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George Kambosos Jr world title rematch to be held in Melbourne on October 16

The Greek Herald
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George Kambosos Jr world title rematch to be held in Melbourne on October 16

George Kambosos Jr has confirmed his world title rematch against Devin Haney will be held on Sunday, October 16 at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena.

The rematch comes after Haney (28-0) beat Kambosos (20-1) via unanimous decision on June 5 before a Victoria-record boxing crowd of 41,129.

It was there, in Melbourne’s Marvel stadium, that Haney neutralised the previously unbeaten Kambosos and became the undisputed world lightweight champion.

Speaking of the June world-title fight at a press conference today, Kambosos said “some mistakes were made” but he’s “blessed to be back.”

George Kambosos Jr and father Jim Kambosos at today’s press conference at Melbourne Park. Photo: Chris Spyrou / The Greek Herald

“Devin’s a good fighter, he’s a good champion and I look forward to testing my skills,” Kambosos said.

“There are a lot of people who are not excited about the rematch but as a former champion, as a fighter, how could I pass up on this opportunity?

Haney defeated Kambosos Jr in June at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium. Photo: Chris Spyrou / The Greek Herald

“I want to be the best role model for my three kids so I had to take this rematch and I’m very excited for October 16.”

In recent months, boxing fans have called for the rematch title fight to be held in Sydney but Kambosos said today that he can’t wait to fight on a new stage at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

“Rod Laver is going to be beautiful. It’s a beautiful arena… 15 – 16,000 people. It’s going to be jam packed. It will be a total different atmosphere. This is a colosseum and you know, the underdog is back.”

Speaking with The Greek Herald, Kambosos sent a message of thanks to his Greek supporters.

“Regardless of wins and losses they’ll still be there, they’ll still be supporting and they wont be off a bandwagon – that’s real fans, that’s real love there,” he said.

“They make me very proud. They lift our nation and I know they’re going to be here … you’re going to be able to hear them, every roar its going to be there.”

Also in attendance at today’s press conference was fellow Greek Australian and the Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos.

“With almost half of the crowd from the first fight hailing from outside Victoria, we look forward to welcoming boxing fans back to Melbourne to watch what will be an epic rematch,” Mr Dimopoulos said.

“We’re delivering a spectacular calendar of the biggest and best events – drawing more visitors to Victoria, more often and supporting businesses across the state.”

Kambosos speaking with the Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos after today’s press conference. Photo: Chris Spyrou / The Greek Herald

For his part, Haney said he has “a lot of respect” for Kambosos and he’s happy to be returning to Melbourne to defend his lightweight belt.

“I look forward to putting on another great performance and show how much I’ve improved since the last fight,” the American boxer said.

READ MORE: George Kambosos Jr: ‘Raising both flags on the world stage is a true honour’.

NSW Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis to retire after over a decade in politics

The Greek Herald
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NSW Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis to retire after over a decade in politics

NSW Nationals MP, Chris Gulaptis, has announced his intention to retire in a statement after more than a decade in state parliament.

Mr Gulaptis said the decision to not seek re-election for the seat of Clarence at the next state election in March 2023 was “exceptionally difficult,” but it has been “an absolute honour” to help improve the lives of people in regional NSW.

“I have given everything I have to this role – my heart, my energy, my passion – and whilst there have been some turbulent times, I have loved every minute of it,” the Nationals MP said.

“That said, I feel now is the right time to retire. Now is the time for renewal and for someone else to take my place.”

Mr Gulaptis first entered politics in November 2011 and in his inaugural speech to NSW Parliament at the time, he explained how he never imagined becoming an MP would be in “his destiny” as a young boy growing up in Perth in the 1960s with Greek migrant parents.

“It was during my early years working as a graduate surveyor in the eastern goldfields of Western Australia that I came to love the honesty of the bush — both the people and the landscape,” Mr Gulaptis explained.

Since then, Mr Gulaptis has served as a parliamentary secretary for key portfolio areas affecting the regions including Agriculture, Forestry, Regional Roads and Regional Planning.

In 2020, he created chaos within the Coalition when he threatened a move to the crossbench to protest against a new koala protection policy.

Chris Gulaptis.

Mr Gulaptis is also credited with the construction of a second Grafton bridge and securing the funding for the construction of Australia’s largest prison under his watch.

In his statement, the Clarence MP thanked his family, friends and the people of his electorate for supporting him over the years.

