A former Hells Angels member has been charged with domestic violence by a local court in Sydney’s south-west.
Peter Zervas, aged 44, has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm by the Campbelltown Local Court in an incident that occurred between him and his 22-year old girlfriend last week.
The woman allegedly suffered a laceration above her eye in an altercation that took place while Zervas was driving a car, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Zervas was apprehended south-west of Sydney in Minto three days after the woman reported the incident to Campbelltown Police.
He was formally refused bail to reappear at the Campbeltown court on July 6.
Peter Zervas faced court earlier this year for charges relating to weapons offences after being busted for carrying an extendable baton in his “company car” around Sydney’s CBD.
Mr. Zarvas is known for playing a central role in the infamous brawl between the Hells Angels and the Comanchero gangs at Sydney Airport in 2009, which resulted in the death of his younger brother Anthony Zarvas.
Mr. Zarvas survived being shot six times in the car park of his home at Lakemba following the brawl.
He has had several run-ins with the law both as the perpetrator and victim, including the time his nose had to be re-attached after being partially bitten off by a man in 2014.
Maria Bakalidou is set to become the next President of the Greek Community of Melbourne’s (GCM) Language Schools next month.
“We are hopeful that her energy, passion, and enthusiasm for Greek language learning will allow the Community’s programs to continue to prosper in years ahead,” the GCM says.
Maria Bakalidou will oversee hundreds of students who attend the GCM’s language schools and will succeed Manos Tzimpragos after his septennial run was cut short by the Greek government.
Mr. Tzimpragos will permanently return to Greece after “the community’s efforts directed towards the Greek government to facilitate an extension of [his] tenure unfortunately did not bear fruit,” the GCM says, describing his departure as “unwelcome news”.
“He leaves behind a successful legacy where the Community expanded its programs and campuses, made a conscious effort to improve its teaching staff and professional development, and also modernise its curriculum,” the GCM says.
Mrs. Bakalidou began her tenure in the GCM’s language schools a year after she immigrated to Australia in 2012 following Greece’s debt crisis.
The Orestiada-born was promoted to President over the schools for her work and influence since then.
She currently coordinates the Victorian Certification of Education (VCE) programs and is credited as being “instrumental” in the facilitation of GCM’s two recent outer suburb campuses.
Nick Kyrgios is set to make his Olympic debut and has emerged in Wimbledon after a five-month hiatus to begin a tense match with Ugo Humbert.
Nick Kyrgios has been announced to headline tennis at next month’s Tokyo Games alongside 10 other players, including Australians Alex de Minaur and women’s world No. 1 Ash Barty.
The Canberran will join John Millman, James Duckworth, Sam Stosur, Ajla Tomljanovic, and a few others in July.
Kyrgios formerly withdrew from the Rio Summer Olympic Games in 2016 at the peak of his career as Australia’s No. 1 tennis player over a spat with the Games’ Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller.
“AOC’s unfair and unjust treatment of me over the last four weeks… has solidified my final decision,” Kyrgios said at the time.
Nick Kyrgios also beat French No. 21 Ugo Humbert 3-3 in the fifth set before play was suspended by a tournament referee because of an 11pm curfew.
The match will resume 11pm tonight AEST.
Kyrgios hasn’t played for nearly half the year since the Australian Open, where he beat Humbert in a five-set thriller, but that didn’t deter his confidence.
“I know for a fact that no one here wanted to play me first-round and I feel completely confident going into this match,” Kyrgios told reporters.
“I’m not saying that I’m the favourite, but I know how to play on grass.”
New figures released by Our World In Data illuminates the stark reality of Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout and begs the question: why are we so far behind?
Greece is among several other countries outperforming Australia’s fledging COVID-19 vaccination program, new figures from Our World In Data (OWID) shows.
Greece currently ranks 35th in the world in the OWID’s list of doses administered, with 33.91% of its population vaccinated
Greece has fully vaccinated 34.2% of its population, putting itself in the 10th place of a list of countries ranked by their share of the population.
Australia sits in 40th place in the worldwide rank of developed and developing countries with just 4.8% of its population fully vaccinated.
In Greece, 34.45% of the population have received both doses, while 10.92% are awaiting their second (as of the 27 June, OWID data).
So far more than 7.3 million doses have been administered across Australia – but the health authorities don’t release the age, gender, or location of fully vaccinated Australians, or how many of whom have received both doses.
Greece has a population of over 10.7 million. In comparison, Australia has a population of 25.6 million. Australia’s population is more than double the size of Greece’s population and the country is relying on a solid vaccination program to save further economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and assist economic recovery.
Greece places dead centre in a rank comparing the number of doses administered in 32 European countries, but isn’t far off it’s counterparts Portugal, Lithuania, and Italy.
