Trade between Australia and China is flourishing thanks to the work of consultant Mark Voyage, from a Greek-Australian family. He introduced Australian retailers and local importers to textiles and soft furnishings manufactured in China, which is the biggest importer of Australian goods.
Voyage was often interviewed and consulted by journalists and government watchers over the trade with China. He was the person who initiated trading with state factories in China (making countless business trips) years before the beginning of diplomatic relations.
Mark George Voyage was born on Nov. 30, 1930, on the Greek island of Rhodes, and was the fifth of six children of Georgios Voyiatzis and his wife, Maria.
As Italy had formally annexed Rhodes, his education was in Italian schools. When Rhodes came under British Administration in 1945, he studied in a British private school and learned English as well. Later on he worked in the Ministry of the Interior and ended up issuing passports.
Following the advice of his older brother, Anthony, he decided to follow him to Australia, but intended to stay only for a while. When he arrived in Melbourne, he immediately joined the Kew Swimming Club and also played water polo and basketball. His first jobs were at General Motors during the day and in a milk bar in the evening. Four years later, he moved on to Sydney where, in 1955, he married Betty Simonides of Bondi.
Voyage was a real traveler. Apart from his business trips, he and his family made holiday vacations all over the world. Although he failed to return back to Rhodes, as he dreamed, he didn’t miss however to visit the Greek island every year along with his wife.
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