Novak Djokovic paid tribute to Stefanos Tsitsipas after coming through a hard-fought final.
Novak Djokovic tipped Stefanos Tsitsipas for greatness after beating the Greek star in the final of the Dubai Championships. In a battle between the two top seeds, Tsitsipas made the stronger start but Djokovic kept his composure needed just the single break to win the first 6-3.
In the second set, Djokovic appeared set to run away with the match after breaking to lead 3-2.
But Tsitsipas broke straight back and led 4-3 as he mounted a comeback.
However, Djokovic showed exactly why he is the world No 1, winning three games in a row and allowing Tsitsipas to win just one point as he sealed an impressive 6-3 6-4.
Djokovic now owns a 3-2 head-to-head lead over Tsitsipas, who is continuing to improve with every tournament he plays.
And Djokovic had no doubts that the ATP Finals champion was on the right path to dominating the men’s game.
He said: “I think he’s more present than future. He’s been very successful already. He’s more than just a great tennis player, a great guy, very charismatic.
“I’m sure he’s going to bring some great things to our sport.
“I love the fact that he’s always looking to learn from experience and understand something new about himself so he can improve, get better.
“That for me is a trait of a champion, with a potential to be world No. 1, he has a great future ahead.”
Despite Djokovic’s comments, it is now back-to-back defeats in Dubai finals for Tsitsipas and the 21-year-old’s disappointment was evident post-match.
“For sure I’m proud of myself because I showed good discipline and I managed to play the same this year,” Tsitsipas said.
“But it’s kind of disappointing trying so hard and not really getting the final result that you want.
The Youth Assemble conference 2020 brought together hundreds of Greek Orthodox youth, aged in their late teens, twenties and thirties. The Greek youth came together at St Euphemia College Bankstown, Sydney, to discuss their Greek Orthodox faith and culture under the guidance of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios.
The theme of this years Youth Assemble conference centred on ‘Salt and Light’ with a variety of speakers revealing how to use these concepts, raised by St Matthew, into people’s own lives.
The Youth Assemble began at St Euphemia church with a service and moved into St Euphemia College next door following the service end. Prior to the commencement of the conference, youth and priests were given the opportunity to gather and make use of a loukoumades station, coffee station, or purchase Assemble 2020 merchandise.
Loukoumades station at the 2020 Youth Assemble. Photo: Peter Oglos
His Eminence Archbishop Makarios with Greek Herald writer Peter Oglos.
Soon after, people were moved into the school hall to begin the conference, led by His Eminence.
“Today we are gathered together for this conference, here in Sydney, as good friends…. So I have a great joy to be with you, like I was with some of the Youth in the other states, and I look forward to speaking with you, hearing from you and learning what you want from our church and what you expect from your Archbishop,” Archbishop Makarios opened at the Youth Conference.
Among His Eminence were other panelists, who spoke at different points of the day about the ongoing theme of ‘salt and light’, as well as talking about their own journeys. Speakers included Dr Dimitri Kepreotes, Mr Denne Cruz, Dr Philip Kariatlis and Mr Adnrew Psarommatis.
Dr Dimitri Kepreotes graduated Macquaire University with a PhD on the continuity of Greek education (paideia) from Plato through to St Photios the Great (9th Century) and St Nicodemos the Athonite (18th Century).
“The poetic verses, as you will hopefully see, are light-hearted but with a serious undertone, a reminder that our course in life is always a mixture of both,” Dr Kepreotes spoke prior to his panel.
Lunch served and led by a prayer from His Grace Bishop Emilianos. Photo: Peter Oglos
Lunch commenced shortly after Kepreotes’ speech with His Eminence, His Grace Bishop Emilianos and the clergy offering a prayer prior to the food service.
Also speaking at the conference was Mr Denne Cruz, who communicated his life story with the audience, entailed with the hardships of converting to a Greek Orthodox Christian.
Dr Phillip Kariatlis spoke shortly about St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College followed by a presentation by Mr Andre Psarommatis. Mr Psarommatis has been translating Archbishop Makarios’ works from Greek to English and added another dimension of what ‘Salt and Light’ means to the Greek Orthodox youth of Australia.
