Sydney FC and Bank of Sydney are excited to announce a new commercial partnership.
Bank of Sydney is dedicated to forging strong relationships with customers and community groups looking for a personal, rewarding banking experience. The deal represents a major alignment with a sports club.
“It’s a great partnership between two proud Sydney institutions,” Sydney FC Chief Executive Officer, Danny Townsend, said.
Sydney FC and Bank of Sydney announce new major commercial partnership. Photo supplied.
“Sydney FC and Bank of Sydney have a shared focus on serving their people and their communities in Sydney, New South Wales and Australia. With our dual focus I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together in this space.”
Bank of Sydney Chief Executive Officer, Miltos Michaelas, is extremely happy to be joining the Sky Blue family.
“We’re really excited that our major sports partnership is with Australia’s most successful football club,” he said.
Bank of Sydney’s logo will appear on the front of the Sydney FC’s A-League shorts. Photo supplied.
“Like Sydney FC, we’re committed to diversity, inclusiveness and supporting our customers. Our plan is to combine our efforts and ensure we are both serving our community to the best of our ability.”
“I can’t wait for the season and our work together to begin, and I’m looking forward to a great couple of years.”
Over the next two seasons, Bank of Sydney’s logo will appear on the front of the Sydney FC’s A-League shorts, they will be involved in Home Game activations and will provide a supportive digital presence to the Sydney FC audience.
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC, Governor of New South Wales, had a videoconference with the Consul-General of Greece in Sydney, Mr Christos Karras, on September 6, 2021.
Her Excellency was accompanied by Mr Dennis Wilson and the Official Secretary, Mr Michael Miller RFD. The Consul-General was accompanied by the Trade Commissioner of Greece in Australia, Mrs Katia Gkikiza.
File photo of a 2020 meeting between the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC, Governor of New South Wales (centre), the Consul-General of Greece in Sydney, Mr Christos Karras (left) and the Trade Commissioner of Greece in Australia, Mrs Katia Gkikiza (right).
The two sides discussed a number of topics of common interest, focusing on the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, its impact on the Greek-Australian community and the importance of vaccination for protecting ourselves and the broader NSW community.
Her Excellency the Governor of New South Wales also had the opportunity to extend her deep condolences on the recent passing of the great Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis.
Everyone from the Greek diaspora will remember that iconic scene from the 1964 film, Zorba the Greek, where Alexis (Anthony Quinn) teached Basil (Alan Bates) how to dance the sirtaki on a Cretan beach.
Everyone will also remember who composed the music for that iconic scene – the legendary Mikis Theodorakis, who passed away last week at the age of 96.
This scene and Theodorakis himself hold an extra special place in the heart of Greek Australians, many of whom got to meet the man himself in 1972 when he toured Australia.
“Never before in the history of Greeks in Australia has there been such an immense and spontaneous popular excitation for the Greece of struggle, justice and beauty as has happened during the Theodorakis concerts,” The Communist Party of Australia said in a statement at the time, according to The Conversation.
A few years after his tour, Zorba becoming a mainstay at multicultural festivals such as Melborune’s Lonsdale Street Greek Festival, and other events like the Sydney Olympics and at the NRL’s multicultural round.
But according to The Conversation, the most famous rendition of the dance came from an unexpected source.
In 2007, a group of young Yolngu dancers from Elcho Island made global headlines. The Chooky Dancers (later renamed Djuki Mala) became famous when Frank Djirrimbilpilwuy uploaded a video of the men dancing in sync to a pop techno remix of Zorba.
As a way of saying thank you to a Greek friend named Liliane, the dance strengthened the relationship between Yolngu people and the Northern Territory’s Greek community.
The video went viral with Djuki Mala performing their hit on Australia’s Got Talent and touring Europe and the Middle East, including an invitation from Theodorakis’ family to dance in Athens.
If that’s not a clear example of the way Greek Australian culture has become firmly part of the fabric of modern Australia, we don’t know what is!
A controversial quarry operation is using land and water inside a South Australian conservation park, according to The Advertiser.
The leader of Residents Against White Rock Quarry, Demetrios Bastiras, says the community group have discovered 7.5 hectares of the land used by mining company, Hanson Australia, is actually part of Horsnell Gully Conservation Park.
“The apparent destruction of Horsnell Gully Conservation Park by Heidelberg Cement Group’s Hanson White Rock Quarry is completely unacceptable, whether licensed or not,” Mr Bastiras said.
