Vouno

[[picture:"Bessie Gianakos.jpg" ID:23298]]

Our dear friend and Kytherian Society of California member Bessie Gianakos, passed away on December 25, 2015. Funeral services were held on Monday, January 4, 2016, at St. Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church in Covina, CA, with cemetery services following at Oak Park Cemetery in Claremont.
Bessie was born in Fall River, Massachusetts. She lived in Claremont, in Southern California. She never married and had no children. Education was important to her. For decades she worked at Honnold Library, which is a part of the Claremont Colleges.
Bessie often joined us for outings in Southern California including our KSOCA gathering when George Poulos visited from Australia in 2007, trips to the Getty Villa, and dinner get togethers. She was a member in good standing and faithfully contributed to our scholarship fund.
Bessie’s Kytherian background stems from her mother’s side of the family which was Zantiotis from The Vouno. To’ Vouno is a very small hamlet of about 5-6 homes which lies just out of Karava on the Agia Pelagia Road. She also had Panaretos and Neofotistos on her family tree and was pleasantly surprized to discover she is probably related in some way to our Secretary Melissa Neofes-Mischak.
Bessie was one of the nicest people you could know. She always had a smile on her face and never complained about anything. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Our dear friend and Kytherian Society of California member, Bessie Gianakos, passed away on December 25, 2015. Funeral services were held on Monday, January 4, 2016, at St. Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church in Covina, CA, with cemetery services following at Oak Park Cemetery in Claremont.
Bessie was born in Fall River, Massachusetts. She lived in Claremont, in Southern California. She never married and had no children. Education was important to her. For decades she worked at Honnold Library, which is a part of the Claremont Colleges.
Bessie often joined us for outings in Southern California including our KSOCA gathering when George Poulos visited from Australia in 2007, trips to the Getty Villa, and dinner get togethers. Although she was never able to attend a KSOCA luncheon, she was a member in good standing and faithfully contributed to our scholarship fund.
Bessie’s Kytherian background stems from her mother’s side of the family which was Zantiotis from The Vouno. To’ Vouno is a very small hamlet of about 5-6 homes which lies just out of Karava on the Agia Pelagia Road. She also had Panaretos and Neofotistos on her family tree and was pleasantly surprized to discover she is probably related in some way to our Secretary Melissa Neofes-Mischak.
Bessie was one of the nicest people you could know. She always had a smile on her face and never complained about anything. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

After Emmanuel Benardos opened Bernie's Diner in Moss Vale in 1925, the governor-general popped in for a milkshake. He soon became a regular.

On the first weekend of March, 2013, Benardos' grandson, Ioannis, reopened Bernie's, part of a new local movement reinventing milk bars and diners. He serves the same milkshake his grandfather did. ''We've got the original syrup recipe, no preservatives, fresh ingredients and organic sugar,'' Benardos says.

Part of the new breed of uptown restaurant talent putting some gloss on lower-end food offerings, Benardos joins US chef Dan McGuirt, who recently opened Jazz City Milk Bar at Republic 2, and former Manly Pavilion head chef Tony Gibson, who is opening a New York-style deli in East Sydney. Benardos' partner at Bernie's Diner (402 Argyle Street, Moss Vale) is Giuliano Colosimo, a graduate of the kitchen at Icebergs Dining Room and Bar. ''We'll do pastrami and corned beef, but it was always a blackboard menu when my grandfather was here, and we'll reproduce some of those Greek classics, like braised lamb shoulder and spanakopita,'' Benardos says.

''The family sold the business in 1957 after my grandfather died but they kept the building. It has had about five different tenants since. When I wanted to do my own place, it felt like a good spot to do it. We've gone for an old-school take with the interior, with elements of art deco from its early days and a 1950s-style update.''

Busy Bee Cafe at National Museum

BY MARIE HOBSON

Namoi Valley Independent. Thursday Oct 3, 2013, page 5.

Photograph: The Busy Bee Cafe as most people remember it in 2003.

View / download a .pdf of the article:

Busy Bee Cafe C.pdf


Local residents who have fond memories of the Greek cafes scattered along Conadilly Street were saddened when the Busy Bee closed its doors for the last time six years ago, ending a colourful chapter of the town’s history.

There was a sense of loss and nostalgia when owner Loula Zantiotis folded up her apron for the last time and handed the cafe over to tenants in October 2007.

