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Multinational force works to tame wildfire flare-ups in Evia and near Ancient Olympia

The Greek Herald
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Multinational force works to tame wildfire flare-ups in Evia and near Ancient Olympia

Hundreds of firefighters from across Europe and the Mideast worked alongside their Greek colleagues in rugged terrain on Wednesday, trying to contain flareups of the huge wildfires that have ravaged Greece’s forests for a week, destroying homes and forcing thousands to evacuate.

The spread of the blazes has been largely halted, officials said, but fronts still burned on the large island of Evia and in Greece’s southern Peloponnese region, where several homes were on fire, according to state ERT TV.

Small pockets of wildfires continued to burn in areas of the Ancient Olympia township, in Ilia, western Peloponnese, Deputy Regional Director of Ilia Vassilis Yannopoulos said.

READ MORE: Mytilineos sources helicopters and crew from Australia to fight fires in Greece.

A firefighter from Slovakia tries to extinguish a fire in Avgaria village on Evia island. Photo: AP Photo/Petros Karadjias.

Firefighters and heavy machinery also still remain at the administrative borders of Ilia and Arcadia prefectures to prevent the fire in Gortynia, the region east of Olympia, from spreading into Ilia.

“Although the danger of rekindlings in the fire fronts has not yet been alleviated, we are speeding up our efforts to register damages immediately,” Yiannopoulos said.

The fires broke out last week after Greece had just experienced its most protracted heatwave since 1987, leaving its forests tinder-dry.

READ MORE: Greek government defends response as Evia wildfires burn for eighth day.

A burnt forest in Agia Anna village on Evia island. Photo: AP Photo/Michael Varaklas.

Greece’s fire service said 900 firefighters, including teams from Poland, Romania, Cyprus, Ukraine, Serbia, Slovakia and Moldova, and 27 aircraft were working on Evia, Greece’s second-largest island which is linked to the mainland by a bridge.

Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, spoke on the phone Wednesday with top officials from Ukraine, Qatar and Romania to “warmly thank them” for their contributions. The three countries sent 340 firefighters and 24 vehicles in response to Greece’s appeal for help.

Two Egyptian Chinook helicopters fly over Elefsina Military Air Base, providing firefighting assistance in Greece, August 11, 2021. Photo: Louiza Vradi/Reuters.

Evia’s northern part, which has forests entwined with villages and small seaside resorts, has suffered the greatest damage, with an estimated 50,000 hectares (123,000 acres) lost and dozens of homes burned.

Retiree Maria Roga said although her house in Pefki, a village on Evia, was saved from the flames that burned a neighboring home, she still worries about flare-ups.

“I’m still afraid. I’m afraid,” she told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “(But) I can’t complain. I am very grateful, I am one of the lucky ones.”

Source: AP News.

Erica and Andreas Karageorgopoulos changed their lifestyle and lost over 100kg together

Andriana Simos
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Erica and Andreas Karageorgopoulos changed their lifestyle and lost over 100kg together

Melbourne couple, Erica and Andreas Karageorgopoulos, were on a family holiday in Greece when they first received comments from concerned family members about their weight.

“We were so embarrassed and uncomfortable…” Erica tells The Greek Herald exclusively.

“I always looked after myself fairly well, but when we were newly married and started a family, I had put on over 30kg post pregnancy. We were very comfortable and got into the habit of eating the wrong foods.”

This, as well as a medical diagnosis of diabetes, high blood pressure, reflux and fatty liver, saw the pair make their biggest lifestyle change yet. They decided to become ‘diet buddies’ and joined the 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan.

“We were able to support each other through various temptations and motivated each other. It was a lifestyle change that we needed to have,” Erica says.

Psychologist, Jemma Doley, encourages group fitness.

Psychologist, Jemma Doley, specialises in health coaching and she says Erica and Andreas’ decision to lose weight together was a great choice because it can keep couples accountable and on track.

“Going on a weight loss journey together increases our psychological commitment to them and makes it more likely that we will succeed. It can also decrease temptation, particularly couples who generally prepare meals together,” Ms Doley explains.

“Working on a goal with your buddy can also help keep you both accountable and on track. It’s also beneficial to build small “micro-habits” together.”

Erica agrees and says although she and her husband faced daily challenges during their weight loss journey, they were still able to achieve their goals because they supported each other.

Erica and Andreas are much happier now.

“It was difficult but because we were doing it together, we kept each other accountable and motivated. The biggest challenge was when we had family dinner or special occasions. All of the delicious Greek food was always in abundance in front of us and with our Greek families always pushing to fill our plates up, it challenged us,” she says.

