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Koutsantonis MP to lead motion to recognise Greek Genocide Remembrance Day in SA

Andriana Simos
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Koutsantonis MP to lead motion to recognise Greek Genocide Remembrance Day in SA

The Hon Tom Koutsantonis MP plans on passing a motion next week in the House of Assembly of the South Australian Parliament, calling for the state government to recognise May 19 as the official day of remembrance of the Greek genocide.

In a Facebook post, Mr Koutsantonis stressed that “on May 19 every year we must pause and remember what our brothers and sisters of Pontos and Asia Minor suffered at the hands of the Turkish Military.”

“The first modern organised genocide, 3.5 million murdered, of them 353,000 Hellenes, 1.5 million Armenians, 500,000 Syrians and other Christian minorities. We remember, we are still here, we will never forget and we demand justice.”

READ MORE: May 19: Remembering the Greek Pontian Genocide.

Koutsantonis MP to lead motion to recognise Greek Pontian Genocide Remembrance Day in South Australia.

The motion is as follows:

On May 12, I will move that this house:

  1. Recognise May 19 as the Day of Remembrance for the genocide by the Ottoman state from 1915-1918 of Armenian, Hellenes, Syrians and other minorities in Asia Minor.
  2. Congratulate the International Association of Genocide Scholars and many other nations that have officially recognised that Armenians, Hellenes, Syrians and other minorities were subject to genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Turkish military in Asia Minor.
  3. Note that this house officially recognised that genocide in 2009, moved by the Hon. Michael Atkinson.
  4. Join with members of the Armenian Australian, Pontian Greek Australian and Syrian Australian communities in honouring the memories of the innocent men, women and children who feel victim to the first modern genocide.
  5. Again condemn the genocide of Armenians, Pontian Greeks, Syrian Orthodox and other Christian minorities and all other acts of genocide as the ultimate act of racial, religious and cultural intolerance as endorsed by this House in 2009.
  6. Calls on the Turkish Republic to accept responsibility for the genocide of 3.5 million from Asia Minor, according to the International Association of Genocide Scholars. More than 353,000 Hellenes of Asia Minor and Pontus, 1.5 million Armenians and 500,000 Syrians, the displacement and suffering of millions more, and calls on the Turkish Republic to finally apologise for this act of genocide it perpetrated, beginning in 1915.

Marino Sotiropoulos is one of four men accused of kidnapping former Test cricketer

The Greek Herald
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Marino Sotiropoulos is one of four men accused of kidnapping former Test cricketer

One of four men who allegedly kidnapped former Test cricketer Stuart MacGill is the brother of his ex-partner.

Marino Sotiropoulos, 46, is accused of confronting the retired leg-spin bowler on the corner of Parraween and Winnie streets in Cremorne on April 14.

Two other men allegedly bundled Mr MacGill into a car before driving to a home at Bringelly in Sydney’s west.

Detectives said he was then bashed and held at gunpoint for an hour before being dumped at Belmore in Sydney’s south-west.

Six days later, the incident was reported to police.

Four people have been arrested over the alleged kidnapping of Stuart MacGill. Photo: NSW Police/Cricket Times.

“Everyone experiences trauma differently — to be dragged into a car, driven to a remote location, physically assaulted, threatened with a firearm —I think you would be pretty worried about your own personal safety,” Detective Acting Superintendent Anthony Holton said.

“He was seen as someone that they could get money from, although no money was paid prior to him being released.”

Heavily armed officers stormed homes at Caringbah and Sutherland in Sydney’s south, arresting four men, including Mr Sotiropoulos.

Raids were also carried out at apartments in Brighton Le Sands and Marrickville.

For the past three years, Mr MacGill has been managing a restaurant and bar called Aristotle’s at Neutral Bay on Sydney’s lower north shore.

For the past three years the ex-cricketer has been managing a restaurant owned by former partner Maria O’Meagher. Photo: Yahoo Sport Australia / Instagram / NSW Police.

The Greek restaurant on Young Street is owned by his ex-partner, Maria O’Meagher.

