Demetri Vaggelas – Family Story
Demetris Paraskos Vaggelas (known as Demetri or Jim) was born at Reisdere, Cesme, Asia Minor on 18th December 1896. His parents were Paraskos and Maria. He had a brother, George and a sister, Katerini. The family had a farming property. He went to school for six months and was a good pupil but because of the economic situation, he had to stay home to graze the donkey.
In 1907 he left in a karavi as the atmosphere was not very pleasant. There were two Turkish policemen who drank raki and there was a lot of conflict, so he left Cesme and went to Chios and lived at the property of the Bougdanos family. In 1909 he became a cadet on a sailing ship. In 1914 the first diogmo the Turks chased the Greeks out at the German’s request. He acquired a boat and loaded it and took his family to Chios. They returned to Asia minor but then with the second diogmo, the family eventually moved to Crete where their ancestors now live. In 1914 he joined a sailing ship owned by Theophani Livanos at Genoa and they went to Marseilles, Algiers, Tunisia, Turkey, Italy, Cardiff and then to Australia via the Cape of Good Hope.
When arriving in Fremantle, Australia he jumped ship and went to Bunbury and worked with a Greek fisherman for three months. They got 6pence a pound for fish which was sold to hotels and cafes. He then went to Collie and worked in a timber mill. When the machinery broke down he managed to repair it successfully. They lived in cabins and earned 9/6 each day. The first wage was paid in gold. He then went to Darwin via Wyndham. They were building a meatworks in Darwin and he worked there for 10 months. And earned 6/6 each day. He then got a job as a yardman at a canteen at 4 pound per week and food. He was in WA and Darwin for three years.
He then went to Cairns in 1918 after the cyclone hit Babinda. He cut cane in Babinda for 10 years in all. He bought a cane farm and then in 1922 he brought out Margarita Bougdanos from Chios and they were married at Mirrawini. They had four children there. Periklis, (Peter) Maria (Mary), Sophia and Paraskos (Percy) In 1928 they moved to Yeppoon and bought a pineapple farm. They had three more children. Anna, Evagelia, (Eva) and George. In 1944 he sold the farm and moved to Rockhampton. He joined the garrison and was deployed in the area between Rockhampton and Cairns. After the war he cemented tanks in the Rockhampton area.
In 1952 the family moved to Brisbane and he bought a market garden at Mitchleton. In 1955 he sold the farm and moved to Coorparoo. His wife died two weeks after they moved. He purchased a house in Manly and married Esme in 1968 and lived there till his death in 1982.
Taken at Wynnum 1980
Yeppoon 1968
Demetri, Margarita & Peter. At Babinda 1924
Demetri Vaggelas – 1959, Brisbane
Demetri Vaggelas – 1958, Brisbane