Labor Councillor, Paula Masselos, has been re-elected as Mayor of Waverley at a Council meeting.
Cr Masselos was elected Mayor of Waverley in September 2019 for a two-year term. She became the first woman of Greek heritage to be elected Mayor of the Local Government Area (LGA).
Cr Masselos will now continue to serve in the position until the NSW Local Government Elections on December 4.
Labor Councillor, Paula Masselos, has been re-elected as Mayor of Waverley.
“So honoured and humbled to be re-elected Mayor of Waverley until the local government elections 4th December,” Cr Masselos said on Twitter on Sunday night.
Archbishop Elpidophoros of America met with Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Cypriot President, Nicos Anastasiades, in New York City on Friday and Saturday respectively.
Mitsotakis and Archbishop Elpidophoros were originally scheduled to meet on Friday at the site of the under-construction Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Nicholas at Ground Zero, but plans were cancelled amid controversy over the Archbishop’s presence at an official event organised by Turkey and attended by Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar.
Mitsotakis met with Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.
“The issue is closed. What matters is the unity of Hellenism, the inseparable relationship of Greece with the Archdiocese of America and the close relations of the archdiocese with its flock,” a senior Greek government source told state-run news agency ANA-MPA.
Anastasiades met with the Archbishop at the house of Cyprus’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Andreas Hadjichrysanthou. The meeting lasted for 20 minutes.
Anastasiades also met with the Archbishop.
“What is important is the unity of Hellenism,” Anastasiades told media following the meeting.
For his part, Archbishop Elpidophoros said he was pleased to meet with both leaders.
“I was pleased to meet with the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic @kmitsotakis and the President of the Republic of Cyprus @anastasiadescy to reaffirm our deep commitments to the unity of the Church and Hellenism, in Greece, Cyprus and our communities around the world,” Elpidophoros tweeted on Saturday.
Greek President, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, attended events on Sunday commemorating the bicentennial of the Siege of Tripolitsa by Greeks struggling for independence from the Ottoman Turks.
Sakellaropoulou attended a church service and laid wreaths at monuments in Platia Areos, before giving a small speech on how the siege, that took place a few months after the start of the revolution, was a pivotal event in the Greek War of Independence.
“The decision of Theodoros Kolokotronis to conquer the administrative and military center of the Ottomans proved to be of top strategic importance, as it consolidated the Revolution in the Peloponnese, reviving the morale of the Greeks,” she said.
Τιμάμε την επέτειο της Άλωσης της Τριπολιτσάς. Ένα καθοριστικό γεγονός λίγους μήνες μετά την έναρξη του εθνικοαπελευθερωτικού αγώνα, που χάρη στη στρατηγική σκέψη του Θεόδωρου Κολοκοτρώνη εδραίωσε την Επανάσταση στην Πελοπόννησο, αναπτερώνοντας το ηθικό των εξεγερμένων Ελλήνων. pic.twitter.com/lQ79VEuU7N
“Two hundred years later, our homeland is a modern state of law in the heart of the European Union that guarantees stability and peaceful coexistence in the region, without giving up its sovereign rights.”
The president also attended a parade and was given a tour of the Collection of Georgios Gaitanaris and Io Dolka on “Depictions & Reconstructions of the Greek-speaking World from the 18th to the 21st Centuries” at the Apostolopoulio Cultural Center.
The siege of Tripolitsa (today’s city of Tripolis) remains a point of contention between Greeks and Turks, as reflected in the way it is portrayed by their respective historians. It took place on September 23 1821.
Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, was in New York City recently for the 76th UN General Assembly and he focused on various issues ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic to the climate crisis and Greek diaspora.
As expected, the PM devoted much of his address at the UN General Assembly to Greek-Turkish relations, noting that Athens will defends its rights.
“We will continue to protect our national sovereignty, by land, sea and air,” he said, while stressing that Greece and Turkey have to find a working bilateral relationship.
Mitsotakis said he was less optimistic about a solution for the Cyprus problem due to Turkey’s stance.
Mitsotakis gave a speech at the UN General Assembly.
“What I am pessimistic about is the Cyprus issue. Turkey continues to violate the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus,” he said.
“We will continue, together with the Secretary-General of the UN, the fight for a mutual solution of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. Any discussion about two states is unacceptable.”
On Monday, Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, and Cypriot President, Nicos Anastasiades, will attend a tripartite meeting at a luncheon hosted by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss the Cypriot issue.