Her brother, Mr Sotiropoulos, has been charged with take/detain company with intent to get advantage, occasion actual bodily harm, participate in a criminal group and supply prohibited drug (large commercial quantity).

Three other men, aged 27, 29, and 42, also faced Sutherland Court on Wednesday and were refused bail.

Mr MacGill was seen leaving his Cremorne apartment in a car driven by detectives on Wednesday afternoon and it is believed he was required to make a further statement.

Mr MacGill played 44 Test matches for Australia, and three one-day internationals, between 1998 and 2008.

At the time, he was widely regarded as the world’s second-best leg-spinner, but his career largely played out in Shane Warne’s shadow.

In 2015, Mr MacGill sued Cricket Australia for $2.6 million for failing to pay him injury payments after his retirement.

Two years later, a confidential settlement was reached.

Source: ABC News.

Stefanos Tsitsipas moves into the third round in Madrid

The Greek Herald
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Stefanos Tsitsipas moves into the third round in Madrid

This year’s Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters winner, Stefanos Tsitsipas, cruised past Benoit Paire 6-1 6-2 after 54 minutes to move into the third round of the Madrid Mutua Open.

Tstitsipas is tied with Andrey Rublev for the most tour-level wins in 2021 with 27 victories. 

Tsitsipas took a 3-0 lead with a break in the second game. The Greek player sealed the first set 6-1 with his second break at love.  Paire received a visit from the trainer due to an abdominal injury. 

The second set started with a trade of breaks. Tsitsipas earned two consecutive breaks in the fifth and seventh games to close out the second set 6-2. He will face Casper Ruud, who eased past Yoshihito Nishioka 6-1 6-2 with two breaks of serve in each set. 

Tsitsipas leads the ATP Tour Race to Turin by over 350 points over Rublev. He has a record of 10 wins to just defeat on clay in 2021. 

Source: UBITENNIS.

Convicted paedophile, Milton Orkopoulos, pleads not guilty to 23 child sex charges

The Greek Herald
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Convicted paedophile, Milton Orkopoulos, pleads not guilty to 23 child sex charges

Disgraced former Labor MP and convicted paedophile, Milton Orkopoulos, will head to trial over historical child sex charges in the Hunter in the late 1990s.

In Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday, the former Lake Macquarie Cr appeared via video link from Nowra Correctional Centre, and pleaded not guilty to 23 charges against him, relating to two alleged victims in Swansea and Belmont.

READ MORE: Former MP and convicted sex offender, Milton Orkopoulos, to remain behind bars.

Six charges, including cause child under 14 to participate in child prostitution and sexual intercourse with a person between 10 and 16 while under his authority, were withdrawn.

Court documents revealed Orkopoulos was charged with trying to pervert the course of justice by getting an alleged victim to sign a statutory declaration retracting an allegation of sexual abuse.

READ MORE: Convicted paedophile, Milton Orkopoulos, facing fresh child sex charges.

Other charges he’s facing include aggravated indecent and sexual assault, commit an act of indecency with a person under 16, sexual intercourse with a person between 10 and 16 and supplying the prohibited drug cannabis.

Orkopoulos has been committed for trial in Newcastle’s District Court in June, where he will be arraigned.

READ MORE: Milton Orkopoulos pleads not guilty to breaching parole.

Source: Daily Telegraph.

Greece marks anniversary of fatal Marfin Bank arson attack

The Greek Herald
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Greece marks anniversary of fatal Marfin Bank arson attack

Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, on Wednesday marked the 11-year anniversary of the firebomb attack on a branch of Marfin Bank in downtown Athens which led to the death of three people.

“Eleven years since the killing of Paraskevi Zoulia, Angeliki Papathanasopoulou and Epameinondas Tsakalis. Eleven years since the black day that stigmatised Greek society,” Mitsotakis tweeted.

Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias, also marked the 11-year anniversary.

He tweeted an image depicting a plaque commemorating the victims installed last year at the location of the former bank branch in remembrance of the victims of what he described as a “criminal act.”

