Inner West Mayor, Darcy Byrne, has announced a precinct in Marrickville will be officially named ‘Little Greece’ on Saturday, July 17.
The official renaming event will be held at Marrickville Town Hall from 5 – 7pm and will feature Greek community groups providing dance and music performances.
The precinct of ‘Little Greece’ will be established on Marrickville Road between Livingstone Road and Victoria Road. Inner West Council has submitted this name to the Geographic Names Board for approval.
“This precinct recognises the long-standing contribution of Greek Australians in the Inner West. Naming a section of Marrickville as ‘Little Greece’ is a gesture of respect to all the Greek migrants who helped establish the Inner West as the birthplace of Australian multiculturalism,” the Council writes about the renaming.
“This precinct will formalise the ongoing special bond that exists between Marrickville and the Greek-Australian diaspora.”
If you’d like to attend the naming ceremony, please RSVP by Monday, June 21, 2021 via EventBrite. For all enquiries, please call 9392 5177 or email at events@innerwest.nsw.gov.au.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has become the first player in NBA history to record at least 40/10/5 in a Game 7 win on Saturday.
This comes after Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to the Eastern Conference finals after an epic win 115-111 in overtime in Game 7 against the Brooklyn Nets.
It was the NBA’s first do-or-die game to go to overtime in 15 years and the Greek Freak had an amazing performance with 40 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.
Seeing 50 minutes of court time, an exhausted Antetokounmpo continually probed the Brooklyn defence, working through endless physicality to simply overpower the Nets defence.
Nets star, Kevin Durant, took a 3-pointer to win the game with only seconds remaining, but came up short to allow Milwaukee to escape with the victory.
“At the end of the day, I try not to get too high, not to get too low. But I almost got emotional a little bit out there because the team really tried their best,” Antetokounmpo said after the match.
“We kept our composure. We were down 2-0. A lot of people didn’t believe we could make it.”
The Bucks will now face the winner of Sunday’s Game 7 between the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers. If they win there, they will advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1974.
Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said Sunday that “Greece needs to give up provocations” for the two countries to solve their problems through dialogue, according to Ekathimerini.
He also accused his Greek counterpart, “my friend (Nikos) Dendias,” of speaking behind his back after joint press conferences following their recent meetings.
Cavusoglu was addressing reporters during the last day of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, an event which former Greek foreign ministers, Dimitris Avramopoulos and Dora Bakoyannis, declined to attend after the participation of officials from the self-styled “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,” (TRNC) the breakaway entity in the Turkish-occupied north of the island recognised only by Turkey.
Cavusoglu told reporters that there was a gentleman’s agreement not to hold any exercises in the Aegean during the tourism season in the summer.
Cavusoglu was addressing reporters during the last day of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. Photo: AA Photo.
He said: “Greece is now declaring NAVTEX (a shipping navigation warning about naval exercises). We had an agreement not to hold NAVTEX and exercises on national days as well. Greece broke this as well. They should give up these provocations.”
Asked about the state of Greek-Turkish relations, Cavusoglu said that the two countries have engaged in dialogue after tensions rose in the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean and that there is a “sincere determination” to solve problems through dialogue.
“Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias came. I went there. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Greek Prime Minister Kiriakos Mitsotakis met in Brussels. The meeting went well. Have all the problems been resolved? No,” Cavusoglu said.
“These talks show our determination to solve our problems through dialogue. This determination and sincerity will continue. Greece needs to give up provocations. We go to the press conferences and everything is fine, but then my friend Dendias says many things behind our back. There is no need for this. We ignore it.”
Ever had that dream of teaming up with your friends to kickstart a new, exciting business? Well, Greek Australians Lefkothea Georgantis, Helen Logas and Aphrodite Lambrou, turned that dream into a reality, creating a hotel on the beautiful Cycladic island of Milos.
The women have combined backgrounds in travel, hospitality and fashion, and have used their business experience to develop a new Greek paradise, the White Pebble Suites in Pollonia, Milos. Speaking to The Greek Herald, Lefka said the idea to build a hotel in Greece felt “crazy” seven years ago, but now is glad she went on this adventure.
