The Sustainability of Greek Economic and Social Prosperity in Adelaide’s Inner
Western Suburbs
*Arthur Spassis
Ths paper outlnes the results of an economc and socal research study n selected nner western suburbs of Adelade undertaken n 2007. The study area was chosen due to the domnant presence of Greek busnesses and socal nsttutons located n the nner suburbs of Adelade. Busnesses and socal nsttutons wllng to partc- pate provded case studes to represent Greek contrbutons arsng from Greek mm- graton nto the regon. The ncorporaton of busness and socal nsttuton survey questonnares paved the way n determnng f the selected Greek busness and socal nsttuton contrbutons can be sustaned. In general, results ndcated that the par- tcpatng Greek socal nsttutons n the nner western suburbs of Adelade are n a more vulnerable poston than Greek busnesses.
Aim
The goal of the research study was to determne f the selected sample of Greek bus- ness and socal nsttuton partcpants can contnue ther contrbuton and legacy nto the future.
Background
Ths research study was the first of ts knd to be conducted at Flnders Unversty for the Adelade regon. The sample area of study was composed of thrteen selected nner western suburbs of Adelade. These selected suburbs were chosen because of the domnant Greek busness and socal nsttuton presence. Hence, ths created an
* Ths research project was approved by the Flnders Unversty Socal and Behavoural Ethcs Commt- tee. I thank and acknowledge Professor Mchael Tsankas from the Department of Languages, School of Humantes, Flnders Unversty and Dr John D. Psanello, Barrster of the Supreme Court of Aus- trala. Fnally, I thank all the partcpants n the case studes and survey questonnares, for wthout ther nvolvement ths research study would not have been complete.
optmal study area to determne f economc and socal contrbutons could be con- tnued nto the future.
It must be stated that the strong Greek presence n the selected study area s largely a product of mgraton nto the nner western suburbs of Adelade (Burnley, 2001). A fundamental factor that ntated the Greek mmgraton transton process was the dev- astatng mpact of World War Two (Dmtreas, 1998). Poverty and a lack of approprate lvng condtons were the key ngredents that smultaneously resulted n Greek ct- zens emgratng. In essence, Greece was n a state of poltcal dsarray and was n des- perate need of economc support, wth major restructurng anecessary requrement.
Greek ctzens needed urgently to establsh a better lfe for ther famles and them- selves, and hence could not wat for Greece’s revtalsaton program to be complete.
It s nterestng to note that the dfferental pattern of mmgrant settlement n Australa can to a large extent be explaned as beng determned by ethnc status (For- ster, 2004). In other words, mgrants settlng from a partcular vllage of a country prefer to resde n a common area. In lght of ths, Greek mmgrants who settled n the nner western suburbs of Adelade adhered to ths trend of ethnc resdental status. Burnley (2001) notes that the first nner western suburb of Adelade settled by Greek mmgrants was the suburb of Thebarton. Ths locaton behaved as a pred- ecessor for other adjacent suburbs such as Torrensvlle and Mle End to later become settled by Greek mgrants.
It s mportant to note that the presence of socal captal amongst Greek mgrants n the nner western suburbs of Adelade catalysed today’s Greek economc and so- cal prosperty. In substance, socal captal s commonly understood as beng a form of resource developed by people who nteractvely cooperate wth one another to reach an understandng and share a sense of trust (Falk and Harrson, 2003). Fgure 1 shows the outcomes formulated from socal captal, as a result of Greek commu- nty nteracton n the nner western suburbs of Adelade. These formulatons are as follows: a) relgous nsttutons, for example St George Orthodox Church, b) educa- tonal nsttutons, for example St George College, c) socal nsttutons, for example the Pan-Macedonan Socety and c) busness development, for example the Cyprus Bank of Australa.
Figure 1: The outcome of social capital in the inner western suburbs of Adelaide
aa
Social capital
Educational Institutions
Greek Social Institutions Greek Orthodox
Religious Institutions
Economic Development
Economc Development
Greek Socal Insttutons Educatonal
Insttutons Socal captal
Greek Orthodox Relgous Insttutons
Figure 2: The number of persons with Greek ancestry in the selected study area in 2001 and 2006
Source: Adapted by A. Spasss, ABS Census, Basc Communty Profiles, 2001 & 2006
The thrteen nner western suburbs ncorporated n the research study are revealed n Fgure 2. It shows the number of persons havng Greek ancestry n the selected study area, adapted from the 2001 and 2006 censuses respectvely. It can be clearly seen that the suburb of Torrensvlle had the hghest proporton n both 2001 and 2006. Although ths s clearly evdent, the 2006 data ndcates a slght decrease n Greek persons resdng n Torrensvlle n comparson to the 2001 data. Further- more, the suburb of Mle End has the second hghest populaton of Greek ances- try n both 2001 and 2006. Smlar to the suburb of Torrensvlle, the 2006 data also ndcates a slghtly dmnshed figure for Mle End. Although t was prevously stated n ths paper that the earlest and most domnant Greek mgrant settlement n the nner western suburbs was Thebarton, Fgure 2 shows that ths has been sur- passed. Torrensvlle, Mle End and Rchmond have overtaken Thebarton n both the 2001 and 2006 census perods. In general all selected suburbs apart from Kes- wck, Ashford and Hndmarsh (whch have only slghtly ncreased) show decreases n the populaton havng Greek ancestry from the 2001 to the 2006 census perods respectvely.