“You have been my driving force and have inspired me to serve you every day and for that I will be eternally grateful,” he said.

NSW Deputy Premier, Paul Toole, thanked Mr Gulaptis for his service.

“His legacy will be evident for decades to come for anyone driving along the North Coast — an upgraded Pacific Highway that has saved hundreds of lives,” Mr Toole said.

“And better health facilities, including securing funding for a major redevelopment of the Grafton Base Hospital.”

The Legislative Assembly District of Clarence has 57,016 electors and occupies an area of 13,492 square kilometres. It includes the city of Grafton and the major towns of Yamba and Casino.

Source: ABC News.

Energy cooperation the focus of Greek PM’s first meeting with Emir of Qatar

The Greek Herald
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Energy cooperation the focus of Greek PM’s first meeting with Emir of Qatar

Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said on Monday during his first official visit to Qatar that Greece wants to boost ties and expand energy cooperation with the Middle Eastern country.

Mitsotakis made this statement during a meeting with the Emir of Qatar, Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

According to a press release by the Greek PM’s office, the two leaders ascertained during the meeting a common intent to deepen cooperation in the energy sector, as well as in tourism, infrastructure, agriculture, culture, sports and science.

On the topic of energy cooperation, Mitsotakis noted that Greece could serve as a bridge between Qatar and Europe, as an entry point for energy to the European market, both via the Revythoussa station and Alexandroupolis.

Mitsotakis and Sheik Tamim also discussed current regional developments, with the Greek PM stressing that a climate of stability must prevail in the wider region, with the avoidance of actions that undermined peace during the upheaval caused by the war in Ukraine.

Mitsotakis pointed out that Greece was a reliable partner and a pillar of stability in the region, while informing the Emir that Greece had officially graduated from the enhanced surveillance regime on August 20, as well as pointing to the many investment opportunities in the country.

“We invite our Qatari friends to explore and evaluate the existing promising investment opportunities [in Greece],” the Greek PM said during the meeting.

The Greek Prime Minister also congratulated the Emir on hosting the 2022 FIFA World Championship in Qatar in November, and accepted an invitation to visit Qatar again during the championship competition.

Source: AMNA.

‘Write what you know’: Danielle Stamoulos’ Greek heritage inspires her creative works

Eleni Patsalides
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‘Write what you know’: Danielle Stamoulos’ Greek heritage inspires her creative works

Danielle Stamoulos has had a long-lasting relationship with film – one that started from young and has transformed into an impressive career full of acting, producing and writing roles.

The multi-talented Greek Australian talks to The Greek Herald about her journey to film and how growing up Greek in Australia paved a path for her in acting and inspired some of her upcoming creative works.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Danielle Despina Stamoulos. I’m an actor and writer across Film/TV and theatre. I went to acting school a while ago now and recently completed a Masters of Screenwriting at Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS).

My family are from Samos originally and they migrated here back in the 1960s, like every other immigrant. Without their sacrifices of course I wouldn’t be able to stubbornly pursue a career in storytelling. When I’m not acting on stage or in front of the camera, I’m often working various jobs in my industry, obsessively writing and working on my own projects. I’m very grateful right now that I’m able to do that and be constantly in collaboration with other really exciting talent in my industry, people I really admire. 

What led you to film?  

Well, I can say I’ve always had the love for it since a young girl, especially reading or watching hopelessly romantic Baz Luhrmann or period drama films on repeat – an unhealthy attachment I still have. I can say that acting led me to film first and foremost.

I grew up very performer/arts focused. I went to Newtown Performing Arts for Drama, was a lover of plays and then got into ACA (drama school), worked in independent theatre and it was only until recently things started to really flow for me behind the camera as well. A lot of the jobs I was getting in recent times were in writing and Film/TV development.

How do you portray the Greek Australian experience through your work?

My Greek Australian experience is always informing my work, it’s hard for it not to. It’s one that is a lot more complex, intersectional and no doubt different to my parents or grandparents’ experiences. Honestly, I believe that my Greek Australian experience always straddles a tension between inheriting the stories, fears, conservative traditions and triumphs of my ancestors.

It has been a challenging journey of trying to both liberate myself from it, as well as embrace it. As an artist, I get to redefine my own path and what “being Greek” means to me. I made a personal commitment to myself that I would continue to explore what this means in brave ways in my creative work. 

