Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, hailed the success of Greece’s tourism sector for 2022 at an event held by the Greek Tourism Ministry at the Hellenic Cosmos Cultural Center in Athens on Tuesday.
According to Ekathimerini, Mitsotakis said the tourism sector experienced “a full recovery” this year and the revival was based on hard work and not luck.
The revenue from Greece’s tourism industry is estimated to reach 18 billion euros (AUD$19 billion) in 2022 with a 5.6% growth in the Greek economy, exceeding the government’s initial estimates.
Speaking at the tourism ministry event, Mitsotakis talked about the challenges and risks of reopening the country in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Live | Eκδήλωση του Υπουργείου Τουρισμού με θέμα: «2022 – Η μεγάλη επιστροφή του ελληνικού τουρισμού». https://t.co/84UsYLcqyb
The Greek Prime Minister also stressed how the tourism sector flourished in 2022 despite the challenges of inflation and the war in Ukraine.
“Russian tourists did not not come. Ukrainians did not come. [There was] a spike in inflation, in energy costs. Despite that, Greek tourism returned,” Mitsotakis said.
It is expected by the end of 2022 that tourist arrivals will reach 88% of record levels from 2019, when over 32 million tourists visited Greece.
Colin Brooks, the newly appointed Victorian Minister for Multicultural Affairs, grew up in Five Dock, a multicultural suburb in Sydney’s inner west. Though surrounded by different languages, he only speaks English, “unfortunately”, he said, because “languages are important”.
Mr Brooks told TheGreek Herald he chose to visit the Greek Centre of Melbourne to give awards to Greek Australian high VCE achievers as one of his first ministerial visits – to encourage more people to speak Greek.
He led by example with a few well-executed Greek words – “kalispera”, “kala Christougenna” – taught to him by Nick Staikos MP earlier in the day. In four years, he hopes to hold an entire conversation in Greek, he half joked.
Mr Brooks giving a speech.Bill Papastergiadis giving a speech.
“I think the study of languages, and particularly keeping culture alive and the language alive for communities like the Greek community is so important,” he told TheGreek Herald, adding that, in his role, he’ll continue to support community language schools and also offer Victorian Multicultural Grants.
“We will also look at more ways we can support the community financially, but I can’t make commitments tonight.”
He described Victoria’s Multicultural Commission (VMC) as a “conduit” and pledged he would listen to their advice. In fact, VMC Commissioner Bill Papastergiadis was the one who invited him to meet with the Greek Australian students, the future of our community, an invitation the newly appointed Minister of Multicultural Affairs gladly accepted.
GCM President Bill Papastergiadis, Nick Dallas, Jim Bossinakis, Spiz Demetriou, Colin Brook and Marinis Pirpiris.
“I’m not the Minister of Education but, in my role as Minister for Multicultural Affairs, I have a strong interest in making sure that language education thrives and flourishes in Victoria and that teachers are recognised for the roles they have,” he said.
As State Member of Bundoora, he is well positioned to influence the future of Greek language learning at La Trobe University.
“I am aware of the struggle. And the struggle is ongoing, isn’t it? I’ve got a strong relationship with La Trobe and I’ll be putting it to good use,” he said
“But I’ll also keep coming to events like this to encourage people.”
Asked about his own relationship with Greeks, he said: “I went to school in Ashfield which was very multicultural but it’s when you come to Melbourne that you are immersed in Greek culture. Through my working life I’ve come into contact with Greek people, and you feel at Greek events that you are part of the family. They are very welcoming.”
He soaked in the view, while Victorian politician John Pandazopoulos pointed out some of the architectural details of the Greek Centre, and his Greek Australian staffer Katerina stood by – “he has to leave soon”, she said, but he seemed content to linger on, take a few photos with the kids, and engage with the parents.
John Pandazopoulos gives Colin Brooks a run-down of the history of the Greek Centre.