Methodology
The research study requred the nput of Greek busness and socal nsttuton partc- pants n the selected suburbs of the nner western suburbs of Adelade. The method of approach entaled recrutng wllng persons from Greek busnesses and socal nsttu- tons to partcpate n the research study. The ntal stage nvolved personally vstng potental partcpants n order to explan the purpose of the research and to persuade them to partcpate n t. It must be stated that the recrutment of Greek busness
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900
M ile End Thebarton Torrensville Underdale Cow andilla Hilton Richm ond Kurralta Park M arleston Kesw ick Ashford W est Hindm arsh Hindm arsh
selected suburbs
num ber of Greek persons 2006 2001
Hndmarsh West Hndmarsh Ashford Keswck Marleston Kurralta Park Rchmond Hlton Cowandlla Underdale Torrensvlle Thebarton Mle End
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 Number of Greek Persons
Selected Suburbs
partcpants n the selected study area proved to be a dfficult task. Only three Greek busnesses were keen to be ntervewed and partcpate n the research study. These ntervews formulated case studes to represent Greek economc contrbutons n the nner western suburbs of Adelade. Unfortunately, four well known Greek busnesses whch were approached refused to be a part of the study.
Conversely, the recrutng of Greek socal nsttuton partcpants dd not prove to be such a demandng and dfficult task as was the recrutng of busness partc- pants. Fve socal nsttuton partcpants were easly recruted to formulate case stud- es to represent Greek socal nsttuton contrbutons n the nner western suburbs.
Once socal nsttuton partcpants were recruted, convenent tmes were arranged n order to conduct an ntervew.
In addton to the busness and socal nsttuton case studes, a busness and socal nsttuton survey questonnare was completed by all case study partcpants.
An extra five Greek busnesses who had not already refused to partcpate, along wth an extra three Greek socal nsttuton partcpants were personally recrut- ed from other suburbs of the study area. Ths made a total sample of eght bus- nesses and eght socal nsttuton partcpants who provded actve and valuable responses.
The field exercse also ncluded the recrutment of key actors n local government to partcpate n a key actor survey questonnare. Three key actors were approached n the local government area of West Torrens, but unfortunately for the purposes of the research study two potental key actors declned partcpaton.
Analysis of research findings
Selected participant responses to the business survey questionnaire
Fgure 3 clearly shows that seven partcpants from a total sample of eght who took part n the busness survey questonnare responded that ther chldren or mmed- ate famly are nterested n takng over the busness rens n the future. Ths response accounts for 88% of the total partcpants surveyed. Ths clearly shows that there s a degree of confidence amongst the next generaton to contnue ther famly busness nto the future.
All partcpants responded n the busness survey questonnare that ther bus- ness wll contnue to operate successfully wthout ther nvolvement n the future.
Ths shows that all busnesses that partcpated n the research study are strongly con- soldated and functonng to ther expectatons. From Fgure 3 t s evdent that three out of eght partcpants surveyed (38%) ndcated that they employ famly mem- bers only. Conversely, ths means that five out of eght busness partcpants surveyed (62%) are responsble for creatng employment opportuntes n the nner western suburbs of Adelade.
Figure 3: Selected participant Yes/No responses to the business survey questionnaire 2007
An ssue of concern that emanated from the study was that 50% of partcpants sur- veyed agreed that ncreasng busness expenses wll most defintely contrbute towards a dmnshng future lfe span of ther busness. Fgure 3 also hghlghts that 50% of busness partcpants surveyed responded that lmted customer street parkng aval- ablty affects busness profitablty. Furthermore, seven busnesses surveyed from a total sample of eght (88%), responded that financal ncentves and or award presen- tatons are good notons for the contnual motvaton of busnesses n the regon.
