The Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne & Victoria have started online music lessons for young children who want to stay in touch with their creative side during the recent coronavirus lockdown.
The lessons, which launched in semester two, are taught by musician, Maria Kourkourika, who dials in via Zoom from Thessaloniki.
Students from the Community’s schools have the opportunity to meet and learn traditional songs and musical instruments, to make their own and to express themselves by dancing and singing to the music.
The overall purpose of the lessons is to acquaint and connect children with another element of Greek culture and tradition – its music and songs.
Judging by the smiles on the faces of students, it looks like the classes are a resounding success!
In twos and threes, in small groups or alone, they came. Most walking, many crawling, ignoring bloodied knees and aching arms to climb a hill to the famed church housing an icon of the Virgin Mary believed to perform miracles.
Some wept openly, the anguish of their personal strife painted on their faces. All stopped and bowed their heads, many leaning over to kiss the icon.
For nearly 200 years, Greek Orthodox faithful have flocked to the Aegean island of Tinos for the August 15 feast day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the most revered religious holiday in the Orthodox calendar after Easter.
The annual celebration is normally a resplendent and crowded affair, with a navy band and honor guard leading a procession carrying the icon down the hill from the church to the port. Thousands pack the broad flagstone street, kneeling and waiting for the icon to pass over them.
The Holy Church of Panagia of Tinos, Tinos island, Greece. Photo: AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis.
An attendant disinfected the glass case containing the icon after each kiss.
But this year there was no procession or massive crowd, the ceremony, like so many lives across the globe, upended by the coronavirus pandemic.
Instead, the icon stayed inside the church. The navy band and honor guard remained in the church courtyard, and police reminded the faithful to wear masks. Inside, an attendant disinfected the glass case containing the icon after each kiss.
“We can’t do anything about it, it has to be this way,” said Aggeliki Kolia as she joined the queue to enter the church Saturday. “But it’s very bad. You don’t feel what you felt in previous years.”
Greece is experiencing a resurgence of the virus, with new daily cases jumping from the low double digits at the start of summer to more than 200 over the past three days. Authorities have tightened restrictions and police are enforcing the measures.
The navy band and honor guard remained in the church courtyard.
Greek PM, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, visited a church in Crete.
Kolia said the August 15 crowd would normally be so thick it would take her three hours to get from the port to the church. This time there were just a few hundred people, and only a few minutes’ wait to get to the icon.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she said she traveled from the central Greek town of Thebes to Tinos after making a pledge to the Virgin Mary for her child.
“I’ve lived through very difficult situations and the Virgin Mary truly helped me,” she said. “That’s why I came.”
It is this unshakable belief that the Virgin Mary can intercede in times of great personal tribulation that draws so many Orthodox faithful to the icon each year.
“Every Christian has the Virgin Mary as their mother, and that is something that is very important in our lives, in our difficulties, in our needs,” explained Metropolitan of Syros and Tinos Dorotheos, the regional bishop who led Saturday’s church service. “We turn to her as a small child turns to seek security in its mother’s embrace.”
An inner west café owner has been hauled before court for his alleged involvement in a violent brawl involving a baseball bat and machete, The Daily Telegraph reports.
Chris Tziomakis, who formerly owned the beloved Frappe cafes in Earlwood and Concord, allegedly armed himself with the bat while his mate had the blade in the two versus three melee.
He appeared in the Supreme Court last week on charges of affray and armed with intent to commit an indictable offence and was released on bail.
The alleged incident dates back to June 25, the court heard.
The 32-year-old from Bardwell Park allegedly visited a Kogarah business around 2pm and approached a woman with whom he has an unknown history, the court heard.
Chris Tziomakis has been released on bail. Photo: The Daily Telegraph.
She “took umbrage” with his presence, the court heard, and told him to “get out of here”, before he returned with verbal abuse.
She then allegedly approached the car and punched Tziomakis, breaking his nose, the court heard.
He left the scene but returned some time later with a baseball bat and a friend armed with a machete, it is alleged.
