Quilt No.578AK - Aliki Kretsis

"Aliki Kretsis and Her Paploma
Aliki Kretsis was born in 1915 on the Greek island of Lesvos (more commonly known as Mytilini), in the village of Aghia Paraskevi. In keeping with Greek tradition, a 'paploma' (quilt) was an essential part of every young girl's 'prika' (dowry); so Aliki's mother, Taxiarchia Tsakiri,arranged for the local paploma maker to make this quilt, using the cotton fabric which had been hand-woven on the family loom by Aliki's grandmother, Sevastoula Varoukshi.
All the cotton, including the raw cotton used for the padding, was grown locally in Aghia Paraskevi, and the cotton thread wwhich Sevastoula used to weave the cloth, would have been spun locally.
Aliki actually had three quilts as part of her prika, but this is the one which travelled with her to Australia in 1935. Aliki's husband-to-be, Jack, had already been to Australia and had returned to Aghia Paraskevi to marry Aliki, with the intention of returning to Australia to try to build a better life. By this time there were several thousand Greeks in Australia, an established Greek community in Sydney, and there were Greek families and businesses to be found throughout country NSW. Many had come from the island of Lesvos and from the village of Aghia Paraskevi.
Aliki and Jack arrived at Circular Quay, Sydney, in 1935, having travelled on the ship Orion. They settled in Taree NSW where Jack established his own men's barber shop. Aliki worked in the shop selling cigarettes and sweets etc. and this also helped her to start learning English. Their two children, Katina and Peter were born in Taree, but, as with so many Greek women in similar circumstances, Aliki found life in this small country town extremely difficult.
One of the key aspects to Greek village life is the church, usually the centre of much of the community life and activity. The absence of Greek Orthodox Churches in country towns, particularly back in the years of pre-multicultural Australia, added to the deep loneliness and isolation felt by many women.
Aliki and her family, plus paploma of course, spent a number of years living in various other country towns until finally settling in Sydney. She has made several return trips to Greece, and always back to Aghia Paraskevi, her 'topos', her place.
Aliki, now a widow, has four grandchildren, George, John, Danielle and Rebecca, and three great grandchildren, Taylor, Jack and Jake."

[Written by Lula Saunders, adapted from interview 29/7/99 for the National Quilt Register]