“[But] one of the advantages of doing the 1:1 Diet was that there is very little physical activity required. Andreas did go for his walks in the evening which helped him lose the weight faster, whereas I did minimal exercise and continued to lose the weight.”

In total, Erica says the pair lost over 100 kilograms together and their medical issues have completely resolved.

“It has been nearly two years since we started our health journey and we feel amazing,” Erica concludes. “We feel healthier, energetic, more confident and just generally feel more alive overall.”

Cooking his way through life: Meet The Real Greek Chef

Argyro Vourdoumpa
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Cooking his way through life: Meet The Real Greek Chef

Giannis or The Real Greek Chef not only has a place in our homes with the scrumptious authentic recipes he generously shares through his social media channels but also a place in our hearts for his authentic personality.

After making an impact in the Melburnian culinary scene for two years with his Reservoir restaurant ‘The Real Greek Chef of Melbourne’ he is now embarking on a new journey in Adelaide, the home town of his wife Fotini -who is also the creative mind of the business.

Kayla Itsines with The Real Greek Chef and her ex-fiancé Tobi Pearce. Picture: Facebook/The Real Greek Chef

A story of hard work and resilience

An immigrant to Australia since 2017 Giannis is passionate about authentic homemade Greek dishes and also good hospitality and customer service.

“No matter how many courses I have attended I always revert back to basics. Back to what I learnt from my mother and my yiayia. I was always around the kitchen alongside them when I was growing up,” Giannis tells The Greek Herald as he unfolds his life’s journey.

Born in Larissa in the mid-seventies, he decided to leave the small city and try his luck in Athens where his aunt was living at the time.

“I was only 14 when I told my parents I wanted to go to Athens. They told me they had no money to help me so I borrowed the funds from a cousin of mine,” he says.

Picture: Facebook/The Real Greek Chef

Giannis went to Athens and lived with his aunt for the first six months where she then helped him rent his first home.

“I finished school and went to Uni where I studied Economics and Business on my own. During the day I was going to school and was practicing Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) on a professional level and at night I worked at night clubs,” he says.

At the age of 19 he made his first entrepreneurial steps as one of the three partners of ‘Frangelico’ Live Music Venue in Athens, a move that would carve the path of his future endeavours.

“With the money I had saved, my aunt asked me if I wanted to invest in land or start my own business and although I knew what a business and partnerships entailed, I thoroughly enjoyed the process of building up successful businesses despite the risks.”

From 2003 to 2014 Giannis ended up with various businesses and more than 500 employees.

“In 2014, days before I was preparing to get into a major franchise partnership I had a motorcycle accident,” he says.

Picture: Facebook/The Real Greek Chef

Rebooting his life

“The accident left me with multiple bone fractures, internal bleeding and unable to look after myself and my businesses. It was a miracle I survived,” explains Giannis.

He remained bedridden for a year and when he finally was able to stand on his two feet and started recovering, his body couldn’t produce blood. For six months Gianni was having blood transfusions every 20 days.

“Due to the forced inactivity, I gained a lot of weight and was in a bad mental state. From business owner with 500 staff and professional athlete I was now in bed unable to do anything and there was a point where I didn’t want my life,” he confesses.

But a born fighter, Giannis slowly managed to overcome this difficult period in his life and started from scratch.

“In 2016, a year before I came to Australia, a friend gifted me a dog. This is what saved me. I had suicidal thoughts and he was the one who once prevented me from taking my life.

“He gave me motivation. I started taking him out for walks and later-on returned to the gym. I soon returned to being my old self again. In September 2017 as I was ready to leave Greece and go to England, I met Fotini and I decided to come to Australia with her.”

After Gianni cooked a Greek Pastitsio for Fotini, she encouraged him to start The Real Greek Chef and she is the one who’s been recording his cooking videos.

Now Giannis works as a restaurant consultant and does on-demand online cooking classes while an e-book with Authentic Greek Recipes is also in the works.

“Cooking is part of our Greek culture. With a few ingredients and olive oil you can create a mouth-watering dish,” Gianni says.

The recipe to a good life is similar. A few exceptional ingredients. Love and teamwork is what makes it flourish.

Stay up to date with recipes and news from The Real Greek Chef by following him on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube

NSW Premier replies to 7-year-old boy’s letter who couldn’t celebrate birthday in lockdown

Argyro Vourdoumpa
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NSW Premier replies to 7-year-old boy’s letter who couldn’t celebrate birthday in lockdown

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has responded to a 7-year-old boy’s letter expressing his feelings about the fact that he was not able to celebrate his birthday due to the lockdown.

