The Mavromoustakos brothers are set to return to the pitch in January 2026, with their annual Charity Football Match shaping up to be the biggest and most ambitious edition yet.
The much-loved community event will take place on Sunday, 18 January 2026, at Seymour Shaw Stadium in Miranda, with kick-off scheduled for 4pm.
Organisers Yianni and Chrisos Mavromoustakos are promising a high-energy afternoon of football, entertainment, and community spirit — all in support of children in need across Africa.
Funds raised from the match will once again support Paradise 4 Kids, which assists the vital missionary work of Father Themi Adamopoulos in Sierra Leone, providing food, clothing and education to vulnerable children.
Bigger crowd, bigger names, bigger impact
Building on the success of previous years, the 2026 Charity Match will feature more than 10 special guests, with organisers confirming the return of comedian Anthony Locascio, YouTuber Jamie Zhu, and popular NRL content creators Chris Sassine and Jean Claude Bitar.
Adding to the excitement, streetwear label Pelota has partnered with the event, supplying new kits each year in what has been described as a “partnership like no other.”
On the football front, Team Yianni will be chasing a third consecutive victory, while Team Chrisos is determined to break the streak in what has become a friendly but fiercely contested rivalry.
Beyond the game itself, the Charity Match continues to emphasise community involvement. This year, organisers are offering work experience opportunities for volunteers on the day, with participants eligible to receive professional resume and CV referrals — a unique initiative aimed at supporting students and young professionals.
Save the date
Described by organisers as the “highlight on everyone’s calendar,” the Mavromoustakos Charity Football Match has grown into a signature summer event for Sydney’s Greek Australian community — blending sport, entertainment and philanthropy for a powerful cause.
Supporters are encouraged to save the date, gather friends and family, and head to Seymour Shaw Stadium on 18 January 2026 for what promises to be the biggest Charity Match yet. Get your ticket here.
The annual Blessing of the Waters ceremony will take place on Sunday, January 11, 2026, from 12:30pm, at the Glenelg Jetty for the 46ᵗʰ successive year, creating the scene of a centuries-old tradition.
The swimmers who are taking part in these ancient religious celebrations, also known as the Feast of Epiphany, will each attempt to be the first to retrieve the crucifix tossed into the sea from the jetty. The successful swimmer will earn a gold crucifix and is said to receive a special blessing for the following year.
His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide, together with Adelaide’s Orthodox Christian Clergy, will lead the procession onto the Glenelg Jetty and will throw the cross to the swimmers in the water.
The ceremony celebrates the Feast of Epiphany, remembering Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist in the River Jordan and the appearance of the Holy Trinity and beginning of His ministry.
The Hon Peter Malinauskas MP, Premier of South Australia, will honour this significant event with his presence, as will other Local, State and Federal dignitaries.
The Blessing of the Waters Ceremony will be followed, as always, by the traditional Glenelg Greek Festival, which will be taking place over three days, namely today, Saturday, and Sunday, 9-11 January 2026, at the grassed foreshore area in front of the Stamford Grand Hotel.
The annual festival will feature music and dance performances, and more than 200 volunteers from the Parishes of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in South Australia will serve traditional Greek food.
The Feast of Epiphany was celebrated with reverence and solemnity for a second consecutive year in Wallaroo, firmly establishing the Blessing of the Waters as a meaningful local tradition linking Orthodox worship with regional communities in South Australia.
The celebrations commenced with the Divine Liturgy at the Church of St Nicholas, officiated by Protopresbyter Fr Stavros Psarommatis, with the participation of Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne Fr Diogenis Patsouris.
A large congregation attended, including faithful who travelled from Adelaide, as well as local residents who warmly embraced the feast.
A large congregation attended the Blessing of the Waters at Wallaroo.
Following the service, worshippers gathered at the Wallaroo jetty for the Blessing of the Waters, during which the Holy Cross was cast into the sea.
The message of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia was read, highlighting the theological significance of Theophany, the revelation of the Holy Trinity and the sanctification of all creation, while encouraging the faithful to live out their baptism as a daily life in Christ. The blessings of His Grace Bishop of Silouan of Adelaide were also conveyed.
The Blessing of the Waters is a meaningful local tradition linking Orthodox worship with regional communities in South Australia.
The Holy Cross was retrieved by young Dimitrios Stylianou, a descendant of the late Fr Charalambos and Presvytera Myrianthi Stratos, pioneers of Greek Orthodox life in regional South Australia – a moment that brought joy and deep emotion to those present.
