George Zangalis came to Australia on 15 February 1950, as a political refugee, aged 19. Working at General Motors and living in a single room apartment his life was lonely but soon made friends as he joined Demokritos, his Union and became a member, of the Communist youth and finally of the CPA.
I first met GZ in 1967 at a meeting against the newly imposed junta regime in Greece. He had to wait for 23 years till finally in 1973 he could be granted citizenship and get a passport to visit his brother in the Soviet Union and other family members in Greece. In the last few years he used to visti Drymades, his native village regularly. I saw him five days before his death and told me half of his heart was in Drymades and half in Australia.
22 April 2021 10:31am
The celebration of the life of George Zangalis, the well-loved Communist Party of Australia activist, unionist and multiculturalist, that was planned before his death on 25 March, will still take place as scheduled on the afternoon of Sunday, 25 April at Alphington Grammar’s Multi-purpose Andrianakos Centre in Alphington.
Long-time friend Theo Markos, who will also talk at the event said: “George, a true visionary, was one of the major proponents and advocates of multiculturalism in Australia, as well as a fierce campaigner for social justice and workers’ rights.
“The Community in conjunction with the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU),Radio 3ZZZ, and numerous other community organisations will be celebrating George’s life of activism on Sunday, 25 April, at 2.30 pm. …We are looking forward to our members and the broader community coming together to reflect and honour George’s remarkable contribution,” Mr Markos said.