Maria Vamvakinou and Andrew Gilles are among other Labor MP’s who expressed disappointment over the Greek Studies program at LaTrobe University ending after 38 years.

The Australian Labor Party released a statement denouncing the the univiersity’s actions, claiming it is a “direct result” of cuts by the Morrison Government to properly support universities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Facing financial pressure, La Trobe University has flagged cutting dozens of liberal arts and language subjects including Greek Studies, Hindi and Indonesian. The University has already cut jobs and they expect to cut more jobs,” the statement says.

“The Morrison Government’s failure means that institutions like La Trobe are being forced to gut their courses, cut jobs and leave students with fewer choices.”

La Trobe University is currently the only university in Victoria that offers a comprehensive program in Modern Greek Studies from complete Beginners to PhD. Students at the University have organised a petition to help save the Modern Greek Studies course from being discontinued.

“By cutting funding to the Greek language program the Morrison Government is sending a message that they don’t value the Greek language.”

“Our multicultural nation is made stronger when second and third generation Australians have the full opportunity to remain strongly connected to their language and culture.”

“Australia has one of the largest Greek diaspora communities in the world and any understanding of modern Australia must include an understanding of all the cultures that have shaped it. If this program is discontinued, students, no matter their background, will be denied that opportunity and as a society we will be poorer for it.”

“We call on La Trobe University to reconsider this decision and to continue its Greeks Studies program.”

Australian Ambassador to the US Arthur Sinodinos has revealed how Australia will seek to work more closely with the new Biden administration as the country begins its road to economic recovery.

Speaking on The Australian’s Strategic Forum Sinodinos says he believes Joe Biden will maintain the Trump administration’s tough approach to China but would do so more in concert with regional allies like Australia.

“We’ve encouraged a Trump administration and we will encourage a Biden administration to work closely with us and others because I think for us it is important that China is brought into the rules based order in a way which is consistent with that order working to the benefit of everybody,’ Mr Sinodinos told The Australian.

“We want a strong and prosperous China but it has to work within that context. And that works best when we and other countries work together to convince them that the calculus of benefit for them is to be part of that rules based order.”

With President-elect Joe Biden serving in US Congress for 47 years, also acting as Barack Obama’s vice-president, Sinodinos expects Biden to have a more “consistent” foreign policy approach.

“I think what may be a holdover from the Obama era may be the way the Obama put the focus on the inter-agency processes,” Sinodinos added.

“But I suspect that is a default position that the president-elect would fall back on, those processes he was familiar with in that time.

“The opportunity for us, of course, is that where those processes exist, we have more notice of what may be going on, more of a capacity to influence.:

Mr Sinodinos said he believed a Biden presidency would see a continuation, rather than any major change, in the close alliance relationship between Australia and the US. He said he hoped Mr Biden would visit Australia next year to mark the 70th anniversary of the ANZUS Alliance and underline the importance of the relationship for both countries.

“This is a relationship which, in my view, under this (Trump) administration has gone from strength to strength, and we are optimistic we can go further under a Biden administration,” he said.

Sophie Cotsis MP, Member for Canterbury, welcomes the start of a major upgrade to Rudd Park in Belfield after a very lengthy community campaign including petitions, representations, lobbying from Belmore Eagles and the Canterbury Football Association. 

Key works include:

– Construction of a new synthetic field which will be fully accessible for those with disabilities

– Irrigation and drainage upgrades

– Installation of new lights

“Rudd Park plays an important role in our community. Local sporting groups train or play matches in the park and residents use it as a recreational open space as part of their active lifestyles” said Ms Cotsis. 

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“Creation of synthetic fields and increasing accessibility for people with disability will allow for greater utilisation of the park for all locals.

“I have been side by side with our community and sporting groups, calling for this upgrade. I would like to acknowledge Belmore Eagles, Canterbury Football Association and locals for their campaign.”

Mayor Khal Asfour said “The new ground will support all-weather use with a high-quality playing surface.

“We know the field is used for soccer and so we have timed the project to be completed just in time for the start of the soccer season. The new synthetic field will be flood-proof and so that means more games for our community and less rained out days.

“There will still be room to maintain parklands for the community.”

Tony Burke, Member for Watson said “I am really pleased to see work commencing at Rudd Park. “This fantastic upgrade will enable thousands of local children from local sporting clubs to play their football matches on a perfect surface in all conditions.

“These upgrades are critical in ensuring that children have the facilities available to pursue a healthy and active lifestyle through sport.”

