Greek Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias, has met separately with Archbishop Makarios of Australia and the President of the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM), Bill Papastergiadis, at his offices in Athens, Greece.
Both meetings were held in the presence of Greece’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Andreas Katsaniotis.
According to a Twitter post, Dendias’ meeting with Mr Papastergiadis focused on the GCM’s activities and the Greek Foreign Ministry’s initiatives “for ongoing support of the Greek community with programmes and upgraded consular services.”
“Mr Dendias was extraordinarily friendly and interested in the activities of the GCM. He was accommodating in making the meeting happen and expressed a desire for further dialogue,” Mr Papastergiadis said in a press release.
Ι met with the Greek Community of Melbourne President, Bill Papastergiadis, in the presence of DFM @katsaniotis. Focus on GCM’s activities and @GreeceMFA initiatives for ongoing support of the 🇬🇷community with programmes & upgraded consular services. pic.twitter.com/9U0sWNcZRH
The GCM President also stressed that he spoke to Dendias about the need additional cooperation and deeper ties between Greece and Australia.
In that regard, Mr Papastergiadis referred to the need for both countries to finalise the double taxation agreement in 2022. Bill also asked for consideration of a bilateral health agreement and to have exchanges of students and academics at university level which hopefully would involve the recognition of degrees in certain fields.
Mr Papastergiadis’ meeting with Dendias comes after the GCM President also met with Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, John Chrysoulakis, and Greek Culture Minister, Lina Mendoni, in Greece earlier this year.
Archbishop Makarios meets with Nikos Dendias.
In his separate meeting with Archbishop Makarios, Dendias discussed “the precious spiritual work of the Archdiocese and its contribution in strengthening relations with the Greek diaspora in Australia.”
Ι met @GreeceMFA, in the presence of DFM @katsaniotis, with His Eminence Makarios Archbishop of Australia, to discuss the precious spiritual work of the Archdiocese & its contribution in strengthening relations with the 🇬🇷 diaspora in 🇦🇺. pic.twitter.com/WHkyljpkqz
During the three day visit, Archbishop Makarios celebrated the marriage of a Greek Australian couple and connected with the over 200 Australians of Kastellorizian heritage who are currently on the island.
105-year-old ANZAC and Battle of Crete veteran, Alf Carpenter, was laid to rest today during an intimate funeral service held in Newcastle.
The service was attended by a number of Alf’s family and close friends, the Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon MP, and representatives from NSW RSL, the Joint Committee for the Commemoration of the Battle of Crete and Greek Campaign, the Cretan Federation of Australia & NZ, the Cretan Association of Sydney & NSW, and AHEPA NSW Inc.
On the day, a special visual presentation of Alf’s life was displayed. This was followed by a tribute from the President of the Cretan Association, Emmanuel Vitetzakis, for Alf’s service to the Battle of Crete and the Greek Campaign.
“We read about Alf since we were children, saw him marching every year on ANZAC Day and he attended countless Battle of Crete commemorations, as many as he could even in his later years when it was extremely difficult to do so,” Mr Vitetzakis said in his tribute.
“In Greek we have a saying ‘Aionia h mnimi’ meaning ‘memory eternal.’ Alf will never be forgotten and his memory will always be eternal… Thank you for your service Alf.”
This tribute was followed by two others from Peter Frame and Darcy Currey, as well as Phil Winney OAM. Mr Winney’s tribute on behalf of the local RSL sub-branch included members of the branch laying poppies on Alf’s casket and then a guard of honour.
A number of wreaths were also laid by some of those in attendance.
Alf was one of Australia’s oldest surviving ANZACs and one of the the last living ANZAC veterans who fought in the Battle of Crete.
“He will be missed by his fellow members of the RSL and we extend our condolences to his family and friends,” the NSW RSL wrote in a Facebook post at the time.
The Greek Herald recently paid a visit to Alf in August this year at his Maroba aged care home in Newcastle, Sydney to witness as he was awarded honourary life membership of the Cretan Association of Sydney & NSW.
At the time, Alf said the award was “an honour” and thanked the Cretan Association for “anointing me as a life member of the wonderful Greeks.”
(L-R) President of the Cretan Association of Sydney & NSW, Terry Saviolakis; Alf Carpenter holding his award; and the Vice President of the Association, Emmanuel Vitetzakis. All photos copyright: The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
Alf always spoke openly about what it was like fighting in the Battle of Crete as a Regimental Sergeant Major of the 2/4th Australian Infantry Battalion.
Alf with a downed German troop carrier in Crete. Source: The Newcastle Herald.
