John Ermidis the ‘photographer’ of Melbourne’s Greek community passes away
Source: NEOS KOSMOS
With deep sorrow, the Greek community and the Neos Kosmos family received the news of the passing of John (Giannis) Ermidis, the photographer who for decades documented, through his lens, every significant — and everyday — moment of Melbourne’s Greek community.
John Ermidis, rightly called “the photographer of the community”, was found dead by his sister Eleni in his apartment in Kareas, Attica. He was 76 years old.
Born in Russia in 1949, Ermidis moved to Greece in 1957. In 1969 he migrated to Australia, where his long journey in photojournalism within the Greek community began.
From 1971 to 2015 he collaborated with Neos Kosmos, covering every important event, social gathering, political meeting and artistic presentation.
From politicians and scientists to artists, athletes and everyday Greek Australians, no occasion escaped his lens.
In 2015, after 46 years of life and creativity in Melbourne, Giannis decided to return permanently to Greece. With him he took an invaluable photographic archive — 120,000 film rolls containing millions of photographs documenting both the everyday and special moments of the Greek community in Australia.
As he told Neos Kosmos at the time:
“It’s precious material. For more than 40 years I recorded everything through my lens, and I don’t want this archive to be lost. I hope it will be preserved and put to good use by those responsible.”
It remains unknown what will happen to his archive. A portion had reportedly been given to EKEME.
Ermidis’ career was defined by his rare ability to combine journalistic sensitivity with artistic vision. He met and photographed figures of global stature — from prime ministers and ministers to Queen Elizabeth II herself.
One of the most memorable moments of his career was at the 29th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Cyprus, in October 1993.
Queen Elizabeth visited Nicosia amid protests, as her presence was controversial due to Britain’s stance during Cyprus’s independence struggle. Despite tensions outside the venue, the summit proceeded smoothly inside, with journalists and photographers capturing every moment.
Giannis later recalled his first encounter with the Queen with enthusiasm:
“It was the first time I saw her up close. I was amazed, stunned. She was walking with Glafcos Clerides towards the Press Centre at the Hawaii Beach Hotel. They were talking, and suddenly the Queen looks at me and says: ‘I am asking you how are you, nobody behind there.’ And I replied, ‘I am fine, thank you.’”
Moments like these — simple and human — reveal the warmth and attentiveness with which he approached everyone he photographed.
His relationship with the community extended far beyond photography. Giannis never owned a car, but his presence was so valued that former Greek Consul General in Melbourne, George Veis, used to have him ride everywhere with him, joking that “the only photographer who has a Consul General as his driver is Giannis.”
His return to Greece in 2015 did not sever his ties with Australia. He took with him a treasure of memories — an archive that captures not only the life but the very spirit of the Greek diaspora.
His photographs are the history of the community itself — of its people and the moments that shaped its identity, from everyday events to major social and political milestones.
The grief over his death is profound. Giannis Ermeidis was a man who, through his work, kept alive the memory of the Greek community — a living archive connecting generations.
His legacy extends beyond photography — it lies in his dedication, kindness and love for the people he captured.
John Ermidis leaves behind not only his family but an entire community that remembers him with respect and affection. His presence was discreet yet defining — a photographer who didn’t just document events, but captured the soul of a people.
His life and work live on through the hundreds of thousands of photographs he created — an invaluable archive of the history of the Greek diaspora.
John Ermidis departed fulfilled and recognised, leaving behind a body of work that will continue to speak to future generations, depicting the life and values of the Greek Australian community and beyond.
His memory and his work will remain indelibly etched in the history of the diaspora and in the collective memory of all who had the privilege of knowing the “photographer of the community.”
The original article: belongs to NEOS KOSMOS .
