© 2021 Greek Community Tribune All Rights Reserved

Greek Radio Program of SA celebrates 50 years on 5EBI FM

February 2026 Along with four other ethnic community groups, the Italian, Dutch, Polish and Ukrainian, the Greek community was one of the pioneer groups who helped to establish the 5EBI in Adelaide as the mainstream multicultural radio station in South Australia, in 1975. Some of the individuals who left their mark in the history of the Greek radio during the first difficult years, were George Kokotis, Emanuel Koutelas, Stamatis Itsines, Chris Despotakis, Loizos Kontozis, Costas Economou, Katina Flabouris, George Katsibris and Michael Makestas who lodged the Constitution of the newly incorporated Greek Radio Community Program of SA in 1980. Back in those years, there were tens of thousands of migrants whose first language was Greek and who needed to communicate and be informed in their language, as did forty other ethnicities in Adelaide. The EBI radio station was their mainstream source of information and entertainment. In the 80’s, the number of hours of Greek programs, increased from five to thirteen. A total number of fifty two men and women participated in the production and the presentation of the programs! More than 150 Greek associations in South Australia, were given access to the Greek Radio to conduct their own specific programs at least once a year. One of the main milestones in the history of the Greek Radio, was a massive election, contested by three opposing groups of candidates in the year 1991, held at the Colossus Hall on Henley Beach Road Torrensville, which attracted almost 4000 voters. The current Greek Radio Board, under the Presidency of Peter Ppiros since 2017 (also a member of the EBI Board of Directors) is facing new and different challenges compared to the 70’s and 80’s. With the number of first generation Greek speaking listeners shrinking, in recent years its becoming more difficult to recruit new volunteers and to raise funds for the continuation of the Greek Radio. Given today’s technology, like every other ethnic group, the Greek community does not rely on our multicultural radio station as much, because they have direct television and radio from Greece and Cyprus and a number of private radio stations operating in Australia. Also, young people are able to find everything they want on their phones, they listen to any foreign radio station they want and the songs they like 24 hours a day. However, we still manage to maintain a good presence on air with four hourly, very well organised weekly programs on EBI Radio which pretty much cover the needs of our listeners in local and international news, culture, history, community, sports etc. Financially, the Greek Radio is still in a reasonably healthy state due to fundraisings and donations by our listeners and supporters. Recently the Greek Radio committee donated to the EBI station an amount of $5000, towards the purchase of studio equipment and furniture for use by the whole of the EBI community. In closing, we would like to thank the Greek Radio Board of Directors, all the volunteers of the Greek Radio Program, the advertisers and financial supporters and of course the Greek audience that listens to us and keeps the Greek radio alive. We would like to thank the 5EBI Radio Station and especially the CEO Patti Marinos Todorovic, who is always there for us, supporting us, inspiring us and working with us in unity and harmony to keep our beloved multicultural station going. The Greek Radio Board, would like to take the opportunity to congratulate 5EBI and all the groups and individuals associated with it, for the station’s 50th anniversary. Let’s now work towards the next 50 years!
Greek Tribune Adelaide, South Australia
© 2021 Greek Community Tribune All Rights Reserved

Greek Radio Program of SA celebrates 50

years on 5EBI FM

February 2026 Along with four other ethnic community groups, the Italian, Dutch, Polish and Ukrainian, the Greek community was one of the pioneer groups who helped to establish the 5EBI in Adelaide as the mainstream multicultural radio station in South Australia, in 1975. Some of the individuals who left their mark in the history of the Greek radio during the first difficult years, were George Kokotis, Emanuel Koutelas, Stamatis Itsines, Chris Despotakis, Loizos Kontozis, Costas Economou, Katina Flabouris, George Katsibris and Michael Makestas who lodged the Constitution of the newly incorporated Greek Radio Community Program of SA in 1980. Back in those years, there were tens of thousands of migrants whose first language was Greek and who needed to communicate and be informed in their language, as did forty other ethnicities in Adelaide. The EBI radio station was their mainstream source of information and entertainment. In the 80’s, the number of hours of Greek programs, increased from five to thirteen. A total number of fifty two men and women participated in the production and the presentation of the programs! More than 150 Greek associations in South Australia, were given access to the Greek Radio to conduct their own specific programs at least once a year. One of the main milestones in the history of the Greek Radio, was a massive election, contested by three opposing groups of candidates in the year 1991, held at the Colossus Hall on Henley Beach Road Torrensville, which attracted almost 4000 voters. The current Greek Radio Board, under the Presidency of Peter Ppiros since 2017 (also a member of the EBI Board of Directors) is facing new and different challenges compared to the 70’s and 80’s. With the number of first generation Greek speaking listeners shrinking, in recent years its becoming more difficult to recruit new volunteers and to raise funds for the continuation of the Greek Radio. Given today’s technology, like every other ethnic group, the Greek community does not rely on our multicultural radio station as much, because they have direct television and radio from Greece and Cyprus and a number of private radio stations operating in Australia. Also, young people are able to find everything they want on their phones, they listen to any foreign radio station they want and the songs they like 24 hours a day. However, we still manage to maintain a good presence on air with four hourly, very well organised weekly programs on EBI Radio which pretty much cover the needs of our listeners in local and international news, culture, history, community, sports etc. Financially, the Greek Radio is still in a reasonably healthy state due to fundraisings and donations by our listeners and supporters. Recently the Greek Radio committee donated to the EBI station an amount of $5000, towards the purchase of studio equipment and furniture for use by the whole of the EBI community. In closing, we would like to thank the Greek Radio Board of Directors, all the volunteers of the Greek Radio Program, the advertisers and financial supporters and of course the Greek audience that listens to us and keeps the Greek radio alive. We would like to thank the 5EBI Radio Station and especially the CEO Patti Marinos Todorovic, who is always there for us, supporting us, inspiring us and working with us in unity and harmony to keep our beloved multicultural station going. The Greek Radio Board, would like to take the opportunity to congratulate 5EBI and all the groups and individuals associated with it, for the station’s 50th anniversary. Let’s now work towards the next 50 years!
Greek Tribune Adelaide, South Australia