Mitsotakis invites investors and diaspora business to Greece:
During his visit to NYC, Mitsotakis also met with a number of important contacts, inviting institutional investors and Greek diaspora business owners to invest in the country.
At an event organised by The Hellenic Initiative, and emceed by Greek Australian, Andrew Liveris, Mitsotakis thanked Greek diaspora for their love of Greece.
Σε εκδήλωση με μέλη της ομογένειας που διοργάνωσε το @THI_OneGreece είδα πόσο υπερήφανη αισθάνεται η ελληνική διασπορά για την Ελλάδα. Τους ευχαριστούμε που πιστεύουν στο μέλλον της Ελλάδας και έχουν σταθεί στο πλευρό της χώρας σε δύσκολες στιγμές. https://t.co/r9DwRaVEDipic.twitter.com/SYSGhEOhIn
“I saw how proud the Greek diaspora feels about Greece. We thank them for believing in the future of Greece and for standing by the country in difficult times,” Mitsotakis said.
The PM also held meetings with leading businessmen like Microsoft President, Brad Smith, and Pfizer CEO, Albert Bourla, and members of the Greek community of New York.
Among the issues he referred to in both his speech at the General Assembly and with investors were initiatives to curb the steep rise in electricity bills, which also required a pan-European response.
Mitsotakis with Pfizer CEO, Albert Bourla.
He also discussed incentives to keep “a very well-educated younger generation” in Greece and reverse the brain drain of the past decade, and measures to deal with climate change, a global issue to be addressed at the upcoming UN summit in Glasgow.
Later that same day, Mitsotakis met with Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and discussed the reopening of St Nicholas at Ground Zero, issues of the Greek diaspora but also ways of further cooperation.
Archbishop Elpidophoros also met with Cypriot President, Nicos Anastasiades, in NYC on Saturday.
After a successful inaugural Business Luncheon in August the Castellorizian Association of SA’s second networking monthly lunch event was held on Thursday, September 23 in Torrensville, Adelaide.
More than 50 male-only attendees had the opportunity to celebrate their common roots, discuss with old acquaintances and listen to speeches from the philhellene Mayor of The City of West Torrens, Michael Coxon as well as Federal Member for Adelaide, Steve Georganas.
Attending were also Greek Orthodox Community of SA President, Bill Gonis and Bank of Sydney Relationship Manager, Andrew Ladas as well as Arthur Mangos and George Dimitriou, two of the longest serving former councillors of the city of West Torrens with more than 50 years of combined service to the community.
“The Castellorizians were one of the first Greek groups to arrive in South Australia and a lot of the fruit that we are enjoying today as Greek Australians in South Australia is because of the foresight that some of the Castellorizians had back then with a vision to continue the Greekness in a land so far away from their own,” said Member for Adelaide, Steve Georganas in his speech.
The funds raised from the Luncheon go towards the upgrading of the Association’s building which started in 2019 but paused due to the pandemic a year later.
A Women’s Networking Event from the Association’s Ladies Auxiliary is due to be held later this year.
Cello teacher and vintage clothes curator, Bronte Ellis, wowed The Greek Herald readers on Saturday, September 18 when she performed live on our Facebook page. Clutching her ukulele, she sang in multiple languages including Greek, Spanish and French, and showcased her unique ability to connect with people from different multicultural communities.
In saying this, we sat down to speak to the 29-year-old about how she became involved in the music industry and what advice she has for other aspiring artists.
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My father is Greek and my mum is Australian who lives in The Netherlands. My Yiayia and Pappou met each other in Alexandria, Egypt when they were just 12 years old. They fell in love soon after and came to Australia just before my father was born. I grew up in Balmain in Sydney and went to International Grammar School from Preschool to Year 12.
2. When did you first start playing the ukulele and cello / singing?
Bronte Ellis. Photo supplied.
I’ve always sung so I can’t remember exactly when I started but there is a very sweet photo of me singing into a microphone as young as two years old. I started playing the violin when I was four years old and then I told my parents I didn’t want to stand up in orchestra anymore, so they gave me a cello. It stuck and I love that it’s my instrument. I first played a ukulele in high school. My friend taught me ‘Sea of Love’ which I sang in my live set and I fell in love with the smooth, relaxed sound of the instrument.
3. Do you have any musical highlights or performances which made an impact on you?
Growing up I went to lots of Greek weddings and christenings. I fell in love with the vibrant atmosphere. Everybody dancing in perfect unison with so much joy. That’s how I came to love Greek music and my Greek culture. Playing in a traditional Greek band had been a dream of mine for many years so I count myself lucky that I get to play the cello and sing for The D Strings with George Doukas.
