After 155 flight hours, 986 water-bombing operations, and more than 2,460 tonnes of water dropped, four water-bombing helicopters and 20 crew members have been redeployed back to Australia from Greece.
The Four Bell 214BI water-bombing helicopters owned and operated by McDermott Aviation Group, along with a crew of 20 pilots, translators and engineers, were donated by industrial group Mytilineos to the Greek fire-fighting and civil protection authorities for a period of two months.
“Mytilineos has proven over time that it is always present during difficult times of our country. This disaster has shocked us all,” Vivian Bouzali, General Manager of Communications and Strategic Marketing at Mytilineos, told The Greek Heraldin August.
“These helicopters, with a cost of 3.3 million euros, fully covered by Mytilineos will remain in our country for two months. Until the last spark that threatens our homeland goes out.”
And so with a moving ceremony, the Greek authorities, Mytilineos, and Consul Sue Parkes, bode farewell to the crews and Australian helicopters that assisted in the Greek firefighting efforts over the summer.
“A big thank you to the authorities and Mytilineos SA for their confidence in fire-fighting capability. A big thank you to the crews for their efforts to support Greek firefighters and the local communities,” the Australian Embassy in Greece said in a Facebook statement.
St George Mining (SGQ) has begun diamond drilling at its flagship Mount Alexander Project in Western Australia.
SGQ executive chairman John Prineas says he is excited to begin drilling at Mt. Alexander.
“We are delighted to resume diamond drilling at Mt Alexander, particularly given the portfolio of exciting nickel-copper sulphide targets that we have identified and lined up for drilling,” Mr. Prineas commented.
Four holes will initially be drilled to test deep nickel-copper sulphide targets with further drilling to be planned based upon the review of the results.
Drilling will focus on a combination of offhole and electromagnetic conductors.
According to the company, these are compelling targets with strong potential to make further nickel-copper discoveries at Mt Alexander.
“This area remains underexplored and only lightly drilled, providing an opportunity for further drilling to deliver exciting discoveries to expand the mineralised footprint that we have identified at Mt Alexander,” Mr. Prineas said.
The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics is set to hold its spectator-less ceremonial torch-lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia on Monday.
The event is being met with opposition as rights groups and US lawmakers call on the International Olympic Committee to postpone the Games.
Hundreds of Greek police officers are expected to lock down the town for the weekend in a bid to ensure there are no disruptions to the ceremony.
Activists opposing the event call on China to end what the US deems ongoing genocide against Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups.
Chinese authorities have been accused of facilitating forced labor by detaining around a million Uyghurs and other primarily Muslim minorities in camps since 2016.
China denies wrongdoing, saying it has set up vocational training centers to combat extremism.
Next week’s ceremony in Olympia, the site of the ancient Games, will be held without spectators and only a limited media presence due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
They then disrupted the relay start in Olympia, marking the beginning of months of international protests.
“There is heightened mobility of the Greek police regarding the Beijing torch lighting, especially compared to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics,” a Greek official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters.
“The scenario of potential disruption is obviously being seriously considered by police.”
Human rights groups, without revealing details, have told Reuters they will be present in Greece during the ceremonies to highlight China’s human rights record and to call again on the IOC to stop the Games.
The IOC is also facing criticism for awarding two Olympics to China in a span of 14 years despite what rights groups say are no improvements in the human rights situation since the 2008 Games.
But IOC Vice-President John Coates defended the Olympic body’s stance on Wednesday.
“The IOC’s remit is to ensure that there is no human rights abuses in respect of the conduct of the Games within the National Olympic Committees or within the Olympic movement,” he said.
“We have no ability to go into a country and tell them what to do. All we can do is to award the Olympics to a country, under conditions set out in a host contract … and then ensure they are followed.”
The creative community was shocked when The Nicholas building was listed for sale in June.
Former staff members of the heritage-listed building are pleading for potential buyers to keep using the space as a hub for artists.
Architect Christie Pestinis told The Guardianthe building is a ‘really important’ part of Melbourne’s creative scene.
“People are proud and happy to be there – and everyone has a story about the building,” Pestinis says.
“It’s the hub of Melbourne’s creative scene.”
“It’s always had incredibly diverse occupants.”
Dimitri ‘Dimi’ Bradas was a lift operator in the building between 2006 and 2013. He also spoke with The Guardian about his experience working at the building.
“I used to sculpt and draw. While being a lift attendant I’d be working on my own drawings in the lift, in the corner. I was in my own fantasy land,” Bradas says.