He also praised the Greeks when he said: “The Greek people were delighted to see us there. They gave us every assistance and gave us food like eggs. I got on really well with the Greek people.”
Australia’s Ambassador to the United States, Arthur Sinodinos AO, gave an online briefing about the current political and economic situation in the US to over 100 people from Australia’s business and community groups on Wednesday morning.
During the briefing, which was organised by Business Sydney, Ambassador Sinodinos spoke broadly about the US economy and rising inflation in the country, as well as the upcoming mid-term elections on November 8 this year.
He also touched on the current Ukraine-Russia crisis and how it has led to the “deterioration” of the international strategic environment and rules-based order.
Ambassador Arthur Sinodinos at the online briefing.
“What’s preoccupied the US administration is not only shoring up allies and partners to address the threat that Russia poses in Ukraine, but also thinking through the implications of that for China and our own region,” the Ambassador said.
“These circumstances are bringing Australia and the US closer together. The relationship has always been in pretty good shape but what’s been happening, particularly in recent times, has meant that our levels of cooperation and how we work together is increasing at a pace I haven’t seen in a very long time.”
Ambassador Spyrou then listed a number of areas where the US and Australia have strengthened their cooperation including with the AUKUS and ANZUS agreements, as well as the QUAD security partnership in the Indo Pacific, and in the areas of emerging technologies and strong supply chains.
Fantastic to be at the launch of 🇦🇺 company @TritiumCharging manufacturing facility in Tennessee. Tritium is spearheading the transition to electric vehicles with its fast charging stations taking Australian innovation to the world pic.twitter.com/xsLLABGzIf
“These are concrete illustrations of where I think Australia can have a strategic advantage in the US and then that builds on other advantages that we have,” he continued.
“Don’t underestimate Australian innovation, science and research. We punch above our weight internationally.
“The great advantage of doing stuff in the US is they have the deepest and most liquid capital pools in the world so it’s a great source of investment for bringing together Australian ideas and US resources.”
During question time, the Australian Ambassador was asked to elaborate on these issues and was also questioned about the current US stance on the Cyprus issue to which he replied: “I don’t get the impression it’s an issue the US itself is directly wanting to intervene in at the moment.”
Year 6 students from St Euphemia College in Sydney’s south-western suburb of Bankstown met with the Federal Minister for Education and Youth, Jason Clare MP, at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday while on school camp.
“When Lismore South Public School’s library was destroyed in the floods, students at St Euphemia College Bankstown decided to raise funds to send them a shipping container converted into ‘A Library of Resources’,” the Minister wrote.
“It was great to catch up with these fantastic students in Parliament House today.”
Speaking with The Greek Herald in May this year, the students said the $30,000 fundraising project would see a metallic shipping container converted into a mobile library of resources and functional classroom that will then be donated to the flood-ravaged school in regional New South Wales.
“We’re going to fill it up with books and also pack it with desks, stationery, whiteboards, laptops and anything else the school might have lost in the floods,” year 7 student, Irini Ifandoudas, said at the time.
WATCH St Euphemia College’s Director of Learning, Mr Matthew Panayotopoulos, explain how the Library for Lismore came to be
Since then, the students have worked tirelessly to raise funds, through various at-school initiatives like lemonade stands, bake sales and crazy hair days, as well as through reaching out to community members and organisations.
Having secured generous donations from organisations like McDonald’s, Entertainment Park, First Education and AFL team GWS Giants, the college’s Director of Learning, Mr Matthew Panayotopoulos, said they are well and truly on the way to “meeting and beating the $30,000 target.”
“This project is incredibly exciting because it’s teaching our kids that whenever they see injustice or inequality, they have the power to fix it,” Mr Panayotopoulos told The Greek Herald.
“Helping Lismore South is just the beginning.”
Pointing to the student’s meeting with Mr Clare on Tuesday, Mr Panayotopoulos said it was a validating experience for the children.
“Mr Clare was inspired by the students’ philanthropy and acknowledged their leadership to be changemakers,” he concluded.
“We all left feeling blessed knowing we live in a democratic society where the voices of children are received with genuine warmth and heedfulness.”
Before a vocal New York crowd unmistakably in his corner, Nick Kyrgios has been defeated by bitter rival Karen Khachanov 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4 in the US Open quarter finals.
The Aussie tennis sensation lost the highly anticipated face-off in a nail-biting five-set final at Flushing Meadows.
Despite complaining of injury after his first set loss, the 27-year-old went on to win the second, squaring the match at one set all.
