The child in the iconic photo who raised thousands of pounds for Greece during WWII

On ANZAC Day, Julie Nichels, now nearly 90, narrates how she became the face of a fundraising drive for Greece in Australia during the Second World War. She vividly recalls not only Greek Day of 1941 but also how the community had to take discrimination on its chin and still assimilate into Australia.

This picture was published in 'The Courier Mail' in 1941 in which Julie Nichels can be seen fundraising on Greek Day in Brisbane. Credit: State Library of Queensland

Wednesday, 19 March 1941 was a big day for the Greek community of Brisbane.

It was named ‘Greek Day’ and dedicated to raising funds for the country as it fought the Second World War.

Two prominent members of Brisbane’s Greek diaspora, businessman Stratis Christofis and honorary Greek Consul Christy Frealeagus, mobilised the local Greek community to fundraise for the Greek Day Appeal, according to Julie Nichels.

Ioulia, better known as Julie, was Mr Christofis’ eldest child.

Then aged seven, she donned the Greek traditional costume and went with her mother, Evangelia, to Queen St in Brisbane’s CBD to raise funds for her home country.

She was given a tin box with a handle with three words written on it: Help our boys.

Young Julie helped raise thousands of pounds (British currency was the legal tender in Australia till 14 February 1966) during the campaign.

But little did she know her photo would become a classic 1940s photo.

Julie Nichels holding the picture that made her famous within the community. Credit: SBS/Dina Gerolymou

The Second World War was raging in Europe and West Asia.

Australia’s 6^th Army Division had arrived in mainland Greece from Alexandria for the Greek Campaign.

Together with the New Zealanders and the British, they were there to help the Greek armed forces, who had been fighting against the Axis Powers for months to pre-empt Nazi invasion.

In Australia, the Greek communities did not sit idle while their homeland was under attack.

They did their bit by fundraising for the Red Cross and organised Greek Days in Australia’s major cities – Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.

Today, at the age of 89, Julie Nichels (née Christofis), still lives in Brisbane.

She remembers that day and talks about it with affection and pride as she recalls the difficult years of the War in an interview with SBS Greek.

That was a time when Greeks in Australia stopped being ‘dagoes’ for a while and became heroes.

JULIE NICHELS

So much so, that 40 Australian servicemen dressed as Evzones – the Greek Royal Guards – led by a Greek-Australian officer and flanked by Greek girls in traditional costumes, paraded in the centre of Brisbane, she adds.

The capital city of Queensland was decked in white and blue, the colours of the Greek flag.

‘Brisbane’s Evzones’ featured in many newspapers around Australia in the following days.

Not only did they have a Greek Day in the movie theatres with 'God Save the King' (the British national anthem of the time) being played, but they would also play the Greek national anthem.

“I’m not sure if they were played in all cinemas but they certainly were at the Regent,” says Ms Nichels as she recalls the time of the Second World War.

Seven-year-old Julie with Ms Frealeagus in Brisbane in 1941, raising funds for the Red Cross. Credit: SBS/Dina Gerolymou

Going through family albums with black and white photos from the 1930s and 1940s, Ms Nichels recalls how the three main department stores at the heart of Brisbane displayed the Greek flag next to the Union Jack on their façades.

Greek Day was an emotional day, because for a while, the Greeks became acceptable.

Racism was rampant in Queensland in the pre -War years.

Greeks and Greek-owned businesses were viewed with open hostility.

There were orchestrated efforts to defame and ruin Greek and other migrant businesses, with newspaper articles asking patrons to boycott Greek cafes, while depictions of Greeks in the press portrayed them almost as subhuman, she elaborates.

Ms Nichels adds that Greek migrants and their Australian-born children would be called “dagoes”.

“They were often told, ‘go back you wogs’ and ordered to speak English you, ‘mug’, “ she says, adding that "the Greeks in Brisbane nevertheless forged ahead with keeping their traditions, identity and language".

Julie with her parents, Evangelia and Stratis Christofis, and her younger sister Chris. Credit: SBS/Dina Gerolymou

“To see the centre of Brisbane in blue and white, Greek flags of various sizes displayed everywhere, businesses with Greek stalls, sales assistants either in traditional Greek costumes or in white clothes with blue ribbons and all things Greek celebrated in a grand way, was a sight to behold,” Ms Nichels reminisces.

The events of that day were captured on film by Xenophon Castritsios, a Greek-Australian aerial photographer with the Royal Australian Air Force.

The film shows Greek-Australian children and young women, amongst some Australians, in traditional Greek costumes.

People can be seen walk past stalls with various Greek sweets and other goods, looked after by well-dressed women.

Office and bank clerks can be seen lining the streets, smiling and waving Greek flags while cheering on the Evzones and troops from the 2^nd Australian Imperial Force. The atmosphere was convivial and celebratory.

The governor’s stand had Greek flags on each side.

A striking girl in Greek costume looks straight at Mr Castritsios’ camera and smiles.

“She is Australian,” says Ms Nichels as she watches the film.

Angelina Zervos (back) with Greek school students wearing traditional dresses in 1930. Credit: State Library of Queensland

She also shares her memories from a fundraising concert at Brisbane’s City Hall during the Second World War where young Greek-Australian Angelina Zervos sang Gerodimos, a folk song, and “captivated the Australian audience".

“Angelina Zervos had a beautiful voice. In 1939, she won the Deanna Durbin Song Contest.

“I remember being in the audience when Angelina sung Gerodimos and the whole of City Hall audience went berserk.

"That must have been the first time that Anglo-Australians had heard anything Greek at all,” Ms Nichels recalls.