Biography Nicholas P. Careedy J.P. P.S.P.

Nicholas P. Careedy was born in Milopotamos, Kythera on the 1^st of March 1912. He attended Milipotamos State School and then went on to High School in Hora, the capital of Kythera.

In 1931 Nicholas served in the Greek army for 18 months. One year later he went to Athens for 3 months and received a certificate for bookkeeping. During that time the depression hit Greece very hard. The immigration doors to Australia opened in 1936, so in January 1937 Nicholas arrived in Toowoomba. He worked there for 5 years, and in that time joined Talbot House and became Job Master at the beginning of WWII.

Whilst listening to the radio and reading the papers about the Italians attacking Greece in Albania, Nicholas admired the Greek army’s bravery and wished that he could have served there. In 1942 Japan attacked Australia and this encouraged him to join and fight for his adopted country. Unfortunately as a Greek national it wasn’t an easy task to enlist, however once the board accepted his application he joined the Royal Australian Air Force as a security guard. Nicholas was stationed in Brisbane for 1 month after training was completed in Maryborough. After this he was transferred to Darwin where he completed a commando course and in this time served in 3 places including an American Liberator Squadrom.

When the war over Nicholas was in New Guinea. He received his discharge in January 1946 and went to Goondwindi for a year, moving then to Toowoomba where he opened a general drapery store and was secretary of Toowoomba’s Greek Community.

Nicholas came to Brisbane in 1951 where he established 2 frock salons, one in Brisbane and one in Charleville. He became treasurer of the Hellenic Sub-Branch of the Red Cross. In 1954 Nicholas joined AHEPA (Chapter Zenon No 8) and was elected president in 1957. Nicholas also had an official position with the Kytherian Association for 8 years including Vice President, however he rejected the President’s position so as to become Grand President of AHEPA in 1961.

In 1963 Nicholas began a gift wholesaling business, importing from various countries, including Greece. That same year he married Nina Kalaf, originally from Perth, W.A. and had a daughter, Marietta.

Justice of the Peace was his next achievement in 1964. Nicholas was elected Supreme President of AHEPA in 1972. During that time, with a delegation, he went to an American Convention in Miami, Florida. The aim was to negotiate an American convention to be held in Australia but unfortunately it didn’t prove successful.

Nicholas played golf for 25 years as a pastime however he is now enjoying bowls, fishing and gardening since retirement in 1985. In 1987 the Hellenic Sub Branch of the R.S.L. formed. Nicholas was elected foundation President and serves in this position today.

«AHEPA taught me to be torelant. Without this virtue I wouldn’t be in AHEPA today. As my mathematics teacher told me 60 years ago…

"AΠΕΧΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΕΧΟΥ"» says Nicholas.

Advance AHEPA!

πηγή: Voice of AHEPA