Tsakalis, 36, Zoulia, 32, Papathanasopoulou, 32, and her unborn baby died of smoke inhalation on May 5, 2010, after becoming trapped in the Stadiou Street branch of Marfin Bank that was firebombed by anti-austerity rioters who had targeted several businesses in the area.

The Athens Prosecutor’s Office recently ordered a new investigation into the firebombing following the emergence of new evidence.

Source: Ekathimerini.

Q&A: Anton on his new contemporary dance tale about modern narcissism, ‘Narcifixion’

The Greek Herald
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Q&A: Anton on his new contemporary dance tale about modern narcissism, ‘Narcifixion’

Eustathios Petros Antonopolous, who goes by the stage name Anton, is becoming one of Australia’s revolutionary dance artists.

Anton’s newest performance, ‘Narcifixion’, will be performed at Riverside Theatres from 13th to 15th May and is set to showcase his longstanding contribution to the dance performing industry.

Led by performers Anton and Brianna Kell, Narcifixion is a highly detailed contemporary dance duet that examines identity in the digital age. Inspired by narcissistic behaviour epidemically prevalent across social media and people’s ever-increasing addiction to the lustrous screen, the dance of NARCIFIXIONexplores two physical characters, who are in a constant state of exhibiting and observing themselves and is set in tune to an electronic music score created by Jai Pyne.

Anton spoke with The Greek Herald ahead of Narcifixion’s premiereto dive deeper into the performance theme, what he hopes to reveal about narcissism in the modern era and how he draws influence from his Greek Australian heritage.

Artists: ANTON (left) and Brianna Kell (right) – Photographer: Jhuny-Boy Bora

Q: NARCIFIXION is a ‘dark and humorous work about narcissism’. What were your reasons for choosing this theme?

A: The concept of narcissism has a long history stretching back to ancient Greek and Roman
times. Through the ages, and long before the phenomenon of digital technology and social media, many renowned artists sought to tackle the complexities of issues related to personal identity. Over the centuries, a great number of writers and psychoanalysts have dived deep in the human condition to unravel and to explain what human behaviours and inherited pathologies are ignited and wrapped up in subjectivity.

But today, there is a new level of identity analysis (read crisis) described as ‘approval conduct of oneself’. It plays out through social media as a daily event of epidemic levels as social media is arguably the most popular online activity across the globe with 3.5 billion users representing approximately 45% of the world’s total population. On average, ‘users’ (including – we’ll admit – the creative team of NARCIFIXION) spend approximately three hours per day observing and sculpting content for social media platforms.  – real life (sometimes fictitious to various extents), online personas, and characters come to ‘life’ in the pursuit of creating the outward appearance of the perfect life.

“How we really live and what is imagined becomes blurred, perceptions become warped, and personal growth is compromised.”

Q: Similarly, what compelled you to create a story highlighting narcissism in the screen space?

A: “2021 is the opportune time to tackle the impactful themes of narcissism and global reliance on technology for self-moulding. How we have become so self-motivated to cultivate a perverse obsessed image distracting ourselves from meaningful connection and in making this work, we have been able to reflect on our own personal social media identities and hope that audience members will be motivated to examine their own social media practices and how they construct reflections of themselves in the virtual digital spaces.”

Q: This is your latest venture in the dance theatre area, what makes NARCIFIXION unique and special compared with your previous works?

A: NARCIFIXION uniquely intersects through the choreography virtuosic dance and physical characterisation to create an enticingly strange movement land scape that is dense, superficial at times profoundly absurd.

Q: Can you talk about your Greek background? How does it influence you in your work?

A: My fondest and most heartfelt memoires as a child growing up, are being with my beautiful yiayá who has passed. We would together Greek dance in the lounge room and listen / sing Greek music blaring in the car zipping around 1980’s Sydney. Her infectious zest of life, joy and spirituality gave me so much energy to dance and to be creative. I hold those experiences close and they influence my work today, in the way I approach quick rhythms and patterning in the choreography I make and her memory always reminds to, no matter what sort of dance I am making to celebrate and share the expression dance with generosity and delight! Thank you yiayiá for all the love you gave me!

