Rising Australian golf star, Steph Kyriacou, has ended her Ladies European Tour season by banking a 70,000 euro ($112,000) windfall, ABC Newsreports.
Kyriacou won a 50,000 euro bonus for finishing third in the Tour’s season-long Order of Merit. She also finished joint-fifth on Sunday at the concluding Andalucia Costa del Sol Open de Espana, which earned her another 20,000 euros.
It was a welcome birthday present for Kyriacou who turned 21 this week and who is now up to 77 in the world golf rankings.
Kyriacou is now flying to Alabama in a bid to earn her card at the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) qualifying series.
Steph Kyriacou’s father Nick has been her caddie for the past year, travelling with her around the world. Photo: Getty / Andrew Redington.
“I’m happy I played well and got third, also happy I have the opportunity to go to the States and try to get on the LPGA Tour,” Kyriacou, who spent some of this season and all of last travelling with her father who acted as her caddie, said.
“It has been a good year but I can’t wait then to go home.”
Presenter and journalist, Patricia Karvelas, has today been announced as the new host of ABC’s RN Breakfast program, replacing Fran Kelly.
According to The Australian, Karvelas’ appointment was widely tipped within the media industry for weeks once Kelly revealed on October 17 she was stepping down from her role after 17 years.
Karvelas is the current host of RN Drive and will move to the breakfast timeslot in 2022.
Patricia Karvelas has today been announced as the new host of ABC’s RN Breakfast program, replacing Fran Kelly.
“I look forward to setting the national agenda every weekday morning and providing the conversations and interviews that will keep ABC audiences well-informed of the issues that affect them,” Karvelas said in a statement after the announcement.
“I have huge shoes to fill.”
Fans of Karvelas have been overjoyed at the news on social media, prompting the journalist to thank them for their support.
Overwhelmed by the love ❤️ and kindness I’m receiving from the news that I’ll be taking over from my excellent friend @frankelly08 next year on @RNBreakfast I care deeply about this country and democracy and I can’t wait. Thank you #auspol
Her Excellency, Mrs Martha A. Mavrommatis, High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in Australia, recently met with the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Mr Christos Karras, at the Consulate General of Greece in Sydney.
The Consul General was accompanied by the Trade Commissioner of Greece in Australia, Mrs Katia Gkikiza.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed a number of topics of common interest, focusing on the cordial relationship between the Republic of Cyprus and Greece, as well as the close cooperation between the Cypriot Australian and Greek Australian communities of NSW.
Mrs Mavrommatis and Mr Karras also reconfirmed the willingness of the Cypriot Australian and Greek Australian communities of NSW to continue the long, cordial and fruitful relationship between the two communities to the benefit of Australian society.
New South Wales public teachers will strike for the first time in more than a decade in response to a “statewide staffing crisis” caused by stagnating wages and an escalating workload, The Guardian reports.
The NSW Teachers Federation president, Angelo Gavrielatos, said a unanimous vote among council members passed on Saturday morning.
Principals will join with teachers on Tuesday, December 7 for the 24-hour strike, accompanied by a statewide advertising campaign to be rolled out on television, radio and print.
“Principals and teachers don’t take this decision lightly. Over the course of the last 18 months we have exhausted all options available to us to arrive at a negotiated settlement with the government,” Mr Gavrielatos said.
NSW Teachers Federation president Angelo Gavrielatos. Photo: Dean Lewins / AAP.
The union had failed to successfully lobby the state government to lift a 2.5 percent wages cap that it said had contributed to decline in graduates. The number of vacant permanent positions in NSW schools had increased by 80% since June.
“We are facing a perfect storm: plummeting new graduate numbers, rising enrolments, an ageing workforce which spell out acute teacher shortages,” he said.
“If we don’t act now, workloads will continue to rise and salaries will continue to fall relative to other professions.”
The Teachers Federation says if action isn’t taken teachers will continue to leave the industry in droves. Photo: ABC News / Teachers Federation.
NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet, said he had already made it “very clear” to the Teachers Federation that the government’s position remains that public servants in NSW get a 2.5 percent pay increase.
“I had a very constructive conversation with Angelo [Gavrielatos] yesterday in relation to the issues… and I said I would take them on board but ultimately this is a matter that will be brought to the Industrial Relations Commission — that’s where it will be resolved,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We need to have a fair and balanced approach; I understand some of their specific concerns and my commitment to them is that I will work through them as we go through the next 12 months.”
You may not have heard of her yet but Connie Gerakis is set to take her first tentative steps into politics this year by running as an Independent in the Bayside City Council elections on Saturday, December 4.