By the time the match had ticked over into its third hour, the Russian had fought back, claiming the third set 7-5.
In a fourth set that went to a tie-break, Kyrgios emerged victorious forcing a fifth set decider in which his Russian rival won with two games in hand.
The rivalry between the two US Open quarter-finalists runs back to a 2020 Twitter feud in which Kyrgios called Khachanon an “absolute pelican”.
The pair have only faced off on court twice, once in 2019 at the Cincinnati Open in which Khachanov won and in 2020 at the Australian Open, where Kyrgios won on home soil.
After today’s showstopping match, Khachanov will be advancing toSaturday’s semi-final against Norway’s Casper Ruud, who defeated Italy’s Matteo Berrettini earlier in the day.
Greece has clinched the top spot in Group C of the 2022 EuroBasket after defeating Ukraine 99-79 this morning in Milan.
Giannis Antetokounmpo personally delivered a 7-0 start and his absence was notable when Ukraine made their first significant charge taking a 25-23 lead early in the second quarter.
By halftime, Greece was trailing with the scoreline standing at 46-39.
It was here that Greece’s head coach, Dimitrios Itoudis, returned The Greek Freak to the court.
Down 49-43 in the third quarter, Antetokounmpo scored 13 successive points in a burst that turned the game on its head.
Across the entirety of the game, Giannis scored 41 points, the most by a player in a single EuroBasket game since Dirk Nowitzki’s 43 in 2001. When he heard that stat, all he did was nod.
Nick Calathes had 13 points and seven assists for Greece, while Tyler Dorsey added another 13 points.
This morning’s comeback, led by the Milwaukee Bucks star, toppled Ukraine’s undefeated status, cementing Greece’s position in the Group C top spot with a chance to end this phase unbeaten by beating Estonia on Friday.
President of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Ersin Tatar, has accused the Greek Cypriot community of attempting to turn Cyprus into a “Greek island”
Speaking during an occasion at the OSTIM university in Ankara, Tatar said there are two separate peoples residing in Cyprus and that he will not allow the country to become a “Greek island”.
The Turkish Cypriot leader reiterated that a solution to the Cyprus issue can only be reached within a framework which reflects the independence of the Turkish Cypriot people based on equality.
“If there is to be an agreement in Cyprus, then it must be on the basis of cooperation of the two independent peoples who can live side by side,” Tatar said.
As part of his visit to Turkey, Tatar also met with members of the Turkish military, who he claimed carried out a “peace operation” in Cyprus in 1974.
Speaking later in the day, Tatar said that he will not meet with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades at the United Nations General Assembly in New York next Tuesday.
President Nicos Anastasiades (L) and Ersin Tatar (R) at an informal gathering hosted by the newly appointed Head of Mission of the UN Force in Cyprus, Colin Stewart at the UN Buffer Zone of Nicosia in December 2021.
“He will not be a presidential candidate in February, so there is no point for us to meet,” Tatar said.
Commenting on Tatar’s statement, President Anastasiades said he would continue to fight for the reunification of Cyprus until the last day of his presidency.
“My own programme, my own efforts do not depend in any way depend on Mr Tatar’s opinions.”
Greece’s Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias met with his French counterpart, Catherine Colonna in Athens on Tuesday.
During Colonna’s first official visit to Athens, Dendias referred to the recent threats coming from Ankara stating that Turkey wants “to turn back the clock of history and to revive the Ottoman Empire.”
“Turkey’s statements and actions are unacceptable and reprehensible. But, we are not deterred. Nor are we afraid. We have faced far more serious threats in our history,” he said.
“We reject neo-Ottoman bullying. We will not get caught up in this delirium,” he said.
During her visit to Turkey the previous day, Colonna met with Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, telling him that there should be no escalation.
“I fully share the position you expressed to our Turkish counterpart,” Dendias said.
Colonna said France’s position remains unchanged, with the nation continuing to be “supportive” when it comes to attacks on Greek sovereignty.
The meeting comes as Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, repeated a threat that Turkey will “come down suddenly one night” on the Greek islands, during his official visit to Bosnia yesterday.
Referring to the rising tensions over Greek sovereignty of the Aegean islands, Erdogan said: “these islands have military bases and if the illegal threats continue, there will be an end to patience.”
Bugün Bosna-Hersek’te bir yeni adım attık. Artık Türkiye’den Bosna-Hersek’e, Bosna-Hersek’ten Türkiye’ye kimlik kartıyla seyahat yapılabilecek. Hayırlı, uğurlu olsun. 🇹🇷🇧🇦 pic.twitter.com/R5NwAiNsCQ
Just last week, Turkey’s Foreign Minister wrote to all EU capitals, accusing Greece of engaging in “unlawful actions” and making “maximalist demands” in the Aegean.
