Andreas Papakonstantinou | Greek-Australian Archive

State Library of New South Wales

Greek-Australian Archive

Andreas Papakostantinou, 2023.

Speaker Profile Προφίλ ηχείου

Andreas Papakonstantinou

Interview date: 13 Feb 2023 | | Language: Greek

Andreas Papakostantinou, 2023.

Speaker background

Occupation: Rail worker, taxi driverYear of arrival: 1959Method of transport: Ship (Aurelia)

Andreas was born into a rural family in the north-western Peloponnese. He was involved in the Greek military until he was decommissioned in 1958, after which he decided to migrate to Australia. His early experience of Sydney was coloured by unstable rental accommodation and frequent moves, before he and his wife Eleni eventually became homeowners. Andreas initially worked as a wage labourer, but eventually became a taxi driver to support his family for nearly four decades. He also supported the efforts of the Labor politician Al Grassby to promote community language programs.

Place of birthArachovitika, West Greece

Location in AustraliaBexley North

Interview summary

Andreas begins by describing his early years in war-torn Greece. He candidly discusses the challenges of trying to make ends meet and securing housing. The interview also draws on Andreas’ working life, and why he decided to become involved in Greek language teaching.

Interview highlights

highlight

Andreas describes meeting a young woman on the journey to Australia, who was destined to marry a man that she had never met.

Andreas: I had grown up with a great respect for women. Women are generally given the short end of the stick in life; to cater for men, to cook for their families, to clean. One of the girls asked if she could speak with me. We sat in the dining room, and she explained that she was going to marry a man who was unknown to her. She wanted my advice. […]
I told her that I didn’t have a clue. I advised her to go and see him for herself. I said that if she didn’t like him that I had plenty of eligible suitors from my own village in Greece. I told her to tell her family [in Italy] to find her someone else. There were plenty of bachelors at that time. When I arrived, there were many eligible young men who were looking for Greek girls.
Timecode 31:24 - 34:19

highlight

Andreas explains why he decided to make home ownership a priority.

Andreas: Then, we lived in Stanmore […] That was the last rental. We stayed there for two years. Two years. I’d take my wife by the hand, and we’d visit the local park, instead of paying for entertainment. We’d drink Coca Cola! And within two years we bought a house.
Interviewer: And where did you buy it?
Andreas: 1 High Street, Canterbury […] It had three bedrooms and was a charming little house.
Timecode 39:19 - 39:55

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