Table 1 shows that all eght busness partcpants (100%) agreed that ther bus- ness productvty and efficency had mproved over tme. It s nterestng to note that from Table 1, 75% of partcpants agreed that competton between smlar Greek busnesses s an ssue of concern. Conversely, only 25% were confident that compet- ton between smlar Greek busnesses s a not of concern.
Table 1: Selected participant agree/disagree responses to the business survey questionnaire 2007
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Financial incentives/awards should be provided to continue business
m otivation Street parking restrictions affect
business profitability Business em ploys fam ily m em bers
only
Increasing expenses will affect the business life span Business will operate successfully
without the participant's involvem ent Children or im m ediate fam ily want
to take over the business
Selected Questions
Num ber of Persons
No response Yes response
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Number of Persons
Selected Questons
No response Yes response
Selected questons asked of partcpants partcpantsagreeng % of total
agreeng partcpants
not agreeng % of total not agreeng total
sample The number of Greek busnesses s
ncreasng n the nner western suburbs
of Adelade 7 87.5 1 12.5 8
Competton between smlar Greek busnesses s a concern n the nner
western suburbs of Adelade 6 75 2 25 8
Busness productvty and effcency
has mproved over tme 8 100 nl nl 8
There s good nteracton between Greek and non-Greek busnesses n the
nner western suburbs of Adelade 8 100 nl nl 8
Chldren or mmedate famly want to take over the busness
Busness wll operate successfully wthout the partcpant’s nvolvement
Increasng expenses wll affect the busness lfe span Busness employs famly members only Street parkng restrctons affect busness proftablty Fnancal ncentves/awards should be provded to contnue busness motvaton
From Table 1, t can be clearly seen that seven partcpants from a total sample of eght (88%) responded that the number of Greek busnesses n the nner suburbs of Adelade s ncreasng. Conversely, approxmately 12% of partcpants responded that they dd not agree the number of Greek busnesses s ncreasng n the nner western suburbs of Adelade. A postve sgn from Table 1 s that all partcpants agreed that there was a good relatonshp between Greek and non-Greek busnesses n the nner western suburbs of Adelade.
Table 2: Selected participant responses extracted from the business survey questionnaire 2007
Table 2 shows that five out of a total sample of eght partcpants (63%) were born n Greece and mgrated to the nner western suburbs of Adelade. Furthermore, 75% of partcpants surveyed ndcated that ther parents were Greek mgrants. From a total sample of eght partcpants, only two partcpants (25%) hghlghted that ther bus- ness was handed down from a former generaton. The final note n regards to Table 2 s that all the eght partcpants ntervewed strongly felt that Greek mmgrants have contrbuted towards the economc development of the nner western suburbs of Adelade.
The three busness case studes whch were derved from ntervewng busness partcpants n the selected study area clearly dentfied that: a) busness partcpants felt they were from a Greek background smply from beng a part of the busness, b) busness partcpants were nspred to successfully operate ther busness, and c) the partcpants’ busnesses exhbted Greek culture n the communty.
Selected participant responses to social institution survey questionnaire
Fgure 4 clearly shows that all eght partcpants responded that Greek persons not resdng n the nner western suburbs of Adelade support ther respectve socal nsttuton. Furthermore, seven partcpants from a total sample of eght (88%) nd- cated that the lfe cycle of marrage and chld bearng attracts people to socal nst- tutons.
number of partcpant
responses % of total partcpants partcpant’s parents mgrated from
Greece 6 75
partcpant born n Greece 5 62.5
Greek mgraton has contrbuted to
economc development 8 100
Busness passed down from former
generaton 2 25
total partcpants 8
Figure 4: Selected participant Yes/No responses to the social institution survey questionnaire 2007
It s nterestng to note that five partcpants (63%) reported that ther chldren are enthusastc about contnung ther legacy. Conversely, the remander (37%) hgh- lghted that ther chldren are not nterested n takng up ther legacy and conse- quently makng contrbutons towards ther socal nsttuton.
From Fgure 4 an ssue whch troubled seven partcpants (88%) s the unaval- ablty of sufficent street parkng. In addton to ths concern, there appears to be an ncrease n older age group volunteers and 50% of the partcpant responses ndcate that young person volunteers are decreasng n number.