A few days before his birthday, George Vrahas wrote to the Premier to let her know “he was really upset that he can’t go to school, can’t go out and can’t celebrate with his family and friends.”

“Mum, we need to sit down and have a serious discussion. I need you to write a letter to auntie Gladys to tell her how I feel,” George told his mother, Christine.

“He was overwhelmed and concerned with the lockdown and wanted to write the letter because he knows the Premier would read it and reply to him,” Christine said.

George Vrahas and his 4-year-old sister Elizabeth holding the letter from the Premier. Photo: Supplied

Last year, during the first lockdown with another letter to the Premier, George inquired whether the Easter Bunny would be able to visit and he received a reply along with a bag of Easter eggs.

In her recent correspondence with the young Greek Australian, the Premier says that “while it’s disappointing that we are not able to celebrate special occasions with family and friends, it’s important that we follow the health advice to keep us all safe during this time.”

Closing with a handwritten P.S. note, Berejiklian signs as ‘Auntie Gladys’.

“He’s happy he got an acknowledgement from someone we see on the news,” said Christine stressing that this lockdown has been difficult and draining especially for parents with multiple children who work and homeschool.

“The children are also suffering and I’m glad George took the initiative to speak to me about it and to have a voice that is being heard. We always worry about our mental health but we often forget about the kids,” Christine said.

Asking George if he has a message to share with other kids who also have to hold off their birthday celebrations until the lockdown ends, he says “it will be okay.”

Greek Australian Dialogue Series continues with Enterprise Greece executive Betty Alexandropoulou

John Voutos
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Greek Australian Dialogue Series continues with Enterprise Greece executive Betty Alexandropoulou

The Greek Australian Dialogue Series continues next week with a zoom conference with the executive director and board member of Enterprise Greece, Betty Alexandropoulou.

Hosted by the trade commissioner of Greece in Australia at the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Katia Gkikiza, and director of the Business Leaders Council, Paul Nicolaou, the session will include topics such as how have Greek exports changed during the COVID pandemic and how Enterprise Greece has helped companies sustain, grow, transform, and develop.

Ms. Alexandropoulou comes with vast experience in senior leadership roles within government as well as private-sector multinational organizations, and several years abroad in countries such as Switzerland, Argentina, and the United States.  

Formerly a Senior Commercial Advisor for the U.S. Department of Commerce at the U.S. Embassy in Greece, her portfolio included Healthcare and ICT sectors and the SelectUSA global program which facilitates U.S. foreign direct investment. A seasoned professional in managing global projects and teams, she specializes in international market expansion as related to trade promotion and investment attraction, as well as business transformation. 

She has served in business associations such as the Propeller Club and the American Chamber of Commerce and has participated in various conferences and industry forums as a keynote and panel speaker.

Following her presentation, there will be an opportunity for a Q&A session with Ms. Alexandropoulou.

DETAILS FOR THE VIDEO CONFERENCE:

Date:    Monday, 23 August 2021

Time:   3:30 PM – 4:30 PM (AEST – NSW, ACT, Vic, Tas, Qld)

Link:    Zoom link will be forwarded to you after you RSVP

To RSVP, please email paul.nicolaou@australianchamber.com.au as soon as possible to secure your place in this video conference.

Nola Karapanagiotidis becomes first Greek Australian woman to be appointed as judge of the County Court of Victoria

John Voutos
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Nola Karapanagiotidis becomes first Greek Australian woman to be appointed as judge of the County Court of Victoria

Nola Karapanagiotidis has become the first Greek Australian woman to be appointed as a judge of the County Court of Victoria. 

Her Honour Judge Nola Karapanagiotidis is one of six new appointments to the court which start today.  

“I’m excited to welcome six new, distinguished and deserving people as judges of the County Court, who bring with them a range of experience and expertise,” Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes says. 

“Having such a variety of skills on the bench is an important part of our work to make justice more fair and accessible to Victorians.”

Nola Karapanagiotidis has been a barrister for close to two decades, practicing across the Magistrates’, County and Supreme Courts and appearing in the Federal and High Courts and coronial inquests. 

She previously worked at Victoria Legal Aid and as a solicitor advocate and has held a range of community-based and volunteer legal positions. 

Founder of the Asylum Seekers Reserve Centre (ASRC) and brother Kon Karapanagiotidis is sentimental over the announcement. 

“My late father, Leo, dreamed of being a lawyer & my mum, Sia, [a] maths teacher. Dad had to leave school at age 9 & my mum at age 12,” Mr. Karapanagiotidis writes on his Facebook page. 

