Rockdale Ilinden handed Sydney Olympic its first defeat of the 2023 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s campaign thanks to a brace from club captain Alec Urosevski with a 2-0 victory at the Belmore Sports Ground on Sunday.
The two clubs in the NPL NSW Men’s competition were separated by a second half brace from Ursosevski.
One of the NPL NSW Men’s deadliest strikers used all his experience and skill with his first goal before slotting home from the spot that sealed a huge three points to Paul Dee’s men.
Malinauskas’ paternal grandmother Eta was actually Hungarian. She survived World War II and escaped the post-war communist Hungarian state when she emigrated to Bathurst in New South Wales.
Peter Malinauskas.
She married Peter Malinauskas Senior, a Lithuanian refugee, and the couple moved to Adelaide, later opening a fish and chip shop. Malinauskas’ mother’s forebears were middle-class Irish.
“I have no words for the love and support you guys gave me tonight and from the moment I stepped on The Voice stage,” Celina wrote on Facebook. “I love you so much. Let’s go to the semi finals!”
Olympic gymnast, Eleftherios Petrounias, has won another gold medal in rings at the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup that took place in Cottbus, Germany.
With a score of 14.966, Petrounias executed his demanding routine flawlessly and did not leave any room for his opponents to challenge his superiority on the rings.
The gold medal means Petrounias has secured his place in the pre-Olympic world championship in Antwerp, Belgium this September.
How to make an impression on Still Rings: Show multiple fabulous iron crosses à la Olympic champion Eleftherios Petrounias 🇬🇷. 14.966 moves him into first place at the #FIGWorldCup in Cottbus 🇩🇪! #Gymnastics 💪 pic.twitter.com/HeqAJqOVMQ
At this tournament, Petrounias will have his first opportunity to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Petrounias is the 2016 Olympic champion, 2020 Olympic bronze medalist, three-time World champion (2015, 2017, 2018) and a six-time (2011, 2015–18, 2021, 2022) European medalist on the still rings (six gold and one bronze).
During the Apokries festival this year, Amfikleia in central Greece has roasted the world’s longest kontosouvli at 130 metres.
To prepare the giant spit, 800 kilograms of meat, mutton and pork, were used.
According to Keep Talking Greece, the kontosouvli is an annual Apokries tradition for the Greek city.
The kontosouvli was slow-roasted over an open charcoal fire pit from morning until the afternoon. It was then cut into portions and distributed to locals and tourists who were visiting Amfikleia for the last Sunday of Apokries.
The last time the kontosouvli tradition was held, the spit was 125 metres long and 750 kilograms of meat were used.
Apokries festivals return to Greece after pandemic pause:
This world record comes as thousands of revellers across Greece attended end-of-Apokries celebrations this weekend for the first time in three years.
The COVID-19 pandemic prevented the festivities being held before the beginning of Lent in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
In Patras, the annual parade took place for the first time in three years on Saturday and featured 139 vehicles and their crew members. The second parade, held on Sunday, showcased the vehicles constructed by the artists of the carnival’s workshop of the municipality of Patra.
Patras festival to mark Apokries.
The 2023 Patra Carnival concluded with a spectacular fireworks display on the Aghios Nikolaos Quay.
In other parts of mainland Greece, young men wearing cow bells and carrying a phallic symbol — a common feature of ancient rites celebrating spring — danced their way to village squares on Sunday.
Other customs included young men wearing folk costumes making their way to neighbouring villages, where they invite local women to dance. The women, in turn, offer the men local delicacies and wine.
Ange Postecoglou has led Celtic FC to its third trophy with a 2-1 victory over bitter rivals Rangers in the Scottish League Cup final on Sunday.
A minute before the end of a breathless first half at Glasgow’s Hampden Park on Sunday, Japan striker Kyogo Furuhashi tapped in from close range before netting a similar effort in the 56th minute to put Postecoglou’s side in a commanding position.
Gers striker Alfredo Morelos reduced the deficit 10 minutes later but a spirited Light Blues fightback fell short and indeed Celtic could have stretched their lead in the closing moments.
