State Memorial Service to Honour Former Senator Nick Bolkus – A Champion of Multicultural Australia and the Greek Community

Adelaide, A State Memorial Service will take place this Thursday to celebrate the life and contributions of the Honourable Nick Bolkus, the pioneering Greek-Australian politician, former federal Cabinet Minister, and long-time advocate for multiculturalism and migrant rights.

The service is set for 11:00 am on Thursday, 22 January 2026, at the Allan Scott Auditorium, Hawke Building, University of Adelaide, 55 North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia.

Born in Adelaide in 1950 to Greek immigrant parents of Kastellorizian heritage, Nick Bolkus became a trailblazer as Australia's first Greek-Australian federal Cabinet Minister. Elected to the Senate for South Australia in 1980, he served until 2005 and held key roles in the Hawke and Keating governments from 1988 to 1996, including:

• Minister for Consumer Affairs
• Minister Assisting the Treasurer for Prices
• Minister for Administrative Services
• Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs
• Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Multicultural Affairs

Bolkus passed away peacefully on 25 December 2025, aged 75, leaving a lasting legacy in shaping modern multicultural Australia through progressive immigration policies and strong support for ethnic communities.

Service Details

• Doors open: 9:30 am ACDT
• Seating by: 10:30 am (ushers will assist; public seating on arrival until full capacity)
• Open to: Family, friends, community organisations, and members of the public
• Registration: Required by Monday, 19 January 2026 (as of today, contact organisers immediately if interested)
• Enquiries: Protocol and International Visits Branch, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet – phone (02) 6271 6129 or email StateMemorial@pmc.gov.au
• Livestream: Available from 11:00 am ACDT (link via pmc.gov.au or official channels)

In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to the Stroke Foundation or the Heart Foundation.

This memorial offers the Greek-Australian community and all Australians an opportunity to pay tribute to a statesman who bridged cultures and championed inclusion. Tributes have highlighted his mentorship, policy impact, and enduring ties to the Greek diaspora.

For full details, visit the official announcement on pmc.gov.au/news/state-memorial-service-honourable-nick-bolkus.

Greek City Times extends condolences to the Bolkus family and honours his remarkable service to Australia and the Greek community. May his memory be eternal. 🇬🇷🇦🇺