In an interview with The Australian, Mr Sinodinos opened up about his term as ambassador and said the role left him optimistic about the strong relationship between Australia and the US.
“I think the relationship between the two countries, for a number of reasons, has stepped up hugely and is on an upward trajectory,” Sinodinos said in the interview.
The 65-year old added that Australia is well regarded by US policymakers and politicians, and that the US has an admiration for Australia standing up to economic coercion and foreign interference.
Great interactions with the @aaccpnw and great to see a good mix of 🇦🇺’s and 🇺🇸’s (and even a Kiwi!) making sure the relationship between our countries stays strong. @AussieCGSFpic.twitter.com/P5JYcevD7N
“Our standing is as high [in Washington] as it has ever been. I hazard to say I think it’s actually the highest it has ever been and I think that is because we are standing up for things we believe in, and they [Americans] admire that,” Mr Sinodinos said.
“They see [Australia] as a model of a country standing up for its national interest.”
Now, with Mr Sinodinos’ term coming to an end, he told The Australianhe is yet to decide whether to stay in the US or return to Australia. He does plan on remaining engaged in public life because “what politicians do is important.”
“It is still a noble calling and I still admire people who are prepared to put their hand up,” Mr Sinodinos said.
A Minns Labor Government will establish a Premier’s Prevention Panel on Racism and Extremism to address the growing safety concerns of faith and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities in NSW.
The Panel will include senior representatives of NSW agencies working with CALD and faith leaders to identify issues and to develop whole-of-government responses.
Government agencies represented on the Panel will include the NSW Police Force, Multicultural NSW, NSW Health, Department of Education, Communities and Justice, Local Government and Family and Community Services.
The Panel will consider racism and extremism at all levels – from preventing hate crimes through to tackling racial and religious bullying in schools.
The latest Islamophobia in Australia Report found racist incidents increased after the Christchurch terror attacks in 2019. Women and children are often targeted with 85 percent of female victims wearing a hijab.
Antisemitism is on the rise with a 38 percent increase since 2020, leading to the highest number of incidents on record. There were also numerous examples of Chinese Australians being racially abused during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NSW Labor Leader, Chris Minns, said NSW needs a comprehensive approach to respond to hate crimes when they occur and help prevent them in the first place.
“Everyone deserves to be treated with tolerance and respect, no matter your faith, where you come from, or how you look,” Mr Minns said.
Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism, Steve Kamper, said Labor’s announcement ensures faith communities are equipped to deter attacks and address the root causes of violence.
“We are witnessing an increase in the number of race and religious-based instances of vilification, racism and violence and Labor will help the community address the issue.”
In addition to the new Panel, NSW Labor has announced:
$10 million in funding for faith organisations to improve safety and security at religious institutions including places of worship, schools, community centres, and buildings
Making religious vilification unlawful by amending the Anti-Discrimination Act within 100 days of taking office.
A new Greek Orthodox parish named in honour of Saint Savvas the New of Kalymnos is set to be established in Darwin, the Northern Territory.
The first priest of the new parish will be Father Christos Tsoraklidis from Adelaide. He will serve the first Divine Liturgy on Saturday, March 25 this year at Mackillop Catholic College in Johnston.
The College will serve as a base for the parish and Divine Services until a permanent location is found for the new parish in the Palmerston area.
The new parish is an initiative of Archbishop Makarios of Australia and its establishment will be monitored by Bishop Silouan of Sinope, Archiepiscopal Vicar of Adelaide.
Colourful kites filled the sky of Athens, Greece this Clean Monday, with hundreds of Athenians meeting at Philopappos Hill to enjoy a picnic organised by the Municipality of Athens to mark the start of the Lenten period.
Both young and old climbed the hill early in the morning and spent a few hours mingling with each other and enjoying lots of fun, music and dance.
Music was provided by the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Athens, along with lead singer Gogo Tsamba took the baton.
The Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyiannis, thanked everyone for attending the festivities and wished everyone a good fasting period.
“We thank the Athenians who came today with their children to Filopappos Hill and became part of this authentic celebration which was curated with special care by the Municipality of Athens,” Mr Bakoyiannis said.
“We flew the kites high and had traditional fun, as required by Clean Monday. Happy Lent to one and all!”
80 stalls, 10 hours of performances and over 100,000 visitors. The numbers that the President of the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM), Bill Papastergiadis, mentioned on the main stage during his speech highlight the value Melbourne’s Antipodes Festival, which took place this past weekend on Lonsdale Street.
But as he also said: “The festival is much more than about figures.”
And indeed, over two days on February 25 – 26, people could feel a constant sense of unity. On Saturday morning, people queued in front of BBQ stands to not miss out on the Greek food. Its smell was everywhere – from souvlaki to kalamari and loukoumades. Elsewhere, kids had their faces painted and attended the ‘karagiozis’ shadow theater. Greek flags, traditional costumes and dancing performance, as well as ancient warriors and Greek football teams were also on the agenda during the non-stop two-day festivity.