The conference finished with an open panel, led by His Grace Bishop Emilianos, Father Athanasios and Dr Philip Kariatlis, answering questions regarding the NSW youth’s involvement in the Greek Orthodox Church. The Greek Orthodox youth had the option to stay for dinner, hosted in the St Euphemia School hall.
Denne Cruz shared his incredible journey through life, from being homeless in Kentucky, USA, to becoming a Greek Orthodox Christian in Australia, at the 2020 Youth Assemble held at St Euphemia College, Bankstown.
Denne Cruz has previously told his life story on the SBS show ‘Insight’, and has decided since then to communicate his journey to the Greek Orthodox youth, as invited by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Australia.
“When I was asked to speak here today, I felt proud and hopeful… I thought I was helping add a bit of flavour to the church,” said Cruz at the Youth Assemble.
A difficult childhood
Denne Cruz was raised in Kentucky, USA, in an abusive home for most of his childhood, leaving home at an early age. Until 16 he spent stages of his life homeless, moving from house to house and providing for himself as best he could. He would have breakfast and lunch supplied by the school and would often stay back after sports sessions to use the facilities before going to find a home to sleep in for the night.
At 16, his school found out he was homeless and was provided a massive amount of love and support by the school and foster parent, who was a Christian pastor. Cruz went on to study at university while playing college basketball, graduating with a degree in social science in 1990. He came to Sydney, Australia, shortly after to finish the final requirements for his political science degree he was undertaking, taking part in representative basketball. He also worked for The Wesley Central Mission program ‘Street Wise’, which assisted youth who lived on the street.
In his twenties and thirties, he went through a period of his life which he referred to as the ‘dark time’, going into rehab and struggling to find a sense of meaning in his life.
Denne Cruz speaking at the 2020 Youth Assemble at St Euphemia College. Photo: Supplied
Becoming a Greek
In April 2001, he was in Sydney celebrating an event with friends, surrounded by decorative Greek columns and Greek decor, and met what would be his future wife, Marianna.
“Dating a Greek girl, po po po…. when dating a Greek girl, your dating not just her, but her Greek family, Greek society, and the Greek church,” Cruz says.
Struggling to fit in with her Greek family, he was labelled “mavri,” yet says although he saw it differently at the time, now he has come to accept the term.
“I am a mavri, I’m a Greek mavri, I’ve learned that the term isn’t used as a derogatory comment but rather just to state who I am.”
Cruz decided that to show is full commitment to his girlfriend and their Greek family, he would be baptised in the Greek Orthodox faith.
“Through baptism, I felt attached to Christ, but importantly to my family,” Cruz stated.
Acceptance did not come so easily however for Cruz. As he prepared for his first Easter, he went to Parramatta church to receive oil, yet was turned away at the door due to the priest not believing he was Orthodox.
“I felt sad and I felt ashamed… I went to my priest Father John Daskalakis, and told him what had happened. And he told me, ‘the Greek Orthodox Church includes everyone.'”
After many years however, Cruz finally felt as though he was part of a community.
“They completely accepted me into the Greek community and I was proud to be apart of this community,” Cruz stated.
Cruz went on to marry his girlfriend Marianna in the Greek Orthodox Church, singing ‘S’ agapo’ in Greek.
“My pethera came up after I was done and kissed me on the cheek. First time she’d ever done that. You can see just the shock on my face,” Cruz says with the assistance of a video.
Cruz went on two have two kids with his wife and settling down feeling connected within the Greek community.
Destined from a child
Cruz revealed that when he was little, he fell in love with Greek history, particularly Greek literature.
“I used to love Greek literature. When I was a teenager someone showed me Homer and I read the Iliad and all the other books. I fell in love with culture…. I always thought Achilles was cool,” Cruz revealed at the Assemble.
During a Q and A session at the 2020 Assemble where Cruz gave his speech, Greek Herald writer Peter Oglos asked him if he thought that pre-existing love for Greek culture was a sign of his future life.
