Much-loved academic, polymath and prolific author, Professor Vrasidas Karalis, has recently launched another literary work The Glebe Point Road Blues. It is a collection of stories inspired by one of his most sensitive and personal subject matters to date – his experience living in the Sydney suburb of Glebe for the last thirty years.
Written in both prose and poetry, Professor Karalis manages to eloquently depict the quirky microcosm of social outcasts and eccentric individuals which exist along the road. In fact, snapshots of the lives of these ordinary and sometimes extraordinary people become clearer through their encounters with the unidentified author.
Professor Vrasidas Karalis has released a new book titled, ‘The Glebe Point Road Blues.’
Described by critic David Brooks as “ingenious and disarming in its unique angle of vision,” the literary work transforms Glebe Point Road into a universal landscape of transfiguration and redemption. It becomes a space in which a respectable professor from Sydney University, a larrikin book-seller, a Vietnam veteran and many more, wrestle simultaneously with their angels and demons.
Out of the actualities of their life, the author wants to extract the myths that all the characters unconsciously embody. As a result, they all experience a cosmic melancholy or in the words of Professor Karalis, ‘they get the blues.’
And it is this aspect of the work which gives The Glebe Point Road Blues its metaphysical twist. The two zones of the everyday and the transcendental are cleverly fused.
You can purchase your copy of The Glebe Point Road Blueshere.
With an all female panel of guest speakers, among them Greek Australian politician Irene Pnevmatikos and FECCA’s Chair Mary Patetsos, the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia celebrated women with a special Women’s Day event at Adelaide’s Olympic Hall.
In a day
intended to honour the social, political and economic achievements of women
around the world and raise awareness towards gender parity, South Australia’s
Greek Orthodox Community (GOCSA) joined in the global celebrations with a
special event that took place on Sunday evening, at Adelaide’s Olympic Hall.
Women and men, from the Greek and the broader community had the opportunity to reflect on women’s achievements, hear the stories of inspiring female leaders and enjoy a music performance by local musician Tsambika De George.
Event Attendees/ Photo by Argyro Vourdoumpa
“We will continue to celebrate International Women’s Day each year to keep women’s issues at the forefront of today’s society,” said GOCSA President, Bill Gonis, highlighting that supporting women has been in the organisation’s original charter since its establishment, 90 years ago.
Their welcome messages addressed also Minister of Child Protection Rachel Sanderson who said that despite progress in recent decades, Australia’s domestic violence epidemic, and inadequate access to childcare are just some of the key structural barriers women still face to achieving equality as well as the Mayor of the City of Charles Sturt, Angela Evans.
Irene Pnevmatikos: ‘Climate Change has gender impacts’
“Australia was once a
leader in terms of gender equality. In fact, South Australia was the first
place in Australia to grant women the right to vote in general elections, and to stand as
members of Parliament … Today, Australia is ranked in number 44 of the Global
Gender Gap Report.
“It is a fact, that no matter the circumstance women are disproportionately disadvantaged in climate change issues as well as during and after climate disasters, due to significant stress inflicted to men who often resort in violence against them,” said Member of the Legislative Council of Parliament of South Australia, Irene Pnevmatikos.
Ms Pnevmatikos, mentioned also, that women from migrant background with language barriers, face far more challenges.
FECCA’s Chair Mary Patetsos with Member of the Legislative Council of Parliament of South Australia, Irene Pnevmatikos / Photo by Argyro Vourdoumpa
Mary Patetsos: ‘We need to engage fully with young people’
Once a vice president of
the GCOSA and a second generation migrant herself, Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of
Australia Chair Mary Patetsos,
said that although the Greek community, as a collective, have been contributing
to Australia, some things still don’t work for women.
“It does not work for women
that there is not enough of us in senior roles and because of broken career
pathways we end up not fulfilling our potential. We still bear the burden -and
the joys- of most of children related responsibilities. Childcare is still not
affordable sufficiently and there is still, for some women, a lack of secure,
permanent employment,” Ms Patetsos said.
