Told by George Anthony, John and Marika Hadjiantoniou
Antonios Hadgiantoniou (my paternal great grandfather’s brother) was a merchant of Lyvisio who through his creativity, efficiency, business acumen and honesty, amassed a considerable wealth which he used for several community needs and projects. He constructed a wide road from the location of Panagia’s Pyrgiotissis as far as the location of Panagia’s Puritou or approximately 4km in length. He erected the Church of Panagia Pyritou, originally a small Chapel and donated all the icons and furnishings.
During the year 1878 brothers, Antonios and Dimitri Hatziantoniou discovered an ore mine rich in Chromium. By mining it professionally they amassed a phenomenal wealth and speedily they became the richest men of the province of Makris and Lyvisio. As a result the main beneficiary of the find was Michael Mousaios, then school teacher of the Makris School who was fulfilled with joy to see his school witness a substantial increase in the number of students within a short period.
My great grandfather Dimitri Hadjiantoniou had 6 children –
Despina – who married a Kontou
Chrysanthe – who married a Keloudis whose descendants are in Sydney
Antoni – whose only daughter died childless
Michael – my grandfather born 1865 who married Ekaterina Louzidis having 4 children
Filia – who married a Karayanis whose descendants are in Adelaide
Mario – who married a Baratari and died childless
Ekaterina Louzidis’ father, John, was the Mayor of Makri in the early 1900’s. His brother Hatzi Nicholas Louzidis was another Greek philanthropist who made improvements by erecting other educational institutions. He refurbished and enlarged the old school at Kounousata Hill. In 1886 he erected from the bottom the school on St. George’s Hill, consisting of four large classrooms.
In 1905 he donated to the community of Makris a large building to house the Parthenagogion (girls’ school). Two years later he erected the large “Louizidion School” for boys, consisting of six large classrooms, administration offices and gymnasium. The opening of this school took place on 7th January 1907 with unforgettable ceremonies and splendour.
Louizidis also played an important role in the recruiting of teaching staff for the schools and their wellbeing. To maintain this he reinforced his actions by furthering his charitable routine of donations to the “Rizarion School” of Athens.
During his philanthropic carrier, Hatzi Nicholas Louizidis established a school for the poor Turkish children of the Makris-Lyvisio district. Further, he built and decorated the local Synagogue.
He was decorated and awarded several titles by the Hellenic and Turkish Governments as well as the Jewish community.” His nephew Louizos Louizidis who became a professor of law at the University of Athens took court action against the Turkish Government seeking to retrieve the family fortune in the Hague without success.
After the forced exchange of population in 1922, my grandmother Ekaterina Hadjiantoniou with her young children –
A daughter who died as an infant in Asia Minor
Dimitri, who has 2 children, Michael, a doctor with 2 children and Ekaterina Kapelouzos with 1 daughter
Chrysoula, (who married a Zappas) having a daughter, Fili who married Peter Karikopoulo and has 1 daughter, Chrysoula
John, born 17/01/1913 (my father) who married Marika Lazarides
Platon, who married a Dorothy Haritos and has 3 children, Michael, Chrysoula and Esther, who now all live in South East Queensland
My grandfather, Michael Hadjiantoniou, escaped Turkey by pretending to be a Muslim holy man and travelled south to Lebanon.
My uncle Dimitri went to university in Athens and became a doctor, whilst my father gained an apprenticeship as a sweetmaker.
In 1929 my father (almost 17) left Greece on 28th September 1929 for Australia disembarking the “Romalo” in Melbourne on 2nd December 1929. Grandfather Michael had preceded him. My father worked for 3 years at the Galafatos Fish Shop on Larkin Street, North Melbourne. He then worked for 1 year at Bill Ekonomos Fish Shop, Parramatta Road, Sydney and then 6 months for Pappas and Pandalus at the Paragon Café in Kingaroy.
On 26th October 1934 my father left Sydney and arrived in Pireaus on 11th December 1934 for a family visit. My father left Pireaus on 26th March 1935 and disembarked in Melbourne on 28th April 1935. His younger brother Platon followed him in 1939.
My mother’s paternal great grandfather, Andreas Lazarides was born in 1835. He and his wife Maria had 2 sons, Anthony who married Helen Mousaios and George who married Despina. My mother’s paternal grandafather was Anthony Lazarides, who had 5 children, Andreas , Michael (my grandfather), Lazarus, Maria who died young and Nicholas. The families of Lazarus and Nicholas settled in North Queensland but most are now located in South East Queensland. Michael married Anthoula Louizidis and had 3 children, Marika (my mother) (born 1915), Anothony (died 2 years), Michael (born 1920).
During the catastrophe my maternal grandfather died after having escaped from a prisoner of war camp and my mother, her younger borther Michael and her mother, Anthoula Lazarides, escaped to Greece. My maternal grandmother succumbed to the events of the catastrophe died within a few years of their arrival in Greece. My mother and her brother Michael were separated and survived on the charity of relatives. With the help of other relatives my mother left Greece and arrived in Melbourne in 1937 where she stayed with her cousin, Kyriakos Lazarides (son of Geroge Lazarides, brother of her paternal grandfather).
My mother then travelled to Townsville and stayed with her uncle Nick Lazarides (her father’s youngest brother). My father had started as a door to door saleperson selling drapery items to the farming communities surrounding Ipswich. My father then established a hat shop in the Trades Hall in Nicholas St, Ipswich.
My parents were married in 1939. They subsequently bought a house in Lamingston Parade, North Ipswich where they lived with my paternal grandfather. On 13th May 1944 my father and mother became Australian Citizens. During World War II when the Japanese made bombing raids into Australia my parents purchased a grand house called “Dorrington” from the Foote’s (relatives of Cribb & Foote Department Store) who sold their home for fear of Japanese invasion. The house was renamed “Oasis” by my parents and is now heritage listed.
In the early 1950’s, Platon Anthony married Dorothy Haritos and settled in Darwin where they operated a large general store. My parents’ drapery business, “Anthonys” grew and they moved into larger premises in Brisbane St and started clothing manufacturing upstairs in the premises.
My father became an active member of the Chamber of Commerce. My parents became known in the Greek community for the parties held on various occasions with exotic cuisine. During that time my family initially had holidays at Redcliffe with the large Kytherian community. Subsequently the family took holidays at Coolangatta again with the Kytherian community including families from northern New South Wales.
My father died on 20 July 1959 after a prolonged illness. My mother overcame her personal loss and the financial impost of my father’s death with the help of her children.
My mother successfully operated the family drapery business in Ipswich and educated her 3 children. My mother involved herself in the local women’s business group and Quota. My mother retired in 1973 and moved to Brisbane where she became actively involved in the Greek community and enjoyed her family and friends. My mother passed away on 17th October 1998 aged 83 after a deteriorating health condition.
My sister Maya became a high school teacher, married the late Dr George Simonidis and has 4 children – John, Peter, Constantine and Callie and 7 grandchildren.
My brother Michael is a retired solicitor. Michael married Demetra Pappas and has 4 children – Katherine, Christina, John and Luke and 3 grandchildren.
I am a solicitor and notary and married Sophia Comino and have 4 children – Marina-Portia, John, Eleni and Alexandra.