Four S-64 Air Crane helicopters, which were shipped from Greece, arrived in Australia on Saturday night, just in time for the summer bushfire season.
The announcement came via Richard Marles MP on Facebook, who said the helicopters had been delivered safely to the Port of Geelong.
“(The helicopters) will be up in the air, supporting emergency response crews on the ground right across the country,” Mr Marles wrote.
Mr Marles added these helicopters are important to avoid “a repeat of last summers bushfires,” but Australia should still have its own dedicated Australian aerial fire fighting fleet of aircraft.
“The priority needs to be our hardworking firefighters and keeping Australians safe year round,” he said.
The important delivery from Greece came in the face a record-breaking weekend heatwave across most of the south eastern and eastern parts of Australia.
Several fires also broke out in Sydney’s west, with firefighters battling to get them under control until a southerly change on Sunday evening sent temperatures plummeting.
What’s the best way to spice up your meal? To have the perfect side for your mezze boards.
These five delicious Greek dip recipes are super simple to make and very popular with family, friends and guests.
See the recipes below to learn how to make a modest meal look exquisite with a range of tasty side dips!
TARAMOSALATA
Ingredients
100 grams white tarama (fish roe)
300 grams white stale bread (crust removed), soaked in water and squeezed
180ml olive oil (3/4 cup)
Juice 2 lemons
1 medium red onion, grated
½ small garlic clove, finely grated
Method
Soak the bread in water for five minutes, then squeeze most of the water out with your hands.
In a food processor add the bread, roe, onion and garlic and process until you have a smooth paste.
With the machine running, add some of the oil very slowly, then a little lemon juice, then more oil, alternating until all the oil and lemon juice is combined and it is a smooth consistency. Add 80ml of warm water and process again – this will help make the dip light and fluffy.
Serve!
TZATZIKI
Ingredients
½ cucumber, peeled
2 cups cold plain Greek yogurt
4 cloves garlic, pressed
1/3 cup chopped dill, fresh or frozen
1 & ½ tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ lemon, squeezed
½ tsp salt or to taste
1/8 tsp black pepper
Method
Place grated cucumber into a clean dish towel and squeeze out all moisture.
In a large bowl add yogurt, cucumber, garlic clove, lemon and dill weed and mix to combine well.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Cover bowl and place in refrigerator for 30 minutes to allow flavours to combine (even better if left overnight!
Serve!
FAVA
Ingredients
500g yellow split peas
3 red onions, roughly chopped
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 litre warm water (3 and 1/3 cups)
Juice of 2 lemons
1/3 of a cup olive oil
Thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
Method
Rinse the split peas with plenty of water.
Heat a large pot over medium-high heat; add 2-3 tbsps. olive oil, the chopped onions, garlic and some fresh thyme and sauté.
As soon as the onions start to caramelise add the peas and blend. Pour in the warm water and the olive oil, turn the heat down to medium and season well with salt and pepper. Simmer with the lid on for about 40-50 minutes, until the split peas are thick and mushy. While the split peas boil, some white foam will probably surface on the water. Remove the foam with a slotted spoon.
When done, pour in the lemon juice and transfer the mixture in food processor. Mix, until the peas become smooth and creamy, like a puree.
Serve the fava with a drizzle of olive oil, a tablespoon of diced onion and some capper or chopped parsley.
MELITZANOSALATA
Ingredients
4 large purple eggplants
1/2 red onion
1 clove garlic, crushed
125 ml olive oil (1/2 cup)
4 tablespoons lemon juice
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Method
To prepare this super easy melitzanosalata recipe (Greek eggplant dip), start by baking the eggplants in a preheated oven at 200C. You could either bake them whole or sliced, depending on the time you have available. If you choose to bake them whole, use a fork to make some wholes on the aubergines, place on a tray and bake for about 1 hour. Alternatively for a quicker version of this melitzanosalata recipe, cut the eggplants in slices and place them on a baking tray, lined with parchment paper. Coat with olive oil, sprinkle with fresh thyme, season with salt and pepper and add 1-2 cloves of garlic. Cover with parchment paper and bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, until tender.
For this melitzanosalata recipe you need to use only the flesh of the eggplants. Peel the eggplants and dice the pulp.
