A century of resilience as Charalambos Theodossi turns 100

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Soon to turn 100 connected April 29, Charalambos “Harry” Theodossi still carries the vigor and humour of a overmuch younger man.

During my visit to Arcare Aged Care successful Templestowe up of his milestone birthday, Harry is successful precocious spirits, anxious to talk and speedy with a joke. Sitting beside a chap centenarian, helium laughs arsenic helium shares, “Every time helium asks maine to assistance him find a caller wife.”

It’s a light-hearted infinitesimal that shows contempt astir a period of life, Harry remains sharp, engaged and afloat of personality.

His son, Melbourne luxury αυτοκίνητο trader Nick Theodossi, says the upcoming solemnisation will lucifer the milestone, with much than 70 guests expected to attend.

For Harry, the concealed to reaching 100 is simple: work hard and stay progressive — a mindset shaped by a beingness that began successful hardship.

Born successful Myrtou, Cyprus successful 1926, Harry grew up successful heavy poverty, where going without nutrient was not uncommon and children were expected to work from a young age.

At six years old, his household moved to Karavostasi – a small larboard village, and by 11, helium had already begun working arsenic an apprentice, learning aboriginal what it meant to survive.

As a teenager, helium enlisted to service during WWII, lying astir his property to beryllium accepted. He served with the Cyprus Regiment successful the British Army, yet uncovering himself connected the frontlines successful Italy.

“The war truly impacted me,” helium says quietly.

Serving arsenic portion of a unit liable for transporting supplies and evacuating the wounded utilizing mules, Harry often operated under dense bombardment. He recalls diving into craters to debar shrapnel and emerging to scenes of devastation, with bodies scattered crossed the crushed aft aerial raids.

Despite the brutality astir him, Harry says that astatine the time, helium and galore others did not afloat grasp the danger.

“We were young. We didn’t cognize fear,” helium says.

It was during the war helium learned to speak Italian and Arabic (having been successful Egypt too).

After the war, Harry returned to Cyprus, where helium joined his wife, Yianoulla. But stability was short-lived. Like galore of his generation, helium made the hard determination to permission location successful hunt of opportunity, arriving successful Melbourne successful 1950 — the very aforesaid time his daughter, Evdokia, was calved backmost successful Cyprus.

His aboriginal days successful Australia were marked by struggle. Separated from his young family, Harry worked agelong hours successful physically demanding jobs, including a little stint astatine General Motors successful Fishermans Bend.

“It was the hardest occupation I ever had,” helium says.

Living unsocial successful a small bungalow successful Coburg, helium faced isolation and fiscal pressure, often borrowing wealth conscionable to screen rent while trying to nonstop what small helium could backmost home.

“You miss your family… and you can’t spend to nonstop money,” helium recalls. “We’d get 1 oregon two pounds and nonstop it, and it would take so agelong to arrive.”

Finding lodging proved arsenic difficult. Harry remembers being turned distant from properties arsenic σύντομα arsenic landlords realised helium was an immigrant.

“It was very hard to find accommodation,” helium says.

Like galore migrants of the era, helium besides endured unfastened favoritism successful regular beingness and astatine work.

“Bosses would say, ‘come present you bloody wog’. You couldn’t bash thing — if you said something, they’d sack you,” helium says. “On Australia Day, everybody that passed you connected Exhibition Street, 50 per cent of radical called us wog.”He says they would each get together during luncheon to kick astir their lives and outcry astir however overmuch they missed their families and homeland.

“Every week we used to spell down to Bourke Street,” helium recalls while working different job. “We bargain 1 pastry and walk down to Swanston Street to the plot and talk with the different friends. Everybody was crying.”

At 1 point, the weight of it each astir drove him home.

“I wanted to spell back,” helium says. But his begetter urged him to stay, reminding him there was small near for him successful Cyprus aft selling everything to marque the journey.

It was a turning point. Harry remained successful Australia, and slowly, beingness began to improve.

A year later, Yianoulla and babe Evdokia joined him successful Melbourne, marking the opening of a caller chapter. From there, Harry worked relentlessly — often 7 days a week — determined to physique a stable beingness for his family.

Over time, that hard work paid off. Harry established himself, raised his household and created opportunities for aboriginal generations.

He yet recovered helium could marque a decent nett by buying a house, fixing it up and selling it. He did this twenty-six times.

Now, arsenic helium approaches his 100th birthday, Harry reflects connected a beingness shaped by resilience.

From a puerility of poorness successful Cyprus, to war, to the hard aboriginal years of migration successful Australia, his travel spans a period of profound change.

Through it all, helium has remained grounded successful the value that carried him forward: working hard.

At astir 100, helium still preaches that.

Charalambos and Yianoulla’s stories were besides told successful large item successful 2020 publication Tales of Cyprus.