The victory means Postecoglou has now claimed his third trophy as Celtic manager. He’s won the League Cup twice and the Scottish Premiership in less than two seasons at Parkhead.
After the match, Postecoglou said he was proud of the team.
“It’s a cup final and rarely will one side dominate, although I thought we were fantastic in terms of our football in such a big game. With the atmosphere the way it was, we scored two excellent goals,” he said.
“The players and staff have worked awfully hard and part of the process is to get rewarded at some point so you can keep working hard… and we know what it means for our supporters.”
Walking through Lonsdale Street in Melbourne, Victoria this Saturday you felt like you were part of something big. As every year, the annual Antipodes event was more than just a Greek festival that aimed to bring the Greek community together.
Yes, the smell of souvlaki and Greek coffee was there, as was the big stage with the traditional Greek dancers performing in front of an awed crowd and of course, the lyrics of Alkistis’ famous songs spreading from mouth to mouth. What was even more important though was the fact that people from all different cultures and backgrounds had a unique opportunity to explore Greek tradition.
Andrian, who is eating with his family in front of a Cypriot BBQ stand, was born in Australia but his roots are from China. At the last Antipodes festival, which took place some months ago, he missed the opportunity to taste the stand’s food, because he had come late. Today he was in line from early morning.
“We normally go to Oakleigh street with some Greek friends, but this is closer,” he says to The Greek Herald. “What is special about this festival is first the food, second the vibe and the overall Greek culture.”
Next to them, a multicultural group of friends are tasting souvlaki too. They come from Germany, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong. When it comes to Greece, the things that first come to their minds are “history and the way the Greeks value their tradition and families.”
“Last year the festival was amazing but every year it gets bigger and bigger. The atmosphere is good, you smell the food, the stage with the dancers is amazing,” they said.
The youngest kid of the group leaves his food for a moment and yells: “I love it here!”
Further down the road, we meet Brendan from the Fijian islands.
“I came to Australia last week. This event happens only once in a year. It’s the first time I’ve come here and it feels really amazing. I had the chance to try multiple stuff from Greece. I’ve seen the dancers, everything is traditional and it feels really great to be here. I also tried Greek yoghurt, it was really good!” he said.
Sandy, who is Chinese, said that she has a special love for Greek yoghurt too.
“I don’t know Greek culture that much, only Greek yoghurt!” she said laughing. “It is my first time here at the Antipodes Festival. I love the BBQ and the dancing on stage. My baby went to dance up on the stage with the dancers, it was so cute.”
For Russel it was the music that drew him first, even though the frappe that he later tried was the highlight of his day. “I just went for a walk, I that saw the festival was happening and I thought ‘Lets check it out! Everything is exciting here today.”
What does he love the most about Greek culture? “I don’t think I can narrow down to one thing, but the fact that it brings everyone together is the best thing. And that’s what people will come here for, the scene of the community.”
The Antipodes Festival returned to Melbourne’s iconic Lonsdale Street on Saturday with a bang. The festival is organised by the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) and saw thousands visit to enjoy the Hellenic culture, music and dancing.
The event doesn’t end on Saturday though, with more dancing performances and live music until 10pm today. Full program of activities can be found here.
Stay tuned for our full report of the festival tomorrow online and in Wednesday’s print paper in Greek!
*All photos copyright: The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos / Giorgos Psomiadis / Mary Sinanidis.
The iconic masters of Greek folk and rebetika, Apodimi Compania, are returning to Australia this year.
This five-piece band from Greece features Yiannis Niarhos, Chrysoula Kechagioglou, Vangelis Votteas, Manolis and George Galiastos.
The band have a strong improvisational disposition, that can take you from melancholy to exaltation in one breath. Whether it be through transcendental amanedes, a kind of improvised sung lament, in unmeasured time, or through meandering taximia, improvised preludes that bring us closer to the divine.
Originating in Brunswick, Melbourne and now resident in Athens, for the past 22 years, Apodimi Compania offers its listeners an unparalleled opportunity to experience the musical flowering of rural Greece with its various regional styles.
