By Tate Papworth
Giannoula Panagiotopoulos has lived a life of adventure, friendship and kindness.
The much-loved grandmother was the toast of Brimbank last month as friends and family helped her celebrate her 100th birthday.
Giannoula was born in the Greek village of Chrysohori in 1918 and from a very early age had to learn considerable strength and fortitude.
She married her husband, Fotios, in 1945 and moved to Australia in 1955.
Giannoula’s daughter, Olympia Panagiotopoulos, said the move to Australia wasn’t any easy decision for her parents.
“Like many people of that era, my parents made the courageous decision to leave their homeland for the prosperity of their family, working many jobs to support their children, while struggling with the contrasts of language and culture, trying to maintain their heritage, adapt to their new environment,” she said.
Since then, Giannoula has helped make the migration transition a lot simpler for others.
“My parents were responsible for helping many other migrants settle in Melbourne … helping them to create and establish a new life,” Olympia said.
“In 2009 (her 90th birthday), mum was featured in
Neos Kosmos. As a result of that article, we were contacted by some of the passengers of the ship Tasmania who had travelled with my family in 1955.
“I held a reunion at my home for some of the passengers who spent the afternoon recalling memories and sharing their experience.
“As we celebrate Giannoula’s 100th birthday, we pay tribute to a remarkable woman – one who is exemplary of extraordinary courage, strength, resilience and, most importantly, great spirit and love, an inspiration to us all.”