Place the pulp and the other ingredients in a large bowl and vigorously mix with a wooden spoon. (If you prefer your melitzanosalata to have a creamier texture, then add the ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulse, adding the olive oil gradually on a steady stream. Alternatively mash the eggplants using a fork). Let the melitzanosalata (Greek eggplant dip) cool down and put in the fridge to allow the flavours to mingle.
Serve the melitzanosalata in a small bowl garnished with a whole black olive.
TIROKAFTERI
Ingredients
3 long red peppers.
1-2 red chili peppers.
250gFeta cheese.
100g full-fat Greek yogurt.
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil.
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice.
Method
Place the peppers (and chili) on a tray covered with grease-proof paper. Bake them at 180 degrees Celsius (360 F) for ~ 20 minutes until their skin starts getting black.
Let the peppers cool down and remove the skin. Place the peppers with the rest of the ingredients in a food blender and create a smooth paste.
If it’s too hot for you, add a bit more of yogurt and pass it again through the blender.
Greece reported 121 coronavirus-related deaths on Saturday, a daily record, with hospitals in the north of the country under pressure as intensive care beds fill up with COVID-19 patients.
Health authorities reported 1,747 COVID-19 cases on Saturday, bringing the total since the first case was detected in February to 103,034. The death toll stands at 2,223.
“This year’s Christmas will be very different,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who visited front line workers in northern Greece on Saturday, told a local radio station.
Photo: AP News
Authorities have a nationwide lockdown in place until Dec. 7, with repeated appeals to a fatigued public to conform to distancing regulations.
“I really ask for some more patience and one more effort ahead of Christmas,” Mitsotakis said.
A two-month lockdown in March helped contain the spread of infections but a renewed spike since October prompted new restrictions.
Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias called on Germany to “set a clear example” in the European Union and halt its scheduled sale of weapons to Turkey amid increased tensions in the Aegean and the eastern Mediterranean over energy resources and territorial claims.
“I really fail to understand Germany’s reluctance to use the enormous power of its economy to set a clear example to countries that they must obey international law,” Dendias was quoted as saying in an interview with Politico published on Saturday.
Athens has specifically asked Berlin to stop the delivery of six Type 214 submarines ordered by Turkey, saying that the vessels would upset the balance of power in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Photo: AFP
Turkey on Friday rejected a call by the European Parliament for sanctions against Ankara over President Tayyip Erdogan’s recent visit to the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in north Cyprus, calling the demand “disconnected from the realities”.
On Thursday, the European Union’s parliament agreed a non-binding resolution in support of EU member Cyprus urging EU leaders to “take action and impose tough sanctions” against Turkey, a move likely to bolster support for France’s push for sanctions on Ankara at an EU summit next month.
Turkey is at odds with EU members Greece and Cyprus over hydrocarbon exploration in disputed east Mediterranean waters.
The countdown to Christmas is on and the gifts are rolling in for Seniors Card holders with fresh discounts on electricity, home and hardware, groceries, internet and more.
Acting Minister for Seniors Geoff Lee said keeping cool and connected will be at the top of the wish list for many people this Christmas.
“Many seniors are spending more time at home this year to protect their physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr Lee said.
“Seniors have shown incredible resilience in a difficult year while still supporting their families and communities so it’s great to be able to team up with our Seniors Card partners to offer these super savings.”
Geoff Lee. Picture: Trevor Veale/The Australian
Simply Energy is offering NSW Seniors Card holders 21% discount on electricity and 11% off their gas bills. Aussie Broadband and Pennytel have lined-up some terrific dollar dazzlers on NBN and mobile phone plans.
“Gas and electricity discounts really help cut the cost of using home cooling systems and will keep heating bills down next winter as well. Mobile and internet savings help unite people online and on the phone during this festive period,” Mr Lee said.
“Cost of living can be a challenge for older people and we want our 1.7 million NSW Seniors Card holders to get the best possible benefits with discounts and special offers from over 7000 businesses across NSW.”
Member for Oatley Mark Coure joined Mr Lee at Mitre 10 Peakhurst and said seniors can grab a five percent discount on gift cards across all Mitre 10 stores in NSW.
“Seniors are so important to our State and this discount gets them a deal on everything from home and garden to timber and hardware so older people can stay active while getting outside to create happier, safer living spaces,” Mr Coure said.
