The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) will embark on a ‘Storytelling’ project in which a series of events will be curated and staged celebrating the art and discipline of storytelling whilst celebrating Greek and Greek Australian artists, writers, and storytellers.
The project will take many forms and look to celebrate acclaimed works and emerging artists. It will speak to a diverse catalogue of content and present to audiences young and old.
The events will traverse through different themes including identity, finding your own creativity, broadening your internal values and integrity. These broad themes will be a celebration on how diverse and vast the art of storytelling can be.
The project kicks off with Ακούω, Παίζω… Δημιουργώ, on 22, 27 and 29 September which is aimed at children and will see the GCM’s School Teachers facilitating the engagement of young storytellers. At this event, the children will participate in activities centered around storytelling and will work on creating and presenting their own stories with the help of their friends and teachers.
On Friday 30 September the GCM presents the Live Radio Play read of Demetra Giannakopoulos’ Coming Out for Christmas at The Greek Centre. The show, which will feature a cast of 5 actors reading the accompanied by music and sound, is a dramedy about family, community, and living your truth.
Storytelling is presented as part of the GCM’s Cultural Programs and is supported by the Greek Quarter.
During an excavation of the southeastern part of the mediaeval sea wall of the castle of Agioi Theodoroi in Lesvos, a 3.5 metre long marble lintel was found and its discovery has been the cause of revision to the islands late Byzantine history.
The marble piece was linked to the ancient city-state of Antissa, one of the ancient Aeolian city-states of the island of Lesvos and bears the emblems of the Genoese House of Gattilusio as well as that of the Palaiologos dynasty.
An important part of marble piece is that next to the heraldry of the palaiologos, instead of the double-headed eagle, a symbol of Byzantium, was found a depiction of a castle with a main gate and three rectangular towers on the acropolis, a depiction which seems to be identified with the then castle of Agoio Theodoroi.
The marble lintel is the first representation of Byzantine representation and gives evidence of its form, unknown to us until today, as it had undergone substantial reconstruction during the 15th century by the House of Gattilusio.
When looking at taking a trip to Greece, you are usually faced with the impossible decision of which island or islands you are planning to visit.
The British newspaper “The Times” has made this decision easier by publishing a list of their top 10 Greek islands for a quiet, relaxing holiday, with Andros at the top of the list being praised for being the most authentic Greek experience, its countryside, footpaths and welcoming inhabitants.
Joining Andros on the list is Folegandros, for its sunsets, Nisyros for its volcanic views, Syros for its cultural life and Meganisi for its peaceful, laid-back atmosphere, Alonissos for its wildlife, Milos for its otherworldly landscapes, Agistri for excursions, Kythera for its idyllic environment and Patmos for its spiritual mystique and its beautiful beaches.
“We have started a constant and organised effort for openness, as Andros offers everything that both Greek and foreign travellers want in the post-Covid era, such as activities in nature, a mix of remote and organised beaches and, above all, authentic hospitality,” says Andros Deputy Mayor for Tourism Nikos Moustakas.
“After a satisfactory season, tourist flows are continuing in September as well.”
Rodríguez was reunited with former Madrid teammate Marcelo Vieira, who signed with the Greek champions last week.
The pair were cheered by more than 35,000 fans after appearing at Giorgos Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus to watch Olympiacos take on Freiburg in the Europa League.
The crowd chanted “He’s here. He’s here!” and “James Rodríguez!” as the player held up his No. 10 Olympiakos jersey moments before the game started, AP News reported.
James Rodriguez and Marcelo, here reunited as they’re both Olympiacos new signings. ⚪️🔴⭐️ #Olympiacos
Rodríguez comes to Greece having played for some of the world’s best clubs.
In 2014, he signed to Real Madrid coming from Monaco, making 125 appearances, scoring 37 goals and making 42 assists. He then played with Bayern Munich between 2017 and 2019, scoring 15 goals and providing 20 assists in his 67 appearances.
In 2020, he signed in Everton for a total of 26 games, registering six goals and 9 assists.
In September, he was sold to Qatar’s Al-Rayyan where he featured in 15 matches, scoring five goals and seven assists.
The poll, conducted by independent Turkish research organisation, Metropoll, revealed that 51.5% of Turks believe that “the tension between Greece and Turkey is an attempt to create an electoral agenda,” while 64% said they do not consider the Greeks as enemies.