The court was told the pair confronted the woman, but were soon outnumber two-to-three when the woman’s partner and a male employee arrived.
It is alleged a tussle ensued and Tziomakis lost the baseball bat, before getting beaten with it as he lay on the ground, the court heard.
Chris Tziomakis pictured in Marrickville back in 2017. Photo: The Daily Telegraph.
“It seems that the original female assailant, her partner and employees were able to get the better of Mr Tziomakis,” Justice Stephen Campbell said.
“(He) couldn’t strike a blow with the baseball bat … and it was used against him.”
The court heard his friend with the machete ran off.
All those allegedly involved in the brawl, which was captured on CCTV, have been charged, the court heard, and are before Sutherland Local Court.
His barrister Ben Barrack told the court that although he was armed with a weapon, he didn’t use it, which reduced the seriousness of the offence.
There is “no suggestion he used the baseball bat or threatened violence with the baseball bat,” Mr Barrack said.
He also said he “came off worse” in both confrontations.
Mr Barrack told the court he is expected to plead not guilty to the offences on Wednesday, when his matter returns to Sutherland Local Court.
But Justice Stephen Campbell said instead of calling the police after he was punched in the face, he returned armed.
Tziomakis was granted bail on the condition he move to the regional town of Parkes to live with his cousin and not contact the other persons involved.
President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday Turkey will not back down to threats of sanctions nor to incursions on its claimed territory in the Mediterranean Sea, where it is in a standoff with EU-member Greece over oil and gas exploration rights.
“We will never bow to banditry on our continental shelf. We will not back down against the language of sanctions and threats,” Erdogan said in the northeastern city of Rize.
Tensions between NATO members Greece and Turkey have risen in the past week after Turkey sent the Oruc Reis survey vessel, escorted by warships, to map out possible oil and gas drilling in territory over which both countries claim jurisdiction.
The search for oil and gas in disputed Mediterranean waters has pitted Turkey against Greece and the entire EU bloc. Photo: Yoruk Isik / Reuters.
Athens demanded the withdrawal of the ship after Greek military vessels shadowed the Oruc Reis, with Erdogan responding that he would not “succumb” to any attempts to “steal” the Turkish continental shelf.
The Oruc Reis, which is between Cyprus and the Greek island of Crete, will continue work until August 23, he added.
Relations between Greece and Turkey have long been fraught with tension. Disputes have ranged from boundaries of offshore continental shelves and airspace to the ethnically split island of Cyprus. In 1996, they almost went to war over ownership of uninhabited islets in the Aegean Sea.
European Union foreign ministers met via video conference on Friday and said Turkey’s naval movements would lead to a “heightened risk of dangerous incidents.”
The Adelaide Greek community will be joined by Greek Australian experts and prominent figures on Tuesday to find an answer to the question; ‘What does it mean to be Greek?’
Hosted by the Adelaide University Greek Club, this event is open free to everyone and will be held at Adelaide University.
Speaking with the Greek Herald, President of the Greek Club Dion Lobotesis shares his excitement for the event, wishing to make the achievements of Greek Australians known to the general Adelaide population.
“The uni asked us to run an event for multicultural week, which could be of any sort of theme we wanted, and we thought it would be good to look at how Greek Australians have had success in Australia, whether it be first generation or second and third generation like students at the university,” Dion said to The Greek Herald.
As part of the event, the Greek Club will be hosting a range of keynote speakers to share their experiences with the Hellenic Culture.
“We invited a couple of speakers just to talk more generally about their lives and backgrounds but also how that relates to them being Greek”, Dion added.
“We picked speakers from different backgrounds, some with university education, others who are running bakeries and exploring their heritage through food. So we thought it was a good idea to get their perspective on how the culture has shaped their lives.”
Below is some of the speakers that will be featured at the event:
Dr. Paskalis Glabadanidis: A lecturer of Greek background at The University of Adelaide, who holds a PhD in Finance from Washington University. He has published numerous books and articles on his professional interests, which more broadly cover business valuation, portfolio management, investing and international finance.