The celebrations concluded with hospitality and a shared meal prepared by parish members and friends, offering an opportunity for fellowship and reinforcing the sense of unity, faith and continuity within the local community.
To mark Cyprus’ Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), the Cyprus Community of New South Wales, also known as The Cyprus Club, has launched the “Cyprus EU Presidency Scholarships.”
The Community’s Honorary President, Michael Kyriacou, said the Community recognises the importance of Cyprus’ Presidency of the EU, noting that it comes at a time when the geopolitics of the region are changing rapidly and when the EU and the world face many challenges. He said it is important to step back and appreciate values that are often taken for granted and are best articulated by the EU.
The fundamental values of the European Union, outlined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union, promote a pluralist society that does not discriminate, is tolerant, and defends freedom of thought, religion, assembly, speech and movement, as well as the right to property and safety.
“The EU recognises the protection of human rights as a core value,” Mr Kyriacou said. “Australia is also founded on similar values, which are often taken for granted. It’s important the younger generation appreciates these values and is given the opportunity to be advocates and defenders of them.”
Cyprus’ Presidency will focus on EU security and defence readiness, improving economic competitiveness, promoting youth employment, managing immigration intake, and addressing the demographic and economic changes impacting the EU.
“The scholarships will help students fund their studies and encourage them to promote the values of equality, fairness, progress, tolerance, respect and the protection of human dignity,” said Honorary Assistant Secretary Andrew Paschali.
Honorary Secretary Kyriakos Panayi added that the Community considered how best to mark Cyprus’ EU Presidency in an Australian context.
“Many of our members asked that we mark this occasion by promoting the values of fairness, justice and equality — values defended by Cyprus and our Community for decades,” he said.
“We decided on a wide-ranging scholarship programme to encourage youth to become ambassadors of these values.”
The scholarship programme is a world first, Mr Paschali said. “Each recipient is an ambassador for the causes our Community has advocated for almost a century. We are fortunate to live in a country that shares these values, and we appreciate that Cyprus, although a small nation, will advocate these values to the world as President of the EU.”
The scholarships are open to NSW-based students aged 10 to 25, whether they are enrolled in primary school, high school, university or TAFE.
“Recipients will be asked to promote these values, give talks at their schools, colleges or universities, online and to community groups, attend events, and advocate for the protection of human rights,” Mr Panayi said.
Mr Kyriacou added, “The scholarships are about empowering students who are prepared to have a go — to advance their studies, engage with the Community and stand up for the values shared by Europe, Australia and our Community. It’s about encouraging students to give something back.”
Applications for the Cyprus EU Presidency Scholarships launched online on January 8, 2026, the same day as the official opening ceremony appointing Cyprus to the EU Presidency.
Turkey has accused the Republic of Cyprus and the European Union of politicising Cyprus’ assumption of the EU Presidency, with Ankara claiming the bloc has failed to act as a neutral or constructive force in resolving the long-running Cyprus issue.
Speaking on Thursday, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli said the Republic of Cyprus had “abused” its EU Presidency to advance what he described as a “distorted” narrative of the Cyprus problem, while criticising the European Union for alleged double standards.
“(We) reject the use of terms such as ‘occupation’, ‘invasion’ and ‘division’ that were used in reference to the island of Cyprus during various speeches at the event held on January 7, 2026, to mark the assumption of the EU Presidency by the Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus. These terms are in no way compatible with the historical and current reality on the island,” Keceli said.
Statement of the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Öncü Keçeli, in Response to a Question Regarding the Speeches Delivered at the Event Held on the Occasion of the Greek Cypriot Administration's Assumption of the Presidency of the Council of the EU… pic.twitter.com/fX8xk3PwYK
He argued that responsibility for the island’s division lay with the Greek Cypriot side, not Turkey.
“The only ‘occupation’ on the island stems from the usurpation of the institutions of the partner state by the Greek Cypriot side in 1963, in flagrant violation of the Constitution and the inherent rights of the Turkish Cypriot people,” he said.
Keceli further accused EU officials of disregarding the rights and existence of Turkish Cypriots.
“The contempt for the existence of Turkish Cypriots by EU officials reveals once again the EU’s double standards around the fundamental humanitarian values it claims to uphold,” he said.
He added that Cyprus’ handling of the EU Presidency had reinforced Ankara’s view that Brussels cannot act impartially.
“The fact that the Greek Cypriot side, contrary to its publicly made commitments, has abused the EU Presidency from the very beginning to present its distorted rhetoric and incompatible positions on the Cyprus problem, reveals why the EU cannot be a neutral and constructive actor in the resolution of the Cyprus problem,” Keceli concluded.