“Whilst working for Olympic airways years ago at Sydney airport, I often asked the Olympic crew which was their favourite island and often enough they would say Milos,” Lefkothea said to The Greek Herald.
Photo: Booking.com
“I finally went to Milos in 2014 and fell in love. Two years later I returned to milos with my girlfriends, Helen and Aphrodite, on a yacht and they also fell in love and we discussed how there was very limited accommodation.”
“… And that maybe we should build a hotel, which was a wild crazy idea at the time, but our drive determination and passion had this dream realised.”
The hotel is a dream destination for weddings and honeymoons, offering the perfect backdrop for special occasions — from intimate weddings to anniversaries, milestone birthdays, or private parties. They also have a team of event planners that devise a one-of-a-kind itinerary, from banquets and beach barbeques, to sunset cruises and island-hopping adventures.
Helen was the previous owner of Travelcorp and Luxperience, while Aphrodite worked at the intercontinental, Qantas and Qatar airlines, and Lefka worked for Ansett, Olympic airways, and ‘Girls with Gems Boutique’ in Double Bay.
Photo: Booking.com
Lefkothea says what helped them most was the incredible team in Greece who supported their dream.
“From our real estate agent Thomai to our lawyer Lefkothea, our new friends in Milos who were willing to share information, architects Katerina and Marina from KKMK architects, our civil engineer Paris, famous Greek travel Instagrammer Katerina Katopis and not to mention the support of our family and friends.”
The hotel was designed by Athens-based KKMK Architects, with fluid interiors in polished cement, wood, and pale marble offer a modern interpretation of Cycladic minimalism. Pebble-shaped tables and curvaceous built-in furniture are inspired by the rippling limestone cliffs and organic architecture of Milos.
Personalised service and authentic experiences are at the heart of the White Pebble Suites ethos. The seasonal, modern Mediterranean menu is created by executive chef Vasileios Giannopoulos, a champion of Greek cuisine who sources ingredients from all over the Cyclades. Guests can enjoy restaurant-worthy room service, romantic poolside dining, spirited cocktails at the seaside bar, and tailor-made menus for private dining.
Photo: Booking.com
Lefkothea says the fact it’s a ‘Greek Australian hotel’ makes it unique in its own right and brings a new experience to the people of Greece, while simultaneously making Australians feel at home.
“Combining the best of both cultures into our ethos. Friendliness, passion, warmth, kindness and filotimo. We will be on the journey with our guests for their stay,” Lefka says.
“Take in every moment of your stay! Make every day count… When things don’t go according to plan, embrace the adventure and be spontaneous.”
The Cretan Association of Australia and NSW held a community fundraiser on Friday to help grow their youth committee and ensure its prosperous future.
The Cretan Association’s Youth Committee President, Alexander Mountakis, revealed in April that the association was planning to hold a youth taverna night to help raise funds for the association.
“Tonight we are fundraising to purchase new stoles for the dancing groups and continue the activities and events that make us a successful and active association. Major events that we are looking forward to are the Cretan federation convention in New Zealand in January 2022, and hopeful an excursion to Crete once Covid-19 allows us to do so,” Mountakis said in his speech.
Speaking to The Greek Herald, Mountakis said the event had an excellent turnout and was “amazing”.
Photo: Alexander Mountakis/Supplied
“And also for me personally, and I’m sure I’m speaking for the other musicians as well, playing up there is a really, really good experience and really good fun to get your blood pumping.”
“To see everyone dance and have fun and knowing that you’re producing that orexi, it’s really good.”
It was a night filled with dancing as youth from associations across Sydney flocked to the community club in Lakemba. The night featured the DJ talents of D’Angelo and live cretan music by the youth musicians.
“Thank you to everyone that volunteered time out of their busy lives to make this night possible.”
“A big thank you to Terry Saviolakis and the committee members for your continued guidance and support.”
