George Giamadakis, Jo Mavros, Dr Chris Sotiropoulos and Barbara Yerondais
Dr Chris Sotiropoulos, the first Melbourne Rotarian president of Greek heritage, discusses potential collaboration with the Greek community, either directly or in partnership, for initiatives beneficial to them.
With a sense of purpose the Melbourne Rotary Club’s new president, Dr Chris Sotiropoulos, alongside three fellow Greek Australian members, are reaching out to the Greek community, inviting them to propose projects and ideas beneficial to them.
This century-old organisation is actively engaged in a variety of projects within the broader community, both locally and internationally, whether through funding or volunteer work.
“I don’t see why we can’t do the same to meet the needs of the Greek community,” Dr Sotiropoulos, the first Melbourne Rotarian president of Greek heritage, told us in an interview, to discuss their approach in addressing community issues.
“Let’s say one day PRONIA calls us, about a project or activity they want to run,” he explains. “We as Rotary can either volunteer in the activity or fund the activity. For example there are events like the bicycle ride Around the Bay, which is in October, and there’s lots of people who join in. Rotary helps with their volunteers to ensure its success. The money that’s raised, then goes to the Smith Family, which helps disadvantaged children.”
The club which was founded 103 years ago, is the oldest Rotary Club in Australia. Today there around 175 active members, many being current or former prominent leaders in society.
Though traditionally its members were of an Anglo-Saxon background, today the membership and the board is very diverse, and so they effectively engage with culturally and linguistically diverse groups that make up the population of Australia.
Dr. Sotiropoulos highlighted their involvement with various cultural groups, such as Somali Australians, through projects aimed at reducing domestic violence, including violence within the family towards the elderly.
He also mentioned that the potential collaboration with Greek associations, either directly or in partnership, could be for initiatives in aged care, art, healthcare, homelessness, mentoring, and more.
“We could help young artists in the community who want to travel overseas for a scholarship… For young people interested in World Peace, we offer a scholarship of $60,000, to give them the opportunity to spend some time in Africa, to go to a University and learn about World Peace, conflict resolution, human rights, international relations.”
The “Service to Seniors Award” is coming up, he adds, expressing this as an opportunity to nominate someone in the Greek community contributing to elderly care.
“Now that we are a few Greek members on the board, there are more things we can do,” he continues. “All the other members, they’re all good people. They’re open to different opportunities. We have many ethnicities, many religions, and we are not political, it’s all very open. We’re heading off to the National Gallery in a few weeks to see an exhibition, so we’ll get a lecture, dinner. It’s also a fellowship in addition to what we do for the community.”
A couple of the other Greek Australian members have also been with the historical organisation for years. Joanna Mavros has been the Rotary Melbourne Office Manager since 2007, whilst Barbara Yerondais, who is involved in the club’s fundraising activities, joined Melbourne Rotary in 2010, to ‘make a difference’, and to get her daughters involved in volunteering. George Giamadakis, the latest Greek Australian to join, is now Director of Club Events and Fundraising.
Dr Sotiorpoulos has been with them for almost two decades.
“When I was introduced to Rotary Melbourne through Mr. Peter Rogers AM, I was instantly impressed by the depth of intellectual and compassionate leadership of the members and their personal drive to improve communities.”
When on a business trip to New York in 2009 coincided with the Rotary Day held at the United Nations, he attended the event and was moved by the hundreds of attendees from all corners of the globe highlighting their projects. “The warmth, compassion and positivity of the participants was magnetic.”
“It’s been a good journey,” he concludes. “I have met lots of interesting people, many senior people. They learn from you, you learn from them. It is very rewarding. It’s part of the balance of life as they say, to give back to the community.”
The drive to give back and seek opportunities to engage with the world around them was instilled in him and his sister from a young age by their parents, who advised them to always offer their help within their capacity.
“For example, my sister Eleftheria, she’s a tax barrister. She’s involved in the United Nations tax subcommittees. She goes to Europe every couple of months and that is her way of giving back to the international community as well.”
Dr Sotiropoulos is Co-Founder and CEO of Global Opportunities Commercialisation (‘GOC’), which provides services across four continents.
“I think our parents gave us that - they told us to look beyond our boundaries, to the global scene. And it’s actually a lot of fun. Because you learn something new all the time, and that is so important.”
To find out more, visit rotaryclubofmelbourne.org.au
Source: Iris Papathanasiou, Neos Kosmos 8 October 23
Dr Chris Sotiropoulos - pictured with his son Steven and wife Elena -
is the first Greek Australian to be appointed President of the Rotary Melbourne Club