“When I met my Helen of Troy (wife Marianna), I embraced the Greek culture, but I always felt connected. I was constantly attached to it as a child… I feel like God leaves little breadcrumbs to show your future,” Cruz replied.
Denne Cruz was thankful to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese for inviting him to speak at the event, receiving a substantial applause at the end of his talk session.
Hive has announced, a year after its arrival in Greece, that it is making the strategic decision not to continue its services in Greece from March 1, 2020. The electric bike and scooter company will focus on other European markets who already use with a specific legal framework that enables a specific number of providers to operate.
According to the company announcement, HIVE firmly believes that it is in the interests of cities, consumers and companies. The absence of an integrated legal framework that creates an organised business environment forces the company to leave the Greek market for the time being.
Believing in the potential of the Greek market, if the conditions change, the company will revisit the Greece for production, the company announcement concluded.
HIVE had just completed its one-year presence in Greece as its official entry on March 1, 2019. Athens, followed by Thessaloniki, was the second city to operate after Lisbon. HIVE is a member of the Daimler group to which the Greek Beat belongs.
Hundreds of refugees and migrants in Turkey have begun heading for the country’s land and sea borders with Greece, buoyed by Turkish officials’ statements indicating they will not be hindered from crossing the frontier to head into Europe.
The move comes a day after a deadly Syrian airstrike that killed more than 30 Turkish troops in Idlib, Syria, where Turkey has been engaged since 2016.
GREEK NEIGHBOURS BEGIN TO WORRY
The developments have alarmed Greece, which is already struggling to cope with tens of thousands of migrants and refugees stuck on its islands, with often several hundred new arrivals daily. Tension has been increasing on the islands, where locals have reacted with often-violent demonstrations to government plans to build new migrant detention facilities.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke by phone with German Chancellor Angela Merkel about the situation and the increased flows of people towards Greece’s borders, which are also the EU’s external borders.
At the height of the migration crisis in 2015, thousands of people were reaching Greek islands each day from the Turkish coast and then heading through the Balkans toward more prosperous EU countries. Scores died when their unseaworthy boats sank or capsized during the short but perilous crossing. More than a million people crossed through Greece and the Balkans.
PEOPLE HEAD TO THE BORDER
On Friday, a day after the airstrike that killed Turkish troops in Syria, Turkey appeared to be ready to make good on its threat to open the gates.
The country is “no longer able to hold refugees,” said Omer Celik, a spokesman for Erdogan’s ruling party.
Turkey’s foreign ministry spokesman, Hami Aksoy, warned that the movement of refugees and migrants westward could continue if the situation in Idlib deteriorates.
“Some asylum-seekers and migrants in our country, worried about developments, have begun to move toward our western borders,” he said. “If the situation worsens, this risk will continue to increase.”
Hundreds of refugees were headed to Greece’s land border, where an estimated 450 people crossed into no-man’s land at the Kastanies crossing and were stopped at the Greek border. Greek police used tear gas and flash grenades briefly to move them back, and temporarily shut down the crossing.
Hundreds more were reportedly heading to the Turkish coast, from where at least two dinghies arrived on the Greek island of Lesbos Friday.
WHO ARE THE REFUGEES OR MIGRANTS IN TURKEY?
Turkey currently hosts about 3.6 million Syrian refugees. In 2016, it agreed with the European Union to step up efforts to halt the flow of hundreds of thousands of refugees who headed from its shores into Greece in 2015, in return for funds to support the refugees.
Apart from the Syrian refugees registered in Turkey, the country has also been a staging ground and transit point for many people from the Middle East, North Africa and central Asia hoping to head to Europe. Its coastline’s proximity to Greek islands, and the country’s land border with EU member Greece, have made it one of the preferred routes into the EU for those fleeing war and poverty at home.
The Aigialos Hotel on the Greek island of Santorini won the 2020 Gourmet Award at the 7th Annual Historic Hotels of Europe Awards.
The winners were announced on Monday, February 24, 2020, at a gala ceremony at the Hotel Stefanie in Vienna.