“Projects bring people together whether it’s a chat in the shed over construction or while enjoying green space in the garden. This interaction is so important.”
Just twenty-four hours after the border between NSW and Victoria reopened, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios visited Melbourne, which was severely impacted in the previous months by the pandemic.
Arriving in Melbourne, on Friday, November 27th, his first stop was St Basil’s nursing home in Fawkner where he was welcomed by the administration, the staff and the residents and their relatives.
Archbishop Makarios performed the Communion of the Blessed Sacrament, in the presence of political representatives, and expressed his deep sorrow and grief for the tragic loss of human life and members of the St Basil’s family.
“We continue to pray to God for their souls,” he said, “and for the consolation of the relatives who morn the loss of their loved ones.”
“But we also look forward to brighter days,” he added. “I assure you that we are – as we were and will be – always by your side”.
Referring to brighter days, he reminded people that the restructuring plan of the organisation has begun, under the Archdiocesan Vicar of the Northcote district, Fr. Evmenios Vassilopoulos, the new Chairman of the St Basil’s Board.
He added that the Holy Archdiocese cooperates with government authorities, which have expressed their confidence in the administration and staff of the institution. He congratulated and thanked the staff, acknowledging that they offer their services to the residents of St Basil’s with exceptional dedication and care.
His Eminence talked to the tenants, their relatives and staff members, listening carefully to their concerns and expectations for the future.
His Emminence also revealed that he has received calls for a change in the name of the Foundation, but hastened to say that he will not follow any such practice, as, as he underlined, that for the Holy Archdiocese St Basil’s is not business but an institution with a long and rich social contribution to the Greek Diaspora and to the Australian society in general, which he and the Archdiocese fully respect.
“We do not think about the financial benefit, but we honour our history and our tradition,” he said.
The Archbishop also expressed his complaint for “some media outlets that transmitted false information and facts, blatantly wronging the people of St Basil’s, as well as the history of this institution”.
Present in the ceremony that took place at St Basil’s were the Consul General of Greece to Melbourne, Dimitris Michalopoulos, Federal MP Maria Vamvakinou, representative of the Leader of the Opposition Georgie Crozier, City of Moreland Mayor Annalivia Carli Hannan, St Basil’s Director of Nursing Vicky Kos as well as community organisations’ representatives.
It was on Jacqueline Mantzouratos’ holiday to Greece when she realised she needed to completely change the way she lived. One year on, she has lost almost 70kg and gained a tonne of confidence.
At 19-years-old, Jacqueline was an obese child, weighing over 150kg. In the planning process of travelling with her family to Greece, in August 2019, she realised something she had never considered in her life.
“I came to the conclusion that I wouldn’t fit in an airplane seat and I had to buy two seats on every plane I went on,” Jacqueline said to The Greek Herald.
“And while I was over there, I went out for dinner with my family and we’d have to change restaurant because I would fit in a seat.”
Photo: Instagram
“It was really embarrassing and quite upsetting.”
“So I told myself that I was doing the rest of my trip but once I got home, something would have changed. It was kind of like I hit my rock bottom and it was time for me to do something about it.”
On the November 11, 2019, Jacqueline scheduled a gastric bypass surgery; A highly intensive weight loss procedure which creates a small pouch in the stomach for food to easily be processed. Yet, weeks out from the surgery, Jacqueline decided not to go through with it, opting to carry out her weight-loss journey naturally.
“My mom asked the surgeon, what is the likelihood of completing my weight loss naturally. And he said 0.001 percent,” Jacqueline said.
In 2017-18, the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ National Health Survey showed that Australia had the 8th highest proportion of overweight or obese adults aged 15 and over among 23. The National Health Survey also indicated that almost one quarter (24.9%) of children aged 5-17 years were overweight or obese in 2017-18.
At this point, Jacqueline had set out on her weight-loss journey with a goal: To beat the statistic.
“I had an end goal, and that’s what you have to keep looking towards. And for me, it was an enter my 20s my best, happier and healthier me.”
“I took my weight loss five kilos at a time and five kilos turned into 10, which over time turned to 20, 25, 30, and then eventually just went from there.”
Jacqueline gave credit to her incredible support group, made up of her family, friends and personal trainers. Powering her journey for a healthy lifestyle, she attributed the support to four key values: Mind, heart, body, home.
