21/07/2026
Today we had the great pleasure of welcoming the Minister for Multicultural and multiculturalism and faith Ingrid Stitt and staff
and the state member of Northcote Kat Theophanous MP and had lunch with the members FAKES a great day to see the elderly Greek people who made Australia what it is today and connecting together.
Wednesday 15th July 2026
Minister for Multicultural and Multifaith Victoria Visits
Greek Ex-Servicemen's Elderly Citizens Club in Northcote
The Greek Ex-Servicemen's Elderly Citizens Club Northcote warmly welcomed the Minister for Multicultural and Multifaith Victoria, Ingrid Stitt, and the State Member for Northcote, Kat Theophanous MP.
Hosted by President Varvara Sakkos and members of the Committee, the morning brought together Hellenic seniors for a traditional home-cooked lunch, warm conversation and the kind of hospitality that has long been at the heart of the club.
Over bowls of homemade fakes (lentil soup), which Minister Stitt happily declared one of her favourite Greek dishes, the conversation unfolded, as it often does, around a family table. Members reminisced about the villages they left behind, the lives they built in Australia, the grandchildren now growing up between cultures, and the comfort of having a place where language, friendship and cherished traditions continue to bring people together.
In a room filled with stories spanning decades, there was a shared appreciation that Victoria's multicultural character has been shaped by communities who chose to make this state their home, and that preserving those connections remains as important today as ever.
During the visit, Minister Stitt said clubs like the Greek Ex-Servicemen's Elderly Citizens Club Northcote are among the quiet strengths of Victoria's multicultural story. They are places where language is spoken with pride, traditions are kept alive around a shared table, friendships continue to flourish and older Victorians remain connected to both their heritage and their local community.
In speaking with President Varvara Sakkos, the Minister also discussed the Victorian Labor Government's Multicultural Seniors Support Program, which received an allocation of $5.3 million over two years in the 2026-2027 State Budget. The program continues to provide assistance to multicultural seniors' organisations, including ongoing public liability and group personal accident insurance, helping clubs like this continue their important work.
Kat Theophanous MP spoke about the importance of continuing to protect and
strengthen that legacy, reflecting that the values of inclusion, respect and belonging
should never be taken for granted. She noted that, particularly nowadays,
maintaining social cohesion is an ongoing responsibility, one shared by
governments, community organisations and every Victorian.
Victoria is proudly home to people from more than 300 ancestries, who speak over
290 languages and dialects and practise more than 200 faiths. For Northcote, a
community shaped by generations of Greek and Cypriot migration and enriched
by people from every corner of the world, that diversity is not simply reflected in
the statistics; it is lived every day.
Quotes attributable to Kat Theophanous MP, State Member for Northcote:
"Here in Northcote, multiculturalism is part of our everyday life. It's there in the stories shared around the table, the languages spoken with pride and the traditions passed from one generation to the next. That's something worth celebrating and protecting."
Quotes attributable to the Ingrid Stitt MP, Minister for Multicutlrual and Multifaith Victoria:
"This club is a wonderful example of multiculturalism in action. It brings people together, preserves language and culture, and creates a strong sense of belonging for older Victorians. Community organisations like this are vital to ensuring our multicultural and multifaith communities continue to thrive."
Quotes attributable to Varvara Sakkos, President of the Greek Ex-Servicemen's Elderly Citizens Club Northcote:
“It was a pleasure to welcome Minister Stitt and Kat Theophanous to our club and share a traditional Greek meal with them. Our members are proud of both their Greek heritage and their contribution to Victoria.This club is like a second family for many of our seniors. It gives people the opportunity to come together, enjoy each other's company, support one another and keep our language and traditions alive for future generations.”