“We know that as a state, as a society we are richer because of our diversity and Greek Australians have contributed, not just with their delicious food and great music but their values of democracy, philosophy and sense of community. It’s contributions such as these that have allowed our state to prosper,” Mr Brooks said.
Greeks have done well in Victoria, but there’s a battle to keep language alive as each year the numbers of students drop a little.
“I have been teaching VCE for 10 years,” said Maria Bakalidou, Principal of the Greek Orthodox Community Schools of Melbourne and Victoria. “With Manos Tzimbragos (the former principal), we tried to invest in education and resources, and we are seeing greater success and steady results. Apart from getting students with marks over 40 we also have an average of 35 which later is scaled upwards.”
Principal of the Greek Community Schools of Melbourne Maria Bakalidou and teacher Christina Soumi with her daughter.
Her colleague Christina Soumi adds, “We are also trying to build strong foundations.”
Programs such as ELA, Greek story time and the Greek Community’s efforts to create books catering to the needs of young Greek Australians are helping somewhat. Nonetheless, the VCE numbers decrease each year.
Nick Dallas, who heads the GCM’s Education Committee, said, “The fact that we have students who are third fourth and fifth generation and continue to do Greek at such a high level is admirable. They are our future language ambassadors.”
Excited teachers at the event.
Students have their say:
Kyriakos Perisanidis, Athan Vass and Ross Iliakopoulos all went to PEGS and all achieved ATARs in the very high 90s. None of them studied Greek for the VCE, though Kyriakos said he wants to study Greek History at a tertiary level.
Award winners.
“There’s lots of Greek at my place!” Athan said, adding that his grandparents lead the way.
Kyriakos said, “Pappou and giagia had a focus on education and are very proud of me.”
For Ross, there was plenty of joy at being able to celebrate his high ATAR surrounded by other Greeks.
Though Athan’s parents were “chill”, Ross said that Greek parents “are very tough on you at times but they’re pushing you to be the best you can be.”
Kyriakos Perisanidis, Athan Vass and Ross Iliakopoulos all achieved ATARs in the high 90s.
Tara Metaxas achieved a high mark in Advanced Biology though she is still in Year 11. She felt inspired by her giagia and pappou, who were present at the ceremony, and this motivated her. “I think it is really good that they immigrated to Australia, and it is great to use the resources I’m given in Australia to make them proud,” she said.
Tara Metaxas with her dad and proud yiayia and pappou.
Aristea Andrianopoulos, a future lawyer, said, “Trust me, it’s not easy going through year 12 with a Greek mum” and added that “it is up more up to the students than the parents”.
Beside her, classmate and future lawyer, Penny Samios advises students to remember that “even though it may be hard studying and making sacrifices it is worth it. Remember, it’s only a small part of your life.”
MLC students Aristea Andrianopoulos and Penny Samios both achieved ATARs over 97 and whop to study Law/Arts at Monash University.
Gabriella Sakkos took a different approach. She felt more focused by having a balance and did not quit her job or her water polo. “Doing this helped keep me more focused when I did study,” she said. Her parents, both teachers, said that she was “self-driven”.
Gabriella Sakkos got an ATAR of 97.8 and will study Biomedicine at Melbourne Uni. She is the eldest of three daughters. Her parents Miltiadis and Ancilla proudly accompanied her to the awards, along with her sisters Andriana and Juliet.
Though she didn’t study Greek, she felt that receiving a Greek Community award for her high ATAR was important. “My yiayia and pappou were so happy that I’d be coming here. Now I know where it is and it’s something for me to be a part of,” she said.
The Chair of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Robert Menendez, slammed on Monday Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent threat to launch a missile attack on Athens, Greece.
Speaking from the floor of the Senate, Menendez referenced a speech by Erdogan on December 11 in which the Turkish President he said he would fire a missile at Athens “unless [Greeks] stay calm.”
“As violent as Erdogan’s tenure has been at home, his foreign policy has been absolutely awful… But one thing is clear – the United States must take the Turkish President’s actions seriously…” the US Senator added.
