General News
8 July, 2025
Billy the Greek, Maryborough Memories with Brian Lennen
Most country towns and suburban areas have a strong Greek influence.
Particularly when it comes to the supplying of fish and chips — Maryborough is no exception.
The passing of Bill Gianacopoulos (Billy the Greek) reminded me of this.
Bill arrived in Australia in January 1958 as an immigrant. No matter what the qualifications of the migrant were, they had to find a manual occupation.
After a year working in the orchards of the Sunraysia, Bill moved in with his aunt in Castlemaine.
She had a restaurant/diner and Bill was a quick learner and saw a future in the industry.
Bill had a welcoming personality and genuinely liked people. Once in business this became obvious to all.
Visiting Maryborough he was entranced by the city. Things were happening in Maryborough and he wanted to be part of it.
After a brief stint working on the construction of the Tullaroop Reservoir (not afraid of hard work), Bill bought the Lorne Fish Supply in partnership while he worked for VicRail.
In 1963 he became sole proprietor. Interestingly theatre-goers at the Maryborough Theatre were shocked when Bill’s partner in business, Con, staggered in after being stabbed. Con was to make a fully recovery.
On Saturday nights Bill and I would listen to the trots at the back of the shop while dining on murray cod and ouzo.
On one Saturday night Bill informed me that he was to be married on the next day, thus started a formidable partnership.
Initially Nikki mistakenly used some of the colourful language she heard from Joe Bishop who cut the potatoes and filleted the fish.
Nikki was amazing. Not only could she take her orders on a busy night but also remember everyone elses.
Bill and Nikki had two children, Michael and Maria.
A move to Pridgeon’s Chemist shop saw “Bill’s Fish Shop” a redesigned and modern business.
Michael has assumed his parents’ roles and has added home delivery to his service.
Bill’s Greek heritage was never forgotten and he frequently returned.
Brian and Mikea Slater accepted Bill’s invitation to stay with him and were treated to his generous hospitality on the Greek islands.
Bill was fiercly loyal to his heritage. I used to bait him by boasting of my Italian heritage and how the Romans had civilised the world. Bill’s retort was simply “the Romans copied everything from the Greeks!”.
It would be remiss of me to overlook Bill’s keen interest in having a wager.
He convinced me (with little difficulty) to attend Stawell trots as Jordy Evans had an up-and-coming champion racing.
Observing the dust-covered colt in the parade ring was hardly encouraging and its odds were large.
The further the race went the further its margin increased. The horse was Raighmagh Pool, an outstanding champion.
When he was hosed down he was a magnificent, black colt.
Bill, like the grocers and the fruit shop, would wrap his fish and chips in newspaper.
You would break open the top of the parcel and fish into the hot package unsure whether a potato cake, chip or morsel of fish would be discovered often with a burnt finger.
I was impressed with the fact that Bill had a mastery of the English language although he had only been in Australia a short while. Nikki also continued in the same vein.