George Diakomichalis: A 4th generation Greek pastry chef and founder of the award winning Kalymnos Pastries on Henley Beach Road. He is also the host of the Nine Network program “It’s All Greek to Me”, where he shares the stories and traditions of migrant families through the joy of cooking.
Dr. Natalie Lewis: A PhD qualified ethicist and social scientist, who presents on her field internationally – using her knowledge to guide ethical practices amongst individuals and organisations. Her work influences a range of fields – anywhere between the ethics of military practices to human, rights which is an area of particular interest to her.
Tickets to the event can be purchased by clicking: HERE
Stavros Konis is frustrated and angry. He does not want to see the restaurant his grandfather bought in 1979 close down on his watch.
Speaking to The ABC, he says his landlord’s tactics during Melbourne’s second lockdown are making it impossible for his business to survive stage 4 restrictions.
“It’s very frustrating for me, because I know I can survive this,” Mr Konis said to The ABC.
“I’ve been in business for a very long time. I’ve got a very successful business. It’d be a shame for me to close this one and relocate somewhere else.
“But I’ll have to if I’m going to survive. I’ll relocate to another place where there’s a different landlord with a smarter approach.”
Stavros Konis and his grandfather Tony Atherinos at Salona, which has been in the family for generations.(Photo: ABC/Stavros Konis)
Salona is a restaurant on Swan Street in Richmond, a once poor, working-class suburb in the shadow of the MCG that has evolved into a thriving inner-city icon of Melbourne life.
As Melbourne’s second wave began to bite, Mr Konis said the property manager, Steve Pantelios of Steveway Real Estate, offered him a 50 per cent reduction on the rent from the landlord.
But, he said, with revenue down by 90 per cent there was no way he could pay it.
“You’re trying to drive the business, and rejig from an a la carte restaurant to takeaway, and then you’re getting the wind sucked out of your sails,” Mr Konis said.
Shortly afterwards, Mr Konis said the agency sent him a default notice, along with a $385 administration fee.
“It was a slap in the face,” he said.
“We’ve been here for three generations. My grandfather had this business, my father had the business. We’ve never missed a rent payment.
“It would make sense if there was another 10 of me willing to jump into my shoes and open a small business here. But unfortunately, that’s not going to happen,” he said.
Greek-Cypriot mother and now children’s author Stephanie Timotheou has just launched her second bilingual children’s book, Gardening with Pappou.
The rhyming story follows the incredible success of her first book, Cooking with Yiayia, which has been sold across the globe since its release in May.
“I truly can’t believe how supportive the Greek community has been with my first book and I have no doubt everyone will love the second just as much,” Mrs Timotheou, 29, of Adelaide, says.
“Gardening with Pappou is a sweet little tribute to the wonderful pappoudes in our lives and of course my own Pappou, The Very Reverend Father Stratos, who the character’s appearance is based on.”
Mrs Timotheou used to love wandering through her Pappou’s garden as a child, so it was only fitting she recreated his fruit-filled haven for the book.
“His garden really was a special place,” she says.
“Sadly when he passed away, his home was sold and the garden no longer exists, but his garden and his memory live on through this book.
What’s the secret? Is it the mediterranean diet? The relaxed Greek culture? Whatever it is, the world is hanging on to find out.
The island of Ikaria is home to more centenarians that almost anywhere else on Earth. Time magazine placed it in the top five locations with the most centenarians, along with Sardinia, Italy, and Okinawa, Japan.
According to population statistics, 1 in 3 Ikarians to live into their 90s, often free of dementia and chronic disease. “Chronic diseases are a rarity in Ikaria. People living in this region have 20% less cancer, half the rate of cardiovascular disease and almost no dementia,” Blue Zones website claims.
Ikaria. Phot: Shutterstock
Many of the locals attribute it to a commanding sense of community involvement, keeping them active, while also maintaining a relaxed culture. Late bedtimes offset by daily naps allow the elderly to preserve their energy while making sure they are keeping their bodies active.