“If there is any illegal activity whatsoever, we demand an immediate revocation of their right to mine anywhere within the private mine boundary, let alone in the Conservation Park.
Rusty machines dumped in Horsnell Conservation Park. Picture: Tom Huntley.
“We demand that the destruction of the area concerned is reversed, and that the area be rehabilitated.”
A spokeswoman for the Energy and Mining Department said use of the land as part of the quarry operation “predates” the Horsnell Gully Conservation Park.
“The existing (Environment Department) lease permits use of the land for ancillary quarry activities such as water supply and stockpiles… There is no active mining of quarry material within the lease area,” she said.
Hanson Australia said in a statement: “Hanson has a current and longstanding agreement to use a small portion of Horsnell Gully Conservation Park for water retention and stockpiling.”
NSW clubs are making preparations to open their doors to vaccinated patrons from mid-October as they await the green light from the state government.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the industry recently submitted a reopening plan to the government and Clubs NSW CEO, Josh Landis, said this plan had been accepted by NSW Health. The agreement on timing is still to come.
Mr Landis added that he was confident it would be back to business as usual this Christmas.
“We are preparing to open both indoors and outdoors to fully vaccinated patrons when we hit 70 per cent vaccination early to mid-October,” Mr Landis told The Daily Telegraph.
Landis (left) and Batch Brewing Company owner, Andrew Fineran, at the brewery in Marrickville. Picture: Jonathan Ng.
“Then we expect to open to everyone else when we hit 80 per cent.
“We understand that in the next couple of months there will be more than enough vaccines for anyone that wants to get vaccinated to get vaccinated so by Christmas, there should be no excuse for further restrictions to apply because everyone will have limited their risk – unless they have chosen to be unvaccinated, in which case that’s their decision and they will bear the possible consequences.”
Landis hopes to reopen NSW Clubs to vaccinated patrons from mid-October.
As part of the first phase of reopening, patrons would be required to show their vaccination status to a door person, Mr Landis said.
He said the reopening plan had been reviewed by a professor of epidemiology enlisted by Clubs NSW who was an expert in infectious diseases, and was well-known and respected by NSW Health.
Mr Landis said the epidemiologist had said it was already safe to open outdoor areas.
The pilots of the two French Rafale fighter aircraft and the “Patrouille de France” aerobatic display team bid farewell to the city of Athens on Monday.
🇫🇷 🇬🇷 Σήμερα Δευτέρα 6/09, τα δύο αεροπλάνα #Rafale &το ακροβατικό σμήνος της Γαλλικής Αεροπορίας «Patrouille de France» πέταξαν πάνω από την #Αθήνα για να αποχαιρετήσουν την Ελλάδα, σχηματίζοντας στον ουρανό τα χρώματα της 🇬🇷 πάνω από την Ακρόπολη @FranceenGrece@PAFofficielpic.twitter.com/Yumrq0xKaN
They flew in formation above the Acropolis, while releasing smoke in the colors of the Greek flag. They were accompanied by the Greek F-16 Zeus.
The French aerobatic team was in Athens to participate in the Athens Flying Week air show, held at the Tanagra air base on September 4-5.
At the Athens Flying Week, audiences were able to watch the French Rafale, and the original Warbird and the Greek Spitfire, as well as the flying ‘dance’ of the Patrouille de France and of the Saudi Hawks, the Greek F-16 Zeus and the Danish F-16 Solo Display, the RC Kavala Acro Team and the Twilight Flying Display by Italian Luca Bertossio.
Η @HAFspokesman για ακόμη μια φορά, μας εντυπωσίασε στην 114 Πτέρυγα Μάχης στην Τανάγρα και στο “Athens Flying Week 2021”, αλλά και αεροσκάφη συμμαχικών χωρών. Εντυπωσιασμένος από το μαχητικό αεροσκάφος “Rafale”. Μια δυνατή πρόβα για αυτά που έρχονται. https://t.co/8qcVrk1PJ9pic.twitter.com/UAQFt941Ox
Regional and international issues of mutual interest, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East and Afghanistan, were discussed during a meeting between Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and visiting US Senators, Chris Murphy and Jon Ossoff, on Monday.
Greeting the two senators, Mitsotakis commented that relations between Greece and the United States were “going from strength to strength on all fronts: security, defense, geopolitics and economics.”
According to government sources, the meeting reaffirmed the excellent level of bilateral relations between Athens and Washington.
