1-3-1912 to 14-10-2012
Nicholas Peter Careedy, the
fourth child and only son of Peter and Marietta Careedy, was born in
Mylopotams, Kythera on the 1st of March 1912. After completing high school in
Kythera he remained in his village until he left for military service. He spent
the first six months of service in the recruiting office of the 31st regiment
in Athens and then in the office of the Military Academy Australia .
Nick arrived in Toowoomba on the
10th of January 1937 and worked in his brother-in-law, Harry Andronicos’ café.
He became involved with the Greek Community’s Kytherian Association in
Toowoomba and served on the committee for eight years. He was also on the
organising committee of the Greek War Relief Fund.
When Japan
bombed Darwin
in February 1942, although still a Greek national, Nick enlisted in the Royal
Australian Air-Force. He served for 3 ½ years in the security division and saw
active service in Darwin and New Guinea .
After he received his discharge he went to Goondiwindi for 12 months and then
to Toowoomba where with Harry Andronicos opened a drapery business.
From 1946 he was a member of the
RSL, eventually forming a Hellenic Sub-Branch. He became the foundation
President and served for thirteen years. He was also given life membership in
2001 and a certificate of merit for his service. In 1951, he moved to Brisbane where he opened a
frock salon in the city, became treasurer of the Greek Red Cross and a member
of the Greek community.
In 1954, he joined AHEPA where he
served as National Supreme President and was honoured with Life Membership in
2004.
Nick received the ‘Multicultural
Services Award’ from the Premier of Queensland in 1997. Three years later, he
was honoured with the Order of Australia medal at Government House for his
charity work.
This year Nick was honoured with
Life Membership to the Greek community.
Although experiencing much in his life, his proudest moments were marrying Nina Kalafatas in 1963, the birth of their much loved only childMarietta , who with her husband Paul, have
been blessed with two beautiful children Connie and Nicholas.
Although experiencing much in his life, his proudest moments were marrying Nina Kalafatas in 1963, the birth of their much loved only child
In 2003, Nick, Nina, Paul, Marietta , Connie and Nicholas all journeyed to Greece for 5
weeks where Nick proudly got to show his family his homeland. They even stayed
in the house where he was born. This meant so much to him.
In 2007, with the assistance of
Doctor Peter Marendy, $20, 000 was raised to build the War Memorial at Agia
Paraskevi in Taigum , Queensland
Nick was a fortunate man, living
a long, happy life, which many of us got to celebrate earlier this year at his
100th birthday. Living to the grand old age of 100, Nick tended daily to his
garden, loved to travel, and enjoyed fishing and lawn bowls.
Nick was also a religious man who
enjoyed attending church on a regular basis. He and Nina would try to travel to
Greece
as often as possible to visit his relatives and friends in Kythera.
Nick led a full and happy life
and is now resting in God’s care, watching over us. We will always be grateful
to have had the opportunity for Nick to have been part of our lives. Nick will
be greatly missed by all his family and friends. He was laid to rest on Friday
19 October 2012 at Agia Paraskevi, Taigum ,
Australia
Extract from the eulogy recited
by Steven Mallos, Brisbane .
Kythera-Family.net
