He toiled relentlessly to make a living across two continents

The childhood and youth of Alexandros Stefanidis were marked by hardship. He grew up in Leptokarya, Florina, amidst the poverty and turmoil of post-war Greece. From an early age, he worked as a shepherd in neighbouring villages, earning his living through toil and honest labour. However, Greece had little to offer the Stefanidis family. In 1965, they made the difficult decision to emigrate to Australia. There, Alexandros worked tirelessly in factories and construction sites, while in his free time, he enjoyed moments with his fellow expatriates in cinemas and sports grounds. It was in Australia that he married, built his own family, and continued his life’s struggle, always keeping in mind one phrase: “The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away.”