Steven Nicholas Girdis & Cocolas Family Descendants
Steven (Stavros) Nicholas Girdis (1885-1967), brother to Eugenia Girdis, was born in Alatsata (Asia Minor). His mother’s (Maria Nicolaides) family took Steven to Constantinople where he graduated from the Theological School of Constantinople, to study theology. In 1905 he migrated to Australia and married Malama Marinakis (1895-1991) also from Alatsata in 1922. They had three children Mary (1923), Nicholas Stephen (1926) and George Stephen (1928). He had the Café Brittania in Queen St Brisbane and then established the New York Sundae Shop which was the first cafe to introduce sundaes. It was renamed the Melba Milk Bar. He established the Greek Sunday School in South Brisbane.
Children of Steven Nicholas Girdis and Malama Marinakis:
Nicholas Stephen Girdis CBE, was born in West End in 1926. He attended the Brisbane State High School and became school captain in 1943. He joined the Australian army in 1945 and within 18 months achieved the rank of Lieutenant. After the war, he attended the University of Queensland and graduated as a dentist in 1951 and obtained a doctorate degree in dentistry in 1960. Nicholas married Maria Londy in 1954 and had two sons Stephen and Peter. Stephen graduated as an engineer from the University of Queensland and married Maria Poulos and has two children, Nicholas Stephen and Kathryn. Peter graduated in commerce law at the same university and married Carolyn Unwin, and has three daughters Astrid, Odessa and Penelope. Both boys obtained MBA’s from the University of Southern California, USA. Nicholas Girdis started a family property investment and development business in 1958 which has been successful, and continues to conduct business today. Since that date over 100 projects have been completed in South-East Queensland and the Girdis Group now owns and manages one of the largest office building portfolios in the centre of Brisbane. Nicholas Girdis was President of the Greek Community from 1967 to 1971. He became Commodore at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron from 1979 to 1981 and was awarded the Commander of the British Empire from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for community service in 1984. In 1984 Nicholas was also appointed by the State Government to the Senate of the University of Queensland and remained on the senate for 15 years. During this period he was also Chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee of the University. Nicholas enjoyed ocean racing for 18 years completing a number Sydney Hobart Yacht races. He represented Australia in the Southern Cross Cup Series and was the reserve boat in the Admirals Cup in 1979. He won the prestigious New York Yacht Club Trophy in England in 1979. More recently he has enjoyed cruising the Greek Islands twice a year for many years.
George Stephen Girdis (1928) grew up in West End and graduated from the University of Queensland in Applied Science. He worked as an engineer in Sydney and became a Director at Lend Lease Corporation air-conditioning subsidiary Environ. He married Effie Christian in 1959 and had two sons Stephen Mark (1960) and Michael Stephen (1964). Stephen is married to Maria Carayannis and has a son Jordan. George is now retired living comfortably in Sydney.
Mary Cocolas (nee Girdis) (1923) Born in Brisbane where she grew up in West End having attended St Patrick’s Catholic school, West End state School and South Brisbane Intermediate School. In 1937 Mary began working with her father at the Melba Café until she married Antonios George Cocolas in 1943. They moved to Roma and had three children Antonia (1944), George Anthony (1947) and Steven Anthony (1953). In 1956 they returned to Brisbane and built a home in 1972 at Indooroopilly where she still resides. Antonios George Cocolas (1913- 1978) Born in Smyrna, Asia Minor. 1916 escaped from Smyrna to Chios after the First Exodus. Lived in the Smyrna suburb of Cordelio. Saw the Smyrna fires. Grew up in Chios where he played the violin at school. After Antonios left school he went to work for his father who was a tailor. He was conscripted into National Service in the army for 2 1/2 years before coming to Australia in December 1936. His fare was paid by Tony Caris for whom he subsequently worked at the Belle Vue cafe in Roma, Qld from 1936 until June 1956. In 1943 he married Mary Girdis. In 1956 they sold two houses in Roma and the family moved to Brisbane. They stayed at Mary’s parents (Steven and Malama Girdis) house at 12 Upper Melbourne St (subsequently renamed Mollison St) West End. In 1959 Tony (Antonios), Nick Girdis and George Girdis went into partnership to build and operate Kingsford Hall Private Hotel which were serviced rooms on the corner of Kingsford Smith Drive and Cooksley Sts Hamilton. Tony managed the hotel until 1971 when he suffered a heart attack after which he retired. Tony and Mary built a home together at Indooroopilly where they enjoyed their retirement years. He continued to enjoy sewing tapestries for his immediate and extended family. He enjoyed his two grandchildren until succumbing to a fatal heart attack in 1978.
