Eugenia Girdis History (as related by Chryssa Aroney, further research by Con Aroney)
Eugenia Girdis was born in Alatsata, Asia Minor, 1896, the eighth of nine children of Nicholas and Maria Girdis (nee Nicolaides). The children were John, Steve, George, Mark, Sophia (died as an infant), Elizabeth, Arete, Eugenia, and Christopher. The four older boys migrated to Australia between 1905-14, to avoid forced conscription into the Turkish army.
There were two forced expulsions of Greeks from Asia Minor, the first in 1914 called “O Megalos Diagmos” (the great persecution) and the second in 1922 known as the “katastrofi”; and Eugenia and her mother, sisters and younger brother were involved in both.
During the first expulsion of Greeks in 1914, the remaining family escaped to Athens, where they stayed till 1919. John Girdis travelled back to Greece and married Ourania in Athens in about 1916 (parents to Pipitsa and Katie).
Father of the family, Nicholas Girdis died in 1919 from pneumonia in Athens. In 1919 the Greek army began its ill-fated invasion of Asia Minor, and with this protection, the family (except for the four older boys) returned to Alatsata.
Maria Girdis and her younger children, Elizabeth, Arete, Eugenia and Christopher were the remaining family which returned to their old family home in 94 Panayia St, in Alatsata in 1919. The house was close to a large church “Tis Panayias” (converted to a Mosque in 1922 – now known as “Pazaryeri camii” or the Marketplace Mosque; a minaret was added in 1951).
George Roumana, travelled from USA to marry Arete in Alatsata. Mother Maria, Arete and Eugenia travelled to Chesme, to buy gifts for Arete’s dowry, and Eugenia met Mr John Caris, a shopkeeper, who told her his son Con was living in Australia, his other son Tony was in the Greek army fighting the Turks, and his third son Margarety was in a school in Chios. Eugenia would later marry Con Caris, in Australia. He also had three daughters, Marianthe (who later married Con Miller who travelled from the USA), Eleftheria (married and later stayed in Chios), and Kyriake (who later married Con Species in Australia). John Caris was killed by the Turks in his home in Chesme in the 1922 catastrophe.
Elizabeth Girdis became a nun. Shortly after her marriage to George, Arete fell pregnant.
In 1922, the remaining Girdis family living in Alatsata were mother Maria, daughters Elizabeth, the pregnant Arete (and her husband), Eugenia and son Christopher (aged 15). With the Turkish attack during the “katastrofi” in 1922, George Roumana was killed by the Turks in Alatsata, and the remaining family fled towards Chesme to escape. Christopher was hidden under Elizabeth’s nun’s habit, but the Turkish soldiers saw his legs under the habit and killed him. The four terrified women escaped to Chesme and then to Athens.
Upon arriving back in Athens, the brothers in Australia arranged passages for Eugenia and Elizabeth to come to Brisbane. Mother Maria remained with Arete in Athens until she had her baby (Despina). In Australia, Steve had married Malama, and George and Mark wrote and asked their mother to find and bring two girls (Kyriakouli, Ourania) from Alatsata to Australia to be their brides. Maria, Arete and Despina, Kyriakouli, Ourania all travelled to Australia. After her arrival, Eugenia met Con Caris, and a triple wedding occurred soon after (Con Caris and Eugenia, George Girdis and Kyriakouli and Mark Girdis and Ourania).
Con Caris and Eugenia bought a house in Bank St West End, and with some War Bonds from Greece, Maria extended the house, so that Maria, Elizabeth, Arete and baby Despina could live together, along with Con Caris and Eugenia. In the early 1930s Maria died from diabetes. Despina in 1943 married Stan Drakos, and took Arete to live with them. Elizabeth died in 1950, aged sixty. Arete died in 1969, aged eighty.
Con Caris died in Brisbane in 1960. Eugenia died in Brisbane in 1976, aged eighty.