With just days to go before the local government elections in NSW, we sat down with Connie to hear all about her career plan and aspirations.
1.Why have you decided to get into politics?
From a very young age I was always a strong, independent and hard-working woman. In fact, most people who knew me would call me a “tomboy.”
My mother was also a strong, independent and hard-working woman and she played a significant role in shaping who I am today and is the catalyst for the motivation in me running as a candidate. She would never accept me whinging and complaining about things and would always say “if you don’t like it, change it… do something about it.” It became clear very early in my adult life that if I want to see change, I will have to be the change.
Connie’s mum has inspired her all her life.
I am now at a stage in my life where both my personal life and financial situation is in a good position, allowing me time to be available to help my community see the change and with their help be the change they want in their community. I have now taken this significant step to lead the charge in being the change and if given a chance, I will bring about a change in things I see lacking within my community.
I love talking to people and I find it incredibly gratifying to help them. I will make sure they feel heard and their problems are resolved.
Finally, I love where I live and the suburbs surrounding it. I want to see them flourish and become more safe and secure. I want my son and all the children in my community to grow up in a safe and happy area.
2.How does your Greek heritage influence your work?
Connie’s grandparents.
I was blessed to have been raised in a loving family by Greek parents and grandparents with strong Greek values. My childhood was filled with happy memories and many of them being the Greek traditions.
My Greek heritage has influenced and shaped my life, my beliefs and the values I hold dearly today. These have made me the person I am today – strong, independent, hardworking, honest, kind and loving.
Growing up I was proud of my Greek heritage. Everywhere I turned I was able to find Greek influence, whether it be in culture, history, medicine, language, education, politics, art, architecture and so on. This played a significant part in my motivation to try and make a difference in this world, no matter how small or large the contribution was. How was I going to contribute to the world like my ancestors did, I would ask myself often?
Connie’s family.
Family is the foundation of my life. Every aspect of my life revolves around family. I love my family and everything I am today is because of my family. My mother was our family’s rock, she was and still is to this day my hero. She taught me the importance of family, friendship, community and strong Greek values and traditions. She also enlightened me to the fact that humans need other people and when people have strong support, alliances and connections with each other, you will thrive.
I have grown up in suburbs with substantial Greek community numbers and today I am blessed to have the opportunity to be running for Bayside council which also includes suburbs with large numbers of Greeks in these communities.
I am here to support and represent all races and cultures in my community and be their voice. I will be available for them at any time and be that person they can trust and talk to about their community concerns. In fact, I want my entire community both young and old to feel comfortable to talk to me about anything they like.
3.What are your plans if you are elected this year?
Connie with her son.
As a resident of this community, I have seen it evolve and grow over the years, and feel it has the need for improved infrastructure and services in relation to road and traffic changes (red lights and speed cameras in Brighton), noise control (including hooning), safety and security, park and street upgrades, cleaning, as well as maintenance.
Furthermore, with the significant impacts of Covid and lockdowns, a strong focus of mine would be in supporting local businesses and sporting groups. Our community has the need to move on with life and thrive again and I want to focus on organised community activities/programs for our elderly and kids that are based around interests and hobbies, learning new skills and simply having fun outdoors.
I am a successful businesswoman and mother and I pride myself in giving 100% in everything I do. I have a good reputation within my community and if elected I commit to giving them 100% as well.
I believe we need a new face in Council, someone who is eager to fight to get things done.
Connie wants to make Bayside a better place for all residents.
4.What message do you have for our readers and the Greek Australian community more broadly?
To my young brothers and sisters, even though we are proud Australians, I implore you to continue to uphold our proud Greek values and traditions in your everyday life. We as a community need to maintain our language, culture and values for the future generations.
5.Is there anything else you’d like to say?
Let’s focus on programs around family, community, culture, values, positive behaviour and improving our way of life. Let us plant the seeds of awareness, acceptance, tolerance, and help each other to be open and discuss ideas and share experiences. More importantly we as a community need to take action.
If elected, I will take significant steps to lead the charge in fixing and changing things I see lacking within my community. I will always look for ways to create, to imagine and to improve our community.
I promise that I will remain driven by the desire to work with you and for you to build an exciting, prosperous and sustainable future. It’s time for a change and I’m ready to put in the work for you.
On the 4th of December, Vote 1 Group A above the line.
Greece on Saturday inaugurated two more migrant holding centres on the islands of Kos and Leros as part of a tougher policy for managing migrant flows from Turkey.