“We need to hold Erdogan accountable for his behaviour when he violates international laws, or challenges democratic norms, or allows his forces to commit human rights abuses.”
Με ιδιαίτερη χαρά απευθύνομαι, ενόψει των Χριστουγέννων και του νέου έτους, σε όλους εσάς, τους ομογενείς μας, τους απανταχού Έλληνες. Όλους εσάς που, όπου και αν βρίσκεστε, διαφυλάσσετε ευλαβικά τη μητέρα πατρίδα στη μνήμη και στην καρδιά σας. Εσάς που παλέψατε να γεφυρώσετε αντιθέσεις ανάμεσα στον τόπο της καταγωγής και τις νέες σας πατρίδες, που μοχθήσατε, δημιουργήσατε, διακριθήκατε, όχι μόνο προοδεύοντας σε ατομικό επίπεδο, αλλά διαπρέποντας και σε συλλογικό, τιμώντας έτσι τις ελληνικές σας ρίζες, βαθύ και στέρεο κομμάτι της ταυτότητας σας.
Αυτές τις μέρες, που λαμπρύνονται από την προσδοκία της επί γης ειρήνης και κυλούν μέσα στην ευμένεια και την αγάπη, μας πονούν περισσότερο οι πόλεμοι, οι συγκρούσεις, ο αυταρχισμός και η ωμή βία των ανελεύθερων καθεστώτων, η καταπάτηση των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων. Ο συνεχιζόμενος πόλεμος στην Ουκρανία αποτελεί πληγή στα ευρωπαϊκά ιδεώδη, για την υπερίσχυση των οποίων έχουν δοθεί μεγάλοι αγώνες. Ζούμε σ’ έναν ταραγμένο πλανήτη, σε μια μεταβατική, ρευστή εποχή. Έννοιες και θεσμοί που προσέδιδαν σταθερό νόημα στον κόσμο που γνωρίζαμε, κλονίζονται. Οι αλλεπάλληλες κρίσεις, υγειονομική, ανθρωπιστική, προσφυγική, οικονομική, ενεργειακή, που μας δοκιμάζουν, καθώς και η όλο και μεγαλύτερη απειλή της κλιματικής αλλαγής, προκαλούν ανασφάλεια και ανησυχία. Ο αιώνας μας ξεκίνησε με λιγότερες βεβαιότητες στις αποσκευές του και η δεκαετία που διανύουμε αποδεικνύεται κρίσιμη και αποφασιστική.
Ωστόσο, κάθε περίοδος μετάβασης είναι ευκαιρία για ανανέωση και αναγέννηση της ελπίδας. Η ιστορία έχει δείξει ότι οι κοινωνίες που αντιμετωπίζουν θετικά τις προκλήσεις, που δεν περιχαρακώνονται από τον φόβο για το καινούργιο, καταφέρνουν να οικοδομήσουν ένα μέλλον γόνιμο, δημιουργικό, ειρηνικό και συμπεριληπτικό. Πρώτοι εσείς, ο καθένας χωριστά και όλοι μαζί, μέσα από την κοινοτική οργάνωση και συνοχή σας στη διασπορά, δείξατε ότι το αύριο μπορεί να μετατραπεί σε φωτεινή υπόσχεση και εγγύηση αυτοπραγμάτωσης, αρκεί η πορεία προς αυτό να διαπνέεται από θάρρος, αποφασιστικότητα, τόλμη, αξίες.
