Meet my Mum

	Johnny Kats.

Self-proclaimed mummy's boy, Nova 100's Johnny Kats, funny man George Kapiniaris and two other media garnishing Greek Australians chat to NKEE about the special woman in their lives, their mum. And as awlays, we give their mums the last word!


Catherine Kladakis

Johnny Kats- Stand up comedian and radio presenter on Nova Nights with Johnny and Jody, and Mrs Kats. Johnny on his Mum:
My mum like many other mums lives only for her children. She bought me a Commodore 64 when I was 12 for 600 bucks. Although she hates that I'm doing radio and wants me to get a 'real job', she helped me to develop my craft by laughing her head off when I used to imitate all our uncles and aunties.

When I jokingly remark that I am going to kill her (we share a dark sense of humour) she always adds, "Let me sign the will so that you can have a share in the house".

I just moved out 2 weeks ago but I live three streets away. I cherish our relationship and I don't care that I'm a mummy's boy. I try and see her at least four times a week. Only a fool would push away so much love on tap.

Funniest Mum moment: When I came back from the pub at 2am and she caught me in the back yard pissing on her silverbeet.

Mrs Kats on Johnny:
Yianni is a beautiful boy with a kind heart but many times his mouth has landed him in too much trouble at school and at home with his father. If he gets something in his head, you cannot change his mind.
How will you spend Mother's Day together this year?
Mrs Kats: I will cook a nice dinner for the family. (Johnny: I don't want her to cook but she insists.)


George Donikian- Channel Ten TV presenter and Paraskavi Donikian: George on Paraskavi:
I remember this beautiful, fiesty woman...she looked so similar to Queen Elizabeth as a young woman that they could have been sisters! Although my mother left her country to settle in an Australia which was very different to what we know today, she battled and maintained an inner strength that I continue to draw from whenever I reach an uncomfortable zone. My mum has always been nothing but honest, supportive and in my darkest times, she was there never doubting that I could make my way.

Even when Dad questioned my ability to succeed as a journalist given my ethnic background, Mum told me to go ahead and that is what I did. As a child I struggled for two years to learn English and I remember the teacher and students laughing at me, but I remember saying to myself, 'one day I'm going to show you that I can read better than all of you.' Little did I know that I would become the face of SBS in 1980.


Funniest Mum Moment: Mum took me to the local primary school to enrol me in my first year, but as it was mid term, the teacher asked her to bring me back the following term. Instead she brought me back a year later because she thought that next term meant next year! It didn't hurt that I lost a year because I was a little more mature starting school at 6 years old.

What will you be buying Mum for Mother's Day this year?
I've sent her flowers and gifts before but Mum doesn't like material gifts. "I don't want anything, I just want to see you," she says. The fact that she can put her arms around me and we can sit down and talk is magic, and is the ultimate gift that I can give her.


Paraskavi on George:
George has always been an obedient and quiet boy with an inquisitive mind. George's father wanted him to take over his business and become a mechanic but ever since George was a young boy, he wanted to become a journalist.

I have always supported his decision and I am very proud of where he is now. We don't see George as often as we would like to as we live interstate but we try to keep regular phone communication.


Petra Kalive- Performer/actor, and Leah Kaliviotis.

Petra on her Mum:She's got a great sense of humour. She's smart. She's direct. She's herself. She's my mum. I don't live at home any more, but we speak at least a couple times a week and we talk about almost everything. About five years ago, she stopped being my mum and started being my friend. That was a cool day.
How will you spend Mother's Day and what are you buying your mum this year?
Petra: Time together with my mum, a meal and a good laugh is better than any bar of soap or manicure. That said, I have no idea what I'm going to get mum this year! I'm rehearsing for my play so I hope I can make it. I'll definitely make it up to her if I can't.


Leah on Petra:
As a child, Petra was always interested in drama and I made sure that I was always there to support her during her performances. I wasn't a stage-mum and didn't push her into becoming a performer, but at the same time I had known that she would end up studying drama because she truly comes alive on stage.

It was scary when she left to study in Perth; I had to let go of my baby but what do you do when it is their dream.

Seeing her play the character of Antonella Moran in Underbelly was certainly a memorable moment for both of us.

Although her involvement in Underbelly was great, in many ways I'm more proud of the way she has set up her own theatre company and produced her upcoming play, 3 Dog Night. She has a vision of where theatre should go for young people and I think that's so huge.


George Kapiniaris (comedian and actor) on his mum, Saultana Kapiniaris:
From a young child my mother has always been there for me, and supported my acting. At 5 years old I went to Greece and she got me up on the train, performing in front of crowds from Katerini to Kalamata. My mum has shown me the right road in life; how to behave, be well mannered, to have morals and to save my money. I'm glad I took after my mum as in my industry you can easily be lead astray.

I am proud of the way she was strong enough to bring my younger brother up and keep the family going after my father died. At 70 years old, she is still going strong and is currently on a pilgrimage in Jerusalem climbing mountains and visiting monasteries with my mother-in-law.


Funny Mum Moments: My mum has a strong voice. When I was 10 years old, she broke my bedroom window with her voice from screaming at me. We still laugh about it.


I play my mother as a character in my performances, I overdramatise, getting the koutales and going crazy. People come up to my mum after and ask how she could treat her son like that! My mum denies it and tells them I'm doing it for cheap laughs.
Your mum will be overseas during Mother's Day. How do you usually spend the day?
Mum would rather have us come to her house than to be taken out to a restaurant. To her and many other Greek mum's, the restaurant is the enemy. Oddly enough, the only restaurant my mum does like is McDonalds.