Greece and the United States signed an agreement on Thursday to renew their long-standing defense cooperation.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement (MDCA) will allow the NATO allies to advance stability in the eastern Mediterranean and beyond.
“The MDCA is the bedrock of our defense cooperation,” Blinken said in a statement.
“Today’s amendment extends the MDCA’s validity, making it consistent with other bilateral defense cooperation agreements between NATO Allies and durable enough to allow for Greece and the United States to advance security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Greece’s Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias sign the renewal of the U.S.-Greece Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement at the State Department in Washington, U.S. October 14, 2021 (Photo via U.S. Embassy & Consulate in Greece)
The two countries, which have strong political and economic ties, renewed their agreement for five years with an understanding that from then onward, it would remain in place indefinitely unless one of the parties chooses to withdraw.
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said the U.S. commitment to Greece showed that both countries are determined to safeguard and protect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The deal comes a few weeks Greece stirred further tensions with Turkey by signing a new defense pact with France.
The Eastern Mediterranean has for decades seen NATO allies Greece and Turkey at odds with each other over competing territorial claims that extend into airspace, energy, and the status of some islands in the Aegean and the ethnically split island of Cyprus.
Tensions flared up last year when Turkish and Greek navy frigates escorted vessels exploring for hydrocarbons. The two sides are seeking to repair their frayed ties but differences remain.
Turkey and Greece held the last round of bilateral talks last week aimed at addressing differences in the Mediterranean and elsewhere.
Severe storms have swept across Greece on Thursday, flooding Athens and prompting evacuations in Evia.
Rescuers were also preparing to use helicopters to lift stranded people off rooftops in Corfu, Civil Protection and Climate Change Minister Christos Stylianides said.
“There is no doubt that we are facing a dangerous weather phenomenon that is very serious in some parts of the country,” he said.
Several dozen people in north Evia were moved out of their homes to stay with friends or at hotel rooms booked by the regional authority.
Passengers evacuate a bus as the rain water flooding an avenue in southern Athens, Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021. Storms battered the Greek capital and other parts of southern Greece, causing traffic disruption and some road closures. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
The fire service received over 300 calls in Athens to pump water out of flooded homes, authorities said.
Dozens of vehicles were stranded on flooded roads in Athens, including a man swept by the floods in his car who has since been reported safe.
Private and public sector businesses, public transport, and roads have closed in Athens but flights at Athens International Airport were uninterrupted.
Schools in Athens, Evia, and near Thessaloniki will be closed Friday.
It’s expected the worst of the storm is yet to come, particularly for Evia, Halkidiki, Samos, Ikaria, and the eastern Aegean, but is expected to improve Saturday.
A brief search through the history of the Greek community in Western Australian all points back to one man – Athanasios Avgoustis. He is widely believed to be the first Kastellorizian to settle in the state and was the founding President of the Kastellorizian Association of WA.
And yet despite this pioneering ethos, not many people outside of WA have heard of him. So with the help of two of his grandchildren, Evangeline Galettis OAM and Alexandra Mandalis, The Greek Herald endeavoured to find out more about the life of this incredible man.
Migrating to Australia from Kastellorizo:
Athanasios was born in Kastellorizo in 1870 and was the eldest son of Georgios and Evdokia Avgoustis. At the tender age of 14, Athanasios and his cousins, Dimitrios and Athanasios Manolas, had to flee their homeland after they were involved in a minor sea skirmish with a Turkish ship.
Athanasios’ Port Said passport. Photo supplied.
The boys ended up in Egypt where they worked with the Suez Canal Company. The sight of ships passing southward through the canal aroused in young Athanasios a desire to go to Australia.
He left Egypt, making his passage to Singapore then to Broome, where he worked in the pearl industry for some time. Later he moved to Freemantle and Adelaide, until he eventually returned to Perth and set up business as an oyster and fish merchant.
But after seven years, Athanasios returned to Egypt and married Panaula Komninos on September 25, 1904. When the pair travelled back to Fremantle, Panaula was somewhat disappointed by what she saw.