Κι εσείς, εμφορούμενοι από τις αξίες του ελληνισμού προχωρήσατε. Τις αξίες της ειρηνικής συμβίωσης, του διαλόγου και της συνεννόησης μέσα σ’ ένα πολυπολιτισμικό περιβάλλον. Διευρυμένες ως αξίες της δημοκρατίας, της ισότητας των ευκαιριών, της κοινωνικής δικαιοσύνης, της ειρήνης και της ισοπολιτείας, είναι αυτές με τις οποίες πορεύεται και η Ελλάδα στο παγκόσμιο γίγνεσθαι. Πάνω σ’ αυτές διαμορφώνει τη θέση της στον σύγχρονο κόσμο και προωθεί τα εθνικά της συμφέροντα, αποκρούοντας κάθε απόπειρα επικίνδυνου αναθεωρητισμού. Αναδεικνύει σταθερά και απαρέγκλιτα τα δίκαιά της, όπως αυτά προβλέπονται στο πλαίσιο των διεθνών συνθηκών που καθόρισαν από τις αρχές του 20ου αιώνα τη νομιμότητα στην ευρύτερη περιοχή της Ανατολικής Μεσογείου. Εδραιώνει δεσμούς φιλίας με κράτη και λαούς, στη βάση του αμοιβαίου σεβασμού προς το διεθνές δίκαιο και τις ανθρωπιστικές αρχές. Και χάρη στην ενεργό σύμπραξη των απανταχού ελληνικών κοινοτήτων, ενδυναμώνει τη διεθνή παρουσία και το κύρος της.
Συμπατριώτες μου,
Η Ελλάδα προσβλέπει σε σας, καμαρώνει και παρακολουθεί με ενδιαφέρον τα σημαντικά σας επιτεύγματα στους τομείς της τέχνης και της επιστήμης, της τεχνολογίας και της επιχειρηματικότητας. Είστε αναπόσπαστο κομμάτι του ελληνισμού, σύγχρονοι Οδυσσείς που διαβήκατε σύνορα και διασχίσατε θάλασσες, γνωρίσατε δυσκολίες και γευτήκατε απογοητεύσεις, αλλά με το πείσμα και τον μόχθο σας τις μετατρέψατε σε ευκαιρίες και τις εξελίξατε σε θριάμβους. Βιώσατε την εμπειρία του ξένου και εμπλουτίσατε την ταυτότητά σας, χωρίς ν’ αφήσετε ποτέ να ξεθωριάσει η μνήμη του γενέθλιου τόπου και να εξασθενίσει ο δεσμός. Ένας δεσμός που επιβεβαιώνει τη δύναμή του τέτοιες γιορτινές μέρες, μέσα στις οικογένειές σας, στους δικούς σας ανθρώπους, στις εκκλησίες, στις καρδιές σας. Εύχομαι ολόθερμα καλά Χριστούγεννα, υγεία και προσωπική ευτυχία για τη νέα χρονιά!
Προέδρου της Δημοκρατίας Αικατερίνης Σακελλαροπούλου
With Christmas and New Year’s fast approaching, Maria’s home kitchen in Adelaide works like a quirky timer.
“Let me get the oven going because kourabiedes (shortbread cookies) need their time,” the owner of Mary’s Pantry says before she offers me a coffee with a wide smile.
“The secret for the kourabiedes lies in the butter and I make my own because I could not find one I like,” she explains.
Mary baking up Greece’s Christmas culinary traditions in her Adelaide home kitchen.
A migrant from north-western Athens, Maria started her home food business two years ago with the vision to keep traditional recipes alive, bring to Adelaide original Greek flavours and stay connected to her heritage.
While we chat about her business, she keeps an eye on the traditional Christmas shortbread cookies that are now golden and ready to come out of the oven. Pulling out the tray, she notices that some of the cookies are not perfectly shaped and decides to reshape them with a round cookie cutter.
“I need to make sure they are all the same shape and size,” she says with a smirk, subtly acknowledging her sense of cultural perfectionism and the pride she takes for her products.
During this festive season she makes nearly 3,000 pieces of kourabiedes and they are only one of the many delicacies she offers.
“It’s challenging at times because I do everything from prepping, to packaging, taking orders, delivering, invoicing and managing my social media pages -but it’s worth it,” says the business owner.
Her favourite day of the week is Saturday because this is when she delivers her sesame bread rings (koulouria Thessalonikis) to Omega Foods -one of South Australia’s well known Greek family-run businesses.