Now the warm and inviting interior of the unique building will come to life again when the original furnishings and fixtures feature in a new five-year exhibition at the National Museum of Australia, in Canberra.
The exhibit will be part of a Greek cafe collection, with original furnishings and fixtures, based on photographer Effy Alexakis and historian Leonard Janiszewski’s project in 2007-2008 to identify remaining Greek cafes and cafe memorabilia of national significance around the country.

The museum has invested in a permanent collection of the historic memorabilia which is sure to delight Australians who grew up with the hardworking and congenial Greeks who came to the Great South Land looking for a better life for their children.

Growing up in Gunnedah in the post-war era was a time when Greek cafes thrived and the taste of thick milkshakes, orange freezes and toasted sandwiches was a way of life.

Although early history is sketchy, it is believed the Busy Bee Cafe was built in 1914 as part of the Doolan buildings, with the tea-rooms accessible via an archway through the shop next door, leading to the Grand Central Hotel.

Lambros Zantiotis bought the Busy Bee in the early 1930s and was joined by his son Peter on March 15, 1936, from the Greek island of Kythera in the Ionian Sea. He had come out to Australia on his own as a 12-year-old, with his mother Anastasia and sisters joining the family after the war.

As Gunnedah emerged from the Great Depression, Lambros Zantiotis hired cafe interior designer, Stephen Varvaressos, to install the cafe’s glamorous art-deco fittings, which remained virtually unchanged.
Now, the cafe will live on in the exhibition, entitled Lambros Zantiotis’ Men, with the genuine interior furnishings, signage and cafe ware surviving from the Greek cafe’s heyday in the 1950s and 1960s.

Overseeing the display is Joanne Bach, the National Museum curator, who is excited to have seen the project through to its realisation.
Speaking to Greek newspaper Neos Kosmos, Ms Bach said the exhibit will feature objects acquired from the Busy Bee Cafe in Gunnedah.
“It will be displayed in our Journeys: Australia’s Connections with the World gallery,” she said.

“Personally, it’s been very satisfying to develop the exhibit, having done the work on acquiring the collection – it’s not often that we curators get to see a collection through in that way.”

She said the Busy Bee at Gunnedah was one of a limited number of classic Greek cafes that survived almost intact, and is a fine example of early, angular Art Deco design.

“It appears to have been the first cafe outfitted by the renowned Greek shop-fitter, Stephen C. Varvaressos,” she said.

“Members of the Zantiotis family operated the Busy Bee from the mid-1900s through to 2007 when Loula (Theodora) Zantiotis (nee Cassimatis) finally retired and the business was briefly sold to the Faint family.”
In 2002, when Alexakis and Janiszewski interviewed Loula Zantiotis, she believed the Busy Bee’s days were numbered.

“About 30 to 40 Greeks were here in 1955,” she told the researchers.
“Most of them had cafes – the White Rose, one block down from the Busy Bee, the Monterey, across from the White Rose, the Acropolis, further down the block,” she said.

Loula lamented at the time that only a few Greek families still lived in Gunnedah, with her own children moving away to follow their dreams.
She said that although she was lonely at times, she was not staying in Gunnedah for business – the cafe was her home.

Loula stayed in Gunnedah for a while before moving to Sydney to be closer to her family – she is still, however, a regular visitor to the town she came to as a young bride in 1955.

BY MARIE HOBSON

Namoi Valley Independent. Thursday Oct 3, 2013, page 5.

Photograph: The Busy Bee Cafe as most people remember it in 2003.

View / download a .pdf of the article:

Busy Bee Cafe C.pdf

Local residents who have fond memories of the Greek cafes scattered along Conadilly Street were saddened when the Busy Bee closed its doors for the last time six years ago, ending a colourful chapter of the town’s history.

There was a sense of loss and nostalgia when owner Loula Zantiotis folded up her apron for the last time and handed the cafe over to tenants in October 2007.

Now the warm and inviting interior of the unique building will come to life again when the original furnishings and fixtures feature in a new five-year exhibition at the National Museum of Australia, in Canberra.
The exhibit will be part of a Greek cafe collection, with original furnishings and fixtures, based on photographer Effy Alexakis and historian Leonard Janiszewski’s project in 2007-2008 to identify remaining Greek cafes and cafe memorabilia of national significance around the country.

The museum has invested in a permanent collection of the historic memorabilia which is sure to delight Australians who grew up with the hardworking and congenial Greeks who came to the Great South Land looking for a better life for their children.