“I would just sit and draw. I would draw in the mornings when it was quiet. Then I’d pack it up when it got busy and later in the afternoons I would draw again. And eventually, I had a studio there in the building.
“I made good, lasting friendships from the building.”
Food Safari presenter Maeve O’Mara grew infatuated with Greek life and culture as a young adult.
She says reading books about ancient Greek legends and tales captured her imagination as a young child.
“As a child growing up in the white-bread suburbs of Sydney, I adored reading books about Greek myths and legends.”
“One book, Tales of the Greek Heroes, opens with the most astounding description of Greece with its ‘towering mountains sloping steeply into the bluest of blue seas’ and ‘valleys green and silver with the leaves of a million olive trees’.
“It captured my imagination and I couldn’t wait to see it for myself the first chance I got.”
She eventually set off, aged 20, for the quiet forests of Corfu and the vibrant buoyancy of Cretan beaches.
“…I felt utterly beguiled by its people, its landscape and its food as I travelled on a Eurail pass between islands,” O’Mara says.
“Most times, the ferry was met by locals offering rooms in their homes. What utter joy to enter a Greek home and be welcomed into the ebb and flow of Greek island life.”
“Over the decades that followed, I have returned to the Greek Islands many times, enjoying the freedom of hiring motor scooters and zipping around winding roads to perfect secret beaches, that incredible water so clear and buoyant you feel like a superhero and can swim forever. Santorini was the first island to capture my heart but, over the years, I’ve also grown fond of the tiny island of Folegandros, as well as Limnos.”
“That said, no matter which island you go to, you’ll get caught up in philoxenia, the Greek spirit of hospitality.”
“I’ve been taking travellers to Greece now for 20 years, each time introducing them to that special philoxenia across four islands, including Evia, Lesvos, Limnos and Chios. Some of my favourite places to visit? Stay at Fanari Villas in Santorini and the stylish Anemomilos on Folegandros, enjoy lobster folmari at Giannakaros Fish Taverna in Kotsinas, Limnos, and hike around Paleochora on the south coast of Crete. A walking track winds through rocky gorges and takes you to hidden beaches. Swim wherever you can – the colour, the buoyancy, it’s something you’ll remember forever.”
The Australian government is falling under mounting pressure to commit to net zero emissions by 2050 three weeks ahead of a United Nations global climate summit.
ClimateWorks lead Anna Malos says it will be “an embarrassment” if the Coalition is unable to agree on an emissions reduction target before then.
“It will definitely be an embarrassment for Australia if we don’t set that goal,” Malos tells news.com.au.
“The state and territory governments have set these goals already. They understand the need for clarity, and our companies are crying out for that clarity.”
“Not only would it be an embarrassment on the international stage it would also be a mark against us and for the companies who want to operate and invest in Australia.”
Australia has committed to limiting global warming to below 2, preferably 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels, as part of the Paris Agreement.
The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported in August however that Australia has warmed by 1.4 degrees Celsius.
Their report warned Australia will be at the forefront of more frequent and severe weather events unless there are rapid and significant cuts to carbon emissions.
“Without setting that clear net-zero goal, you don’t create the direction that our economy and our communities need,” Malos says.
“I compare it to our Olympians and Paralympians who knew what they wanted and then worked out the steps they need in order to set themselves up to win those medals.”
How will immunocompromised people navigate life with COVID in the community?
Dr. Connie Katelaris has the answers.
Hi Connie! Can you describe what you do and what your specialty or focus is?
I am a clinical immunologist/allergist so I work with children and adults who have all types of allergic disorders – asthma; hayfever and sinusitis; skin allergies such as eczema or hives and swelling; allergic reactions including anaphylaxis to food, drugs, stings, and other substances. On the immunology side, I see people with various autoimmune conditions, inflammatory conditions, and immunodeficiencies where the immune system does not work well and there is a risk of recurrent infections.
Dr. Connie Katelaris is the Head of Department at Campbelltown Hospital
You are Head of Department at Campbelltown Hospital. Can you describe the scene to us? Is the strain on the hospital currently easing or rising?
Our hospital, being in South West Sydney is in an area of great concern and has been extremely busy because of the COVID crisis. We have had up to four wards devoted to COVID patients with junior staff being rostered on around the clock. Many specialists have also been working in these wards and others have taken on work outside of their specialty to help out with all patients. As you can imagine, the intensive care staff have been under huge pressure with very high dependency patients needing intensive care. Many of our nurses have taken on other roles such as well helping out with testing, vaccinations, and overseeing care in the home for those who are not so ill with the infection. Meanwhile, we are all trying to do our “normal tasks” as well; up till now all our outpatient appointments have been via telehealth but hopefully, we can resume face-to-face consultations soon.
