Greek Australians named among the most influential people of the past six decades

·

The Australian has named 60 individuals who have significantly shaped Australian life over the past six decades.

Among them are two iconic figures of Greek heritage: Peter V’landys, the influential sports administrator, and George Miller, the renowned director.

Peter V’landys: Reshaping Australian sport

Peter V’landys, 62, has been a driving force in transforming Australia’s sporting landscape over the past 20 years. As the head of Racing NSW and the Australian Rugby League Commission, V’landys has overseen the explosive growth of two major billion-dollar industries.

Under his leadership, Racing NSW introduced The Everest, the world’s richest horse race on turf, and the NRL expanded its reach with a spectacular Las Vegas opening round.

V’landys attributes his success to long-term vision, explaining, “A lot of people in sport and business talk about a three or five-year plan, but I think you’ve got to do more than that… It’s all about capturing the next demographic coming through.” His strategies have seen the NRL reach a record $700m revenue and Racing NSW secure $600m.

A skilled dealmaker, V’landys brokered numerous key agreements, including a $235m government funding package for equine influenza management and a $100m win in the High Court regarding sports betting.

George Miller: The visionary filmmaker

George Miller, 79, is another of the 60 chosen, credited with putting Australian cinema on the global map. A trained doctor, Miller chose filmmaking over medicine, creating some of the most iconic films in history. His breakout film, Mad Max (1979), which starred a young Mel Gibson, made more than $100m worldwide and launched the New Wave of Australian cinema.

Miller’s portfolio includes Oscar-nominated films like Lorenzo’s Oil (1992) and The Witches of Eastwick (1987), but it was his Babe (1995) and Happy Feet (2006) that solidified his international reputation, with the latter earning him an Academy Award. Miller’s work continues with the Mad Max franchise, with Furiosa released last year.

Source: The Australian.

Cretan Convention - Web Banner

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Step into the world of mental health with Georgia Cassimatis’ latest book

Greek Australian author and journalist, Georgia Cassimatis, has released a book all about exploring the world of mental health.

GOCNSW Welfare Service to put a spotlight on cyber security awareness

The Greek Orthodox Community of NSW’s (GOCNSW) Welfare Service has organised three Cyber Security Awareness education and training workshops.

Marriage of a Greek woman abroad: What to watch out for

It is during this registration process that numerous problems arise, which are not dealt with immediately but later on.

Athena Competition Greek winners show olive oil diversity

By Lisa Radinovsky from Greek Liquid Gold. At the 10th anniversary edition of the ATHENA International Olive Oil Competition in Chania, Crete, Greece in May, 175 Greek olive oils...

Greece’s island communities face population crisis

The demographic decline in Greece is hitting its islands hard, with Lemnos and Agios Efstratios showing alarming signs of aging populations.

You May Also Like

Remembering the victims of the Distomo massacre

Ordered by German Lieutenant Hans Zambel, Distomo was set on fire and 218 residents were executed, including 45 children and 20 infants.

South Australia’s Greek community gathers to celebrate Mother’s Day 

After two years of COVID hiatus and restrictions, Adelaide’s Greek community came out in full force to celebrate Mother’s Day.

Two Greeks named on Australia’s Top 100 Financial Advisors list

Financial Advisors Ben Andreou and Steve Triantafilidis have both taken spots on The Australian’s Top 100 Financial Advisors List.