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Sally Ioannides shares her husband’s incurable cancer journey during pandemic

The Greek Herald
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Sally Ioannides shares her husband’s incurable cancer journey during pandemic

Sally Ioannides has opened up in the Sydney Morning Herald about her husband Nick’s incurable brain cancer diagnosis and how the COVID-19 pandemic has halted their attempts at ticking things off his ‘bucket list.’

The cancer diagnosis:

In 2018, Nick was juggling three children under the age of five, including a newborn, a busy job as a doctor for Qantas, medical exams and very little sleep, when he collapsed on the couple’s bedroom floor complaining of a headache.

Rushing to hospital, CT scan images showed there was a large tumour in the frontal lobe of his brain which was life threatening and required emergency surgery.

“Recovering in ICU, Nick learnt that the surgeons were unable to remove all of the tumour that had infiltrated his brain. When the pathology results came back, he was given the news that no 38-year-old wants to hear: incurable, malignant brain cancer,” Sally writes in her personal piece.

Nick has been diagnosed with incurable brain cancer.

Nick’s bucket list:

During Nick’s 18-month journey through radiation and chemotherapy, conversations turned towards his “bucket list” – What were the most important things for him to achieve before he died?

For Nick, getting back to work to finish specialist physician training was very important. Travel was also on the top of Nick’s list as he was a man who’d grown up in Cyprus, studied in the UK, worked in New Zealand and settled in Australia.

“So, it was a particularly cruel blow when, weeks away from finishing treatment and with a poor prognosis ahead, COVID-19 took hold in Australia and kicked his bucket list to the curb,” Sally says.

Sally adds that COVID, and lockdown in particular, “wreaks havoc on those with terminal disease” as it “diminishes the precious days and weeks and months that weave the fabric of remaining time on earth, reducing them to a shadow of themselves.”

“No long lunches with close friends, no holidays to leave the kids with lifelong memories of happier times, no trips abroad to reunite with family,” she says.

Sally and Nick are frequent travellers.

“No matter what joy we salvage during this time, it is agonising for Nick to be separated from his family in Cyprus.”

But still, Nick has never complained. Travel dreams have since been replaced with domestic responsibilities such as picking up his children from school, teaching them how to garden or speak Greek.

Nick also attained his fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, despite sitting his specialist exams only weeks before collapsing with intracranial hypertension.

“Nick will never get back the days that COVID, and lockdown in particular, have taken from him. None of us will. But how we choose to live this “lost time” is up to us,” Sally concludes.

“And it’s not necessarily about achieving things, although I’m so proud of all that Nick has accomplished. It’s about making peace with a bad situation and moving forward nonetheless, to find something wonderful in the time we have right now.”

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald.

‘Make your voice heard’: Angela Vithoulkas on business vote in council elections

Andriana Simos
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‘Make your voice heard’: Angela Vithoulkas on business vote in council elections

Every business, not just business owners, will be allowed to vote in the NSW local elections on December 4, according to Independent City of Sydney Councillor, Angela Vithoulkas.

“You register with every council. Every single council in NSW can take a business registration to get on the roll so when you rock up on December 4 for the council elections, you’re on the roll to vote,” Cr Vithoulkas told 2GB.

“That means you don’t have to just vote where you live. If you have a business in another area, that’s where you can register to vote as a business owner.”

READ MORE: Angela Vithoulkas enters race for Sydney Lord Mayor.

Independent City of Sydney Councillor, Angela Vithoulkas.

In 2014, NSW legislation made it compulsory for local businesses to enrol and vote and gave each business two votes in the City of Sydney.

In most other councils, ratepaying businesses have a right to vote but the vote is voluntary and most businesses don’t bother to enrol or vote.

Cr Vithoulkas encouraged these businesses to register this year.

“Giving them a right to vote and have a say in their future seems like it’s just democratic,” she said.