A ‘Zorba till you drop’ kickstarted events on the Antipodes main stage, with a 1.5 hour dancing marathon. Young people of different ages kept dancing to the sound of the famous “Zorba” music, with the winner ultimately getting a ticket to Greece thanks to Scoot.
What followed on Saturday and Sundays’ main stage acts was a traditional dancing extravaganza from different Greek associations across Australia. This included the GCM School Dance Group, the Greek Orthodox Community of SA Dance Academy, The Central Pontian Association Of Melbourne and Victoria ‘Pontiaki Estia,’ the Canberra Hellenic Dancers and the Cretan Brotherhood & Pancretan Association Dance Group Collaboration. Live music of the rebetika, as well as cooking demonstrations and a Greek coffee brewing presentation also took place on other stages.
While many bands performed various traditional and modern music throughout the festival, the main event on Saturday night was Greek singer, Alkistis Protopsalti.
Of course, there wouldn’t be a festival without official speeches by a number of VIP guests in attendance on Saturday night.
The Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Emmanuel Kakavelakis, spoke first and referred to the Antipodes festival as an event that has become an institutional celebration of Victoria’s Greek community, as well as a unique occasion for sharing Hellenic heritage and culture.
In his speech, Victoria’s Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Colin Brooks MP, stressed how the Greek community always felt like “a big family” to him. He reiterated the Victorian Government’s election commitment to fund the Antipodes festival with $200,000 a year over the next four years.
Federal Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Andrew Giles MP, also spoke and said: “This event is vitally important as a celebration of something that makes our city so special – the contribution of Greek Australians – but it’s also a symbol of sharing.”
Leader of the Victorian Opposition, John Pesutto, discussed his migrant background and said: “As I look in your faces, I see my parents and I know what many of you had to do and what you had to give up to come to Australia. You created beautiful families, you created a fantastic community – Melbourne is you.”
Melbourne’s Deputy Mayor Nicholas Reece also addressed the crowd and said the Antipodes festival “is the biggest Greek celebration in the world outside Greece.”
Bishop Kyriakos of Sozopolis continued the speeches and stressed that the festival “is a testament to the fact that Greece is a destination where tradition holds firm and where every person is valued and respected.”
The Greek Minister of Tourism Vasilis Kikilias also had a video message for the Greeks of Melbourne.
“You support our values, our traditions, our ideals, our faith our language and everything that composes the greatness of the Greek soul,” Kikilias said.
The official proceedings concluded with Mr Papastergiadis on the stage.
“There is no better way to celebrate multiculturalism than with this festival. There is no better way to enjoy our beautiful cosmopolitan city than through this festival and there is no better showcase of Hellenism globally than our festival,” Mr Papastergiadis said.
Apokries celebrations came to an end this weekend with a number of Greek associations in Sydney holding festivities.The Greek Herald was on the ground covering.
Pan-Laconian Association of NSW ‘The Spartans’:
The carnival dance of the Pan-Laconian Association of New South Wales “The Spartans” was held with great success in collaboration with the Ta Vatika – Vatikiota Association of Australia on Saturday, February 25 at the Pan-Arcadian Club in Ashbury.
The event was attended by more than 200 people, including members of the two associations of Laconia and many friends. The night was honoured by the presence of Courtney Houssos MLC and her family.
On the night, emcee Christos Apostolakos welcomed guests, members and friends.
The President of the Vatikiotes Association, Peter Tsigounis, expressed his joy for the success of the evening and his wishes that everyone would enjoy the night.
The President of the Pan-Laconian Association, Mary Skalkos, thanked the attendees, emphasising the necessary cooperation of all the Laconian Associations united for a great Laconia.
The evening concluded with Brazilian girls dancing samba, bringing joy to young and old.
The Cyprus Club:
People dressed in fancy dress and masquerades attended the Cyprus Community of NSW’s Apokries party on Friday, February 24.
The Apokries event was held at Meraki Restaurant at The Cyprus Club in the Sydney suburb of Stanmore.
Doors opened at 6pm, with a live band performing from 8pm until late.
One attendee, Dorothy, told The Greek Herald the event was great fun with delicious food and people dancing the night away on the dance floor.
OASIS Coffee is famous for its iconic blue pack that brought the finest Greek style pulverised coffee to Australian homes. This weekend though, all eyes were on the OASIS tent at the Antipodes Festival in Melbourne, Victoria where they unveiled their brand new OASIS Caffeine Free Greek Style Coffee.
The reaction of those who tried the coffee, which was brewed in front of them on Lonsdale Street, was impressive. They closed their eyes for a moment to taste it and they could not tell the difference. Everything people have loved about OASIS Coffee – the texture, the flavour, the kaimaki – is all there except for the caffeine.
“What we find really interesting is that people don’t understand decaffeinated coffees. They are asking how we make them. ‘Is it a plant?’ they ask. No, it goes from a normal process to a decaffeination process and then you roast it,” OASIS Coffee director, Chris Togias, says.
The Greek Herald met Chris, along with his brother-in-law Peter Patisteas, at their roastery, where they have been curating the finest beans from around the world for decades.