The “closed” camps feature barbed wire fencing, surveillance cameras, x-ray scanners and magnetic doors and gates that remain closed at night.
They also have many amenities, like running water and toilets, that were absent from the previous facilities that became infamous for their living conditions.
Both camps can accommodate over 2,000 migrants each.
“The new modern and multipurpose reception and identification centers that we inaugurated today on Leros and Kos are another tangible proof of the undivided European solidarity with Greece,” European Commission Vice President, Margaritis Schinas, said during the inauguration ceremony on Saturday.
For his part, Greek Migration Minister Notis Mitarakis said that a page has been turned.
Σήμερα στην Λέρο και την Κω,όπως πριν λίγες ημέρες στη Σάμο & σε λίγους μήνες στη Χίο & τη Λέσβο,εγκαινιάζουμε τις νέες κλειστές ελεγχόμενες δομές, με το βλέμμα στραμμένο στο μέλλον.Εικόνες σαν και αυτές που έζησαν τα νησιά μας την περίοδο 2015-2019 ανήκουν οριστικά στο παρελθόν. pic.twitter.com/KWpOpFDLqG
“Images like those experienced by the islands in the period 2015-19 belong definitively to the past,” he said.
The new camp comes as Greece inaugurated the first such camp on the island of Samos in September. The country plans to open two more in the coming months on the islands of Lesvos and Chios.
The Omicron Covid variant, first discovered in South Africa, has been detected around the world over the weekend raising fears of new lockdowns.
Omicron has been recorded in Belgium, Botswana, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, the United Kingdom and Australia.
The variant was first reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by South Africa on Wednesday and early evidence suggests it has a higher re-infection risk. It has been categorised by the WHO as a “variant of concern.”
Australia:
NSW Health confirmed two returned travellers tested positive for the new Omicron COVID-19 variant in Sydney, making them the first known cases of the strain in Australia.
The two positive cases are in isolation in the state’s Special Health Accommodation.
NSW Health confirmed two returned travellers tested positive for the new Omicron COVID-19 variant.
Both people, who are fully vaccinated and were asymptomatic, arrived in Sydney from southern Africa on Saturday, November 27.
The cases saw NSW Health change its advice for international travellers returning to Sydney as a precaution to stem the spread of the new Omicron B.1.1.529 variant.
Anyone arriving in the state from the nine impacted southern African countries — South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, Malawi, and the Seychelles — is now required to go into hotel quarantine for 14 days.
That is irrespective of their vaccine status and brings NSW in line with measures also announced by the Federal Government.
Travellers from other countries are now also required to immediately go to their place of residence or accommodation and isolate for 72 hours pending further health advice.
Greece:
Omicron is spreading across the world.
In Greece, five Greek citizens, who arrived from South African countries via a stopover in the United Arab Emirates, have been placed on a ten-day precautionary quarantine.
According to state news agency AMNA, they tested negative for COVID-19 upon arrival. However, they are staying in a quarantine hotel.
The passengers will undergo a molecular diagnostic test (PCR) after ten days and if the result is negative their quarantine will end.
In response to this new Covid strain, Greece has imposed new travel restrictions. Foreign travellers coming into Greece from South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Eswatini and Zambia will have to get special permission from the Greek consulate to enter the country, and they must be fully vaccinated.
Greek Australian boxer, George Kambosos Jr, has stunned Teófimo López in a monumental split decision win to become the unified world lightweight champion.
The three judges had it 115-111 and 115-112 in favour of Kambosos Jr, while the other had it 114-113 for López.
Kambosos has etched himself into Australian sporting history after earning the WBA, IBF and WBO belts – as well as The Ring Magazine lineal championship belt and the WBC franchise strap – in a brutal battle during which both men were knocked to the canvas.
A split decision victory earns Australian George Kambosos the unified lightweight champion belt. Photo: Getty / Al Bello.
Lopez boldly predicted he would finish off the 6-1 underdog within the first round, yet it was the brash American who was floored in the opening round.
Lopez regained his feet but was outboxed for most of the contest, which took a dramatic twist in the 10th round.
The man dubbed ‘The Takeover’ landed a right hand that knocked down Kambosos jr, a huge blow that threatened to change the momentum of the fight. However, the 28-year-old underdog recovered and finished the stronger.
George Kambosos Jnr proved too strong. Photo: Getty.
“I’m the greatest fighter in Australian history. I’ve got all the belts,” Kambosos said after the fight, as a bloodied and bruised López stalked around the ring in a fury.
“I believed in myself, I backed myself and I said it time after time… I am not a king, I am the Emperor.”