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia shuts doors of Liverpool Greek church

The Greek Herald
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Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia shuts doors of Liverpool Greek church

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia has released a statement calling for the president and Committee members of the Parish-Community of Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene in Liverpool to step down, closing the church indefinitely.

See the Archdiocese’s full statement below:

Much to the disappointment of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, the Committee of the Parish-Community of Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene, Liverpool, of which Mr John Rekouniotis is the current president, has in recent years undertaken a series of unlawful acts and decisions. Now, prompted by the appeals of many parishioners, the Archdiocese has been compelled to act so as to bring unity and order to this Parish-Community.

For example, although the Committee is obliged by its constitution to convene a general meeting of its members annually, it has not convened such a meeting for more than eight years. Consequently, the financial reports of the Parish-Community have not been tabled before the members and no elections have been held. In this manner, the president and other Committee members have extended their terms of office for many years and filled casual vacancies of their own accord. At the same time, they have refused to provide to the Archdiocese a current list of financial members, again as required by their constitution. Additionally, they have ignored and disrespected the members of the Trustee Committee which is charged by the constitution with the general oversight of the workings of the Committee on behalf of the members and the Archdiocese.

The Archdiocese has been trying for some considerable time, even through the personal intervention of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, to communicate with the Committee, with the aim of helping to resolve these issues, reconcile the Committee with the Trustee Committee and, above all, to achieve the convening of a general meeting of members so as to enable the people of Liverpool to decide on a new Committee. Unfortunately, however, the president and the other members of the Committee persist in their hostile stance. For this reason, and following advice from the lawyers of the Archdiocese and the request of many parishioners of Liverpool, the Church will remain closed until the resignation of the current Committee.

For the last time, and publicly now, the Archdiocese appeals to the president and members of the Committee to vacate their offices so that the Community can move forward. We also ask our pious and blessed flock of the Liverpool district to show understanding for the duration that the Church remains closed. In the meantime, our faithful are encouraged to attend church in the nearby parishes of St John, Parramatta and St Euphemia, Bankstown.

*The Greek Herald has reached out to the President for comment.

US mourns death of Anastasios Tsakos, NYPD police officer killed by drunk driver

The Greek Herald
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US mourns death of Anastasios Tsakos, NYPD police officer killed by drunk driver

The US city of New York yesterday mourned the death of Greek American Anastasios Tsakos, a NYPD police officer tragically killed by drunk driver.

The funeral was held a St. Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Church, where Mayor Bill de Blasio, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea and Archbishop Elpidophoros, of the Greek Orthodox Church of America, all made touching comments.

The widow of Anastasios sobbed as she remembered her beloved hubby as “the love of my life” and an “awesome dad”.

“I wish we had more time — to watch our kids grow,” Irene Tsakos said in front of mournersat the packed Saint Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Shrine Church in Greenlawn.

“I wish we could grow old together. That was the plan, but you were taken from us too soon.”

She fought back tears as she continued about their two children, ages 3 and 6, “And now our kids will grow up without their dad, without their awesome dad. They will never forget. I will make sure of that.

“Tasos, you are the love of my life,” Irene choked, while bursting into tears. “I hope I made you proud.”

American and Greek flags stood side by side at the front of the Long Island chapel, next to Tsakos’ flower-draped open casket and a large portrait of the 43-year-old officer.

The family of Officer Anastasios Tsakos cry as his casket is carried from the church. Photo: Reuters

A massive wall of police officers lined the road outside the church.

Mayor Bill de Blasio called the fallen officer “a Greek hero for our time,” and the city is mourning a “lost guardian”.

Archbishop Elpidophoros heralded Tsakos’ service to the city — at one point drawing a round of applause after referring to the NYPD as the world’s finest.