How common are allergic reactions to Australia’s COVID-19 vaccines and why can they occur?
Allergic reactions to our COVID-19 vaccines are extremely rare but have been reported with both mRNA vaccines – Pfizer and Moderna at a rate between 4-11 per million. Allergic reactions to the AstraZeneca vaccine are even rarer.
The mechanism of the apparently allergic/anaphylactic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines has yet to be determined. The mRNA vaccines contain polyethylene glycol (PEG), which has rarely been implicated as an allergen in anaphylactic reactions to other PEG-containing products and medications. AstraZeneca vaccine contains polysorbate, and it has also rarely been implicated as an allergen in anaphylactic reactions to polysorbate-containing products and medications. For people with a past history of anaphylaxis to PEG or polysorbate, the respective vaccines are contraindicated.
We have seen a number of people who have had allergic-type reactions after a vaccine and yet under close supervision have been able to tolerate another dose.
We do not list previous anaphylaxis to a food or drug as a reason not to receive the COVID vaccine but such people are advised to be observed for 30 minutes after the vaccine is given. All vaccination centers are equipped to manage allergic reactions.
The TGA is yet to approve a COVID-19 vaccine for children under 12 years old. When can you see under 12’s getting vaccinated?
Children under 12 years of age are not yet able to access COVID-19 vaccines in Australia; the reason for this is that the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines for this age group are still being studied.
Various studies underway in other countries are examining COVID-19 vaccines in children aged between 6 months and 17 years. Once published, the results of these studies will provide further information about the risks and benefits of vaccinating young children against COVID-19. Our health experts examine emerging evidence on the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in children and I am sure that once evidence is available we will see approval for this age group in Australia.
NSW has mandated the COVID-19 vaccine for teachers and childcare staff
What do you make of the move to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations in schools & childcare centres?
Children may show mild symptoms of COVID-19 infection such as a sore throat, or they may have no symptoms at all yet even when they are asymptomatic they can still transmit the virus and may spread COVID-19 through schools and family groups.
On the other hand, COVID-19 can cause serious illness in children. though it appears the risk of serious illness and death is lower compared to adults. The risk of serious illness may also depend on the strain of COVID-19, with earlier strains such as alpha, being less problematic but with new strains emerging, more children become unwell and vaccination is one of the best ways to protect them.
There have been over 4,000 cases of COVID-19 in Australian children aged from 0–9 years and over 6,000 cases in children aged 10–19 years.
Research suggests people with immunodeficiencies generate less robust responses to COVID-19vaccines. How can this be addressed?
The term ‘immunocompromised’ applies to a wide variety of conditions and treatments that decrease immune function. Conditions include primary immunodeficiencies present from birth, as well as more common secondary immunodeficiencies resulting from diseases such as HIV-AIDs, diabetes and leukemia. People can also become immunocompromised because of medical treatment needed for treatment after a transplant, or to manage those with certain autoimmune diseases and cancers. Studies of vaccines against other viruses show that immunocompromised populations do not mount the same response to vaccination as non-compromised populations.
Most studies with COVID vaccines so far have examined patients with secondary immunodeficiency and have tracked antibody response to vaccination. These studies indicate that some types of immunocompromised patients do not mount as robust of an antibody response after COVID-19 vaccination as healthy patients.
With the emergence of new strains, the vaccines may not give as much protection as with earlier strains so immunocompromised individuals may not be safe from infection even within highly vaccinated populations. For this reason, advice is now given for certain immunocompromised people to have a third, booster dose after the initial vaccination protocol. This is an area of active research and more information will come from studies examining infection rates in immunocompromised people who have received the vaccination.
COVID-19 restrictions will lift entirely in NSW for everyone on December 1. How will immunocompromised people navigate life with COVID in the community?
I am certain this will cause much anxiety for those who have underlying risk factors. For herd immunity, we need well over 90% of all the population vaccinated so we must still encourage people to seek vaccination. For immunocompromised people, a booster vaccine dose has just been recommended by ATAGI so these people need to check with their doctor regarding their eligibility for the booster. Practising all the health advice measures will still be necessary.
Dr. Connie Katelaris says we will “learn to live with” COVID-19 “a little like the situation with influenza”
How can the community be mindful of these communities and help keep everyone safe?