Vaccine hesitancy is rife in both countries, experts say.
Greece is combating the hesitancy by offering incentives and rewards for those who make the switch to receive the jab, while Australia’s vaccine program has been mired by narrow supply and mixed messaging.
Three billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered worldwide.
The Greek government has promised that all those who receive the COVID-19 vaccination will have greater access to indoor venues without having to wear a face mask.
Venue operators will be allowed to raise their capacity when they decide to open exclusively to those who have received the jab, as part of the government’s two-tier system for entertainment venues.
Indoor restaurants, cafes, theatres and cinemas will enjoy a 35% raise in capacity, enjoying an 85% capacity cap for customers who are vaccinated and a 50% capacity when open to those who aren’t.
Greek venues have had to push their customers outside (Source: Insider)
Greece has administered 8,202,338 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as of 29 June. Reuters estimates that the doses cover 38.3 per cent of the country’s population when assuming that those administered the shot have received both their first and second shots.
The Greek government estimates that 48 per cent of the population will be vaccinated by the end of next month.
The pandemic has spread an ominous feeling over the planet for about 1.5 years. The confrontation with the unknown hung many times by a thread and fear took over all of us to the last blood cell.
To this unprecedented situation, Greece managed to respond effectively despite expressed fears about the collapse of the National Health System.
The biggest part of the success in this endurance race with the COVID-19 disease is shared with the Greek Minister of Health, Vassilis Kikilias. Former basketball athlete, during his great sports career, Kikilias studied medicine “shattering” the stereotypes of many years for the cultivation of athletes.
Mr. Kikilias was called to provide his services during the most difficult situation that the country experienced after the war and admittedly he responded with great success together with his team.
Today, he speaks exclusively to The Greek Herald and reveals to us the great love he has for expatriate Greeks. “We listen to their needs and make every effort to satisfy them,” he says, while offering a glimmer of optimism.
“We now see light at the end of the tunnel,” he tells us and underlines the “loyalty” shown by the Greeks in the observance of measures to prevent the spread of the pandemic.
Greek Health Minister, Vassilis Kikilias.
He also talks about the Sydney-born infectious disease specialist, Sotiris Tsiodras, to whom, as he reveals: “I owe him, we all owe him, a lot.”
The interview with The Greek Herald begins with an overall assessment of the last 15 months at the helm of the Ministry of Health.
“The National Health System has withstood, withstands and will continue to withstand, in the face of the most severe pandemic that the planet has faced,” says Mr. Kikilias.
“We have fought and continue to fight the battle for the value of human life. From the first moment of the spread of the coronavirus, we set a goal: not to leave any of our fellow citizens without the necessary care, not only for COVID, but for all the diseases.
“We achieved this with the cooperation of all: the hospitals of National Health System, the military hospitals, the private clinics. We have managed to open more than 1,500 ICU beds across the country when in July 2019 we only received 557. We hired over 10.000 health workers, in the pandemic, of which over 4.000 nurses will be permanent.
“All this was done in a National Health System, which was not in good condition.”
The success of the Operation “Freedom” and Philotimo:
With the concern for a next wave of the pandemic constantly present, vaccination is the only “weapon” to build the coveted wall of immunity.
“The success of Operation “Freedom” was achieved by the full readiness of the state apparatus and of course doctors, nurses and all our health workers in the vaccination centres who give their best every day,” stressed the Minister of Health.
“Therefore, yes, I believe, on the basis of planning – that by summer we will have managed to build a satisfactory “wall of immunity”.”
Enough has been said about the response of the Greeks to the restrictive measures taken to prevent the spread of the pandemic. We asked Mr. Kikilias if he himself was satisfied.
Kikilias has helped guide Greece through the coronavirus pandemic.
“The 15 months of the pandemic are a very long period of time. It is very painful and soul-destroying for anyone – especially for young people who “boil their blood” – to stay for over 1 year in their homes,” Mr. Kikilias said.
“Nevertheless, in Greece the people, in their vast majority, adhered to the measures. And I want once again to thank them for this.
“The keyword that answers your question is what the Greeks call “filotimo”.
“The Greek did not discipline because there was the “Damocles Sword” of checks and fines, but to protect, not so much himself, but his loved ones. His grandfather and grandmother, his parents, those who suffered from diseases that made them even more vulnerable to the virus. Therefore, yes, I am very pleased with my fellow citizens.
“Surely the history of the world has confirmed that in conditions of crises are countries, small in size and weak economically, are making “jumps” in the “corridor” of their route.”
The constant war and the needs of Greek expatriates:
But what was the most difficult moment in this pandemic marathon for Mr. Kikilias?
