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‘Beds were full’: John Pelekanos on being treated for COVID-19 twice at Westmead Hospital

Andriana Simos
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‘Beds were full’: John Pelekanos on being treated for COVID-19 twice at Westmead Hospital

Westmead Hospital has been forced to enact disaster management plans, buckling under the strain of surging COVID-19 numbers in NSW.

In a note to colleagues last night seen by Nine News, Acting General Manager, Jenelle Matic, said the hospital was “no longer operating in a business-as-usual environment.”

The facility put a 24-hour pause on accepting any new coronavirus patients as it is already managing about 1,500 in the community and 121 in the wards.

57-year-old courier, John Pelekanos, told Nine News he knows the pressure Westmead Hospital is under better than most after two stints inside the facility with COVID-19.

“Beds were full, there were machines all over the place and the second time I left from [my house] I was in the car park for about four or five hours before I could see a doctor,” Mr Pelekanos told Nine News.

Although COVID-19 patients are now being sent away from the hospital to others as far away as Wollongong and the Northern Beaches, NSW Health Minister, Brad Hazzard, insisted at a press conference on Wednesday the health system is not overwhelmed.

“I want to assure the community that we have been working as a health system on this since January and February last year and ensuring we have stepped up the number of available ICU beds, and staff working in those intensive care units, ventilators, but Westmead Hospital is typical of the sorts of pressures you’d expect when you got a major hospital in the middle of the epicentre of the virus outbreak,” Mr Hazzard said.

For Mr Pelekanos, his hospital experience has seen him switch from a ‘vaccine sceptic to a believer.’

“‘Uh it can’t happen to me,’ but you know what? It can happen to you, your mother, your father, your brother, your sister, your uncle. It can be dire,” he said.

Source: Nine News.

Westfield Local Hero nominee Emma Georgiades on her work with Enlighten Education

John Voutos
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Westfield Local Hero nominee Emma Georgiades on her work with Enlighten Education

Emma Georgiades is an Adelaide-based radio presenter at Southern Cross Austereo and says she combines her presenting skills with skills acquired during her lengthy tenure as a schoolteacher to deliver workshops for young women. 

Her work with Enlighten Education to deliver confidence-building and self-love workshops has earned her the recognition of a Westfield Local Hero.

“I wanted to combine my skills in education and presenting to really make an impact to help young women believe in themselves,” Georgiades tells The Greek Herald. 

“We currently run mainly in many of the independent, Catholic and government schools.”

Georgiades was nominated by her community and is the running to be one of three 2021 local heroes up for a $10,000 grant for Enlighten Education. 

“It’s amazing that the work is being recognized… Hopefully, if I’m successful, [the grant] will provide funding into the program and we can reach as many girls as possible.” 

Emily Georgiades is a full-time radio presenter.

She has studied across at least three different universities and was a primary and secondary school teacher between 2009 and 2019, finishing up at St. Ignatius’ College in Athelstone. 

She says she saw the impact low self-esteem and lack of resilience has on young women as a teacher.   

“At that age, everyone’s trying to find their place. We’re living in a world where people feel judged. I think social media has a lot to do with that,” she says. 

“People are putting their worth down to how many likes they have and how many followers they have and I think that that’s really damaging to our self worth, especially for young girl’s.” 

“I think that that can cause impact lots of areas of life and friendships and relationships is definitely one of them.” 

Georgiades has been an educational presenter and motivational speaker at Enlighten Education since 2018. 

Enlighten Education is a for-profit business which offers workshops to help guide and give teenage girls the tools to navigate their formative years. 

“A lot of the schools tend to focus on friendships, resilience, anxiety… I think they’re the main sort of areas of focus. We target teenage girls, really; so, from the ages of 10, 11 years old to 16. they’re the main issues that we’re finding are arising,” she says. 

“I don’t think these messages should just stop just with teenage girls. I think it’s equally as important that we keep that positivity and that positive messages of self-love going. Since last year.”

