of Princess Angeliki Komninou". Especially, Eleni's wedding certificate.
We wouldn't need any other official documents other than that. I imagine birth and death certificates and real estate documents would be more difficult to locate for various reasons. This investigation would take alot of time and money.
Any financiers?
I hope this is of interest to someone.
All the best.
Robert.
Additional information, which may be of interest to Komninoi, is that all original branches of the family that migrated from the two original Komninos towns of Kythera, that is, Perlegianika & Dourianika, can be traced via their nicknames. I only know of a few. Some of them are: Andretsinis, Bahas, Byzinis, Douris, Koumessos, Midos, Palathros, Palavras, Panayotelis, Psilos, Roussos, Skordilis, Skouzes, Spetsotes, Yalakatos, Yalanis, Yanoufis, and Ynafeas...
In approx the 1870's the Spetsostes branch that went to Karava became known as Douris because they were from Dourianika. Also prior to 1880 some branches went to Mesa-Dimo and founded Kominianika near Ayia Elesa, and some went north to settle in Potamos. Some went to Youdianika (at what point in time, I don't know. However, I'm sure they do.).
Prior to the 1820's there was a third Komninos town known as Halepa. This Halepa town, there are several, is opposite Perlegianika, with the falling down church of Ayio Pandtes on top of it. This is where the original Koumessos families were from and, later, upon settling in Perlegianika were known as the Bahas and Palavras families.
At some point prior to the 1870's Dourianika was only known as Komninianika.
Of course, we have the added complications of the changes made to the spelling of the surname. From Komninos to Kominos. In English: Comnenus to Cominos. Some are also spelt Comino, Comninos, and Komnenos.
I hope this helps someone in any family research they may be undertaking.
All the best.
I am the grandson of Theo who left land to his sons and daughters in Australia. Theo opened cafes and picture theatres up the Australian east coast, Bellingen, Inverall and settled in Merriwa with the picture theatre and cafe. Brother Andy opened threatre and cafe in nearby Scone.
Theo died in mid-late 90's and left land to his family in Australia.
This land has apparently been 'acquired' by others in Kythera. I have more details but can anyone confirm the assertion that acquiring a family entitlement on Kythera is virtually impossible unless you are Greek and live on the island ? I want a piece of my families heritage that I believe I am entited to. Thank you. All enquiries welcome.
T. Comino
What better ancestors could have been mine,
Which richer list of people so fine,
Who better than them could I now greet,
If, in this life, I had not been born Greek.
1950's Wedding: George Poulos & Helen Comino
back row: John Comino (Galanis), Vasilli Comino (Galanis), George Comino (Galanis), unknown, Maria Zandis, George Comino (Galanis), Irene Kalligeros (Vranas) nee. Comino (Galanis), Peter Comino (Galanis).
Second row down: Manual Comino (Galanis), Irene Comino (Galanis), Judy Comino (Galanis), Kalamira Zandes (Zantiotis) nee Crithari, Peter Crithari, ? Poulos nee Crithari, Anastasios Comino (Galanis), Stamatoula Comino (Galanis) nee. Koulandianos, Chris Comino (Galanis), Ligeri Comino (Galanis) nee. Mavromati, Polikseni Comino (Galanis) nee. Cassimati, Theo Poulos (Georgopoulos, or Tzortzopoulos)- Katharos), Helen Poulos nee. Comino (Galani), Strata Comino (Galani) nee. Mavrogiorgi, Georgina Comino (Galani) b. Comino (Psilos),
Third row down: Ligeri Comino (Galanis) nee. Mavromati, Polikseni Comino (Galanis) nee. Cassimati, The Groom: Theo Poulos (Georgopoulos - Katharos), The Bride: Helen Poulos nee Comino (Galani), Strata Comino (Galani) nee Mavrogiorgi, Georgina Comino (Galani) nee Comino (Psilos).
Child on Lap: George (?) Comino (Galanis)
Children in front: Leo or Peter Comino (Galani), Irene Kalligeros Comino (Galani)
Psilos, with the stress on the first "i", means flea. The reason my grandfather Evangelos Comino got the nickname flea was because he was so handy with his hands he could make a bridle for a flea.
