Call Me Emilios, a self-published memoir by Australian Supreme Court Justice Emilios Kyrou, is set to be launched on Nov. 28 at a ceremkony at the Melbourne Hellenic Museum. The book tells the story of his family as much as himself.
Kyrou was born in 1959 in the village of Sfikia, Imathia, Greece.His father Yiannis, was a shepherd while his mother Stergiani, known as Stella, worked in the family’s wheat and corn fields.
He came to Australia in 1968 and 15 years later earned his law degree at Melbourne University. He said his family suffered discrimination. ‘‘I remember being called wog, greaser, dago, choc, bald choc, spag and other derogatory, racist names at school. Those names were very hurtful and dented my self-esteem,” he wrote
He said the book’s purpose is is to send a message about society and how unfair it is to judge someone over religion, color or nationality. “I also reflected on my family’s early years in Australia when racist taunts caused me to be ashamed of my Greek heritage, to be embarrassed about my parents and even to adopt the Anglo-sounding name, John. Fortunately, once racism receded, I came to appreciate and respect my parents and my Greek background, and began asking people to call me Emilios,” he wrote.
He said he’d like to have the book published in Greek so that his parents – whom he refers to as his heroes and owes everything – can read it for themselves. And when he retires there might be a sequel, he hinted.
(Source: The Sydney Morning Herald)
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