“Businesses and property owners pay over 72% of the rates [in the City of Sydney], they deserve to have a voice and exercise their democratic right.”

READ MORE: Sydney councillor Angela Vithoulkas threatens to resign after exclusion from ‘post-pandemic vision’.

Greek Fires Appeal committee in SA updates members on progress of funding allocation

The Greek Herald
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Greek Fires Appeal committee in SA updates members on progress of funding allocation

The Chair of the “Greek Fire Appeal 2018” Organising Committee, Bill Gonis, has issued a letter to members providing a update on the current status of funds raised during the period of the terrible Mati bushfires in Greece.

The Committee was established in 2018 under the auspices of the Greek Orthodox Community of SA and includes a wide membership of people who represent various Community Associations, as well as leaders from business and other areas.

According to the letter, all the funds raised at the time were “donated to the Mati Greek Fire Appeal” and “banked and invested with the Commonwealth, Delphi, and Sydney Banks.”

“In October 2018, the Greek Fire Appeal Committee allocated a substantial amount of money from the funds raised, to purchase specialised skin grafting medical equipment in South Australia, which was shipped and donated to the General Hospital in Magoula Athens, to assist with the treatment of the fire victims at the Burns Unit of this hospital,” Mr Gonis wrote in the update.

Mati bushfire.

Since then, Mr Gonis said, the Committee has made several contacts with various authorities in Greece with a view of funding a project with the balance of the money held in our bank accounts.

“In March 2019 it was drawn to our attention that 20 Officials, including the Mayors of Attica, Rafina, Marathon and others, were charged for the responsibility of the fires,” Mr Gonis said.

“In September 2019, a Member of the SA Parliament travelled to Greece and met with various authorities in Attica and Mati to explore the possibility of establishing an appropriate project for the benefit of the families of the fire victims, in line with the Committee’s objectives.

“On his return from Greece, in January 2020 the Member of Parliament presented a written report to the Committee, which has been carefully considered.”

Devastating impact of the Mati bushfire.

Mr Gonis said after this report was reviewed, the COVID-19 pandemic was announced and this made communications with various authorities in Greece difficult.

That is until February 2021 when, according to the letter, the Committee sought the assistance of the Consul General of Greece in South Australia in furthering their objectives.

“[The Committee] is continuing to pursue its goal in allocating the funds raised during the appeal to a worthy project, this fulfilling the due diligence obligation for the acquittal of the money donated by the public.”

Mr Gonis concluded the update with his signature and a note that “everyone will be kept informed on any further developments.”

‘Confronting and disturbing’: Concerns raised by Greek community over Victoria police tactics

Argyro Vourdoumpa
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‘Confronting and disturbing’: Concerns raised by Greek community over Victoria police tactics

Footage and photos have emerged from Friday’s anti-lockdown protests held across Melbourne with members of the Greek community expressing concerns about the tactics used by the state’s law enforcement officers to quell protesters.

In one of the photos sent to our publication from the Greek populated suburb of Northcote, an elderly woman seems to be standing against a wall surrounded by police officers in riot gear.

“This image is confronting and disturbing to say the least, it breaks our hearts,” said the Greek Australian who preferred to stay anonymous.

Police made several arrests at Northcote Plaza. Photo: ABC News/ Kyle Harley.

“Northcote Plaza is a family orientated place and these scenes should not occur,” he said explaining that one of his close family members also fell victim of police brutality during Friday’s protest.

Upon request for further context, a Victoria Police spokesperson said; “when responding to dynamic situations, police will ask members of the public for their cooperation to ensure their safety is not compromised.”

On Friday, Victoria Police arrested 31 people at Northcote Plaza in Melbourne’s inner north, with hundreds more arrested across the city as protesters attempted to continue last week’s protests.

In total, 215 people will be fined for breaching public health orders across Melbourne, with a number of other people to be charged with criminal offences including deception, theft and drug offences.

