Police are seeking public assistance to help locate an 88-year-old Fronditha Care resident missing in the Lower Templestowe area in Melbourne, since yesterday, Thursday, June 3.
The 88-year-old was last seen at an address on Omar Street just before 10pm.
Police and family hold concerns for Con’s welfare due to his age and a recent medical operation.
He was last seen wearing blue striped pyjamas and a maroon dressing gown.
Police have released an image of Con in the hope someone recognises him and can provide information on his current whereabouts.
Fronditha Care: “Our thoughts are with the resident and his family”
In a statement released by Fronditha Care, the organisation says they are cooperating with the Police and SES in order for the man to be found safe.
“Police and SES were immediately notified and continue to search for the resident. Fronditha Care residents’ health and safety are of paramount importance to us, and we are working closely with the family and police. We are hopeful that with all the resources put into the search, he will be safely returned.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the resident and his family,” concludes the press release.
*Anyone who sees Con is urged to contact Doncaster Police Station on 8841 3999.
A new era begins for the Cyprus Community of NSW, since on Sunday at the Annual General Assembly the members gave the green light to move forward with the plans that “will turn the organisation into one of the leading ones in Australia and abroad.”
On the 30th May 2021 the Board of the Cyprus Community of NSW Ltd presented their year end December 2020 financial reports to their members.
The Treasurer noted a loss for the year mainly due to the COVID-19 restrictions passed down by the public health order that affected the hospitality industry including pubs and clubs.
The Treasurer Mr Andrew Antoniou, thanked the assistance received by the Delphi Bank and how their assistance has shown great respect for the community and its eagerness to continue into the future “it was our saving grace” noted the treasurer.
The loss was over shadowed by the progress reached in redeveloping the Stanmore land holding of the community, lead by current president Mr. Spiro Constantinou with the assistance of the head of the redevelopment subcommittee Mr Eric Costas.
Mr Constantinou noted “with multiple income streams the redevelopment of the Stanmore site will focus on passive income rather than club trade” almost certainly full proofing the communities future.
The Board also during the meeting, took a vote from members in allowing the current board an extension of its term for one more year due to the restrictions imposed during COVID and the ability of the board to deliver its objectives. This was unanimously voted in favour for and as such the vision of the board is now in being realised and moving forward at a speedy pace.
Local council in an email to the president has confirmed rezoning and gateway approval is imminent.
The Board has already had information sessions on the redevelopment of the Stanmore site to its members and is currently drawing on members suggestions as to the design of the future club on the Stanmore site.
The “big start” for the construction projects was given unanimously by the members, thus supporting and instructing the current Administration to proceed with the renovation plans.
During the General Assembly, the members showed in every way their appreciation to the Board. of the “Salvation Committee”, which not only managed to save the Community from bankruptcy, but also set the line that prescribes a bright future for the organization.
“The future of the Cyprus Community of NSW is now more certain than ever” said the treasurer.
26-year-old Greek businesswoman Nicoletta Koutalianos’ business ‘Rooted’ was one of 3 finalists selected for the Finder Green Awards 2021, held online on Wednesday.
Koutalianos was shortlisted for the Rising Star of the Year category for her work in building her business Rooted, a 100% plant-based and plastic-free meal delivery service.
“Rooted was founded to answer a gaping hole in the meal delivery space. There is a rising number of the Australian population turning to veganism and plant-based foods every year, thanks to more education on sustainability and environmental impacts than ever before. People are increasingly conscious of their choices and how it reflects on their health, and the health of the planet.
“At Rooted, we’ve created an answer to that. A solution for modern times, we make convenience guilt-free. We use absolutely zero plastic, 100% home compostable packaging, and our food is entirely plant-based and gluten-free,” Koutalianos said.
“The core of our message is that you don’t have to compromise – you can eat delicious food, and it can be healthy, convenient, and good for the environment too,” she said.
Nikoletta Koutalianos, is also a finalist for the Small Business Champion Awards 2021, with results to be announced on the 31st July at Sydney’s The Star.
