Renmark Paringa Council

Ραδιοφωνικο ιδρυμα Κυπρου

Ελληνικη Ραδιοφωνια τηλεοραση

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Searching for great grandfather's family

March 2011

Dear Reader,

For the past 5 years I have been searching for the family of my Great Grandfather, Andreus. Please can you help me?

My name is Jolyon, and Great Grandfather, migrated to South Australia, arriving here in 1874, aged about 24 years. He then anglicised his name as many Greeks immigrants of that time did, to Andrew Thompson.

There is a big gap between his arrival and the next event in his life and I expect he was finding his way in a foreign country, where he could not speak the language.

He settled in Port Augusta, South Australia a coastal town with a small port and good opportunity for fishing. It is here in 1883 he married an English girl Sophia Reynolds, and one of the witnesses at the marriage was Anton Nicholias, who remained a friend for life. Andreus signs his marriage certificate with a cross, indicating that he could not write in English. I don’t know if any letters were ever written home to Greece and perhaps the family do not know that he married and had children. I am hoping his wife would have written in English and they at least had some news of their son.

Sophia and Andreus had several children, Anastasia, a son Andrew, Helena, Ethel my Grandmother, Cleanthie, Athaeir, and Anastasia Richarda.  As his first child was called Anastasia was this his Mother’s name?  Sadly Anastasia, Andrew, and Anastasia Richarda died as infants, however his four surviving daughters went on to marry and have families of their own.

In April 1891 Andreus becomes a “Naturalised” Australian and it was on this certificate that I discovered that he was a native of Greece and a professional fisherman. This certificate is also signed with a cross. His children began school in 1892 and on their enrolment forms he is described as ‘fisherman/ fish merchant’.

Obviously he was anxious for them to get the education that he had missed out on in Greece.

As a third generation Australian, it came as a surprise to find I had a Greek Great Grandfather, but then as I had time to think about it, it did explain many things. My Father’s dark olive skin, dark brown eyes, and black hair, his wonderful happy personality, his manner of speaking with his hands, and his love of Mediterranean foods. A second cousin has told me that she was told that Andreus’s Greek surname was Morphette, however this maybe misspelt, or maybe the region, town, or village that he came from.

Andreus died in Port Pirie, South Australia a neighbouring town of Port Augusta on the 9 December 1911 aged 61 years; the cause of death was a heart attack. This year in 2011 is the centenary of his death, and family members wish to celebrate his life.

However we would like his family in Greece to know that his memory in South Australia is alive and well.

I think he may have come from an island where there was a fishing industry, perhaps fleeing persecution from the Turks? His religion in South Australia was Catholic.

As he could not read or write when he anglicised his name it is likely that it sounded very much like his Greek name so that when people spoke to him he would recognise his name.

I have deep admiration and overwhelming respect for Great Grandfather’s courage, determination and will to succeed. To leave one’s family knowing that you will probably never see them again, and to overcome such odds as not being able to read or write, and have a good life is an indication of his strength, and character.

I am hoping that there will be a reader of “The Greek Tribune” who will recall a Great Uncle going to Australia about 1874, and will contact the newspaper. No matter how small every clue is important. The family in Australia would be most grateful and I extend our thanks to the editor of The Greek Tribune for his great kindness in helping me in my search for Great Grandfather’s Greek Family.

Jolyon

South Australia

People with information that may help Jolyon to find her great grandfather's family, here in Australia or overseas, can email us at

info@greektribune.com.au or contact the Greek Tribune's office.

The editor

The Cyprus
 News Agency


Lapithos