She is 20 episodes into her ‘Empowerhouse Emma G’ “passion project” podcast which carries her motivational speaking from outside of the classroom and onto the wide web. 

“I’m a grown woman and I know that I certainly need these messages reinforced and that’s why I’ve developed my podcast ‘Empower House’ and that is designed to inspire people to… live authentically and [be] yourself.”

Vote for your Westfield Local Hero here; voting closes Monday 30 August. 

Harrison Kitt found not guilty of crash that killed Joanne Shanahan and an Adelaide mum

The Greek Herald
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Harrison Kitt found not guilty of crash that killed Joanne Shanahan and an Adelaide mum

A man charged over a crash that killed a senior police officer and a mother-of-two in Urrbrae last year has been found not guilty by reason of mental incompetence.

Harrison Kitt, 21, was charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of causing harm by dangerous driving.

Senior police officer, Joanne Shanahan (nee Panayiotou), and mother, Tania McNeill, died in the crash at the intersection of Cross Road and Fullarton Road at Urrbrae on April 25, 2020.

According to ABC News, Judge Paul Muscat said he agreed with expert reports from psychiatrists and found Mr Kitt not guilty of the offences by reason of mental incompetence.

READ MORE: Harrison Kitt suffered ‘mental impairment’ during crash which killed Joanne Shanahan, court hears.

Harrison Kitt, centre, leaves court after being found not guilty. Photo: ABC News / Claire Campbell.

But he said Mr Kitt would be liable to supervision and has ordered several reports to assess whether he should be detained or released into the community with conditions.

‘We hope they can forgive Harry’:

Outside court, Mr Kitt’s mother Kathy said not a day had passed since the “terrible crash” that her family had not thought about the impact on the victims’ families.

READ MORE: Police officers and SA community bid public farewell to Joanne Shanahan.

Mr Kitt’s parents, Andrew and Kathy, read a statement to the media outside court. Photo: ABC News / Claire Campbell.

“Their losses are unimaginable; we hope they can find it in their hearts to forgive Harry for what happened even though it might be difficult for them to accept,” she said, fighting back tears.

“It was not his fault but the fault of a terrible and debilitating disorder that none of us knew he had.”

She said her family would also have to cope with the impact forever, but she loved Harry “dearly” and would stand by and support him.

“We are conscious that today’s announcement … will have mixed reactions in the community,” she said.

“Some will find it difficult to understand that what occurred can be explained by mental illness.”

READ MORE: Harrison Kitt pleads not guilty over crash that killed Joanne Shanahan and Tania McNeill.

NSW announces eased restrictions for fully vaccinated people as state records 1,029 cases

Andriana Simos
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NSW announces eased restrictions for fully vaccinated people as state records 1,029 cases

People across NSW who have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine will be allowed more freedoms next month after NSW hit the target of six million jabs.

This comes after the states recorded 1,029 new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8:00pm last night. It’s the highest daily number in any state or territory since the start of the pandemic.

Another three people have died from the virus – the youngest, a man in his 30s.

The lockdown in regional NSW has been extended to midnight on Friday, September 10. It was due to end this weekend.

NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, also announced today that after consultation with Dr Kerry Chant and her team, as well as the NSW Chief Psychiatrist Dr Murray Wright, the following individual freedoms will be allowed for adults who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

From 12.01am, Monday, 13 September:

  • For those who live outside the LGAs of concern, outdoor gatherings of up to five people (including children, all adults must be vaccinated) will be allowed in a person’s LGA or within 5km of home.
  • For those who live in the LGAs of concern households with all adults vaccinated will be able to gather outdoors for recreation (including picnics) within the existing rules (for one hour only, outside curfew hours and within 5km of home). This is in addition to the one hour allowed for exercise.

Ms Berejiklian thanked the millions of people across NSW who came forward to receive their vaccine, helping hit the six million doses target.

NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian.

