The Ambassador of Greece to Australia, George Papacostas, has sent a letter of congratulations to The Greek Herald to mark its 95th anniversary this year.
In his letter, Ambassador Papacostas shares how he has become an “avid reader” of The Greek Herald since he first arrived in Australia last year.
Here is the full message in English:
I am honoured to be able to communicate in writing with the historic newspaper “Ellinikos Kyrikas,” on the occasion of the 95th anniversary since its first issue in Australia.
Since I was appointed Head of Mission of the Embassy of Greece in Canberra last year, I also came to be an avid reader of the newspaper. Through its articles and the comments of its editors, I am being informed about political, financial, social and cultural events in Australia, Greece and various other countries around the globe.
I am also updated on the numerous initiatives and proceedings of the Greek Diaspora of Australia who keeps a warm interest for the motherland, its development, progress and prosperity and transmits its customs and culture to the younger generations.
Please accept my sincere congratulations for your publishing and reporting efforts and my warmest wishes for the newspaper’s longevity and further development.
For 95 years, The Greek Herald has been providing comprehensive coverage of local, overseas and community news and information to Greek Australians nationwide.
This coverage has become a part of the everyday lives of Greek migrants as many grab the newspaper every morning from their local newsagent to connect back to their homeland and read stories of other Greek Australians like them.
With our digital transformation as well, we continue to play a significant role in shaping the future of Hellenism in Australia by promoting Greek values, language and culture online.
In saying this, The Greek Herald spoke to some Greek people who have been reading the print newspaper for over fifty decades and others who came to Australia at a young age and enjoy reading our stories online. This is what they had to say about what The Greek Herald means to them:
Nick Andriopoulos:
Nick Andriopoulos, 74, has been reading The Greek Herald since 1965.
Nick Andriopoulos, 74, has been reading The Greek Herald ever since he first arrived in Australia from Greece in 1965.
“I was 18 years old and came by myself. I used to read The Greek Herald on Park Street [in Sydney] at the takeaway shop where I worked for five years,” Nick says.
“I’ve been reading the paper for 56 years exactly, every Wednesday. I didn’t know how to read in English so I would read the Greek newspaper which gave me news on sports that I followed, and it gave me news from my homeland and Australia as well.”
Nick says his favourite thing about The Greek Herald has always been the sport section and the fact that it helps him stay connected to Greece, even now during the pandemic.
“I’ve been getting home delivery of the paper now. My daughter organised it every Wednesday and Friday. It’s great.”
Sozos and Shirley Koutsogiannis:
Sozos and Shirley Koutsogiannis. Photo by Kaily Koutsogiannis.
Sydney Greek couple, Sozos and Shirley Koutsogiannis, enjoy reading The Greek Herald both in print and online. Sozos has always read the paper, while Shirley started reading it online via Facebook in the last few years.
“I like to read the paper to keep up to date on current affairs in Australia and Greece in Greek, in addition to the daily news I watch on Australian TV. I also love sport, so I usually look at the back of the paper first,” Sozos says.
“Shirley, who came to Australia when she was nine, likes to read Greek community news in English via Facebook.”
Shirley adds that some of her favourite stories from The Greek Herald are on other Greek migrants as they remind her of her own migration history.
Shirley Koutsogiannis reads the news on her iPad. Photo by Kaily Koutsogiannis.
“The story on the National Monument to Migration at the Australian National Maritime Museum [was a favourite of mine]. I loved reading Bessie’s story because it reminded me of my migration story as I also grew up in a milk bar,” Shirley says.
“Sozos regularly reads out articles of interest to me as well.”
It’s this pastime which the couple say has also kept them connected and entertained during the current lockdown.
“The Greek Herald has been very important during lockdown as it kept Sozos, in particular, connected and is one of the very few things he reads these days,” Shirley says.
“It is a great way to keep up to date with Australian Greek community news via my iPhone and iPad and I love to see Sozos engaged with something as he has been quite down during lockdown.”
George and Dimitria Volikas:
George and Dimitria Volikas.
George and Dimitria Volikas migrated to Australia in the 1960s from the islands of Andros and Lemnos respectively and they say they’ve been reading The Greek Herald for years.
“It was a little bit difficult when we first came. We didn’t even know the language, but we still had a good life,” Dimitria says.
“Of course, we used to read the paper to get the news about Greece. George used to buy it every day.”
Now, as Dimitria says, things are different. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple get the newspaper delivered to their Sydney home twice a week and say they are very ‘grateful’ for this service.