The award show put the spotlight on the historic hotels of Europe that offer unique, and profound cultural experiences to their guests.
The Aigialos Hotel is the “teaser” of Greek national cuisine, as the description of the award given to the hotel notes. Its guests and those who dine there loved the food so much that it proved to be top-notch in terms of gastronomy.
The third runner-up in the category of Gourmet Award 2020 was the Avli Lounge Apartment Hotel and second was the Dalen Hotel in Norway. The Kyrimai Hotel is also runner-up in the Best Historic Hotels category to tell a story. The other award-winning hotels were:
Historic Hotel Castle Award 2020
– Castello di Gargonza, Italy – Second runner-up: Chateau Liblice, Czech Republic – Third runner-up: Roch Castle, WalesCity
Historic Hotel Award 2020
– Hotel Stefanie, Vienna – Second runner-up: Hotel Restaurant Schwarzer Bock, Germany – Third: Hotel Flanders, Belgium
Historic Hotel Countryside Award 2020
– Renvyle House Hotel, Ireland – Second runner-up: Hotel Alte Goste, Italy -Third runner-up: L´Unicorno, Italy
Historic Hotel Spa Award 2020
– Rübezahl-Marienbad Hotel & Spa, Czech Republic – Second runner-up: Hotel Royal Palace, Slovakia – Third runner-up: No.1 Square Hotel & Spa, Ireland
Historic Hotel Wedding Experience 2020
– Sierakow Manor, Poland – Second runner-up: Hotel Restaurant Schloss Wartegg, Switzerland – Third runner-up: Ghan House, Ireland
Best Historic Hotel with “A Story to Tell” 2020
– Antiq Palace, Slovenia – Second: Kyrimai Hotel, Greece – Third runner-up: Hotel Falken, Switzerland
Most Romantic Historic Hotel Award 2020
– Kasteel Sterkenburg, Netherlands – Second runner-up: Villa Astra, Croatia – Third runner-up: Relais Antico Monastero San Biagio, Italy
International star Giota Negka will be headlining Melbourne’s biggest street party and longest-running Greek festival, bringing together thousands of Greeks for a weekend of Greek-flavoured entertainment and activities.
Since 1987, the Antipodes festival has taken over the historic Greek precinct of Lonsdale in the heart of Melbourne to celebrate the best of Hellenic culture.
The festival will feature a plethora of 90 stalls, three free entertainment stages and roving performers, children’s rides and activities, as well as multiple bars and an array of mouthwatering Greek culinary delights.
Over the years, thousands of performers and dancers have taken to the street to showcase the best in traditional and modern Greek dance. Hundreds of competitors have tested their endurance with Zorba ‘Til You Drop, in the hopes to win a trip to Greece.
Some of the best in Greek entertainment, including Glykeria, Giannis Haroulis, Michalis Xatzigiannis, Alkinnos Ionnidis, and Pandelis Thalassinos, have kept the crowd dancing in the street into the early hours of the morning.
This year, Giota Negka – who was placed amongst the country’s top representatives of contemporary laiko and entehno genres – will perform live on Melbourne’s Lonsdale Street on Saturday 29 February.
The performance will the Athens-born singers first ever show in Melbourne, promising a lively atmosphere of dancing and celebration.
It is expected that over 150,000 people will show up to the Antipodes festival, with Lonsdale Street to be filled to the brim of Greeks eating loukoumades and dancing the Zorba.
Last year saw the festival reach beyond Melbourne’s borders, with more than 800,000 people engaging with the festival’s social media content over the course of the festival.
Leah Dinoris is an autistic girl who recently turned 16 and decided for her sweet 16th to raise money for Autism research, partnering with the Eagles Autism Foundation.
As of February 25, Leah has raised $13,094.00, hoping to reach a goal of $25,000 by 16 May 2020, where she will take part in a charity walk with the Philadelphia Eagles NFL team.
The Greek Herald talked with her father, Peter Dinoris, about their incredible journey and efforts in raising money for Autism, to better the lives of many autistic children.