Recently
voted as one of the 50 most influential personalities in South Australia
from SA’s largest newspaper, Patetsos raised the importance for female
leaders to influence younger women.
“The only way we can make a difference is to assure we don’t hold on to a little power and that we engage fully with young people,” she said.
South Australia’s first female Metropolitan Fire Service firefighter, Adrienne Clarke / Photo by Argyro Vourdoumpa
‘We don’t have a single female firefighter from the Greek Community’
The third guest speaker of
the event was South Australia’s first female Metropolitan Fire
Service (MFS) firefighter, Adrienne Clarke, who for the first 11 years
of her career remained the only female firefighter, in an employee population
of around 700 men.
“We’ve had to create an environment which is receptive of women in the service. It was difficult to start with … when I started, I was being scrutinised for being different. I think the fire service has matured and expanded its perspective because women are there,” she said adding that MFS don’t have a single female firefighter from the Greek community.
Mrs Efi Georgiou (right) with her friend Ioanna Krita/ Photo by Argyro Vourdoumpa
South
Australia’s female Greek migrants as role models
In the audience, I met Mrs Efi Georgiou, who migrated to Australia from
Cyprus in 1976, after the Turkish invasion.
“We lost everything. I had the option to go to England or to Australia
and I chose Australia because the weather is similar to the weather in Cyprus. I
consider Australia my second home. Everyone has been welcoming and although we
worked hard we managed to help our kids go to university and we are happy,” Mrs
Georgiou said.
For the first ten years after she arrived in Australia with her husband
and two kids she used to work as a welder in a factory.
“In Cyprus I used to work as a personal assistant. In Australia, I had
to start over. I didn’t speak the language you see,
“I worked as hard as my husband did. On top of that I had to look after
the family, the kids and the house. Of course we women should have the same
rights as men,” said Mrs Georgiou.
Sydney Olympic’s strong free flowing attacking football sadly wasn’t enough to beat APIA Leichhardt on Sunday night, with the Belmore team suffering a 2-1 loss at Lambert Park.
Sydney Olympic dominated the opening half hour of the game, having strong breakthroughs down the wing and opening up opportunities for Olympic strikers Antoniou and Ferreira in the middle.
An unlucky corner and good header from Leichhardt No.13 David D’apuzzo in the opening fifteen minutes of the game saw Leichhardt regain confidence.
Olympic were given some good free kick opportunities after some misplaced tackles by the oppositions defence, with one sailing just above the bar and another being saved by the Leichhardt keeper.
Olympic came out in the second half similar to the first, dominating possession and showing greater ferocity over Leichhardt.
Their good efforts were rewarded with a well worked goal in the 62nd minute, which was finished by Antoniou from a great team effort. Stolen by Ferreira who played it down the wing to Parkhouse, sending it across the middle to Antoniou who smashes it home from within the six yard box.
The final ten minutes of the match saw APIA press harder into Olympic’s half. A loss of concentration towards the end saw APIA deliver a cross to Chris Payne, who was left unmarked at Olympic’s back post. The striker headed the goal in the 87th minute, breaking the hearts of Olympic fans as the result ended 2-1.
Suffering another last minute goal similar to last week, head coach Terry Palapanis was disappointed with the result believing that his team “dominated the match”.
Photo: Peter Oglos
The Greek Herald spoke about Sydney Olympic’s performance with the head coach after the game.
“Just a lapse of concentration at the end…. We had quite a few chances but a lapse of concentration and a bit of luck on their end, balls in the back of the net and you lose the match.
“Yeah played them off the park in my honest opinion.”
Sydney Olympic face Marconi Stallions away at Club Marconi Bossley Park next week, hoping to gain their first victory of the season.
“We played the champions (APIA Leichhardt) and we played them off the park so thats something we can go into confident next game, but it’ll be a tough game,” Terry says.
A Melbourne GP who tested positive for the coronavirus after treating dozens of patients has lashed out at Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos, accusing her of making “inaccurate and unfair” criticisms about his decision to return to work.