At Friday’s COVID press conference, Health Minister Martin Foley said it was clear “protesting against COVID-19 does not work”.

“Vaccinations work against COVID-19,” he said.

“To pretend that something doesn’t exist, and then for that very thing to put you in hospital is a message loud and clear that protesting against COVID-19 is futile.”

With a post on social media on Friday, State Labor MP for Northcote Kat Theophanous referred to the small-scale protest in Northcote as ‘senseless disruption’.

UPDATE at 3.50pm:

The Greek Herald got in contact with 82-year-old Despoina, pictured in the photo, who said she “just got out of the house to see what is going on and was never in fear.”

Despoina, who has been living in the area for over 40 years, said her two sons were nearby and she was not approached by any police officer.

NSW reveals roadmap out of lockdown, unvaccinated people can attend places of worship

Andriana Simos
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NSW reveals roadmap out of lockdown, unvaccinated people can attend places of worship

The NSW Premier has confirmed October 11 as the date lockdown restrictions will start easing in New South Wales.

At the 80 per cent rate, travel will resume through regional New South Wales and fully vaccinated people will be allowed to have 10 visitors at home. Community sport will also resume.

Restrictions will also be removed for fully vaccinated people attending weddings, funerals and hairdressers.

Unvaccinated people will only be allowed to attend places of worship.

The NSW Premier has confirmed October 11 as the date lockdown restrictions will start easing.

READ MORE: Archbishop Makarios says Church will not divide faithful into vaccinated and unvaccinated.

A third stage has been set for December 1, when it’s expected the state will have reached 90 per cent double-dose vaccination.

On that date, unvaccinated people will be subject to the same rules as those who’ve been vaccinated.

Masks will no longer be required indoors, and nightclubs will re-open.

“I know people are counting down the minutes until we reach 70 per cent double dose and the freedoms that will provide, and today we are providing further certainty by announcing the 80 per cent roadmap and future settings,” NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, said.

“Vaccination remains our ticket to freedom so we need to work even harder to get jabs in arms, to help stop the spread, minimise outbreaks and ensure people are protected when we open up.”

This comes as the state recorded 787 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. There were 12 deaths.

‘So honoured’: Paula Masselos re-elected Mayor of Waverley

Andriana Simos
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‘So honoured’: Paula Masselos re-elected Mayor of Waverley

Labor Councillor, Paula Masselos, has been re-elected as Mayor of Waverley at a Council meeting.

Cr Masselos was elected Mayor of Waverley in September 2019 for a two-year term. She became the first woman of Greek heritage to be elected Mayor of the Local Government Area (LGA).

READ MORE: Labor Councillor, Paula Masselos, first woman of Greek heritage to be elected Mayor of Waverley.

Cr Masselos will now continue to serve in the position until the NSW Local Government Elections on December 4.

Labor Councillor, Paula Masselos, has been re-elected as Mayor of Waverley.

“So honoured and humbled to be re-elected Mayor of Waverley until the local government elections 4th December,” Cr Masselos said on Twitter on Sunday night.

READ MORE: Greek community leaders attend Waverley City Council’s ANZAC Day service.

Mayor Masselos has represented the Lawson Ward since her election as a Councillor nine years ago.

Greens Councillor, Elaine Keenan, was also re-elected to the position of Deputy Mayor, a position she has served in since September 2019.

READ MORE: NSW, SA and WA communities mark Battle of Crete with plaque unveiling and wreath laying.

Greek and Cypriot leaders meet with Archbishop Elpidophoros of America

The Greek Herald
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Greek and Cypriot leaders meet with Archbishop Elpidophoros of America

Archbishop Elpidophoros of America met with Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Cypriot President, Nicos Anastasiades, in New York City on Friday and Saturday respectively.

Mitsotakis and Archbishop Elpidophoros were originally scheduled to meet on Friday at the site of the under-construction Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Nicholas at Ground Zero, but plans were cancelled amid controversy over the Archbishop’s presence at an official event organised by Turkey and attended by Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar.