CON CARIS AND EUGENIA GIRDIS DESCENDANTS
Con Caris (from Chesme) and Eugenia Girdis (from Alatsata) had four children.
Jack Caris (1923- 1943) Jack died in a tram accident in 1943.
Chryssa Caris (1926)married Dr Nick Aroney, in 1945. They had 4 children. Irene Aroney (1953-64) died in 1964. Eugenia died in infancy. Peter Aroney (1946-69), their eldest son and a Qld champion javelin thrower, died suddenly as a medical student in 1969. Con Aroney, AM (1956) received a scholarship to attend the Church of England Grammar School, completed his medical degree at UQ in 1979, and became a cardiologist in 1986. He was awarded a scholarship to attend Harvard Medical School in Boston from 1987-9. He received a Doctor of Medicine in 1991 from UQ for his research thesis on heart failure, and was appointed as Associate Professor of Medicine at UQ. He was Director of Coronary Care at the Prince Charles Hospital for 14 years, until moving to the Holy Spirit Northside Hospital as Director of Cardiology. As an interventional cardiologist, he introduced several new cardiac operations to Queensland and Australia. Since 2000, he has been senior author of the Australian Heart Foundation guidelines for treating heart attack and unstable angina. He was named Queensland Whistleblower of the Year in 2005, after revelations regarding hidden cutbacks in cardiac services in Queensland. In 2007, he was appointed a member of the Order of Australia, for services to cardiology and to the Heart Foundation. Con Aroney married Trish McInnes in 1982 and has four children. Chris-Anne (1983) has a bachelor of education (early childhood, QUT) and has an Associate Diploma in Speech and Drama (Trinity College London). She is director/teacher of the C&K Kindergarten at Coorparoo. Nicholas (1985) has an honours degree in science (UQ) and is a medical student at Griffith University. He is also a lifesaver at Southport, keen sportsman and plays in a band. Elizabeth (1989) is a nursing student who enjoys skiing and travel. Stephanie (1991) is a science student, planning on studying medicine. She was awarded an Australian Education Prize from the Australian Government, as one of the top 500 senior students in Australia in 2008.
Nicholas Caris (1930) married Peachie Eleftheriou in 1953. Nick became a pharmacist and was a champion University rower and was a King’s cup rower in 1949. He won several Queensland titles in the eights, as well as an Australian titles and a world championship silver medal in rowing in the Masters games at age 70. He builds and maintains rowing boats and has boats named after him at Brisbane’s Commercial rowing club and Townsville Rowing club. They have three children. Con Caris (1956) studied computer science, married Christine Mylonas, and has 3 children. Nicholas (1984) studying sound technology and computer science. Daniel (1986) has a degree in computer science. Joanne (1989) studying nursing and human movement studies. Homer Caris (1958) is a pharmacist who has worked in North Queensland, Papua New Guinea and recently Tasmania. Yvonne Caris (1963) married Cameron Turrell in 1983. She is a quilting expert and has two children. Xanthe (1991) studying domestic science. Zeke (1993) a school student.
Chris Caris (1931-2005) married Betty Londy in 1957. Chris was a champion schoolboy athlete, stroke of State High’s winning rowing eight, footballer and shot-putter. He became a pharmacist and a gem expert. He died in 2005. They had three children. John Caris (1959), who is a pharmacist and married Helen Kolatsis in 1983. They have three children. Carly (1985), a speech pathology student. Christopher (1988), a science student at QUT planning to do pharmacy. Anastasia (1990), a business student at QUT. Charles Caris (1960) , who is a pharmacist and married Chrissie Crethar in 1984. They have two children. Kelly-Marie (1986), has a diploma of child care and is completing a business degree at QUT, majoring in PR and advertising. Mary-Anne (1988), who has an applied science degree (forensics and biotechnology) and is a pharmacy student. Gena Caris (1962) married George Conomos in 1984, and have four children. Andrew (1987), a pharmacist. Christopher (1990), a law/economics student. Greer (1992), a school student. Daniel (2000), a school student.