Ms Mikakos said on Saturday she was “flabbergasted” that the doctor had continued to treat patients when presenting with “flu-like” symptoms after returning from a trip to the US.
“Our advice to the community is that if you have returned from overseas and are experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms then please stay home. Do not go to work,” she said.
But Dr Chris Higgins hit back at Ms Mikakos’ comments on Saturday night, posting on her Facebook page that she was using him as a “cheap opportunity for political grandstanding” and he deserved “an apology.”
“I had a mild cold when I returned from the USA last Saturday morning, which had almost resolved itself by Monday morning, hence my decision to return to work,” he said.
Dozens of other replies to Ms Mikakos’ post offered support for Dr Higgins, who is singer Missy Higgins’ father, and accused her of “throwing him under the bus.”
Support for Dr Chris Higgins remains high. Source: Facebook.
In a statement released yesterday afternoon, Ms Mikakos did not apologise to Dr Higgins but fellow MP Gabrielle Williams said Ms Mikakos had reached out to the GP overnight “to express her hope that he’s feeling better.”
“This is not about targeting a particular individual. This is about urging our entire community to take the precautions that we know need to be taken in order to keep Victorians safe,” Ms Williams said.
“The Victorian government is unapologetic about doing all we can to keep the Victorian community safe.”
Greek Bucks player Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss at least two games after suffering a a mild knee sprain, the Milwaukee Bucks said Sunday.
The reigning NBA MVP suffered the injury in the Bucks loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, with Giannis landing awkwardly after colliding with Lakers guard Avery Bradley and falling.
Antetokounmpo stayed in the game, but subsequent examination by team doctors and an MRI exam revealed the extent of the injury.
Antetokounmpo will miss the next two games after an MRI showed a minor joint capsule sprain of the left knee, the statement posted on their website said.
The reigning MVP has averaged 29.6 points – the third-most in the NBA – with 13.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists and one steal per game.
Antetokounmpo has been a significant contribution to their league-leading 53-9 record, already securing the Bucks a place in the playoffs.
Giannis and his brother Thanasis also made the headlines straight after the game after a dispute between the brothers and a Greek fan in the crowd.
A Twitter video shows someone yelling at Giannis and his brother, Thanasis, in Greek after the game. The fan’s poor remarks caught the Bucks teammates’ attention, and they ran over to the Greek fan to confront him.
Giannis and his brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo got into heated exchange with a fan on the way to the locker room after their loss to the #Lakerspic.twitter.com/fnMKM92Z8A
A landmark agreement signed between Turkey and the European Union in 2016, preventing mass migration into Greece from Middle-East migrant, has been labelled as ‘dead’ by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, speaking with CNN in an interview late on Friday.
Mitsotakis believes that the agreement has collapsed because of Ankara’s inhumane tactics. He believes Turkey has falsely convinced migrants that the Greek border is the most accessible way to enter the EU.
“Right now, let’s be honest, the agreement is dead,” Mitsotakis said. “And it’s dead because Turkey has decided to completely violate the agreement because of what happened in Syria.”
Mitsotakis referred to “a conscious attempt by Turkey to use migrants and refugees as geopolitical pawns tio promote its own interests.” He spoke further saying that people crossing into Greece are not from Syria but have been living in Turkey for a long time and are being assisted by Turkish authorities.
“Europe is not going to be blackmailed over this problem by Turkey.”
We have accepted thousands of migrants
Mitsotakis called on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “to stop being the instigator of fake news,” referring to “completely false allegations about what is happening at the borders.” “We’re not the ones escalating this conflict but we have every right… to protect our sovereign borders. We’ve succeeded in doing so and we’ll continue to succeed doing so in the future.”
“We were not the ones who initiated this crisis. We were not the ones who encouraged people to cross into Greece illegally. This is a country that over the past years has accepted hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees,” Mitsotakis says.
Mitsotakis expressed how the Greek people have “opened up our homes and we’ve opened up our hearts,” further stating it is unacceptable for him to be accused of mistreating these refugees and migrants in times of great need.
