British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis that the repatriation of the Parthenon marbles is one for the British Museum.
Mitsotakis raised the issue with Johnson in Downing Street on Tuesday, Johnson’s office said.
“The Prime Minister (Johnson) said that he understood the strength of feeling of the Greek people on this issue, but reiterated the UK’s longstanding position that this matter is one for the trustees of the British Museum,” a statement said.
This contradicted Mitsotakis, who said last week the issue was a matter for negotiation between the two governments.
Known in Britain as the Elgin Marbles, the sculptures make up about half of a 160-meter frieze that adorned the Parthenon, a 5th century BC architectural masterpiece. Most of the other surviving sculptures are in Athens.
The British Museum says there are no current discussions with the Greek government on the issue. It says Elgin acted legally when he removed the sculptures from Athens, and they are “a vital element in this interconnected world collection”.
Johnson had told a Greek newspaper in March that the sculptures “were legally acquired by Lord Elgin under the appropriate laws of the time and have been legally owned by the British Museum’s trustees since their acquisition”.
Mitsotakis told Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper last week that “the marbles were stolen in the 19th century, they belong in the Acropolis Museum and we need to discuss this issue in earnest.”
Fashion designer, Effie Kats, was ready to showcase her new collection of tailored suits in rich colours and flowing fabrics at Melbourne Fashion Week (MFW) this year until she became a victim of the COVID-19 delivery delays which have recently plagued the fashion industry.
“We do our production of suiting off-shore. That was accounting for over 50 percent of the show so we were really reliant on those pieces and unfortunately, they are stuck in a container backlog,” Effie tells The Greek Herald exclusively, just one day after she decided to call off her show.
“We have had challenges the entire way through. Obviously with lockdown, the timeline of the show moving and then for staffing through the coronavirus pandemic… it’s been challenging and it’s been challenging from the get-go. I knew it would be and I hoped obviously, that it would never come to this but it was inevitable.”
Effie says she is ‘devastated’ she had to pull out of her MFW show, which was styled by Deni Todorović and also incorporated a collaboration with jewellery designer, House of Emmanuele. They had created bespoke pieces sewn into classic eveningwear looks and incorporated neon highlights and mesh arm length gloves.
A piece from Effie’s new collection. Photo supplied.
“It’s devastating because I was really excited to have this moment because you know, it’s been a challenging year for retail,” Effie says.
“I know that so many businesses are doing it so much tougher with rentals and overheads and that kind of stuff so we’re very lucky that we’ve got an online [store], but it was going to be a kind of celebration of coming out of the challenging period and I’m really disheartened that we’re not going to have that opportunity.”
Hitting rock bottom:
Of course, having to pull out of a fashion show would disappoint any designer. But in the case of Effie, her cancellation hits even harder as her passion and love for fashion goes back to her childhood when she used to work in her family’s tailor warehouse.
“When I was little, my dad would always have men’s fashion magazines, never women’s, and I had this hobby where I would look through the pages and men’s runways and I would draw the outfits and convert them into women’s outfits,” Effie says with a laugh.
Later, when Effie was older, she would eventually drop out of two university courses and launch her brand, Zachary the Label, with the aim of creating affordable fashion.
“I just called my dad and I said, ‘I’m dropping out of uni and I’m starting a brand. I’ll come into the warehouse, I’ll work for you… whilst I’m getting myself going’ and he was like, ‘alright’,” she explains.
Effie comes from a family of tailors. Photo supplied.
“My grandma, who’s also in the workroom, would say things to me like, ‘you need to give this customer an extra inch on the waist, do it from this side.’ She was showing me where I’ve got to add or take away [fabric]. So I started to develop a basic understanding of patterns.”
Zachary the Label grew quickly and organically from there until Effie involved an investor, which she says was a ‘really difficult lesson’ for her as she ended up having to put the business into administration.
“After Zachary, I had no money. I was essentially starting from scratch… I was at Ground Zero and that really personally, for me, I would definitely call that time my rock bottom,” Effie says.