“George is very thankful. He can’t go anywhere and doesn’t drive so he passes the time with the paper and sees something he hasn’t seen before.”
Sotiris Kapernaros:
Sotiris Kapernaros at his deli in Eastlakes.
The expatriate Laconian, Sotiris Kapernaros, is not only the owner of the well-known delicatessen Lakes Gourmet Deli in the Eastlakes suburb of Sydney, which he maintains with his daughter and son-in-law, but also a loyal reader of The Greek Herald for 58 years.
“I’m from the same area in Greece where Theodoros Skalkos hails from,” says Kapernaros, who recalls with pride that he first bought the newspaper as a new immigrant to Australia in the early 1960s.
“I bought the first newspaper – it was then ‘Hellenic Herald ‘ – from an agency on Castlereagh Street opposite the ATHENS restaurant, in the heart of Sydney. There was also a cafe nearby, the Parthenon, where all the Greeks gathered,” the 77-year-old recalls.
“The first thing I did every morning was go to the agency to get the newspaper. Then we went to work. At that time, the Panhellenic was 6 pennies and once my koumbaro… even told me that with the money I spent on the newspaper, I could buy a house,” he says with a laugh.
Mr Kapernaros was 19 years old when he came to Australia and explains that newspapers were the only timely and valid way for young immigrants to be informed about the news of the homeland.
“The news from Greece was slow to arrive at that time and we were informed by the Herald. Then came the Nea Patrida. We had two newspapers. We learned about politics or football, we grew up with the Herald. It is my companion. I don’t miss a single edition,” says the businessman.
Concluding and wanting to send his message to the new generation through the pages of his favourite newspaper, Mr. Sotiris Kapernaros urges parents to instill in their children a love for reading.
“The Greek Herald’s language is layered and newspapers are the only way for children to learn the Greek language. The Greek Herald belongs to every Greek,” he says.
Greek Australians behind digital tech companies have signed onto a four-year project to improve humanitarian and development programs in Somalia.
G Squared and Station Five won a bid to the Switzerland government to develop software that monitors the programs in the African country.
“We’re honored to have been chosen for this project, which aims to make a tangible difference to the lives of Somalis for many years to come,” G Squared director George Pappas tells CRN.
The two companies will develop a visual dashboard platform that displays real-time analytics – such as identification of risks – for the Swiss government’s Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and other donors.
The SDC is Switzerland’s humanitarian and development arm.
G Squared will design the user interface for the platform, while Station Five will manage the engineering and data science.
Station Five chief executive Lambros Photios is similarly elated at the opportunity.
“Winning this tender against significant international competition, including global consultancies, is a testament to the technical expertise and strong design thinking capabilities that exist in Australia,” he says.
“Despite being far from both Switzerland and Somalia, we’re already working with SDC’s teams on the ground to ensure we build a data platform that provides its users with real-time analytics that will help them to make fully informed and timely decisions.”
Station Five is a Sydney-based digital consultancy start-up founded by Photios during his studies at the University of New South Wales in 2015.
Almost three years prior he had started out as a software engineer at G Squared, which George Pappas and George Photios formed in 2012.
The peak body of football in the nation has thrown its full support towards all those fleeing from the Taliban by working with the federal government in order to develop working places for them within the football community.
Thanks to this great initiative by Football Australia, the Afghan people can become better integrated within their new environment while at the same time finding a highly necessary source of income.
“Football is the first love of Afghanistan, and as Australia’s largest club-based participation team sport, and as the most diverse, multicultural and inclusive sport, the game of football is uniquely placed to help our newest Australians re-establish a sense of community and to support families to rebuild their lives here at the appropriate time,” said the CEO of Football Australia Mr James Johnson.
“As a football nation at the forefront of the women’s game globally, we pay tribute to the Afghan women who broke new ground in building the women’s game and we stand ready to support the government and them as they build their new lives in Australia”, he added.
Within the 3,000 refugees is also the Afghani national women’s team, who is already in Australia and placed under quarantine in a local hotel. All expenses, including registration costs and other necessary arrangements for their participation within grassroots football, will be covered by Football Australia.
Should this plan be met with a substantial level of success, it could be expanded upon in order to support a greater number of refugees who arrive to Australian shores, not just from Afghanistan but from all parts of the world.
Local cafes have become social hubs for communities separated by COVID-19 lockdowns.
HAM founders Harry and Mario Kapoulas say they recognise the cafe’s role as a breakaway for customers.