Photo: Instagram.
“Each of those things are crucial points to help your journey to succeed,” Jacqueline explained.
“For me, the home part was friends and family, and when I started to do my weight loss, naturally, it was all hands on deck.
“My friends, family, everyone was there to pick me up and to get me to keep going, even when I felt like I couldn’t.”
Since starting late last year, Jacqueline has lost an inspirational 60kg, on her way to hitting the massive 70kg goal. Jacqueline says setting a reachable goal and taking it ‘day by day’ and ‘step by step’, has helped her alter her entire lifestyle.
“I’ve hit like milestones… but I think it was probably my self-confidence that would be the best thing about it.”
“I wake up every day ready to do everything I possibly could to benefit myself.”
Her positive results and aspiration for change gained the attention of Fab To Be Fit founder Kevin Moultrie.
“We love to tell stories of children who have managed to beat their demons and who have succeeded in their journey, like Jacqueline Mantzouratos,” Kevin said to The Greek Herald.
Fab to be Fit Foundation’s goal is to deliver obesity education through fun, structured physical activity programs and introducing healthier eating choices as part of a school’s Personal Development, Health and Physical Exercise (PDHPE) studies.
“Obesity, Depression and Anxiety are three words that parents hate to acknowledge when it comes to their children or teenagers. Here in Australia, we are in growth phase across all three disorders, with no proven solutions or answers coming from state or federal government,” Kevin Moultrie added.
“This needs to be addressed early (at primary school age (5-12yrs) because if not, by the time children reach secondary school it can often be too late.”
SYRIZA MPs have raised the issue of La Trobe University’s proposal to cut Greek studies in the Greek Parliament, requesting that the Greek government take action.
It is understood that the Greek government is aware of the matter and is looking into ways they may be able to provide assistance.
The Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne Vice President Theo Markos says the Community will be preparing a letter which will be sent directly to Prime Minister Mitsotakis seeking his support.
“I know, from the Diaspora Press, the battle you are waging to ensure that there is no interruption of the Program, which is the only program in Victoria that offers students at all universities in the area the opportunity to study Modern Greek language and culture at an academic level,” Rallia Christidou, SYRIZA MP, says in her letter to the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne.
“We consider that the Programs and Departments of Greek Studies in foreign Universities are important ambassadors of Greek culture abroad.”
“….We wanted to add our voice to your own voices and efforts and we called on the Greek government to take initiatives.”
Campaign to save the Greek Studies Program of La Trobe University continues.
A petition set up by university students was handed in to La Trobe on Wednesday with 6,244 signatures and remains open until a decision has been made.
Attached below is the letter put forward in the Greek parliament by SYRIZA, translated from Greek to English.
SUBJECT: “The Greek Studies Program at LaTrobe University Victoria, Australia, is in danger of being shut down”
The LaTrobe University of Victoria, Australia, has announced its intention to discontinue the Greek Studies Program, after forty years of continuous and successful operation, citing financial reasons.
The news caused a great deal of consternation in the Greek community of Melbourne as the LaTrobe Greek Studies Program is the only program in Victoria that offers students at all universities in the area the opportunity to study Modern Greek language and culture at an academic level. In previous years, the Program regularly organized research seminars, conferences, lectures and offered Greek lessons not only to students but also to the general public through Lifelong Learning programs. LaTrobe’s Greek Studies Program is also organically linked to the Dardali Historical Archives.
The news of the closure of the Program has caused a justified disturbance in the Greek community of Australia, which has launched a campaign for its rescue. The Greek community of Melbourne, until 24/11/2020, has collected 5,440 signatures for the non-interruption of the Program and contacted the Rector’s Authorities, initially by letter, which it notified to the Greek Consulate and then a meeting. 20 bodies of the Greek community, including the Greek-born Mayor of Hume, after two teleconferences, have been opposed to the planned shutdown of the Program, submitting proposals. A relevant letter was addressed to the Rector of LaTrobe by Archbishop Makarios of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, while in support of the request of the Greek community, the Labor Party of Australia, one of the two largest parliamentary parties in the country, has also written a letter.