1. What
were some personal influences that led you to dedicate your sweet 16 and all
the proceeds from the fundraiser to Autism research?
My
severely autistic daughter, Leah Dinoris, turned 16 on 5 February and to
celebrate we decided that is going to participate in the Eagles Autism
Challenge in Philadelphia, USA.
Her life
has had many difficulties and will continue to do so as she remains non-verbal.
Doctors, schools etc. did not have much hope for her when she was younger but
through hard work by close family, she is the happiest girl.
When she was first diagnosed (at 18 months old) there was very little available in Australia for the treatment of the severely autistic children. We tried everything that was available despite the cost however there was no improvements for Leah.
My spouse
decided to dedicate substantial time to conducting research into studies and
attending seminars in USA.
It was not until Leah was 9 years old that she attended a school for a month in Indianapolis, USA known as BACA that we experienced the method of teaching severely autistic children in the USA. In that one month, Leah went from not being able to sit down for more than 5 minutes to doing a full day of school. They identified the knowledge Leah had and improved her behaviour more than we could have ever expected.
If it was
not for Leah attending that school and the benefits we have experienced from
the autism research in USA, Leah would not have such a happy life (and God help
us if they didn’t make those improvements back then).
2. What
preparations will you be making for the autism walk with the Philadelphia
Eagles in May?
With the
assistance of Leah’s carers we will be slowly working up to training her to get
the walk done without any stress or issues.
What
normal people take for granted such as being told to walk around a stadium etc.
involves many weeks of taking her for walks, showing her videos of what to
expect, preparing sight cards, etc.
3. How
important it is that foundations and charities are now beginning to raise money
for specific autism research and development apart from awareness?
Research estimates that 1 in 70 people in Australia are on the autism spectrum. Prevalence rates were previously estimated to be 1 in 100. This increase appears to be due to better recognition of autism from promoted awareness of autism in the community and more accurate diagnosis rather than there being more people with autism than previously believed. Awareness of autism is essential and important. We know that the earlier intervention can begin the greater the improvement in learning, communication and social skills may be. We also know that nearly two-thirds of children with autism between the ages of 6 and 15 have been bullied perhaps due to a lack of understanding of autism.
Whilst continuing with awareness and support of people on the autism spectrum, it is important to continue the research focus on the causes of autism. Understanding the biology of autism is essential to allow researchers to develop personalised therapies and medical treatments that will enhance the lives of people with autism.
4. How
supportive have the Greek community been in raising funds and awareness for
your fundraiser?
The Pankoakos Association of Queensland has shown amazing support by donating US$2,500. We cannot thank them enough for their very generous support.
A Greek lady who operates as Lady Buttercream in Brisbane will also be helping out with creating some fundraising ideas with her cakes.
I will be
advertising the charity event in the Logos for the Greek Community of St George
that is expected to be issued prior to Easter.
A number of the committee members of the Greek Community of St George have made a personal donation to Leah.
Today Greece bids farewell to Kostas Voutsas, one of her most loved personalities, who passed away in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
His body has been laying in repose in the chapel of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens since Thursday, and will remain there for a few hours on Friday morning, so that friends, loved ones and members of the public may pay their respects. The funeral will take place later on Friday at the First Cemetery of Athens.
The Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakogiannis, has announced that, as a “Token of Honour” for the tremendous contribution that Kostas Voutsas made to Culture and the Arts, a grave at the prestigious First Cemetery of Athens has been gifted to the family.
His daughter Theodora posted on Instagram “We’re thinking of
you now, dad” ….. “You have left so much light behind you,
enough to accompany all of us for an entire lifetime. The greatest legacy you
left us is that you showed us how to love life, how to carry on, how to stand
in the darkness, how to take a deep breath, how to find the strength within us
to be able to stand up firmly on the stage, in the limelight, in front of
people …. and smile!”
In a previously undiscovered handwritten note, Kostas Voutsas wrote about the beautiful relationship which had developed over the years between him and the public.
