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Centenary logo

Ithacan Philanthropic Society ‘The Ulysses’
Established 1916

Working towards 100 years..............

2016 centenary celebrations
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In 2016 the Ithacan Philanthropic Society will celebrate one hundred years since its formation in 1916.  A centenary working party has been established to plan events and activities to acknowledge and celebrate the past 100 years of the Ithacan community in Melbourne, Victoria.
We need your help…………………
One of our goals for the Centenary is to celebrate the achievements and contributions of so many members of our Ithacan community over the past 100 years.  As such we are interested in hearing the stories about the generations that have contributed to the growth and success of the Ithacan community in Melbourne, Victoria.  Material collected will help build our historical archives and assist in the compilation of our centenary publication and the mounting of the Immigration Museum Exhibition.  If you have stories, family histories, photographs, letters, documents or artefacts of historical significance such as clothing, embroidery, linen etc old suitcases/trunks, please contact us:

Email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  
Mail:  Centenary Working Party, PO Box 311, Balwyn North, 3104
Centenary logo
To commemorate our Society’s 100 years a special ‘Centenary Logo’ has been designed by James Raftopoulos, a fourth generation Australian Ithacan.   The trials and tribulations of the migrant journey to new lands is a story often told, however in developing this mark James has attempted to define that narrative in a uniquely Ithacan context.  The two zeros with digits; 1,0,0 are linked by the mythology of our homeland’s greatest traveller, Odysseus.  As Australian Ithacans we have two homes that are inextricably linked, and this bond is ever strengthened by the existence of our Society.    The logo traces the journey from island to island within its visual language.  Starting with zero and ending with zero, the logo represents the Society as an eternal blank canvas; adaptive, dynamic and resourceful in times of change, yet forever strong at its core, bolstered by strong relationships between family and friends.
2016 - A year of celebration
A range of celebratory events are being planned throughout the centenary year.  The week of the 16 October – 22 October 2016 will be a special centenary week commencing with the launch of our Centenary Publication and concluding with the Centenary Ball to be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Information about the various events being planned will be published progressively.  Please click on the following links for information.
Centenary Launch – March 2016
A key Centenary project that sets the tone for the course of the centenary year will be the launch event, scheduled to be held on Sunday 6th March 2016. Symbolically, it is fitting that the inaugural event marking the celebration of the centenary year will be dedicated to the first President Antony John Jereos Lucas (Lekatsas) and his contemporaries who kindled the flame which continues to burn today ever more brightly.

With the passage of a century the collective memory of an organization is inevitably dimmed, even in half that time, reliance on verbal accounts about people, events and details, already scant, can be tainted by hearsay and conjecture.

The problem is, when we are living in the present, we do not realize we are actually creating what will become history in the future.

Read the full article
Centenary Publication
To celebrate its 100 years the Ithacan Philanthropic Society is compiling a quality coffee table publication documenting the history of Ithacan settlement in Melbourne, Victoria commencing in the 1850’s.  

To assist us in this endeavour we are seeking contributions and information including
  • Relevant and interesting historical material and artefacts
  • Interesting old photographs
  • Information about the early settlers of Ithacans in Melbourne and their achievements, businesses, community involvement
  • Information about Ithacan businesses in Melbourne and regional Victoria
  • Information about the origins and progress of our society throughout the years                     
  • Successful activities developed by our society over the years
  • Any other unusual or interesting Ithacan archival information
  • Information and stories of interest of contemporary individuals and families of Ithacan descent – their achievements, contributions to community etc.

If you are able to assist with any of the above please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

The book launch will be held during the Centenary week in October, the anniversary month of the formation of the Society.  
Centenary Art Exhibition
Download an Expression of Interest form: IPS Centenary Art Exhibition EOI form
To celebrate its 100 years, the Ithacan Philanthropic Society is delighted to announce that it is planning an art exhibition to showcase the talents of artists of Ithacan descent and friends of the Society.
The theme of the exhibition is ‘Odyssey – An artist’s journey’
Exploring life's journey and those experiences that shape us both individually and collectively.

Exhibition dates: Saturday 28 May 2016 – Sunday 12 June 2016

Location: Steps Gallery, 62 Lygon Street, Carlton

http://miesf.com.au/steps-gallery

We encourage interested artists to visit Steps Gallery to look at the space.

  • This is a curated exhibition.  
  • For 2D art works artists will be allotted a wall space 1 meter wide. For example, one piece with or without a frame or 4 smaller works as long as the collective width once hung is no more than 1 meter wide (depending on interest shown).  
  • The exhibition committee’s decision will be final.
  • Art work can be for sale.
  • There is no commission on sales

Please encourage family and friends of the Society who are practicing artists to be part of our Centenary Exhibition.
Immigration Museum Exhibition
A major coup for the Ithacan Philanthropic Society has been the acceptance of its submission for an exhibition at the Immigration Museum of Victoria in 2016.  This was a significant achievement for the Society given that the Immigration Museum guidelines only consider exhibitions that are representative of a broad ethnic group or community rather than an individual section of the community.  However, much to our delight, the history and longevity of the Society captured the imagination of the exhibition directors.  This promises to be a once in a lifetime opportunity for our Society to present its ‘Odyssey’ and showcase its contribution to our wonderful multi-cultural city of Melbourne and state of Victoria.  

Your photographs, documents, old letters, stories and artefacts will help make the Ithacan Society’s story more authentic, relevant and engaging for all Ithacans and the broader community.  

Please contact us if you have material of historical significance.

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Centenary Ball
To be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground Members' Dining Room, the Centenary Ball promises to be a memorable evening of celebration.  Funds raised from the evening will be donated to charity.