‘I’m looking to the future’:
And yet the Greek Australian never gave up. She started to realise that consumers like to connect with designers on a personal level and so decided to launch her self-titled business Effie Kats.
Now she focuses on women’s tailoring and designing suits for women which are not only within an affordable price bracket, but also make women feel “amazing and empowered” when they wear them. She also owns Bayse Brand.
Effie makes tailored suits for women. Photo supplied.
“Reconnecting with customers and hearing them and going through that journey of creating a piece that they’ve loved and made them feel so amazing, that was the perfect introduction for me back into the industry,” Effie says.
“It gave me life again after such a difficult time.”
It’s this soldier-on attitude which has seen Effie’s business grow exponentially in the last few years, to the point of even holding a fashion show at the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival (VAMFF) in conjunction with Priceline a few years ago.
The show celebrated women of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities and ages, and she hopes to be able to replicate this again in the future, despite the coronavirus pandemic throwing a spanner in her plans this time around.
“For me, partaking in fashion week has been a dream since I’ve come into the industry. So I was so fortunate to have that opportunity with Priceline, but I was also really excited to do it on my own,” Effie concludes.
“At the same time, knowing that the next one is in March, I’m looking to the future and I’ve already started planning that collection in my mind.”
During Anoula Galettis’ final days of her battle with lung cancer, she was surrounded and looked after by her family and friends, including Martina Clark.
Ms Clark tells 9 News how after Anoula’s death in 2015 at the age of 34, she pledged to create a special scheme to help carers of cancer patients.
In 2018, there were 2.6 million unpaid carers in Australia, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
“They have the same life as the patient but are not recognised as such,” Ms Clark told the broadcaster.
Martina Clark was inspired by late friend Anoula Galettis to create Carers Couch.
She has since created a website and app called Carers Couch. It aims to connect carers with people who can help make their lives easier.
It can be something as simple as putting them in touch with somebody to mow the lawn or cut their hair at home, as well as putting users in touch with other carers.
“They can go on the app, book experts directly, supporting the emotional, physical, economical aspects, and they can book them 24/7,” Ms Clark said.
Renowned hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation in Melbourne, is now trialling Carers Couch with lung cancer patients.
A damning inquest into Theo Papageorgiou’s tragic death has found that despite attending a Riverland hospital twice in January 2016 seeking to be admitted under the Mental Health Act, he “received no meaningful assistance.”
Speaking to The Advertiser, Theo’s parents, Jack and Poppy Papageorgiou, are now demanding change in South Australia’s mental health system.
“We believe this should never have happened and that our son was failed and we know that it must never happen again,” Jack Papageorgiou told the newspaper.
“The system should have been better than what it was for our son.”
Timeline of Events:
In November 2014, Theo’s mental health had begun to decline. He told his parents he was feeling depressed and not himself.
Theo’s mental health began to decline in November 2014.
He was taken to the Riverland General Hospital and then referred to a local GP who, several months later, placed him on anti-psychotic medication.
In November 24, 2015, Theo was placed on an inpatient order at the Riverland General Hospital after presenting with psychotic symptoms. He was misdiagnosed as experiencing a “first episode psychosis.” On December 1, he was released from the inpatient treatment order a day early.
On January 14, 2016, Theo was taken to the Riverland General Hospital by his parents after experiencing severe depression. He was sent home despite “red flags.”
On January 17, he was taken to hospital a second time, this time after his parents found him “distraught, frightened and highly anxious” in the middle of the night. He was sent home again.
Just days later, on January 24, 2016, Theo was found dead by his father.
Theo passed away on January 24, 2016.
A ‘preventable’ tragedy:
In his inquest findings, Deputy Coroner Anthony Schapel found that Theo’s death was preventable.
Mr Schapel noted systemic failures in dealing with Theo and his parents including that he had been misdiagnosed and there was no communication between the various services in the Riverland.
