Post by jac67 on Oct 17, 2007 11:52:58 GMT 10
Hello my name is John Constant. My mother (deceased - 1993) was from Castellorizo.
I was merely surfing the net last night and "Googled", and here I was!
There is some very interesting information regarding Castellorizo, especially the history.
My mother Mary Constant, was born Maria Nikolaki, born in Castellorizo to parents Georgios and Garifalia Nikolaki on 10 June 1932.
From the stories I remember my mother telling me, my grandfather had the nickname "Liko or Likos".
I recall stories that my grandfather often went to America and worked for periods of time (in a tin facory), came back to Castellorizo for a while and then off again.
Later, they were farmers and also produced and retailed cheese (I believe).
My mother was the youngest of six sisters.
Her stories of her childhood were pretty much of an ordinary child until WWII.
During the war, they as many others fled. There life was not too different to one I found on the web at www.smh.com.au/multimedia/misr/story.html
As I remember they had fled, spent around six months in Cyprus, then 18 months at a refugee camp in Gaza. My mothers eldest sister (Costia Kypreos), who is still alive (at 90+years) recalls them at Gaza for a lot longer.
My grandmother died in Gaza during the war.
At the end of the war, my mother, her sister and nephew survived the sinking of the British ship Empire Patrol, which caught fire while returning from Egypt to Castellorizo.
After the war, there was pretty much not left to do in Castellorizo, so the family settled at Rhodos.
In 1961, my mother came to Australia where other Cassies settled, and two of her sisters and their families came soon after.
I just though I'd share my story with you.
It's good to know a little more of our past, and to know that from such a small island, we have dispersed all over the world.
Any further information regarding my family would be appreciated.
Kindest Regards
John.
I was merely surfing the net last night and "Googled", and here I was!
There is some very interesting information regarding Castellorizo, especially the history.
My mother Mary Constant, was born Maria Nikolaki, born in Castellorizo to parents Georgios and Garifalia Nikolaki on 10 June 1932.
From the stories I remember my mother telling me, my grandfather had the nickname "Liko or Likos".
I recall stories that my grandfather often went to America and worked for periods of time (in a tin facory), came back to Castellorizo for a while and then off again.
Later, they were farmers and also produced and retailed cheese (I believe).
My mother was the youngest of six sisters.
Her stories of her childhood were pretty much of an ordinary child until WWII.
During the war, they as many others fled. There life was not too different to one I found on the web at www.smh.com.au/multimedia/misr/story.html
As I remember they had fled, spent around six months in Cyprus, then 18 months at a refugee camp in Gaza. My mothers eldest sister (Costia Kypreos), who is still alive (at 90+years) recalls them at Gaza for a lot longer.
My grandmother died in Gaza during the war.
At the end of the war, my mother, her sister and nephew survived the sinking of the British ship Empire Patrol, which caught fire while returning from Egypt to Castellorizo.
After the war, there was pretty much not left to do in Castellorizo, so the family settled at Rhodos.
In 1961, my mother came to Australia where other Cassies settled, and two of her sisters and their families came soon after.
I just though I'd share my story with you.
It's good to know a little more of our past, and to know that from such a small island, we have dispersed all over the world.
Any further information regarding my family would be appreciated.
Kindest Regards
John.