“Greece has demonstrated it’s humanism throughout this crisis but we are not willing to engage in a process by which another country systematically uses and abuses these people to try to send them across the border. In terms of the methodology we use, we have not used any excessive force and we are always reacting and never initiating.”
A fire broke out at a refugee centre on the Greek island of Lesbos, Greece’s firefighting service said Sunday, causing considerable damage to a warehouse but no injuries.
It was the second fire at an installation built for migrants, after a reception centre was burned down by unknown perpetrators last Monday. The warehouse, which contained furniture and electrical appliances, was completely destroyed, a firefighting service spokesman told the Associated Press, on condition of anonymity, because an investigation into the fire is ongoing.
The blaze at the refugee centre came amid a tense standoff between between Turkey and the European Union over who is responsible for the millions of migrants and refugees on Turkish territory and the thousands who have massed at the Greek border.
Thousands of migrants headed for Turkey’s land border with EU member Greece after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government announced earlier this month that it would no longer prevent migrants and refugees from crossing over to EU countries. Greece has deployed riot police and border guards to repel people trying to enter the country.
The Greek border area has since seen violent confrontations between the migrants and Greek security forces, with officers in Greece firing tear gas to block the migrants and Turkish police firing tear gas back at their Greek counterparts.
On Saturday, youths threw rocks at Greek police and tried to break down a border fence in a desperate attempt enter Greece. At least two migrants were injured in the skirmishes.
Erdogan will travel to Brussels on Monday to talk with top EU officials about a 2016 Turkey-EU agreement on containing the refugee flows to Europe which has now collapsed. The two sides have accused each other of failing to respect their commitments.
The deal called for Turkey to halt the flow of Europe-bound migrants and refugees in exchange for up to 6 billion euros ($6.7 billion) in aid for Syrian refugees on its territory, fast-track EU membership and visa-free travel to Europe for Turkish citizens.
Erdogan has demanded that Europe shoulder more of the burden of caring for refugees, accusing the EU of failing to disburse the money. He announced that Turkey, which already houses more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees, would no longer be Europe’s gatekeeper.
The decision has irked EU countries, which are still dealing with the political fallout from a wave of mass migration five years ago. EU foreign ministers have criticized Turkey, saying it is using the migrants’ desperation “for political purposes.”
Thousands of migrants have slept in makeshift camps near the border since the Turkish government said they were free to go, waiting for the opportunity to enter Greece.
On Mother’s Day, it is important to acknowledge the very special role that our beloved grandmothers have played in the tapestry of our lives.
Our grandmothers are strong. They are fearless. They are the rock of many families.
Many grandmothers have experienced significant adversity in their lives. Some have experienced the horror and devastation of war and the poverty that ensues from occupation. Despite this, they retain a sense of compassion and love that defies that difficult background.
Some were left alone on islands and villages in Greece to raise their children while their husbands (pappou) came to unknown lands looking for the opportunity to live a better life.
Village life meant a modest and difficult existence of cold winters and hot summers without the conveniences of modern life that we take for granted today.
Leaving their family, friends and memories behind and moving to a new life in Australia was painful and difficult. Yet our grandmothers embraced the challenges of their new lives and worked hard to support their family, and to keep the family unit.
The Greek Australian grandmother has overcome much in her life. Yet what really distinguishes the Greek Australian grandmother is her tireless and selfless commitment to her family. She is the true matriarch.
The Greek Australian grandmother has raised her own kids, and now raises her grandkids and with even greater love and tirelessness as with her own children.
The sacrifice, the determination, the strength, the compassion and love of a grandmother is like no other.
Kayla Itsines – Entrepreneur and Fitness Influencer
Kayla Itsinesis an Australian personal trainer, author, and entrepreneur. After gaining a huge Instagram following of more than 12 million from uploading before and after shots of clients she trained, Kayla decided to launch her Bikini Body Guide in 2014. Her primary aim when developing the BBG program was, and still is, to educate and support women throughout their health and fitness journey and help them to feel stronger and more confident in themselves. In 2017, Forbes named her the top fitness influencer on the Top Influencers list.