In the September 1 letter, Cavusoglu stated Greece is violating “the non-military status of the Eastern Aegean Islands,” whilst questioning the width of territorial waters and national airspace that Greece is claiming.
“Greece claims to have 10 nautical miles of airspace despite the width of the territorial waters in the Aegean being 6 nautical miles,” he wrote.
“Greece is the only country in the world which has non-overlapping territorial waters and airspace borders that are not recognized by any other country.”
He went on to describe Ankara as pro-dialogue and Athens as “avoiding dialogue and escalating tensions.”
Content d’accueillir mon homologue @MinColonna. ⁰Les différences de vue n’empêchent pas de coopérer. ⁰Nous avons fait part des attentes des communautés turque&musulmane en 🇫🇷 & questions de visas. ⁰Nous avons discuté les développements régionaux, en particulier l’Ukraine.🇹🇷🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/zjCSDspdvO
Back in Athens, the French Foreign Minister also met with Greece’s Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, where she was provided an update on Turkey’s aggressive rhetoric.
Mitsotakis said Turkey’s actions were causing tension, whilst undermining security and stability in the region.
Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic FC was taught a harsh lesson in the opening round of the 2022/23 Champions League this morning, being defeated 3-0 by Real Madrid FC at Celtic Park in Glasgow.
Real Madrid, who are the defending European champs, scored two quickfire goals and then later a third to claim their win in the highly anticipated clash.
Despite the loss, Postecoglou made history this morning as he became the first Australian to coach in the UEFA Champions League.
Their victory was not without challenge with Postecoglou’s side serving up multiple first-half scares, namely that of Callum McGregor who unleashed a 21st-minute left-footed strike from 18-yards out, as assisted by Giorgos Giakoumakis, rattling the visitors’ post.
It was shortly after in the 30th minute that the Spanish team suffered a major blow, losing star striker Karim Benzema to a knee injury.
Nevertheless, Real Madrid entered the second half unrattled, firing off two quick goals from Vinicius Junior in the 56th minute and Luka Modric in the 60th.
3 minutes and 49 seconds between Real Madrid’s first and second goal this evening…
Their third goal was secured with brilliance some 18 minutes later, by Eden Hazard.
Former Scotland forward James McFadden said on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Listen to this place, they’re losing 3-0 and singing for the manager. That’s the appreciation the Celtic fans have for tonight.”
“Celtic created good chances, particularly in the first half. The crowd have stayed behind to show support for the team and the job the manager has done. The club is going in the right direction,” he added.
Ange Postecoglou and a fan 🍀
An Aussie coaching against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
In his post-match interview, Postecoglou said he was “obviously disappointed in the outcome.”
“The first goal was always going to be important and up until that point, I thought we were well into the game, if anything we had the better chances,” he said.
“Once the goal went in … we tried to press on and again they were able to exploit the spaces we left.
“You learn at this level that if you don’t take your chances you’ll be punished.”
Speaking on Celtic FC more generally, he said: “This is a special football club.. the responsibility lies on me to get this football club to the level it deserves to be.”
One of the most popular and successful Greek rock groups with three gold and five platinum albums, with ensuing acclaim internationally, including sold out shows in the UK and packed venues in the USA – Pyx Lax, are coming to Australia!
They formed in 1989 in Athens, Greece and went on to become a huge success in the ’90s and 2000s (with a break in between). Today’s (since 2018) line up, includes the two original founding members, Mr Filippos Pliatsikas and Mr Babis Stokas; as well as the talented musicians: Alekos Kourtis – drums, Nikos Saltas – keyboards, Vaggelis Markantonis – bass guitar and mandolin, Harris Mihaelidis – guitar, and Eleftheria Nathanael – accordion.
I spoke to Filippos Pliatsikas a few days ago. From the perspective of a Greek Australian though, the group’s Australian tour led me into a bit of a personal retrospective ‘tour’ related to Pyx Lax, during my time in Greece as a teenager from 1984 -1987 and onward.
Pyx Lax.
There was a vibrant music scene in the working class, western Athenian suburb of Agioi Anargiri where I lived. At our small local square, teenagers with their own bands, payed homage to their music heroes who they related to through themes including social injustice, romantic love (lived, sought and/or lost). They were inspired by bands such as Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, but also by Greek rockers such as Vasilis Papakonstantinou and the Brothers Katsimiha. This music scene pulled at my own working class, Greek Australian migrant girl sensibilities.
