Irene Mellios nominated for Pride of Australia medal

IRENE Mellios has been nominated for a Pride of Australia Medal after organising Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea fundraisers for the past twenty years.

Irene Mellios has been hosting A Biggest Morning Tea for the last 19 years and has managed to raise more than $250,000 for the Cancer Council NT

FOR the best part of two decades Irene Mellios has put her heart and soul into organising her annual Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser for the Cancer Council NT.

From humble beginnings that started at her Rapid Creek home back in 1995 with 50 people attending to this year’s event, which saw more than 200 people raise $33,000.

In its 19-year history the event has raised more than $250,000 for Cancer Council NT to support Territorians dealing with cancer through the provision of essential support services and counselling.

It is this incredible contribution to her community that has earned Irene a nomination for this year’s Pride of Australia Medal in the Community Spirit category.

Irene, a mum of four, grandmother of eight and great grandmother of three said she was proud to support such a good cause in memory of her parents and sister who all lost their lives to cancer.

“I feel good doing something to help raise money for cancer, it’s in my heart and I love doing it,” she said.

“It has become like a multicultural morning tea ... word has got around and we have members of the Greek, Italian, Australian and Chinese communities all coming together for a good cause.”

The community all contribute to Irene’s morning tea from cooking food to giving handmade items for the auction on the day – some come all the way from Greece.

“It is a lot of work but I have so much help from the Greek community. I do a lot of organising but on the day everyone just pitches in and helps. It runs beautifully,” she said.

Volunteering in her community has been a way of life for the proud Territorian – starting back when her kids were young by helping out in the school canteen, Meals on Wheels and Red Cross.

“I think if you can do good somewhere in the community it makes this beautiful country of ours better to live in. I have the time to help – what am I going to do? Sit around twiddling my thumbs? No, that’s not me,” she said.

Nominations close on July 19. To nominate, visit the website here.