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NSW Government awards 400 scholarships to language interpreters

The Greek Herald
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NSW Government awards 400 scholarships to language interpreters

The pool of language professionals in New South Wales has grown substantially over the past four years thanks to the NSW Government exceeding its election commitment to fill 400 positions through the Multicultural NSW Interpreting Scholarship Program. 

Facilitated by a number of educational institutions, including TAFE NSW, University of NSW and RMIT, the program has enabled people speaking more than 50 different languages and dialects to join the NSW Government’s interpreting ranks. 

NSW Minister for Multiculturalism, Mark Coure, said the Interpreting Scholarship Program empowers people to use their language skills as a career and help their communities access government information and services.

“We have seen through the latest Census data that more and more people are speaking a language other than English at home, including new and emerging languages that weren’t prominent in communities five, ten or even fifteen years ago,” Minister Coure said. 

“We have worked with various universities and TAFE NSW so the program could evolve to train those who speak these languages and have them become qualified interpreters.

“By doing this, we have been able to bolster our interpreting ranks with a greater breadth of language capabilities and ensure we have the people available to support our state’s diverse communities.”

Mark Coure MP

The program’s most recent graduates include TAFE and university-trained interpreters speaking Amharic, Dari, Hazaragi, Kannada, Karen, Mongolian, Swahili and Tamil.

NSW Federation of Community Language Schools president Lucia Johns said the program was further evidence of the value of multi-lingual study.

“Language is one of NSW’s greatest cultural, social and business assets. So it cannot be ignored and must be fostered and developed. By teaching children languages at community language schools throughout the state we are protecting and guaranteeing our future linguistic skills,” Mrs Johns said.

“Children who learn a second language at community languages schools will have the option of developing a career in interpreting and translation which benefits all aspects of our society.”

Mr Coure added that the program had attracted a great mix of people of various ages across the state interested in using their language skills as a career, including from regional NSW. 

“More than 20 per cent of students participating in the program are from regional NSW, which shows our multicultural state isn’t in one city or suburb,” Mr Coure said.

“We have also had many people from refugee backgrounds use their language skills to gain employment and support their community. This year alone, 30 per cent of scholarship participants were on refugee or special humanitarian visas.

“Everyone who completes the program and attains their certification can join our expert panel of language professionals.”

Through the 2022-23 NSW Budget, $16 million was secured over two years to improve the state’s whole-of-government language service. 

“The NSW Government understands that a strong and robust language service is key to a future without barriers for diverse communities, and ensure no one is restricted in accessing information or services because of the language they speak,” Mr Coure said. 

For more information about the Multicultural NSW Interpreting Scholarship Program, visit multicultural.nsw.gov.au.  

GCM calls for Greek Cup final to be held in Melbourne

The Greek Herald
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GCM calls for Greek Cup final to be held in Melbourne

The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) have sent a letter to the President of the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO), Panagiotis Baltakos, requesting him to consider holding the Greek Cup final in Melbourne, Victoria.

This comes after The Greek Herald broke the news on Monday that the Football Federation Australia (FFA) received an official request from the EPO to hold the Greek Cup final in Australia.

The EPO also issued a statement on Monday night confirming they are currently holding discussions with the FFA around the grand final.

Full Letter:

Archbishop Makarios of Australia among faith leaders opposed to religious education reforms

The Greek Herald
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Archbishop Makarios of Australia among faith leaders opposed to religious education reforms

Greek Orthodox Archbishop Makarios of Australia has joined other senior religious leaders in a general revolt against the Federal Government’s proposed religious educational reforms.

The reforms, which were put forward by the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) in January this year, propose that faith schools would no longer be able to employ prospective staff based on their religious grounds.

The proposal would make it unlawful to employ teachers who shared or sup­ported the religious beliefs of the school.

According to The Australian, the spiritual leaders, which include the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher OP and many others, sent a letter to Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus on Monday expressing their disapproval of the latest ALRC report.

Religious leaders have written to Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus.

The leaders outlined in the letter that the ALRC proposals could not be accepted and are a “major blow to authentic faith-based education.”

“The ALRC proposals would place unnecessary and unreasonable restrictions on the freedom of religious schools to give effect to the international human right of parents and guardians to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions,” the letter reads.

“We call on the government to ensure the ALRC properly ­addresses the terms of reference through a genuine consultation with input from religious leaders and religious education experts, parents [and] secular ­experts.”

The ALRC report is a stepping stone to the development and ­introduction of religious discrimination legislation providing protections for faith groups and individuals.

Mr Dreyfus is scheduled to receive a final report from the ALRC by April 21 and has made no decision yet on the ARLC’s recent proposals.

Source: The Australian.

Tasmanian florist Sophia Souris advocates for homegrown flowers this Valentine’s Day

The Greek Herald
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Tasmanian florist Sophia Souris advocates for homegrown flowers this Valentine’s Day

Tasmanian florists, Sophia Souris and Eric Nielsen, are advocating for country-of-origin labelling on blooms in Australia this Valentine’s Day.

