Greek-Australian Archive – Ioannis Dimou

Item

Title
Greek-Australian Archive – Ioannis Dimou
Subject
Australia--Emigration and immigration—History
Immigrants
Greek language, Modern
Voyages and travels
New South Wales
Employment
Category
5. Cold War (including Decolonisation)
Author
Dimou, Ioannis
Keywords
Greeks in Australia
Oral history
Creator
Doumanis, Nick
Current holder
State Library of New South Wales
Date
May 28, 2023
Link
https://greekaustralianarchive.sl.nsw.gov.au/oral-histories/ioannis-dimou
Access rights
Digitised
Country of origin
Australia
Place
Sydney
Language 
Greek (Modern)
Description from source
Interviewer: Nick Doumanis

Occupation: Builder’s labourer
Year of arrival: 1962
Method of transport: Ship (Brittany)

Ioannis Dimou was born in 1932 in the village of Pigi, located in the Epirus region. He married a local girl and had three children. Finding it hard to make ends meet as a builder’s labourer, he believed that he could earn far more doing the same job in Australia. After being sponsored by his brother, who had migrated a few years earlier, he arrived in Australia and commenced work in the construction industry in the Parramatta area. Ioannis dedicated much of his free time to promoting Greek social and cultural life, especially the local Epirote brotherhood and youth soccer.

Interview summary
Ioannis describes conditions in Epirus during the war years, the ill-treatment he endured during his military service and the struggle to secure gainful employment. He talks extensively about the journey to Australia and working conditions in Parramatta in the 1960s and 1970s. He also recalls his involvement with various Greek community associations.
Physical format
Sound recording
Related resources 
https://omaa-arts.sydney.edu.au/texts/4892/
https://omaa-arts.sydney.edu.au/texts/4893/
https://omaa-arts.sydney.edu.au/texts/4894/
https://omaa-arts.sydney.edu.au/texts/4895/
https://omaa-arts.sydney.edu.au/texts/4896/