The Australian Embassy in Greece has proudly unveiled the photographic exhibition, ‘Mates and Allies – A tribute to the bonds forged between Australians and Greeks during the Battle of Crete,’ to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Crete this year.
The exhibition, which is on display at the Athens International Airport ‘Eleftherios Venizelos,’ was inaugurated on Monday by the Greek Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Giannis Kefalogiannis, Ambassador of Australia in Greece, Arthur Spyrou, and the Marketing and Communications Director of the airport, Ioanna Papadopoulou.
Photos: Facebook.
Featuring 59 iconic photographs from the Australian War Memorial, the exhibition offers a look at the presence of Australian soldiers in Greece during the Greek Campaign, starting in March 1941 and culminating with the Battle of Crete (20 May – 1 June 1941).
Photos: Facebook.
In a post on Facebook, the Embassy wrote that: “the exhibition pays tribute to the service and sacrifice of the Australian and other Allied soldiers on Crete and honours the courage and generosity of the Cretan people, who did not just fight bravely to defend their island but also, at great risk to themselves and their families, sheltered and helped the Allied soldiers to safety.”
The exhibition will be on display in the airport’s Intra-Schengen arrivals area until October 31, 2021.
In 2017, officials knocked on the doors of residents living on Randwick’s Eurimbla Avenue and told them their houses were to be compulsorily acquired to make way for a redevelopment of the nearby Prince of Wales Hospital.
Residents were given a date and promised fair prices for their homes, but there was no negotiating about the fact they had to move out of the Eurimbla precinct, which is wedged between the University of New South Wales on one side and the hospital on the other.
Eurimbla Avenue was wiped off the map. Source: Sydney Morning Herald.
Now, almost four years later, former Eurimbla resident, Sam Sarkis, tells The Sydney Morning Herald that while you could not pay him to move back to Randwick, he still missed his neighbours.
Mr Sarkis was one of the most outspoken critics of the compulsory acquisition process and has since moved to acreage on the Central Coast.
He tells the SMH the process (which was concluded by the end of 2018) was made unnecessarily stressful by the bureaucratic way it was managed, with many residents frantically renovating and painting their homes to get a higher valuation.
Sam Sarkis, pictured outside his home in Eurimbla Avenue, in 2018. Credit: Louise Kennerley.
Mr Sarkis was told he could not take his new toilet with him. One man was told he could not take a magnolia tree that had been planted by his mother.
“They really dehumanised the whole thing… It could have been handled better,” Mr Sarkis told the Australian newspaper.
NSW Health Infrastructure said in a statement to the SMH that more than 90 per cent of property owners reached an agreement with the government on the value of their property without needing to resort to property acquisition and the process had been conducted in line with all its statutory obligations.
The Randwick campus construction site, the former site of Randwick’s Eurimbla precinct. Credit: Steven Saphore.
“Health Infrastructure understands the property acquisition process can be difficult for residents and owners and has made every effort to support positive outcomes on their behalf,” it said.
The Eurimbla Precinct History Association has now released a book, Remembering Eurimbla, funded by the garage sales of residents moving out of their homes and a grant from Randwick Council.
When Mr Sarkis opened the book, it was beyond anything he had imagined.
“The book gave recognition,” he said. “We weren’t just a number, which was how we had been treated [during the sell-off]. It recognised that we were people with stories, with families, with histories. That’s something.”
The journey to the Paris 2024 Paralympics kicked off last weekend for blind footballers in Australia with the launch of the National Para 5s Series.
The partnership between Australian Blind Football and Paralympics Australia will bring together the best blind footballers from around the country four times a year for national training camps. The camps, based in Melbourne, will feature players from five clubs, the largest of which is locals South Melbourne FC.
South Melbourne FC is leading the way in developing blind footballers. Photo supplied.
The South Melbourne FC all abilities football program commenced at the Albert Park based club in 2018 when Chairman Bill Papastergiadis signed off on the formation of a powerchair football team. Fast forward three years and the program has been expanded to embrace blind and vision impaired footballers.
“Our aim is to offer the most diverse and inclusive All Abilities Football program in Australia. Our program embraces footballers of any age, any gender, any culture and any ability. The announcement of the National Para 5s Series will enable our blind footballers to play for and represent South Melbourne on the national stage” Papastergiadis said.
Photos supplied.
The squad trains regularly in Albert Park under the guidance of coach Ankit Singh with the support of Australian Blind Football. The link between blind football and South Melbourne extends further with former club NSL footballer, Sebastian Petrovic, serving as the only internationally qualified blind football referee in Australia and regularly helping mentor the clubs’ blind footballers.