FIFA has awarded Antenna TV the exclusive media rights to air the 2022 World Cup.
Greece’s free-to-air broadcaster will cover the tournament daily and air all 64 matches on its platforms.
Ant1TV will air at least 32 matches, including the opening match, quarterfinals, semi-finals, and final.
“We are pleased to welcome a new partner for the FIFA World Cup 2022 rights in Greece,” FIFA’s media rights and content services director Jean-Christophe Petit announced last week.
“Antenna TV will offer extensive coverage of the event on its linear and digital platforms, ensuring that this unique FIFA World Cup is unforgettable for all Greek fans,” he says.
Antenna TV is the first private television channel in Greece to be awarded the rights to the World Cup broadcast.
“We are delighted to be the first private TV channel in Greece to broadcast this, the most important football event in the world, giving our viewers the chance to enjoy, free to air, the greatest moments from football’s biggest stars, on sport’s biggest stage,” says Stella Litou, general manager at Antenna Group.
The coverage will be broadcast live from hosting country Qatar, the very first Middle Eastern country to host the FIFA World Cup in its 22-year run.
32 international teams will arrive in Qatar later in the year to battle it out for the title of World Cup champion.
It was a brazen attack: 16 seconds of fury that led to the death of Warren Hordpenko in Canberra’s Kingston Hotel in July last year.
Kerry Kourpanidis, 36, has been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years jail for manslaughter after bashing Mr Hordpenko at the pub, the ABC reports.
Hours before the killing, Kourpanidis had been at the hotel with his partner, his brother and his six-year-old daughter, when a drunk Mr Hordpenko approached the group.
The 44-year-old had been drinking alone most of the afternoon and had been asked to leave after harassing a patron.
Court documents show he spent some time talking with the family, during which he told the little girl she had perfect eyes, perfect lips and a beautiful nose, and then touched her on the face.
Kourpanidis, his partner and daughter left the pub, but when they arrived home Kourpanidis’ partner criticised him for not standing up to Mr Hordpenko.
The father then left the home, got into his car and drove back to the hotel.
Kourpanidis surprised Mr Hordpenko in the pool room, tackled him and repeatedly punched him in the head until he fell unconscious. Kourpanidis then immediately left.
The frenzied attack took just 16 seconds, and although he only caused superficial damage to Mr Hordpenko’s face and head, Kourpanidis also hit a critical blood vessel, causing death.
Justice Michael Elkaim said the attack was brutal and included the targeting of the head.
‘Tragic tale of two decent men’: judge
Before a packed court, family members of Mr Hordpenko gave emotional impact statements to the court.
Mr Hordpenko’s mother said her son “was a person that wouldn’t have harmed anyone”.
His father said that he was an honest, hard working man “dearly loved by all his family” and a loyal friend.
Kourpanidis’s family and friends told the court the attack was out of character, and that he was a caring and loving father.
Justice Elkaim sentenced Kourpanidis to seven-and-a-half years jail, with a non-parole period of three years and nine months.
Asylum-seekers in Greece lined up to get their coronavirus shots on Thursday as authorities began rolling out vaccinations in migrant camps, Reuters reports.
The government, which began vaccinating the general public in January, had been criticized by rights groups for being slow to include asylum-seekers, at risk in overcrowded camps where sanitary conditions are poor and social-distancing impossible.
There are about 12,100 asylum-seekers on five Greek islands close to Turkey, and about 9,400 of those live in official camps, according to the United Nations’ refugee agency UNHCR.
Greece has commenced COVID 19 vaccinations of Asylum Seekers and Refugees on the islands today in Lesvos, Samos and Chios and plans to start in the mainland sites next week. This is an important step. No one is safe until everyone is safe.
On Thursday, vaccinations began on the islands of Lesbos, Chios and Samos with Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose shot, said Anastasios Chatzis, an official with the National Organization of Public Health.
