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Perth Greek Orthodox community raises funds for injured visitor Ioannis Vidiniotis

The Greek Herald
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Perth Greek Orthodox community raises funds for injured visitor Ioannis Vidiniotis

More than 500 people gathered at the Church of St Nektarios in Dianella for the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Perth’s Australia Day Outdoor Fundraising Dinner Dance, uniting faith, culture and philanthropy.

The event, attended by His Grace Bishop Elpidios of Perth, Greek Consul Mrs Eleni Georgopoulou and several civic and community leaders, raised funds for 28-year-old Ioannis Vidiniotis, an Athens visitor who suffered life-altering injuries in an incident at Cottesloe Beach on New Year’s Eve.

Ioannis’ mother, who recently arrived from Greece, thanked the Church and community for their compassion and generosity.

Bishop Elpidios announced that His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia had pledged $10,000 to support Ioannis’ medical fund.

The evening featured traditional Greek music and dancing, with major sponsors including New West Foods, St Basil’s Aged Care Services and Athanasios and Helen Limnios and family.

Bishop Elpidios closed by thanking all attendees and volunteers, highlighting the unity and love shown by the Perth Greek Orthodox community.

Connie Bonaros: Greek roots, public service and a passion for change

Martina Simos
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Connie Bonaros: Greek roots, public service and a passion for change

Stepping into the Parliament House office of SA-BEST MLC Connie (Constadina) Bonaros feels less like entering a traditional political workspace and more like being welcomed into the saloni of a Greek home.

Speaking with The Greek Herald at Parliament House in Adelaide, Bonaros reflected on her Greek identity, her commitment to legislative reform, and her path into politics, which began through her work alongside SA-BEST founder Nick Xenophon.

A space that reflects identity

The strong Hellenic presence in Bonaros’ office is impossible to miss. A briki sits ready for Greek coffee, served in a traditional filtzani, while Greek artefacts reflect her pride in heritage.

Taking centre stage is a vibrant woollen blanket passed down from her grandmother – Bonaros’ favourite piece in the room. Alongside it are artworks created by her son and several Indigenous paintings, highlighting the breadth of her values.

Also on display is a shovel with a commemorative plaque, symbolising her role in securing grants and donations for the education centre at the Community and Parish of Prophet Elias in Norwood.

“It’s everything I love and everything I stand for politically,” Bonaros said.
“My Greek heritage and culture are front and centre. When I moved into this office, everything just came with me. I wanted it to feel like home and to reflect who I am.”

From adviser to Parliament

Bonaros is quick to acknowledge the role Nick Xenophon played in shaping her political career. She first joined his office in 2005 after a memorable interview that she still recalls with humour.

“The door flung open and in flew this man I recognised only from the TV news,” she said.
“He asked me a few questions, then a radio host called. Nick asked if I knew who it was – I nervously said yes. It was a complete stab in the dark, but I got it right.”

A graduate in Law and Arts, majoring in Modern Greek and social politics, Bonaros went on to work as a senior adviser and later Chief of Staff to Senator Stirling Griff at both state and federal levels.

After an unsuccessful run in 2014, she was elected to South Australia’s Legislative Council on March 17, 2018.

Family, migration and politics in the blood

The youngest of three children, Bonaros was born to Dimitrios and Dimitra – Jim and Toula – whose migration stories mirror those of many Greek Australians.

Her father arrived in Australia from Pylos at the age of 11, while her mother migrated from Paradeisia in Arcadia as a teenager. The family divided their time between Adelaide and Coober Pedy, where Jim worked as an opal miner and dealer.

When Bonaros was elected to Parliament, her mother proudly told her that politics “ran in the family.” Sadly, Toula passed away just weeks later, before hearing her daughter’s maiden speech.

“My mum always said my interest in politics came from her side of the family,” Bonaros said.
“Her father was involved in local politics in Greece and served as mayor of his village. I also spent a year living with my mother’s family in Greece in my early 20s, which shaped me deeply.”

Reform, advocacy and looking ahead

Known for her energetic social media presence, Bonaros has built a reputation as a strong advocate for gambling reform, victims’ rights, child protection, gender equality and ending period poverty. She is also an ambassador for KickStart for Kids.

Her parliamentary achievements include amendments to the Equal Opportunity Act, legislation banning unsafe LPG bottle sales, criminalising child-like sex dolls, and Australia-first reforms aligning drug-driving laws with drink-driving offences.

