I got to know Dorothy in the late 80’s though her amazing activism work in the field of social justice and women’s rights, and in particular Migrant women. Dorothy was a valued member of the Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA) – a small grassroots global NGO.
She also became a member of the Women’s Reconciliation Network (WRN).
She was one of the women in conversation about First Nations rights in ‘Around the Kitchen Table’ (ATKT). Dorothy was passionate about everything she did, and always said she was drowning in paperwork.
I well remember the wonderful Greek nights with food and dance that she would host in various Greek restaurants – always the wonderful networker, always larger than life! I miss her spirit greatly!
Robyn Hutchinson
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I knew and worked with Dorothy for many years. She was my mentor and we worked together with the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW. She was the President of the Greek Women’s committee. We also worked in establishing the Ethnic Community Council of NSW and the Federation of Ethnic Communities Council of Australia. She always championed the needs of women especially migrant and Aboriginal women.
She and I were involved with the WRN and I too was on the Round the Kitchen Table meeting. I was the Aboriginal Welfare Worker at South Sydney Community Aid in Redfern at the time and I lived in Redfern as my parents owned the Chios Milk Bar in Regent Street Redfern. The shop was owned by my uncle during the war and it was the only shop that served Aboriginal people at he time.
She was a passionate exponent of human rights and especially migrant and migrant women’s rights, Aboriginal women’s rights. She was also involved with peak Women’s organisations, the NSW Council of Women and the National Council of Women of Australia, the Federation of Ethnic Community Council of Australia and the Ethnic Community Council of NSW and the peace movement and many other issues.
Dorothy was also a lecturer at the University of NSW School of Sociology as she was a Sociologist. She encouraged her students to become involved in the various movements she was involved with.
She was an amazing woman I admired her. She encouraged many women to become involved in community affairs and to participate in the various organisations and issues she was involved with.
Vivi Germanos-Koutsounadis.
Extensive biographies can be accessed on websites:-
*Greece and Co – stories of Greek Australians
*The Australian Women’s Register
*Encyclopaedia of Women in Leadership in twentieth century Australia
*Wikipedia