Triantafillia Kazonis: One Great Mum

With four children, ten grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren (and another two on the way), Triantafillia Kazonis is well versed in the art of motherhood. Over lunch at the club, we had the opportunity to sit down with Triantafilla and her daughter, Andrea Pappas, to find out more about this amazing woman’s life, family traditions and fond memories of Mother’s Days past.

Triantafillia grew up in a Greek village named Monolithos, in Rhodes. Wanting the best life for his daughter, Triantafillia’s father advised her to leave the village lifestyle behind and make the journey to Australia. At age 23, she took his advice and moved to West End in Brisbane where she married and began a family of her own. Sixty-nine years on, she has grown to love West End as her home and has become an integral part of the community here.

Not only has Triantafillia been a dedicated mother and grandmother, raising her family with love, care and a healthy appreciation for good food, she was also a committed volunteer within the Greek Orthodox Community of St. George. Her passion for cooking and her social personality saw her preparing meals for the Respite Centre, helping with the Paniyiri Greek Festival and taking on the role of Treasurer for the 60’s and Better Group. At home, she was a gourmet chef for her family, bringing everyone together over a Greek feast of roast lamb, dolmades and pastitsio. On special occasions such as Mother’s Day, Triantafillia’s home was the hub for family celebrations and she delighted in hosting and catering for the festivities.

Now at age ninety-two, Triantafillia’s Mother’s Days are focused on relaxing with her family and sneaking chocolate treats to her beloved grandchildren. While food still plays a major role in their family celebrations, Mother’s Day for the Kazonis family has moved from Triantafillia’s home to picnics in the park and long lunches at their favourite restaurants. Andrea emphasised the importance of being able to give back to her mother on Mother’s Day and show her appreciation for all her mother has done for her family and the wider community. We are so proud to have Triantafillia as a key member of our community and we wish this amazing woman the best Mother’s Day yet.