“They came as migrants, no English, worked on farms and in factories until their bodies could take no more.” 

“Today my sister, Nola, was appointed a County Court judge.” 

“Somehow you found within you the strength to raise Nola and I so that we could dream that we could touch the sky and be anything,” Mr. Karapanagiotidis further pens in a missive to his late parents.

The other candidates appointed are Stewart Bayles, Kellie Blair, Daniel Holding, and Angela Ellis. 

Details of any welcome ceremonies will be made available on vicbar.com.au when they are known. 

Source: County Court of Victoria, Kon Karapanagiotidis

Melbourne lockdown extended by seven days

The Greek Herald
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Melbourne lockdown extended by seven days

Melburnians will spend another week in lockdown, Premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed at Victoria’s press conference on Wednesday.

Victoria has recorded 20 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases out of 41,571 test results processed on Tuesday.

Of the new cases, 15 are linked to current outbreaks and 14 have been in quarantine throughout their infectious periods.

The current lockdown was due to end at 8:00pm on Thursday but will now be extended until at least August 19.

Mr. Andrews said the discovery of five more mystery cases was one of the reasons the extension was required.

The Premier also announced the cross-border bubble with New South Wales would be further tightened, with permits required for all cross-border residents from Friday night.

“From 1:00pm tomorrow, but not enforced until 6:00pm Friday, people will need to, if they want to use that bubble they will need to get a permit,” he said.

More exposure sites were added late last night, including public transport routes in Melbourne’s west which predate the state’s lockdown.

New South Wales

New South Wales recorded 344 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases and two more deaths in the 24 hours to 8:00pm yesterday.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned that the surge in cases seen over the last two days was likely to continue.

A man in his 90s and a man in his 30s have died after contracting COVID-19.

Ms. Berejiklian said the man in his 30s had other underlying health conditions and the man in his 90s was not vaccinated.

She says there has been an increase in cases in the neighbouring LGAs of Bayside, Burwood and Inner West.

Fourteen new cases were confirmed in the Hunter region overnight.

Two more cases have been reported in Dubbo. 

The Premier confirmed that Dubbo will go into lockdown from 1:00pm today.

There are currently 374 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 62 people in intensive care, 29 of whom require ventilation.

Of those in intensive care, three are in their 20s, seven are in their 30s, six in their 40s, 14 in their 50s, 13 in their 60s, 16 in their 70s, and three in their 80s.

Source: ABC News, ABC News

Melbourne massage therapist jailed for rape and sexual assault

The Greek Herald
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Melbourne massage therapist jailed for rape and sexual assault

Melbourne massage therapist Michael Sergides has been sentenced to five years and nine months in jail after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault by the Victorian County Court. 

Michael Sergides is two months into a sentence he received for sexually violating a female client on the massage table.

“You took advantage of her vulnerability in an entitled way that has caused deep and enduring trauma to her,” Judge Martine Marich told Sergides, 75, as he watched on a video link from prison.

“These are the types of incidents that cause concern in women that they are not safe from opportunistic sexual violation.”

The woman visited Sergides’ home on June 26, 2018, for a back and shoulder massage after her friend found his advertisement on sales website Gumtree.

The woman, aged in her 20s, said she felt frozen, worthless and empty during the massage and called her friend and her mother once she left. The woman then went straight to the police.

In an impact statement, the woman said the crimes left her lost, isolated and housebound, without anything that brought her joy. She self-harmed, her relationships with loved ones suffered and her mental health declined to diagnoses of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

“He took my only reason to get up each day and my only reason to live,” she says, but that she “…decided he wouldn’t win any more … what he took from me that night I have now taken back. I have reclaimed my life,” she said.

Judge Marich accepted the victim’s evidence in finding Sergides guilty, and found there were inconsistencies between what Sergides told the woman’s friend in a phone call and his denials to police. She found he had no case to answer on two other charges.

Judge Marich acknowledged Sergides was a man of good prior behaviour and retained family support, had health problems and good rehabilitative prospects. He has already served two months.

Sergides must serve three and a half years before he is eligible for parole and is permanently banned by Victoria’s Health Complaints Commissioner from running general health services. 

Source: 9 News, The Age

Mytilineos sources helicopters and crew from Australia to fight fires in Greece

The Greek Herald
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Mytilineos sources helicopters and crew from Australia to fight fires in Greece

Industrial conglomerate Mytilineos has sent helicopters to Greece to aid the battle against the country’s raging wildfires. 