Their repertoire ranges from tunes from the mainland, joyous melodies of the Aegean islands, fierce Cretan grooves, soulful laments from Asia Minor through to hauntingly beautiful pieces from the Northern region of Thrace.
The group perform with grace and dexterity on a variety of traditional instruments, including the fiddle, six string bouzouki, tzoura, baglama, banjo, guitar, oud and lute.
Dreams became reality for 23-year-old Greek American Despina Kotsis when her fashion brand Minx New York was selected to feature in the upcoming third installment of My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
After starting Minx New York when she was just 18 years old, the business had to be put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But as the world started opening up again this year, the brand slowly started re-growing its presence on social media and grabbed the attention of famous actress Nia Vardalos. Vardalos loved Despina’s designs so much she asked to feature them in her upcoming film My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3.
The Greek Herald spoke with the young designer about this exciting opportunity and how it felt to be recognised by Vardalos.
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Despina Kotsis and I am a 23-year-old streetwear designer from Brooklyn, New York. I am a proud Greek American with roots from Thessaloniki, Halkidiki and Euboea. I attend St. Johns University and I am in my final year of my masters for childhood education. My clothing brand Minx New York was started in my senior year of high school in 2018, when I was 18 years old.
It has been a journey I must say. When COVID-19 hit, I had to stop selling my clothes. I felt as if my dreams were crushed. I knew in the long run that everything would be okay, I just had to trust the process. When things started to get better for the world, and I could start selling my clothes again, I decided to direct and produce a video about how COVID-19 reflected my dreams and my brand.
Detail your journey to fashion design.
As a kid, art has always been my favourite subject in school and as I got older, my love for art grew stronger. I have always loved fashion ever since I was a little girl. Since I was a kid, I would sketch my own designs for clothes and I was always drawing. I always dreamed of inspiring people when I was older. I got a sewing machine growing up but I did not know how to sew so I gave up, but it wasn’t until then that streetwear blew my mind. I started to put a lot of thought behind my designs and sketch. I later found a manufacturer and I started to print my designs out on shirts and hoodies to sell. I used social media as a tool to really get the word out about my brand. I get to work and meet with so many new people when doing modelling shoots, which is awesome.
What was the inspiration behind ‘Minx New York’?
Minx New York is inspired by my beautiful city – New York City. I am so proud to be a New Yorker and to live in the “concrete jungle where dreams are made of.” I absolutely love how diverse NYC is. It’s a giant melting pot with a mix of cultures. I chose the pigeon to be the symbolic logo of Minx because I wanted people to realise that they also have their own set of wings, like the pigeons, that need to be spread when living their lives. The slogan of Minx New York was #SpreadYourWings to inspire people to live life to the fullest. People really need to understand that life is too short, so they need to make the best of it.
How does your Greek heritage influence your work?
My Greek heritage influences my journey and work because it truly represents who I am and my culture. Right now, the mati design I have created called the “DOPE EYE” has been one of my best sellers. My dope eye design was inspired by the Greek mati with a modern twist. Along my whole journey though, I have always had the strong and loving support from the Greek community and I am truly blessed. I want to say thank you so much and I am so proud to represent them. The love I have for Greece is everlasting.
Your designs are now featuring in the upcoming film ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3.’ How does that feel?
I have truly been blessed along every step of this journey. It has been quite unbelievable! I still am shocked that my brand is going to be featured in My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3! It truly is a dream come true and I am so excited for the movie to come out! Nia Vardalos has been a huge supporter of mine throughout my whole journey and I want to thank her for everything she has done in continuously supporting my business and dream throughout the years.
I still have not met Nia and when I do, I am going to give her the biggest hug! If it was not for her support I truly would not have been where I am today. Over the summer, Nia followed me on Instagram and told me she wanted to include my dope eye design which she has been a fan of and wore a hoodie in the past, now in the upcoming film. I can’t believe I am saying this but keep a dope eye out for Minx New York in My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3!
You can follow Despina @deskotsis and my clothing brand @minxnewyork on Instagram.