“We have the vaccines, we have the staff, the mood is positive,” Hatzis said from Lesbos. “We have a long but good road ahead, and we hope everything goes well.”
Nikos Babakos, director of the Lesbos camp, said vaccinations would be done there so as not to burden the island’s health services.
— Εθνικός Οργανισμός Δημόσιας Υγείας (ΕΟΔΥ) (@eody_gr) June 3, 2021
“We are continuing to inform the population in order to be able to vaccinate as many as possible,” he said.
About 15% of people in camps had so far expressed an interest in getting vaccinated and about 30% had already been ill with COVID-19, Migration Ministry Secretary General Manos Logothetis told the Athens News Agency.
In Greece, a country of about 11 million, more than 35% of the population have received at least one dose, the government said on Thursday.
The assurance that the US continues to consider the Republic of Cyprus as an important partner for regional stability and security in the Eastern Mediterranean and the commitment to work to further deepen the strong US-Cyprus ties, was given by US President Joe Biden, in a response letter sent to the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades.
According to a government spokesman, in his letter, Biden thanks Anastasiades for his leadership, friendship as well as the important role that the Republic of Cyprus plays in addressing global challenges and states that he looks forward to working with the President of the Republic to address issues of common interest in the Eastern Mediterranean.
According to the same source, the President of the United States goes on to express his appreciation for the briefing received by the President of the Republic of Cyprus in his letter of 14 May at the informal conference in Geneva and expressed the clear position for the reunification of Cyprus on the basis of the bi-zonal bi-communal in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.
The US President also refers to the issue of Famagusta, stating in particular that the US is concerned about the unilateral decision of the Turkish Cypriots, with the support of Turkey, to open part of Varos in October 2020.
President Biden states that the United States has called and will continue to call for the reversal of this decision of the Turkish side and will discourage, as he characteristically emphasizes, further provocative actions.
The US President also states that his government will continue to encourage constructive Turkish participation in the next round of UN-sponsored talks.
“In conclusion, President Biden expresses his desire to soon continue his discussions with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, on issues of common interest,” said the spokesperson.
Sydney mum-of-one, Lea Yanitsas, is currently on cloud nine. She recently achieved selection for her second Olympic Games and is now training daily with her water polo team, the Aussie Stingers, ahead of the Tokyo Olympics in July.
“We’re really looking forward to it. I think everybody has just been through the most insane experience of our lives… and so I can’t wait for us all to get together again,” Lea tells The Greek Herald exclusively.
For Lea, qualifying for the Olympics has always been a dream of hers from a very young age.
The 32-year-old says it all began at NBSC Mackellar Girls, formerly Mackellar Girls High School, when she was introduced to her roll call teacher, Debbie Watson, who won a gold medal for water polo at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
Lea is goalkeeper at the Aussie Stingers. Photo: Balazs Czagany.
“I grew up on the Northern Beaches in Sydney and I never did water stuff, which seems crazy because the area is all about the beaches, right?” Lea says with a laugh.
“And then I went to high school the year after the Sydney 2000 Olympics and Debbie Watson was taking my roll call and I was a total groupie. I was just in awe, I couldn’t believe I was in the same room as her.
“So then I went to water polo try outs and I figured out pretty quickly I wasn’t the strongest swimmer and I ended up in goals.”
The rest, as they say, is history. Lea eventually ended up playing with the Aussie Stingers at the Rio Olympics in 2016, which she says was an “amazing experience.”
Lea in Rio De Janiero, Brazil, at the Olympic Games in 2016. Photo: Elsa/Getty Images.
“It was a mix of the biggest highs and lows in my life. There’s nothing else to really compare it to because it’s like two weeks of living on the edge of all your emotions,” Lea passionately explains.
“Seeing how sport brings people together and being able to see what the [Olympic] village is like, it was all just such an amazing experience and it’s pretty much addictive to try to get to the second one.”
Luckily for Lea, her second chance has come at this year’s Tokyo Olympics, despite the numerous challenges she’s faced in the lead up to the games. This includes of course, the raging COVID-19 pandemic, which saw the Olympics postponed last year, as well as raising her beautiful two-year-old son, Constantine.