Farmers across Greece escalated nationwide protests on Thursday, January 8, launching coordinated 48-hour blockades of major highways, toll stations and border crossings after talks with the government failed to meet their demands over rising production costs and declining incomes.
From early morning, tractors and heavy vehicles were positioned on key transport routes linking Athens with northern and western Greece, severely disrupting domestic travel and cross-border trade.
One of the most significant closures occurred on the Athens–Lamia national highway near Kastro in Viotia, where traffic in both directions was halted and diverted onto secondary roads, causing lengthy delays.
Further blockades were reported in central Greece at the Vale of Tempe, in western Greece on the Antirrio–Ioannina highway at the Angelokastro toll station, and near Thessaloniki, including the Malgara tolls on the Athens–Thessaloniki highway. Routes towards Edessa and the Halkidiki peninsula were also affected.
Protests extended to northern Greece’s key border crossings. At Promachonas, farmers blocked freight trucks travelling between Greece and the Balkans, while similar restrictions were imposed at Exochi, Niki and Evzones, where trucks were barred and passenger vehicles allowed through only intermittently or in emergencies.
The government reiterated its willingness to engage in dialogue but insisted that negotiations could not take place while roads remained blocked.
Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister and government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis, speaking to Newsbomb, issued a renewed invitation to farmers.
“We are here for dialogue, we say it again. We are united in this effort, and we want to emphasise clearly that we wish for this situation to come to a resolution. I am making another invitation to the farmers for Tuesday, January 13, when the Prime Minister will be in his office, to meet under two clear conditions,” Marinakis said.
“First, the level of representation must be proportional; that is, all mobilisations must be represented, because in order to find a solution, everyone must have a voice. Second, the dialogue must take place with the roads open, as there can be no dialogue while blockades remain in place.”
Farmers argue that government concessions announced on Wednesday – including cheaper electricity rates and fuel tax rebates – fall short of addressing the scale of the crisis.
The protests, which began in November, were initially triggered by soaring production costs, delayed subsidy payments linked to a fraud scandal, and a sheep and goat pox outbreak.
Anger has also focused on the proposed EU–Mercosur agreement, which would create a vast free-trade zone between Europe and South American nations including Brazil and Argentina. Greek farmers fear the deal would flood the market with cheaper imports and threaten domestic agriculture.
Protest organiser Vangelis Roubis warned that the agreement could have devastating consequences.
Farmers have vowed to continue disrupting travel, supply chains and trade unless the government offers concrete concessions and rejects the trade deal, amid warnings from authorities that prolonged nationwide blockades will not be tolerated.
Former Greek finance minister and international author Yanis Varoufakis is among a growing list of prominent writers who have withdrawn from Adelaide Writers’ Week in protest over the cancellation of an event featuring Palestinian Australian author, lawyer and activist Randa Abdel-Fattah.
Varoufakis’ withdrawal adds international weight to the boycott, which now includes Miles Franklin winners Michelle de Kretser and Melissa Lucashenko, alongside journalists, academics and writers such as Peter Greste, Evelyn Araluen, Amy McQuire, Clare Wright, Chelsea Watego, Bernadette Brennan and Amy Remeikis.
The protest follows a decision by the Adelaide Festival Board to cancel Abdel-Fattah’s scheduled appearance, where she was to discuss her new novel Discipline, set during Ramadan and centred on the lives of two Muslim characters from different parts of the world.
In a statement, the Adelaide Festival Board said it would “not be culturally sensitive to continue to program [Abdel-Fattah] at this unprecedented time so soon after Bondi,” referring to the Bondi Beach shooting in December.
The board said it was reviewing festival operations in light of the “current national community context” and its role in “promoting community cohesion.”
“This suite of decisions has been taken with the genuine view that they provide the best opportunity for the success and support of the Adelaide Festival, for Adelaide Writers’ Week and the communities we seek to serve and engage,” the board said.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas confirmed his government supported the board’s decision.
Abdel-Fattah responded on Instagram, describing her removal as a “blatant and shameless act of anti-Palestinian racism and censorship.”
“What makes this so egregiously racist is that the Adelaide Writers Festival Board [sic] has stripped me of my humanity and agency, reducing me to an object onto which others can project their racist fears and smears,” she wrote.
She said the decision was a “despicable attempt to associate me with the Bondi massacre” and predicted further withdrawals, citing a similar mass boycott of the Bendigo Writers Festival last year.
The controversy has reignited debate about artistic freedom, censorship and the growing influence of risk management and commercial considerations on arts programming, as Adelaide Writers’ Week prepares to begin on February 27.