During his speech to the Hellenic Parliament on Thursday, Greece’s Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias said the survey is proof that “the Turkish public isn’t buying into the anti-Greek delirium which currently pervades the Turkish political system.”
I am particularly pleased with the survey showing that Turkish public opinion does not ‘buy’ the anti-Hellenic delirium that currently pervades the Turkish political system. Turkey still has the hope of reversing course and turning towards the EU, leaving revisionism aside. pic.twitter.com/iCsJZ2QoJQ
He went on to say that Greece believes Turkey is capable of “leaving revisionism aside” and “turning towards the European edifice.”
“I believe the Russian invasion of Ukraine demonstrates by its failure exactly how outdated revisionism is,” he added.
Foreign Minister Dendias also mentioned to Parliament the passing of the president of the Acropolis Museum, Dimitris Pantermalis, actress Irini Papas and actor and politician Kostas Kazakos this week.
“All three with their presence contributed exceptionally to the field of culture,” he said.
President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou telephoned His Majesty King Charles III on Thursday and expressed her condolences for the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
According to the President’s office, Sakellaropoulou congratulated the King on his accession to the throne and wished him every success in his new duties. She also expressed her certainty that the excellent relations between Greece and the UK will improve even further under his reign.
Queen Elizabeth’s reign has marked the modern history of the 🇬🇧. She has been a true pillar of her country and has been rewarded with love and respect. My heartfelt condolences to her family and the British people. She will be missed. @RoyalFamilypic.twitter.com/RLWFy7o1eM
King Charles also spoke with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, as well as the presidents of Germany, Italy and Rwanda.
President Sakellaropoulou is set to visit the British Embassy in Athens today to sign the book of condolences for the death of the Queen and will attend the Queen’s funeral in London on Monday, September 19.
This comes as overnight in Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese left Sydney to travel to Britain for the Queen’s funeral.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon are seen boarding an RAAF aircraft at Sydney Airport, for London for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. Photo: AAP Image /Dean Lewins
Albanese was accompanied by nine of the ten Australian invitees, among them Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott and i4give Day founder, Danny Abdallah.
On Tuesday, Albanese said the invited Australians “embody an extraordinary contribution to our nation.”
“I am 41 years old. I have played more than 1500 matches over 24 years,” he said.
“Tennis has treated me more generously than I ever would have dreamt, and now I must recognise when it is time to end my competitive career.
“I will play more tennis in the future, of course, but just not in grand slams or on the tour.”
Following on from a tweet this morning in which he wrote “We love Roger”, Stefanos Tsitsipas took to Instagram, congratulating and paying tribute to the tennis great.
“Your style, personality, talent, finesse and passion will be remembered in the game of tennis forever!” the World No. 6 wrote.
“I can’t thank you enough for being the reason I pursued tennis in the first place. The reason I play a one-handed backhand today. The reason I dreamt for the first time watching you lift that Wimbledon trophy in 2004.”
Federer is widely considered one of the greatest players to step onto the court, and one of a trio of stars alongside Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic who have dominated men’s tennis for well over a decade.
The 41-year-old father to four said his love of tennis started as a ball kid in his hometown of Basel.
“I used to watch the players with a sense of wonder. They were like giants to me and I began to dream,” he said.
“My dreams led me to work harder and I started to believe in myself. Some success brought me confidence and I was on my way to the most amazing journey that has led to this day.”
Dear Roger,my friend and rival. I wish this day would have never come. It’s a sad day for me personally and for sports around the world. It’s been a pleasure but also an honor and privilege to share all these years with you, living so many amazing moments on and off the court 👇🏻
Since making his debut in the main draw of a Grand Slam at the 1999 French Open, Federer has appeared in 81 Grand Slams – the most by any men’s singles player in the Open Era alongside Spaniard Feliciano López.
In 2003 and at just 21 years of age, he defeated Mark Philippoussis in the Wimbledon final, winning his first-ever Grand Slam title. His success at the English major wouldn’t end there, going on to win Wimbledon a further seven times, the most by any male player in the Open Era.
Between 2004 and 2008, he won five successive US Open singles titles, by which time he had also claimed four Australian Open crowns, a feat unmatched by any player.
After completing a career Grand Slam by finally winning the French Open in 2009, having been beaten in three consecutive finals by Nadal, Federer continued to dominate with another Wimbledon title and the 2010 Australian Open.
