Wagga’s Greek community members celebrated the 60th anniversary of their Orthodox church with traditional singing and dancing, and plenty of delicious Greek food. Photos: Supplied.
Wagga’s Greek community has celebrated a milestone with its four major areas of expertise: good food, good music, lots of dancing, and family.
The 60th anniversary of Wagga’s Greek Orthodox Church was held at the Greek Community Hall in Tompson Street, which has served as a cultural epicentre for the Greek community for decades and been a vital thread in Wagga’s history.
Organiser Nicholas Georgiou (left) and DJ Michael Liagourdis, who travelled from Melbourne to entertain guests at the 60th anniversary celebration of Wagga’s Greek Orthodox Church.
Under the watchful eye of head chef and cuisine master John Pappas, the celebratory buffet featured traditional mezze such as olives, feta cheese, taramasalata and pita bread; a main dish of Greek lamb, roasted lemon potatoes and traditional salad; and sweet Greek specialties of homemade baklava, galaktoboureko and kataifi.
Families and friends danced the night away, and some even danced on tables as Greek classics were played by special guest, Melbourne DJ Michael Liagourdis.
Wagga locals and visitors enjoying traditional Greek fare at the 60th anniversary celebration for Wagga’s Greek Orthodox Church.
Community president Nicholas Georgiou said the night was brought together by a tireless committee that planned, decorated and delivered a wonderful night.
“It was such an amazing and fun night. So many families came together, with people flying in from interstate to be a part of it all,” Nicholas said.
Locals and businesses also were praised for generously donating fresh produce and fundraising items that were auctioned by their “favourite auctioneer” Bobby Gardner, who had also lent his talents at their 50th anniversary celebration.
“This night was for all our families to celebrate our long and rich history in Wagga and the Riverina, and open up our community hall to share our culture, food and music with the wider community,” Nicholas said.
Wagga’s Greek community has added the gold and silver linings to the city’s cultural tapestry and helped make the region an even better place to live.
(From left): Peter, Nicholas, Psihou and George Georgiou at their Ritz Cafe on the corner of Baylis and Tompson streets in Wagga circa 1965. Photo: Supplied.
The Constantiniou and Georgiou families with a visiting priest from Cyprus in 1968. Photo: Supplied.
A Greek sing-a-long with (from left) Tony, Nick and Johnny Tsipiras and friends in the early 1970s. Photo: Supplied.
Michael and Dawn Georgiou circa 1968 at their famous Michael’s Delicatessan at 236 Baylis Street, which they successfully ran for 35 years. Photos: Supplied.
Smiling for the cameras circa the early 1970s are (from left) Jerry Tsipiras, Jim Christopher, Dr Joseph Theo Andronicos, Father Francis Carroll (seated), Michael Georgiou, Father Nicholas Scordilis and Archbishop Ezekiel. Photo: Supplied.
(From left): George Spanos, Dennis Tsipiras, Michael Georgiou, Father Nicholas Scordilis, Peter Stathis, Nick Andronicos and Con Saltos at Wagga’s Greek Orthodox Church in 1974. Photo: Supplied.
The dinner menu for the celebration to mark the 60th anniversary of Wagga’s Greek Orthodox Church. Photo: Supplied.
Wagga’s Greek community and friends enjoying a celebratory meal at the anniversary get-together. Photo: Supplied.
Wagga’s Greek community dates back to the 1920s and flourished in the ’50s and ’60s through the rise of cafes, milk bars and delicatessens.
Many older locals will remember the Ritz Cafe on the corner of Baylis and Tompson streets, the Blue Moon Cafe, which was formerly the Wonderland Cafe, and Michael’s Delicatessen at 236 Baylis Street, which was run by Nicholas’s parents Dawn and Michael for 35 years until 1996.
The Greeks brought good coffee, chocolate, a bit of glamour and great hospitality to the country, and we loved them for it.
Think of actor and celebrity Lex Marinos, who was a proud Wagga local and loved his Greek heritage, including being a descendant of the Bridge Cafe’s original owner, Anthony Karofilis.
The glue that kept the Greek community together was its Orthodox church, which provided an unbreakable tie to Greece and Cyprus, which many had called home before making the move to Australia to escape the ravages of World War II to start a new life in Wagga Wagga.
During the early years, worship and community life were improvised and intimate. Families opened their homes, and community halls hosted services on feast days. As the number of Greek families in Wagga increased during the ’50s and ’60s, the desire for a permanent church and organised parish became increasingly important.
For many families, establishing a church meant safeguarding identity: teaching children the Greek language, passing on customs and food, and celebrating the liturgical year together. In 1965, the Wagga Greek Orthodox Church and Community’s formal establishment marked a turning point from scattered gatherings to an anchored community that thrived.
Many postwar migrants found employment in small businesses, hospitality and trades, and their well-documented “have-a-go” attitude and community spirit made them easy to like and admire.
Much of what is wonderful about Wagga is thanks to the Greek community members, who embraced their new life by becoming leaders who worked to make the city better for everyone.
Today, Wagga’s Greek Orthodox Church is served by parish priest Father Agathangelo, who was a special guest at the 60th anniversary dinner and blessed the celebratory meal that was enjoyed by all.
“It was such a success we can’t wait to do it again,” Nicholas said.