Accompanied by this is the famous Mediterranean diet — consisting of lots of fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, potatoes and olive oil. In addition to their Mediterranean diet, Ikarians eat a lot of wild greens and drink herbal tea, which is full of nutrients.
But surely a good diet and lots of sleep isn’t the only reason this islands inhabitants enjoy a high quality of life.
Centenarian Ionna Proiou continues to weave bags and clothes to sell in her shop (Photo: Marissa Tejada)
“Do not want more than what you really need. If you envy others, that can only give you stress,” 105-year-old Ioanna Proiou tells the BBC.
“Do something in your life that stirs your passion.
“When my husband died decades ago, I continued doing what I love. Later, someone else proposed to me, but I said ‘no’. I am married to my loom.”
Whether it’s a secret trick or simply a maintenance of routine, the Ikarians continue to live prosperously on their Aegean Island.
One amazing aspect in the longevity of a small business is the way it develops, over time, into an important part in the local community; for locals, it feels as though this small business has always been there to cater for their everyday needs. And it should be emphasised that this strong sense of belonging is mutually felt because the business owner also develops lifelong relationships with people and place too.
For Pauline Bertuzzi, Earlwood is simply her home, as she was born, grew up, married and set up her family home and business there… so you cannot get more local than Pauline!!! And Waratah Florists is now the longest-running Greek business in the Greek ‘village’, Earlwood!!!
Pauline’s parents, Panagiotis and Evdokia, moved to Earlwood and opened the Earlwood Fish Market in 1940 and they operated it for the next thirty years! So Pauline has experienced small business, whether with her parents and siblings or with her late husband, Paul, and their family, in Earlwood for over for eighty years! That is a lot of local history!
It was on the day of the opening of the Sydney Opera House that Pauline’s late husband, Paul, set up his florist business, which was a trailer in Sydney city; it was situated under the Union Carbide Building, on Liverpool Street, opposite Hyde Park. Pauline recounts these humble beginnings, ‘Every morning, he would go to the Haymarket markets to pick up the flowers he would sell that day. His day would at finish at 5.30… As he had a hawker’s license, he would go around, every Friday evening, to all the pubs in the area and sell his leftover flowers.’
With business continually growing, the Bertuzzi family began looking for premises- to establish a base- and as it would turn out- it was on Homer Street, Earlwood. Over the next few decades, Paul would manage three florist trailers in Sydney city, as he would pick up the flowers from the markets and drop them off at Pauline (in Earlwood) where they were prepared and then delivered to the city trailers.
Photo: Vasilis Vasilas
Being in the city, Paul got all sorts of exposure; he gained the front window display at the Carlton Rex Hotel and promoted Waratah Florists’ flower arrangements there, and this subsequently generated a lot of interest! Over the years, Waratah Florists gained several big contracts for the flower arrangements at the balls in the Sheridan Wentworth Hotel, the Admiral Cup Dinners and the Jockey Club. Once their good reputation grew from strength to strength, so did the offers as they did the flower arrangements for the Queen and Lady Diana’s respective Sydney visits.
While Waratah Florists’ flower arrangements decorated so many iconic city stores and institutions, it should be emphasised that the engine room to this success was the shop in Earlwood, where Pauline’s sister, Mary, and Elsie Whitney worked alongside her in those early days. Pauline recounts the busy daily routine, As city ‘stores’ only sold cut flowers, Paul would bring us all the flowers (from the markets) that needed arrangement; once we finished, my sister, Mary, would have to do (as many as) three drop offs in the city every day! Do not ask me how we managed all this! I suppose we were much younger back then and we had the energy to keep up with all the demand!’
Paul Bertuzzi was undoubtedly a larger-than-life character and brought so much life to the business and the Greek community- he just had a zest for life! And Pauline pays tribute to her late husband, ‘Paul was also a social butterfly. He may have loved his flowers but his second love was music. For many years, he was the drummer in the Greek band, Ta Nea Asteria. Looking back, I do not know how he managed working nights as a drummer at social functions and then going to the markets to buy our flowers in the early morning. Did he ever sleep?