SA Health said in a statement on Monday: “we are reviewing the Coroner’s findings handed down recently and are considering the recommendation in detail.”
As part of the celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution, Greece’s Ministry of Education and Religion announced a competition for students in Greece and abroad titled, ‘1821-2021: 200 years of the Greek Revolution.’
Vasilis Zotos, a 5th grade student from the Greek Community of Melbourne’s (GCM) city school, was distinguished in the competition and will be awarded at the Special Award Ceremony (via internet), which will take place on Saturday, November 27, 2021 from 8pm to 10pm at the Athens Concert Hall.
Vasilis’ artwork.
The Director of the School of Language and Culture of the GCM, Ms Maria Bakalidou, said that “it is touching that a student, who is so far from Greece, has been inspired by the Greek Revolution to paint one of its most important heroes.”
“A big thank you to his teacher, Mrs Katerina Grammenou, who encouraged the children to take part in the competition and a big congratulations to Vasilis for his effort.”
Vasilis Zotos.
The Deputy Coordinator of Education for Australia and New Zealand, Dr Georgia Nikolaidou, stated that “Vasilis’ participation was the only one in all of Australia. The Bureau of Education for Australia and New Zealand, rewards and congratulates such initiatives of children which show their creativity, but also that they are aware of the cultural heritage of Greece.”
The Community Schools support and encourage initiatives of their students that promote Greek learning and the development of the cultural, historical and social identity of their two homelands, Greece and Australia, in order to create thoughtful and active citizens of the world.
Australian tennis star, Nick Kyrgios, has called for the Australian Open to be cancelled next year out of respect to Melburnians who endured multiple COVID-19 lockdowns over the last two years of the pandemic.
“I don’t think the Aus Open should go ahead, just for the people in Melbourne – you’ve got to send a message,” Kyrgios said on his No Boundaries podcast.
“How long did [Melbourne] do in lockdown? 275 days or something?”
Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, is currently holding firm on a refusal to grant exemptions to unvaccinated players to take part in next year’s Australian Open. This has cast doubt over the availability of the likes of Novak Djokovic, who refuses to reveal his vaccination status.
Most of last year’s Australian Open games were held without crowds.
But Kyrgios, who has held strong opinions on Djokovic’s antics throughout the pandemic, showed some sympathy towards the world No.1 and described mandatory vaccination for tennis players as “morally wrong.”
“[Melbourne-born Brooklyn Nets NBA star] Kyrie [Irving], Novak … These guys have given so much, sacrificed so much. They are global athletes who millions of people look up to,” Kyrgios said.
“I just think it is so morally wrong to force someone to be vaccinated.
Djokovic at the Australian Open this year.
“I’m double vaccinated, but I just don’t think it’s right to force anyone [to be vaccinated] and say ‘you can’t come and play here because you’re not vaccinated’.”
Kyrgios said that tennis players should get tested for COVID-19 every day instead.
“In the States I know they’ve got rapid tests, and it’s coming to Australia. It’s 85% success rate, you wait 15 minutes and then you’re allowed to play,” he said.
The Australian Open is set to take place in Melbourne next January.
In addition to the pilot, it has a paramedic on board to give space for the four-member family, who will be brought back to the Olympic Dam airport.
Orios Zavros, his wife and two children were travelling across Australia on the trip of a lifetime when they found themselves stranded in the Simpson Desert after their campervan became bogged due to heavy rain.
The family set off their emergency beacon about 10am on Friday after becoming stuck in their modified Mitsubishi Canter about 150 kilometres northwest of Oodnadatta.
The beacon led to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) sending a plane from Melbourne’s Essendon Airport to deliver essential supplies to the Perth family. Food, water, DVDs, sweets and nappies were included in the delivery.
At the time, Orios’ mum, Theo, and dad, Lagis Zavros, said the family was coping well with their predicament.