(L-R) Lea, her husband Andrew and their son Dino. Photo supplied.
Lea’s son Dino wearing her waterpolo cap..
Dino with his grandparents – Constantine E Yanitsas and Marina Yanitsas.
“There was a period there where we weren’t allowed to train in pools so we got pretty creative. We ended up training in the ocean with the girls who lived locally… and doing gyms sets at home, which was quite difficult with an 18-month-old,” Lea says.
“So yeah, going through this whole cycle with a little one has been really tough on my family and we need an entire village to let me follow my dream. But I’m so lucky and… it’s just special to be able to do it not only for myself and my family, but also my little man so he knows he can aim for the stars.”
And what exactly is Lea herself aiming for at the Tokyo Olympics this year?
“The best thing for our team would be to win medals, but I think that we’re going to do our absolute best… and hopefully we will be successful, whatever that looks like,” Lea concludes.
In 2019, Jade Capitanelis graduated from St Spyridon College in Kingsford, Sydney, with an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank of 94.35.
Two years later and she is not only currently studying a Bachelor of Arts/Law at the University of New South Wales, but she has also been named one of two recipients in NSW of the Brother John Taylor Memorial Prize.
This prize is awarded by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) to students who have overcome significant disadvantage or disability to achieve academic excellence in the HSC.
According to a statement from St Spyridon College, Jade was born with cerebral palsy which affected her movement, speech and writing.
During her schooling at the College, from Kindergarten to Year 12, Jade participated in all aspects of school life and never expected any special treatment.
“Jade showed great resilience and effort. She was determined to do well and always tried her best, achieving high results in all her subjects,” the statement reads.
Jade was also a valued member of the senior Debating team, which won the HICES debating competition in 2019.
The College writes that the Student Principle which had particular meaning to Jade was, “we respond to the difficulties of life with patience, dignity and faith, never fearing to start again.” For her it meant perseverance and highlighted the importance of not giving up.
Stem cell therapy is on the “extreme” end of treatments available for Denise Haridemos’ rare condition, but it may be her last hope.
Denise recently had her request accepted to qualify as a candidate for a St Vincent Hospital research project into stem cell transplantation for severe sclerosis patients.
“I’ll do whatever I can to help them do more research on this awful disease,” Denise tells The Greek Herald.
“If I don’t do this, then I don’t know how long I’ll actually last…”
Denise Haridemos was diagnosed with systemic sclerosis in 2009.
Denise Haridemos with her three children, Krystyana, Miki, and Alexi (Source: Supplied)
She’s tried several different treatments since but was recently dealt a blow with the news that Methotrexate, the drug Denise originally used, did her more harm than good.
“[My specialist] decided to change my medication… because we noticed that my lungs had started to deteriorate quite dramatically.”
Denise has taken Nintedanib for six to seven months now to treat her lung scarring but obtaining it wasn’t easy.
Nintedanib isn’t listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and runs for about $80,000 a year, Denise says.
Her lung specialist, Dr. Stuart Schembri, had to request the Health Department to allow Denise to trial a drug that “slows [the disease] down and gives you more life”, Denise says.
There is no known cure for the roughly six thousand Australians living with scleroderma, but Denise finds solace in knowing her participation in the St. Vincent’s Hospital trial will benefit other Australians living with the condition.
“I’m a pretty tough cookie. I just soldier on every day.” (Source: Supplied)
“I’m a pretty tough cookie. I just soldier on every day,” Denise says.
Vicki Ann, Denise’s sister-in-law, recently surpassed her GoFundMe goal for Denise within a single day of posting it.
Ann recently launched a GoFundMe to cover Denise’s medical costs after she was forced to quit her job. In just a single day, they raised over $60,000.
“I’m just overwhelmed and really emotional because I didn’t even know [the GoFundMe page] was a thing!” she says.
“One little child donated $10. That just broke my heart.”