How has your Greek heritage influenced your work?

It’s been a massive influence! People always say ‘write what you know.’ I’ve done that, I am doing that, writing my own Greek Australian feminine experience through story. It’s been a challenging but enriching experience so far. I often like to confront a lot of taboos. Also, what it means to carry the fears, traumas and struggles of the women before us in our family.  

But I realised something a while ago now. It’s not enough to just ‘write what you know.’ I once got taught in an acting class by the well-known film director George Ogilvie (sadly passed now), that I have to look back to my ancestors. He told me that’s where I will find my voice. So, I did, and a world of forgotten stories opened up to me when I discovered my grandmothers’ stories of survival, oppression and hardship. At times extremely heartbreaking. I also observed my sister, my mother and other Greek women in my family and what they were experiencing. By looking back and discovering ‘what I didn’t know,’ I realised I wanted to shine a light on womens’ voices unheard of and unseen.

I usually also look to Greek mythology and the feminine myths in them. I’m inspired by their challenging stories of female silence, transformation, oppression, love, sex, rage, the whole Greek lot! It’s influenced the way I work because I’m always looking to liberate those stories from their oppressive frameworks and find new but relevant ways to tell them, that can still relate to our modern struggles today, specifically for women. Themes in my writing work are often circulating around self-determination, flawed female friendships, defiance against oppressive systems, sexuality and what it means to inherit patterns from women before you. I really love this quote I heard once which was “you don’t live a life, you live a pattern.”   

What’s next for you?

I recently made a soon-to-be released short film which was inspired by a Greek myth, and also combines the story of my grandmother’s experience in proxenio, and the experiences of Greek promised brides that were engaged to Greek men in Australia via photographs in the 1960s.

I also am busy continuing to develop a digital supernatural cringe comedy series called Curse of the Virgin with co-producer Nicole Delprado and also Executive Producers Barry Gamba and Bec Bignell. I was also fortunate enough to recently work with the screen and stage company Co-Curious, supported by a Netflix Creative Equity Fund that supports underrepresented writers, to develop my own original comedy-fantasy series. There’s a lot going on but I’m very grateful! I get to continue to hone my craft and storytelling sensibility. 

Dracopoulos family hit hard by closure of only aged care home in remote NSW town

The Greek Herald
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Dracopoulos family hit hard by closure of only aged care home in remote NSW town

As the regional aged care system in New South Wales buckles under a lack of funding and increased demand, many elderly residents are being forced out of towns they’ve called home for their entire lives.

Arthur Dracopoulos’ 94-year-old mum, Helen, is one of these residents.

According to The Daily Telegraph, Helen was forced to move out of the only aged care home in the remote southern NSW town of Bombala, after aged care provider Southern Cross closed the facility earlier this year.

The closure meant Helen had to move from her hometown of nearly 60 years to an aged care home more than an hour away at Pambula.

Arthur’s wife, Dina, told the newspaper that the swift closure of the facility had a “devastating” impact on the families in Bombala.

The Dracopoulos family have been hit hard by closure of only aged care home in remote NSW.

“I can’t complain about the care, but she’s dying of loneliness,” Dina said. “It’s just devastating. They’ve literally been torn from their homes.”

A year before Bombala’s closure, Southern Cross also withdrew from Harden in the state’s west.

NSW Regional Health Minister, Bronnie Taylor, said the closures at Bombala and Harden pointed to a worsening health crisis in the bush.

The latest statistics from NSW Health show that in regional NSW hospitals 511 patients are waiting for either aged care or NDIS accommodation, while in the last year the number of elderly people on the waiting list for aged care places has tripled.

A spokesman for the Federal Minister Aged Care, Anika Wells, told The Daily Telegraph that the government is “determined to put care back into aged care, particularly in regional areas.”

Source: The Daily Telegraph.

‘Making a difference’: Day in the life of a NZ man’s firefighting efforts in Greece

The Greek Herald
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‘Making a difference’: Day in the life of a NZ man’s firefighting efforts in Greece

Fixed-wing agricultural pilot from New Zealand, Simon Pemberton, has opened up about what it’s like fighting wildfires during Greece’s summer season.

In an interview with stuff.co.nz, Simon detailed how he operates a fleet of aircraft specialising in aerial firefighting at a Hellenic Airforce base off Almiros.

