Bellarine Greek club “one great big family”

THE Greek Elderly Club of the Bellarine Peninsula is hovering at just under 100 members, but its assistant secretary Mary Pirchan believes it has capacity to grow much larger.

The not-for-profit organisation has reduced in size from its heyday when it first formed in the 1990s, but at its recent annual general meeting at the Portarlington Seniors Community Centre three new committee members were signed up, taking the total number to nine.

Ms Pirchan said it is a positive sign that the club is bucking the trend of similar organisations, particularly after COVID.

“There was a motion made that they keep the same committee because everything is going so well, but three new people came on board, so we have some from the past and some new members as well,” she said.

“We’re starting to attract some younger members now, so hopefully they’ll be around in another 25 years to keep it going.
“There’s a huge community here, that’s why I can’t understand why we don’t have more members…it’s important to get people together to talk about the old times in Greece.”

Similar groups exist in both St Leondards and Geelong and the Bellarine club will often lend its support or head over for a luncheon meeting when possible, Ms Pirchan said.

“We’re just one great big family that gets together to have fun.

“One member celebrated his 80th with us the other day, he calls us his second family.”

They also like to get on the road, organising a bus and ferry tour to the Mornington peninsula earlier in the year and planning for a bigger trip to Tasmania in the new year is under way.

When not on tour the club meets weekly at the Portarlington Seniors Community Centre on Newcombe Street each Saturday between 4pm and 8pm, and welcomes people to attend.