AS Greece teeters perilously close to bankruptcy, two leaders of the local Greek community — John Katis, a councillor at Swan Hill Rural City Council, and retired farmer Arthur Panos — have weighed in on the unfolding situation in their homeland.
Cr Katis’ family emigrated from a small village in southern Greece in 1951, part of a wave of Greeks who came to Australia post World War Two.
Many made their way up to Robinvale, which was at one point home to 70 Greek families.
As many as 50 families have since left and the small Greek church in Robinvale is rarely used these days, with the remaining families pooling funds to pay for the Orthodox priest to make the trip from Mildura on special occasions.
Mr Panos, who emigrated in 1967 and is the caretaker of the church, knows better than most the futility facing most Greek residents.
He hears firsthand reports from his sister and three brothers living in Greece who are facing an uncertain future.
Last week his brother decided to transfer money from his Greek bank account to send to Mr Panos for safekeeping in Australia, but the banking sector shut down before he made the transfer.
Like many in Greece, Cr Katis and Mr Panos are at odds as to what direction Greece should now take.
For the rest of this story, buy a copy of today’s Guardian (Wednesday July 8).