Growing up in Gunnedah in the post-war era was a time when Greek cafes thrived and the taste of thick milkshakes, orange freezes and toasted sandwiches was a way of life.

Although early history is sketchy, it is believed the Busy Bee Cafe was built in 1914 as part of the Doolan buildings, with the tea-rooms accessible via an archway through the shop next door, leading to the Grand Central Hotel.

Lambros Zantiotis bought the Busy Bee in the early 1930s and was joined by his son Peter on March 15, 1936, from the Greek island of Kythera in the Ionian Sea. He had come out to Australia on his own as a 12-year-old, with his mother Anastasia and sisters joining the family after the war.

As Gunnedah emerged from the Great Depression, Lambros Zantiotis hired cafe interior designer, Stephen Varvaressos, to install the cafe’s glamorous art-deco fittings, which remained virtually unchanged.
Now, the cafe will live on in the exhibition, entitled Lambros Zantiotis’ Men, with the genuine interior furnishings, signage and cafe ware surviving from the Greek cafe’s heyday in the 1950s and 1960s.

Overseeing the display is Joanne Bach, the National Museum curator, who is excited to have seen the project through to its realisation.
Speaking to Greek newspaper Neos Kosmos, Ms Bach said the exhibit will feature objects acquired from the Busy Bee Cafe in Gunnedah.
“It will be displayed in our Journeys: Australia’s Connections with the World gallery,” she said.

“Personally, it’s been very satisfying to develop the exhibit, having done the work on acquiring the collection – it’s not often that we curators get to see a collection through in that way.”

She said the Busy Bee at Gunnedah was one of a limited number of classic Greek cafes that survived almost intact, and is a fine example of early, angular Art Deco design.

“It appears to have been the first cafe outfitted by the renowned Greek shop-fitter, Stephen C. Varvaressos,” she said.

“Members of the Zantiotis family operated the Busy Bee from the mid-1900s through to 2007 when Loula (Theodora) Zantiotis (nee Cassimatis) finally retired and the business was briefly sold to the Faint family.”
In 2002, when Alexakis and Janiszewski interviewed Loula Zantiotis, she believed the Busy Bee’s days were numbered.

“About 30 to 40 Greeks were here in 1955,” she told the researchers.
“Most of them had cafes – the White Rose, one block down from the Busy Bee, the Monterey, across from the White Rose, the Acropolis, further down the block,” she said.

Loula lamented at the time that only a few Greek families still lived in Gunnedah, with her own children moving away to follow their dreams.
She said that although she was lonely at times, she was not staying in Gunnedah for business – the cafe was her home.

Loula stayed in Gunnedah for a while before moving to Sydney to be closer to her family – she is still, however, a regular visitor to the town she came to as a young bride in 1955.

Original furnishings and fixtures from the Greek cafe Busy Bee will feature in a new five year exhibition

Neos Kosmos, Melbourne, 23 Sep 2013

Photograph: Loula Zantiotis (nee Cassimatis) at the Busy Bee Cafe as her many customers and friends remember her.
Photograph: Namoi Valley Independent

In a special five year commitment, the National Museum of Australia will permanently house a Greek Café collection, with original furnishings and fixtures. Based on photographer Effy Alexakis and historian Leonard Janiszewski work to identify remaining Greek cafés and café memorabilia of national significance around the country in 2007-8, the museum has taken the next step and invested in a permanent collection.

Now, after its highly popular Selling an American Dream: Australia's Greek Café, the museum has sourced genuine interior furnishings, signage and cafe ware surviving from the Greek cafe heyday in the 1950s and '60s.

One in particular, the Busy Bee Cafe owned by the Zantiotis family, will be the main attraction. Only closing in 2012, the cafe will live on in the exhibition, entitled "Lambros Zantiotis's Menu".

Joanne Bach, the National Museum curator overseeing the display, is excited to have seen the project through to its realisation. "The exhibit will feature objects acquired from the Busy Bee Café in Gunnedah," she says. "It will be displayed in our 'Journeys: Australia's connections with the World' gallery. Personally, it's been very satisfying to develop the exhibit, having done the work on acquiring the collection. It's not often that we [curators] get to see a collection through in that way."

The Busy Bee at Gunnedah was one of a limited number of classic Greek cafés that survived almost intact, and is a fine example of early, angular Art Deco design.