All proceeds will go to the youth committee of the Cretan Association of Sydney and NSW to assist with funding future youth events and purchasing traditional Cretan costumes. Mountakis said he did not know how much was raised on the night.
“We need to preserve our culture and we need to stick together. In my opinion, we’re not together enough and we need to bond and meet new people, all of this helps preserve our culture for the future,” Mountakis said previously.
This healthy fish soup is one of those recipes which give you amazing results with minimal effort.
Dieticians recommend eating fish at least two times per week as part of a healthy diet. Fish is filled with omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins such as D and B2 (riboflavin). It’s also rich in calcium and phosphorus and a great source of minerals.
This recipe comes straight from the Greek islands, usually made when the weather gets cold, mostly because it’s a very warm and comfortable meal.
Ingredients
1½kg red snapper
3 medium-sized potatoes, diced
3 medium-sized carrots, diced
Juice of 2 lemons
1 bunch celery, 1 bunch parsley and 1 bunch dill, all finely chopped (not the tougher stems)
200g olive oil
Pinch of cumin (no more than ½ tsp or it becomes bitter)
Salt, pepper
Method
Place the fish in a deep pot with 2 litres of water (preferably warm) and boil for 10-15 minutes until the flesh starts coming off the bone.
Make sure to spoon off any scum from the surface. Remove the fish to a platter and strain the stock through a sieve.
Return the stock back to the pot and add the vegetables. Simmer for another 10-15 minutes until the vegetables soften. In the meantime, remove the bones from the fish and break up into small chunks.
When the vegetables are done, add the fish to the pot, together with the olive oil and seasoning. Simmer for 5 minutes to bring the flavors together, adding a little bit of water if the soup seems too thick.
Lastly, add the cumin, herbs and lemon juice and bring back to the boil briefly.
Professor Harry Athanassiadis from the University of Ioanina will present a special online lecture entitled How Do (Can) We Remember 1821?, on Monday 28 June, at 7.00pm, as part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars, offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.
Those of us who recognize ourselves as Greeks know a lot about the Revolution of 1821. We know a lot, because we have read and heard about it at school, the institution responsible for the socialization of the new younger members of our national community. What past students learned in their student years and what today’s students continue to learn constitute the dominant narrative about the 1821 Revolution, the official one.
It is a narrative that is cognitively coherent and emotionally charged, but which is now far from the modern findings of historical research. When was this official school narrative formed? What are its essential points? Which of them stand up to modern historical research and which do not? And vice versa. Which parts of the narrative is missing from school history and why? An attempt will be made to give some valid answers to these questions. Answers, that are compatible with the modern orientations of history and pedagogy.
Harris Athanasiades is a professor of History of education and Public History at the University of Ioannina (Greece). His research focuses on the social controversy concerning the relation between schooling and nation. Typical, in this respect, are his following publications in English: “Liberals, Conservatives and Romantic Nationalists in interwar education policy in Greece: The High Mountains episode”, History of Education, vol. 44, (1), 2015, pp. 64-82; “The ‘Nation-killing’ textbook. The polemic over the history textbook ‘In modern and contemporary times’ (2006-2007)”, Ricerche Storiche, vol. 44, (1), 2014, pp. 101-120. His latest book is titled: The Withdrawn Books: Nation and School-history in Greece, 1858-2008, 3rd edit: Alexandria Publications, Athens 2018 [in Greek].
When: Monday 28 June 2021, 7pm
Where: Online, through Zoom, Youtube Live, Facebook Live.
Dr Antony Mersiades will be leading the Northern Beaches Hospital’s revolutionary trial to see if medicinal cannabis can help prevent nausea or sickness in patients undergoing chemotherapy.
According to The Daily Telegraph, around 250 patients will be part of the Australian-wide study, with up to 10 of those being from the Frenchs Forest facility.
“This is the first cancer clinical trial at Northern Beaches Hospital using an investigative product,” Dr Antony Mersiades, medical oncologist and head of oncology services, said.