Because the abolition of the Greek Studies Program at LaTrobe University will be a strong blow to the study of Greek language and culture at the university level, in Australia and the Greek community justifiably reacts to such a prospect. Greece-Australia Agreement for the purpose of cultural, educational and mutual cooperation of the two countries, a fact that demonstrates the great importance for the Greek State of maintaining and strengthening the cultural ties between Greece and the Greek community in Australia.
Because the Programs and Departments of Greek Studies at Universities abroad are important for supporting the ties of Greek first generation immigrants with their country of origin, but also for strengthening the Greek identity of expatriates of the second or third generation, the Programs and Departments of Greek Studies at Universities are important ambassadors of Greek culture abroad.
In April 2020, in an interview with The Greek Herald the CEO of Bank of Sydney, Miltos Michaelas, carefully and thoroughly drew the road map of what would be next as a result of the pandemic. All of which has come true in the last 7 months, from an economy and financial perspective, how it affected the community and what the plan was for recovery.
Today, it feels like he had a crystal ball through which he saw the future. In fact, his knowledge and experience in the banking sector was his very own crystal ball.
Guided by an experienced board of directors and supported by a strong team of executives, Michaelas managed to safely and successfully lead the Bank of Sydney and its employees to a safe harbour through unprecedented times, from where they then were able to help the Bank’s communities and clients, especially those affected by the pandemic.
Although Australia recently entered its first recession in three decades, economic indicators show that there is light at the end of the tunnel, Mr. Michaelas predicted and now confirms to The Greek Herald.
But there is one common question. When will the economic downturn come to an end?
“The light at the end of the tunnel is now visible. We see the evidence of this in the big number of people who are back to repaying their loans. The data from banking institutions, which reflects people’s pockets, paints a very positive picture forming.
“I must note, that Australia has managed to control the health crisis better than many other countries around the world. The measures taken from the beginning of this pandemic were strict. However, the Australian society was mature enough to embrace and follow them. One of the most dramatic measures has been the closure of borders,” Michaelas says.
“Despite the financial impacts caused by the pandemic, Australia with its AAA credit rating was able to maintain a stable outlook and give the system strong economic boosts in order to survive. Spending money while at the same time maintaining an optimal rating, the country managed to “build” a sustainable bridge to cross safely to the other side, beyond the recession imposed by the pandemic.
“Public debt reached 43% – 44% including all the resources thrown into battel against the effects of the pandemic but Australia will not have any problem with the extra lending,” says Michaelas and he goes on to explain why.
“For three reasons. The first reason is because Australia has always had and continues to have very low debt, despite the new large investment in the lifeline. Secondly, lending interest rates have dropped dramatically, due to a number of actions which created cheap liquidity that according to the Head of the Reserve Bank of Australia will remain in place for at least the next two to three years. Third reason is because, with a return to normality, exports will flourish. Thus, cheap borrowing will lead to investments, and this will lead the government as well as the citizens towards a faster V-shape recovery,” says Mr. Michaelas, only to confirm what he told The Greek Herald seven months ago. “We should now worry more about over-heating and immigration trends which will define the economy in the medium term, next 2-3 years.”
‘Greece and Cyprus will overcome the crisis’
If in Australia the economic recession seems to be heading towards its completion, in Greece and Cyprus the new strict measures taken to stop the spread of the second wave of coronavirus have triggered a new round of recession.
“In Greece and Cyprus the situation is unique, due to the fact that the tourist season is lost and that infections are still rising,” Mr Michaelas says.
“I hope we can resolve this health crisis, endure the next few months and find before us an Easter of Resurrection and the path to economic recovery. Greece has now the European Union funds and enough time to plan its recovery. Signs of recovery were already visible before the pandemic. The 2021 tourist season is the only bet left that needs to be won.
“Greece and Cyprus have managed to overcome difficult situations and will be able to overcome this as well.
“Cyprus is in slightly better position but its economy is small. For example, the recent issue of the Golden passports scheme could cause a major downturn in an economy with a GDP of around € 18 billion.
“The pandemic is obviously affecting the country’s economy but this double-up of problems may affect severely a small islands Construction and tourist sectors. Especially at a time that Cyprus has not yet recovered from the real estate sector crisis in 2013,” the Greek-Cypriot CEO explains.
“Cyprus is stronger than Greece, in terms of economy and private wealth, but it’s particularly hard for a country with a small economy, like Cyprus, to manage two blows simultaneously”.