Children of Mary Cocolas (nee Girdis) and Antonios Cocolas:
Antonia (Nitsa) Kallos (1944-2000) (nee Cocolas) was born in Roma in 1944. After her family moved to Brisbane in 1956, she attended Somerville House for her education. She worked as a dental assistant and in 1967 married Peter George Kallos. Nitsa and Peter together had four children. Stephanie Maree born in 1970, Chrisanne Maria born in 1973, George Peter born in 1976 and Marina Helen born in 1978.Together they lived in Indooroopilly where their four children attended Indooroopilly State School, before completing their secondary education at Brisbane Girls’ Grammar School and Brisbane Grammar School. Stephanie Maree Stamatiou (nee Kallos) (1970) continued her education by completing a Bachelor of Business where she graduated as an accountant. Soon after completing her degree, she married John Stamatiou in 1992. Together they have had a daughter Ellen Louisa who was born in 1998. Today Stephanie works with her husband as a bookkeeper for his dental surgery. Chrisanne Maria Balev (nee Kallos) (1973) completed an Associate Diploma of Child Care after her secondary education. She worked in the childcare industry before marrying Nicholas Balev in 1994. They together have had two daughters, Laura Antonia born in 1998 and Ellie Penelope Francis born in 1999.Today Chrisanne works as an education facilitator in an early intervention center for autistic children. George Peter Kallos (1976) continued his study by doing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Property Economics. George married Litsa Tsimpikas in 2001. Together they have two children. Peter George born in 2006 and Anastasia Julia born in 2008. Today George works as a Property Valuer. Marina Helen (nee Kallos) (1978) completed a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Marketing and Banking and Finance, after graduating from high school. She married Manuel Fotinis in 1998. Marina worked as a practice manager, prior to the birth of her daughters Alyssa Peta born in 2005 and Zoe Maree born in 2007.
George Anthony Cocolas (1947) completed a Bachelor of Dental Science in 1969 at the University of Queensland. George works at Coopers Plains Dental Surgery which he started in 1969. The practice has expanded and now services Barcaldine, Longreach and Emerald. George married Paula Nickol Samios in 1972. They have three children. Madeleine Cocolas (1979) completed a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Law at the University of Queensland in 2002. Madeleine is passionate about music, and has completed her CMus and AMus qualifications through AMEB. She currently works as a lawyer in Melbourne, and is in her final stages of completing her MMus. Anthony George Cocolas (1983) completed a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Economics at the University of Queensland in 2005. Anthony currently works in finance banking. He pursues musical interests and considers himself an adrenalin junkie! He enjoys rollerblading, wakeboarding and skiing. Nicole Cocolas (1986) is currently studying a Bachelor of International Hotel and Tourism Management at the University of Queensland. Nicole enjoys traveling, and has worked overseas. She is also studying her AMEB Grade 8 Piano accreditation.
Steven Anthony Cocolas (1953) became a Queens Scout in 1970. Graduated from University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Dental Science with Honours (1975). He was a Councillor and Treasurer of the Australian Dental Association (Qld. Branch) for over ten years. Steven served on the university of Queensland Faculty Board and o the QW 11 Hospital Board. He established and is currently operating a general private dental practice in Brisbane. Steven married Maria Londy in 1977 and has three children Anthony Steven (1982), George Steven (1984) and Melanie Francine (1988). Anthony Steven Cocolas (1982) graduated from University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Commerce (2003) and a Bachelor of Law (2005). Completed a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice in 2007. Admitted in 2007 as a Legal Practitioner of the Supreme Court of Queensland and High Court of Australia. He now practises in a law firm in Brisbane City. Anthony also completed his Grade 8 tenor saxophone accreditation. George Steven Cocolas (1984) became a Prefect at Anglican Church Grammar School (2001). Currently studying Bachelor of Information Technology at the University of Queensland. Established a business providing IT solutions and network support. Melanie Francine Cocolas (1988) became a House Captain at Moreton Bay College (2005). Represented Queensland in hurdles and javelin at Australian National Titles. Teaches and plays the drums. Currently studying Bachelor of Science – Podiatry at the Queensland University of Technology.