“We are able to utilise the club facilities and the experience of our coaching team to provide our blind footballers with a fantastic development opportunity. They train side-by-side with vision impaired players on Sunday mornings preparing for the national training camps,” Skip Fulton, Football Coordinator of the All Abilities Program, said.
The squad trains regularly in Albert Park under the guidance of coach Ankit Singh. Photo supplied.
“Our program is designed for everyone however, and we welcome those who are looking for some exercise or something new to try. Together with Football Victoria and Blind Sports Victoria we offer free introductory sessions bringing new participants to the game.”
Featuring three members of the Australian national team, the South Melbourne squad played an exhibition match against Olympic FC from Brisbane as part of the announcement in front of the media on Sunday.
The South Melbourne squad played an exhibition match against Olympic FC from Brisbane on Sunday. Photo supplied.
The National Para 5s Series will provide the first opportunity for competitive blind football in Australia bringing together South Melbourne, Olympic FC, Adelaide Comets and Perth SC.
“I am incredibly proud of the program we have put together and the opportunities it provides to so many members of our footballing community,” Club President, Nicholas Maikousis, said.
Photos supplied.
“We are building on sixty years of football heritage and it is exciting to see South Melbourne competing on the national stage in this form of the world game.”
The National Para 5s Series will commence in June with South Melbourne FC taking on Olympic FC in the first fixture.
The Acropolis Museum has announced the completion of a sweeping digitisation program, with all of its exhibits now accessible from anywhere in the world through a new website.
The new website includes not just information about the museum’s history, future visits and upcoming exhibitions, but also a digital archive of the permanent collection.
This archive, free and accessible to all, includes extensive descriptions of over 2,000 artifacts housed by the museum, as well as an interactive bibliographies, photographs, drawings and videos to bring the collection to life.
The Acropolis Museum’s exhibits are now accessible from anywhere in the world through a new website.
There is also plenty to interest younger virtual visitors, thanks to the development of a dedicated website for children as well.
The Acropolis Museum Kids, aimed at 6 to 12 year olds, provides an engaging introduction to the history of Athens through a series of fun and interactive games and videos. These include an ancient cooking class, a guided tour through the timeline of the Acropolis and its monuments, and a sci-fi game to unite the Parthenon’s sculptures.
The Acropolis Museum is the first museum in Greece to go fully digital, leading the way for other Greek institutions.
It’s hoped this mass digitisation project will work to the benefit of the Acropolis Museum in the post-coronavirus world, with in-person visitors keen to re-engage and interact with the museum’s exhibits with fresh eyes and even greater appreciation.
Member for Melbourne and Leader of The Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP, has joined the Joint Justice Initiative, continuing his party’s calls for Federal recognition of the Greek, Armenian and Assyrian Genocides.
The February 2020 launch of the Joint Justice Initiative at Australia’s Parliament House featured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU), Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) and Australian Hellenic Council (AHC), which declares Australia’s recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides as a priority on behalf of their communities.
An industrial lawyer by training, Bandt took over leadership of the largest cross-bench party in the Federal Parliament, The Australian Greens, in 2020 after the retirement of fellow Joint Justice Initiative supporter, Richard Di Natale.
Australian Greens leader, Adam Bandt, has been a long-time advocate of human rights and social issues in public office.
Bandt has represented constituents in the electorate of Melbourne since 2010, and always stood out as a supporter of human rights and social issues in public office.
Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU), Haig Kayserian, said the Joint Justice Initiative was pleased to see another familiar face join the Initiative.
“Mr. Bandt has been a long-time advocate for human rights and has consistently called for Federal Australian recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides,” Kayserian said.
“The Armenian-Australian, Assyrian-Australian and Greek-Australian communities represented in the Joint Justice Initiative thank Mr. Bandt and The Australian Greens for their principled condemnation of what happened to our ancestors at the hands of the Ottoman Empire.”
The Joint Justice Initiative has so far announced the support of Bandt, Tim Wilson MP, Senator Janet Rice, Steve Georganas MP, Michael Sukkar MP, Senator Louise Pratt, Warren Entsch, Joel Fitzgibbon MP, Andrew Wilkie MP, Julian Leeser MP, Michelle Rowland MP, Senator Paul Scarr, Tony Zappia MP, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Senator Hollie Hughes, Senator Rex Patrick, Mike Freelander MP, Senator Eric Abetz, Senator Larissa Waters, Senator Pat Dodson, Jason Falinski MP, Josh Burns MP, John Alexander MP, Senator Andrew Bragg and Bob Katter MP with a promise of more announcements to come.
