The Cypriot and wider Greek community in Melbourne is mourning the death of Dimitris (Dimitrakis) Kommodromos, one of the last surviving EOKA fighters in the city.

Born in Paralimni, Cyprus, in 1937, Kommodromos joined EOKA at the age of 16. He was involved in collecting and passing information about British colonial forces in the Famagusta and Paralimni areas, as well as serving as a liaison and participating in demonstrations and acts of passive resistance.

He was arrested by British authorities in 1957 and suffered injuries during his involvement in the struggle, including broken ribs following a beating and a gunshot wound to his right leg. His participation in the EOKA struggle was formally recognised in 2005 when he received an honorary diploma and medal from then-Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos.

Kommodromos migrated to Melbourne in 1962, where he established a business and later co-founded a sock manufacturing company. He was also active in the Cypriot Community of Melbourne and Victoria for more than three decades.

His community involvement also extended to Greek scouting. In 1963, he established his own scouting group, supporting the development of young people in Melbourne’s Greek community.

Kommodromos is survived by his wife, Theodoula, and their three children, Mary, Constantinos and Theodoros.

His death marks the passing of a member of the generation of Cypriots who fought in the EOKA struggle and later contributed to the development of the Cypriot and wider Greek community in Australia.tributed to the development of the Cypriot and wider Greek community in Australia.