Nikos attended the Primary School in Pitsinianika, Kythera and the High School (Gymnasium) in Chora, Kythera. He left Kythera when he finished the Gymnasium, at the age of 18.

Nikos went on to establish a succesful academic career in Greece.

Nikos is President, of the Society of Kytherian Studies, one of a number of prominent positions that he holds.

Nikos's mother - Aikaterini Stathi - Petrochilou.

A great deal is known about Nikos's mother, Aikaterini Stathi - Petrochilou. Aikaterini's paratsoukli was Kalogerinis. She was a school teacher in Markesakia, Kythera, for 36 years. She had many pupils who now live in Australia, such as Peter Magiros and Spyro Calokerinos.

Are you a former school pupil of Aikaterini?

What can you tell us about your experiences with Aikaterini as your teacher?

Establishing a history and profile of Kosmas, Nikos's father.

Less well known is the family history of Nikos's father. What follows is a preliminary attempt to try and establish a deeper biographical profile of Kosmas; and a historical background - particularly his time in Australia.

Nikos Petrochilos - "my father went to Australia when he was 14 years of age. He remained there up to the age of 36, when he came back to Greece. And, a little later, he got married to my mother. His life in Australia was not prosperous, in other words he didn't make money. Why, I don't know. May be because he spent more than he earned. Anyway... As far as I know, he didn't have specific "paratsoukli". In our village he was called "o Afstralezos" (the man from Australia)".

Manuel Cassimatis, (father of Steve, Gerald and Anna), "was on the same ship with him coming to Australia."

"Manuel knows more about Nikos's father in Australia, than anyone else, as Kosmas Petrochilos bought a shop in Beckom from Vic, Manuel's "brother-in-law".

Beckom is located in the Riverina area of NSW in the Coolamon shire. The town is very small with a population of just 80 people. (2005).

Brochure on Beckom

Riverina Map including Coolamon Shire area

History of Coolamon Shire:

CoolomanS.pdf

Mentioned in this .pdf document is

SOUVENIR OF COOLAMON 1881-1934. PUBLISHED BY THE BACK-TO-COOLAMON WEEK COMMITTEE

which may contain a reference to Kosmas Petrochilos(?)

"I knew his father very well in Hora, Kythera." - Spyro Calokerinos.