On February 25, 2020, over 100 Federal Australian parliamentarians, diplomats, departmental officials, political staffers, academics, media and community leaders were treated to cultural performances, food, wine and brandy, as well as the historic signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, which affirmed that the signatory public affairs representatives of the three communities were jointly committed to seeing Australia recognise the Turkish-committed Genocides against the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian citizens of the Ottoman Empire during World War I.
Greece acknowledged and celebrated the annual International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on Monday.
The first International Day Against Homophobia was held on May 17, 2005. The specific date of May 17 was chosen to commemorate the day the World Health Organisation officially removed homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases in 1990.
‘Greek society has made remarkable progress’:
Greek President, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, noted on Monday the “remarkable progress” made by society in combatting prejudice against the LGBTQ community and added that it is “the Greek state’s turn” to step up in the battle against any discrimination that “undermines the principle of equality or restricts the rights of citizens due to their gender identity, gender characteristics or sexual orientation.”
In a meeting with representatives of the LGBTQ community at her office in Athens, Sakellaropoulou in particular stressed the need for measures to combat discrimination in the school environment and to protect LGBTQ children and their families from stigmatisation.
Sakellaropoulou met with Linos-Alexandre Sicilianos, a professor at Athens Law School, former president at the European Court of Human Rights and president of the National Strategy Committee for LGBTQ Equality, as well as with committee members Katerina Fountedaki, who teaches civil law at Thessaloniki’s Aristotle University, and Stella Belia, who is also the president of Rainbow Families Greece, a nongovernmental organisation dedicated to supporting LGBTQ families and parents.
Greek PM condemns homophobia, biphobia and transphobia:
The Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, also acknowledged the day on Monday. In a message posted on Twitter, he condemned homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia, which still runs rampant in Greece.
“Greece in the 21st century welcomes the day against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia by fighting to eradicate the sad reasons that caused it to be established,” Mitsotakis wrote.
Η Ελλάδα του 21ου αιώνα υποδέχεται την Ημέρα κατά της Ομοφοβίας, Αμφιφοβίας και Τρανσφοβίας, αγωνιζόμενη να εκλείψουν οι θλιβερές αιτίες που την καθιέρωσαν. Η Πολιτεία μας οφείλει να προστατεύει τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα σε κάθε τους έκφανση. #IDAHOT2021https://t.co/DvvVMhtt2Mpic.twitter.com/cpiflMHeiX
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) May 17, 2021
“We do this with horizontal legislative measures in the workplace and every sector of public life. With initiatives such as shaping a National Strategy for LGBTQI+ equality. But also with behaviours that overcome stereotypes and promote creative coexistence.”
In his message, he stressed that modern democracies such as Greece should not tolerate discrimination based on any characteristics such as race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
In 2021, Theodora Ahilas was honoured with an Order of Australia medal. A token of appreciation for what she has accomplished in the field of law.
But Ahilas’ impact stretches far beyond her work, impacting on people’s lives from her incredible drive to create change. Working on some of Australia’s biggest asbestos-related disease cases, Ahilas sat down with The Greek Herald to tell her story.
‘Create change from within’
Theodora Ahilas grew up in the Inner-West Sydney suburb of Dulwich Hill to working class parents. Her father, a proud waterfront worker, and mother, a tea lady in a printing firm, both migrated to Australia for economic reasons from the Island of Lesvos in the early 60’s.
“Both were obsessed with education,” Ahilas said to The Greek Herald.
“They were actively involved in and relished our achievements.”
The eldest of two girls, she attended the local high school and, apart from being a bright student, she was extremely driven and hardworking, which she says is a “common thread amongst first generation immigrants”.
Theodora Ahilas. Photo: John Veage/The Leader
“I learned early on, that change comes from within, I knew that I had to embark on a career, where I could make change and a career of service,” Ahilas said.
“I saw first-hand, the inequity caused by economic disadvantage and lack of language. That having access to the law and proper justice was almost impossible with those 2 huddles.”
Studying a Bachelor of Arts (social work) and Law, she felt that combination equipped her to serve.
“I was lucky to land my dream job in a labour law firm and in 1990, I was junior lawyer to my first asbestos case,” Ahilas sad.
“This is where my love affair began and has not left for me for 30 years.”
Asbestos-related diseases
Theodora Ahilas has been a Principal Lawyer and Director at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers in Sydney since 2004. She is also currently the National Head of Asbestos and Occupational Diseases at the firm.