Police detained several dozen people and fired tear gas in Athens Tuesday as hundreds of protesters defied a ban on gatherings of more than three people to mark the anniversary of the crushing of a 1973 student uprising against the military junta then ruling Greece.

Nov. 17, the day the uprising was quashed, is marked each year with wreath-laying ceremonies at the Athens Polytechnic commemorating those who died there, followed by marches to the U.S. Embassy. The United States had backed the dictatorship that ruled Greece for seven years from 1967.

But the government banned this year’s events, citing public health concerns as the country struggles to contain a resurgence of the coronavirus that is straining hospitals and leading to record numbers of deaths. A nationwide lockdown has been imposed until the end of the month, but authorities tightened restrictions during the Polytechnic anniversary, banning gatherings of four or more people from Nov. 15-18.

Thousands of police were deployed in Athens and the northern city of Thessaloniki to prevent marches. The annual Polytechnic marches often turn violent, with protesters clashing with riot police.

Left-wing opposition parties decried the ban as unconstitutional, although the country’s highest administrative court, the Council of State, ruled otherwise.

Three left-wing parties, including main opposition party Syriza, defied the ban, as did other groups.

A Communist Party-backed union held an initial brief gathering outside the U.S. Embassy Tuesday morning, with about 250 people wearing masks and marching in formation, maintaining distance from one another.

But a later, larger gathering by about 1,500 people in central Athens dissolved after police detained several people and eventually used tear gas and a water cannon.

In a statement, the Civil Protection Ministry said police had repeatedly requested the protesters disperse, to no avail.

“Those who, through their actions, show disregard for what is happening around them, are displaying antisocial behavior and contempt for those fighting for their lives in the hospitals,” the statement said.

Authorities said about 100 people in total were detained across Athens.

Police were also detaining protesters defying the ban in the northern city of Thessaloniki. Penalties range from 300 euros for individuals attending a gathering that violates the ban, to 3,000 euros for organizers and 5,000 euros for organizations who arrange the events.

A small group of people also threw firebombs at a police station in Thessaloniki, causing no injuries or damage.

Former prime minister Alexis Tsipras, who heads the main opposition Syriza party, posted a photo of himself attending a socially distanced gathering for the Polytechnic Tuesday.

“With responsibility and observance of health protection measures, this year we again honored the dead and the struggles of our people for democracy, independence, and justice,” he said in a post on social media.

“We broke the senseless ban,” he said. “Democracy and historical memory cannot be quarantined.”

Sourced By: Associated Press

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet will undertake the state’s biggest tax reform in decades with stamp duty to be phased out to boost the economy as NSW records a historic $16 billion budget deficit.

In his fourth budget, handed down on Tuesday, Mr Perrottet said replacing stamp duty with an annual land tax on new property transactions would be a key stimulus measure, injecting as much as $11 billion into the state’s economy over four years.

“This is the reform we need to implement,” Mr Perrottet said.

Mr Perrottet said the state’s stamp duty system was centuries old and needed to be overhauled to give residents a modern tax system.

The government will seek community consultation on its proposed model to replace the transfer tax until March, which would give people buying a property the choice between paying stamp duty upfront or opting for the smaller annual property tax.

The present stamp duty concessions for first home buyers would also be replaced with a $25,000 grant, with the option of using the money on refurbishing the property.

Mr Perrottet said he wanted stamp duty overhauled “as soon as possible”.

The state’s debt will peak at $104 billion in 2023/2024 and the budget will not return to surplus until 2024/2025. NSW has not had a budget in the red for almost a decade.

Sourced By: SMH

The Greek-Australian Cultural League (GACL) is inviting artists to register for a new platform in what will be the first-ever ‘Greek Australian Artists Directory’.

The Directory will be available as an online digital resource, introducing Greek Australian artists (and small art groups) to the wider community. The GACL notes it can also be utilised for research and education by artists, curators, teachers, students and the general public.

“The GACL intends to support and promote those registered by sharing insights into this creative community with online publication of biographies, art statements, links and art work images,” a statement by the GACL says.

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“It will become an important community resource and an archive of Greek-Australian art and in Australia, worthy of international recognition.”

Artists will also have the opportunity to document their practise in an internationally recognised, archival community resource, and network with other artists in the wider community.

The new directory was announced along with the release of the GACL’s, bilingual periodical Antipodes, Vol.66. 2020. The periodical celebrates 10 years of the annual group art exhibition, Antipodean Palette, and a tribute to well-known and acclaimed, poet and author, Vasso Kalamara.

It also incorporates the annual bilingual Literary Competition results, as well as the works of the first-place recipients in this competition.