She also initiated the inquiry into bullying and harassment in the legal profession and played a key role in formalising the Athens–Adelaide Sister City Agreement in September.

“I’m excited about what these relationships can mean,” she said.
“There is huge opportunity in connecting two extraordinary cities like Athens and Adelaide.”

As South Australia heads toward the March 2026 election, Bonaros shows no sign of slowing down – driven by heritage, conviction and a determination to deliver tangible change for the community she represents.

Connie along with other SA politicians will be campaigning early 2026 for to re-election in the next state election to be held in mid-March 2026.

‘For 5 Years’: New documentary explores the return that never came for Greek and Cypriot migrants

The Greek Herald
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‘For 5 Years’: New documentary explores the return that never came for Greek and Cypriot migrants

A powerful new documentary examining one of the most enduring promises of migration – “for five years” – is currently in production, offering a deeply considered exploration of the Greek and Cypriot migrant experience in Australia.

Titled For 5 Years – The Return That Never Came, the documentary draws its name from a phrase spoken by thousands of migrants who left Greece and Cyprus throughout the 20th century, often believing their departure would be temporary. For many, that promise quietly evolved into a lifetime spent abroad.

Director Markellos Petropoulos told The Greek Herald the project emerged from long-term engagement with migrant stories and the recurring patterns embedded within them.

“This project grew out of years of listening to migrant stories and realising how often the idea of return was postponed, reshaped, or quietly abandoned,” Petropoulos said. “‘For five years’ was never just a timeframe – it became a way people explained a life lived in between two places.”

Produced by Story Frames and Nephos Ilaron, the documentary is described as the first cinematic work to attempt a comprehensive and substantive examination of Greek and Cypriot migration to Australia and the building of a second homeland in the Antipodes.

Born in Australia to Greek parents and raised in Greece, Petropoulos brings a bicultural perspective to the film’s subject matter, allowing the documentary to approach migration not only as a historical event, but as a lived, intergenerational experience shaped by memory, compromise and identity.

The film seeks to answer fundamental questions faced by migrant families: how did individuals endure separation from their homeland and loved ones? What challenges did they encounter during the journey and upon arrival in Australia? How did they rebuild their lives from nothing, and how were language, traditions and cultural values preserved and passed on to subsequent generations? Ultimately, it asks why the promise of returning “for five years” so often became permanent settlement abroad.

At its core, For 5 Years – The Return That Never Came is a tribute to migrant parents – fathers and mothers whose sacrifices and resilience laid the foundations for the prosperity of their children and grandchildren.

Filming and interviews are being conducted across Greece, Cyprus and Australia, while the production also draws upon a rare archival collection assembled over more than a decade. The documentary brings to light previously unseen photographic and audiovisual material, offering a rich historical record alongside contemporary testimony.

The project is intended for screening in cinemas, broadcast on television networks, presentation at international documentary festivals, and distribution across digital platforms, with the aim of showcasing the lives, historical legacy and enduring values of Greek and Cypriot migrants in Australia.

Further information about the documentary is expected to be announced in the coming months.

Darwin hosts world’s largest Kalymnian Greek community

The Greek Herald
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Darwin hosts world’s largest Kalymnian Greek community

Darwin is home to the largest Kalymnian Greek expat community in the world, a legacy shaped by decades of migration from the small Greek island of Kalymnos.

Journalist Eleni Roussos traces this history through her own family’s story, which mirrors that of thousands who left Greece seeking opportunity in Australia’s Top End.

Roussos’s father arrived in Australia in 1956 after a 28-day journey by ship, travelling alone to Darwin to work as a carpenter.

Four years later, her mother migrated as a child, struggling at first with language and displacement at school before later marrying and raising seven children in Darwin.

Both parents came from Kalymnos, an island of about 16,000 people known for sponge diving and rock climbing.

Today, around 10 per cent of Darwin’s population is of Greek heritage, with most tracing their roots to Kalymnos. The strong connection is reflected in shared traditions, community events and a sister-city relationship between Darwin and Kalymnos.

A bronze statue in Darwin’s main mall, inspired by Roussos’s refugee great-grandmother, stands as a symbol of survival and migration.

Kalymnos’s Deputy Mayor Popi Koutouzi said the island “has a lot to thank Darwin for,” noting that about 90 per cent of Kalymnians who migrated to Australia settled in Darwin and sent money home to support their families.