Lopez took his first professional defeat badly, claiming everyone knew that he’d won, to boos of derision from the sell-out crowd at the Hulu Theatre in Madison Square Garden.
There was a double celebration at St Catherine’s Greek Orthodox Church in Mascot on Thursday, November 25, as the parish was officially consecrated (‘baptised’) on the annual feast day of its patron saint.
The consecration service, which saw the holy relics of St Catherine placed in the church’s altar, was presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia with the assistance of their Graces Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, Emilianos of Meloa, Elpidios of Kyaneon, Silouan of Sinope, Kyriakos of Sozopolis, Christodoulos of Magnesia and Evmenios of Kerasounta.
Roughly 500 people were in attendance to witness the momentous occasion including a number of officials such as the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Mr Christos Karras, and the Trade Commissioner of Greece in Australia, Ms Katia Gkikiza, among many others.
All photos by Eirini Aligiannis.
Parish priest, Father Athanasios Giatsios, tells The Greek Herald the consecration was ‘a historic moment’ for parishioners who contributed greatly to building the church back in 1993.
“We’ve always dreamed of consecrating the parish,” Father Athanasios says.
“This church was built by migrants. They worked really hard to build this church and donated a lot of money to things such as the iconography… All this is a testament to their efforts.”
This sentiment was echoed by Archbishop Makarios on the day with a small speech following the consecration.
All photos by Eirini Aligiannis.
“There are many people who remain hidden and there are donations, which in the eyes of people may seem insignificant but, fortunately, God has other ways of seeing and of measuring,” the Archbishop stressed.
His Eminence finished his speech by thanking Father Athanasios for his contribution to the church over 16 years. Father Athanasios is becoming the new parish priest of ‘The Resurrection of our Lord, our Lady of Myrtles, St Elessa’ in Kogarah, while Father Stavros Ivanos will be taking over his duties at Mascot.
After the official service and speeches, parishioners moved to the Grand Roxy in Brighton to enjoy a special celebratory luncheon.
Ariane Leondaridis and Katia Kelso have launched their new fashion label Ilio Nema.
The two friends forged ahead with their plan after returning to Sydney from working in Ulla Johnson’s team in New York.
““The whole label was set up on the idea that we would be travelling and going to work with (local) artisans,” Leondaridis tells The Australian.
“So the business really started up with us thinking, ‘We’re going to go to Africa and then we’re going to go to Bali and then we’re going to go to Japan, and everywhere we meet people that we’re excited about their work, we’ll do a collaboration and that’s what the business will be.”
When the Covid-19 pandemic halted international travel just as they began planning their label, “we had to do it all from our living room”.
Their first collaborations are with suppliers in India and Morocco, where the cottons are grown, spun and handloomed, and the resort-style clothing is manufactured.
An additional line out of India re-purposes remnant cotton voiles.
In the near future they hope to expand their global footprint to work with artisan groups in Peru for ikat handlooms and alpaca knits; in Madagascar for crochet work; Brazil for shoes and leather goods; and at home to work with Indigenous Australian artisans for woven products.
“We’re working with all these other countries and artisans,” says Kelso. “We’d love to do something at home.”
The pair have their carbon footprint and sustainability top of mind, aiming to create recyclable pieces.
“Trends overall made me really tired and they’re responsible for most of the waste going on on this planet.”
The brand aims to appeal to a broad range of similarly minded women.
“A lot of ours styles are not really fussy on fit,” Kelso says. “The beauty is the handwoven fabrics…”
The brand is operating on a direct-to-consumer model via its website, with a Sydney pop-up planned for December; it also aims to work to its own pace.
“We’re moving away from the traditional fashion calendar,” says Kelso.
“We’ve got to work with the artisans. We’re not trying to push harsh deadlines on them like has happened (with other brands) in the past. We’re delivering when things are ready.”
To that end, the brand won’t adhere to seasonal collections, instead “just doing a few styles when we get inspired by something – it’s a bit more organic rather than designing your four big collections a year and meeting wholesale demands”. New pieces are expected to be released each month.
Leondaridis and Kelso have Greek heritage, which in a sense is woven through the garments.
Derived from the Greek words for sun and thread, Ilio Nema pieces each have a gold thread woven in, or detailing such as runs of tiny golden beads, alluding also to the myth of Ariadne, who gave Theseus a golden thread to find his way out of the maze after killing the Minotaur.
Leondaridis says this “sun thread” is also about “finding your inner centre and your true wisdom” – something she and Kelso can relate to as they find their way on their own adventure.