“We make it a point to be positive and make it fun to come back, instead of getting caught up in how many cases there are,” Mr. Kapoulas says.
“We want them to come and enjoy themselves, to try and forget about the tough stuff that’s going on, and give them a reason to laugh and something to look forward to in their day.”
Mario, Kitty and Harry Kapoulas are key to the success of HAM (Photo: carlagrossetti.com.au)
The brothers say it’s really the coffee people come back for.
“I think our customers keep coming back because they know what they’re going to get,” Mr. Kapoulas tells the Daily Telegraph.
“It’s good quality, consistent coffee and food every time they come in – and we actually do it because we love it, not just to serve people coffee.”
Stephanie Tsiotas says her community of Kingsgrove is keeping her cafe alive during lockdown.
“We’re a suburban cafe, the neighbourhood is majority residential housing and because everyone else has been in lockdown as well we’ve been able to get through this period without hitting the panic button,” she says.
Stephenie Tsiotas runs Meeting Morgan (Left: AAP) (Right: Daily Telegraph)
“It’s like a sanctuary – our customers come through and they enjoy the food and beverages, but they also feel like they are at home and it’s a comfortable environment for them.”
Cafes will reopen for indoor dining in a COVID-safe way the Monday after NSW hits its 70 percent double vaccination target.
Across NSW, 84.1 percent of adults have had the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 56.6 percent have had both doses.
South Melbourne FC has slammed Western United’s plans to use their Lakeside stadium.
The club dismisses United’s claims that access was granted for them to use the stadium in a statement released on Thursday.
“South Melbourne can confirm that it will be exercising all rights to prevent Western United FC from playing A-League matches at Lakeside Stadium,” the statement reads.
The club writes that the tenants of the stadium insist there is no signed agreement with United nor the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) for use of the stadium.
Media Release: South Melbourne FC rejects the plans of Western United FC to use Lakeside Stadium
United is without a stadium of their own for the upcoming season A-League season but will commence work on the Wyndham City Stadium late next month.
“Their acceptance to the A-League was based largely on the commitment to having a purpose-built football stadium constructed in Melbourne’s west,” South Melbourne writes.
“It is approaching three years since the A-League expansion clubs were announced and construction works have still not commenced.”
South Melbourne lost out to United and Macarthur FC join the A-League in 2018.
The A-League 2021/22 season is expected to commence on November 19.
Public Power Corp (PPC), Greece’s biggest power utility, on Thursday formally named Australian infrastructure giant, Macquarie, as the preferred bidder for a minority stake in its fully-owned power grid operator, Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO).
PPC shareholders will take a final decision on the bid at a meeting scheduled for October 19, PPC said.
PPC earlier this month said the offer by Spear WTE Investments Sarl, a member of the Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets Group, valued the 49% stake at 2.1 billion euros, including debt of 804 million euros, making it the highest among four groups which issued binding bids.
PPC sources said it was the biggest privatisation in Greek history and noted that PPC will be able to significantly reduce its borrowing while it will also fund its investment program in renewable energy sources.
At the same time, HEDNO, with the support and know-how over an international partner and under PPC’s management, will develop an expanded modernisation and digitalisation program of its network, offering better and more quality services.
HEDNO operates a 242,000-km long grid, which brings electricity to about 7 million households and businesses across Greece.
NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has sent a message of congratulations to The Greek Herald on its 95th anniversary this year.
In her message, Ms Berejiklian hailed The Greek Herald as “a great migrant success story, providing its readers with a comprehensive range of local and overseas news since 1926.”
Here is the full message in English:
I am delighted to congratulate everyone involved with The Greek Herald as this fine newspaper celebrates its 95th year with a special edition.
The Greek Herald is a great migrant success story, providing its readers with a comprehensive range of local and overseas news since 1926. It was in the 1960s when the Herald really began to flourish, following news ownership and the introduction of modern technology.
Gladys Berejiklian.
The publication has won numerous awards including the prestigious Presidential Press Award from the Hellenic Republic on two occasions.
While its reporting on current affairs has always been impressive, the community has retained a special place in the Herald’s pages, keeping people in contact through its coverage of local news and social and fund-raising events.
Congratulations to the Greek Herald on 95 years and your outstanding contribution to the community.
It was an eventful game at the CEZ Arena of Ostrava as Maria Sakkari beat the Latvian Jelena Ostapenko 6-4, 6-2, to claim a position within the last eight of the city’s greatest tennis tournament.