By 2018, he had claimed a further two Australian Open titles and two Wimbledon victories, bringing his grand slam title tally to 20.
🕰 24 years. 🎾 1526 singles matches. 🎉 1,251 wins. 🥇 310 weeks as No. 1. 🏆 103 titles. 2️⃣0️⃣ Grand Slams. 💪 0 match retirements.
In his retirement announcement, he thanked his family, wife Mirka, team, as well as his fans.
“I must offer a special thank you to my unbelievable fans. You will never know how much strength and belief you have given me,” he said.
“The inspiring feeling of walking into full stadiums and arenas has been one of the huge thrills in my life. Without you, those successes would have felt lonely, rather than filled with joy and energy.
“I have had the immense fortune to play in front of you in over 40 different countries. I have laughed and cried, felt joy and pain, and most of all I have felt incredibly alive.”
The awards ceremony was held on Friday, September 2 at The Star Sydney, with over 1,000 guests in attendance.
Now in its 24th year, the Australian Small Business Champion Awards is the only national recognition program for Australian small businesses.
The program aims to highlight extraordinary people and acknowledge outstanding Australian small businesses. For 24 years, the Champion Awards has continued to shine a spotlight on the high standard of excellence seen throughout the small business sector across the nation.
The team at Connect & Communicate.
Tina Moisidis, the owner of Connect & Communicate, is a Greek Australian speech pathologist with 15 years’ experience supporting children with communication difficulties.
The team at Connect & Communicate are experienced and trained in developing children’s language and improving children’s abilities with both literacy and speech or sound articulation difficulties, but Ms Moisidis is most passionate about supporting children with developmental delays, autism spectrum disorder or other special needs.
Ms Moisidis told The Greek Herald they are honoured to have been recognised for the award.
“It’s moments like this where everything my team and I advocate and work towards is even more worthwhile,” Ms Moisidis said.
Tina Moisidis.
“A child that can’t speak is not the same as a child who has nothing to say. Every child deserves a voice. It is our job to work with parents and educators to give children a means to be able to connect and communicate with society and be heard.”
The Managing Director of Precedent Productions and Founder of the Awards, Steve Loe, congratulated Ms Moisidis and her team, as well as the other award winners and finalists, for their recognition.
“We’re so proud of the growth and continued interest we see annually [in the awards]. Its growth, after all, is the real reason the awards were created. To highlight outstanding businesses who tirelessly produce and create exceptional products and services; to recognise and reward Australia’s small business community,” Mr Loe said.
The award.
The Awards are presented by the Commonwealth Bank, and supported by Awards Partners, Nine Plus, NOVA Employment, cub-Club of United Business, Xcllusive Business Sales, Castaway Forecasting and Big Clean.
The Australian Small Business Champion Awards have been proudly managed by Precedent Productions, a small business in its own right since their inception in 1999.
*Please note: If you are a Greek-owned business who won in the Awards, please send us an email to info@foreignlanguage.com.au.
The 2022 Greek Film Festival returns to Leichhardt’s Palace Norton Street Cinema from October 13 – 23 to celebrate the best of contemporary and classic Greek cinema.
Twelve narrative features, three documentaries and the Student Film Festival make up the diverse festival line-up that will transport you to exuberant Athens (Monday), explore generational history (Smyrna) and highlights ambitious, local art (The Greek Bar Jacket).
This year’s festival is dedicated to the 100th Anniversary of the Asia Minor Catastrophe. An event described as ‘changing the face of Modern Greece.’
“We’re thrilled to showcase another eclectic line-up that is just a small sample of the rich stories that hail from Greece,” Festival Chair, Nia Karteris, said.
Opening night film ‘Eftihia.’
“This is not only a celebration of strong, Greek voices from around the world with a program that we know will resonate with, inspire and bring joy to Australian audiences; but also a reflection of the life changing events that shaped and altered many Greek lives.”
Opening and Closing Night:
The festival will open on Thursday, 13 October with Eftihia, which is inspired by the life of lyricist Eftyhia Papagiannopoulou who took risks and vowed to live life on her own terms. Directed by Angelos Frantzis and starring Kariofilia Karabeti, Katia Goulioni, Pigmalion Dadakaridis, Thanos Tokakis and Dina Michailidou, the film celebrates the timeless popular songs of Eftyhia set to music by Tsitsanis, Kaldaras, Ηiotis and Hadjidakis.
