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The streets of Parramatta are set to come alive as Let’s Go Greek Festival returns

Andriana Simos
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The streets of Parramatta are set to come alive as Let’s Go Greek Festival returns

The Let’s Go Greek Festival in the south west Sydney suburb of Parramatta will return on Sunday, September 11.

Festival organisers have told The Greek Herald they are excited the festival is returning after a two year hiatus due to tough COVID-19 restrictions.

“We’d love everyone to attend. It’s going to be a beautiful day and we’re very excited to host an event for the whole Greek and wider community,” one of the organisers, John Bris, said.

The Let’s Go Greek Festival is set to return in September. Photo: Facebook.

On the day, attendees can expect plenty of Greek music, food and dancing.

A number of favourites are on the agenda including loukoumades and kondosouvli, carnival and donkey rides for the kids, and a market place for people to browse and mingle.

Nikitas Ellenis will be joining Iho Nyx band and Telly and Kosta Benetatos for some live Greek music, whilst there will also be a number of cultural and photography exhibits on display.

On the day, one lucky winner will also be in with a chance to win four return flights to Greece which have been donated by the host of My Greek Odyssey, Peter Maneas.

The City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Donna Davis encouraged everyone to attend this festival this year.

“The City of Parramatta has a long established relation with our Greek community,” the Parramatta Lord Mayor said.

“I encourage everyone to come along to this year’s Let’s Go Greek festival. It’s a celebration of the heritage and culture, energy and warmth of our Greek Australian community.”

‘Go out there to win’: Jaimee Fourlis on her US Open main draw debut

The Greek Herald
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‘Go out there to win’: Jaimee Fourlis on her US Open main draw debut

Jaimee Fourlis is excited ahead of her US Open main draw debut on Wednesday morning against her 23-year-old Chinese opponent Yuan Yue.

In an interview with Tennis Australia, the wildcard entry said she was hoping to draw 23-time Grand Slam champion, Serena Williams, but is still looking forward to her match against Yue.

“It doesn’t really matter who you play. You go out there to win,” Fourlis said.

The young gun has twice previously advanced to the final round in the qualifying competition at the US Open.

Shoulder reconstruction surgery in 2020 put her out of the tennis game for a while, but this season has been a career-best for her.

The Australian Open 2022 mixed doubles finalist has captured three ITF singles titles and built a 42-19 win-loss record. After starting the year ranked No.329, she achieved a new career-high of No.147 in July.

The Melbourne-based athlete now has her sights set on adding the US Open to her list of achievements.

“I think the courts suit me pretty well here. The heat, as well,” Fourlis said about her upcoming match.

“It’s just like back at home in Australia, so I think there are some similarities that play a part in why I do so well.

“I’ve had a lot thrown at me as well, so just to be here and playing the US Open main draw, it’s a pretty cool experience.”

Source: Tennis Australia.

Archbishop Makarios of Australia meets with Ecumenical Patriarch in Constantinople

The Greek Herald
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Archbishop Makarios of Australia meets with Ecumenical Patriarch in Constantinople

Archbishop Makarios of Australia has met with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Constantinople, according to an announcement issued earlier today by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.

In this visit, which remains unknown when it will conclude, the Archbishop is accompanied by Metropolitan Ezekiel of Dervis, Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis and Archdeacon Athenagoras.

On Sunday, the Archbishop served on the throne at the Patriarchal Church of Saint George in Istanbul in the presence of the Patriarch.

Earlier this year, Archbishop Makarios also met with the Patriarch after he joined Australia’s Ambassador to Greece, Arthur Spyrou, during a visit to Constantinople in February.

This visit comes after the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese issued a statement earlier this month saying it would commit to contributing towards “the healing of wounds” caused by the fire at Balıklı Greek Hospital in Istanbul.

Floreat Athena crowned NPL WA Men’s Champions 2022

The Greek Herald
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Floreat Athena crowned NPL WA Men’s Champions 2022

Floreat Athena have secured the National Premier Leagues Western Australia Men’s Premiership with a sensational 3-2 defeat of Armadale SC on Saturday.

Athena took a two-nil lead, thanks to goals from Bayley Brown-Montgomery (7′) and Robert Petkov (21′ pen.).

Armadale came back fighting but Brown-Montgomery was the hero on the day, scoring an incredible stoppage-time winner to give Athena the victory.

Speaking to Perth Football Podcast, Brown-Montgomery said he knew the team would come away with a win.

“Not sounding cocky but I just knew that we would win. I knew that there was no way [we] would let that slip,” he said.

“I just knew that we would win today. Even though the 90th minute I just knew one of us would score.”

Athena captain, Jason Saldaris, said the team were in it to win it and “got the job done.”

Athena’s victory makes it the third Greek-owned football club across Australia to win an NPL Premiership this year after Sydney Olympic FC and South Melbourne FC.

Christos Tsiolkas appointed to expert panel focused on shaping Australia’s ‘cultural policy’

The Greek Herald
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Christos Tsiolkas appointed to expert panel focused on shaping Australia’s ‘cultural policy’

Popular novelist, Christos Tsiolkas, has been appointed by the federal Labor government to help shape Australia’s new ‘cultural policy.’

