She is a stalwart of her community so it was fitting that Viola Kalokerinos was crowned the Queen of Curtin on Thursday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Her coronation included song from "the Queen's subjects", students from the local Holy Trinity School.
The occasion was the launch of the fantastic, anecdote-and-photos-packed book, Curtin Turns 50, The Story of a Canberra Suburb 1964-2014.
Editors Carolyn Brody, Peter Forster and Margitta Acker, have created one of those really great history books that is full of facts but also humour and humanity, the work part of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the suburb in 2014.
The editors remind us that the Woden Valley was a sheep grazing area - "with a rural population of nine" - in 1962 when the suburb name Curtin was gazetted. The first residents arrived in 1964.
"Many of the early settlers like the rustic surrounds, sheep grazing over the back fence and the Yarralumla Creek in which to find yabbies," the editors wrote.
"The suburb grew quickly - within a short time it had three primary schools: South and North Curtin and Holy Trinity and two preschools, and so many pupils at both levels that some had to attend school out of suburb."
Residents share their memories of everything from pots of Perkins Paste at school to the day a hot air balloon landed in one of the streets to to JB Youngs department store to disasters such as the 1971 floods.
The editors also recognise modern-day Curtin continues to offer a good quality of life - convenient shops, green space, sense of community, supportive social structures.
Viola and Vince Kalokerinos took over the Curtin Milk Bar in 1971 , Vince passing away suddenly in 2003. A plaque at the shops commemorates his contribution.
Viola and her family continued to run the milk bar for another five or so years. Then ACT Opposition Leader Brendan Smyth lauded Vince in the Assembly following his death saying he was "famous for his bags of mixed lollies and his vanilla-malted thick shakes" and, not least, his generosity.
Viola has continued to contribute to the community, including as president of the Canberra Mothercraft Society, which oversees the the Queen Elizabeth II Family Centre, also in Curtin.
"I feel that I'm not a queen, just a very simple person," Viola protested. But she took the crown for the love of her community.
"It has a special atmosphere. We are very, very united," she said.
If you'd like a copy of the book, you can do so the old-fashioned friendly way by visiting one of the editors, Peter Forster, at home, at 16 Douglas Place, Curtin.