“I wake up at 4am to bake and by 9:30 I am at Hindmarsh to deliver the koulouria. People -especially the seniors- are waiting for me and even offer to help me unload my car.
“They taste the koulouria and tell me how the flavour brings back memories from their school days in Greece.”
This sense of community is what keeps Maria going.
“How can I stop when I know they will be there, waiting?” she says, knowing that retaining the Greek food heritage is important not only to the Greek but the wider South Australian community.
“We often have people over and share meals. They enjoy our filoxenia (hospitality) so much and comment on how we are open to share our food and culture.”
And Maria stays true to her word.
The kourabiedes have now settled. She picks up one by one and dips them gently in icing sugar. Her smile widens only when every cookie is neatly covered and ready to be plated.
She offers me one to taste while she buzzes around trying to create the perfect set up for a photo. Then she prepares a box for me to take home. You see, you can’t leave a Greek household empty handed.
We talk about more cooking ideas, our common roots, the challenges we have faced as migrants in a new country and why we appreciate living in Australia. Maria tells me that one of her dreams is to one day have her own shop to sell her goods.
How good would this be? Kourabies, Greek coffee served with a smile and a yarn in Adelaide, the Athens of the South, sounds like a great idea to me.
*For recipes, to book catering services, cooking classes or to follow Maria’s culinary adventures follow her social media pages on Mary’s Pantry.
Mary’s Kourabiedes Recipe
Ingredients:
2 cups European Butter
1/2 cup Icing Sugar + Extra for dusting
1 cup Toasted Almonds Flakes
4-5 cups All-purpose Flour
2 tsp Vanilla Extract
Directions:
Bring butter to room temperature, soft enough that when you press with your finger you still feel some resistance.
In a stand mixer with a whisk attachment add your softened butter and 1/2 cup of icing sugar beat on high until fluffy and white around 10 mins.
Change to a paddle attachment add the vanilla and almonds and stir on low for a few seconds until incorporated.
Slowly start adding your flour on low depending if your butter and temperature you might need less or more flour.
Test the dough with your hands, you want it to form a shape not crumbly and sticky. Add flour if needed.
Fun part:
Dust your bench with some flour and place your dough. Take a piece of baking paper and cover your dough. With a rolling pin roll the dough to approx. ½ inch thickness.
Take your favourite cookie cutters and dip them in flour every time you cut a cookie.
In a tray add a baking sheet and the cookies leaving some space in between.
Place in the freezer for 30 minutes or fridge for 1 hour. That will help your cookies to retain their shape.
Pre-heat your oven to 160C Fan-forced
Bake straight from freezer for 20-25 mins, depending on size. You might need to adjust baking time.
Let them cool down overnight.
Dust your cookies with icing sugar the following day and store in a sealed container for up to 1 month.
Pontoxeniteas Sydney have spread some festive cheer this week to Greek nursing homes in Randwick and Lakemba, as well as members’ homes, with their annual Pontian Christmas carols.
The group of young carollers were led through Sydney’s eastern and southern suburbs on Monday, December 19 and Tuesday, December 20 under the instruction of dance teacher and musician, Kosta Papoulidis.
The group’s visit and singing of Pontian carols to residents at St Basil’s NSW & ACT in Randwick and Lakemba brought smiles to the faces of everyone listening.
In a social media post, the Board of Pontoxeniteas Sydney thanked the youth and members of the association for taking part.
“Thank you to Kosta Papoulidis, Ioanna, Stefan, Sofia, Anastasia, Andrew, Georgia, Panayiotis Diamadis, Helen Macris and Maria Anthony for keeping our Pontian traditions alive,” the post read.
The group will continue to spread their Christmas cheer to Sydney’s western suburbs on Wednesday, December 21.
AHEPA NSW Inc held a solemn tribute event on Sunday, December 18 at AHEPA NSW Hall in Rockdale, Sydney to mark the centenary of the Asia Minor Catastrophe.