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Tsiolkas will form part of a seven-person expert advisory group including arts philanthropist Janet Holmes a Court, historian Clare Wright, Australia Council CEO Adrian Collette, writer Alysha Herrmann, choreographer Sinsa Mansell, and visual artist Kitty Taylor.

The group will “provide overarching strategic advice” as it seeks to develop Australia’s new National Cultural Policy.

Christos Tsiolkas.

The new policy will reportedly be based on five pillars including the need for more Indigenous stories, tackling local content quotas, appropriate income for creatives, strengthening cultural institutions, and producing culture that leaves no audience sector behind.

The expert panel will sift through public consultations and 1,200 public submissions to “identify key issues and themes” in the arts sector, before tabling its report by December.

The Federal Government is hoping to have legislation drafted by the first half of 2023.

READ MORE: Greek Australian author Christos Tsiolkas honoured on The List: 100 Arts and Culture 2022.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald.

Newtown staple Steki Taverna to change location after 39 years

Andriana Simos
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Newtown staple Steki Taverna to change location after 39 years

It’s the news no one was expecting – Steki Taverna in Sydney’s inner west suburb of Newtown is changing location after 39 years.

The owner of Steki Taverna, Paul Ioakimidis, made the announcement on Facebook on Sunday, much to the disappointment of Sydney’s Greek and wider community.

In the social media post, Ioakimidis said “all avenues to stay longer” at 2 O’Connell Street in Newtown “have been exhausted and have been unsuccessful.”

Instead, Ioakimidis hinted at a yet-to-be-revealed new location where loyal customers can expect the same live Greek music, dancing, Greek food and filotimo.

The Greek businessman also invited everyone to an “open party” on Monday night at Steki Taverna before its doors were closed for good.

The comment section of the Facebook post have been flooded with messages of support for Ioakimidis and his team, wishing him all the best and expressing their anticipation about the new venue.

“We will follow you wherever you go,” one Facebook user wrote.

“This place has been a Greek institution where so many great nights and memories have been forged,” another added.

Steki Taverna’s history dates back to 1983 when Harry Tambakeras (and his partners) established it for university students to meet and socialise – as the University of Sydney was just down King Street.

Ioakimidis eventually took over ownership and has been at the Newtown location providing patrons with wholesome meals, memorable live entertainment and a welcoming atmosphere ever since.

READ MORE: Vasili’s Taxidi: When Sydney Businesses Become Social Institutions – STEKI Taverna.

Ancient walls around the Acropolis to undergo overdue strategic preservation

The Greek Herald
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Ancient walls around the Acropolis to undergo overdue strategic preservation

The Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports has put forward a ‘Strategic Plan of Interventions’ for the restoration and preservation of the ancient walls surrounding the Acropolis in Athens.

According to an announcement by the Greek Ministry, the strategic plan clarifies the necessary interventions for the ancient walls, the risk in terms of structural stability of each area of the walls, and the conservation status of the stones.

The “complete reconstruction of the promenade” at the Acropolis is also planned in phases.

“The main objective of the Strategic Plan is to create a road map of the necessary interventions to ensure the stability of the wall and highlight its archaeological and historical value,” Greece’s Minister of Culture and Sports, Lina Mendoni, said.

The strategic plan was recently approved by the Central Archaeological Council of Greece and will be funded by the EU Recovery Fund.

A total sum of ten million euros has been allocated for preservation and restoration works on the monuments of the Acropolis.

READ MORE: Tourists flood to Greece with over 16,000 visitors at the Acropolis daily.

Source: Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports.

Greece rejects Turkey’s claims Greek missiles locked on its fighter jets

The Greek Herald
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Greece rejects Turkey’s claims Greek missiles locked on its fighter jets

Turkey’s state-run news agency claimed on Sunday that Greek surface-to-air missiles locked on to Turkish F-16 fighter jets carrying out a reconnaissance mission in international airspace.

Citing Turkish Defence Ministry sources, Anadolu reported that the radar of a Greek S-300 missile system based on the Greek island of Crete locked on to the Turkish jets on August 23.

The F-16s were at an altitude of 10,000 feet to the west of Greece’s Rhodes island when the Russian-made S-300’s target tracking radar locked on, the report added.

The Turkish planes completed their mission and returned to their bases “despite the hostile environment.”

Radar lock-ons are considered an act of hostility under NATO rules of engagement, according to AlJazeera.

Greek defence ministry sources have dismissed the allegations to local media.

“Greece’s S-300 missile system has never put a lock on Turkish F-16 jets,” the sources said, according to state-run ERT television.

“There is a lot of experience in broadcasting fake news from Turkey.”

The allegation is the latest claim from Turkey that its neighbour and fellow NATO member Greece has been targeting its aircraft above the eastern Mediterranean and Aegean Seas.

