Peter and Dimitria Siokos

Story

Peter Siokos was the eldest of a family of three children, and, believing that the only way to look after his own family of 5 children and wife Dimitria, was to emigrate to Australia, a country perceived to provide opportunity for everyone who took the risk of leaving what they knew for the potential of a somewhat mysterious place far, far away. Australia contrasted significantly to Greece of that time, a country which was still in conflict and not fully recovered from War.

The family travelled to Australia by ship through the Suez Canal. The journey lasted about 30 days and the family arrived in Melbourne in May 1954. Subsequently they settled in Adelaide. Why Adelaide? Because it ‘sounded good’, and, that\’s where on a map of Australia, Peter\’s ‘finger landed\’ when choosing where to settle. Although well educated, language difficulties meant that Peter worked in various labouring positions, working most of his life in the panel shop in GMH in Elizabeth. He retired in the early 1970\’s. Dimitria looked after the family, whose ages when arrived in Australia ranged from 4 – 16. They spent their retirement creating the very best garden in the suburb of Kensington in Adelaide.

In their later years the topics of discussion was about the country they left behind, but more importantly, the country to which they had come, become citizens of, and which had given their children the opportunities they sought. They had succeeded in what they had set out to do. Peter and Dimitria ensured that their children were given opportunities to develop and they are now successful in their own right, in business and in their own family life. When Dimitria died in September 2000 and Peter in May 2001, after 63 years of marriage, they could look back with satisfaction on a full life, experiences and a legacy to be proud of.

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