The Member for Rockdale and Shadow Minister for Small Business, Property & Multiculturalism, Steve Kamper MP, has issued a message to commemorate Greece’s National Day (OXI Day) on October 28.
In his statement, Mr Kamper praised the “pride and courage” that the Greek people showed in the face of hardship during 1940.
Full Message:
On October 28, we honour the story of Greek pride and courage and recognise the heroism shown by the Greek people when it stood in resolute defiance against fascism.
Freedom and democracy was the ultimate reward for the courage and sacrifice shown by the Greek nation.
Featuring 32 award categories for the first time, this year’s Awards was focused on recognising the best fitness professionals, business owners and industry experts.
The Award is awarded annually to the best education company in the fitness industry.
“I am honoured and excited to have Fitness Education Online even be considered for this award, let alone win it! We are determined to continue to provide the fitness industry with the highest quality training,” Mr Petrohilos told The Greek Herald.
On the night, there was also a number of other people of Greek heritage who were recognised. Matthew Boulous (NSW) won ‘Educator of the Year’ and Korin Koutsomihalis (NSW) won ‘Exercise Instructor of the Year.’
AUSactive CEO, Barrie Elvish, congratulated all the award winners.
“Your dedication, care and passion for your work in helping people through health and fitness has been outstanding,” Mr Elvish said.
“This year’s awards was our biggest yet, receiving more than 586 unique entrants across the 28 categories – I can’t wait for next year!”
A Matt Guy Liberals and Nationals Government will deliver better support for Victoria’s diverse multicultural communities under new commitments announced this week.
Victoria is a proudly multicultural state, yet ongoing growth in the number of migrants calling Victoria home has placed greater demand for multicultural services.
Since 1974, the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV), an independent, member- based peak body, has provided key support and advocacy of migrant and refugee communities in Victoria.
Despite its vital work, funding arrangements under the Andrews Labor Government are insufficient to keep pace with growing demand.
Therefore, a Matt Guy Liberals and Nationals Government will provide an additional $3.3 million over the next four years to the ECCV to enable it to better serve multicultural communities as well as a further one-off $100,000 should its application for charitable status be successful.
Matt Guy. Photo: The Weekly Times.
More broadly, the Liberals and Nationals will return integrity and respect to the heart of multicultural affairs in this state.
A Matt Guy Liberals and Nationals Government will:
Honour all existing commitments made under the current multicultural programs.
Restore the Victorian Multicultural Commission’s independence and prevent the corrupt or improper manipulation of its grants process by Labor.
Establish a new “culture-specific” Museum Grants Program to support existing culture-specific museums and institutions, as well as the establishment of new ones.
Increase the minimum percentage of state government department and agency advertising expenditure allocated to multicultural media and communications from 5% to 12% in its first year then down to 10% for the remainder of the parliamentary term.
Move responsibility for Multicultural Chambers of Commerce from the auspices of the Victorian Multicultural Commission to the lead business department.
Leader of the Liberal Party in the Legislative Council, David Davis, said the Liberals and Nationals have real solutions to build stronger multi-cultural communities.
“Organisations such as the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria and the Victorian Multicultural Commission do outstanding work across a number of multi-cultural communities and deserve to be supported,” Mr Davis said.
“Victoria is a proudly diverse and multicultural state with a rich heritage to celebrate. This commitment will help build stronger connections and communities across Victoria.”
Mr Dewar also said that this announcement coincides with the 40 year celebrations that are to be held next month in regards to the teaching of the Greek Language at La Trobe University.
Nick Bisley, the Dean of Humanities, was particularly delighted with the announcement. He was thankful for the community engagement which had helped increase the student enrolment numbers and broadened the reach of the program. Mr Bisley made particular mention of the community group that worked with the University in the last two years to help consolidate the program.
Nick Bisley invited Bill Papastergiadis, the President of the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM), and Bishop Evmenios, to also address the event.
Mr Papastergiadis said: “Language has been the cornerstone for many post-war families of Greek background in Australia. Education was considered a critical part of their children’s’ upbringing.”
La Trobe University.
“More so, education has been an integral part of the thought process going back to ancient Greece with Plato remarking that, education is a means to achieving both individual justice and social justice while, Aristotle, said that, education was integral to developing a student’s potential for reasoning and to perform ethical character,” the GCM President added.
“The role of education in the Greek Community of Melbourne was one of the main pillars for this organisation, noting that the first Greek schools were set up in the 1920s.”
Mr Papastergiadis congratulated La Trobe University on this announcement and in particular thanked Mr Bisley for his leadership over the last two years with the sub-committee which was formed. The subcommittee was instructive and informative on the steps needed to make the language studies viable.
Mr Papastergiadis also thanked Father Apostellis, as well as Anita and Greg Stamboulidis, for their input in that sub-committee and he pledged the ongoing support of the GCM for the La Trobe Greek Studies Program.
Bishop Evmenios made the announcement at the event that he too would be enrolling in the language program in 2023 and noted that the support by the Archdiocese for the program was one of the first steps of Archbishop Makarios on his arrival to Australia.
Bishop Evmenios referred to the long history and tradition of the church supporting language in all forms.
The NSW Minister for Multiculturalism, Mark Coure MP, has issued a message to the local Greek community marking the anniversary of Greece’s National Day (OXI Day) on October 28.
In his message, Mr Coure said NSW “is a richer place because of the Greek Australian community” and said the values that OXI Day represent are values that the people of NSW also share.
Grandparents Day is right around the corner and the NSW Government is encouraging everyone to take the opportunity to show their grandparents how much they mean to families and communities.