Kathy Santikos: Partner – Clayton Utz
Kathy leads domestic and offshore arrangers, financiers, sponsors and professional trustee companies on a broad range of financings, primarily in construction and property finance transactions across all sectors of the industry. An experienced property finance expert, Kathy has established a reputation for delivering clear advice, commercially astute solutions and seamless transaction management. Kathy is a Fellow of the Australian Property Institute and is a member of their Australian Property Standards Committee.
Marika Calfas: CEO of NSW Ports
Marika Calfas has over 18 years’ experience in the port sector including in her previous roles with Sydney Ports Corporation. With a strong belief that ports are crucial to our wellbeing and essential for the Nation’s economy Marika enjoys working in the industry. Prior to working in ports, Marika worked in water resources with Sinclair Knight Merz. She graduated with a Bachelors Degree at UNSW, completing a Masters in Engineering Management at UTS and a Masters in Environmental Law at University of Sydney.
Philanthropist
Suzane Peponis-Brisimis: Director of White Pearl Foundation and The Brain Cancer Group, Care2Cure
Founder and organiser of all White Pearl Foundation awareness and fundraising events, Suzane Peponis-Brisimis, joined the Board of The Brain Cancer Group in February 2016. Since 2016, her foundation has raised and donated over $1 million dollars. Suzane is a dedicated and passionate volunteer for the White Pearl Foundation and The Brain Cancer Group. The White Pearl Foundation continues to raise awareness and highlight the challenges of all who have been diagnosed to brain cancer, those who are currently struggling and all their loved ones.
Sue Ellen: Little Legs Foundation
The Little Legs Foundation, was set up by Sue-EllanVasiliou, in honour of her daughter Alegra, who lost her battle with brain cancer at 6 years of age. In her first fundraiser last year, $483,563 was raised for the Little Legs Foundation, with proceeds going to The Charlie Teo Foundation- Funding Brain Cancer research.
Education
Mrs Efrosini Stefanou-Haag: Head of St Spyridon College
Mrs Efrosini Stefanou-Haag has been the Head of College at St Spyridon College 20 years, and has played an influential role in thousands of Greek Australian families during this time. Retiring in July this year, Efrosini has displayed dedication, passion and a strive for excellence. During her time, the school has expanded significantly, and most recently the unveiling of the new junior school later this year.
Jenny Zegas: Principal of Lucas Gardens School
Jenny Zegas is the principal of the Lucas Gardens School, a school that educates children with special needs. Jenny Zagas has dedicated much of her life to helping children with special needs, describing the school as; “A school with a strong teaching and learning culture, we foster student learning so that students can take their skills beyond the class room walls and into the wider community.”
Dr Elizabeth Kefallinou: Head of Modern Greek Studies, Macquarie University
Dr Elizabeth Kefallinos has served as the head of Modern Greek Studies for 2 decades. She has played an instrumental role in delivering a Modern Greek syllabus, and educating thousands of students over the years. Retiring this year, to focus on her research papers, Dr Kefalinou has been engaged in a wide area of Education, language studies, Literature (especially poetry), intercultural and intergenerational studies; Oral history testimonies, concepts of trauma, memory, and silence relating to Holocaust (Shoah) in Greece; etymology and deep word knowledge interacting to medical terminology applications.
Art and Culture
Ada Nicodemus: Actress
Ada Nicodemou is a Greek Australian actress who began her acting career in 1994 playing Katerina Ioannou in Heartbreak High, yet was more notably recognised for her role as Leah Patterson in the soap opera Home and Away. Born in Carlton, her parents were both migrants, with her Greek Cypriot family coming from Limassol. Since 2005 Nicodemou has been an ambassador of the PixiFoto Foundation that raises funds for a Childhood Blindness Prevention program in Africa.