“It is a top level study to ask a question as to whether it works.
“It is huge for the hospital and very exciting.”
Dr Antony Mersiades and patient Marion McGowan at the Northern Beaches Hospital in Frenchs Forest. Picture: Christian Gilles/The Daily Telegraph
The hospital will be involved in the stage three component of the trial which will see patients who suffer severe nausea or sickness due to chemotherapy treatment, take either the oral cannabinoid medicine THC and CBD or a placebo.
Dr Mersiades said preliminary results from the NSW Government-funded trial, sponsored by the University of Sydney, showed the cannabis capsules had a significant improvement in nausea and vomiting in people undergoing chemotherapy.
A quarter of the patients taking medicinal cannabis experienced no vomiting and nausea, compared to 14 per cent of people who took a placebo.
Dr Mersiades said the earlier studies found that one in five who took medicinal cannabis had moderate to severe sedation and one in 10 reported dizziness, but that the reduction in sickness was a clear benefit.
Cancer patient Marion McGowan, 62, of Collaroy Plateau, has been having chemotherapy for six months. She said Dr Mersiades and the team had been fantastic during her cancer journey.
“Their unwavering support and encouragement is second to none, and I feel truly blessed to have had them all in my life over the last few months,” she said.
The Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, Konstantinos Floros, paid tribute to fallen airman Nikolaos Sialmas on Thursday, commemorating 29 years since his death on June 18, 1992.
The lieutenant crashed in his Greek Mirage jetfighter while trying to intercept a pair of Turkish jets that allegedly entered Greek airspace. Greece blamed Turkey at the time, saying its fighter jets ″were in violation of national airspace and international flight principles of civil aviation.″
Recognising the tragic nature of his death, the Chief himself flew over a monument on the northeastern Aegean island of Agios Efstratios erected in honour of Sialmas. Floros participated in the flight with the Chief of Tactical Aviation, Lieutenant General (I) Themistoklis Bourolias, flying a pair of F-16s, in the North, Central and Eastern Aegean.
Floros ended his flight on Skyros, where he congratulated the officers and members of the Hellenic Air Force for their work.
At the time of the accident, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, Dimitris Avramopoulos, said ″the accident was caused by Turkey’s persistence in continuing its provocative tactic″ of entering airspace that Greece considers its own.
Turkey had denied responsibility. ″It’s their own fault, not ours,″ the Turkish Premier was quoted as saying.
Australia’s top 100 earners have been laid bare in the Real Estate Business June 2021 rankings, with four Greek Australians included among the mix.
Victoria-based Sam Rigiopoulos managed to break into the top 20 highest earning real estate agents, ranking 16 overall. In 15 years, Rigiopoulos has secured 83 listing and sold 118. Servicing Northcote, the value of properties sold accumulates to $182,815,250.00, with an average sale price of $1,549,282.00.
James Lampropoulos is next on the list at rank 39 and services the Strathfield and Sutherland Shire areas. Working for Laver Residential Projects, he has sold 306 properties in his 25 years of working as an agent. The value of properties sold adds up to $227,301,243.00.
Sam Rigopoulos
James Lampropoulos
Alexandra Stamatiou-Buda, who works for McGrath Estate Agents, services the Earlwood area in Sydney and was ranked 60th on the list. Alexandra has an average sale price of $1,363,771.00, with the total value of properties sold adding up to $111,829,250.00.
Another Greek Australian from Victoria, Theo Politis services Donvale and was ranked 69th. With 17 years of experience, he has secured 93 listings and sold 82. Politis works for Barry Plant agency.
Alexandra Stamatiou-Buda
Theo Politis
Sydney’s Alexander Phillips retained the top spot for the sixth consecutive year, followed by fellow Sydneysiders Michael Clarke and Ric Serrao. According to the rankings, Mr Phillips sold more than $700 million of properties in the last financial year.
“It is a rollercoaster, you are on this exciting or scary ride with the clients. You build relationships with them,” Phillips said.
