About us
Since 1982, the Samian Social Club has celebrated Samian heritage in the heart of Melbourne. Our community brings together generations of Greek Australians whose ancestry traces back to the Aegean island of Samos, Greece.
Built on shared culture, family, and friendship, the Club’s main purpose is to bring our members together for social events that foster connection and honour our traditions.
From preserving our history to creating new memories together, the Samian Social Club continues to nurture a vibrant and enduring connection to Samos for generations to come.
The 2025 Executive Committee
Becoming a member
The Samian Social Club warmly welcomes new members who share a connection to Samos.
Membership is open to individuals and families who would like to be part of our vibrant Melbourne-based community.
By joining the Club, you will have the opportunity to attend social events, connect with other members of our community and help celebrate and preserve Samian traditions. You can join the Club with an annual membership or become a life member. An enrolment fee may apply.
If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact us at samiansocialclub@gmail.com. A member of our Committee will be in touch with further details.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Samian Social Club.
Current Executive Committee
The Samian Social Club has been shaped by the dedication of many members who have generously volunteered their time to serve on the Club’s Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is elected every three years at the Annual General Meeting and meets monthly to oversee the activities of the Club.
Jim Margaronis
President
Mary Drossinos
Secretary
Jim Charaktis
Vice-President
Elizabeth Margaronis
Assistant Secretary
Anne Rigopoulos
Treasurer
Yula Spanos
Assistant Treasurer
General Members
Tasso Argiris
Steven Geromanolis
Nick Hadjigeorgiou
Jo Rallis.
Manolis Skoutas
Angela Tsopanas
Mary Tsopanas
Our history
On 17 January 1982, a passionate group of Samians gathered at the former Embassy Receptions in Hawthorn, Melbourne and resolved to establish a new community association under the name Οικογενειακός Σύλλογος Σαμίων, the Samian Social Club.
The Club was founded to promote the recreational, social, cultural and patriotic interests of people living in Melbourne who were born on the island of Samos, or who are descendants of Samians, and to support the wellbeing and connection of this community.
Those present on 17 January 1982 became the Founding Members of the Club:
ARMOUTOGLOU, Takis
CHATZIIOANNOU, Konstantinos
DRAPANIOTIS, Haralambos
DROSSINOS, Georgios
DROSSINOS, Ioannis
FILIPPIS, Athanasios
GEROMANOLIS, Stefanos
HARAKTSIS, Ioannis
IOANNOU, Georgios
IOANNOU, Ioannis
KATSIKAS, Dimitrios
LYKOURINOS, Nikolaos
MARGARONIS, Dimitrios
MARKOU, Georgios
MERMIGAS, Georgios
PAPADIMITRIOU, Andreas
PATRONIS, Georgios
POLITIS, Filippas
SKOUTAS, Dimitrios
SOUVATZIS, Isidoros
SPANOGIANNIS, Vasilios
TSESMELIS, Konstantinos
TSOPANAS, Petros
The first general meeting and Committee election was held on 25 April 1982 at the Greek Orthodox Community Centre in Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.
The following members of the first Committee (who had not been present at the initial gathering at Embassy Receptions) were added as Founding Members:
DROSSINOS, Mary
MANOLIOS, Emmanuel
PANOURAKIS, Emmanuel
PATRONIS, Theodora
PLATANIOTIS, Emmanuel
SKOUTAS, Loula
SOUVATZIS, Peggy
The Club’s Constitution was ratified in September 1982, and the Club’s registration as an association was approved in May 1983.
The first and second Executive Committees of the Samian Social Club, 1982 – 1988.
Our headquarters
On 13 July 1983, the Club purchased its headquarters at 127-129 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill in Melbourne, and received the keys to its new home on 13 September 1983. You can read more about the history of our building here.
Many members generously donated or lent funds to support the purchase and gave their time to help renovate the building. Around 400 people attended the Club’s New Year’s Eve celebrations in the new building on 31 December 1983.
In the years following the Club’s establishment, the Committee and members worked enthusiastically to organise a wide range of social events to bring its members together. Through the strong organisation and management of successive Committees, together with the continued support of its members, the Club’s loan for the Clifton Hill hall was fully repaid in 1992.
Since 1995, the Clifton Hill premises have been leased, with the rental income helping to fund a variety of social events and activities for members.
Auction day, 13 July 1983, 127-129 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill.
Sold – 127-129 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill, 1983.
Clifton Hill Hall, November 1983.
New Year’s Eve at the Clifton Hill hall, 31 December 1983.
New Year’s Eve at the Clifton Hill Hall, 31 December 1983.
Samian musician Nikos Sarantou at the Hall, 22 September 1984.
Fundraiser for Kalamata earthquake at the Clifton Hill hall, 4 October 1986.
Dance at Arion Receptions, Fitzroy, 6 August 1988.
Dress up party at the Clifton Hill Hall, 13 February 1993.
Dress up party at the Clifton Hill hall, 13 February 1993.
10th anniversary celebration at the Clifton Hill hall, 11 July 1993.
Building a community
Over the years, the Club has proudly supported various charities and philanthropic organisations in both Greece and Australia.
Today, the Club’s membership spans approximately 200 families, including over 140 life members. The dedication of past Committees has laid strong foundations for the Club’s continued growth. We hope that future generations will follow in their footsteps, working together to uphold the Club’s objectives and strengthen our community.
With continued thoughtful planning, a willingness to share ideas, cooperation and mutual respect, the Samian Social Club will continue to thrive for many years to come.
“Growing up in this club has been such an important part of my life and I love being able to continue what our parents and grandparents created.”
– Dorothy Velitzelos
Day trip to Sorrento, 27 January 1991.
12-day trip to the Gold Coast, Queensland, 8-20 March 1997.
Trip to Swan Hill, Victoria, 12-13 July 1997.
Trip to Swan Hill, Victoria, 12-13 July 1997.
Trip to Mt Gambier, South Australia, 6-8 June 1998.
AGM, elections and lunch at Samos Tavern, Windsor, 23 August 1998.
Tavern night at Laikon, Richmond, 20 October 2007.
Masquerade ball at Regal Ballroom, Northcote, 15 March 2008.
Celebrating the Club’s 25th anniversary at Nikos Tavern, 9 March 2008.
Trip to Adelaide and Barossa Valley, South Australia, 2011.
Trip to Mildura, Wentworth and Broken Hill, 11-14 March 2016.
Supporting the Charitable Association of Ladies and Young Ladies of Karlovasi at Merope Hotel in Samos, 2022.