Diana Rouvas: Singer
Diana Rouvas is an Australian singer-songwriter who won The Voice (Australia) in 2019. She was born in Sydney to Greek father and Australian mother. In December 2019, Rouvas was announced as a participant in Eurovision – Australia Decides; in an attempt to represent Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. Her song “Can We Make Heaven” finished 7th in a field of 10.
Esther Anatolitis: Executive Director of The National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA)
Esther Anatolitis fosters local, regional, national and international perspectives on contemporary arts issues as one of the nation’s leading advocates for the arts. Her practice rigorously integrates professional and artistic modes of working to create collaborations, projects and workplaces that promote a critical reflection on practice. With a strong background in visual arts, design, architecture and media, Esther has held leadership roles including Craft Victoria, Melbourne Fringe, SBS and Express Media, and most recently with Regional Arts Victoria.
Science and Medicine:
Professor Maria Kavallaris: Childhood Cancer Research
Recognised as NSW Woman of the year for 2020 by Premier Berijiklian, Maria is an exceptional researcher, whose own journey with cancer, at age 21, led her to dedicate her career to developing treatments for aggressive childhood cancers. As founding director of the Australian Centre for NanoMedicine at UNSW, as well as head of the Tumour Biology and Targeting program at Children’s Cancer Institute, Maria has made key advances in our understanding and treatment of neuroblastoma; the most common cancer in babies and the third-most common cancer in children. Maria was awarded the highly prestigious 2019 Lemberg Medal from the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Helen Salouros: Deputy Director of the Australian Forensic Drug Laboratory
Dr Helen Salouros is the Deputy Director of the Australian Forensic Drug Laboratory (AFDL) of the National Measurement Institute. With over 15 years’ experience in the analysis and chemical profiling of illicit drugs, she has established herself as a strong leader. She is alos the author of over 20 peer-reviewed scientific publications, conference papers and international presentations. Dr Salouros received a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Sydney in 2009.
Politics and Law
Melissa Anne Perry: Federal Court Judge
Melissa Anne Perry is a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia. Perry attended Walford Anglican School for Girls, then graduating from the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Laws with first class Honours. She studied at the University of Cambridge where she was awarded an LLM and PhD in public international law. Her doctorate on State succession, boundaries and territorial regimes was awarded the Yorke Prize. Perry was appointed as a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia on 23 September 2013.
Ms Sophie Cotsis MP: State Member for Canterbury
Ms Cotsis has been an active part of the many diverse multicultural communities that are found throughout NSW for many years and has a proud history of being involved in many community campaigns and causes. Ms Cotsis graduated from Macquarie University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts and the University of Technology, Sydney in 2001 with a Master of Legal Studies. Ms Cotsis has a range of employment experience in both the public and private sectors, including working at Sydney Airport while a student at university. Ms Cotsis has played key roles in the establishment of the Inquiry into Affordable, Social and Public Housing and the Inquiry into Elder Abuse.
Fiona Martin MP: Liberal Party Member for Reid
Fiona is a mum, psychologist and small businesswoman, who has spent her life working to better the lives of people, supporting some of the most vulnerable children in our community. Fiona was elected as a Liberal Party politician at the 2019 federal election. Her parents and maternal grandparents were born in Australia, while her paternal grandparents were Greek migrants to Australia from the island of Kastellorizo. Fiona’s work has improved the social functioning of young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and she has also developed a resilience program for children.
HE Martha Mavrommati: High Commissioner for Cyprus in Australia
Mrs Martha Mavrommati is the High Commissioner for Cyprus in Australia as of 27 June 2017. Mrs. Mavrommati has been a prominent figure in the Greek Cypriot community, acting as a well respected and highly acclaimed representative of Cyprus for Australia.
Katia Gkikiza Greece’s Trade Commissioner in Australia
Katia Gkikiza was appointed trade commissioner in Australia for Greece in 2016. Since then she has championed and promoted economic ties, and stronger relationships between the Greek and Australia business community. This includes opportunities for growth, and promotion of Greek made products.