“This year’s periodical has many new contributors and a variety of articles which give this volume significant importance to our Greek-Australian literature and art scene,” the statement adds.

“We thank all the participants and offer our congratulations to the winners and wish everyone continued success in their future endeavours.”

The GACL announced that, due to the imposed restrictions, the Antipodes will not be launched in its usual physical manner, requesting that people contact them to organise a delivery method.

GACL literary competition winners

Ποίηση Ελληνική γλώσσα

1ο Βραβείο: Ξημέρωμα – Γεράσιμος Μ. Λυμπεράτος 2ο Βραβείο: Η Φωνή του Πόντου – Konnor Terzakis 3ο Βραβείο: Δεν απονέμεται βραβείο

Έπαινος Α: Τα δύσκολα στα μισά της Νύχτας– Χρήστος Νιάρος Έπαινος Β: Ο Αλή Πασάς στα Γιάννενα – Ανδριάννα Καραμήτρου

Πεζό Ελληνική γλώσσα

1ο Βραβείο Ισοβάθμιο: Ο Καπετάν Ντούντουλας– Βασίλειος Μαλλικούρτης, 1ο Βραβείο Ισοβάθμιο: Το Κλειδί– Γιάννης Γεωργίου
2ο Βραβείο: Δεν απονέμεται βραβείο
3ο Βραβείο: Η Δύναμη της πρώτης αγάπης– Γεράσιμος Μ. Λυμπεράτος

Poetry in English:

1st Prize: The Hot Breaths of Anemoi- Elektra Orfanos 2nd Prize: Diaspora footnotes- Jena Woodhouse
3rd Prize: Twilight of Hellas – Theofilos N. Rigas

Short Story in English

Joint 1st Prize: Protomayia- Chris Papachristos,
Joint 1st Prize: Fifi and the Fig Tree – Konstantina Dounis 2nd Prize: A set of wall robes – Xenia Toul
3rd Prize: A conversation with Peter – Nina Koufomanolis

Panel of Judges

Coordinator:
Cathy Alexopoulos, OAM, (President GACL)

Members:
Dr Christos N. Fifis (Honorary Research Associate, La Trobe University)
Dr Angela Evangelinou-Yiannakis (Academic – ACU, UWA; Honorary Research Fellow – UWA).
Mr Konstantinos Kalymnios (Lawyer, Writer, Columnist)

As residents return to the streets of Melbourne’s CBD, large floral displays blossom the city’s iconic landmark buildings, laneways and streets.

The project, dubbed Urban Blooms (delivered by the City of Melbourne and the state government through the $100 million Melbourne City Recovery Fund), will last until November 27 to get visitors back into the grid, taking photos, generating social media hashtags and supporting local businesses.

Melbourne Flower Merchant’s Elizabeth Ricci came up with the floral concept, taking it to the City of Melbourne and commissioning local florists to join in the fun. 

Flowers Vasette has taken on the project with a firm hold, installing a grand archway floral sculpture around iconic Flinders Street Station.

The archway is the biggest public installation that Flowers Vasette (on Brunswick Street in Fitzroy) has undertaken in its 30 year history, and that compelled Vasette’s founder and managing director Cherrie Miriklis-Pavlou to give it her all. 

The spectacular arch features more than 500 varietal stems including, Callistemon, Eucalyptus nicholii, bottlebrush, she-oak, red box gums, blackwood wattle and more.

The garden base is filled with banksia, kangaroo paw, king protea and towering three-metre tall Acer maple plants. She sourced extra foliage and flowers from Flowers Vasette’s own Beechmont Garden Retreat in Olinda and worked with construction engineers Showtech Australia for the triumphant moment. 

Speaking to Domain, Miriklis-Pavlou says the floral display was inspired by the iconic building’s facade, and the fabulous weaves of green foliage and flowers of red, pink, gold and lavender tones breathe a sense of hope and prosperity. 

“The arch is a tribute to our industry and the unsung heroes – I hear their stories and get emotional because I want to make a difference to their lives too,” Miriklis-Pavlou says. 

“It’s a salute for all of us to get back out there and celebrate what’s possible in Melbourne. It’s a chance to celebrate our landmarks and what makes our city great.”

Miriklis-Pavlou would love to see the floral installations become a permanent part of Melbourne’s spring calendar events. “I’d love this to become a bit like the Chelsea Flower show on steroids,” she says. 

“It definitely should be an annual event to celebrate our industry and the talent that exists in Victoria. It’s a chance to show off Melbourne by spending on floral decor.”