Former Northern Territory administrator and Honorary Greek Consul John Anictomatis said Greek migrants were integral to Darwin’s growth, adding: “I think Darwin would be a different place if it wasn’t for the Greek involvement in the industries that they were involved in.”

Reflecting on her recent visit to Kalymnos, Roussos said the enduring bond between the island and Darwin continues to shape identity, memory and belonging across generations.

Source: ABC.

Greek Festival Of Sydney returns In 2026 with Ioulia Karapataki as headline act

The Greek Herald
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Greek Festival Of Sydney returns In 2026 with Ioulia Karapataki as headline act

The 44th Greek Festival of Sydney will return to Darling Harbour on Sunday, 1 March 2026, with acclaimed Greek singer Ioulia Karapataki announced as the festival’s headline act.

Organised by the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW, the Greek Festival of Sydney is one of Australia’s largest and most anticipated cultural celebrations, drawing tens of thousands of visitors each year to experience Greek music, dance, food and community life in the heart of the city.

Known for her high-energy performances and distinctive blend of contemporary Greek sounds with strong folk influences, Karapataki has built a reputation as one of Greece’s most engaging live performers. Her recent hit Το Γλέντι (To Glenti) further cemented her popularity, dominating Greek summer airwaves and social media, and positioning her as a natural fit for large-scale outdoor festivals.

Festival Chair Pamela Proestos said Karapataki’s appearance would be a major highlight of the 2026 program.

“Karapataki’s music has a contagious energy that resonates instantly with audiences,” Ms Proestos said. “We’re delighted to present her in Sydney, where her performance will be a highlight of this year’s festival at Darling Harbour.”

The 2026 festival will also mark the first edition under the direction of newly appointed Festival Director Tilda Sikes, who described the event as a celebration of Greek culture in one of Sydney’s most iconic locations.

“The Greek Festival is a wonderful opportunity for Greek Australians to celebrate our culture in an iconic Sydney spot,” Ms Sikes said. “Visitors will be able to enjoy fantastic food and wine and purchase unique gifts from Greek Australian small businesses. It’s sure to be a fantastic day, topped off with a performance by the amazing Ioulia Karapataki to keep the party going.”

Karapataki’s free live performance at Tumbalong Park is expected to bring the atmosphere of a traditional Greek glenti to Darling Harbour, closing out a full day of cultural programming that includes live music and dancing, family activities, and a wide range of food and market stalls showcasing Greek Australian businesses.

The Greek Festival of Sydney has long been regarded as an annual highlight on the city’s cultural calendar, celebrating both Greek heritage and the community’s ongoing contribution to Sydney’s multicultural identity.

The Greek Festival of Sydney 2026 will take place on Sunday, 1 March, at Darling Harbour.
More information is available at greekfestivalofsydney.com.au.

Cyprus Community of NSW launches Family Heritage Register ahead of centenary

The Greek Herald
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Cyprus Community of NSW launches Family Heritage Register ahead of centenary

Families of Cypriot descent across New South Wales are being invited to help preserve their stories, memories and family records with the launch of a new Family Heritage Register by the Cyprus Community of NSW, as part of its 1929–2029 Centenary program.

As the Community approaches its 100th anniversary, the initiative aims to safeguard the experiences of generations of Cypriots who helped shape both the organisation and the broader social, cultural and civic life of NSW. From early migration and post-war settlement to the preservation of language, culture, enterprise and identity, Cypriot Australians have made an enduring contribution to Australian society.

Yet many of these stories – particularly those of first-generation migrants – remain undocumented and at risk of being lost. The Family Heritage Register seeks to create a permanent and accessible record of NSW Cypriot family histories for future generations. Families are encouraged to contribute oral histories, photographs, documents, letters, personal testimonies and family heirlooms.

Core to the Community’s vision

The Register is overseen by the Cyprus Community of NSW Ltd, a registered charity established in 1929, under the supervision of the Community’s Heritage Committee and its recently appointed Director of Archives – Heritage, Dr Panayiotis Diamadis.

The project forms a central pillar of the Community’s long-term strategic plan, developed following extensive consultation with members, experts, stakeholders, advisory bodies and regulators.

Honorary President Michael Kyriacou said the initiative reflects a broader effort to modernise the organisation while preserving its legacy.

