Recognition for Fronditha Care Volunteers

Three Fronditha Care volunteers have been recognised for their service to the Greek Australian ageing community after being awarded as 2018 Multicultural Leading Citizens.

Evangelia Limneos, Christos Malamidis and Despina Stamatopoulos were personally congratulated by Federal MP Clare O’Neil, who hosted the Multicultural Leading Citizen Awards for her Hotham electorate on 2 May 2018.

Each nominee from Fronditha Care has a longstanding commitment to bringing joy to the elderly residents across the organisation’s five residential aged care facilities and for those requiring home visits on a regular basis.

Ms Limneos volunteers to help people diagnosed with severe dementia who might not be able to speak.
“You need a different type of communication: the human touch, kissing, showing affection. That’s what they understand and appreciate,” she said.

Volunteer Christos Malamidis plays the accordion for the residents and has slowly added to his repertoire to make sure each resident recognises a local song from their village.

Despina Stamatopoulos is affectionately known as “mum” by most of the residents she visits. Having visited every day for more than 10 years, Ms Stamatopoulos believes if “you give love, they give you love."

Ms O’Neil was particularly impressed with the members of the Greek community, noting that within two generations the community has made a huge contribution to Australia and its culture.

Fronditha Care has more than 190 volunteers across five residential aged care facilities. Volunteers also visit many isolated Greek Australian people in their own homes.

The organisation is always looking for more volunteers and training is provided.

For more information, contact Fronditha Care’s Volunteer Coordinator Stelios Piakis on (03) 9552 4179.