Her work with asbestos-related diseases is tied to her co-authoring, ‘Understanding Mesothelioma,’ with the Cancer Council NSW, as well as organising several fundraising events including the inaugural Bernie Banton Dinner in 2010 and 2011.
“In that time, I have witnessed the best of the human spirit, I have watched clients give their last breath in dying testimony at all hours in the day or night to secure finance recompense for their family,” Ahilas said.
“Toxic dust exposures such as asbestos and other dusts, need to be kept in the limelight, through cases, news article and media spotlight. Corporate and company wrongdoing cannot be tolerated.”
Ahilas said she has acted for “hundreds” of people of non-English speaking backgrounds, working with her team to allow them dignity during their legal process and battles.
“It has been a complete honour and privilege,” Ahilas adds.
“In my career, I have been instrumental in bridging the law and medical fields so together we have been able to provide gold quality service to the recipient and their family.”
National recognition for her services
Aged 56, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease several years ago and retired last year due to ill health.
Recognised for her achievements with an Order of Australia medal in 2021, Ahilas has also received the following awards: President’s Medal, Law Society of NSW, 2018; Doyles Guide Leading Lawyer, 2018, 2017, 2016; Alumni Award for Excellence in Law, University of Technology Sydney, 2013; Justice Medal, Law and Justice Foundation NSW, 2012.
“I feel extremely humbled, blessed and honoured to be acknowledged in such a way for a career that I have loved,” Ms Ahilas said to The Greek Herald in a previous interview.
“Greek was my first language. I experienced first-hand the difficulty of accessing services to the law and medicine when there is a deficiency in language.”
She concluded by stressing it is important that “women support women” in the legal profession, adding that mentor programs are very important.
Young girls in white dresses and young boys in tuxedos made the Greek community proud on Saturday night as they made their official debut at the Kytherian Association of Australia’s (KAA) 99th Kytherian Debutante Ball.
Held in The Ballroom at the Royal Randwick Racecourse, the ball attracted over 600 people who enjoyed a sit-down three course meal, great company and of course, dancing performances from the debutantes. An exemption was granted by the NSW Government to the KAA for dancing as the event was held at a sporting venue and not a function venue.
Photo copyright: The Greek Herald.
A number of officials and guests of honour were also in attendance at the event and this included, but is not limited to, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, Producer of TV show My Greek Odyssey, Peter Maneas, actress and author, Mary Coustas, President of the KAA, Emmanuel Alfieris, and CEO of the Bank of Sydney, Miltos Michaelas.
Following the National Anthems of Greece and Australia, Archbishop Makarios gave a resounding speech praising the KAA for organising the ‘joyous occasion’ and working to maintain strong connections with Kytherian youth.
Photo copyright: The Greek Herald.
“The same dynamic spirit among the members of the Association is… working hard to ensure that future generations remain connected with their Greek heritage and to keep this alive in their consciousness,” Archbishop Makarios said.
After this speech, Master of Ceremonies, Ms Coustas, began the debutante presentation, beginning with the Matron of Honour, followed by the flowergirls and pageboys and then the debutantes.
There was loud applause all around as the debutantes then performed to Senorita by Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes, followed by Greek music.
Photo copyright: The Greek Herald.
The dancing was then concluded with a traditional cutting of the cake by the Matron of Honour and debutantes, before lucky draw prizes were given out to a number of people who had huge smiles on their faces as they were given their donated gifts.
A main course of fish or meat was then enjoyed by all as Ms Coustas, who had transformed into her well-known TV character Effie, introduced the President of the KAA, Mr Alfieris, and then Mr Michaelas to give a short speech.
Photo copyright: The Greek Herald.
“You should be very proud that you manage to keep your traditions, but still set the benchmarks for many other Greek communities in Australia,” Mr Michaelas said proudly.
This was followed by a film clip from Guest of Honour, Peter Maneas’ My Greek Odyssey TV series, before the man himself approached the microphone and spoke about his pride in the Kytherian community.
Photo copyright: The Greek Herald.
“We are blessed to be born and living in this prosperous country. We are doubly blessed to be born as Kytherian-heritage people, with a heritage that is rich in world-changing history,” Mr Maneas said.
With the official proceedings concluded, a band began playing and people started dancing on the huge dancefloor. The debutantes then emerged again for their final outstanding performance to Greek music.
A mother of three who lured 28-year-old, Ross Houllis, to the secluded western Sydney car park where he was fatally assaulted has avoided full-time imprisonment despite her “crucial role” in the attack, 7News has reported.
Loubna Kawtharani, now 28, pleaded guilty earlier this year to being an accessory before the fact of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Kawtharani admitted posing as a buyer on Facebook marketplace in early 2020 for Apple earphones that Ross Houllis was seeking to sell.