“It has been a thorough process, taking into account demographic changes across Australia and overseas, while planning for sustainable growth, engagement and infrastructure needs,” Mr Kyriacou said.

He said programs must remain relevant, inclusive and responsive to the needs of young families, elders and youth, adding that members interested in governance now have clearer pathways to actively engage.

Archives and heritage leadership

Dr Diamadis described the Register as central to the Community’s reform and heritage agenda.

“My role is to engage with everyone – to invite participation and ensure the stories of all Cypriots are preserved,” he said. “This is for everyone, young and not so young. Even those with little interest in family history may be surprised by what they discover.”

Dr Diamadis holds a PhD from the University of Sydney and researches the genocide of indigenous Hellenes of Pontos, Asia Minor and Thrace, alongside the Armenian and Assyrian genocides. He is also a board member of the Australian Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies.

Families contributing to the Register are supported at every stage of the process, with submissions able to include oral histories, photographs, documents and family heirlooms. All material is handled with care, respect and professional archival standards.

The Community is also developing partnerships with libraries, research institutions and Greek and Cypriot diaspora networks to ensure contributions are preserved and accessible for generations to come.

“The Register is as important as a permanent building,” Mr Kyriacou said. “It drives the Community’s three-part strategy: preserve, educate and engage.”

“Knowing where you come from sheds light on who you are and reinforces your connection to family and community,” Dr Diamadis added.

Education, legacy and the next generation

Honorary Assistant Secretary Andrew Paschalis said preserving the Community’s legacy is especially important as it undergoes generational change.

Honorary Secretary Kyriakos Panayi said the Register will form the foundation for incorporating Cypriot family history into school curricula in NSW and overseas.

“Dr Diamadis’s appointment places the Community in a new phase of education and engagement, creating a lasting resource for members, stakeholders, youth, elders, the wider Australian community and the global Cypriot diaspora,” Mr Panayi said.

“It is another step in the Community’s ongoing renewal – looking forward while preserving our members’ past with care and respect.”

A call to Cypriot families

The Family Heritage Register is open to all members of the Cypriot Australian community, including families, elders and descendants, as well as individuals with personal stories, photographs or documents to share. Community members interested in volunteering or assisting with the project are also encouraged to take part.

The Register will document family stories of migration, settlement, civic participation, professional achievement, entrepreneurship, sport, culture and identity across generations.

“This is a once-in-a-century opportunity to bring together memory, identity and history – not as abstract ideas, but as lived experience,” Dr Diamadis said.

The Cyprus Community of NSW warmly invites families, elders, descendants and community members to contribute photographs, stories, documents and memories, or to assist in bringing the Family Heritage Register to life.

To learn more or register your family, visit:
https://thecyprusclub.org.au/family-heritage-register/

Newlywed Cassandra Diamantis faces post-wedding name dilemma

The Greek Herald
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Newlywed Cassandra Diamantis faces post-wedding name dilemma

Sydney entrepreneur Cassandra Diamantis says she is grappling with whether to take her husband’s surname after their recent wedding, a decision she says could ultimately influence whether the couple have children.

Diamantis told Yahoo Lifestyle she has been in an “internal debate” since marrying Christian Dal Cin late last year, as she weighs tradition against her professional identity.

“I have a multi-six-figure business that I’m a CEO of. All of my clients know me by me. All of my business partners know me by me,” she said.

“I’ve established myself, and I feel really confident in who I am. And obviously an element of that is attached to my name.”

The 27-year-old said she agreed earlier in the relationship that she would change her surname, but reconsidered after the wedding.

While she wants to keep Diamantis professionally, she is conflicted about future children.

“There is that maternal instinct that, like, I don’t really want to have a different last name to the children,” she said.

Christian Dal Cin said the issue is deeply personal for him, citing his Italian family history. “If my grandparents were still alive, they would be offended,” he said. “They would feel disrespected.”

He acknowledged his view was “very old school” but said sharing a surname was essential to him.

He added that if the issue had been raised before marriage, it may have changed his decision to wed, and said, “If I don’t see a certificate with the surname, then I don’t want to have kids.”

Diamantis said she remains “passionate” about her surname and has rejected hyphenation or having separate legal and social names, saying it would make her feel like she was living a “split life.”

After sharing her dilemma online, she said she received strong reactions from women with varied experiences.

“I just think it’s so fascinating that women around the globe have had such different experiences,” she said.

