11 replies to this topic

[Gral]

Check out the new website for author Peter Prineas.

Author of 'Katsehamos and the Great Idea' and 'Britain's Greek Islands'.


Katsehamos and the Great Idea
'I found the book fascinating because it contains the dreams and aspirations of all Greek immigrants of my father's generation, a world that has faded from the collective Greek consciousness as much as the Great Idea. Most of all, however, I was struck by the literary quality of the book which is far superior to almost all works of this type that I have read.'
— Nicholas Gage, celebrated Greek-American journalist and author of 'Eleni'.


Britain's Greek Islands
'A labour of love, meticulously researched. A fascinating personal account of the Seven Islands which were "British" before becoming Greek.'
— Associate Professor Vrasidas Karalis, Department of Modern Greek Studies, University of Sydney.


Wild Places
'... without a doubt the best overview ever produced on the wilderness areas of eastern New South Wales. This book inspired me and my family to venture off the beaten trails ... to see for ourselves the astonishing vistas it describes with such authority and affection.'
— Allen Farrelly, former editor of The Australian.


http://peterprineas.com.au/

[Gral]

The site also includes info about the history and the fascinating story behind the Bingara Roxy.

Learn about the 1930s 'cinema war' that played out between the Greek cafe owners, and a local Gallipoli veteran who ran a competing cinema!

The Roxy complex includes the authentically restored 1930s Greek Cafe and the magnificent, original 1930s art-deco cinema.

The Bingara Roxy is also planning to develop the 'Museum of Greek Settlement in Country Australia'.

Edited by Gral, 03 July 2011 - 02:22 AM.

[TZAKI]

thank you for posting this Gral...

[eyoismos]

fascinating stuff - i loved perusing through the site

and of course, re-acquainting myself with some incidents of how much certain elements of anglo stock sooooo loved us .... and so unfairly too .... as usual

[eyoismos]

but more important.... i will be hunting down some of the books he authored

[Gral]

Glad you liked the website. We'll be interested to hear what you think of the books.

And would be interested to hear if anyone has been to the Bingara Roxy cafe, cinema (or eventually the museum) and what you thought?

[Gral]

Sample chapters from the books have now been added to Peter Prineas' website.

Britain's Greek Islands - Kythera and the Ionian Islands 1809 to 1864
Chapter 3 from Britain's Greek Islands: 'Slay all the klephts'.

Click for a sample chapter from 'Britain's Greek Islands'. It tells how Britain came into possession of the southern Ionian Islands in 1809 without the knowledge of the British Government and with the help of Greek brigands like Theodore Kolokotronis who would soon achieve fame and notoriety in the Greek War of Independence.


Katsehamos and the Great Idea - A True Story of Greeks and Australians in the Early 20th Century
Chapter 2 from Katsehamos and the Great Idea: 'America'.

Click for a sample chapter from 'Katsehamos and the Great Idea'. It follows Panagiotes and Phillippos to America in the early 1900s. They would later be caught up in a Greek patriotic movement and return to Greece, to serve in the Balkan Wars. Eventually the brothers ended up in Australia where they became embroiled in a cinema war in the country town of Bingara.

[russel]

if you are proud to be Greek,one should be in Greece.

foresake Greece,and she shall foresake you !

[Gral]

I'm sure many of us often wish we were in Greece Russel! And wish for better times for Greece!

Edited by Gral, 13 October 2011 - 08:24 PM.

[Gral]

Katsehamos and the Great Idea has just been launched on Amazon Kindle.

The story of young Greeks who came of age in the early 20th century and were called upon to fight in endless wars for Greece's 'Great Idea'. The exhaustion and near-collapse of their country forces them to emigrate in search of economic survival. In a remote Australian country town they build a cafe and cinema business and learn that money can be made in the new country, but just as easily lost. A true story about the author's grandfather and his contemporaries.

"I found the book fascinating because it contains the dreams and aspirations of all Greek immigrants of my father's generation, a world that has faded from the collective Greek consciousness as much as the Great Idea. Most of all, however, I was struck by the literary quality of the book which is far superior to almost all works of this type that I have read."

--Nicholas Gage, Pulitzer Prize nominated journalist and author of 'Eleni'.


Katsehamos and the Great Idea by Peter Prineas - now available on Amazon Kindle.

[Gral]

Bingara's Greek Museum gets State Government grant

Plans for a Greek Museum at the Roxy at Bingara, north-western NSW, were greatly advanced this week with the announcement of a major grant from the State Government.

Under the 2012 Arts Funding Program, the Museum is to receive $94,500. The funds will go to Gwydir Shire Council to be expended for Museum purposes. A Museum Committee has been appointed with members including Peter Prineas, and George Poulos of the Kytherian Association's Executive.

The Roxy Museum will record, present and celebrate Greek settlement in rural Australia. This grant will assist in the planning and design of the Museum, in the conduct of research, and in the development of collections.

The announcement of the grant by the O'Farrell Government was welcomed by the MP for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay in the pages of the 'Bingara Advocate' newspaper.

“Sandy McNaughton, Gwydir Council and community supporters have done a magnificent job of restoring the original Roxy theatre and the adjoining Greek café,” he said.

“This $94,500 grant means the plans for the museum commemorating Australian Greek café culture, particularly in our region, can go ahead".

“This has been an ambitious and successful project and it’s great to see it all coming together like this.”

Continued support from the Greek community and good relationships with other museums should see the Bingara Museum presenting many interesting items and mounting special exhibitions from time to time.

The community will soon see the results of an earlier State Government grant for the restoration of the Roxy Cafe's 1930s Art deco etched glass signage. The restored signage is now being installed in the Roxy Café.

http://peterprineas.com.au/

Edited by Gral, 16 December 2011 - 07:53 AM.

[russel]

actually looks wonderful..