Just last week, Turkey summoned the Greek military attaché and filed a complaint with NATO after Greek F-16s allegedly harassed Turkish F-16s conducting a mission for the alliance.

READ MORE: Greece requests to buy fighter jets from the US.

Source: AP News.

Evodia Beauty Care wins at the Australian Beauty Industry Awards 2022

Chris Spyrou
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Evodia Beauty Care wins at the Australian Beauty Industry Awards 2022

Greek Australian-owned Evodia Beauty Care in Melbourne’s eastern suburb of Camberwell took out a key award at the illustrious Australian Beauty Industry Awards 2022 (ABIA) on Sunday.

The small business won the Victorian, Tasmanian and South Australian Salon of the Year with four treatment rooms or less.

Speaking exclusively with The Greek Herald, owner Eirini Tzortzis describes the win as “a wonderful surprise” and a “huge honour.”

“It was a very special win for our small business considering the many closures we endured during the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021,” she says.

“I am so very proud of our team for their dedication, hard work and bringing so much passion and care every day to work. We are so proud to represent Camberwell and Victoria on a national stage.”

The ABIA’s provide a benchmark of excellence across both specialist and individual categories in beauty and make-up, with a wide variety of categories highlighting the leaders and experts in their fields.

This year, and before 500 beauty specialists at The Star in Sydney, Eirini’s salon was amongst 44 recipients of an ABIA at the annual gala event.

ABIA 2022 award winners.

Being in the skin and beauty industry for over 18 years, Eirini describes opening Evodia Beauty Care six years ago as a “dream come true”.

“I initially started Evodia in 2016 by renting out a small room at the back of a hair salon,” she says.

“Within a few months the business outgrew the space and then we moved to a larger room at another salon until the business outgrew that space as well. Finally, in 2018 we opened up our current space in Camberwell.”

Owner of Evodia Beauty Care, Eirini Tzortzis at her Camberwell salon. Photo: Supplied to TGH

Founder of ABIA, Linda Woodhead, congratulated Eirini on the win, saying: “Eirini and the Evodia Beauty Care team are the perfect examples of industry leaders and excellent ambassadors for the awards program and local area.”

“The Camberwell community should be so proud of this achievement!” she added.

Whilst Eirini says being recognised by her peers is an incredible honour, nothing can compete with the feeling of empowering her clients.

“We empower our clients to be the best versions of themselves and without them, we wouldn’t be here today. In a big way, we owe this award to them,” she concludes.

*Please note: If you are a Greek-owned business who won in the Awards, please send us an email to info@foreignlanguage.com.au.

‘When I say I’m Greek, I think of Kastellorizo’: Kazzie of the year Lilliane Gomatos

Argyro Vourdoumpa
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‘When I say I’m Greek, I think of Kastellorizo’: Kazzie of the year Lilliane Gomatos

What does being Kastellorizian mean to you?

“Home. When I say I’m Greek, I always think of Kastellorizo,” Lilliane Gomatos who was recently named Kastellorizian of the Year 2022, tells The Greek Herald.

“I was born in Australia, I’m third generation but it was always important to my mother that she embeds the Greek origins and ethnicity into us so we do not forget our roots.”

“I just feel so proud to say that my grandfather came from Kastellorizo,” she tells of her maternal ancestor who migrated to Australia from one of the smallest islands of the Dodecanese in the early 1900s.

In 2019, Gomatos received a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her contribution to multiculturalism and the Greek community and has also been awarded from the Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI) but she says the latest recognition is one she values deeply. 

“I am honoured and humbled. I feel proud that they have chosen me,” she says speaking warmly about her family’s support over the years and her late husband, Theofilos.

“My husband was from Sparta but was converted to a Kastellorizian. He always told people that if they want to relax and enjoy the peace, they should go to the isnland,” she says warmly.

The couple settled in Darwin in 1967 and nearly two decades later Lilliane Gomatos became the first female president of a Greek community in Australia. As president of GOCNA, she assisted with the completion of the Greek Orthodox School’s third stage and the upgrade of the church while she also co-founded the Greek Glenti festival. 

“My husband was emergency captain and when we settled in Darwin, he got involved with the community. He was asked to assist with the Greek consulate, because he was the only one that knew how to do speak the language fluently.

“He was the main reason that I got pulled into community work and I have to say I did enjoy it,” she says.

“Lilliane epitomises the importance of grassroots welfare of Kastellorizians and Greeks in Darwin, personifying the spirit of the original Kazzie philotimo – brotherhood,” reads the announcement shared by the Kastellorizian Association of Victoria (KAV).

The mother of three and grandmother to four says she is committed to instil her passion and values to the future generations. 

We ask her for a piece of advice.

“Just keep going. Never give up on your origins and be proud of your forefathers,” she says.

“Even though we are Australians of Greek origins, we must blend our two ethnicities and instil in them the pride of Greece.”

Lilliane’s achievements will be celebrated at the Kastellorizian of the Year (KOY) Gala Dinner on Saturday 15 October 2022.

READ MORE: Athanasios Avgoustis: The pioneering ethos of the first Kastellorizian to settle in WA

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