ANNUAL REPORT

Senior Vice Chair - Irene Cayas
The year covered by this annual
report has been both rewarding
and challenging and I have had
the pleasure of attending many
varied events and functions.
In the absence of our Chairperson, Nick Xynias,
during the Olympic Games in September I was
pleased to represent ECCQ at the Soirée festival at
the University of Queensland, the tickertape and
Parliamentary welcome of our Olympic athletes
returning from Athens, and our Citizenship
Ceremony during Seniors Week.
Also, I felt privileged having the honour of chairing
our Executive and Council meetings. Chairing our
Council meetings was especially a highlight, meeting
with our many special guests who enlighten us
on various interesting topics.
I would like to thank all of our guest speakers for
their time and words of wisdom.
My involvement with the various aspects of ECCQ
has extended my knowledge of the many elements
of our diverse community.
It was a great year of fun but it was also a year of
sadness with the loss of our much-loved Joan
Einikis and Arthur Marshman. Knowing what
people like Joan and Arthur contributed to our
community has inspired many of us to maintain a
good standard of volunteering in various ways, and
especially through ECCQ.
In May 2005 our WEN Convenor, Victoria Zografos,
resigned when she took on a new work position.
And yes, it was a hard decision for me to step in, as
Victoria’s hard work and enthusiasm will be a very
hard act to follow.
I now look forward to the challenge of convening
the WEN group but must look to the support of our
members to achieve our goals.
Our goals for WEN have been tabled and we hope,
amongst other things, to be able to support refugee
students and families, to be able to assist in the
educational needs of these students, and, in another
area, visit the elderly and those socially isolated in
their homes.
I also thank ECCQ for giving me the opportunity to
attend the FECCA Conference in Wollongong, my
hometown.
My participation at this conference, held in the Nan
Tien Temple, and as ECCQ’s representative on the
State Library Multicultural Committee, added to my
experience.
The year ahead for ECCQ will be full of positives
and in whatever capacity I may be able to be
involved I can only hope that it will be to touch
people’s lives in a good and wholesome way.
Thank you to our entire Executive Committee and
in particular to our Chairman Nick Xynias,
Immediate Past Chairman Serge Voloschenko,
Honorary Secretary Chalani Gunasekara, and
Honorary Treasurer Peter Vecsey-Dalos for their
support during the year.
And a special thank you to all our staff for their
efforts and achievements during the year and for
their support and assistance in undertaking my
duties.
Above: Lisa Newman, Brisbane’s Lady Mayoress, holding
the flowers presented to her at ECCQ’s August 2004
Council meeting at which she was the guest speaker. Mrs
Newman (centre) is chatting to Irene Cayas, ECCQ’s
Senior Vice-Chair (left) and Aspasia Livanos, ECCQ Vice-
Chair for Youth 2003-2004
Above: Irene Cayas, ECCQ’s Senior Vice Chair
at the reception in honour of Queensland’s 2004
Olympic athletes. Irene was lucky enough to be
snapped with Grant Hackett, who cruised to gold
in the 1,500m freestyle
8 ECCQ Annual Report 2004-2005