4.What do you love the most about performing?
Bronte is also a cello teacher. Photo supplied.
I love the nervousness at the start of every gig. It’s a rush of excited energy that builds up especially in the final hours before going up on stage. I’ve been performing since I was a child, so I feel very at home there. To add, I simply love to create music and I’m thankful for every single opportunity I get to share my music.
5. What would you say to someone else who wants to start playing an instrument or singing?
I would say, it’s never too late to start! My oldest cello student is 78 years old! Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, don’t put any pressure on yourself to be perfect straight away, and embrace the journey.
6.Is there anything else you’d like to say?
Thank you to The Greek Herald for giving live music and local talent a platform while we are all in lockdown here in Sydney.
Greek community leaders from Victoria, South Australia, the ACT and New South Wales have sent letters of congratulations to The Greek Herald on its 95th anniversary this year.
Greek Community of Melbourne:
Ninety-five years ago the nascent Greek community of Australia was living far more removed from its homeland than we could ever imagine. In this far away Antipodes, a comforting connection with not only Greece but with their fellow Greek Australians and the Greek Australian story that was being written was The Greek Herald.
President of the Greek Community of Melbourne, Bill Papastergiadis.
Its relevance is far more significant than simply a purveyor of news. It was a portal to travel through, a herald to listen to and a significant influence in shaping society. The Greek Herald story is in many ways akin to the Greek Australian story.
Congratulations on being 95 years young.
Bill Papastergiadis OAM, President of the Greek Community of Melbourne
Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia:
On behalf of the Greek Orthodox Community of SA Inc., please accept our warmest and heartfelt congratulations to The Greek Herald on its special 95th anniversary.
Throughout these years, you proved to be one of the leading Greek-language media outlets in Australia with high-quality and reliable news, including about the activities of all the Greeks of the Australian Diaspora as well as high quality news from around the country and the world.
We have been enjoying a healthy and constructive relationship with your newspaper and we were pleased to see that you embraced the digital world a few years ago, making it even easier to access and share your news articles and the plethora of interesting stories.
We thank The Greek Herald team for our long-lasting friendship and cooperation, and wish it a lot of success and prosperity for many years ahead!
Yours faithfully,
Bill Gonis OAM, President of the Greek Orthodox Community of SA Inc.
Greek Orthodox Community & Church of Canberra:
My parents ran a Milkbar in Brighton Le Sands, NSW for 25yrs and I always remember the first thing my late father would do was walk to the newsagency and pick up a stack of Greek Herald papers, for himself and our customers early in the morning.
In the 80’s and 90’s, Brighton was a predominant Greek speaking community. I knew the times and the names of all our customers who would pop into the shop, buy their ‘proino cafe’ and grab The Greek Herald, keeping up to date with all the important news of the day, news from Greece and death notices to see if it was someone they knew.
It was a morning ritual for my sisters and I, as we got ready for school. I loved the conversations with our customers, it gave me so many opportunities to speak Greek and to ‘show off’ all that we had learnt at Greek school. Equally as important, my grandmother would ask us to read certain parts of TGH, as a way of practising our Greek reading skills. I now look back and appreciate all those hidden lessons and the importance TGH played for all ages of our Greek community at the time.
Fast forward 25yrs and I now find myself in the blessed position of President of the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra, being able to represent our amazing community both locally and nationally.
I was most proud of what we did during the 200yr anniversary of Hellenic Independence and the support TGH gave us for these events. It made me proud that family and friends, both around Australia and in Greece, got to see photos and read articles about the Greek flags flying around the Nations Capital and seeing ACT landmarks turn blue and white, recognising the significance of 1821, for Canberra Greeks, our broader non Greek community, but also for Hellenes around the World.
President of the Greek Orthodox Community & Church of Canberra, John Loukadellis.
TGH has transformed over the years to having such a great social media presence, all my family and friends keep up to date with events out of Canberra, especially the progress and growth of our Greek Languages program, which now boasts over 200 students, all our cultural events and of course significant spiritual days celebrated from our beloved St Nicholas church.