Flying and supporting staff consisting of more than 20 pilots, engineers, and translators are on-board the BELL 214 BI helicopters and are en route from Australia to Greece. 

“From the first moment that the magnitude of the disaster became apparent, MYTILINEOS decided immediately to help in the most appropriate way. In collaboration with the Government and the General Secretariat for Civil Protection, the Company aimed to offer firefighting helicopters, which were most needed by the Fire Department,” a press release from Mytilineos reads.

“These helicopters, after being approved at operational level by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection, are handed over to the State of Greece, in order to contribute to the extinguish of the active fire fronts in the country.” 

“[Four] helicopters are on their way to our country and will remain for 60 days from the date of their arrival, in order to avoid the risk of resurgence or new wildfires, while the cost of the helicopters (€ 3.3 million) is fully undertaken by Mytilineos.” 

“Experts will adjudicate whether the wildfires that engulfed the country were the result of long-term deficiencies and state problems, or an additional proof of the catastrophic effects of climate change. Mytilineos is the first Greek company and one of the first industries in Europe and worldwide, that set clear targets to minimise its carbon footprint, while its entire strategy is governed by the principles of sustainable development.” 

“Our commitments are being matched by deeds and every time our homeland calls us, we try to be useful, in a crucial and effective way. We also pledge to assist in any effort of rebuilding the burned areas and of reforestation of the woods.”

“Mytilineos has proven over time that it is always present during difficult times of our country. This disaster has shocked us all. We knew that there was a need for aerial firefighting, however, there is a terrible shortage worldwide. We did what was humanly possible and found the most advanced Erickson firefighting helicopters and brought them from Australia to Greece. Along with a crew of 20 people – pilots, engineers and even translators,” Vivian Bouzali, General Manager of Communications and strategic marketing, tells The Greek Herald.

“These helicopters, with a cost of 3.3 million euros, fully covered by Mytilineos will remain in our country for two months. Until the last spark that threatens our homeland goes out. Mytilineos will also contribute both to the reconstruction of the burned areas and to the reforestation of our natural wealth.”

“…We hope that all Greek and international companies to invest in sustainable development. It is up to all of us to contribute to the future of our planet – to the future of our children,” Ms Bouzali concludes.

Greek government defends response as Evia wildfires burn for eighth day

The Greek Herald
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Greek government defends response as Evia wildfires burn for eighth day

A political scuffle has begun in Athens as frontline personnel work around the clock to battle wildfires for the eighth day running on Tuesday.

The main political opposition party SYRIZA in Athens has blamed the government for using climate change as an excuse to cover up deficiencies in its handling of the crisis. 

“Climate change is, without doubt, an especially dangerous reality. However, it cannot be used as an excuse by the government because it ignored our warnings and those of scientists,” SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras told reporters.

Deputy Civil Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias jumped to the government’s defence, telling reporters the state apparatus did all it could in the face of the worst heatwave in 30 years.

“Do not shoot the fighters in the hour of battle. Every home lost for us is a stab in the heart,” Hardalias said. 

“The losses we suffered involved fighters, not civilians.” 

Deputy Civil Protection Minister Nikos Hardalias (right) jumped to the defence of the Government following Opposition leader Alexis Tsipras’ (left) comments (Left: Michael Kappeler—dpa/Corbis) (Right: via xronos.gr)

The government announced relief measures – including compensation and tax exemptions – for those who have lost homes and property, but that wasn’t enough to quell the concerns of residents in villages of high risk. 

“Police came and told us to evacuate the village of Avgaria but we cannot, this is our property. We cannot let our homes burn,” said Ioannis Aggelopoulos, 55, who owns a car body shop at Istiaia in the epicenter of Evia’s wildfires. 

“We have been sleeping in shifts.”

586 wildfires broke out in eight days.

Other fronts in the Peloponnese have also reignited, and authorities ordered the evacuation of 20 more villages in the region of Arkadia.

Almost 1,000 firefighters, nine aircraft and 200 vehicles have been sent to Greece from other European countries to help. 

One volunteer firefighter has died and three others have been hospitalised. 

Residents used hoses to put out fires burning near their homes and helped firefighters and volunteers.

“They’re the ones who saved the village today,” one elderly resident said, pointing to a team of Slovak firefighters tackling flames in a forested area.

“It’s a huge fire, it’s not easy to get it under control,” said the crew’s team leader, Peter Kovalik.

“We are doing our best.”

The Athens National Observatory estimates that about 65,000 hectares have been burned in total as of Sunday. 

Dozens of villages and thousands of people have been evacuated. 

Source: Reuters 

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