It appears to have been the first café outfitted by renowned Greek shop-fitter, Stephen C. Varvaressos.

Members of the Zantiotis family operated the Busy Bee from the mid-1910s through to 2007 when Loula (Theodora) Zantiotis (nee Cassimatis) finally retired and the business was briefly sold to the Faint family.
In 2002, when Alexakis and Janiszewski interviewed Loula Zantiotis, she believed the Busy Bee's days were numbered.

"About 30 to 40 Greeks were here [in Gunnedah] in 1955. Most of them had cafés. The White Rose, one block down from the Busy Bee. The Monterey, across from the White Rose. The Acropolis, further down the block," she remembers.

"Now, only three to four Greek families live here... All the kids [my children] have gone. I'm the only person from my family here - I'm lonely at times... I don't know really what to do... I'm not staying here for business... it [the café] is more my home."

The exhibition is set to open in early October, and will run for five years. Call (02) 6208 5000 for more information.

Original furnishings and fixtures from the Greek cafe Busy Bee will feature in a new five year exhibition

Neos Kosmos, Melbourne, 23 Sep 2013

[[picture:"Loula Zantiotis (nee Cassimatis) at the Busy Bee Cafe in 2002.jpg" ID:21747]]

Loula Zantiotis (nee Cassimatis) at the Busy Bee Cafe in 2002.
Photos: Effy Alexakis, from the 'In Their Own Image: Greek-Australians' National Project Archives

In a special five year commitment, the National Museum of Australia will permanently house a Greek Café collection, with original furnishings and fixtures. Based on photographer Effy Alexakis and historian Leonard Janiszewski work to identify remaining Greek cafés and café memorabilia of national significance around the country in 2007-8, the museum has taken the next step and invested in a permanent collection.

Now, after its highly popular Selling an American Dream: Australia's Greek Café, the museum has sourced genuine interior furnishings, signage and cafe ware surviving from the Greek cafe heyday in the 1950s and '60s.

One in particular, the Busy Bee Cafe owned by the Zantiotis family, will be the main attraction. Only closing in 2012, the cafe will live on in the exhibition, entitled Lambros Zantiotis's Men.

Joanne Bach, the National Museum curator overseeing the display, is excited to have seen the project through to its realisation. "The exhibit will feature objects acquired from the Busy Bee Café in Gunnedah," she says. "It will be displayed in our 'Journeys: Australia's connections with the World' gallery. Personally, it's been very satisfying to develop the exhibit, having done the work on acquiring the collection. It's not often that we [curators] get to see a collection through in that way."

The Busy Bee at Gunnedah was one of a limited number of classic Greek cafés that survived almost intact, and is a fine example of early, angular Art Deco design.

It appears to have been the first café outfitted by renowned Greek shop-fitter, Stephen C. Varvaressos.

Members of the Zantiotis family operated the Busy Bee from the mid-1910s through to 2007 when Loula (Theodora) Zantiotis (nee Cassimatis) finally retired and the business was briefly sold to the Faint family.
In 2002, when Alexakis and Janiszewski interviewed Loula Zantiotis, she believed the Busy Bee's days were numbered.

"About 30 to 40 Greeks were here [in Gunnedah] in 1955. Most of them had cafés. The White Rose, one block down from the Busy Bee. The Monterey, across from the White Rose. The Acropolis, further down the block," she remembers.

"Now, only three to four Greek families live here... All the kids [my children] have gone. I'm the only person from my family here - I'm lonely at times... I don't know really what to do... I'm not staying here for business... it [the café] is more my home."

The exhibition is set to open in early October, and will run for five years. Call (02) 6208 5000 for more information.

[The collection of fixtures and fittings is from the Busy Bee Café, Gunnedah, New South Wales, which was operated by the Zantiotis family from the 1920s until its closure in 2004. The material was acquired by the National Museum of Australia on 10 May 2012.]

In Loving Memory of Ευγενία Ζαντιώτης (Eugenia Zantis)

3/8/1921 - 25/6/2012

Download a .pdf version of this entry here:

In Loving Memory of Evyenia Zantis.pdf

Evyenia was born on 3rd August, 1921 on the Vouno, the village of her maternal grandparents’ house, on the island of Kythera, in an area between the villages of Karava and Ayia Pelayia to parents Theodoros and Stamatoula Zantiotis. Her father built a house in Ayia Pelayia where she and her two younger sisters Haroula and the late Rothopi lived a simple life. During her childhood and teen years, she helped her parents with the harvesting of the local produce and tending to the farm animals.