Closing the festival on Sunday, October 23 is Gregoris Karantinakis’ Smyrna, which follows Filio, an elderly Greek American woman whose family diary recounts the turbulent history, shaped by international developments, and brings past and present together.
Features:
– DOG (2021): Young Dimitris, on the verge of manhood yet very much a child, has romanticised his absent father to mythic proportions. When his father is finally released from prison, Dimitris’ longing to enjoy some family happiness with him becomes even more intense, but while fighting for everything he wished for, he must face an unprecedented form of violence.
DOG.
– ALL THE PRETTY LITTLE HORSES (2020): In the wake of a disaster, Aliki and her husband Petros take their young son Panagiotis to a provincial seaside town, seeking refuge. Working temporary jobs, Aliki and Petros try to put their lives back together so they can return home to Athens. When Aliki begins to realise that the plan is not working – or worse, may not even exist – the distance between her and Petros begins to grow.
All The Pretty Little Horses.
– APPLES (2020): As an unpredictable, sweeping pandemic causes people to develop sudden amnesia, a man finds himself enrolled in a recovery program designed to help him build a new life. His treatment: performing daily tasks prescribed by his doctors on cassette tape, and capturing these new memories with a Polaroid camera. Greek writer-director Christos Nikou’s debut feature is a surreal and enigmatic work, a beguiling exploration of identity and reality.
Apples.
– BROADWAY (2022): Nelly is escaping from her wealthy and controlling family. As she dances in a strip club, she meets Markos, a small yet charismatic gangster, who soon becomes her protector and lover. He brings her into Broadway, an abandoned entertainment complex in Athens squatted by a small community of dancers, tramps, thieves and a captive monkey. When Markos gets arrested and imprisoned, a mysterious newcomer, wanted dead by Athens’ most dangerous mafia, will take an unexpectedly important place in the gang.
Broadway.
– DODO (2022): In their luxurious villa near Athens, Mariella and Pavlos, a couple on the brink of financial ruin, are about to celebrate the long-awaited wedding of their daughter Sofia to a wealthy heir. Then a dodo, a bird that became extinct 300 years ago, appears on the scene, dragging all the protagonists into absurd situations.
Dodo.
– ECHOES OF THE PAST (2021): A fictional drama inspired by a true event, the massacre committed by invading German troops at Kalavryta, Greece, in December 1943. When the Greek government launches a claim for war reparations, Caroline Martin, a high-flying lawyer, visits Kalavryta to investigate. An unexpected encounter with the last survivor of the tragedy, Nikolaos Andreou, leads them both down a dark chapter of history. As the traumatic past comes to light, its painful echoes grow stronger than ever.
Echoes of the Past.
– EFTIHIA (2019): A film inspired by the life of Eftyhia Papagiannopoulou, a lyricist who created a massive volume of timeless popular songs, set to music by Tsitsanis, Kaldaras, Ηiotis, and Hadjidakis, among others. She travelled from Smyrna to Greece, with only one little pillow clutched between her arms. On board the ship that took her away from her home for ever, she decided she would never let life pass her by. She vowed to live on her own terms. Her name means Happiness but destiny made sure she knew very little of it.
Eftihia.
– FANTASIA (2019): Greece, October, 1993. The Greek Socialist party (PASOK) has just won the elections, television is dominated by trashy entertainment shows, and every night you can escape reality in bouzouki clubs. Fotini, a talented young singer, arrives in Athens to work in one of these. This musical drama captures the sometimes-seedy atmosphere of the 1990s night club scene as it follows Fotini’ s rise to stardom. As her popularity grows, her personal life is shattered, due mostly to the machinations of her jealous elderly mentor, a man she naively trusts.
Fantasia.
– I LOVE GREECE (2022): Jean and Marina, a Franco-Greek couple, are going to Athens for their summer holiday. There they meet up with Marina’s exuberant Greek family and a country in economic crisis. As they prepare to spend a romantic getaway on a small Cyclades Island, Marina’s entire family decides to come along. Nothing will go as planned under the fiery Aegean sun.
I Love Greece.
– MONDAY (2020): Mikey and Chloe, two Americans in their mid-thirties living in Athens, meet in the heat of summer one whirlwind weekend. When Chloe’s time in Greece is drawing to a close, she decides to give up her high-flying job back home and explore whether one weekend’s passion can stand the reality of the inevitable Monday.