Accelerating investments and strengthening customer relationships
In his previous interview, in April 2020, the CEO’s appeal to the Bank of Sydney’s customers who had been impacted by the pandemic, revealed the banking organisation’s humane and compassionate side.
“We did not receive many phone calls from customers for hardship. We then decided to call our customers ourselves, one by one, to ask if and how they have been impacted by the pandemic.
“I can proudly say that we are the only bank that contacted all the customers who have loans and cared about their wellbeing in a 100% way. This is the cheapest investment I have made in my career,” confesses Michaelas.
As we move towards the end of the year, the market trend is clearly returning to normal as more customers bounce back to their pre-pandemic instalments and according to Mr Michaelas, the Bank of Sydney has far less overdue customers compared to other financial institutions.
“We have a small number of customers who remain on instalment suspension. More than 75% of customers who had previously requested an instalment suspension now serve their loan regularly. At the end of this year, we will get to a point where we will discover that ‘a strong wind passed over us and not a tornado. As a bank we pioneered because we went to the customer when the wind started blowing”.
So what is the state of the recession at the Bank of Sydney and what were the steps taken to absorb the shocks of the economic impact?
“The first thing we did at the beginning of this adventure, as I mentioned in the previous interview, was to protect our employees and our customers.
“This approach resulted in us strengthening our relationship with both sides. The bank managed to operate with 90% of the staff working from home -this continues to date. We are not in a hurry to get them back to the office, as we have managed to be efficient with staff working remotely,” says Michaelas.
“As far as the bank is concerned, we tried to predict and calculate how the situation will unfold from March 2020 to around October 2021, when we estimate that this health crisis will end. We expect that within these 18 months, the way that our customers transact will change in a dramatic and irreversible way, as the new digital process will become habitual”.
“So, as early as April we made the decision to expedite the bank’s investment program, which would have been otherwise completed in three years. We decided to invest and implement the changes earlier in order to take advantage of the best prices that existed at that time and be ready in 2021, when the market will start moving again.”
But is the banking industry going to be the same in the post pandemic era?
“Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic will be the end of the banking industry as we know it. I am referring to physical bank branches, cash and checks, all kinds of physical transactions. The aforementioned total banking transactions have been already reduced to 5 – 10% as Australia is rapidly moving towards becoming a cashless society.
“As of that, the automation of “Bank of Sydney”, its market share and the cost reduction in our customer service channels and investments, had to be actioned from now until mid-2021 so that we are ready for the competition and to maintain our dynamic clientele, that transforms and changes habits with time. We also have younger generations of clients, who constantly ask for more advanced products,” Mr. Michaelas says.
The Bank of Sydney Values
During an extremely difficult time for the country and for the planet, relationships are undeniably being tested. But the bonds createdin such times, arestrong and this is where Bank of Sydney has invested. In relationships are based on values and humane interaction.
“Undoubtfully, our goal is to provide our customers with a seamless online service, equal to what’s out in the market. Humane interaction though is what always differentiates Bank of Sydney.
“This is the bank’s greatest strength,” says Michaelas.
“The success of “Bank Of Sydney” for the last 20 years has been built on the foundations of this the interaction with our clients and our values, which have been forged by being close to the Greek community. The Greek community is very demanding and when you manage to satisfy its members and earn their trust with your quality services, you can stand tall, in any environment,” the CEO explains, as he unfolds the triptych of the institution’s values.
Values: We approach every customer with respect and honesty, regardless of their financial background and how they got there. We believe that each of our clients has worked very hard and has done sacrifices to get to where they are now.
The team: In the 4 years I have been at the helm of Bank of Sydney we have managed to build a strong team. This is the first time I have such a strong team of partners both on the executive level and at our Board of Directors. This team is able to cope with the acceleration of three years’ worth of investment in a few months. Its members have matured and is performing extremely well.
The means and the way to reach the client. We will develop the technological aspect with the clients in mind and we’ll always remember that our customers deserve a bank that works hard for them, as they do in their daily lives.
“We work hard towards customer satisfaction. We have already introduced new platforms to facilitate electronic transactions.