She attended school in Karava on foot from Ayia Pelayia. During this period, she also experienced the hardship of WWII, where her family had to move to her grandparents’ home whilst the enemy occupied their sea side house as a base.

After the war ended, Evyenia moved to Kalithea in Athens to learn dress making. She lived with relatives and worked in their tavern. As many of her generation, post WWII, she migrated to Australia in 1948 to start a new life. She came by Marcellos Company’s plane which was unusual at this time as most travelled by boat. The plane trip took two months to arrive in Australia as there were mechanical faults and a one month wait in Calcutta, India. There were other interesting ports of call including; Cyprus, Iraq, Pakistan, Burma, Singapore and finally Darwin.

On her arrival in Sydney, her Capsanis uncles took her to Oberon and then later Evyenia stayed with Venardos relatives in Bathurst. In the next few months she met the man of her dreams who was to become her husband - Haralambos Zantiotis / Harry Zantis. Thanks to some encouragement by his eldest brother, Sarandos and the Venardos family, Evyenia and Harry were married in 1948 in Ayia Triada Greek Orthodox Church in Surry Hills.

Evyenia then moved to start her married life with her husband, where he resided in the NSW country towns of Inverell and Warialda. She worked alongside her husband’s brothers and their families.

In 1950 they were blessed with their first son George and three years later their second son Theo. Evyenia was a very devoted wife and mother who lived for her family. As times changed, she and her family moved to Sydney in 1954, to Auburn where they ran the Top Milk Bar till 1969. She worked hard in the shop for long hours.

One of her pleasures was entertaining many relatives and friends. She was an excellent cook and her specialties were spanakopita with a thick crust and the honey dipped sweets melomacarouna. Evyenia also had a determined characteristic of keeping a daily diary of her activities till the very end - something that will be treasured by her family.

In 1969 the family moved to a residential area one block away and Evyenia enjoyed the next few years raising her family and socializing. In 1977 she had much joy in the marriage of her son Theo to Matina and not long after, she, after 25 years and her husband after 54 years, made the long awaited trip back to Kythera to relive many memories. Her joy increased even more in 1979 when her first grandson Harry was born to be followed by another blessing with a second grandson Evan in 1981 and to see them grow up and be fine young men.

Many years of happiness followed but sadly her dearly beloved husband Harry passed in 1991. As most Kytherian migrant woman of her era, she continued with her great strength in assisting her family. In 1993 and 1994 she again made trips to her beautiful island of birth to revisit family and friends and with her very strong Greek Orthodox beliefs made her promised pilgrimages to the Panayia Myrtidiotissa Monastery. A change of residency occurred to Lakemba, on the infamous day of September 11th, 2001 where she and her son George lived till the present. In 2010 her grandson Evan gave her even more happiness when he married Joanne.

Evyenia was a woman of strong character, kindness and great style who always put her family, relatives, Koumbari, Godchildren and friends first. May she forever rest in peace.


George Zantis

[[picture:"009.jpg" ID:21250]]

In Loving Memory of Ευγενία Ζαντιώτης (Eugenia Zantis)

3/8/1921 - 25/6/2012

Download a .pdf version of this entry here:

In Loving Memory of Evyenia Zantis.pdf

Evyenia was born on 3rd August, 1921 on the mountain of her maternal grandparents’ house, on the island of Kythera, in an area between the villages of Karava and Ayia Pelayia to parents Theodoros and Stamatoula Zantiotis. Her father built a house in Ayia Pelayia where she and her two younger sisters Haroula and the late Rothopi lived a simple life. During her childhood and teen years, she helped her parents with the harvesting of the local produce and tending to the farm animals.

She attended school in Karava on foot from Ayia Pelayia. During this period, she also experienced the hardship of WWII, where her family had to move to her grandparents’ home whilst the enemy occupied their sea side house as a base.

After the war ended, Evyenia moved to Kalithea in Athens to learn dress making. She lived with relatives and worked in their tavern. As many of her generation, post WWII, she migrated to Australia in 1948 to start a new life. She came by Marcellos Company’s plane which was unusual at this time as most travelled by boat. The plane trip took two months to arrive in Australia as there were mechanical faults and a one month wait in Calcutta, India. There were other interesting ports of call including; Cyprus, Iraq, Pakistan, Burma, Singapore and finally Darwin.