According to ABC News, almost half of the flowers sold on Valentine’s Day are imported into Australia and the flower industry believes consumers have the right to be aware where their blooms come from with country-of-origin labels.

Ms Souris and Mr Nielsen are the owners of Kentish Blooms in Tasmania.

Kentish Blooms

The pair moved from NSW to Tasmania’s north west four years ago, where they purchased a farm near Mount Roland and started growing a range of flowers.

Last year, they bought the florist in Davenport, about 30 kilometres from their property. They focus on supporting locally grown flowers in Tasmania’s northwest.

Ms Souris told ABC News their concept was to go from paddock to vase.

“Most of what I’m getting is produced throughout the year,” Ms Souris said. “We’re really blessed with how many local growers are in our area.”

Source: ABC news

Kakulas Brothers warehouse in Western Australia destroyed by major fire

The Greek Herald
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Kakulas Brothers warehouse in Western Australia destroyed by major fire

The Kakulas Brothers warehouse at Northbridge in Perth, Western Australia has been destroyed by a major fire that ripped through the building on Monday afternoon.

According to ABC News, firefighters managed to stop the fire from spreading to neighbouring properties, and the occupants of the Kakulas Brothers were unharmed and accounted for.

The inferno is believed to have started in the warehouse kitchen of the Kakulas Brothers.

WA’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services regional superintendent, Andy Hinton, said that on arrival to the warehouse “the fire had pretty much spread throughout the building and prevented any entry.”

“Firefighting operations then had to be handled externally, which meant we were relying a lot on the aerial appliance from above because the roof had collapsed,” Mr Hinton added.

The fire that ripped through the Kakulas Brothers. Photo: Andrew Ritchie/The West Australian.

The Kakulas Brothers was established at 185-187 William St, Northbridge on August 29, 1929. The business started with selling groceries locally, also importing products to cater to European immigrants who lived in Perth.

Greek olives, pasta, peeled tomatoes, nuts and dried fruits, herbs, spices and coffee beans are among the products sold at the wholesale market.

The warehouse is a family owned and run business. Evangelos Kakulas and his two eldest sons, Stavros and Michael, started the business and George, their younger brother, joined in 1938. In 1990, Kakulas Brothers expanded to Wellman street in Northbridge.

Source: ABC News

Cyprus President-elect Nikos Christodoulides ready to meet with Ersin Tatar

The Greek Herald
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Cyprus President-elect Nikos Christodoulides ready to meet with Ersin Tatar

The newly elected President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, spoke over the phone with Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, on Monday.

According to Ekathimerini, Tatar congratulated Christodoulides on his election win during the telephone call. Christodoulides clinched victory against independent candidate Andreas Mavroyiannis in a closely fought election run-off on Sunday.

In turn, Christodoulides expressed his condolences to the Turkish Cypriot community and the families of the victims of the deadly earthquake in Turkey.

The newly elected President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides. Photo: Kostas Pikoulas/NurPhoto/Getty Images.

Referring to the Cyprus issue, Christodoulides emphasised to Tatar that the current state of affairs is not to the benefit of either of the two communities. At the same time, he expressed his readiness for the resumption of talks on the basis of an agreed solution to the Cyprus problem.

“He [Christodoulides] said he would be ready to meet, even before March 1, and would reiterate this through the UN,” a spokesman from Christodoulides’ office said, referring to the date the President-elect formally takes over the presidency.

Source: Ekathimerini.

Five of Greece’s largest museums shut down in protest against new law

The Greek Herald
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Five of Greece’s largest museums shut down in protest against new law

Five of Greece’s largest museums were shut down on Monday as Greek archaeologists protested against a new draft law passed by government to make the museums more autonomous.

The five museums which were closed and are impacted by the law include the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, the Byzantine and Christian Museum, the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Byzantine Culture of Thessaloniki and the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion on Crete.

The closures come after Greece’s Ministry of Culture recently tabled a draft law to Greek Parliament which aims to change the operating status of the five museums into Legal Entities under Public Law (PLL/NPDD).

This means the museums will be weaned from the Culture Ministry, giving them more freedom and responsibility.

Run under the new law by a ministry-appointed general director and board, the museums will raise funds, seek sponsors and campaign for donors, but will also be able to operate branches and strike partnerships in Greece and abroad, instead of relying exclusively on the ministry for funding and outreach. 

The ministry will maintain a supervisory role and will continue to be the main source of funding.

According to Ekathimerini, the parliamentary majority of ruling New Democracy party voted on and approved the draft law on Monday. Opposition parties PASOK, the Communist Party, DiEM25, and Greek Solution all voted against the motion.

SYRIZA abstained from the parliamentary vote, as it had announced, but party leader Alexis Tsipras expressed his anger at the law and said: “Once again, culture and the people of culture are under persecution.”

Greece’s Minister for Culture, Lina Mendoni, said the law is “necessary modernisation.”

Source: Keep Talking Greece.