Athanasios and Panaula Avgoustis. Photo supplied.
“My grandmother came from Port Said, she had been educated in a French convent. She was a lady and here they were in a colony, and it was very, very sparse. There was hardly anything. I think they would have struggled,” Athanasios’ granddaughter, Evangeline Galettis OAM, tells The Greek Herald.
Founding member of the WA Greek community:
Despite this struggle, the Greek couple were still able to look after their family, which included six daughters and three sons.
Using the knowledge he had gained on the pearling grounds of Broome, Athanasios tried to establish oyster beds on a stretch of shore along the Swan River without much luck. Eventually, he was able to keep oysters shipped from Sydney alive and growing in the Swan River at East Fremantle and that’s where he ended up establishing WA’s original oyster bed restaurant.
“That restaurant was a sparkling place because it was the first time there was a restaurant that specialised in oysters. Other things like steak came too but people went in there for the oysters,” Athanasios’ 92-year-old granddaughter, Alexandra Mandalis, tells The Greek Herald.
Alexandra Mandalis at age 17 years in 1946 (left) and this year at age 92 years. Photos supplied.
Later the couple even took many newly arrived Greeks under their care, providing food and shelter until they could find employment.
“The majority of the Greeks in Perth came from the island of Kastellorizo. When many of them arrived at Freemantle, they were in straitened circumstances, but [Athanasios] was always disposed to help them,” an article in the West Australian on May 28, 1932, states.
Of course, the first Greek organisation in WA, of which Athanasios was a founding member, and the establishment of the Kastellorizian Association in 1912 was central to this support as it gave Greek migrants a chance to connect with each other.
Some of Athanasios’ grandchildren (L-R): Eris Kondos, Calypso Papadakis, Alexandra Mandalis and Constantine Mandalis.
During this time, Athanasios also held church services in his home until he pushed for the construction of the Saints Constantine and Helene church in Perth. Prior to this, Greeks had to wait for a priest to pass through the city by ship to conduct weddings and christenings.
“He used to organise everything for weddings and christenings so that he had it all ready when the priest got there at the port… because if they missed the wedding, they had to wait maybe another six or twelve months for the priest to come again,” Ms Mandalis says.
Evangeline Galettis OAM at Athanasios’ old oyster saloon where a photo of him and his family remains. Photos supplied.
Wall and plaque in honour of Athanasios at the residence of his former oyster saloon. Photo supplied.
With all this in mind, it’s clear Athanasios was a pioneering man in WA and one who was dearly missed by all when he passed away in 1932 at the age of 62. His wife continued his legacy, building a restaurant over the river called ‘Auguste’s Oyster Beds’ and running it with the help of three of her daughters, Helene, Gela and Dorothea.
The restaurant ran in the family until 1966 and is now known as ‘the DOME’ restaurant. A plaque sits in the restaurant commemorating the role of Athanasios in WA’s oyster industry and Greek community.
*This article was made possible with the help of information provided by Evangeline Galettis OAM.
In what could be one of the best matches of the season, Stefanos Tsitsipas overcame the relentless attack from Alex De Minaur to reach the quarterfinals at the BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells tournament.
The second seed pulled off the miraculous 6-7(3) 7-6(3) 6-2 victory over his Australian opponent, battling back to notch a tour-leading 54th win of the season.
After a tight first set that saw both men exchange breaks, a tiebreak ensued with De Minaur racing to a 5-0 lead before eventually claiming the first set.
There was not much to separate both men in the second set, until Tsitsipas obtained a break and served for the set at 6-5. However, he was immediately broken back by the 22-year old Aussie, to force another tiebreak.
Playing with more confidence than in the first set, Tsitsipas obtained a minibreak to lead 4-2, before escaping with the set.
With the crowd itching for more explosive tennis, it was the World No.3 who got the crucial break in the final set. Backing up his huge serve with devastating forehands, Tsitsipas quickly overwhelmed the 22nd seed, getting a second break before closing out the match after two hours and 44 minutes.