It was from this inspired scene that Pyx Lax formed. In fact, quite a few of my teenage friends were friends and even early members of Pyx Lax, as the band hail from Agioi Anargiri and neighbouring Menidi. From here too hails Manos Xydous, their now deceased (2010), extremely influential, initial promoter and then-member.
Pyx Lax band members.
Pyx Lax’s popularity was peaking around 1994 and while on a then-trip to Greece, I heard a few of their songs and felt a jolt. I remember being impressed and thinking “this band is special.”
In 2001, after having moved to Greece, a few cousins and friends told me that we should go see Pyx Lax as they were performing in our local ‘hood. It was at a dark, smoky club with table seating. The voices of Filippos Pliatsikas and Babis Stokas were to me, on par with that of my rock god David Coverdale – whose voice has been described as dark, chocolatey velvet! Their singing against the backdrop of the musicians playing sublimely, seemed to connect with our souls. Our eyes watered over ‘I Palies Agapes Pane sto Paradeiso’ (Old Loves Go to Heaven). We still talk about this show today!
Pyx Lax performing.
Pyx Lax are a permanent icon now in Greece. Their name produces smiles at its mere mention by my generation (I’m 55), but also by many older than me, and by my youngest 23 year old son’s generation – and beyond.
Filippos notes smiling, “We have 4 generations of fans. It always amazes me when the youngest ones enthusiastically mouth our songs off by heart, almost conspiratorially, like they’re part of a krifo scholio (an underground school)!”
Their ballads (as my son noted), are especially superb – haunting, moving, otherworldly but also visceral. Their entire repertoire has always been original, daring and successful even in its more experimental forms, attracting respect for and subsequent collaboration with big names in music like Haris Alexiou, Dallaras, Karras, etc in Greece, to names like Sting, Eric Burdon, etc.
In spite of Pyx Lax’s busy schedule, Filippos Pliatsikas graciously agreed on behalf of, and in consultation with the rest of the band, to speak with me.
Included in my discussion with him, I intended to refer to whether he knows about the Greek Australian migration experience of our parents generation, and if he understands that we, 2nd (and 3rd) generation Greek Australians love our Greece – although usually mainly for holidays; yet for its ‘warmth’ in all respects.
I wanted to tell him how many of us feel we consecutively belong and don’t belong in both Greece and Australia, and how Pyx Lax coming makes us feel elated, proud and even united. A piece of our Greece, our generation’s Greece – great musicians with music influences, we Greek Australians also relate to. I intended on thanking Pyx Lax – for soothing my soul- for helping me to connect; to not feel alone through their blissful music.
Unsurprisingly, in our discussion, Filippos related to all these things!
Manos and Fillipos.
“We grew up as you know, in working class suburbs…” he starts to explain.
I interject, adding that I’m aware that his best friend since he was 8 years old, and subsequent other founding member Babis Stokas, was born in Germany as a child of migrant Greek parents working there, and didn’t come to Greece until he was 11.
Filippos nods and continues: “We embody and express our upbringing and life from our working class environment. We weren’t outside observers, like political commentators. Our songs come from the heart and gut, as a parea, a group of friends, playing music.”
I ask about Pyx Lax’s relationship with Greek music.
“We grew up absorbing, perhaps subconsciously, Greek music in our homes; our parent’s laika (popular music of that era). Tsitsanis, Dionisiou etc. so it’s inevitable that our music always contains elements of Greek music.”
It’s this “innate” intertwining of Greek and Anglo, of old and new music, that makes Pyx Lax so popular, apart from an integral heartfelt interpretation of their music. This is the Pyx Lax magic. Being true to themselves first, which translates outwards weaving itself into the souls of their audiences.
Pyx Lax on stage.
“The audience get it. They feel it. They pick up on the genuineness, unaffected by much of the toxicity of this era – where the real, the beautiful is often distorted,” Filippos philosophically adds, with a sparkle in his eye.
“Authenticity, the truth, can’t be hidden from the audience. Musicians including singers, who are only in it for commercial success, don’t last very long. People know. That’s why we have a special relationship with people who listen to our music.”
And a message for the young, as Babis Stokas has expressed, and Filippos voices: “Life’s difficulties are part of standing on your own two feet. Don’t expect help. Our ‘weapon’ and balm, was music.”
Pyx Lax are sure to ‘blow us away’ as well as soothe, with their Australian shows. AUSTRALIA AWAITS!