‘He was always on the go. He was proud of his Greek heritage and he was always generous in various causes- he did not have deep pockets (laughs)! Whenever there was a fundraiser, he was there; one of the most memorable events was a charity soccer match- which included celebrities such as Harry Michael, Andrew Paschalides, George Donikian and Les Murray- and he was asked to be goalkeeper.
‘One time, television personality, Harry Michaels asked me what life was like with Paul and I did not know how to answer the question. I now know, with his absence, how boring life is.’
Having grown up in Earlwood, I personally cannot remember it without the Bertuzzi family and Waratah Florists. These days, Pauline’s daughter, Anne, runs the business and Pauline continues to be there every day.
And having been part of Earlwood’s community all their lives, you can sense that Pauline and Anne’s warm connection with her customers when they walk into their shop. Such warmth and care cannot be expressed without a lifetime, in the case of Pauline and now Anne, of service to the local community.
Construction figure George Alex told his mates he liked the sound of living in an extravagant apartment overlooking the waves breaking off the Surfers Paradise beach strip, according to documents tendered in court.
So much so that he allegedly set to work purchasing a $1.8 million three-bedroom apartment in the Gold Coast‘s Allunga building, The Daily Telegraph reports.
But there were two problems Alex needed to overcome before he could finalise the purchase.
The first was that the property couldn’t be in his name because the Australian Taxation Office bankrupted him in 2011, meaning any asset he owned would be seized by his trustee to repay his debts.
The second was how he could use a portion of the $17 million, which police allege he stole as the head of a sophisticated tax fraud syndicate, to pay for the property without the authorities noticing.
What followed was a complex maze of money transfers between people, companies and foreign countries that Alex allegedly used in an attempt to throw investigators off the scent and fulfil his dream of a beachside pad and a Queensland tan.
George Alex allegedly ran a multimillion-dollar money laundering operation. Picture: John Grainger
All up seven people and eight companies across two continents were used in an attempt to disguise the 49-year-old’s trail of allegedly stolen cash.
According to the court documents, Alex noticed the three-bedroom Hanlan St property was for sale for about $1.8 million on May 17, 2019. Alex made a series of phone calls to Gordon McAndrew, a 58-year-old former Westpac employee who has been charged with conspiracy and allegedly ordered him to purchase the property.
According to the documents, police allege McAndrew established a company to buy the property, AGIM Holdings, of which he was the director. This would allegedly “obscure” Alex as the true owner.
On April 5, 2019, $205,000 was transferred through three companies allegedly linked to Alex’s minions — Scottish Pacific, GHR Consolidated and D & B Plant Hire.
On April 12, the money was then paid as a deposit for the property to the selling agent, Harcourt Coastal.
The next step was sourcing a loan for the rest of the payment. On April 16, McAndrew allegedly used his banking know-how to arrange a loan through a mortgage broker.
The loan was secured by May 15, and McAndrew contacted the real estate agent to seal the deal, but only on the condition of a one day settlement, court documents said.
A tennis court at the Hanlan St, Gold Coast property.
On May 15, Rostron transferred just over $1.3 million from the Singapore based company to the Australian based company, Adelphi Finance, the sole director of which was Kirschberg, court documents said.
Two days later, the cash shuffle was on again with $715,000 moved between four companies allegedly associated with Alex’s crew, with the money finally landing in the Adelphi finance account.
Kirschberg then attended the ANZ Bank at Hornsby and arranged for a bank cheque for just over $1.7 million to be drawn at ANZ Surfers Paradise from the Adelphi Finance Account, court documents said.
Kirschberg then allegedly sent an SMS to Alex: “I spent all our money :).”
Property records for the Hanlan St apartment show very little with the owner’s name, the sale price and the sale date not disclosed.
Authorities seized the property last month using laws allowing them to freeze assets suspected of being the proceeds of crime following an application to the Queensland Supreme Court.
Days later, Alex and 11 other people were charged over the alleged tax fraud scheme.