OASIS Coffee at the Antipodes Festival 2023
Whether the beans come from Colombia, Brazil, India or even Ethiopia, they end up at the OASIS roastery and after being meticulously processed, they take their place in supermarket stores, continental grocers and delis. Later, the pulverised blends fill the brikis of coffee lovers across Australia.
“OASIS Coffee is the number one coffee product by loyalty in Australia’s biggest supermarkets,” Chris and Peter say.
In the OASIS Coffee roastery
Walking around the roastery in the Victorian suburb of Mulgrave, you can immediately see that you are in one of Australia’s most innovative and sustainable roasting facilities. Past and present, love and legacy, are visible in every corner. From the beautiful antique machinery to an in-house R&D lab and specialised equipment roasting, blending and packing coffee.
Of course, there’s also the workers. More than 20 people work for the company in Melbourne and when walking through the roastery you can see them smiling.
When it comes to sustainability, the directors also make sure to employ green initiatives and sustainable practices to run a highly efficient low-impact business ensuring the future health of the environment, local community and global coffee industry.
OASIS Coffee directors, Peter Patisteas and Chris Togias
Peter’s father and uncle built the OASIS pulverised coffee business in the 70s and they expanded, acquiring the old Australian company Griffiths Bros. Today, the Oasis Griffiths Pty Ltd has a portfolio of premium coffee-first brands: Oasis Coffee, Griffiths Bros, Coffee Lab, Double Shot and partner brand DHUWA.
The most important thing is that the business combines 140 years of experience, where the boys’ passion for continuing their family’s legacy and preserving the Greek culture through coffee, is obvious.
“There is a cultural component to the Greek coffee that if it gets lost, it gets lost like language, it’s really hard to recover. And this product is what built the business,” the directors say.
“People are looking for the next thing in coffee, something different. This provides them with another bit of theater and enjoyment.”
The NEW OASIS Caffeine Free Coffee blend will be available at your nearest Continental Grocers, Foodstores, Delis and online www.OASISCOFFEE.COM.AU
Melbourne’s Cretan community gathered at the Cretan House in East Brunswick on Friday, February 24 to enjoy a final show by Cretan musician, Nikos Karkanis.
Karkanis flew into Australia earlier this month to attend the Cretan Paniyiri at Peats Ridge by the Cretan Association of Sydney & New South Wales.
Nikos Karkanis (second from left) with his band and President of the Cretan Brotherhood of Melbourne and Victoria, Milton Stamatakos (centre).
His final live show in Melbourne was organised by the Cretan Brotherhood of Melbourne and Victoria and saw hundreds of Cretans, both young and old, gather at the hall to enjoy his music.
There were also a number of official guests in attendance including the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Emmanuel Kakavelakis; the President of the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand (CFANZ), Tony Tsourdalakis; the President of the Cretan Brotherhood of Melbourne and Victoria, Milton Stamatakos; the President of the Cretan Association of Sydney & NSW, Emmanuel Vitetzakis; the President of the Greek Community of Canberra (GCC), John Loukadellis; and the Vice President of the GCC, Pana Tsironis; among many others.
Presenting awards to dance instructors Sifi Viglakis and Eleftheria Manioudakis.
The 45th Patrino Karnavali Sydney lit up Brighton-Le-Sands on Friday, February 24 at The Grand Roxy as hundreds wore their best fancy dress and danced the night away to mark Apokries.
The Panachaian Philanthropical Association (PPA), founded in 1974, have been organising the Patrino Karnavali for the past 45 years, encouraging guests to step away from their ‘every day routine’ for a night of carefree fun and celebration.
This year’s sold-out event had everything from Greek and Brazilian Karnavali traditions. There were also a number of official guests including the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis, and Press Counsellor at the Consulate of Greece in Sydney, Costas Giannakodimos.
Whilst guests enjoyed delicious food provided by Bill Mougios from The Grand Roxy, the Capoeiro Topazio Brazil dancers entertained with traditional dancing. Awards were also given to the best dressed youngster and adult on the night.
“It was a very successful, sold-out event with kefi, dancing, amazing food and a lot of youth. No one had a chance to sit down,” President of the PPA, Katerina Vetsikas, told The Greek Herald.
Over 40 members of the Cyprus Community of New South Wales turned up to The Cyprus Club in Stanmore this morning to appear in a special segment with TV presenter Sam Mac on Channel 7’s Sunrise program.
The segment is an attempt by Sunrise to showcase different community and ethnic clubs across Australia.
This morning’s segment featured six live TV broadcasts where Sydney’s Cypriot community were able to mingle with Sam Mac and perform traditional Cypriot dances with music by Tassos Bouzouki.
There was also a small fashion show by up-and-coming designer Katia from Ilio Nemea, as well as the serving of a traditional Cypriot breakfast which included fresh tomatoes, olive bread and of course, halloumi.
Kay Pavlou even sat down with Sam Mac to forecast his future after he drank a traditional Greek coffee.
“It was a very successful event,” President of the Cyprus Community of NSW, Andrew Costa, told The Greek Herald.
“We were very happy to see the Cyprus community and culture showcased and promoted on such a large, national platform.”