A severe heatwave is gripping much of Australia, with temperatures between 40 and 45 degrees Celsius forecast across large areas as a hot north-westerly airstream pushes inland heat from Western Australia through South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.
Strong winds, very low humidity and soaring temperatures are creating what meteorologists describe as the “perfect storm” for an intense heatwave.
Temperatures have exceeded forecasts in several locations, with some regions recording highs up to 19 degrees above the January average.
Victoria recorded a high of 46.5C at Walpeup, while South Australia reached 48.2C at Wudinna — just 0.2C below the town’s all-time record. In Western Australia, Onslow reached 49C, less than two degrees short of Australia’s national temperature record.
Melbourne recorded its hottest day in six years on Wednesday, while Adelaide’s coastal areas were spared the worst due to a westerly change, despite inland regions enduring consecutive days above 45C. Sydney is forecast to experience its hottest weather in up to six years on Saturday, with temperatures expected to reach 42–43C.
Today, a statewide Total Fire Ban has been declared.
No fires can be lit, or be allowed to remain alight, in the open air from 12:01 AM until 11:59 PM.
In Victoria, a total fire ban is in place statewide, with authorities warning that today’s conditions are the most dangerous since the Black Summer bushfires of 2019–20. The Northern Country, North Central, Wimmera and South West regions have been issued catastrophic fire risk ratings.
Emergency warnings remain in place for a major bushfire near Longwood in central Victoria, which has burned almost 30,000 hectares and caused confirmed property losses in the town of Ruffy. Ruffy CFA captain George Noye said the town had been “severely” impacted.
“The main street looks like a bomb’s gone off, we’ve lost a school… [the] CFA shed’s still standing, so that’s our hub at the moment,” Mr Noye told ABC News. “The school, it no longer operates, but it was a community hub for us… so it’s absolutely devastating to see it go.”
Authorities have also warned of the risk posed by dry lightning and strong winds, which could spark new fires across the state. Communities have been urged to remain vigilant, monitor emergency warnings and avoid travel in fire-affected areas.
A significant southerly change is expected to bring relief to Victoria and SA late Friday, with temperatures dropping by up to 20 degrees within 24 hours. However, heatwave conditions are forecast to persist across northern Australia into next week.
The Board of Hellenic Village Ltd has confirmed significant progress in the sale of its long-held land at Austral, revealing that more than $11.9 million in non-refundable funds has already been transferred, with a further $3 million due in January 2026, as the organisation edges closer to completing one of the largest property transactions in Australian Greek community history.
In a December 2025 update issued to member organisations of the Hellenic Village, advances across three key areas were outlined: the sale process itself, the resolution of outstanding land tax liabilities, and the ongoing work to establish a future charitable structure linked to the proceeds of the sale.
Speaking to The Greek Herald, Hellenic Village Director James Stevens confirmed that settlement is currently anticipated for late November or early December, subject to the terms of the agreement and any exercised extensions.
Under the sale terms, Castle Group has the option to extend settlement for up to 270 days, at a cost of $25,000 per day payable to Hellenic Village. If the full extension period were utilised, this would add $6.75 million to the purchase price, lifting the total consideration from $119.5 million to approximately $126.25 million, plus the agreed $200,000 donation to the Australian Hellenic Future Fund (AHFF).
Land tax liability explained
The December update also disclosed that Hellenic Village received a Revenue NSW land tax assessment totalling $441,467.42, covering the years 2020 to 2024.
According to Mr Stevens, the Board only became aware of the liability in October 2025, after correspondence had been sent for several years to an outdated address linked to a former office-holder. He said once the liability became known, the Board acted promptly.
“It’s simply the sum total of four or five years of land tax that’s due, and we’ve duly paid the land tax out of the proceeds that we’ve received,” Mr Stevens said.
The Board has since engaged HQB Accountants Auditors Advisors following a market process, with the firm assisting in securing a payment arrangement with Revenue NSW. Two instalments of $90,364 were paid in November, with the remaining balance scheduled across December, January and March 2026.
Disclosures to Revenue NSW could potentially result in an adjusted land tax assessment, either upward or downward.
The Hellenic Village at Austral.
Financial reporting and transparency
Responding to questions about governance and transparency given the scale of the transaction, Mr Stevens said the Board recognised its duty to keep member organisations informed of all material developments.
“If something significant was to fall over, that would be something we would have to communicate immediately to our members,” he said. “At the same time, we don’t want to be burdening them with unnecessary information.”
He said directors remained accessible to member organisations seeking clarity.
