Aussie Skips and its Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Roussakis have pleaded guilty in the Australian Federal Court to criminal cartel charges, The Australian Financial Review(AFR) has reported.
According to The AFR, the charges are related to allegations that in mid-2019 Aussie Skips and Bingo Industries agreed to fix prices for the supply of skip bins to Sydney’s building demolition waste industry.
Bingo Industries and its former CEO Daniel Tartak also pleaded guilty to criminal cartel charges last year. Tartak is scheduled to be sentenced in March 9 and 10.
A sentencing hearing for Aussie Skips and Mr Roussakis will be heard in the Federal Court on May 22 and 23.
Greece’s Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias, has presented Greece’s candidature for the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in 2028-2030.
Speaking via video message at the 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, Dendias pointed out that Greece has never had the chance to serve on the Council before.
He said Greece’s aim was to advance the Council’s vital work based on respect for International Law and especially the Charter of the UN.
🇬🇷 presented its candidature for the Human Rights Council in 2028-2030. 🇬🇷 has never had the chance to serve in the Council before. We will continue working in a spirit of international synergy and dialogue (address via video at 52th Session of UN Human Rights Council in Geneva). pic.twitter.com/p30qcBN9KJ
Dendias also pointed out that Greece has submitted its candidacy for the Council because it contributes to resolutions such as the promotion of cultural rights, sports and the Olympic Games, as well as human rights in neurotechnology.
“It is with these priorities and principles that we aim to promote the vital work of the Council,” the Greek Foreign Minister stressed.
The UNHRC has 47 members elected for staggered three-year terms on a regional group basis. The Council investigates allegations of breaches of human rights in UN member states and addresses thematic human rights issues like freedom of association and assembly, freedom of expression, freedom of belief and religion, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and the rights of racial and ethnic minorities.
An exhibition of watercolour artworks by Dr Spyridon Mouratidis has gone on display at the N. Smith Gallery in the Sydney suburb of Paddington.
One look at the exhibition takes visitors back to the period of the Asia Minor Catastrophe, as Dr Mouratidis’ brush strokes capture the trauma of refugees who were torn from their homes at the time and lost all their personal belongings.
At the official opening of the exhibition, a number of speeches were given by the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis; the President of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW), Harry Danalis; the Chair of the Greek Festival of Sydney, Nia Karteris; and the President of the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney, Liana Vertzayias; and the artist himself, Dr Mouratidis.
In her speech, Ms Vertzayias said it was a pleasure to be partnering with the Greek Festival of Sydney for the exhibition. Dr Mouratidis then took to the podium and briefly described some of the water colour artworks which are on display.
“I hope that, after seeing my paintings, I will have eventually succeeded in directing your thoughts for a while to all those people who lost their lives in the Asia Minor Catastrophe, as well as to those who survived and with their wounds open, they have managed to stand on their feet and build a new life in Greece,” the artist said.
“If so, I will have achieved my objective; to hold a memorial service here with you, as a debt repayment towards all those people.”
The event concluded with guests mingling amongst themselves and remarking on the tangible beauty of the artworks.
Dr Mouratidis will be giving a lecture about ‘The Debt’ exhibition on Tuesday, March 7 at the The Gallery Beta Bar in Sydney at 6.30pm.
Young students who excelled in Modern and Classical Greek in the NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC) were recognised at the annual Dionysios Solomos Awards on Sunday, February 26.
High achievers from the Greek Afternoon and Saturday schools of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW) were also celebrated on the day.
The awards were organised by GOCNSW as part of the Greek Festival of Sydney, and they were held at the University of Sydney’s (USYD) Maclaurin Hall at 4pm.
On the day, over 150 people were in attendance including the students, their proud families and official guests. These officials included the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis; the President of GOCNSW, Harry Danalis; the Chair of the Greek Festival of Sydney, Nia Karteris; the Sir Nicholas Laurantus Chair in Modern Greek and Byzantine Studies at USYD, Professor Vrasidas Karalis; and Associate Professor of Modern Greek at USYD, Dr Anthony Dracopoulos; among many others.
Master of Ceremonies, Vicki Tomaras, kicked off the award proceedings with a small welcome, followed by the National Anthems of Greece and Australia.
A number of speeches were then given by Mr Danalis, Mr Mallikourtis and Professor Karalis. All three congratulated the students on their successes and stressed the importance of maintaining their Greek language skills.