On her arrival in Sydney, her Capsanis uncles took her to Oberon and then later Evyenia stayed with Venardos relatives in Bathurst. In the next few months she met the man of her dreams who was to become her husband - Haralambos Zantiotis / Harry Zantis. Thanks to some encouragement by his eldest brother, Sarandos and the Venardos family, Evyenia and Harry were married in 1948 in Ayia Triada Greek Orthodox Church in Surry Hills.

Evyenia then moved to start her married life with her husband, where he resided in the NSW country towns of Inverell and Warialda. She worked alongside her husband’s brothers and their families.

In 1950 they were blessed with their first son George and three years later their second son Theo. Evyenia was a very devoted wife and mother who lived for her family. As times changed, she and her family moved to Sydney in 1954, to Auburn where they ran the Top Milk Bar till 1969. She worked hard in the shop for long hours.

One of her pleasures was entertaining many relatives and friends. She was an excellent cook and her specialties were spanakopita with a thick crust and the honey dipped sweets melomacarouna. Evyenia also had a determined characteristic of keeping a daily diary of her activities till the very end - something that will be treasured by her family.

In 1969 the family moved to a residential area one block away and Evyenia enjoyed the next few years raising her family and socializing. In 1977 she had much joy in the marriage of her son Theo to Matina and not long after, she, after 25 years and her husband after 54 years, made the long awaited trip back to Kythera to relive many memories. Her joy increased even more in 1979 when her first grandson Harry was born to be followed by another blessing with a second grandson Evan in 1981 and to see them grow up and be fine young men.

Many years of happiness followed but sadly her dearly beloved husband Harry passed in 1991. As most Kytherian migrant woman of her era, she continued with her great strength in assisting her family. In 1993 and 1994 she again made trips to her beautiful island of birth to revisit family and friends and with her very strong Greek Orthodox beliefs made her promised pilgrimages to the Panayia Myrtidiotissa Monastery. A change of residency occurred to Lakemba, on the infamous day of September 11th, 2001 where she and her son George lived till the present. In 2010 her grandson Evan gave her even more happiness when he married Joanne.

Evyenia was a woman of strong character, kindness and great style who always put her family, relatives, Koumbari, Godchildren and friends first. May she forever rest in peace.


George Zantis

Terrace Wall at my Grandfathers property at Ralli, notice the rock steps to get to the next level, saves walking to the end. Built late 1800's and still in geat nick.

Bessie lives in Claremont, California, USA.

Bessie's Zantiotis heritage derives from The Vouno. "To" Vouno is a very small hamlet (of about 5-6 homes) which lies just out of Karavas on the Ayia Pelagia road.

She is not aware of her family "paruchoukli" or "nickname." However at least two Zantiotis "clans" lived "sto Vouno". One was the "Sarandakos", and the other was the "Kapsanithes".

Common first names of Zantiotithes who lived sto Vouno included, Theothoros, Dimitris, Sarandos, and Yannis.

Sarandakos parachoukli

Famous Sophios photograph with Matina "Sarandako" Comino (nee, Zantiotis) on donkey

Kalomira Krithary, one of the daughters of Pappa Vangelli, long standing priest from Karavas from the 1920's, married Sarandos Zantiotis (from the "Vouno" (Panagia Thespina)). (Parachoukli "Sarandakos".)

Pappa Vangelli's descendants


Other Zantiotis's, also lived at Ayia Anastassia, which again is a short way out of Karavas, but this time on the road to Potamos.

Are there other Zantiotis's in different parts of the world who derive from Ayia Anastasia?

I know of two Zantiotes families who do so.

Peter Zantiotes (Zantis), who married my first cousin Helen Levantis, who together ran a fruit shop in Goulburn, NSW, for a number of decades. Both are now deceased.

Peter Zantis as a young man, in unifrom

And Peter Zantiotes, who with wife Loula, ran the Busy Bee Cafe in Gunnedah, NSW. Peter is now deceased, but Loula still runs the business in Gunnedah.

Loula Zantiotis and the Busy Bee Cafe, Gunnedah, NSW

The one million drachma question is: does Bessie have Zantiotis relatives living in Australia?

.....found on a tile from Agios Georgios tou Vounou (incised marks enhanced for clarity). Photography by A. Bevan 2003.