The event was attended by a number of special VIP guests including the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis; His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis; Mayor of Georges River Council, Councillor Nick Katris; and the AHEPA NSW President, Bill Skandalakis; among many others.
Official proceedings began on the day with the Bishop performing a commemorative prayer for the victims of the Asia Minor Catastrophe.
This was followed by a number of speeches by the Mr Mallikourtis and AHEPA NSW Secretary, Panayiotis Diamantis.
Photo: Kostas Kapodistrias.
Mr Diamantis emphasised that people have an obligation to not only remember the causes of the Catastrophe, but also the names of the protagonists.
At the conclusion of these speeches, the recent artwork by artist, Angela Konstantinopoulou, was unveiled. The painting, called Smyrne Ablaze, depicts the tragic events in Asia Minor. A poem by the same title and written by Eleni Elefterias was also read aloud on the night.
The event concluded with singer Lucy Miller performing a tribute to the Catastrophe with a combination of singing and a theatrical performance of the song Uprooted. The lyrics and performance gave insight into the tragic experience of mothers who went searching their lost children.
*Words and photos made possible by Christine Stavropoulos.
Jacinda, who is a student at Pembroke School in Adelaide, received a Governor of South Australia Commendation for her results and as part of the SA Governor’s Excellence Awards 2022.
The SA Governor’s Excellence Awards are given to students who achieve five subject merits, including one for a research project. A second-tier of academic awards are awarded to students who have gained 70 or more credits plus an A level in their research project.
In a Facebook post, Pembroke School congratulated Jacinda and other Year 12 students for their SACE results. The school also announced that Jacinda recently received the prestigious Ross Family Leadership Medal.
Jacinda received the medal for her grace and service during challenging times, and her unwavering commitment to the School, her peers, her studies, and to the causes she has championed.
“Jacinda is a very impressive young person, and we are very proud of her,” the School said in a statement to The Greek Herald.
SA Education Minister Blair Boyer also commended the class of 2022 for their achievements with a record number of SA students completing SACE.
According to ABC News, the class of 2022 is the first cohort to spend their entire SACE period through the COVID-19 pandemic during Years 10, 11 and 12.
SACE Board Chief Executive, Michaela Bensley, said the results reflected the commitment of the students during the challenges of COVID-19.
“For them to be able to show that resilience and have the success they’ve had today is just really astounding,” Ms Bensley said. “They’re really an inspiration for all of us.”
*Please Note: The above student is one The Greek Herald could identify by their Greek name. If you believe you should be on this list, please send an email to info@foreignlanguage.com.au.
The Australian Federation of Pontian Associations elected and appointed their new executive committee for a two-year term during their Annual General Meeting on November 27 this year.
The Australian Federation of Pontian Associations was founded in 2011 and currently represents six established Australian Pontian clubs. This includes:
Pontian Association of Whittlesea ‘Panagia Soumela’
Central Pontian Association of Melbourne & Victoria ‘Pontiaki Estia’
Pontian Community of Melbourne and Victoria
Pontian Association of Melbourne ‘Euxeinos Pontos’
Federal Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, the Honourable Andrew Giles MP, has issued a special Christmas message this festive season.
Full Message in English:
I would like to extend my warmest wishes to all Australians during this festive season.
Christmas is a time for traditions old and new, for connecting with loved ones near and far, and most of all, a time to be together and create special memories.
In Australia, as well as in a number of other places around the world, even among the diverse practices, beliefs and traditions and even timings of Christmas Day itself, we recognise Christmas as a celebration that connects us with each other. Festive food, gift giving, decorations, music and crafts are all activities of this celebration that bring us together.
I am grateful that, no matter what challenges we face in our vibrant and multicultural country, our ability to come together is one of our greatest strengths. By working together we will continue to build a resilient and prosperous nation.
May this Christmas and the New Year bring happiness, peace and joy to you and your loved ones.