“We installed the first smart ATMs at our new 62 Pitt Street store at Sydney CBD. In the heart of one of the city’s busiest shopping streets, Bank of Sydney has acquired a corner building to house our Head office and flagship branch, and supported this by super SMART ATMs, the first of their kind to be introduced in Australia. As part of our strategic upgrade, we are moving stores to more commercial streets so that we are better visible and accessible to our customers.
“Our Bank’s message to our customers is also very important. We are evolving with technology but always with human interaction in mind,” Mr Michaelas says.
The market’s auspicious future and the strong ties with the community
Asked about the future of the banking industry in Australia post pandemic and what are some of the questions that he might have, Michaelas replies that “the Australian banking sector is very much affected by real estate.”
“65% of loans are mortgages. The rest are commercial. These two together make-up 90% of the existing loans in Australia. This country is intertwined with the real estate market, which has been expanding for the last 30 years.
“This growth is partially due to the country’s systems but also due to migration. About 300,000 immigrants settle in Australia each year and they usually buy a house,” he says.
“So, the future of the banking sector is promising. The only worry is that the economy may ‘overheat’ in the next few years due to low interest rates, and that new immigrants may not arrive on time. So my fear is not immediate. I believe that the Australian economy will cope, just with an asterisk in these two points.”
A respected figure within the community, the CEO of “Bank of Sydney”, Miltos Michaelas talks about the way Greeks in Australia dealt with the health crisis.
“Generally, our community respects the rules, especially when they have to do with health. Greek people paved the way in this pandemic, perhaps because we all have this deep-rooted need to protect our own people.
“With the exception of some of our nursing homes, which were unlucky, we did not have many casualties. What worries us the most, is what’s happening in Greece. We all discuss about it and we wonder how the situation will unfold. And it is not only the elderly who talk about it but younger people as well.
“Having said that, there are people who have been affected in the community like the small business owners in Oakleigh, Melbourne. Let’s all please not forget that what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. Let’s hope that the difficulties are now over and we have transitioned to a recovery phase,” the CEO tells The Greek Herald with optimism, encouraging the community to look out for the elderly and the most vulnerable.
“I would also like to say that Bank Of Sydney has been trying to help the community throughout this period.
“More specifically, between the Epitaph in April and the Feast of the Cross on September 14, the Bank of Sydney together with the Stamouli family sponsored Melbourne’s TV Channel 31 to broadcast Sunday services from various churches, especially for the elderly, that are not familiar with Facebook or other social media,” reveals Mr Michaelas, proving once more that the relations between the community and Bank of Sydney are indeed interlinked…
A new comedic theatre production at the Hellenic Art Theatre entitled ‘Φωνάζει ο Κλεφτης’ (Cries of a Thief) is set to bring audiences on the ground in tears of laughter.
Written by Dimitris Psathas & Directed by Stavros Economidis, the play is a hilarious comedy with a satirical background that gives it much substance.
Psathas’ frequent use of proverbs, relate to various issues of public finances and administration. The writer’s insightful look and sharp pen presents an image of modern society without exaggeration. Situations and characters that are familiar to the audience, comic situations coexist with the current, even for today, question “why should truth be considered a luxury and not a virtue”.
“Our dedicated cast, a great bunch of actors have been working tirelessly over the last month to bring this production together for you to enjoy in record time!”
A simple man (Timoleon), who constantly gets fired from his jobs because of his honesty, stumbles upon a lost wallet. He returns the wallet to its rightful owner a retired General (Solonas). The General, impressed by his honesty, employs him as a bookkeeper and he discovers a world of fraud and abuse of public monies. The head of this conspiracy is Andonis, the brother of the General’s wife (Lia).
A drunk Timoleon barges into the General’s bedroom in the middle of the night revealing the truth.
Photo: Supplied
He is seen as crazy; a swindler and slanderer and is arrested. Some hilarious scenes in the bedroom and at the police station will have people rolling in your seats with laughter.
Why are the contents of the wallet so important to Lia? Why is the thief crying (shouting)?
Does truth prevail in the end?… People will have to come and watch to find out.
Photo: Supplied
Hellenic Art Theatre is a COVID Safe Business and protocols are in place to protect their audiences, cast, crew, and staff.
Seats are limited due to current restrictions so book your tickets now!
The production will be in Greek with English subtitles, with the Hellenic Art Theatre promising a night of laughs and enjoyment.