“We are basically on standby from daylight to dark, with a contractual requirement to be airborne within 20 minutes of a call,” Simon told the website, adding that the crew sits within 20 metres of the planes in air conditioned huts.

Simon Pemberton.

“When fire conditions are considered serious enough, we are sent on a patrol to actively look for fire or be in the vicinity if one is reported.”

Simon is in Greece on a NATO contract as part of the organisation’s Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). The NSPA has deployed 40 aircraft to assist Greece with their wildfires in 2022.

One wildfire Simon recalled vividly was on the Greek island of Lesvos this year, which burned more than 3000 hectares and destroyed several buildings and houses.

A firefighter tries to extinguishes a forest fire near the beach resort of Vatera, on the eastern Aegean island of Lesvos, Greece, Saturday, July 23, 2022. Photo: AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis.

The pilot said he was “pretty stoked” when his crew didn’t allow any of the little churches dotted across the island’s hills to burn.

“That definitely makes you feel you are making a difference as you fly past a little white church with a terracotta roof, and it’s burnt to within five metres and survived,” Simon said.

And what of the Greek people?

Simon said: “they are amazing, huge fans of New Zealand and Australian people” due to the Anzac efforts during World War II amongst other things.

READ MORE: ‘We have support from local communities’: Australian crews continue to fight wildfires in Greece.

Source: stuff.co.nz.

‘Best father in the world’: Tributes flow for Queensland business legend Jim Samios

The Greek Herald
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‘Best father in the world’: Tributes flow for Queensland business legend Jim Samios

Tributes have flowed for Queensland business icon and community leader, Jim Samios, following his death this month at the age of 88.

According to The Courier Mail, Jim first migrated to Australia from Greece in 1951 and set up Belle Vue Cafe in Warwick in 1956.

Jim ran the café for a quarter of a century before establishing his second Palmerin Street business -Samios Mini Mart, which remains open to this day.

Jim Samios started Samios Mini Mart in Warwick City.

When he wasn’t working on the business, the Greek migrant was also known for his community work at The Lions Club of Warwick for three terms, the former Warwick Skillshare organisation and the Warwick RSL Memorial Club. In 2004, Jim received a Medal of the Order of Australia for his contributions to the community.

Jim’s son, George Samios, remembered him for his kindness and generous spirit towards all those who knew him.

“He was the best father in the world,” George told The Courier Mail.

Graham Buchner with Jim and George Samios. Photo: Deanna Millard/Warwick Daily News.

“He loved to have all the dinner parties and he was a real social butterfly. He loved cooking Greek food for everyone, and he would always say, ‘When can we have the next one?’.”

Fellow Queensland business icon, Danny Lyons, who is immortalised alongside Jim in the Legends Laneway beside Warwick Town Hall, also remembered the Greek businessman’s warm presence.

“He’s been a stalwart of the community for many years. He was a great icon of business in Warwick, and he did a lot of good in our community,” Lyons said.

Jim is survived by his children George and Katrina, their respective partners Therese and Phillip, his grandchild Chrysanthe, and extended family and friends in both Queensland and Greece.

Source: The Courier Mail.

Athens Mayor meets Ukrainian President and pledges to help rebuild cities

The Greek Herald
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Athens Mayor meets Ukrainian President and pledges to help rebuild cities

The Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis, visited Kyiv in Ukraine on Friday and met with Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the city’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko.

Bakoyannis was in Kyiv as part of a delegation of other European mayors and during his visit, he signed a memorandum of cooperation with the aim of sustainably rebuilding Ukrainian cities damaged by Russian attacks.

The agreement provides for a specific cooperation plan to cover all reconstruction needs and is an initiative of the Eurocities network, in which Athens participates.

The signing of the memorandum. Photo: Facebook.

After the signing, President Zelenskyy, thanked the Mayors for their support of Ukraine.

“I appreciate your support in our struggle for national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Ukrainian President said.

“When we talk about aid and support – humanitarian, military, political – it is also important not to forget the help in rebuilding our cities and communities. And it is important that reconstruction begins not after the war but now.”

For his part, Bakoyannis stressed that the reconstruction of Ukraine is an obligation of the entire democratic world.

“Ukraine’s reconstruction is a long process that must begin today. The democratic world should be ready to support this marathon with strong will and determination,” the Athens Mayor said.

“Athens, with all its strength, will be part of the common European effort to rebuild Ukrainian cities and support the friendly Ukrainian people.”