“There’s not really a traditional approach anymore. I think there is beauty in the tradition. But times are sort of changing.”

Source: Yahoo!

Greece and France to fast track updated defence pact with mutual defence clause

The Greek Herald
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Greece and France to fast track updated defence pact with mutual defence clause

Greece and France are expected to finalise an updated military cooperation agreement within the next one to two months, including a mutual defence clause, officials said on Thursday, January 29.

Defence Minister Nikos Dendias said the revised agreement would provide for mutual defence assistance, enhanced military cooperation and collaboration in the defence industry. He said talks were being accelerated ahead of its signing.

Greece is also seeking to expand joint military exercises with France and is holding discussions on cooperation in air defence, missile defence, satellites, unmanned systems and electronic warfare.

Dendias made the comments after meeting French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin during a visit to Greece’s newly delivered French-built Kimon FDI frigate.

He confirmed the four Kimon-class frigates ordered by Greece will be upgraded to carry strategic weapons, describing the programme as central to safeguarding Greece’s sovereignty and sovereign rights.

Vautrin said the partnership strengthens stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, stressing that both countries remain committed to preventing tensions and defending their rights through close defence cooperation.

Source: Ekathimerini.

Greece moves to institutionalise postal voting for citizens living abroad

The Greek Herald
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Greece moves to institutionalise postal voting for citizens living abroad

Greek government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis says postal voting will be institutionalised in parliamentary elections for voters living outside Greece, under a draft bill to be submitted by the interior ministry.

Speaking on Thursday, January 29, Marinakis said the bill introduces two key reforms: the introduction of postal voting for Greeks abroad and the creation of a dedicated electoral constituency for the Greek diaspora, which will elect three members of parliament.

He also provided updates on a number of current issues, including the ongoing investigation into the fatal accident at the Violanta factory in Trikala.

“All investigative procedures for the completion of the technical assessment and the drafting of the final report on the causes and circumstances of the tragic accident … as well as the preliminary investigation process, are in progress,” he said.

Referring to the fatal road crash in Romania, Marinakis confirmed that seven Greek citizens lost their lives while travelling to attend a PAOK Thessaloniki match in France, with three others injured.

He said the Greek government and the country’s embassy were working closely with local authorities to provide support.

Two of the injured are being airlifted from Timisoara to Papageorgiou Hospital in Thessaloniki aboard a specially designed health ministry aircraft. The third injured person remains in Romania after undergoing emergency surgery on January 18, with his condition closely monitored and not considered life-threatening.

Marinakis also highlighted government initiatives aimed at affordable housing and strengthening social cohesion.

He concluded by noting that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was scheduled to meet French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin at the Maximos Mansion at 3.45pm on Thursday.

PAOK supporters pay emotional farewell to seven fans killed in Romania crash

The Greek Herald
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PAOK supporters pay emotional farewell to seven fans killed in Romania crash

PAOK supporters gathered at Toumba Stadium on Thursday night to pay an emotional farewell to seven young fans who were killed in a road accident in Romania, with chants and flares creating a scene reminiscent of a matchday tribute.

The bodies of the seven victims arrived in Thessaloniki on a C-130 military aircraft from Timișoara, landing at Macedonia Airport shortly after 6pm. Before departure, a memorial service was held at Timișoara Airport, where the local metropolitan bishop placed a white rose on each coffin.

Supporters welcomed the aircraft on its arrival and escorted the coffins in a motorcycle procession to Toumba Stadium, chanting slogans such as “Immortal” and “Brothers, you live on, you guide us.”

Funerals for the seven victims will be held on Friday and Saturday in Thessaloniki, Alexandria of Imathia and Aronas of Pieria.

Meanwhile, two supporters injured in the same accident are being treated in stable condition at Papageorgiou Hospital in Thessaloniki. The injured men, aged 20 and 28, were transferred from Romania earlier in the day on a special EKAV aircraft.

The 20-year-old, Konstantinos, has a head injury and is being treated in the neurosurgery clinic. His father said: “He has been hit on the head; he is in shock. Things are not easy, but we are moving toward the better. My condolences to the families of the victims.”

The 28-year-old, Marios, who is more lightly injured, requested to be discharged to attend the funerals, but doctors did not allow it and he remains hospitalised for precautionary reasons.

A third injured supporter remains in Romania after undergoing successful surgery for swelling in his neck and is currently unable to travel by air.

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