MEMORIES OF GEORGINA MONSERRAT (nee Varthas)
As I was the youngest born, in 1961 one of four daughters, my family was already well established in business and in home in Brisbane. My mother and my father both had relatives here by this time. My mother of Greek/ Asia Minor heritage was born in Brisbane and lived in West End. She met and married my father in 1948. He arrived in Australia in 1938 on a ship called the ‘S. S. Esperance Bay’, at the age of thirteen. My father was born on the Island of Chios, Greece. My father’s family evacuated Asia Minor just before the Catastrophe of 1922. Unfortunately, there are many stories of suffering and hardship that many relatives and friends had to endure. A collection of stories is being written by my relatives and their friends for record in this important book.
This is my story….
My parents built a new home in Mt. Gravatt in 1961. This was a new suburb at the time.
The schools I attended were Mt. Gravatt State Primary and Mt. Gravatt State High. The years were challenging. The level of acceptance and tolerance we have today in schools was not as apparent then. I also attended Greek School and my family was very involved with the Greek community. At that time the Greek community was relatively small, and we seemed to stick together. This involved attending many functions.
I recall as a little girl being involved in a ‘junior debutante ball’, which was held in A.H.E.P.A. Hall (Australian Hellenic Educational and Progress Association) at West End. Another highlight for me was the GOYA Debutante Ball, a few years later, 1974, held at the Crest Hotel in Brisbane. I was dressed in a ‘Greek Peasant Girl’ costume, which my mother made. My role was to present the Lord Mayor, Honourable Mr. Clem Jones, with bouquet of flowers.
It was very clear that the rich Greek culture was really making its mark here in Brisbane. As Greek families were becoming more integrated an accepted into society, our style of cooking and the varied ingredients which were used was becoming of great interest. Great food such as souvlakia (lamb skewers), moussaka (eggplant and mince bake), pastitsio (macaroni and mince pie), just to name a few, were being tested and tried by Australians far and wide. Not to forget the sweets. Baklava, (nut filled filo pastry) kourambiedes, and koulouria (both are biscuits). These were also being appreciated as new delicacies. With the introduction of new and interesting food/ flavours, the wider community wanted to experience more. Greek Café’s where being frequented by interested patrons.
As time went by, we were to have many family gatherings at home, here in Brisbane. We also spent quite a bit of time at my aunts’ and uncles’ homes. They lived close by. With many of us in close and extended families, there was always a celebration of one type or another to attend. Not to forget the most important times of the year to celebrate being Christmas, Easter and New Year’s Day. Favourite places where we would have these celebrations, if we were too great in number for indoors, would be, New Farm Park, Wellington Point, Redcliffe and of course Surfers Paradise. These ‘get togethers’ are very fondly remembered by me. They cemented in my life the great importance of family, respect of others and the celebration of life itself. I also realised the significance of continuing our Greek traditions, music, dance, food, and religious beliefs. I remember my mother spending many hours in the kitchen, days before any event, preparing wonderful Greek delights. As for the music, we had a portable record player that used to play a ‘seventy-eight’ size record. It was a wind-up style of player with a ‘brass arm’ and needle. A gramophone. Greek music and dance was, and still is very important in our family. It is an expression of joy and happiness. As technology improved so did the portable music. We updated to having a tape recorder. The parties never ceased.
Yes, we celebrated life well. My parents, my sisters and I also worked very hard too. Once I left school, I worked in our Café. It was called the ‘Melba Snack Bar”. The Café was in Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley. I believe the name ‘Melba’ was chosen because my grandfather, George Girdis, heard ‘Dame Nellie Melba’ sing and was charmed by her voice. I recall the very long and arduous hours I worked, with my father, at the Café for many years. During this period of my life, I was fortunate to be selected to dance in
the ‘Hellenic Dancers’. I was one of the youngest to be selected into this group at the age of sixteen years. This dancing group was to be a ‘window’ to Greek customs for the wider Brisbane community. As our popularity grew, it was evident that Australians were interested in participating in the dances. I feel that this was a great opportunity for us to involve as many people as possible and to show them firsthand how much fun Greek dancing is. We represented the Greek Community as a whole, at many Greek Festivals and events in and around Brisbane. One event I remember very well was the ‘1982 Commonwealth Games’. It was so great to see the Matilda, the ‘winking’ kangaroo. The Hellenic Dances formed part of the map of Australia. We helped to form the Southwestern Coastline of Australia. The ‘Panayiri Greek Festival’ is one of the most noted. It has become a Grand Event in the Brisbane and Greek Community and a ‘must see’ event on the Annual Calendar for the people of Brisbane.
While I was enjoying this time in my life, I furthered my studies. I had entered my early twenties by now. This led to a very satisfying field and career, in Beauty Therapy and in Retail, as a Customer Services Manager in Myer. To my delight it led me overseas for a short time. Upon my return to Brisbane, I was to see with great amazement, ‘Expo ‘88’. There is only one way to describe this event, ‘absolutely fantastic’. I believe this really signified the coming of age for Brisbane. Everyone learned so much about other countries, their customs and what they had to offer. Soon after, I met and married my husband, Frank Monserrat, in Brisbane, in 1990. He is of Spanish descent and arrived in Australia in 1971. Even though his family settled in Sydney, he was also impressed by ‘Expo ‘88’ and not long after his return to Sydney, he decided to move to Brisbane. My parents were very accepting of Frank. Not surprising really. Of my parents’ four daughters, three married men other nationalities. My mother always boasts that we are a multicultural family.
In 1991 our first son was born, Phillipe Stephen Monserrat. The name Stephen was chosen in honour of my father, Aristophanes Vartholomis. In 1993 our second son was born, Christian Nicholas Monserrat. The name Nicholas was chosen in honor of my paternal grandfather, Nicholas Vartholomis. They are now the third generation to grow and prosper in the ‘Lucky Country’. Both of our sons went to school at John Paul College in Daisy Hill. Phillipe is now studying Business Management at Griffith University. Christian is in Year Ten at John Paul College. If my Grandparents, paternal and maternal, did not or could not leave Asia Minor and Greece, what would have become of us? Where would I be living? I can only imagine what my life would be. Even though I have returned to Greece, for holidays, and I do feel strong ties to her, I know we are very fortunate to be living in and prospering in the best Country in the world.
I am Australian.
I will always cherish the words of my father, on my wedding day, forever.
He said “You should always remember your heritage, proudly. Make it a part of who you will become, use it, going forward, for your new life with your new husband.”
Georgina Monserrat. (Varthas/Girdis)