Victoria’s coroner has begun its inquest into the deaths of 50 residents, 45 of whom died with COVID-19, at St Basil’s Homes for the Aged at Fawkner in Melbourne’s north in July and August last year.
According to ABC News, the first day of the inquest heard that at one point a deceased patient was wheeled out in front of other residents, that infected residents were mingling with the healthy, bins were overflowing and medication was left on the floor.
Coroner John Cain also heard that Victorian Chief Health Officer, Brett Sutton, stood down the entire workforce at St Basil’s Fawkner despite warnings from doctors that residents would be in danger and knowing the federal government was struggling to find a replacement workforce.
On Monday, the inquest also heard from some of the 65 witnesses.
Christine Golding, whose mother Efraxia Tsalanidis was one of the residents who died at St Basil’s Fawkner, said the neglect her mother suffered at the facility “was inhumane, cruel and degrading.”
The coroner was shown a confronting image of Ms Tsalanidis in bed, wearing a white T-shirt and staring into space, taken by Ms Golding through a window.
“Her eyes are terrible, lost, awful,” her daughter told the hearing, saying the experience of her mother’s last days were petrifying.
Christine Golding’s mother Efraxia died at St Basil’s Homes for the Aged in Melbourne. Photo: ABC News.
“Never in a million centuries did I ever think that would be the way I would find my mother, I would get to spend the last moments with my mother… It’s been heart-breaking. It’s been traumatic.
“I want the true story to be told and documented… Australians deserve to know why our aged care COVID-19 preparedness was so poor, why it spectacularly failed my mother and contributed to her premature death.”
Judge Cain will investigate how prepared both state and federal health departments were for the outbreak, how it started at St Basil’s, the spread of the virus, the decision to furlough staff and how future tragedies could be prevented.
Greece’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Andreas Katsaniotis, has held a meeting for the second time in two months with Australia’s Ambassador to Greece, Arthur Spyrou.
The two men, who also met in mid-September, held discussions in a very friendly atmosphere. The meeting was also attended by the President of The Hellenic Initiative Australia, Nicholas Pappas.
Everyone in attendance underlined the excellent bilateral relations between Greece and Australia and stressed the common will to strengthen and expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Delighted to meet & congratulate the new Dep. Minister for Greeks Abroad, Andreas @katsaniotis, on his new role. Discussed avenues to strengthen the bilateral cooperation, & the role of the ever-enterprising 🇦🇺🇬🇷diaspora in creating trade, investment & cultural links@dfat@gocmvpic.twitter.com/eSoqB47Bnt
A special mention was made to the strong presence of Greek expatriates in Australia, who form a bridge of friendship with Greece and play an important role in the country’s political, economic and cultural development.
The Deputy Foreign Minister also expressed his desire to visit Australia as soon as possible.
“I had the pleasure to meet with the Ambassador of Australia, Mr Arthur Spyrou, and the President of The Hellenic Initiative Australia, Mr Nicholas Pappas. I was thoroughly informed about the work of the organisation and we discussed ways to further strengthen the ties of our expatriates with the homeland,” Mr Katsaniotis said in a statement.
Turkey’s Deputy President, Fuat Oktay, said on Monday that his country won’t be deterred from continuing drilling for oil and gas in the Eastern Mediterranean, Ekathimerinireports.
“We are not afraid of anyone. Those who seek an adventure in the eastern Mediterranean will get an answer,” Oktay said during a ceremony to mark the 38th anniversary of the Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence.
Turkey says it won’t be deterred from gas drilling in East Med.
Oktay’s remarks come after the Cypriot government said that ExxonMobil and partner, Qatar Petroleum, would resume in a few weeks drilling in an area southwest of Cyprus.
A consortium made up of energy companies, Total of France and Italian Eni, will also resume drilling off Cyprus’ southern coast in the first half of next year.
This news comes as ships and aircraft from eight nations took part in annual drills last week to boost safety and security procedures on vessels and oil rigs off Cyprus’ southern coastline.