Monday.
– SMYRNA (2021): Filio Baltatzi, an elderly Greek American woman, goes to the island of Lesvos to help the refugees. Almost a century earlier, her family had lived on the island when they themselves were refugees, fleeing Smyrna after the destruction of the city. Folio’s grandmother’s diary records the family’s turbulent history, shaped by tragic international developments. Filio is accompanied to Lesvos by her reluctant granddaughter, and different generations of women in the same family come together in space and time, as past and present become one.
Smyrna.
– TAILOR (2020): Α coming-of-old-age story of an eccentric Tailor who doesn’t quite fit into the world and has isolated himself in the attic of the family’s tailoring shop. On the verge of losing everything, he reinvents his life and his craft by creating a tailor shop on wheels. He brings style and confidence to the women of Athens and falls in love for the first time in his 50s.
Tailor.
Documentaries:
– MARKOS (2019): A group of musicians travel to Syros to participate in a tribute to Markos Vamvakaris. In parallel to this journey, composers, musicologists and artists from around the world highlight the musician’s legacy in the 21st century. A documentary on Markos’s influence on the contemporary soundscape both in Greece and the whole of Europe.
Markos.
– SUNDAYS (2020): After thirty years of serving as a Greek Orthodox priest in the US, Tom Avramis decides to leave the priesthood, shocking his tight-knit family and admiring parishioners. When his daughter discovers an old video he made about his life detailing the burdens and secrets he carried, she turns the camera on him, revealing further secrets about her father’s past.
Sundays.
– THE GREEK BAR JACKET(2021): The Greek Bar Jacket offers a unique glimpse into the making of Dior’s emblematic Cruise Show 2022 at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens. The documentary captures how the worlds of haute couture and local folk art come together to produce a highly ambitious runway show, marked by a stunning display of local craftsmanship.
The Greek Bar Jacket.
Festival Details:
What: The 2022 Greek Film Festival Sydney.
When: Thursday 13 October – Sunday 23 October, 2022
The Greek squad for the Rugby League World Cup 2021 in October was announced at a dinner held at The Grand Roxy in Brighton-Le-Sands, Sydney on Wednesday night.
This will be the first ever World Cup for Greece after they qualified in November 2019 when they beat Serbia 82-6 in the European World Cup qualifiers.
The 24-player squad is made up of five Australian NRL players, as well as some players from the Australian junior league and eight domestic players from Greece.
Tables with players from the Greece squad.Photos: The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
They are: Jordan Meads (Captain), Lachlan Ilias, Stefanos Bastas, Nikolaos Bosmos, Terry Constantinou, Jake Kambos, John Mitsias, Nick Mougios, Robert Tuliatu, Sebastian Sell, Chaise Robinson, Kosta Katsidonis, Mitchell Zampetides, Greg Koutsimporgiorgos, Theodoros Nianiakas, Billy Tsikrikas, Adam Vrahnos, Aris Dardamanis, Peter Mamouzelos, Liam Sui Tin, Nick Flocas, Ioannis Rousoglu, Ioannis Nake, Billy Magoulias, and Myles Gal.
The squad will be coached by Steve Georgallis, with the help of assistant coaches, Jim Pizanias and Michalis Chatziinoannou.
They’re all set to play their first match against France on October 17 this year at Eco-Power Stadium in Doncaster, UK, followed by matches against Samoa and England on October 23 and October 29 respectively.
Silent auction on the night. Photo: The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
These announcements were made at a dinner event on Wednesday night in the presence of a number of official guests and prominent rugby league identities such as former Greek Australian NRL players, Braith Anasta and John Skandalis, among many others.
Sydney Rooster Chairman and major sponsor of the Greece squad, Nick Politis, was also present at the event and told The Greek Herald he was looking forward to the upcoming World Cup matches.
Nick Politis. Photos: The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
Mr Politis played a role in influencing the design of Greece’s new World Cup jerseys, as they feature the word ‘Kythera’ in a tribute to the Greek island where Mr Politis was born.
On the night, emcee Doug Keen also brought a number of people to the stage to give a few speeches including Mr Georgallis; Mr Anasta; former rugby player, Nick Kouparitsas; and the Captain of the Greek Women’s Rugby League team, Sam Economos.
Acropolis Now actor, George Kapiniaris, even took to the stage for a small comedy skit before the night closed out with some raffles.
