Traditionally, at a Greek wedding, sweetened almonds or “koufeta” are given out to guests in odd numbers, usually five, to symbolise that the bride and groom cannot be divided. Each one represents their hopes for wealth, health, happiness, fertility and a long life.
Rosewood’s Greek Wedding
Rosewood History
Nicholas Inglis (Englezos) was born 20th April 1905, at Krini in Northern Greece. At age 19 he left home and boarded a steamship, departing Genoa, Italy on 23rd September, 1924. He was bound for Brisbane, Queensland in search of a better life. He arrived at Freemantle, Western Australia on 29th October 1924 on the Carignano, which then steamed onwards to Sydney, anchoring in Woolloomooloo Bay on the 10th November. Nicholas disembarked with 299 other Italian, Greek and Czechoslovakian immigrants. Only a few had broken English, and many were intending to buy a shop and go into business. Their friends had written to them in Italy telling them that they would be successful in business in Australia.
Nicholas headed to Brisbane where he stayed with Constantine and Eugene Caris.
In 1925 he moved to Lowood and went into partnership with Con Varthalames in the Marathon Cafe in Walter Street. This partnership was dissolved on 20th May 1927, after which Nicholas opened the Capitol Coffee Palace in John Street, Rosewood.
Nicholas had two brothers in Australia, the older Yannis (Jack) lived at Monto and a younger brother Constantine. Con, who had been living in Murwillumbah, came to assist Nicholas in the café at Rosewood. Sadly Con took ill and died at Ipswich Hospital in September 1931 aged 18 years, having only been in Rosewood for a short time.
Miss Afroditi Panagiotakis was born 13th May 1913, at Kato Panagia, a village in the southern most part of mainland Greece. She boarded the R.M.S. Orama in London and arrived at Fremantle on 26th July 1932. The Orama travelled via ports to Brisbane arriving on 8th August, daunting for a teenager who could not speak or understand English. She went to stay with her cousin in Brisbane until it was time to marry her betrothed, Nicholas Inglis.
They married the 4th September 1932 (the day my mother was born). It was an arranged marriage, also known as “synikasion” or “proxenia”.
Their wedding created a great deal of interest. It was the first Greek wedding celebrated in Rosewood, and because it was held on a Sunday afternoon, a departure from the modern custom, it attracted a very large number of spectators in addition to the many invited guests, relatives and friends. They were married in the hall adjoining the cafe by the Rev. Elias Kotiathis, a former teacher from the Island of Rhodes. He was the first priest to be ordained in the new St George Greek Orthodox Church in Charlotte Street, Brisbane in 1928.
The bride was accompanied by her cousin, Mrs. Morake, of Brisbane, and was escorted to the altar by Mrs. N. Coucoulles, of Murwillumbah, a close friend.
Afroditi wore an ankle length gown made of soft ivory mariette, with frills on the hips and sleeves, and her belt had a diamanté buckle. Her long veil of hand-embroidered, soft silk net, which fell to form a train, was fitted tightly to the head, and held in place with a garland of orange blossoms. She carried a bouquet made up of orchids, white sweet-peas, snap dragons and asparagus ferns, all tied with blue and white satin ribbons.
Misses Stella and Patricia Morton, from Gatton, were bridesmaids and train-bearers. They wore long frocks of pale blue crepe-de-chine cut in early Victorian style, and white tulle mop caps. Each held a bouquet of variegated sweet peas, tied with white ribbons.
Jack Inglis accompanied his brother, and Mr. Nickles Coucoulles, from Murwillumbah, was best man.
After the wedding, Rev. Father Kotiathis presided at the wedding dinner, while Mr. and Mrs. Nickles Coucoulles were host and hostess. Father Kotiathis blessed the food and drink (cakes and wine) before the bride and groom ate. Traditionally this was the first meal they shared together as a married couple. The dinner was held at the cafe and in the presence of a large and representative gathering of about 200 Rosewood residents and Greek visitors. The usual toasts, were honoured. The bride was also accorded a cordial welcome to Rosewood by various speakers.
A large number of residents and visitors were entertained that evening at the Capitol Cafe, when an enjoyable time was spent in dancing, etc. The Greek dances executed by the Greek people, including the bride, were a novelty to some and created much interest.
Amongst the Greek visitors were: Mr. and Mrs. A. Morakis (Brisbane), A. Samios (Vice President of the Greek Community, Brisbane), Andrew Cromidas (Texas), Mr. P. Xanthopeulis (Teacher of the Greek Community, Brisbane), Mr. and Mrs. P. Morton (Gatton), Mr. A. Comino (Laidley), Mr. P. Comino (Forest Hill), Messrs. John Sargent, Con Millar, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Freeleagus (Brisbane), Mrs. P. Comino (Childers).
Instead of the usual wedding cake, each guest received a number of sweetened almonds (koufeta). Nicholas and Aphrodite left during the evening for Redcliffe where they spent their honeymoon.
As a businessman in Rosewood, Nicholas supported local activities. On 1st November 1931, to commemorate the winning of the junior premiership by Rosewood Ramblers’ Football Club, a banquet was held in the Capitol Cafe. Nicholas and Afroditi decorated the dining hall with black and white streamers, the colours of the club. Beautiful flowers and the club colours were arranged on the supper tables. Visitors included Messrs. E. B. Maher, M.L.A. (Patron of the club), A. Gibb (President of the Ipswich and West Moreton Football Association), G. Franklin, and M. Burton (Referees’ Association), and D. M. Campbell, of the Ipswich Executive.
Nicholas was a member of the Rosewood Cricket Club. He donated trophies for the golf club, bicycle tyres and tubes for the Amateur Wheelers and he ran the luncheon booth at the 5th annual camp draft in 1932. At the draft he also catered for a troop of 20 aboriginals who had travelled from Barambah to give a display of corroboree and spear and boomerang throwing. The troop included two well-known men, Eddie Gilbert and Jerry Jerome.
Afroditi and Nicholas lived behind their cafe for about a year before leaving for Monto where Nicholas opened another cafe.
Nicholas applied to become a British citizen and was naturalized on 29th August 1936. Before 1949, there was no legal concept of Australian citizenship. Every Australian was a British subject, including immigrants who arrived and became naturalized. It wasn’t until 26th January 1949, that the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948 introduced Australian citizenship.
Afroditi was also known as “Venus” (the Roman meaning of her name). They went on to have three children, a daughter and two sons and eventually lived at Gladstone Road, Highgate Hill, where Nicholas was a fruiterer.
Nicholas and Afroditi died in 1992 and 2001 respectively and are interred at the Mount Gravatt Cemetery.
© Jane Schy, 2024
References:
Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980
Queensland Marriage Index 1829-1848
Ryerson Index
Fremantle, Western Australia, Passenger Lists, 1897-1963
Queensland Times, Wednesday 7 September 1932, page 3