Andrew Giles MP: It’s impossible to think of Australia without the Greek influence

Giorgos Psomiadis
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Andrew Giles MP: It’s impossible to think of Australia without the Greek influence

There were hundreds of spectators at the Mill Park soccer club ground in Melbourne, Victoria on Saturday, February 11 during the inaugural Greek Community Cup finals between South Melbourne Hellas and Mill Park.

Among these spectators was the Federal Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Andrew Giles MP. Mr Giles was first elected to the Australian Parliament in September 2013 as a Labor Member for Scullin in Melbourne’s northern suburbs and is currently serving his fourth term.

The Greek Herald spoke with Mr Giles at the soccer match about his priorities when it comes to multicultural communities in Australia and he stressed the important role of the Greek community.

South Melbourne Hellas

“I guess I see my role as Minister of Multicultural Affairs is not speaking through multicultural Australia, but ensuring that all communities can have their own voice and that obviously applies to the Greek community,” Mr Giles said.

“I often say it’s impossible to think of Australia and impossible, in particular, to think of Melbourne without thinking of the Greek influence and I guess we see that today.”

Around him, Greek people of different ages had come together and were watching the Greek Community Cup finals match united by a proper festive spirit.

Mr Giles said it was great to see this sense of community amongst the Greeks and explained how sports can become a tool for different communities to expand their presence here in Australia.

“Sport is such a great entry point for people to connect to each other and I think we see that in the men’s World Cup a little while ago where Australia’s team was so diverse,” the Minister said.

“We saw so many faces of modern Australia come together on the field and I think that’s why so many Australians love to follow our two national football teams.”

Later, when South Melbourne Hellas were crowned champions of the Cup, Mr Giles spoke to the public gathered nearby and said the finals were “a celebration of football, but also a celebration of culture.”

“This is a big part of what multiculturalism in Australia is all about,” the Minister added, whilst giving a final message to the readers of The Greek Herald and the community.

“To all your readers, I am really pleased that this Greek Community Cup and Shield is coming back again, bringing the Greek community together through football,” Mr Giles concluded.

“I am excited that is going to come back bigger next year.”

Pontians from across Australia set to gather in Melbourne to celebrate their culture

Andriana Simos
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Pontians from across Australia set to gather in Melbourne to celebrate their culture

Pontians from across Australia are set to gather in Melbourne, Victoria for three days from Friday, February 17 to Sunday, February 19 for the annual Synapandema event.

The Synapandema 2023 event is being organised by the Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia, which is made up of seven member associations including Pontoxeniteas NSW, Panagia Soumela Sydney, Diogenes Wollongong, Pontian Club Canberra, Akritis tou Pontou, Pontic Foundation of Panagia Soumela of Australia, and the Pontian Brotherhood of South Australia.

The event will give Pontians a chance to celebrate their unique culture from Pontian music to dancing and food.

The highlight of the three-day event will be a Dinner Dance held on Saturday, February 18 at the Star International Reception Centre in Preston, Victoria from 7pm.

The Dinner Dance will feature dancing performances from Pontian dance groups across Australia, as well as live music by two musicians from Greece – Alexi Parharidis and Fanis Kourouklidis.

On Sunday, February 19, there will also be a special commemorative event at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance from 1pm. Historian Dr Panagiotis Diamadis will be giving a special presentation titled ‘Australian Heroines: Australian Women in Greece 1915-1930.’

More details about tickets to the Dinner Dance can be found here: https://www.trybooking.com/CFCRW

Documentary on the late ANZAC Alf Carpenter wins at Mykonos International Film Festival

Andriana Simos
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Documentary on the late ANZAC Alf Carpenter wins at Mykonos International Film Festival

A documentary on the life of the late ANZAC and Battle of Crete veteran, Alf Carpenter, has won ‘Best Short Documentary’ at the Mykonos International Film Festival.

Second Generation ANZAC – The Story of Alf Carpenter was produced by Australian charity This Story Australia prior to Alf’s passing in September this year at the age of 105.

In the documentary, Alf spoke of his early life in Wagga Wagga, friendships, marriage and going to war. Alf described his journey through Northern Africa to Greece and on to Heraklion to defend Crete.

Alf’s personal diary entries are also interspersed throughout the documentary. They are narrated by Australia’s favourite contemporary poet, Rupert McCall OAM.

The late Alf Carpenter in the documentary. Photo supplied.

The Founder and Executive Producer at This Story Australia, Jeff Hughes, first decided to document Alf’s life after speaking with Australian author, Deborah Wheeler.

Alf had provided the foreword for her book ‘Silk Clouds and Olive Trees – Tales from the Battle of Crete,’ and she thought his personal stories needed to be preserved in documentary form.

In a statement to The Greek Herald, Deborah says she was “ecstatic” to find out Alf’s documentary had won in the Mykonos International Film Festival.

“It’s mind blowing, it hasn’t sunk in yet,” Deborah says.

“I was ecstatic to think that a conversation with a man I didn’t know on the side of a road could lead me on a journey to writing my book and meeting Alf and later, the documentary.

“Alf was able to see the documentary and he was chuffed… To know we’ve won is the icing on the cake, especially since Alf passed away last year.”

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