Although we are ”opening up” as a society, we must be mindful that the virus is still circulating and is likely to be around for some time yet, perhaps for years. We are likely to see fewer infections over summer when people spend a lot of time outdoors but transmission is still very possible with close contact and in indoor environments with poor ventilation. We must follow all health advice at all times, especially practising safe distancing and mask-wearing when indoors as well as good hand hygiene. Remember that the more people that are vaccinated, the safer it is for all of us. In particular, we should get tested if we have any symptoms and isolate as needed. We should all be mindful of those in our society who are more vulnerable – the elderly, children, and those people with underlying chronic diseases including immune deficiencies. I believe this is the duty of all of us in a caring and compassionate society.
What will emerging variants of COVID-19 mean for the community down the road?
All viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, change or mutate over time. Most changes have little impact on the properties of the virus, however, some may affect how easily it spreads, or how severe the disease might be or alter the effectiveness of the currently available vaccines. We are all familiar with the fact that the influenza virus changes often, which is why we are encouraged to have a new flu vaccine every year.
We have already seen a number of variants of SARS-CoV-2 emerge in UK, Brazil, South Africa, and India. Variants may have increased ability to infect people and may show some resistance to currently used vaccines although at present our currently available vaccines are conferring significant protection. In the future, we may need an annual vaccination that has been made with the latest variants in mind.
We must have adequate funding for our scientists to continue studying the genetic sequence of viruses so we know how it is changing.
How do you see life with COVID-19 in the community infive years? Ten years?
I think COVD-19 will be around for years to come. We will learn to live with it a little like the situation with influenza. We will probably need an annual vaccination to cover new strains and unfortunately, we will have deaths each year from this infection so we will all have to practice the well-publicised public health measures continuously.
What advice should someone be given if they are still unsure of the COVID-19 vaccine for either themselves or their loved ones?
Vaccination is the only way out of this pandemic! We need well over 90% of the total population vaccinated in order to have herd immunity and to stop the spread of the virus. This is the only way we will protect ourselves and those most vulnerable to this virus– our parents, grandparents, expectant mothers, those with chronic illness. We should see this as our duty and responsibility.
Tennis world No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas has virtually committed to January’s Australian Open.
Tsitsipas, 23, described the tournament’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for participating athletes as “fair”.
“I will play under the conditions that have been set now. I think it’s fair,” he said.
It comes one week after he declined to reveal his vaccination status ahead of the current Indian Wells tournament in California.
“I’m sorry but I’m not able to provide my medical … any of my medical records, or any of my medical status. Thank you,” Tsitsipas said last week.
While the Victorian government has not mandated the COVID-19 vaccine for tennis players, The Age this month confirmed it is probable a separate vaccine mandate will be required for tennis stars.
Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley has raised concerns that mandatory vaccination may turn top players away.
St. Demetrios Church hall in inner Melbourne will open its doors as a four-day popup vaccination clinic next week.
People over the age of 16 will be able to book their Pfizer jabs at the church hall between October 20 to 23.
Medical staff of the Port Melbourne Medical Centre will administer the vaccines and Greek-speaking doctors will be provided by the Hellenic Medical Society of Melbourne.
Belmore’s All Saints Grammar School in Sydney ran as a vaccination clinic earlier this year (Photo: Janie Barrett)
St. Eleftherios in Brunswick will follow suit in offering COVID-19 vaccinations from October 27.
It’s a key part of the Greek Community of Melbourne’s campaign with the Victorian Government to “target local communities”.
It comes as the state recorded an all-time high of 2,297 new COVID-19 cases and 11 deaths on Wednesday.
For more information or to book your appointment, visit Port Melbourne Medical, click here or call 9662 2722.
NSW will open its borders to fully vaccinated international travellers — who will no longer need to quarantine in hotels, or at home — from November 1.
“In addition, probably the most significant announcement we are making is an end to quarantine.” NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced on Friday.
“From November 1st, those people returning Australians and tourers who want to come back, who want to visit Australia and coming to Sydney, hotel quarantine will be a thing of the past.”
People wanting to arrive in Sydney from overseas will need to show proof they’ve received a TGA-approved vaccine, and undertake a PCR test for COVID-19 before they board their flight.
NSW is the only state to announce quarantine-free international travel.
Regional travel
Greater Sydney residents will no longer be able to travel regionally until November 1.
“I know for many it will be unpopular, but as Premier I believe it is the right decision,” Perrottet said.
“The reason we have made that decision is best on vaccination rates in front of us.”
He noted that NSW will “probably” hit the 80 percent double dose milestone tomorrow.
Interstate travel
Premier Perrottet says he will continue to work with other Premiers to get NSW residents travelling interstate.
ACT residents will be able to travel to Sydney from November 1.