Mitsotakis and the two Senators also explored the possibilities for their further deepening and expansion in areas such as defense cooperation, investments in strategic infrastructure and cooperation in energy and the environment.
They also discussed the government’s planned reforms of the Greek state and economy.
Mitsotakis outlined the recent developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and analysed Greece’s role as a pillar of stability and security in the wider region, via cooperation schemes with joint partners, such as Cyprus, Israel and Egypt. Regarding Afghanistan, the prime minister stressed that those fleeing the country should stay as close to their homes as possible.
Pleased to discuss with Senators @ChrisMurphyCT and @ossoff the excellent ongoing relationship between Greece and the US. We see great potential to further expand and deepen our cooperation on all fronts: security, defense, geopolitics, energy, the economy. pic.twitter.com/oTMb3vDkk1
The meeting also addressed the progress of the US-Greece Defense and Interparliamentary Partnership Act that is currently in Congress, which will strengthen Greek-US cooperation even further. It also examined the changes in the US-Greece Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement that are currently being negotiated.
Participants in the meeting on the Greek side include Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister for Economic Diplomacy Kostas Fragogiannis, the head of the PM’s diplomatic office Ambassador Eleni Sourani, deputy government spokesperson Aristotelia Peloni and the head of the PM’s Economic Office Alexis Patelis. It was also attended by US Ambassador in Athens Geoffrey Pyatt.
The Senators met with Greek Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias, earlier on Monday and also discussed further strengthening strategic relationships between both countries. Dendias is due to visit Washington in the coming months.
The Greek government confirmed on Monday that former European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides, will head the newly formed Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Ministry.
Former Chief of the Air Force Staff, Evangelos Tournas, was appointed deputy minister, government spokesperson, Yiannis Oikonomou, said during a press briefing on Monday.
Stylianides, a Cypriot citizen, will receive an honorary Greek citizenship in order to serve ahead of his swearing in ceremony on Friday, in line with Greek law.
“I have accepted (the position) with the full awareness of the challenges and expectations that come with it. The consequences of climate change have overtaken us, and we must accelerate major change without delay,” Stylianides said after the announcement about his appointment.
Former European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides.
“Disaster prevention and preparedness is the most effective weapon we have.”
The ministry was created by Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, following devastating wildfires in August. The blazes burned more than 116,000 hectares of forest on the island of Evia and in southern Greece.
Government officials acknowledged mistakes in handling resources while battling the fire in Evia, where the most widespread damage was caused, but also blamed climate change for the steadily worsening weather conditions. The fires were fuelled by scorching temperatures, reaching into the mid-40°C.
As the new minister, Stylianides will head firefighting, disaster relief and policies to adapt to rising temperatures resulting from climate change.
Hundreds of people, some carrying flowers, gathered on Monday at Athens Cathedral to pay their final respects to Greek composer and politician, Mikis Theodorakis, who was an integral part of the Greek political and musical scene for decades.
Mourners sang his songs, while a German composer and former associate of the legendary Greek artist, Henning Zierock, performed iconic melodies on his guitar in an impromptu concert.
Theodorakis, who died on Thursday at the age of 96, is lying in state in a cathedral chapel for three days ahead of his burial on the southern island of Crete. His body arrived on Monday after a nearly two-hour delay amid a dispute over burial details.
Over the weekend, his family reportedly lifted their objections to him being buried on Crete in accordance with his last wishes. A court had temporarily halted burial plans pending a resolution of the dispute.
Theodorakis’ daughter had said earlier that he would be buried near Corinth in the village of Vrahati, where he maintained a holiday home. But a 2013 letter Theodorakis had written to the mayor of the town of Chania in Crete was made public, in which the composer said he wanted to be buried in the nearby cemetery of Galatas, despite his family’s disagreement.
People wait outside the Athens Cathedral. All photos: AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris.
Pallbearers carry the coffin of late Greek composer.
Theodorakis was as well-known in Greece for his political activism as for his musical career. He penned a wide range of work, from somber symphonies to popular TV and film scores, including for “Serpico” and “Zorba the Greek.”
He is also remembered for his opposition to the military junta that ruled Greece from 1967 to 1974, a time during which he was persecuted and jailed and his music outlawed.
A woman places a flower on a coffin as people pay their final respects. Photos: AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris.
Photo: InTime News.
Greece’s Communist Party said over the weekend that Theodorakis’ body will lie in state beginning on Monday, and a “farewell ceremony” will be held Wednesday, before the late composer is flown to Crete. The church service and burial will be on Thursday.