After these speeches, students were presented with awards in the following categories: HSC Awards for Modern Greek Beginners, Modern Greek Continuers, Modern Greek Extension, Classical Greek Continuers and Classical Greek Extension, as well as the Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Modern Greek and the GOCNSW Greek Afternoon Schools’ Outstanding Achievement Awards.
One student, Iro Anatoli Mouratidou from the Secondary College of Languages Kogarah Campus, won a HSC Award for Modern Greek Extension and told The Greek Herald after the event she “felt great” to be recognised.
“I came from Greece to Australia so it’s important in such a multicultural country to maintain the Greek language and promote it in a big way because Greece is the basis of English,” Iro said.
Thomas Henderson from Sydney Grammar School won a HSC Award for Classical Greek Continuers and he also told The Greek Herald it “felt amazing the Greek community could come together and honour not just Modern Greek but Classical Greek.”
“I’m not of Greek background but I was just really lucky to be able to take Classical Greek at school and I really enjoyed it,” Thomas added.
“I chose Classical Greek because we were going to study Homer and Plato and Aristocles. Plato in particular, it’s important to study philosophy like that cause it’s the basis of how our society is run today.”
All Award Winners:
HSC Modern Greek – Beginners:
1st – Anna-Maria Parissis (NSW School of Languages); 3rd – Elefteria Houliaras (NSW School of Languages), Anastasia Karatasoulis (NSW School of Languages), Paris Paranomos (NSW School of Languages), Peta Pyrgiotis (NSW School of Languages), Evangelos Kapsis (NSW School of Languages).
HSC Modern Greek – Continuers:
1st – Anargyros Efthymiou Kallos (Secondary College of Languages Ashfield Boys Campus); 2nd – Vasiliki Karra (NSW School of Languages); 3rd – Panayiota Nakis Gkourlias (Blakehurst High School), Ioannis Pyrgakis (All Saints Grammar), John Ioannis Koumoulas (NSW School of Languages), Maria Varvaressos (All Saints Grammar), Georgina Brakoulias (Secondary College of Languages Hills Sports High School Campus), Anna Kalogianni (NSW School of Languages), Maria Kakali (Secondary College of Languages Ashfield Campus).
HSC Modern Greek – Extension:
1st – Anargyros Efthymiou Kallos (Secondary College of Languages Ashfield Boys Campus); 3rd – Iro Anatoli Mouratidou (Secondary College of Languages Kogarah Campus), Maria Kakali (Secondary College of Languages Ashfield Campus), Orestis Lascaris (St Spyridon College), Nikoletta Lafogiannis (St Euphemia College), Christos Triantafyllou (St Euphemia College).
HSC Classical Greek – Continuers:
1st – Thomas Henderson (Sydney Grammar School); 2nd – Charles Andrew Henry (Saint Ignatius’ College), Jai Kimatrai (Sydney Grammar School).
HSC Classical Greek – Extension:
1st – Thomas Henderson (Sydney Grammar School), Charles Andrew Henry (Saint Ignatius’ College).
Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Modern Greek (Commended):
Nicholas Ceic-Miralis – Clemton Park Saturday.
Lia Pappas – Beverly Hills North Public School.
Alma Eliopoulos – Summer Hill Public School.
Anya Valsamis – Connells Point Public School
Ekaterini Bozatzis – Panania Public School.
Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Modern Greek (Highly Commended):
Nefeli Iliopoulou – Clemton Park Saturday High School.
GOCNSW Outstanding Achievement Awards:
Eleni Frangulis – Connells Point Public School (PS).
Ariana Medanic – Connells Point PS.
Penelope Tzouramanis – Connells Point PS.
James Moisidis – Clemton Park PS.
Elefteria Gartzonis – Clemton Park PS.
Harris Vasilopoulos – Clemton Park PS.
Petria Binios – Clemton Park PS.
Poppy Mavrakis – Clemton Park High School.
Jamie Polatoglou – Clemton Park Saturday School.
Fotini Apostolidis – Clemton Park Saturday School.
Costantino Lambropoulos – Clemton Park Saturday School.
The legendary American dancer and choreographer Martha Graham said: “Dance is the hidden language of the soul.” If this is indeed the case, Oakleigh Grammar’s Alumna and School Captain in 2022, Toni Stathopoulos, is a tri-lingual superstar fluent in English, Greek and Dance!