Irene Tsakos holds the hands of her children as she watches NYPD officers fold an American flag that draped the casket of her husband NYPD Officer Anastasios Tsakos during his funeral service at St. Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Shrine Church on May 04, 2021 in Greenlawn, New York. (Getty Images)

“There is no justice on this Earth that can bring him back to us,” the archbishop said. “Officer Tsakos looks down today from heaven, looks down on all of you. In your tears, in your pain, in your righteous anger and your deepest sorrow, Tsakos is present.”

Tsakos, 43, was directing traffic on the Long Island Expressway after an earlier car accident when police said he was struck and killed by a 2013 Volkswagen driven by Jessica Beauvais, who allegedly admitted she was driving drunk.

Beauvais, 32, faces 13 charges, including manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter and driving while intoxicated, and is being held without bail.

Shootout victory sees South Melbourne take glory against rivals Melbourne Knights in FFA Cup

The Greek Herald
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Shootout victory sees South Melbourne take glory against rivals Melbourne Knights in FFA Cup

South Melbourne FC’s penalty shootout victory was anything but a ‘smooth entry’ into the next round of the FFA Cup, but nevertheless the Greek-based side managed to defeat local rivals Melbourne Knights FC 1-1 (4-1).

The Melbourne rivalry stems back to the days of the NSL and is the longest running rivalry for both clubs, with the Knights having played South Melbourne more times than any other club. South Melbourne currently sit on top of the NPL Victoria table, with the Knights four points behind them in 4th.

South Melbourne’s forward Harrison Sawyer looked the danger man in the first half, with two heading opportunities scraping over the top of the bar in the opening quarter of the hour.

Both sides holding up well defensively, the first half ended with no goals and no sign of worry for South Melbourne.

Not even 10 minutes into the second half, Knights’ Ayden Brice managed to make connection with the ball from a corner and send it into the back of the net. The defence visibly unable to defend against Knights’ set pieces, goalkeeper Pierce Clark prevented a second goal by parrying the strong header over the bar.

A one-on-one attack on the other end of the pitch almost saw Sawyer level up the game, but was denied from a save by Thomas Manos.

Photo: South Melbourne FC Twitter.

As all hope seemed lost, a desperate attack from a free kick in the 93rd minute of the match saw Sawyer taken down in the box. A penalty given to Marco Jankovic, the defender hits it home to send the match into extra time.

South Melbourne came out strong in extra time, using the wings to get around the Knights’ strong defence. A shot from South was cleared off the line after squeezing past Manos, denying yet another game-winning opportunity for the Greek-based side.

Deadlocked after extra time, the match moved onto penalties where Melbourne Knights had a devastating performance, following their strong in-game performance.

A missed penalty and expert save from Clark saw South Melbourne win 4-1 on penalties and proceed through the next stage of the FFA Cup.

Toni Nadal: Nick Kyrgios is one of the world’s greatest tennis stars after the Big 3

The Greek Herald
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Toni Nadal: Nick Kyrgios is one of the world’s greatest tennis stars after the Big 3

With his last match being his exciting exit from the Australian Open, Nick Kyrgios will step back on the court to play at the inaugural ATP 250 grass-court tournament at Mallorca, Spain.

The event starts on the 20th of June and is organised by tournament director Toni Nadal, also the uncle and former coach of 20-time major winner Rafael.

Speaking at the tournament presentation, Nadal said the Aussie is one of the most-watched players on the ATP tour besides Big-3.

“Nick is a star on the ATP Tour. A showman. After the ‘Big 3’, he is one of the greatest tennis stars in the world, being the most followed player by the younger generations,” Toni commented.

“He is a great player who, in addition, gives a lot of show on the court. So Nick’s commitment to play in the Mallorca Championships is very important news for us.

“I hope that his presence in the tournament will bring a lot of people to come to Santa Ponça to follow him.”

Kyrgios is known to have better luck on grass courts, preferring it to red clay. The Australian’s feud with Rafael Nadal is one of the most entertaining match displays, yet he was most recently defeated narrowly by the Spaniard in the Australian Open.

The ATP Mallorca is a decent addition to the existing grass-court calendar, which has limited tournaments for fans to watch before heading into the Wimbledon Championships. The organisers are yet to reveal the complete list of players participating at Mallorca.

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