After the memorandum signing, Bakoyannis joined the other European mayors as they visited the Ukrainian cities of Borodianka, Buka and Irpin.

Bakoyannis also met with the Mayor of Kyiv and with the charge d’affaires of Greece in Kyiv, Manolis Androulakis.

READ MORE: Greece to send tanks to Ukraine under German deal .

Source: newsbulletin247.com.

Greece finally rid of EU economic surveillance but inflation, energy woes continue

The Greek Herald
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Greece finally rid of EU economic surveillance but inflation, energy woes continue

The “enhanced surveillance” of Greece by European Union creditors came to a formal end on Saturday after 12 years.

Greece was granted billions of euros in three successive bailouts after 2010, when Athens lost access to international bond markets after admitting it had misreported key financial data.

The country had been in enhanced surveillance status since 2018, when its third bailout program ended.

Greece’s Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, hailed the end of this economic surveillance as “a historic day” for the country and “for all Greeks.”

“The country can now look forward to a new, clean horizon… one of development, unity and prosperity for all,” Mitsotakis said in a video address.

But challenges remain.

Although Greece has returned to international bond markets, its credit rating remains below investment grade, which raises its borrowing costs and precludes many potential investors from buying Greek bonds. 

Inflation also hit 11.6% in July, down slightly from an earlier three-decade high but still higher than the 19-country euro area’s 8.9%.

While state subsidies are cushioning households and businesses from mounting energy bills for now, prices of gas, fuel and power are expected to rise further in the winter, like the rest of Europe.

Plus, unemployment in Greece was nearly 15% last year and is only expected to ease to single digits in 2024.

Greece’s Finance Minister, Christos Staikouras, said on Saturday that Greece hopes to regain investment grade by next year and that despite the challenges ahead, “Greece must carry on… to establish itself as an all-round stronger country and make its economy more dynamic, productive, extroverted and socially fair.”

Source: AP News.

Greek athletes shine at the European Championships 2022

The Greek Herald
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Greek athletes shine at the European Championships 2022

The European Championships in Munich, Germany have come to an end this year but not before Greece claimed 10 medals – six gold and four silver – at the competitive games.

This medal tally saw Greece rank in 10th place of 29 countries on the medal table.

Gymnast, Eleftherios Petrounias, was one of the last competitors at the Championships on Sunday. He claimed the gold medal in the ‘Men’s Rings’ with 15.133 points ahead of Adem Asil of Turkey who won silver and Courtney Tulloch of Great Britain who got bronze.

The win saw Petrounias become European champion at the rings for the sixth time at a European Championship meet.

In a post on Instagram, Petrounias thanked his family and fans for their support over the last few years.

“This 6th European gold medal fills me with joy and strength to continue. The trials I went through in recent years have made me invincible and all of you who have been by my side through thick and thin have contributed to that,” the Greek gymnast added.

Greece also claimed another two gold medals in athletics at the Championships.

Track athlete, Antigoni Ntrismpioti, made history on Saturday when she won her second gold medal at the European games in the Women’s 20km Race Walk.

The 38-year-old athlete from Karditsa was a few meters behind the leading group and in 10th place at the 10th kilometre when she increased her pace to enter the top three after the 11th kilometre.

The silver medal was won by Poland’s Katarzyna Zdzieblo and the bronze by Germany’s Saskia Feige.

Antigoni’s first gold medal came after securing the top position at the Women’s 35km Race Walk last week.

Elsewhere, 19-year-old, Elina Tzengko, also dominated the women’s javelin final at the European Championships on Saturday to win gold for Greece.

Tzengko won the contest by almost four metres with a personal best of 65.81 metres on her second attempt. Serbia’s Adriana Vilagos won silver, while Barbora Spotakova bagged bronze for the Czech Republic.

Greece’s other seven medal wins came earlier in the week from Miltiadis Tentoglou in long jump (gold), Katerina Stefanidi in pole vault (silver), Antonios Papakonstantinou in the lightweight men’s single sculls (gold), Stefanos Ntouskos in men’s single sculls (silver), Evangelia Anastasiadou in women’s single sculls (silver), Zoi Fitsiou in lightweight women’s single sculls (silver) and Antigoni again in race walking (gold).

All the medallists have been celebrated in Greece, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis congratulating the winners on Twitter.

READ MORE: Greece climbs to top 10 in medal rankings at European Championships.

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