ΔΕΜΕ (Διακυβερνητικής Επιτροπής Μετανάστευσης από Ευρώπη), βιβλίο, ημερολόγιο, φωτογραφίες, και διαβατήρια 1951-1974 -D.E.M.E (Intergovernmental Committee on Migration from Europe) binding book, diary, photos, passports) 1951-1974

Item

Title: ΔΕΜΕ (Διακυβερνητικής Επιτροπής Μετανάστευσης από Ευρώπη), βιβλίο, ημερολόγιο, φωτογραφίες, και διαβατήρια 1951-1974 -D.E.M.E (Intergovernmental Committee on Migration from Europe) binding book, diary, photos, passports) 1951-1974
Subject: Greek language, Modern; Manuscripts, Greek
Category: 4. World War II
Keywords: greek; Greeks in Australia
Current holder: Hellenic Historic & Cultural Centre NSW
Period of reference: 1951 – 1974
Access rights: Permission required
Country of origin: Greece
Language: Greek (Modern)
Abstract: The archive of DEME was collected by Anna Ioannidis, who volunteers at the Hellenic Ηistorical & Cultural Centre, NSW. Unique part of the collection is a binding book of DEME, which includes subjects taught to Greek women, in Athens, as a preparation course for Australia.

Anna Ioannidis explains:

In 1999, Eleni Fotopoulou - Retsi visited the Hellenic Ηistorical & Cultural Centre and shared the story of DEME and her personal experience as being part of it. DEME was preparing and training immigrants to move overseas, and in the case of Australia, they taught Greek women (who did not hold any official qualification) how to do housekeeping. Mrs Retsi explained that in 1959 DEME, in Alimos, Athens, would only supply them with individual papers on different subject. Before she departed to Australia, Mrs Retsi decided to bind all these individual pages in a book on her own expenses. Because of this, the book lacks a title and further information or references. Since the historical and emotional value of this item is unique, Anna Ioannidis believes it should be shared with the community, thus the official holder is the Hellenic Ηistorical & Cultural Centre while Mrs Retsi and family have kept a digitized copy.

Addition to the collection is a box including photos from DEME's certificate award ceremony, postcards and photos from the departure day (from the boat) 1955, 1966, photos from the Bonegilla exhibition, a personal diary from Bonegilla 1968 (the name of the writer cannot be shared here for privacy reasons), vaccination certificates of Greek immigrants, booklets from DEME; including "the letters and the sounds of English" in Greek (donated by Alekos and Eleni Michailidi), certificate of registration with Common Wealth (newcomers Greek immigrants), and 4 British, and 2 Greek passports.
Date accessed: February 7, 2023