Table 3: Selected participant agree/disagree responses to the social institution survey questionnaire 2007
Selected questons asked of
partcpants partcpants
agreeng % of total
agreeng partcpants not
agreeng % of total not agreeng total
sample Competton between socal
nsttutons s a concern n the
nner western suburbs of Adelade 8 100 nl nl 8
Younger adults should be encouraged to become actve
members of socal nsttutons 8 100 nl nl 8
The socal nsttuton’s followng
has ncreased over tme 6 75 2 25 8
There s good nteracton between the Greek socal nsttuton and non-Greek persons n the communty
8 100 nl nl 8
Selected Questons
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
There is an increase in older volunteers Younger person volunteers are
decreasing Marriage and child bearing brings
people to this institution Do your children want to continue
the legacy Increasing expenses will shorten
institution's life span Decreasing volunteer num bers will
affect fundraising Street parking restrictions are of
concern People not living in the local area
support this institution
Selected Questions
Num ber of Persons
No response Yes response
People not lvng n the local area support ths nsttuton Street parkng restrctons are of concern Decreasng volunteer numbers wll affect fundrasng Increasng expenses wll shorten nsttuton’s lfe span Do your chldren want to
contnue the legacy Marrage and chld bearng brngs people to ths nsttuton Younger person volunteers are
decreasng There s an ncrease n older volunteers
No response Yes response
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Number of Persons
Table 3 shows that all partcpants n the socal nsttuton survey questonnare responded that there s a need for younger adults to show ther presence and be actve members n socal nsttutons. Also, all the partcpants agreed that compet- ton between Greek socal nsttutons n the nner western suburbs of Adelade s a concern. In addton, from Table 3 t can be seen that 75% of respondents stated that Greek socal nsttuton followngs n the nner western suburbs of Adelade have ncreased wth respect to tme.
Table 4: Selected participant responses extracted from the social institution survey questionnaire 2007
Table 4 shows that 50% of socal nsttuton partcpants responded that ther par- ents were Greek mmgrants and that 75% of those partcpants were born n Greece.
Fnally, t can be seen that all eght socal nsttuton partcpants stated that Greek mmgraton has nfluenced the socal development of the nner western suburbs of Adelade.
The five case studes whch were derved from ntervewng socal organsaton partcpants n the selected study area clearly dentfied that: a) socal nsttutons exhbt Greek customs n the communty, b) socal nsttuton partcpants are nspred and motvated to be assocated wth ther organsaton, and c) socal nsttutons sup- port phlanthropc projects and communty events.
Key actor responses to survey questionnaire
The sole key actor who partcpated n the key actor survey questonnare responded that Greek mmgrants have contrbuted towards the socal and economc develop- ment of the nner western suburbs of Adelade. Furthermore, ths partcpant was confident that the Greek socal and economc contrbuton n the nner western sub- urbs of Adelade can be contnued nto the future.
In relaton to the lack of street parkng concernng busness and socal nsttuton partcpants dentfied n ths paper, the key actor was undecded. The partcpant ndcated that n regard to ths matter the man concern for councl s achevng ade- quatetrafficmanagement and flow on the man roads. A suggeston made by the key
number of partcpant
responses % of total partcpants partcpant’s parents mgrated from
Greece 4 50
partcpant born n Greece 6 75
Greek mgraton has contrbuted to
socal development 8 100
total partcpants 8
actor was that worred busnesses and socal nsttutons should consder provdng parkng facltes to cater for ther customers’ needs. A further noton put forward by the partcpant was for busnesses to market ther own strategy and promote ther busness as beng a customer frendly envronment n order to attract customers.
Fnally, the key actor responded that t would depend solely on the type of servce a busness or socal organsaton s provdng as to whether ncentves for partcpants were warranted. In general the key actor felt a busness or socal nsttuton must do more than provde a servce to the communty to be consdered for ncentves.
Conclusion
It must be stated that the recrutment of Greek busnesses to partcpate n an nter- vew was a dfficult task to accomplsh. Although ths research study dd not request any financal detals or touch on senstve ssues, potental targeted busness partc- pants were very reluctant to take part n the research. It s of fundamental mportance that n future research studes busnesses should exhbt more nvolvement, because such unversty studes are conducted to benefit the communty.
As seen from the analyss of the busness survey questonnare responses, the selected Greek busnesses n the nner western suburbs of Adelade can be sustaned nto the future. On the other hand socal nsttutons are not n such a commandng poston and requre more nvolvement from younger generatons n order to con- tnue nto the future. In general wthout an ncreasng frutful nvolvement of younger generaton persons, the selected Greek socal nsttutons cannot be sustaned nto the future. It s also of vtal mportance for key actors to partcpate n such research studes also, because t s necessary for polcy makers to understand and be aware of the communty’s conflctng ssues n order to address them.
Recommendations for future research
Future research could firstly ncorporate more busness and socal nsttutons n the nner western suburbs to obtan more concrete results, and secondly select a dfferent sample area ncorporatng Greek busness and socal nsttuton partcpants n, for example, the outer western suburbs of Adelade. Wth such research foundatons n place, paths wll be avalable to conduct a comparatve qualtatve study to determne f economc and socal contrbutons can be sustaned.
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