Born in Sydney of Greek Parents from Cappadocia. His mother, Elizabeth was born in Nea Polis. His father Nicholas was born in Prokopi, Asia Minor, hence surname Procopiadis. In 1956-57 he got involved with Pan Hellenic Soccer Club and became a committee member.
From 1994-2012 he was elected a Councillor on Randwick City Council. Twice elected Deputy Mayor, and in 2009-2010 he was elected Mayor.
In that period as Councillor he received the Centenary medal for service to the Community.
In 1996 he went to Greece (at that time he was Deputy Mayor) and with the then Mayor (Chris Bastic) they went to the island of Castellorizo and did a Sister agreement.
Their stay was in Rhodes and whilst there they went to a Panygiri and got the idea to have the same here in the Eastern Suburbs. So they formed a committee with some of the Greek Associations, which they named “SPRINGTIME GREEK GLENDI”. Through this event they started raising money for worthwhile organizations ($400,000 over a seven year period).
Springtime Greek Glendi promoted our Greek Culture with Paroula Thurban dance group and performed in the country town of Dubbo and Temora.
Through the “Glendi” group John met John Chris and Zacharoula Axiotis who asked for his help to purchase a “Kangaroo (with Joey) a Koala (with baby on its back)” for the Natural History Museum of the Aegean in Samos.
John was asked if he could make an application to the then State Government, the then Minister for Heritage the Hon Tony Kelly to have “Holy Trinity/Agia Triada” the first Orthodox Church in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere placed on the State Heritage Register and that was done on the 29th May 2010.
He also made an application to the Minister of Heritage, the Hon Mark Speakman to have placed on the State Heritage Register the first Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere “Agia Sophia / The Cathedral of God’s Holy Wisdom”.
John is very proud of his Greek Heritage and these have been worthwhile achievements.
