These words were spoken in July 1994, at a Greek community event in Sydney, by former senator and federal minister Nick Bolkus, who passed away on Christmas Day.
His loss is felt particularly deeply within the Greek-Australian community, of which he was a distinguished and active member. For decades, he worked tirelessly in its interests from positions of responsibility, most notably as a senator and federal minister on the Australian political stage.
The leadership of the Australian Labor Party, at both state and federal levels, paid tribute to him. Most notably, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that “Nick Bolkus was one of the great sons of the Labor family.”
Talking with Nick Bolkus: “You in Greek, me in English”
Nick Bolkus (of Kastellorizian descent, born in Australia in 1950) honoured me professionally by granting me interviews from the early 1990s, when I first met him. He had been elected to the Senate in July 1981.
Our first radio interview most likely took place in 1992 or 1993 on the then station Voice of Greece, whose studio was located in the Sydney suburb of Glebe, in the same premises as the newspaper The Greek Herald (Foreign Language Publications).
From April 1994 onwards, when I was employed as a full-time journalist at SBS, our contact continued—either by telephone or in the studio whenever he visited the broadcaster.
At his suggestion, we even reached an informal agreement: “You ask me the questions in Greek, and I’ll answer in English,” he used to say, adding humorously, “my Greek isn’t like yours.”
Source: Supplied / GOC of SA
His bitterness towards the Left faction
In 2005, when he retired from active politics, he gave me an extensive interview. We spoke about the entirety of his political journey—from his early years in the South Australian Labor Party and his close association with future state premier Don Dunstan, as well as federal prime minister Gough Whitlam, to his time as a minister in the governments of Bob Hawke and Paul Keating.
In that same interview, he did not hide his bitterness over the stance taken towards him by the Left faction of the Labor Party, of which he himself was a member. At just 55 years of age, he did not seem to have a real desire to step away from active politics. However, internal factional decisions and agreements ultimately pushed him to resign from the Senate.
His disappointment also stemmed from the fact that, as he told me, figures of Greek origin within the Left faction had called for his removal.
In October 2014, following the death of Gough Whitlam, I once again sought his reflections. Nick Bolkus readily agreed to speak about the “giant of Australian politics,” recalling Whitlam’s deep affection for Greece and the Greek people, as well as his close friendship with Andreas Papandreou.
It is worth noting that following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in July 1974, the Whitlam government had sent Nick Bolkus to the island to assess the situation firsthand and to recommend ways in which Australia could assist. In his report, he proposed that Australia accept Cypriot refugees—a recommendation that was ultimately implemented.
The last phone call
Our final communication was not for an interview, but to wish him well after learning of a deterioration in his health. It was Thursday, 28 January 2021. Initially, I sent a message to his wife, Mary, who thanked me and noted: “Why don’t you call him yourself and wish him well?”
I did so. He remembered me, was visibly moved, and we spoke about the past, his health, and other human, personal matters.
Our conversation was private. That time, he spoke more in Greek—his own “Greek-Australian Greek.” There is no reason to elaborate further on its content, given its personal nature.
“Sto perigiali to kryfo” (“On the hidden seashore”)
Ο Νίκος Μπόλκας με τον Μίκη Θεοδωράκη στην Κρήτη το 1991, στους εορτασμούς για τα 50-χορνα τότε από την Μάχη της Κρήτης. Source: Supplied / GOC of SA
Ten years later, as he was leaving politics, he confided to me that in his retirement he would like to learn the bouzouki and—who knows—perhaps play his favourite song, Arnisi (“Sto perigiali to kryfo”).
That song had closed our interview back then. With the same song, I farewell him today, now that he is no longer among us.
* This statement by Nick Bolkus was made on Friday, 18 July 1994. He had been invited to speak at a gathering organised by Labor MP Mary Easson in Burwood, Sydney. The event was held at the premises of the Greek Orthodox Parish–Community of St Nectarios of Burwood and Districts. At the time, the federal electorate was known as Lowe; it has since been renamed Reid. The following morning, Saturday 19 July, I was on duty presenting the news and a feature report, choosing to focus on that gathering. The three-minute report highlighted the remarks made by Nick Bolkus.
** From that interview, I distinctly recall his effort to convey a message to the Greek community about respect and acceptance of people of all sexual orientations. The issue was already prominent in public debate at the time, and decades would pass before same-sex marriage was legalised. “I am heterosexual,” he told us, “but we must accept that not everyone in society is like us. They are all fellow human beings, and we should not marginalise them or deny respect for their human rights.” He spoke with complete sincerity and courage, knowing he was addressing an audience that—rather largely—held conservative views on the issue.
