News

2019 Annual Picnic a resounding success

Glorious weather and a great turn out helped to make our 2019 annual picnic a resounding success. The oldest and most cherished event on our social calendar continues to attract large crowds with approximately 550 people in attendance this year. How great to see so many generations, all connected in some way, coming together to catch up and celebrate their common heritage. In an age where our lives are constantly busy, the picnic is an ideal opportunity to reconnect with extended family and friends.

Why not plan your next family reunion for the 2020 picnic

A special thank you to all who supported the start to our 2019 Royal Children's Hospital fundraising effort through entry donations, and the sale of souvlaki sticks - a big hit on the day.

A grand total of $1423.10 was raised on the day.

Follow this link to our Photo Gallery and view images from the 2019 Annual Picnic.

Greece’s PM Tsipras hails end of bailout era from Ithaca

Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras hailed Greece’s exit from its bailout program on Tuesday 21 August in a televised address from Ithaca.

“Today a new day is dawning in our country, a historic day. The bailouts of recession, austerity, recession and social desertification are finally over,” Tsipras said.

“Ithaca is only the beginning,” he added. “We will never forget the causes and the faces that led the country to the memorandums,” he said, warning that “new battles lie ahead.”

Tsipras said that the modern “Odyssey” that Greece went through since 2010 has come to an end, that “the era of bailouts has finally ended” and “our country regains its right to define its future.”

The Greek PM's choice of Ithaca had a symbolic meaning. It is the very island where Odysseus returned home from the Trojan war after the 10-year voyage recounted by Greek classical poet Homer.

“Ithaca will once again be identified with the end of a modern-day Odyssey (that was) very difficult for the Greek people,” he said after arriving on the island.

Source: Greekreporter.com

Members learn to make tiropites and taramosalata in second series of cooking classes

On Sunday 17 June, a group of enthusiastic participants gathered at the Ithacan Club rooms for the second cooking class of the year. Even though the rain was pouring outside, members of various ages enjoyed learning how to make tiropites and authentic tarama. Loula Coutsvouelis was our rustic tiropita Masterchef, Anna Vlass demonstrated how to make filo pastry triangles while Genia Vlass-Tsilikis showed us how to make her mother’s taramosalata from scratch. It was a great opportunity to pass on family recipes and to enjoy a lovely lunch together at the end of the session. We are looking forward to the last cooking class of the year in October where we will teach you how to make Kourambiedes. The first session is almost sold out, so jump in before both sessions are full. Contact Peter Raftopoulos at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Thanks to the members who supported the day and see you at the next one!

IPS FaceBook Group meet at Dona Lefki for kafethaki

Congratulations to Debbie Argyropoulos, IPS Facebook Administrator, for organising the successful gathering of some eighty people, many from Australia, at Dona Lefki on July 19 2018.

The IPS Facebook group welcomes people of Ithacan descent and all people who love Ithaca. The aim of the event was to get FB members, who regularly post and comment, to meet fellow members from all around the world.

Katerina Grigoriou, President of Enosi Ithakision Greece summed up the general feeling amongst the people who attended at Dona Lefki when she said, "I congratulate Debbie Argyropoulos for this wonderful day. I believe this meeting was a great opportunity for old friends to get together again, and most importantantly, for younger Ithacans to meet each other and make new friendships, thereby ensuring that family traditions are passed on to the next generation. Great meeting! Great day for us all!"

You can view the buzzing atmosphere and some familiar faces on Youtube on the following link: https://youtu.be/ShD4_egUPT0

Photos labelled Kafethaki on Ithaca, courtesy of Erika Bach.

Australia's Biggest Morning Tea raises close to $5,000

What a fantastic "Biggest Morning Tea" we had on Thursday 17 May. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped raise close to $5,000 for the Cancer Council which included a generous donation by the Ithacan Philanthropic Society. We would also like to thank Anna Vlass who, once again, did an amazing job organising this fundraising event.

This year, we invited guests to bring along their traditional handicrafts where they were displayed for all to admire. Some of our members brought along precious, family heirlooms, others brought handicrafts that they had proudly made themselves. The intricate detail of the works was indeed phenomenal and reminded us of a much simpler time in our history where women were taught to sew, crochet and embroider by their mothers and grandmothers. It was wonderful to talk to the owners and makers of these exquisite works and learn more about how they were created.

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