Published on Friday, 10 July 2020 at 12:28:01 PM
It’s already been a year for the history books, with a global pandemic that sent us into lockdown, the introduction of drive-by birthday parties and an Anzac Day commemorated from driveways.
In years to come people might wonder what life was like at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the City of Vincent wants to make sure your stories are recorded for future generations.
Entries are now open for the 2020 Vincent Local History Awards and this year we want to capture contemporary tales about life in our suburbs in recent months.
We also want to build on our rich and diverse local history collection with untold stories of Vincent’s past and the people who helped shape our community.
Over the past five months, Leederville resident Tzanis Palioudakis has been on a journey of discovery about his great-grandmother Christina Kongras – a stalwart of the Mount Hawthorn community.
After migrating from Greece to Australia, Christina owned and ran Olive Oil Fishmonger on Scarborough Beach Road from the 1940s to the 1980s. Tzanis never had the chance to meet his great-grandmother, but he was born and raised in her home and has great respect for the things she achieved in the Vincent community.
He has agreed to enter this year’s Local History Awards, making his great-grandmother’s story part of the City’s local history collection.
“My great-grandmother Christina Kongras was a strong, independent woman with a head for business as well as her family and community,” he said.
“She opened a shop in war stricken times in the 1940s and I feel that was an achievement in itself.
“She ran her shop at 151 Scarborough Beach Road at a time when women, especially those from non-English speaking countries, were expected to play secondary roles to men in these fields.
“Although she died before I was born, I want to honour her life and make sure her story is known.”
The Local History Awards are open to anyone who wants to help record the history of our city and contribute to the local history collection.
Written and photographic entries have to relate to people, places or events in Vincent.
“This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Vincent Local History Awards and we mark this during a year of great challenge and change,” said Mayor Emma Cole.
“A lot of people used their time staying home to spring clean their homes and trawl through old boxes. We would love to see any historic photos, slides or documents that were unearthed.
“We are also keen to collect more recent diary entries, documents or photographs that tell the story of what it was like to live through COVID-19 in Vincent.
“By entering our Local History Awards, you are helping us build up our unique history of local photos, memoirs and stories that capture changing life in our Vincent suburbs.”
Entries close on 30 September and the winners will be announced in early November.
To find out more or to enter the Local History Awards, visit the Library's website via the link below.
You can also contact the Local History Centre on 9273 6534 or at local.history@vincent.wa.gov.au
City of Vincent Library - Local History Awards
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