It was a relative latecomer to Canberra's cultural club scene, but no ethnic venue has been embraced by the city like the Hellenic Club.
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The club's membership has increased sixfold to 50,000 in the past 25 years, granting a financial security founding members like Michael George could barely have imagined when its first building opened in 1979.
"We wanted to preserve our culture," he said.
"We had no poker machines for the first six months, and couldn't pay our debts after the first 12 months."
The city's Greek community had fund-raised for a decade to open the Woden club and soon helped it balance its books, but it was only in the 1990s when a mass membership was reached.
Building extensions completed in 1993 and 2002 led to the two major surges in sign-ups.
Membership increased from less than 8200 to nearly 30,000 in the five years to 1998 alone.
Protecting the culture succeeded – each week 170 young people do Greek dance lessons at the club, and about 70 adults learn the Greek language.
President John Kalokerinos said an ethos of quality and service to the wider community – beginning from the early boards, dominated by shopkeepers – had ensured a broad focus.
Mr George, who held the president's role for six years, said the club had generously given back to the diverse community which built it up, contributing up to $1 million a year for decades to a range of events and organisations, including as an early major sponsor of the National Multicultural Festival and Skyfire.
"When they had the 2003 bushfires, on one night at the club we raised $360,000 and we gave free lunches for an extended time," he said.
In the last decade the Hellenic Club in the City was opened, more recently a cafe in the botanic gardens, and last year the club invested more than a $1 million to double the number of places at the Greek-Australian pre-school in Yarralumla.
Mr Kalokerinos said the club – like others hit by raised pokie taxes, anti-smoking laws and increased overheads – was not making the money it did a decade ago, but remained in a strong position.
"The club has always ensured it has invested to try and satisfy the members, including with the most up-to-date facilities – we're very optimistic about the future," he said.