Theodorakis’ body will lie in state from 10 am to 7 pm on Tuesday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
Three Greek Australians have been named in the Third Sector Awards 2021 for their leadership and innovation within the purpose and impact-driven sector.
Ben Vasiliou from Youth Projects and Elfa Moraitakis from SydWest Multicultural Services have both been named finalists in the ‘CEO of the Year’ category, and Kathy Karatasas from the Multicultural Child and Family Program is a finalist in the ‘Influencer of the Year’ category.
Here’s some more information about the Greek Australian finalists:
Ben Vasiliou, Youth Projects:
Ben Vasiliou is CEO of Youth Projects and is committed to delivering life changing, frontline support to our community’s most vulnerable people. Ben leads from the front and has overseen considerable service growth framed by an industry leading social impact outcomes framework, that now supports over 10,000 people each year.
Throughout the pandemic, Ben has advocated for, and delivered, systemic change in the way people experiencing homelessness and young people enduring poor mental health are supported.
Ben was instrumental in enabling an additional 2,500 people to access support from Youth Projects in the past year, whilst simultaneously driving service expansion into 14 new regions, opening three new social enterprise businesses and leading a team of healthcare heroes to remain open and operational throughout the entire pandemic.
Ben continues to advocate for the elevation of lived experience workforces, harnessing best practice in behaviour change and shifting attitudes from tokenism to genuine action.
Ben is also Vice President of LiverWELL Hepatitis Victoria, former Chair of BGKLLEN, was named as one of the most inspiring and influential leaders in the social economy by ProBono Australia in 2020, and recently graduated from the Executive Education in Social Entrepreneurship program at Stanford University (USA).
Elfa Moraitakis, SydWest Multicultural Services:
Elfa is the CEO of SydWest Multicultural Services, the leading not-for-profit multicultural agency in Greater Western Sydney, providing a range of services to vulnerable and diverse communities.
“I’m delighted and humbled to receive such an acknowledgement, especially if it draws attention to our work with vulnerable communities,” Ms Moraitakis said.
“I also believe that when an individual is recognised for their contribution, it is a credit to having a great team of people working alongside you. Thank you to all of the wonderful, dedicated people who make up SydWest Multicultural Services and work tirelessly for our community.”
Elfa has been involved in the community sector for the past 30 years and has an extensive background in developing services for linguistically disadvantaged communities, with a focus on engaging community and stakeholder participation.
Elfa was awarded 2017 Blacktown Woman of the Year for supporting migrant and refugee women establishing their businesses and was one of the 2020 UNSW Alumni finalists for Social Impact and Service. She is a Director of Settlement Services International and a Director of the NSW Council of Social Services.
Elfa has a degree in Sociology from the University of NSW, an Associate Diploma of Applied Management and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is passionate about social justice and is a strong advocate for the human rights of the elderly.
She is proud of her Greek heritage and was the first Greek female journalist in Sydney’s ethnic media and a member of the Greek-Australian Journalists Association. For her contribution to the Greek media, Elfa was awarded an ΟΕΕΓΑ award for ‘Excellence in Journalism.’
Kathy Karatasas, Multicultural Child and Family Program:
Kathy, a second-generation migrant has worked extensively in child protection, adolescent and women’s health, early intervention and foster care services.
Kathy Karatasas (right).
Kathy has a strong commitment to driving services which influence positive wellbeing outcomes. She is a strong advocate for collaborative leadership in influencing sector and community improvements, especially for children, young people and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Kathy is a dedicated, passionate, collaborative leader who values comprehensive strategic and service design, nurturing partnerships across all levels of organisations, collecting and sharing practice wisdom and respectfully showcasing team contributions.
In 2015, Kathy joined Settlement Services International to nurture and lead the then new multicultural foster care program. The program is now recognised as a sector lead in culturally responsive and evidence-based practice, influencing government and non-government agencies.
Kathy is an Executive Director of the NSW Association of Child Welfare Agencies (ACWA), a member of sector advisory committees and tertiary research initiatives.
Kathy’s qualifications include Masters in Social Work, Diploma in Adult Education and Public Sector Management. Her community contributions include 20 years of school community executive roles including the introduction of student recognition initiatives for vulnerable primary students.
Public voting for the awards is now open and will close on October 1. Winners will be announced during the awards night on November 4 at the Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney.
*Please note: These are the Greek people we were able to identify by name.