The appointment of a new accounting firm and the preparation of FY25 financial statements are expected to pave the way for the issuing of a formal Notice of Annual General Meeting once completed.
The unresolved question: proceeds and the charitable structure
While the sale itself is progressing, the distribution of net proceeds remains unresolved — a point of ongoing discussion among the 21 Greek associations* that collectively make up Hellenic Village Ltd.
The Board has previously proposed that 50 per cent of net proceeds be distributed to unit holders according to their shareholdings, with the remaining 50 per cent directed to a new charitable vehicle, the AHFF. No formal consensus has yet been reached on this model.
Mr Stevens stressed that participation in any charitable structure would ultimately be a decision for individual organisations.
“Everybody can choose whether they want to contribute to the charitable trust or not,” he said. “That will depend on their respective situations and their tax positions.”
The Greek Herald has spoken to several unit holders involved in the matter, including the Hellenic Club of Sydney. While the Hellenic Club has confirmed its own approach to managing any proceeds, it remains committed to supporting the Greek community through its established programs. Notably, the Hellenic Club is one of the few organisations among the unit holders that was originally established to provide directly to the Hellenic community in Sydney.
We note that most unit holders continue to align with the original ethos of reinvesting funds back into the community, as intended from the outset.
Looking ahead
As settlement approaches, the Hellenic Village Board continues to work with legal advisers Clayton Utz on the structure, tax implications and compliance requirements of the proposed AHFF, ensuring it is fit for purpose before any substantial funds are directed to it.
For many within the Greek Australian community, the sale represents both an historic financial achievement and a defining moment that will shape how the legacy of Hellenic Village is carried forward.
As one of the largest community-owned land transactions in Australian Greek history nears completion, attention is now turning from the mechanics of the sale to the longer-term question of how its proceeds will best serve future generations.
*The 21 Greek associations who make up the Hellenic Village Ltd are:
Order of AHEPA NSW INC – 3 shares
AHEPA Heracles INC – 3 shares
Apollo Sports and Cultural Club – 1 share.
Cyprus Hellene Club Inc – 2 shares.
Diakofton Association – 3 shares.
Elassona Philanthropic Association – 3 shares
Greek Taxi Drivers’ Assoc. – 1 share
Hassion Philanthropic Assoc – 3 shares
Hellenic Club of Sydney – 3 shares
Helmos Philanthropic Association – 3 shares
Kalavryton Society (NSW) ‘Aghia Lavra’ Inc – 3 shares
Lefkadian Brotherhood of NSW LTD – 2 shares
Messolonghi Association – 3 PO
Meteora Association – 3 shares
Pan-Arcadian Association of NSW – 2 shares
Pan-Korinthian Association of NSW – 2 shares
Pan-Nafpaktian Association ‘Nafpaktos’ – 2 shares
Pan-Thessalian Federation – 2 shares
Pan-Thracian Association of NSW ‘Democritus’ – 2 shares
Association of Plataneon ‘O Platanos’ – 3 shares
Saint Barbara Philanthropic Association – 2 shares
The final event of the 44th Cretan Federation Convention was held on Monday, January 5, at the Mytilenian House in Canterbury, bringing together approximately 330 guests for a final evening before interstate and overseas delegates departed Sydney.
President of the Cretan Association of Sydney and New South Wales, Terry Saviolakis, reflected on the whirlwind nature of the convention, telling attendees: “What an amazing four days of dancing, music, stoles, mandinathes and lots of mingling… For those travelling, I wish you a safe journey back home.”
President of the Cretan Association of Sydney and New South Wales, Terry Saviolakis (left), reflected on the whirlwind nature of the convention.
Mr Saviolakis thanked convention sponsors and media partners, presenting a small gift to Andrew Parliaros and Tass Anastasiadis of Location Shots Media for their coverage of the events.
He acknowledged the Executive Committee of the Cretan Association of Sydney and NSW, inviting members forward and presenting them with gifts in recognition of their tireless efforts in organising the convention.
The evening featured a tribute to Cretan youth musicians.
Federation President Emmanuel Mountakis also addressed the gathering, wishing attendees a happy New Year and expressing hope that everyone would reunite in Canberra for the 2027 Federation Convention. He paid tribute to Mr Saviolakis and his committee for their work, prompting a standing ovation from the crowd.
Federation President Emmanuel Mountakis.
The evening featured a tribute to Cretan youth musicians, with talented young performers from Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide entertaining guests, showcasing countless hours of practice and a deep connection to their cultural roots.
Guests shared a final meal, danced and mingled late into the night, closing the convention on a warm and celebratory note before beginning their journeys home.