Getting through the gruelling VCA audition process is an achievement in itself, but Toni did more than just rise to challenge, she excelled, securing a one of the very few places offered in the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance) course at the VCA.
Michelle Mascaro, Oakleigh Grammar Careers Advisor said: “As Toni’s Careers Advisor, no words can describe my excitement as she embarks on her pathway into the career of her dreams in Dance.”
We asked Toni to reflect on her successful journey to the VCA, and the audition process.
Oakleigh Grammar alumna Toni Stathopoulosin dance mode.
“Firstly, I had to record a video audition. As a successful applicant for the video audition, I got invited to attend an in-person audition. Following the dance portion there was a group discussion. It was nerve-wracking, but so exciting.”
Asked how she feels about securing a place in her chosen course, Toni explained: “I feel relieved that all my hard work has paid off. I also feel very excited for this year and am looking forward to everything that I will experience”
We congratulate Toni, and will be watching with great interest as she continues to dance her way to the top!
Toni will be performing in the Top Class Dance 2023 concert series, part of the VCE Season of Excellence. She will be performing her VCE Skills and VCE Cohesive Composition Solo on Tuesday 7 March at Concert 2 at 2pm at the Melbourne Recital Centre. Tickets are now available via the Melbourne Recital Centre.
Oakleigh Grammar offers excellence in coeducational learning from ELC through to Year 12. We are dedicated to building resilient lifelong learners and responsible global citizens by empowering young minds and putting students at the centre of all we do. We ensure each child is nurtured and cared for at a personal level, by exceptional educators who are dedicated to their students and their profession. Founded in Orthodox Christian values and Hellenic traditions, Oakleigh Grammar boasts a multicultural environment where a zest for life is encouraged, good citizenship is celebrated and academic scholarship is our mainstay.
The Estia Greek Festival returned to the streets of Hobart, Tasmania this weekend after a four-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The festival comprised of three events: a Taverna Night, The Parthenon Marbles: The White Washing of History lecture presented by Theodora Gianniotis and the popular street festival.
Photo: Andrew McMaster.Photo: Andrew McMaster.Photo: Andrew McMaster.
Even despite considerable rain – the crowds persisted. Hungry patrons lined up for souvlakia, yiros, BBQ octopus, loukoumades, fish and chips and plenty of other traditional dishes. The sweets made by the Women’s Committee were snapped up in seconds – with people lining up for their loukoumades right until the end.
The Hellenic Dancers put on outstanding performances by all age groups – the show continued into the rain which didn’t deter onlookers.
Photo: Andrew McMaster.Photo: Andrew McMaster.Photo: Andrew McMaster.
The festival usually takes 6-7 months of planning and preparation but this year it was pulled off in only two. The festival was the most successful on record – despite the inclement weather. The Greek Community of Tasmania look forward to the next Estia Festival in 2024.
Photo: Andrew McMaster.Photo: Andrew McMaster.Photo: Andrew McMaster.
Estia first started in 1994 with the main objective to present the Greek Australian culture, heritage and tradition to the broader Australian community. The first Estia was themed “two-cultures” which celebrated and demonstrated the integration of Greek and Australian cultures generally and within the Tasmanian context. The event has since become a cultural staple in Hobart.
The Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia’s Synapantema 2023 came to a close after what was its largest Pontian gathering in Australia ever and the largest Pontian gathering in decades with over 600 attendees.
Over 250 interstate travellers descended to Melbourne, including over 100 Pontian dancers joining their Melbournian brothers and sisters to celebrate Pontian culture. Headlining the event were two giants of Pontian culture – Alexis Parharidis and Fani Kourouklidis.
There would be no Pontian culture without the sacrifice and hard work from people within the Pontian community so the Federation held its annual national award ceremony during Synapantema to honour those people.
Mr Onoufrios Gorozidis was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedicated service to the Federation.
The Metropolitan Chrysanthos of Trapezounta Award is a posthumous award and was introduced this year recognising the service and sacrifice to a significant person who has since passed on. The inaugural recipients were the late Christos Paschalidis (the Federation’s Founding Treasurer) and the late Konstantinos Sarrasis (the Federation’s Founding Secretary).