“We are so grateful for every person who comes forward to get vaccinated because the more jabs we get into arms, the sooner we can lift restrictions,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“We appreciate the community’s patience in the lead up to 13 September, this additional time will allow the recent surge of vaccines to take effect.”

As part of the roadmap when the following targets are hit, freedoms will be as follows:

  • 70 per cent full vaccination: a range of family, industry, community and economic restrictions to be lifted for those who are vaccinated.
  • 80 per cent full vaccination: further easing of restrictions on industry, community and the economy.

Ms Berejiklian said if current NSW vaccination rates continued, the state was on track to reach 80 per cent by the first two weeks of October.

Vaccination pop up clinic at St George Hall, Melbourne: What you need to know

The Greek Herald
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Vaccination pop up clinic at St George Hall, Melbourne: What you need to know

The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) will launch a pop-up vaccination hub at its Greek Orthodox Church of St George in Thornbury to help the local community get their COVID-19 vaccine.

The GCM has partnered with DPV Health to administer COVID-19 vaccines from Friday 27 August until Monday 30 August.

Here’s a rundown of what you need to know before the clinic opens tomorrow:

WHEN:

• Friday, 27 August from 9AM to 6:30PM
• Saturday, 28 August from 9AM to 6:30PM
• Sunday, 29 August from 9AM to 6:30PM
• Monday, 30 August from 9AM to 6:30PM.

WHERE:

• St George Church Hall at 66 St David Street, Thornbury.

BOOK YOUR VACCINATION TIME:

• Use the online booking system.
• Call the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398 – for an interpreter, press 0. 

The AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines are available at the pop-up clinic.

BRING WITH YOU:

• Medicare Card or IHI (if you have one).
• Valid form of identification (for example, driver’s licence, proof of age card or passport). This will need to show their name and date of birth.

SECOND DOSES:

• Pfizer: open Friday 24th & Saturday 25th September 2021.
• AstraZeneca: open Friday 26th & Saturday 27th November 2021.

PFIZER OR ASTRAZENECA:

• Everyone in Victoria can get a free COVID-19 vaccination.
• People will be offered both AstraZeneca and Pfizer based on their age.
• COVID-19 vaccines are currently available for everyone aged 16 years and over.
• Anyone aged 16-59 years will be able to receive the Pfizer vaccine.
• Anyone aged 18-59 years will be able to choose to receive either Pfizer or AstraZeneca.
• Those aged 60 and over will continue to receive AstraZeneca.
• Young people aged 12 -15 years can get a free COVID-19 vaccination (Pfizer) if they have an underlying medical condition or are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

Bill Papastergiadis appointed new Commissioner of the Victorian Multicultural Commission

The Greek Herald
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Bill Papastergiadis appointed new Commissioner of the Victorian Multicultural Commission

Bill Papastergiadis has been appointed as a new Commissioner of the Victorian Multicultural Commission, an independent body that acts as conduit between Victoria’s multicultural communities and Government.

Mr Papastergiadis long been involved in multicultural affairs, gained though his elected position as the President of the Greek Community of Melbourne & Victoria.

Through this role, Mr Papastergiadis has devoted much of his time to the promotion and welfare of the Greek Community of Melbourne & Victoria, arguably the largest Greek community outside of Greece.

Bill Papastergiadis (centre) is President of the Greek Community of Melbourne & Victoria.

This work has involved him in many multicultural programs, as have his roles as Chairman of South Melbourne Football Club and numerous other positions.  

In adding this new appointment to his significant body of community work, Mr Papastergiadis says: “I am excited to bring my experience and insights to this important role with the VMC.”

“I strongly believe the richness of Victoria’s diverse multicultural communities is one of our greatest strengths as a state,” Mr Papastergiadis continued.

“I am honoured to play a part in advocating on behalf of all multicultural communities and committed to continuing the good work of Commission in its valuable mission to help to strengthen the relationships of these communities with government and with each other.”  

Bill Papastergiadis has also met with Australia Prime Minister, Scott Morrison (centre).