“My presence in the revered role of the artist, at the theatre, the cinema, on television and on the radio, during my tours around Greece, in cities, towns and villages, and on my overseas tours, with amazing travelling theatres and praiseworthy performers, has lasted 67 years, and it is you who give me the courage and strength to continue, in the years to come, on the public stage.
“You love me with an unselfish love, with no ulterior motive, just as I love all of you. With love and heartfelt thanks, your Kostas, (Voutsas, of course) P.S. Perhaps you will forget the things I have said whilst acting, but you will never forget how I made you feel, (signed “me”).”
May you rest in eternal peace Kostas Voutsas. You will be greatly missed but never forgotten.
Marrickville Road’s shopping strip went beyond Marrickville; it crossed over into neighbouring Dulwich Hill where there was also a bustling Greek business community. And there were several iconic shops that that left such a huge an impact in the local community. One of those shops was the famous ‘Sentas Bros Fruit Shop’ which was run by Andonis and Yiannis Sentas for forty five years (1971- 2016)!!! What made this small business so famous was undoubtedly the larger-than-life character of Andonis Sentas…
Shops and businesses should never be considered as bricks and mortar; it is the people who run them behind the shop counters and windows that bring shops alive. Success lies with these people who toil through the long hours, who innovate and invigorate their products and who build everlasting relationships with their customers. But there is definitely an x factor of charisma and confidence that elevates some of these individuals to an (almost) iconic status!
It was Stavros Sentas who migrateded to Australia first (1959); his wife, Angela, and children, Athina, Yianni and Toula, and Tony came after 18 months.
The Sentas family settled in Newtown. After a short stint at night school, Tony worked in a milk bar on George Street, Sydney city… at 13 years old; by 15 years old, he was practically running the shop! From there, he worked in the fish and chips shop at Central Railway Station.
Tony’s introduction to the fruit and vegetable retail industry came when his uncle Tony (Sentas) bought a fruit shop on Anzac Parade, Kingsford; after five years, Uncle Tony bought the fruit shop in Padstow, and Tony continued to work with his uncle there too.
After settling and marrying Tessie (Anastasia nee: Rigos), Tony’s years of work experience inspired him to look for business opportunities and he found a fruit (and vegetable) shop in Dulwich Hill. Although there were already three successful fruit shops in Dulwich Hill, Tony’s bravado and determination held him in good stead to succeed.
After a few years, Tony and Tessie wanted to try another business; with Yiannis (Tony’s brother) and his wife Georgina, they all bought the Dulwich Hill milk bar- only a few doors down from the fruit shop. It was only a few years later that Tony’s itching to return to what he knew best overcame him; with his brother, Yianni, and Georgina, and his wife, Tessie, he bought the fruit shop back. Tony’s sons, Sozo, Stavros and Niko grew up in shop too! They stayed on until 2016!!!!
To describe Tony’s effervescence and charisma in words would be a sheer understatement; you will have had to experience his old- fashioned ‘spruiking’ of his fruit and vegetables at the front of Sentas Bros fruit shop every day. After the Sentas Bros truck parked in front of the shop, and the stalls were stocked, Tony would begin his call and the whole place came alive! People loved this; with the ‘call’ came all the banter too! Over the years and years, the Sentas brothers lifelong friendships; more importantly, the shop was like a social hub for so many people and they were bound to see a familiar face at the shop and stop for a chat. The shop served both purposes of serving the community and bringing people together.
To highlight Tony’s lively personality, he made the front page of the Daily Mirror newspaper (1989) when comedian Mark Mitchell’s persona, ‘Con the Fruiterer’ was proclaimed ‘King of Moomba”, as he was a real life depiction of a great fruiterer! When the Olympic Torch relay passed through Dulwich Hill for the Sydney Olympics, where was the changeover? The Sentas Fruit Shop- it was such a central point in Dulwich Hill!
Dulwich Hill misses the Sentas Bros Fruit Shop; old customers still ask for Tony and Yianni and this is quite natural as they, with their families, played such an important role in servicing the local community for over two generations…! Small businesses such as Sentas Bros Fruit Shop were more than shops; it was part of people’s everyday life.