....found on a tile from Agios Georgios tou Vounou (incised marks enhanced for clarity). Photography by A. Bevan 2003.

[[picture:"Graffito 18th-19th century boat.gif" ID:9767]]

Front Row (L to R): Matina Comino (niece), Stella Zantey (sister-in-law), Elene Poulos.

Second Row: Nick Comino (nephew-in-law), Mary Zantey (niece-in-law), Maria Zantey (niece-in-law), Maria Poulos (daughter-in-law), Theo Poulos (son).

Back Row: Peter Zantey (nephew), Harry Zantey (nephew), Harry Poulos (son).

For Elene Poulos's early life history, see previous entry. More recently....

"Elene was a self-sufficient person who lived alone after the death of her husband George in 1985. However, the years gradually took their toll, and in 2001, she suffered a fall and has since then been living in Bodington Nursing Home in Wentworth Falls. On December 30th 2004, about 50 of her family and friends gathered at Bodington to celebrate her 100th birthday. Typically, she was lucid about the past and recalled with gratitude the help that she received from her Australian neighbours when she first arrived. She stated her pride in being an Australian and was particularly proud of the congratulatory messages that she received from the Queen, the Governor General, the Prime Minister and her local Member of Parliament.

Despite her advancing years, her 2 children, 6 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren continue to be the focus of her existence, and she was very pleased to receive a photograph of all of her descendents for her birthday.

Elene has been on inspiration to those who have known her, and has exemplified the ideals of determination, responsibility and love for family that is so characteristic of Kytherian women".


From The Kytherian, Newsletter of the Kytherian Association of Australia, February, 2005, page 5.

To subscribe to the Kytherian Newsletter you only need to join the
Kytherian Association of Australia
P. O. Box A203
Sydney South, NSW 1235
Australia.

See first entry under Community Services, sub-section, Associations, for more details about the Kytherian Association of Australia.

Submitted by Professor Harry Poulos

Elene Poulos was born on 30th December 1904 in the village of Vouno Kythera, the third of seven children of Haralambos and Stamatina Zantiotis. She helped her parents raise the younger children and the whole family worked hard to make a living in those difficult times. She married George Tzortzopoulos in 1924, and the following year, their first son Theodore was born. A few years later, George left Kythera for Australia where he worked hard to earn enough money to enable his family to join him. Elene and Theo arrived in Sydney in February 1939 and joined George in Katoomba, where he worked as a chef in local guest houses and cafes. The following year, their second son, Harry, was born.

Elene knew no English when she arrived in Australia, but with the help of kindly neighbours, and with her natural persistence, she soon learned enough English to converse and do the shopping. The war years were difficult ones for the family, especially as Theo joined the air force in 1943, but Elene continued to fulfil her role as homemaker and mother, and developed great skills in cooking and crochet work. Her extended family and friends enjoyed the products of these skills over the next 50 years or so.

Over the following decades, George and Elene’s sons married and had their own families. Theo married Annette Conomos on 1960 and they had two daughters, Elenie and Maria. Harry married Maria Langley in 1964, and they produced one daughter, Elena, and three sons, George, James and Peter. Elene revelled in her role as a grandmother and continued to focus her attention on the welfare of her immediate and extended family.

Elene was a self-sufficient person who lived alone after the death of her husband George in 1985. However, the years gradually took their toll, and in 2001, she suffered a fall and has since then been living in Bodington Nursing Home in Wentworth Falls. On December 30th 2004, about 50 of her family and friends gathered at Bodington to celebrate her 100th birthday. Typically, she was lucid about the past and recalled with gratitude the help that she received from her Australian neighbours when she first arrived. She stated her pride in being an Australian and was particularly proud of the congratulatory messages that she received from the Queen, the Governor General, the Prime Minister and her local Member of Parliament.

Despite her advancing years, her 2 children, 6 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren continue to be the focus of her existence, and she was very pleased to receive a photograph of all of her descendents for her birthday.

Elene has been on inspiration to those who have known her, and has exemplified the ideals of determination, responsibility and love for family that is so characteristic of Kytherian women.

[See also 100th birthday photograph, next entry].

From The Kytherian, Newsletter of the Kytherian Association of Australia, February, 2005, page 5.

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See first entry under Community Services, sub-section, Associations, for more details about the Kytherian Association of Australia.