Awaiting the Greek star in the quarterfinals is Nikoloz Basilashvili, who upset 24th seed Karen Khachanov 6-4 7-6(6) earlier in the day.
Bachelor of Laws graduate from the University of Sydney (USYD), John-Patrick Asimakis, has been awarded the Peter Cameron Sydney Oxford Scholarship for 2021.
As the recipient, Mr Asimakis has headed to the UK to undertake postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford where he will study a Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL).
“The BCL is renowned as the most rigorous Masters-level law degree in the common law world. I am looking forward to making the most of the outstanding teaching that will be on offer,” Mr Asimakis said in a media release.
“I feel absolutely honoured to have been awarded this scholarship. Without the generous support the scholarship provides, studying at Oxford would simply not be possible for me.”
Mr Asimakis’ academic accomplishments as a Bachelor of Laws student at USYD included being the 2019 University Medallist in Law and receiving numerous academic prizes. He was also a reporter, volunteer, and skilled mooter. He graduated with honours.
Greek Australian, John-Patrick Asimakis, has received a prestigious Oxford scholarship.
To add to his impressive list of achievements, Mr Asimakis speaks four modern languages, and knows Latin and Classical Greek.
He says he plans to practice law and “to continue contributing to legal study by writing and teaching.”
“I genuinely loved my undergraduate studies in law. At the risk of sounding cynical, I don’t think all or even most law students could honestly say that. So pursuing further study in law is something that has always appealed to me,” Mr Asimakis said.
He concluded by giving advice to others who also want to pursue law.
“Be open minded about where you may end up. There are lots of career paths which someone with a law degree can fruitfully pursue.”
Wednesday, 24 November 2021 at 7.30 pm is the date Sydney Olympic FC will welcome fans back to Belmore Sports Ground for a huge FFA Cup Round of 32 fixture against Sydney FC.
“It will be a great night for our Club and importantly a great chance to get the Olympic family back to Belmore to support the team,” CEO of Sydney Olympic FC, John Boulous, tells The Greek Herald.
“Our squad has commenced training this week and are looking forward to the opportunity to play for our Club and its supporters again.”
The date is set and we are looking forward to welcoming the Olympic family back to Belmore for a huge FFA Cup Round of 32 fixture against Sydney FC on Wednesday 24 November. Kick off 7.30pm pic.twitter.com/BJiZjKu2ml
Mr Boulous said ticket details will be released in the coming weeks as game organisers “become a little clearer on any restrictions and conditions that will be required.”
“But we have a date and are asking all Olympic fans to mark it in your calendar and be ready to get your tickets, as we are expecting the maximum crowd we are allowed.”
Sydney Olympic team have begun training. Photo: Peter Oglos/The Greek Herald.
Wests Tigers have announced the signings of three international representative players ahead of the 2022 Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership season.
Following a strong season in 2021, Wests Tigers will be bolstered further by the re-signing of international fullback and captain, Botille Vette-Welsh, as well as the signing of Dally M Medallists, Kezie Apps and Jessica Sergis.
Jillaroos star, Sergis, will join Wests Tigers after she featured for Helensburgh Tigers in the 2021 Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership season.
Jessica Sergis is part of an international trio signed by Wests Tigers for upcoming season.
One of the elite outside backs of the game, Sergis has competed at the highest level, having represented Australia and New South Wales over the past five seasons.
The 24-year-old received the game’s highest honour when she was named the Dally M Medallist for Women’s Player of the Year in 2019.
Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe welcomed the new signings and said he was excited by the continued progress being made by the club’s women’s program.
“On behalf of all at Wests Tigers, I’d like to welcome Kezie and Jess to the club and say how excited we are to have them on board this year,” Pascoe said.
Jessica Sergis was named the Dally M Medallist for Women’s Player of the Year in 2019.
“They are both world-class players who have performed at the highest levels in the game and will certainly add a great deal of experience, talent and professionalism to our team.”
Sergis will begin the year playing in the NRLW competition after she switched from the Dragons to the Sydney Roosters.
