Tasha Vanos was born on 1 October 1931 to parents Nicholas and Gliceria Vayanoudis. He grew up with his three sisters in East Sydney, where his father owned a deli.
Tasha went to Darlinghurst Public School and then to Sydney Technical High School in Ultimo. Upon leaving school he did an apprenticeship as a fitter and turner at Simpsons.
After he finished his studies, he went to work for a year on Cockatoo Island before moving to Garden Island, were he worked for almost 40 years.
Tasha had an active social life and was known as a fabolous dancer. He was a bit of a rev head, and his Simca was his pride and joy.
His other love was weightlifting, and he could often be found at Dovey’s Gym. He was the Junior Australian Weightlifting Champion in the lightweight division in 1951, and then went on to be an alternate to the Australian Olympic Weightlifting team at the Melbourne Olympics in 1956.
He and his family lived in the USA for three years, in Falls Church Virginia, where they made lifetime friends.
From a start on the Garden Island Social Committee, a love of giving through social and charitable organisations was born.
Tasha was an active member of AHEPA, including a term as National President, and through which the whole family made friendships that have lasted a lifetime. He was active in the Castellorizian Club and the Ethnic Communities’ Council of NSW, where he was member of the Board.
As a part of AHEPA, Tasha was a driving force behind the design and installation of the giant artwork “Discobolus” at Homebush Bay, which is the second in a series of three artworks commissioned by Hellenic organisations in USA, Australia and Greece.
His final contribution to the community was through the founding of the AHEPA Medical Foundation.
Tasha’s lifetime of service was recognised in 2004 when he was chosen to run a leg of the Olympic Torch Relay when the Olympic flame was moved from Australia to Athens and again in 2008 when he was honoured with the Order of Australia Medal.
He will be missed at ECCNSW.