John Halikos honoured for life-changing contributions to Kalymnos, Pserimos and Telendos

The Municipality of Kalymnos has publically thanked Greek Australian businessman John Halikos for his ongoing and transformative support to his birthplace and the adjacent islands of Pserimos and Telendos.

With heavy emotion and gratitude, Mayor of Kalymnos John Mastrokoukos expressed appreciation for Halikos’ “unceasing, substantial and multi-faceted contribution,” which has provided captious lifelines to some of Greece’s astir distant communities.

“In a clip when the state often struggles to conscionable the needs of our astir distant regions, the actions of our compatriot, John Halikos, stand arsenic a shining illustration of genuine emotion for the homeland,” the politician said.

Among Halikos’ astir caller initiatives is the donation of each indispensable schoolhouse supplies for students successful Pserimos and Telendos, alongside a monthly fiscal allowance of €300 per kid for the full schoolhouse year. According to Mastrokoukos, this “goes beyond philanthropy” and represents a true enactment of κοινωνικά responsibility, keeping acquisition beingness and anticipation live successful Greece’s borderline islands.

John Halikos. Photo: Supplied

He has besides covered accommodation for the teacher astatine Pserimos’ single-class superior school, which reopened this year aft 16 years of closure.

This, the politician stressed, shows that Halikos’ committedness “is not constricted to fiscal contributions, but reaches the very bosom of κοινωνικά cohesion and the sustainability of our islands.”

Halikos, who is based successful Darwin, Northern Territory, has agelong been recognised arsenic 1 of Kalymnos’ large benefactors. His support extends acold beyond education, having backed wellness services, transport, and mundane needs.

In 2021, helium afloat funded the operation of the “Halikio” gathering astatine Kalymnos Hospital – a state-of-the-art installation praised arsenic a “jewel” for the section wellness system. His contributions person besides included vital infirmary infrastructure such arsenic oxygen supply units, with locals saying his generosity has near a imperishable people connected the island.

“John Halikos ne'er forgets his roots. Through selfless, accordant actions, helium has proven that emotion for one’s homeland is not words but a way of life,” said Mastrokoukos.

On behalf of each Kalymnians, the politician extended “heartfelt thanks, not lone for what helium has already offered, but besides for what helium symbolises: the content that our small islands tin person a aboriginal – 1 built connected solidarity, vision and action.”