“Our confrontation with the pandemic was not a battle. It was and still is a perpetual war. Therefore, the hard times and the moments when I said “We made it” succeeded each other. But the fight continues,” Mr Kikilias explained to The Greek Herald.
“That is why we are now proceeding with the implementation of a program at a cost of 1.7 million euros aimed at supporting and empowering all these heroes of the pandemic, through interventions such as medical and laboratory tests, development of individual and group protocols by psychologists, etc.
Kikilias overseas.
“The health crisis seems to be slowly coming to an end, but we do not forget that the vision of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was and continues to be the building of a better, modern and quality National Health System, which had deteriorated during the previous years of the economic crisis.”
It would be remiss not to mention to the Minister of Health, although he is not the responsible Minister, about the great problem of the Greek Australians. The fact that the federal government keeps international borders closed deprives many expats of the ability to visit their ancestral land. We asked if Greece could take the initiative on this issue.
“I mentioned earlier that all Greeks in every corner of the country and the whole world were forced to make huge sacrifices throughout this period of the pandemic. We stayed away from our loved ones, away from the beauties of our village that we went to every Christmas, Easter and summer, away from our homeland. For expatriate Greeks, perhaps this is the most painful.
“Now we see light at the end of the tunnel.
“From that point on, you are well aware of the love I have for Greeks abroad. As a government we listen to their needs and make every effort to satisfy them.”
Popularity, Tsiodras and the new member of the family:
For most politicians the Ministry of Health during the pandemic would be the tombstone of their ambitions. In this case Vassilis Kikilias increased his popularity and today he is one of the most beloved politicians in Greece. What does this mean for the Minister of Health?
Kikilias’ popularity has increased during the pandemic.
“Popularity is by no means a purpose. My goal is to offer to the best of my ability to my country, to all Greeks, regardless of their political belonging. Not to increase my popularity just to have a ministerial post or to reap votes in the next elections,” Mr Kikilias said.
We could not forget the contribution of Sydney-born Sotiris Tsiodras to the management of the pandemic. Dr Tsidras was said to have been proposed by Mr Kikilias to the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
“All of us, each from his own fortified battle position, offered to deal with the pandemic. But if the pandemic were a book, Sotiris Tsiodras would be a special and very beautiful, moving chapter. I owe him, we all owe him, a lot”.
During the pandemic, at the peak of the crisis, the Minister of Health became a father. A glimmer of light in the darkness.
“Birth symbolises hope. And yes the birth of my son gave me, and continues to give me, energy and hope.
“And yes in a few years I will be able to tell him by looking into the eyes that I never gave up on anyone, and that we fought with all our might. Daily, for the best possible outcome…” concludes, in his exclusive interview with The Greek Herald, the Greek Minister of Health, Vassilis Kikilias.
While it wasn’t quite the fairy-tale wedding they had hoped for, a Greek Australian couple managed to spend the dying hours of pre-lockdown Sydney celebrating one of the most special days of their lives.
Newlyweds Leon and Laura Evidis had planned their special day months in advance to take place on Saturday, June 26. While cautiously observing the emerging covid situation in the days leading up to Saturday, on the day of the wedding it never crossed their mind.
As they were walking down the aisle of the St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Marrickville, Gladys was across the city announcing a full two-week lockdown of Greater Sydney.
“At the time we didn’t actually know what was going on in terms of the 6 p.m. lockdown. We had no idea because our ceremony was at midday, so I think as we were getting married, things were getting announced, what I then found out later in the afternoon,” Leon Evidis told The Greek Herald.
Leon and Laura Evidis on their wedding day. Photo: Supplied
The new lockdown restrictions came into effect at 6 p.m. AEST, which was coincidentally the same start time of the couple’s wedding reception. However, the pair were still able to go ahead with the wedding as planned, as long as they adhered to the previously-enforced restrictions.
“Even the day before, things were sort of looking sketchy in the sense of a lot of guests being able to come because of the confusion with the restrictions,” Leon added.
“The reception sort of just put us at ease and said look, we can still legally go ahead. So we just said, we’ll go ahead with it and whoever can come, can come.”
Leon said while the glooming restrictions added some additional stress, he was “at ease” the second he walked out of the church doors.
Leon and Laura Evidis on their wedding day. Photo: Supplied
“Once walking out the church, the second we signed the certificate, I was just at ease. I was happy, Laura was happy and then we were just glad whoever came was able to come to the reception to celebrate with us, even though it wasn’t your typical wedding,” Leon said.
Leon’s mother, Anna Evidis, said she was grateful her son and new daughter-in-law were able to celebrate their special day.
“We we were jumping up and down with joy that we made it because with everything happening and the covid that hit and everybody was getting worried,” Anna Evidis said to The Greek Herald.
“The night before the wedding, actually, we we were at sort of at the edge of cancelling the reception… then we thought we’ll bite the bullet and go for it.”