Tensions began to rise during the first set, as the Greek athlete made the break on Ostapenko, causing the 24-year-old to lash out in frustration and curse her opponent. Sakkari asked the game officials to take note of the incident and went as far as bringing it to the attention of the game supervisor.
Once things calmed down and the game resumed, the 26-year-old from Athens began the… onslaught of her opponent, who seemed helpless to stop Sakkari’s powerful serve.
Now concentrating fully on the events unfolding inside the court, the Greek was able to win the first set comfortably 6-4, keeping Ostapenko under pressure throughout the encounter.
Sakkari wins the final point and the game against Ostapenko. Source: WTA
Things continued in the same manner in the second set, with Sakkari finding the break immediately and winning the points during her own serves with no problems, as the Latvian couldn’t come up with any response to her fast-swinging balls.
It came as no shock that the world number 12 came out on top in the second set, 6-2, winning the match and sealing her spot in today’s quarter-final.
According to Sakkari’s statements during the post-match press conference, Jelena Ostapenko apologised for her behaviour during the game, while adding that the Ostrava Open is a tournament that she enjoys.
Sakkari to face Martincova in next round
The 26-year-old will now go up against the Czech player Tereza Martincova in the quarter-finals.
The 26-year-old from Prague made the upset in her last game, beating world number 13 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in a heated encounter that ended with two tie-breakers, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (8-6).
Martincova is sure to have the home crowd support, in a game that is set to be held tonight (September 24) at 10pm (AEST.)
The Cypriot issue, the situation in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and the innovations made by Greece towards climate change were but some of the issues on the agenda as Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres during his visit to New York.
Mr Mitsotakis pointed out that Greece will remain a supporter of peace and stability, adding that his country will always seek to collaborate with its neighbours in the eastern Mediterranean in order to seek out a resolution to current affairs, based on the United Nations’ Law of the Sea (UNLCOS) and international laws of justice.
He added that the Turkish violations of Greek waters go against these laws and the map drawn by the UN.
Κατά τη διάρκεια συνάντησης με τον ΓΓ των Ηνωμένων Εθνών @antonioguterres, στην έδρα του Οργανισμού στη Νέα Υόρκη, συζητήσαμε το Κυπριακό, την κατάσταση στην Ανατολική Μεσόγειο και τις πρωτοβουλίες που έχει αναλάβει η Ελλάδα για την στροφή προς μία πράσινη οικονομία. pic.twitter.com/XrHYJbB2V7
In regards to the Cypriot dispute, the Greek PM stressed that the single path of negotiation towards solving this important matter can be found from the voting procedures of the UN’s Safety Council. He added that any proposal coming from a third party cannot be accepted as a basis for further discussion.
Mr Mitsotakis also expressed the nation’s full support towards the UN’s efforts on climate change. He said that environmental support was one of the main issues of his own government’s policies.
Regarding the migrant matter, the Greek PM stated that his country has lifted more than its fair share of the load, while adding that Greece has also been quite hospitable towards all the vulnerable groups such as the unaccompanied children.
Finally, during their meeting, Mr Mitsotakis and Mr Guterres talked about the situation in Libya, with the PM expressing Greece’s support towards the UN’s efforts to remove all foreign powers from the nation and to hold the elections at the predetermined time.
The Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis alongside the President of Microsoft Brad Smith. Source: AMNA
Mr Mitsotakis also meets with Microsoft President Brad Smith
During his visit to the city of New York, the Greek leader also met with the owner of the US tech giant Microsoft, Brad Smith.
The two men had the opportunity to talk about various topics, such as the company’s continuous investments in Greece despite the ongoing pandemic and the rising dynamic of the Greek economy.
Glad to meet with heads of American Jewish Organizations. We discussed the role of Democracies in the East. Mediterranean in promoting peace & prosperity through respect for UNCLOS and Int. Law. The Greek & Jewish Diasporas are working hand in hand promoting our common interests. pic.twitter.com/dHrRDXb5oT
Mr Mitsotakis had previously met Brad Smith at the World Economic Forum back in January. It’s worth pointing out that Microsoft are in the process of developing their brand new data centres in Athens, while the companies headquarters in Greece has seen one of the biggest rise in personnel worldwide.
The Prime Minister was also scheduled to visit the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Nicholas at Ground Zero, however due to an issue with the Archbishop of America Elpidoros, who attended a Turkish-organised event, a move which was heavily scrutinised by the Greek Government, the visit has been canceled.
It will instead be replaced by a meeting with the management team of the Wall Street Journal.