The Wests Tigers Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership team will begin its initial pre-season training in the coming weeks before players with NRLW commitments will return to the team full-time in April in the lead-up to the 2022 campaign.
Sydney pub barons, Bill and Mario Gravanis, have sold the Empire Hotel in Annandale, Sydney to a new fund put together by well-known business figure, Jon Adgemis, for about $20 million.
The multi-level hotel includes 25 accommodation rooms, 16 gaming entitlements and a 3am trading permit. The sale was brokered by JLL Hotels.
It is the second hotel acquired by Mr Adgemis from the Gravanis brothers this year after companies associated with him snapped up the Strand Hotel on William Street in Darlinghurst for $17 million in May.
Jon Adgemis has also acquired the Camelia Grove Hotel.
Mr Adgemis’ Public Hospitality Group also owns Paddington’s Art Hotel, Camelia Grove Hotel at Alexandria and eight other venues.
The venues will be operated by The People, which was founded by hospitality entrepreneur Paul Schulte and former Starwood Hotels executive Andrew Taylor.
News of this sale comes just one month after the Gravanis brothers struck a $50 million deal to buy the Oakwood apartment hotel in Brisbane from Singapore real estate giant, Mapletree Investments.
Multicultural NSW CEO, Joseph La Posta, and human rights activist and former Socceroo, Craig Foster, are among the panelists at Waverley Council’s launch next week of its new Cultural Diversity Strategy.
The community is invited to attend the launch on Thursday, October 21 at 6pm via Zoom. Click here to register via Eventbrite.
Mayor of Waverley, Paula Masselos, said the strategy outlines the actions that the Council will take over the next decade to build a welcoming, cohesive and resilient community where people of all cultural backgrounds can belong and participate in social, cultural, economic and civic life.
“The Waverley area is home to almost 40% of people born overseas and this strategy aims to promote social inclusion and community resilience and support, enhance and celebrate our social and cultural mix, including residents, visitors and workers from culturally diverse backgrounds,” Mayor Masselos said.
“It will help guide staff in their work they do to provide the best possible service for our multicultural community and to facilitate a vibrant, diverse and dynamic Waverley.”
The strategy was developed with input from the community and Council’s Multicultural Advisory Committee, in collaboration with local stakeholders, representatives from local organisations and peak bodies.
Waverley Council launches new Cultural Diversity Strategy.
Attendees will have an opportunity to ask Mayor Masselos and our other panelists questions about the strategy, worked on by consultants Professor Andrew Jakubowicz and Elly Spiro from CRED Consulting.
“Our Council has a strong history supporting social justice initiatives and social inclusion initiatives, such as our LGBTQ+ Roundtable, held for the first time this year, and our Future Waverley Youth Summit, being held this afternoon” Mayor Masselos said.
“We are pleased to be launching this strategy at the start of this period of recovery after lockdown and invite the community to join us for this important occasion.”
Greece’s General Secretary for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, Professor John Chrysoulakis, has held his first meeting with diaspora in Australia as part of his goal to create a communication network of young expatriates around the world.
The meeting was held with the executive committee of the Greek Students Association of the University of Western Australia and the Consul of Greece in Perth, Georgia Karasiotou.
During the meeting, Mr Chrysoulakis informed the young Greeks about the initiatives of the General Secretariat of Hellenes Abroad, both for the dissemination of the Greek language and for the new, English-language programs of Greek universities.
The executive committee of the Greek Students Association of the University of Western Australia and the Consul of Greece in Perth, Georgia Karasiotou.
Regarding the English-language programs of Greek universities, Mr Chrysoulakis stressed that the main goal is to attract third or fourth generation Greeks who may not speak the language sufficiently and who, until recently, did not have the opportunity to study in their place of origin.
Mr Chrysoulakis concluded and said the goal of the Greek government is to strengthen the role of the Greek diaspora in the country and announced hosting programs for the summer of 2022, which will enable young Greeks to visit their country of origin and get to know each other.
For their part, the Greek students from Perth said they were excited and willing to contribute with all their might to this effort.