Following the announcement of the eight new appointees to the VMC, Victorian Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Ros Spence comments: “The new commissioners bring valuable experience and I look forward to working with them to ensure we are supporting multicultural communities to the best of our ability.”

“The Commissioners are a vital link between Victoria’s multicultural communities and Government – and those relationships have never been more important,” Ms Spence said.

The seven other new Commissioners appointed to the VMC include: Lunorphare (Luna) Folly (Youth Commissioner), Abiola Akinbiyi (Community Representative Commissioner), Tarang Chawla, Jennifer Huppert, Nyangak (Lizzy) Kuoth, Mohamed Mohideen and Silvia Renda.

Mitsotakis urges climate action after Greece battled almost 1,300 wildfires in August

The Greek Herald
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Mitsotakis urges climate action after Greece battled almost 1,300 wildfires in August

Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said wildfires that ripped through the outskirts of Athens and other parts of Greece this month underlined the need for radical shifts in behaviour to tackle global warming.

Everything needed to change in order to minimise the effects of the climate crisis, he told parliament on Wednesday during a debate on the wildfires and criticism of the government’s response to them.

Dealing with the crisis “is forcing us to change everything; the way we produce agricultural products, how we move around, how we generate energy and the way we build our homes,” he said.

READ MORE: Mitsotakis asks locals to conserve power as Greece battles fires and ‘worst heatwave since 1987’.

Mitsotakis was speaking in Parliament on Wednesday.

Part of a succession of blazes that struck southern Europe during a summer heatwave, the Greek fires scorched more than a quarter million acres of pine forest, with the island of Evia and areas of the Peloponnese, including near the archaeological site of the ancient Olympics, also hit.

Mitsotakis told lawmakers an earlier public apology for the disaster was also a call for action to become better at tackling such phenomena.

“We were called to put out 1,279 wildfires … the majority were tackled in the beginning but some got away. Preparedness was not adequate,” he said.

Defending the response of the fire brigade and civil protection services, he reiterated that his government’s top priority was to save lives.

READ MORE: Greek government defends response as Evia wildfires burn for eighth day.

During August, Greece recorded its hottest temperatures since 1987.

Mitsotakis, who has approved a 500-million-euro ($587 million) aid budget for Evia and the Attica region around Athens, said the protracted heatwave had turned forests into powder kegs.

“It is wrong to say that wildfires are only put out from the air. We cannot have a helicopter above every home,” he said, but pledged to increase aerial firefighting capacities and set up a force able to operate efficiently inside forests.

READ MORE: Australian helicopters arrive in Athens and prepare to fight wildfires across Greece.

Source: Reuters.

Greece wins two bronze medals at Tokyo’s Paralympic Games

Andriana Simos
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Greece wins two bronze medals at Tokyo’s Paralympic Games

Two athletes representing Greece won bronze medals on Tuesday, the first full day day of the Paralympic Games taking place in Tokyo.

Panagiotis Triantafyllou and Demosthenes Michalentzakis won bronze for Greece in the wheelchair individual fencing category and swimming respectively.

Greece’s Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and President, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, on Wednesday congratulated the two athletes for their wins.

“We are proud of our athletes, who give us all strength by their example,” Sakellaropoulou said in a tweet.

Panagiotis Triantafyllou:

Triantafyllou beat Frenchman, Maxime Valet, in wheelchair fencing to claim his medal.

The athlete earlier secured qualification to the semifinals, where he suffered a 15-9 defeat by Poland’s, Adrian Castro. He easily defeated Valet in the final though with a score of 15-6.

Triantafyllou has represented Greece at the 2012 Summer Paralympics and at the 2016 Summer Paralympics. He won the silver medal in the men’s sabre B event at the 2016 Summer Paralympics.

Demosthenes Michalentzakis:

Michalentzakis made an excellent appearance in the final of the 100 meters freestyle at the Games, in the S8 category, claiming the bronze medal with a performance time of 58.73.