Personally, I want to congratulate and thank The Greek Herald for not only their 95th anniversary, but for modernising their journey and impacting readers of all ages. The memories of practising my Greek by reading TGH and for everything they have done in taking all the great news from Canberra and sharing it nationally and globally through their social media outlet has been incredible. When my sister, who lives in Lesvos, calls me after reading a Canberra related article online and shares her gratitude for keeping the ‘floga’ of our language, culture and faith in a land so far away, makes me incredibly proud of our diaspora and what we have done as a community here in Australia.
All the very best to Elaine, Dimitra and the entire TGH team, and on behalf of the Greek Orthodox Community & Church of Canberra, we thank you for everything you have done and will continue to do for us, wishing you all continued strength, success and many more years to come.
John Loukadellis, President, Greek Orthodox Community & Church of Canberra
CypriotCommunity of NSW:
The President of the Cypriot Community of NSW, Spiro Constantinou, also sent a letter to The Greek Herald to congratulate us on our 95th anniversary.
In his letter, Mr Constantinou said that “during the difficult years when very few immigrants knew the English language,” The Greek Herald “was the way that the whole of Hellenism not only learned the news from the homeland, but also communicated with each other.”
The President also thanked the paper for standing by Cypriot people during their struggles.
“When Cyprus was going through difficult times, such as in the fifties and later in 1974, The Greek Herald, and the people who worked for it, stood by the struggles of the Cypriot people, as they stood by the Cypriot immigrants of Australia. For this we thank them from the bottom of our hearts,” Mr Constantinou wrote.
The Ambassador of Greece to Australia, George Papacostas, has sent a letter of congratulations to The Greek Herald to mark its 95th anniversary this year.
In his letter, Ambassador Papacostas shares how he has become an “avid reader” of The Greek Herald since he first arrived in Australia last year.
Here is the full message in English:
I am honoured to be able to communicate in writing with the historic newspaper “Ellinikos Kyrikas,” on the occasion of the 95th anniversary since its first issue in Australia.
Since I was appointed Head of Mission of the Embassy of Greece in Canberra last year, I also came to be an avid reader of the newspaper. Through its articles and the comments of its editors, I am being informed about political, financial, social and cultural events in Australia, Greece and various other countries around the globe.
I am also updated on the numerous initiatives and proceedings of the Greek Diaspora of Australia who keeps a warm interest for the motherland, its development, progress and prosperity and transmits its customs and culture to the younger generations.
Please accept my sincere congratulations for your publishing and reporting efforts and my warmest wishes for the newspaper’s longevity and further development.
For 95 years, The Greek Herald has been providing comprehensive coverage of local, overseas and community news and information to Greek Australians nationwide.
This coverage has become a part of the everyday lives of Greek migrants as many grab the newspaper every morning from their local newsagent to connect back to their homeland and read stories of other Greek Australians like them.
With our digital transformation as well, we continue to play a significant role in shaping the future of Hellenism in Australia by promoting Greek values, language and culture online.
In saying this, The Greek Herald spoke to some Greek people who have been reading the print newspaper for over fifty decades and others who came to Australia at a young age and enjoy reading our stories online. This is what they had to say about what The Greek Herald means to them:
Nick Andriopoulos:
Nick Andriopoulos, 74, has been reading The Greek Herald since 1965.
Nick Andriopoulos, 74, has been reading The Greek Herald ever since he first arrived in Australia from Greece in 1965.
“I was 18 years old and came by myself. I used to read The Greek Herald on Park Street [in Sydney] at the takeaway shop where I worked for five years,” Nick says.
“I’ve been reading the paper for 56 years exactly, every Wednesday. I didn’t know how to read in English so I would read the Greek newspaper which gave me news on sports that I followed, and it gave me news from my homeland and Australia as well.”
Nick says his favourite thing about The Greek Herald has always been the sport section and the fact that it helps him stay connected to Greece, even now during the pandemic.
“I’ve been getting home delivery of the paper now. My daughter organised it every Wednesday and Friday. It’s great.”
Sozos and Shirley Koutsogiannis:
Sozos and Shirley Koutsogiannis. Photo by Kaily Koutsogiannis.
Sydney Greek couple, Sozos and Shirley Koutsogiannis, enjoy reading The Greek Herald both in print and online. Sozos has always read the paper, while Shirley started reading it online via Facebook in the last few years.
“I like to read the paper to keep up to date on current affairs in Australia and Greece in Greek, in addition to the daily news I watch on Australian TV. I also love sport, so I usually look at the back of the paper first,” Sozos says.
“Shirley, who came to Australia when she was nine, likes to read Greek community news in English via Facebook.”