Named for renowned Pontian poet and writer Philon Ktenidis, three Ktenidis Awards recognise a lifetime of cultural contribution and were presented to: Christos Parharidis, Lambis Parharidis and George Sevastopoulos.
Euklidis Awards recognising strong leadership were presented to: Nazareth Chisolm (President of the Pontian Brotherhood of SA), and John Theodoridis (President of SAE Australia).
Appreciation award for work to making Synapantema possible were presented to: Voula Tsarouhidis (Akrites Tou Pontou Victoria), Maria Anthony (Pontoxeniteas NSW), Myrto Makridi (Akrites tou Pontou Victoria), Peter Papoulidis (Panayia Soumela Sydney), and Harry Tsairis (Akrites Tou Pontou Victoria).
Heraklides Award is a new award presented to people who were inspired to undertake a creative project that enhances the Pontian Culture. This year it was presented to 3 young Pontians who coordinated the International Pontian Film Festival (IPFF): Miss Kiriaki Kakamanoudis (Pontian Brotherhood of South Australia), Miss Myrto Makridi (Akrites tou Pontou, Victoria), Kosta Papoulidis (Pontoxeniteas NSW).
President’s Awards of Merit were presented to Myrto Makridis for her work on social media throughout the pandemic.
Tributes to Anzacs and Hellenes
Synapantema 2023 concluded with a special ceremony at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance on the February 19. On behalf of the Federation and its member-associations, President Peter Stefanidis laid a single wreath at “The Stone of Remembrance.” It is symbolic of a gravestone for those Victorian servicemen and women buried overseas and in unmarked graves.
Federation representatives in traditional dress stood guard around the Stone of Remembrance during the ceremony. The wreath was a tribute to those Victorian women who served the shared values of Hellenism and Australia in war and peace. Especially the Anzacs who sacrificed themselves to rescue Hellenes, Armenians and Assyrians during the Genocides of those peoples between 1914 and 1924.
Following the moving silent ceremony, attendees moved to the lecture theatre for a brief presentation. Historian and genocide scholar Dr Panayiotis Diamadis related the stories of Australian women – anonymous and eponymous – who served Hellenism and Australia in peace and in war between 1915 and 1930.
These included the doctors, nurses and ancillary staff on Lemnos island and on the Macedonian Front (1915-1918) including celebrated author Stella Miles Franklin, Olive Kelso King, Dr Agnes Bennett, Dr Mary de Garis, Dr Elsie Jean Dalyell and many more.
Diamadis also spoke about the Australian women who dedicated themselves to organising humanitarian aid for survivors of the Hellenic, Armenian and Assyrian Genocides. Women such as Joice Nan Kivell Loch, Hilda King and Edith Glanville to name but a few.
The presentation concluded with recommendations relating to celebrating the dual identities as Australians and Hellenes through the commemoration of the Australian heritage in Hellas and Cyprus, as well as the Hellenic heritage in Australia and New Zealand. With the refreshments and networking that followed the presentation, Synapantema 2023 closed.
All eyes now turn to Synapantema 2024, marking the 35th anniversary of the Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia.
New research by the Tenants Union shows renters in western Sydney are facing staggering increases in weekly rents.
Over 35% of tenanted households in New South Wales are in rental stress, but recent figures by the Tenants Union show alarming increases throughout western Sydney, including:
Median rents in Penrith rising seven percent faster than inflation since the election in 2019. The median rent in the area is about $4,500 a year greater than in 2019.
Leppington recorded double-digit percentage increases in median rents since 2019. The median rent is now $6800 a year higher than in 2019.
Meanwhile, a report by Domain last month showed:
Rents for Sydney houses increased by 12.1 percent in the last 12 months to $650.
Rents for units increased by 18.6 percent in the last 12 months to $575.
Rents in Sydney are the highest of any state capital, and in the last quarter rents in Sydney increased more than any other capital except Melbourne.
One in three NSW households are now renters. But that number will only increase, as rising house prices and stagnant wages continue make owning your own home increasingly difficult.
Labor announced a clear plan to give immediate relief to renters. They said that they will:
establish a Rental Commissioner who will lead our rental reforms,
ban secret rent bidding,
outlaw evictions unless they are on reasonable grounds,
make it easier for renters to apply to have a pet,
implement a portable bonds scheme allowing renters to transfer their bond to a new property, giving them immediate cost of living relief,
charge the Greater Cities Commission to review and rebalance population and housing growth by setting new housing targets matched to infrastructure, especially around Metro lines, and
introduce a mandatory requirement for 30 per cent of all homes built on surplus government land to be set aside for social, affordable and universal housing.
