From Greece to Raetihi for family business

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 314, 21 November 1989, Page 10

From Greece to Raetihi for family business

BY

DONNA

MCGRATH

" Fish, the family dish" has been the jingle for, among others, Raetihi's Wellington Cafe since 1961.

On rodeo day, March 1961 the Wellington Cafe opened its doors at the shpp now known as Bojo's second hand shop, under Greek manager Terry ioannidis. The family business can be remembered for its large dining room where meals were available from eight in the morning till 10 o'clock at night. After closing Terry used to travel to places as far as Napier to collect his fish supply. Terry immigrated to: New Zealand in the early 1950's to Wellington, where he was employed as a wharfie. There Terry met his wife Ann, originally from Mataura in the South Island. They were married in 1954 in the Greek Orthodox Church. Terry's and Ann's decision to come to

Raetihi with their four children all happened overnight when their Te Aro home was burnt down. Terry's knowledge of the Waimarino area came through his love of hunting. Terry believed the Waimarino would, (on his days off) give him an opportunity he was looking for. Decimal currency year, 1967, bought yet another opportunity Terry's way when he purchased the drapery shop of Miss Legs' and converted it to the Wellington Cafe. Now the business is managed by Terry and Ann's son in law Trevor Fredericksen and daughter Venetia. Together they work a 10 hour day providing the public with take-aways and fish such as snapper, orange roughy, flounder, blue cod and shell

in business fish. Trevor fillets his own fish - a skill he

picked up from Terry. The cafe specialises

also in home baking from pastry items to cakes and sandwiches. Trevor's mother Mavis spends time in the shop making individual delights of her choice.

Trevor was as a floor sweeper for stock and station agents Newton King and was promoted to branch manager a few years later. Trevor later accepted a transfer to a Taranaki branch as first assistant. Trevor and Venetia lived with their two children Aaron and Sean in Eltham for seven and a half years before returning to Raetihi as merchandise manager for the company. He later accepted the manager's position in Ohakune. After two years Trevor decided to try being self employed and took on the family business, taking over

from Terry. Trevor and Venetia feel the effects of a hard day's work in the shop. Within their trading hours they meet many people and some, Venetia says, have visited the shop for 28 years. Things haven't changed much since Terry disappeared from behind the counter. Customers are still asked to "answer the phone" while ordering. Answering the phone for Terry always meant accompanying him out the back for a small glass of wine. A Greek tradition Terry never let up on.