Shirley adds that some of her favourite stories from The Greek Herald are on other Greek migrants as they remind her of her own migration history.
Shirley Koutsogiannis reads the news on her iPad. Photo by Kaily Koutsogiannis.
“The story on the National Monument to Migration at the Australian National Maritime Museum [was a favourite of mine]. I loved reading Bessie’s story because it reminded me of my migration story as I also grew up in a milk bar,” Shirley says.
“Sozos regularly reads out articles of interest to me as well.”
It’s this pastime which the couple say has also kept them connected and entertained during the current lockdown.
“The Greek Herald has been very important during lockdown as it kept Sozos, in particular, connected and is one of the very few things he reads these days,” Shirley says.
“It is a great way to keep up to date with Australian Greek community news via my iPhone and iPad and I love to see Sozos engaged with something as he has been quite down during lockdown.”
George and Dimitria Volikas:
George and Dimitria Volikas.
George and Dimitria Volikas migrated to Australia in the 1960s from the islands of Andros and Lemnos respectively and they say they’ve been reading The Greek Herald for years.
“It was a little bit difficult when we first came. We didn’t even know the language, but we still had a good life,” Dimitria says.
“Of course, we used to read the paper to get the news about Greece. George used to buy it every day.”
Now, as Dimitria says, things are different. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple get the newspaper delivered to their Sydney home twice a week and say they are very ‘grateful’ for this service.
“George is very thankful. He can’t go anywhere and doesn’t drive so he passes the time with the paper and sees something he hasn’t seen before.”
Sotiris Kapernaros:
Sotiris Kapernaros at his deli in Eastlakes.
The expatriate Laconian, Sotiris Kapernaros, is not only the owner of the well-known delicatessen Lakes Gourmet Deli in the Eastlakes suburb of Sydney, which he maintains with his daughter and son-in-law, but also a loyal reader of The Greek Herald for 58 years.
“I’m from the same area in Greece where Theodoros Skalkos hails from,” says Kapernaros, who recalls with pride that he first bought the newspaper as a new immigrant to Australia in the early 1960s.
“I bought the first newspaper – it was then ‘Hellenic Herald ‘ – from an agency on Castlereagh Street opposite the ATHENS restaurant, in the heart of Sydney. There was also a cafe nearby, the Parthenon, where all the Greeks gathered,” the 77-year-old recalls.
“The first thing I did every morning was go to the agency to get the newspaper. Then we went to work. At that time, the Panhellenic was 6 pennies and once my koumbaro… even told me that with the money I spent on the newspaper, I could buy a house,” he says with a laugh.
Mr Kapernaros was 19 years old when he came to Australia and explains that newspapers were the only timely and valid way for young immigrants to be informed about the news of the homeland.
“The news from Greece was slow to arrive at that time and we were informed by the Herald. Then came the Nea Patrida. We had two newspapers. We learned about politics or football, we grew up with the Herald. It is my companion. I don’t miss a single edition,” says the businessman.
Concluding and wanting to send his message to the new generation through the pages of his favourite newspaper, Mr. Sotiris Kapernaros urges parents to instill in their children a love for reading.
“The Greek Herald’s language is layered and newspapers are the only way for children to learn the Greek language. The Greek Herald belongs to every Greek,” he says.
Greek Australians behind digital tech companies have signed onto a four-year project to improve humanitarian and development programs in Somalia.
G Squared and Station Five won a bid to the Switzerland government to develop software that monitors the programs in the African country.
“We’re honored to have been chosen for this project, which aims to make a tangible difference to the lives of Somalis for many years to come,” G Squared director George Pappas tells CRN.
The two companies will develop a visual dashboard platform that displays real-time analytics – such as identification of risks – for the Swiss government’s Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and other donors.
The SDC is Switzerland’s humanitarian and development arm.
G Squared will design the user interface for the platform, while Station Five will manage the engineering and data science.
Station Five chief executive Lambros Photios is similarly elated at the opportunity.
“Winning this tender against significant international competition, including global consultancies, is a testament to the technical expertise and strong design thinking capabilities that exist in Australia,” he says.
“Despite being far from both Switzerland and Somalia, we’re already working with SDC’s teams on the ground to ensure we build a data platform that provides its users with real-time analytics that will help them to make fully informed and timely decisions.”
Station Five is a Sydney-based digital consultancy start-up founded by Photios during his studies at the University of New South Wales in 2015.
Almost three years prior he had started out as a software engineer at G Squared, which George Pappas and George Photios formed in 2012.