While restrictions prevented any Greek dancing or celebrations you would typically see at a Greek wedding, she was still thankful that guests were able to come and celebrate the special day.
Anna also added that she felt very sorry for the many families across Sydney who were forced to cancel or postpone their weddings, some for a third time.
“I really feel for those people. Especially you hear some of them, it’s a third time cancellation. I’m just happy that it didn’t happen to us,” Anna added.
“We were the ones that were blessed and happy that we didn’t miss the excitement. We were just happy to see our kids get married, but I really, really feel sorry for the families. I really do.”
The 80th anniversary of the Battle of Crete was commemorated with plenty of fanfare at the Royal Australian Air Force Base in Richmond on June 5.
Members of the Cretan Association of Sydney and New South Wales performed a series of traditional Cretan dances on the day in front of a No. 37 Squadron C-130J Hercules transport aircraft at the base.
The aircraft is similar to what was used by the German Forces in the Battle of Crete in 1941.
Members of the Cretan Association of Sydney and New South Wales. Photo: Facebook.
Leading Aircraftman Yianni Skoulakis, an avionics technician with No. 37 Squadron, organised the visit and played the Cretan laouto during the performance. He was accompanied by the Iho Nyx Band.
“The group thought it was a great honour to come to Richmond and perform their dances in front of the Hercules,” Leading Aircraftman Skoulakis said in a press release.
“A lot of the dancers said it was surreal – they were still on a high after the performance.”
Leading Aircraftman Yianni Skoulakis plays the laouto. Photo: Corporal David Said.
The performance celebrated the ties forged in 1941 between Australian Diggers and Cretan villagers, who fought alongside one another during the World War II battle.
The visit also commemorated the 200th anniversary of the Greek Independence and the 100th anniversary of the Air Force.
Apostle Broikos, a former private schoolboy and the youngest South Australian arrested as part of Operation Ironside, has been granted home-detention bail, The Advertiser reports.
But Broikos will remain in custody until at least Thursday, when the Supreme Court will review his case after a challenge by prosecutors.
The 18-year-old from Burnside appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday charged with manufacturing a large commercial quantity of methylamphetamine.
Apostle Broikos has been granted home-detention bail after being busted by Operation Ironside.
According to The Advertiser, prosecutors opposed Broikos’ release on bail, saying he could continue reoffending “wholly undetected.”
The court previously heard Broikos was accused of facilitated the delivery of cash to one of the men accused of running a Morphett Vale drug lab, as well as assisting in the supply of chemicals.
The court was told Broikos was also one of eight people allegedly involved in transporting 10kg of methamphetamine from NSW to SA.
Magistrate John Wells granted Broikos home-detention bail “with a great amount of hesitation,” setting a condition that Broikos could not contact his co-accused.
His parents, who were “shocked” by the allegations against their son, were ordered to put up a $50,000 cash surety.
Prosecutors sought a Supreme Court bail review and Broikos was remanded in custody until Thursday.
Konstantinos Volanakis was a Greek painter who became known as the “father of Greek seascape painting.” Volanakis was born in 1837, in Crete.
We share our four top facts about the painter.
1. Early Life:
Konstantinos Volanakis was born at Heraklion on Crete, to parents who came from a small village near Rethymno. Later, they moved again for business reasons, and he completed his basic education on Syros in 1856.
Afterward, urged on by his brothers, he went to Trieste and became a book-keeping clerk for a family of Greek merchants who were related to his family by marriage. While there, he made sketches of ships and harbours in his account books.
Rather than dismiss him, the family recognised his artistic talent and made arrangements for him to study at the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich, under Karl von Piloty.
2. The ‘Naval Battle of Salamis’:
Among Volanakis’ most outstanding pieces is the “Naval Battle of Salamis.”
Among Volanakis’ most outstanding pieces is the “Naval Battle of Salamis” which depicts the famous ancient naval battle between an alliance of Greek city states and the Persian Empire. It belongs to the Hellenic Navy and traditionally hangs in the office of the prime minister (Volanakis first presented the work at the Royal Palace in 1883).
3. No portraiture:
Volanakis never engaged in portraiture or depicting other aspects of life in the nascent Greek state, dedicating himself entirely to maritime painting. His love for the sea and ships led him to depict all facets of maritime life: from tranquil seas and idyllic harbors and beaches, to intense naval battles and raging tempests.
4. An imposing and tragic figure:
As an individual, Volanakis was himself both an imposing and tragic figure. His decision to return to Greece in 1883, despite his close friend Nikolaos Gyzis’ advice against doing so, ultimately had a negative impact on his quality of life, and often his painting. His wife’s health problems, his financial woes, and his limited social life ultimately led him to attempt to take his own life.