The gold medal was won by the Australian, Ben Boffam (57.37), while Russian, Andrei Nikolaev, came in second with a time of 57.69.

Michalentzakis has won Paralympic gold in the 100m butterfly at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Adelaide yiayia raises nearly $20,000 for HeartKids charity by baking Greek shortbread

Andriana Simos
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0
Adelaide yiayia raises nearly $20,000 for HeartKids charity by baking Greek shortbread

Like any typical Greek yiayia, Katerina Iliopoulos would do anything for her four children and 11 grandchildren who she ‘loves to spend time with.’

That’s why when Katerina’s granddaughter, Zoe, was born with a heart condition and the family received support from the HeartKids charity, she decided to give back and raise money for other families affected by congenital heart disease.

HeartKids aims to give every child diagnosed with congenital heart disease a fighting chance of leading a long and fulfilling life. The charity funds research, advocates for people with the disease and offers guidance, information and support throughout their journey.

“I was shocked to discover how many families faced the same situation and to learn what they had to go through and I wanted to help,” Katerina tells The Greek Herald exclusively.

This decision has seen Katerina raise nearly $20,000 for HeartKids over three years by baking and selling mountains of Greek shortbread.

“I love to bake and have been doing so all my life,” the 65-year-old says.

“I have been making Greek shortbread in the shape of a heart for many years using my mother’s secret recipe and thought that by baking and selling them I could raise some money to help. I started selling to family and friends and through word of mouth I now make thousands a year.”

Katerina was helped throughout her fundraising journey by her family and the friends she has made over the years when working with Adelaide’s Greek community and volunteering at the local church as much as possible by baking cakes and biscuits.

Katerina Iliopoulos is a finalist in the Westfield Local Heroes this year.

“I get a great deal of support from my family and friends who assist in taking orders, delivering the biscuits and promoting fundraising. I also get donations of ingredients from Drakes supermarkets who also promote the HeartKids foundation,” she stresses.

This huge effort has seen Katerina also nominated for a Westfield Local Heroes Award this year which she says is a ‘great honour’ as she is ‘delighted’ to do her part alongside many other supporters and volunteers.

“It would be wonderful to win this award as it would raise another $10 000 for children and their families in need of support,” she concludes.

You can vote for Katerina before Monday, August 30, 2021 here.

Football NSW joins with NSW Health for weekend vaccination blitz

John Voutos
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Football NSW joins with NSW Health for weekend vaccination blitz

Football NSW is joining forces with NSW Health for a vaccination blitz this Sunday. 

Stuart Hodge is the CEO of Football NSW and encourages football enthusiasts to “do their bit” and get vaccinated this weekend. 

“Make an appointment and then attend wearing your club colours or favourite football jersey,” Hodge says in a press release. 

“We as a sport want to make a difference to help get back to playing and by supporting this initiative and by pushing up vaccination rates it will get us a step closer to enjoying our beautiful game once more.”

‘Sport Super Sundays’ are being held at vaccination centres for Sydney’s twelve local government areas of concern this weekend. 

NSW Health encourages those aged 16 to 39 who live in the Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield or Penrith areas to make a booking. 

“Wear team uniforms, colours, or gear and take a selfie to post on your local club sites with the hashtag #vaccinationchampion,” NSW Health says. 

“Every person who gets vaccinated is making a difference and will help get us all back to sport sooner.” 

NSW Deputy Secretary Susan Pearce calls on all sports enthusiasts to help break a new vaccination record this Super Sunday. 

“Sporting codes will go head-to-head to compete for the NSW Vaccination Championship Cup and know that they are doing the best thing for their health, and the health of their community,” Ms Pearce said.

“Previous Super Sundays helped vaccinate more than 10,000 supermarket and food industry workers, construction workers and university students in one day, but now it’s time for you to step up for your favourite team or sport.” 

Vaccination centres at Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park, and Macquarie Fields, are available for bookings.

You can book your vaccination appointment by calling 1800 571 155.

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