Flying Bible man and self-confessed “10-pound Greek”, Reverend Phil Zamagias, came to Australia as a child with his family and lived initially at Bonegilla Migrant Camp near Albury.
As immigrants in a new country, the Greek community’s life revolved largely around the church. This went on to have a major influence in Phil’s life.
Phil said his lifelong fascination with aircraft began when the family moved to inner-city Sydney, living right under the flight path.
He soon recognised all the different planes and his first job was working at the airport for Qantas.
“So I was a teenager playing with 747s,” he laughed.
He took flying lessons and flew solo for the first time in a Cessna plane from Bankstown airport.
Phil’s first paid aviation job was flying a photographer over Sydney Harbour to capture aerial views during Australia’s bicentennial celebrations in 1988.
His combined interests in aviation and the church led Phil into a job as a pilot for Mission Aviation Fellowship where he was involved in supporting churches, flying provisions into isolated settlements during floods, and flying doctors and teachers around remote communities in Australia’s top end.
Later, as a pastor in remote communities, his work focused on supporting Indigenous communities.
Soon after arriving in Echuca to take up a position as Christ Church Anglican’s senior minister, Rev Zamagias was invited to bless the newly-opened bridge over the Murray River. He has also worked as a chaplain in the motor racing and horse racing industries.
During the meeting, two new members, Lorna Riley and Jan White, were inducted into the Probus Club by president Barney McDonald.
Afterwards, members travelled to the Old Tonny Pub for lunch where local artist Murray Ross drew a couple of sketches and spoke about his involvement in the Tongala street art project.