NSW Minister for Seniors, Mark Coure, said grandparents play a significant role in supporting the family unit, especially for children.
“Grandparents are the backbone of NSW families, supporting parents, teaching values, and connecting to family history,” Mr Coure said.
“I know many of us can recall having special moments with our grandmother or grandfather, like going on outings together or visiting their house for the holidays.
“These are all incredibly cherished times for both ourselves and our grandparents.
“While we can celebrate grandparents every day of the year, Grandparents Day is a particularly special time to acknowledge and say thank you for all that they do for us.”
Grandparents Day, which is this Sunday (30 October), is a chance to reflect on the special intergenerational bond between seniors and their grandchildren, and the special recipe for love that only they can offer.
“Everyone that takes on the role of a grandparent plays a vital role in family life, building special relationships across all age groups and cultures,” Mr Coure said.
“Please remember to pick up the phone or go and visit your older loved ones this Grandparents Day.”
NSW residents can nominate a Local Grandparent of the Year, to recognise the grandparents that help make their community a diverse, active and inspiring place to live. Contact your local State Member of Parliament for more information.
South Australia’s Premier Peter Malinauskas met with Greece’s Deputy Defence Minister Nikos Hardalias, at the State Administration Centre in Adelaide this morning.
The meeting was also attended by SA Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Tom Koutsantonis, and the Consul General of Greece in Adelaide, George Psiachas.
During the meeting, Premier Malinauskas welcomed Mr Hardalias to the state and reiterated the strong ties between Australia and Greece.
“It was a pleasure to meet the Deputy Minister for National Defence of Greece, Mr Nikolaos Chardalias and his delegation,” the SA Premier told The Greek Herald.
“The Greek contribution to this state is one of special significance and I was proud to convey the importance of the community to the Minister.”
This meeting comes after the Greek Deputy Defence Minister visited Melbourne and Canberra over the last few days and held a series of meetings with officials and community leaders.
The largest Greek flag has been unveiled in the Peloponnese ahead of Greece’s National Day (OXI Day) on October 28.
OXI Day marks the anniversary of the moment Greece said ‘NO’ to an Italian Fascist invasion and gave the Axis Powers their first defeat in 1940.
Young students from a local school in Kastori, Laconia wanted to commemorate this historic day by placing the large Greek flag on the Taygetus Mountain Range.
Young students from a local school in Kastori, Laconia wanted to commemorate OXI Day with the Greek flag. Photo: Pentapostagma.
The students have been praised by locals for their initiative.
SYRIZA party leader, Alexis Tsipras, has expressed confidence that Greece’s main opposition will win in next year’s general election.
“Opinion polls speak of a sizeable chunk of undecided voters and increasing public discontent with the government over the economy,” Tsipras said in an interview with Skai TV on Tuesday.
“This pool of undecided voters is not going to swing toward the ruling party… I believe SYRIZA can win the next election.”
Είναι δυνατόν να μιλάνε για μεσαία τάξη και να βγάζουν τη περιουσία της στο σφυρί; Όταν ήμασταν κυβέρνηση,με την Τρόικα πάνω από το κεφάλι μας, είχαμε πτωχευτικό νόμο που προστάτευε την α’ κατοικία. Σήμερα μοιράζουν τα σπίτια των ανθρώπων στους Πάτσηδες, στα τρωκτικά, στα funds.
Greece’s upcoming elections, which are scheduled for June 2023, will be fought under proportional representation, which means that no party will win an overall majority.
A second ballot will follow, under a new law passed by ruling New Democracy, which will give the top voting-getting party a large number of bonus members of Parliament.
According to Ekathimerini, public surveys show the conservatives of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis polling more than eight points ahead of SYRIZA.
The effect of the High Court of Australia’s landmark decision in Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd v Voller [2021] HCA 27 continues to impact media publications, notwithstanding the recent changes in Defamation law. By a majority of 5 to 2, the Court held the media liable as publishers of third-party comments. Recent amendments sought to address that decision.
However, on October 12, The Greek Herald received a letter of complaint by a Sydney legal firm acting for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and Archbishop Makarios reprimanding the publication for alleged defamatory third-party comments made on its public Facebook page.
The letter states that “while The Greek Herald itself may not have uploaded anything which is defamatory of Archbishop Makarios,” the majority of comments on the publication’s Facebook page “represent defamatory attacks against Archbishop Makarios.”
Referencing the recent High Court decision in Voller, the letter stated that “…as a matter of defamation law you are liable as a publisher of the defamatory comments posted by other people on The Greek Herald Facebook page, because by running the Facebook page, you are facilitating the publication of those defamatory comments.”
The letter also suggested that alleged defamatory comments should immediately be removed and requested that The Greek Herald “closes the comments on future articles to ensure that the same does not happen again.”
“If this action is taken, the Archbishop will consider the matter at an end,” it read.
The Greek Herald does not condone any defamatory comments on its Facebook page whoever they may identify, and has subsequently removed the comments the publication deemed to be allegedly defamatory.
Since receipt of the aforementioned letter, The Greek Herald has also stopped receiving communications in the form of press releases from the Archdiocese’s media team, which occurred almost daily.
This letter has come after the Archdiocese has initiated legal pursuits with various other publications in Australia and overseas. Most recently, the website “Exapsalmos” issued a public apology over the publication of a series of articles, while earlier this year the Archbishop launched defamation proceedings in Sydney’s Federal Court over four articles by blogger Alkis Morelas. Last year, the ABC also issued a correction on an article about the conduct of the Greek Orthodox church in Australia in connection with its aged care facilities.