“The recent data reinforces the alarming trend of western Sydney facing the brunt of the Liberal-Nationals Government’s inaction on the rental crisis,” Courtney Houssos, NSW Shadow Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation, said.
“Renters have been ignored and sidelined by this Government, which is why NSW Labor has a clear plan to offer immediate relief by ending secret rent bidding, introducing reasonable grounds for evictions and implementing a portable bonds scheme.
“We understand owning a home has slipped out of reach for many, and more and more people are renting for life. That’s why we have a plan to deliver fairer rules for renters.”
With humanitarian crises gripping the world and more people asking to call Australia home, the NSW Government has developed a new nation-leading strategy to better integrate people from refugee backgrounds and those seeking asylum into communities so they can thrive.
NSW Minister for Multiculturalism, Mark Coure, said the NSW Settlement Strategy represents the first time any level of government in Australia has a dedicated plan focused on helping people not just on their arrival but throughout their entire settlement journey.
“When it comes to supporting refugees and people seeking asylum, the NSW Government has consistently stood up and taken on more responsibilities than we are charged with to make sure no one is left behind,” Mr Coure said.
NSW Minister for Multiculturalism and Seniors, Mark Coure
“While we don’t control the number of people the Federal Government allows into NSW, we can be better prepared. This new strategy helps us do this by providing a structured, whole-of-government focus to better support the people that come into our state.”
Mr Coure highlighted that since 2015, over 35,000 people have permanently settled in NSW due to humanitarian crises, including more than 20,000 people from Syria and Iraq, 1,400 people that have escaped Afghanistan since the fall of Kabul, and 1,500 Ukrainian nationals that have escaped Russia’s invasion.
“Everyone’s needs are different, which is especially the case for refugees and people seeking asylum. That is why this Strategy was developed with lived experience at its centre, ensuring people can thrive,” Mr Coure said.
The needs of refugees are unique and varied. That’s why we’ve developed the NSW Settlement Strategy – the first of its kind in Australia. Find out more https://t.co/yY2pwyLS4mpic.twitter.com/pr8sHQh1bc
“This means coordinating the specific needs of refugees and people seeking asylum across government, such as housing, healthcare, employment opportunities, language services and even family and social support.
“By having a whole-of-government approach to their settlement journey, we will be supporting people to be active citizens in their communities.”
More than 80 percent of refugees settle in the Greater Sydney region, with the remainder spread across primary settlement locations in the regional NSW settlement locations of Coffs Harbour, Newcastle, Armidale, Wagga Wagga, Albury and Wollongong.
Photo: Ahmed akacha / pexels.com
The Strategy primarily focuses on people from refugee and refugee-like backgrounds within the first ten years of settlement in NSW.
People from refugee and refugee-like backgrounds include people who come to Australia permanently through the Refugee and Humanitarian Program, Community Support Program, Family Reunion and Partner streams, and other similar pathways.
The Strategy also includes people with unstable statuses, such as some bridging visa holders and people on temporary humanitarian visas.
The Hope for Mariah fundraising event, organised by the Enosi Association, will be held at the Stars International Reception in Preston, Victoria on Saturday, March 4.
8-year-old Mariah was born premature at 23 weeks and 5 days, weighing just over 500grams. 10 days after she was born, baby Mariah picked up an E. coli superbug, leading to a bleed on a part of her brain where she would develop Dystonic Cerebral Palsy.
Mariah also lost her hearing completely and has one cochlear implant on the left ear.
Since 2019, Mariah has been through major surgeries, one of which left her fighting for her life. She also contracted COVID-19 in the hospital and was diagnosed with a kidney stone.
This Saturday’s fundraising event will provide financial support for Mariah’s therapy, mobility and accessibility equipment.
Guests will be entertained with music and bands, such as DJ Dion, Spasta Band and Leventies Band. The event will have traditional Greek dancing and an appearance from Elvis to the T, as well as face painting and a magic show for the children.
Tickets for adults are $120 and include a five-course meal, soft drinks, wine and beer. Tickets for children are $45.00. Book your tickets here: Try Booking.