Maria Vamvakinou MP: Federal member for Calwell
Born on the island of Lefkada Greece, Maria Vamvakinou was educated at Brunswick South Primary School and Princes Hill High School. Maria entered politics as an electorate officer in 1988 for Dr Andrew Theophanous. Maria has been Calwell’s elected Federal Member of Parliament for six consecutive terms winning the 2004; 2007; 2011; 2013 and 2016 Federal elections. She is the Deputy Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Migration, and is also member of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade – which includes the Human Rights Sub-committee. Maria is the co-convener of the Parliamentary Friends of SBS; Multiculturalism – which hosts the largest interfaith dialogue at Parliament House each year; the Heart and Stroke Foundations and Palestine.
Jenny Mikakos: Victorian Health Minister
Jenny Mikakos was the first woman of Greek descent elected to an Australian Parliament, growing up in Northcote, her electorate, to a migrant working-class family. She currently acts as a an Australian politician for the Labor Party, working as the Minister for Health and the Minister for Ambulance Services. Mikakos was first elected as the Member for Jika Jika Province in the State of Victoria in September 1999, representing them from 1999 until 2006.
Chrissa Loukas-Karlsson SC: Supreme Court Judge
Chrissa Loukas-Karlsson SC was called to the bar in 1989 and appointed senior counsel in 2012. She has worked for Legal Aid, the Aboriginal Legal Service, and appeared as counsel before the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in the Hague. In 2017, Ms Loukas-Karlsson won barrister of the year award from the Women Lawyers Association of NSW.
Ms Eleni Petinos MP: State Member for Miranda
The Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Roads, Eleni Petinos was elected to the NSW Parliament as the Member for Miranda on 28 March 2015. She holds a Bachelor of Jurisprudence and Bachelor of Laws from UNSW, and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice. She previously served as Chair of the Legislative Assembly Committee on Transport and Infrastructure, along with being a member of several other committees. As a lifelong Sutherland Shire resident, Eleni has continued to deliver improved local infrastructure and services for her Miranda electorate.
Angela Vithoulkas: Councillor of City of Sydney
Angela Vithoulkas is an Australian politician, business owner and media personality, who was made a Councillor in the City of Sydney in 2012, being re-elected in 2016. She has owned and operated VIVO Cafe for over 25 years, established Eagle Waves Radio, and was elected Deputy Chairperson of the City of Sydney Economic Development and Business Sub-Committee. Angela Vithoulkas is the daughter of Greek Migrants to Australia, leaving school in year 11 to go into the family business with her brother Con Vithoulkas.
Maria Dimopoulos AM:Deputy Chair, Victorian Multicultural Commission
Maria Dimopoulos AM is a nationally and internationally recognised executive leader and expert on multicultural affairs. Maria has over 25 years of experience in cultural diversity, gender equity justice and human rights. She has worked with government and community as a policy adviser and strategist, community advocate, speaker and mentor. In 2020, Maria was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her service to cultural diversity and the prevention of domestic violence.
23-year-old Greek-German Alessandro H. Ruetten, also known as ‘Sandro’, released the music video for his song to be played at this year’s Cyprus Eurovision entry.
The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation selected Sandro with his song ‘Running’ to represent Cyprus in the 2020 Eurovision song contest in Rotterdam in May.
The first semi-final of the contest will be held on May 12.
‘Running’ is a personal song for Sandro, referring to a journey of escape from depression. The music has electro-pop influences infused with Sandro’s vocals.
Greece’s representation for the 2020 Eurovision contest, Stefania Liberakis, also recently released her new song ‘SUPERG!RL’ on the ERT television show Eurovision Countdown.
The broadcaster says the song is about encouraging “teenagers to believe in themselves and go after their dreams. It narrates Stefania’s own story since, as a young woman she has had to find the power to combine her obligations as a student with her dream of singing.”
Stefania’s song composer Dimitris Kontopoulos talked about the challenge of finding the right song for Stefania. He said, “To be honest it was difficult to find the right song for her, since we wanted the track to fit both her age and personality.”