Loubna Kawtharani, now 28, pleaded guilty earlier this year to being an accessory before the fact of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
According to 7News, the pair arranged to meet at a Wakeley car park on the evening of February 14, 2020, to complete the purchase, however, police allege Houllis was instead met at the car park by Sami Hamdach, Kawtharani’s partner, and Abdul Karaali.
The pair are accused of demanding money and severely beating Houllis, leaving him with catastrophic injuries to the brain and lungs which ultimately caused his death.
Defence lawyer, David Carroll, told Kawtharani’s sentencing hearing at Campbelltown Local Court on Monday that his client was not present when the fatal assault occurred and was not legally responsible for Houllis’ death.
But she acknowledged her moral culpability and apologised to his family, 7News reports.
“She certainly does accept the heavy burden of being responsible morally for what followed,” Carroll said.
“She carries the deep regret and shame and sorrow every day of her life.”
Carroll also said there was a difference in Kawtharani’s case “between the criminality and gravity of consequences” wrought by the fatal assault.
But magistrate George Breton said Kawtharani knew her partner well enough to understand his alleged confrontation with Houllis may turn violent.
The Castellorizian Association of NSW’s new home, ‘The Castellorizian’, was officially opened on Saturday with the cut of a blue ribbon from Archbishop Makarios and NSW Governor Margaret Beazley.
Master of Services John Mangos, who is of Castellorizian heritage, welcomed all attending honourable dignitaries and Greek community leaders to the private grand opening, saying how proud he was that himself and all other Kazzies “finally have a home again.”
Prior to the afternoons proceedings, NSW Governor Margaret Beazley was presented with a special Castellorizian badge from the Secretary coordinator of History and Archives, Victoria Kazaglis Gallagher. The gift was pinned on Her Excellency in the new cultural centre, where the Castellorizian Association costume exhibit was on display.
Photo copyright: Peter Oglos / The Greek Herald.
“This place, just as your island, is very much about community,” Her Excellency said in her speech.
“An island off the mainland… but whose community actually reflects its stunning beauty. Why do I say that? Because you are a stunning and a beautiful community.”
Following the NSW Governor’s speech, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios performed a formal blessing for the new building. The Archbishop expressed gratitude for being in Australia, where functions and community gatherings such as these are able to be held.
Photo copyright: Peter Oglos / The Greek Herald.
“When you are in a communion you’re not a stranger. When you’re in a society can be a stranger. We are here together as a communion,” Archbishop Makarios said.
“I believe in my experience that Australia is not only a society, but a communion.”
Along with Her Excellency and the Archbishop, other honourable dignitaries present at the event included Dr Fiona Martin, MP for Reid, Michael Daley, MP for Maroubra, Konstantinos Giannakodimos, representing the Consul General of Greece in Sydney Christos Karras, Very Rev. Steven Scoutas, Daniel Said, Randwick Council Mayor, Matt Thistlethwaite, MP for Kingsford Smith, Anthony Andrews, Harry Stavrinos and Dennis Wilson of Randwick Council.
Photo copyright: Peter Oglos / The Greek Herald.
Association President George Pizanis gave extensive thanks to all community and support members who stood by the Association’s side during the extensive process of building a new Castellorizian home.
“There was an idea to bring together a group of passionate, remarkable people, to see if we could rebuild an organisation that closed in 2010. Driven by determination, strength and a love for the Castellorizian community,” Pizanis said.
“The goal: To bring together all Castellorizian friends in NSW to a hub which we can call home. Kingsford being the optimum place as the island of Castellorizo and Randwick Council have been sister cities since the club’s inception.”
Photo copyright: Peter Oglos / The Greek Herald.
“As you can see we have built an incredible beacon for our community and for all of us to share.”
Pizanis continued by recognising a number of community members present in the audience, as well as all the current board members: Nicholas Anastasas (Vice President), Peter Salakas (Treasurer), George Mavrocordatos, John M Barbouttis, Angelo Elliott, Victoria Kazaglis Gallagher and James Mavros.
Konstantinos Giannakodimos, representing the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, said since the arrival of the first Castellorizian migrant in the 19th century, they have become one of the wealthiest and most prosperous Greek communities.
Photo copyright: Peter Oglos / The Greek Herald.
John Barbouttis, a former President and current board director of the Association, also spoke about their strong, ever-lasting connection with the Greek island.
Official proceedings concluded with the unveiling of a plaque by the Archbishop and Her Excellency, as well as a separate plaque by the Castellorizian Association board members.