Mitsotakis met with Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.

“The issue is closed. What matters is the unity of Hellenism, the inseparable relationship of Greece with the Archdiocese of America and the close relations of the archdiocese with its flock,” a senior Greek government source told state-run news agency ANA-MPA.

Anastasiades met with the Archbishop at the house of Cyprus’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Andreas Hadjichrysanthou. The meeting lasted for 20 minutes.

Anastasiades also met with the Archbishop.

“What is important is the unity of Hellenism,” Anastasiades told media following the meeting.

For his part, Archbishop Elpidophoros said he was pleased to meet with both leaders.

“I was pleased to meet with the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic @kmitsotakis and the President of the Republic of Cyprus @anastasiadescy to reaffirm our deep commitments to the unity of the Church and Hellenism, in Greece, Cyprus and our communities around the world,” Elpidophoros tweeted on Saturday.

READ MORE: Mitsotakis focuses on diaspora and Greek-Turkish relations during NYC visit.

Greek President attends commemoration for the historic Siege of Tripolitsa

The Greek Herald
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Greek President attends commemoration for the historic Siege of Tripolitsa

Greek President, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, attended events on Sunday commemorating the bicentennial of the Siege of Tripolitsa by Greeks struggling for independence from the Ottoman Turks.

Sakellaropoulou attended a church service and laid wreaths at monuments in Platia Areos, before giving a small speech on how the siege, that took place a few months after the start of the revolution, was a pivotal event in the Greek War of Independence.

“The decision of Theodoros Kolokotronis to conquer the administrative and military center of the Ottomans proved to be of top strategic importance, as it consolidated the Revolution in the Peloponnese, reviving the morale of the Greeks,” she said.

“Two hundred years later, our homeland is a modern state of law in the heart of the European Union that guarantees stability and peaceful coexistence in the region, without giving up its sovereign rights.”

The president also attended a parade and was given a tour of the Collection of Georgios Gaitanaris and Io Dolka on “Depictions & Reconstructions of the Greek-speaking World from the 18th to the 21st Centuries” at the Apostolopoulio Cultural Center.

The siege of Tripolitsa (today’s city of Tripolis) remains a point of contention between Greeks and Turks, as reflected in the way it is portrayed by their respective historians. It took place on September 23 1821.

Mitsotakis focuses on diaspora and Greek-Turkish relations during NYC visit

Andriana Simos
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Mitsotakis focuses on diaspora and Greek-Turkish relations during NYC visit

Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, was in New York City recently for the 76th UN General Assembly and he focused on various issues ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic to the climate crisis and Greek diaspora.

As expected, the PM devoted much of his address at the UN General Assembly to Greek-Turkish relations, noting that Athens will defends its rights.

“We will continue to protect our national sovereignty, by land, sea and air,” he said, while stressing that Greece and Turkey have to find a working bilateral relationship.

Mitsotakis said he was less optimistic about a solution for the Cyprus problem due to Turkey’s stance.

Mitsotakis gave a speech at the UN General Assembly.

“What I am pessimistic about is the Cyprus issue. Turkey continues to violate the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus,” he said. 

“We will continue, together with the Secretary-General of the UN, the fight for a mutual solution of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. Any discussion about two states is unacceptable.”

On Monday, Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, and Cypriot President, Nicos Anastasiades, will attend a tripartite meeting at a luncheon hosted by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss the Cypriot issue.

Mitsotakis invites investors and diaspora business to Greece:

During his visit to NYC, Mitsotakis also met with a number of important contacts, inviting institutional investors and Greek diaspora business owners to invest in the country.

At an event organised by The Hellenic Initiative, and emceed by Greek Australian, Andrew Liveris, Mitsotakis thanked Greek diaspora for their love of Greece.

“I saw how proud the Greek diaspora feels about Greece. We thank them for believing in the future of Greece and for standing by the country in difficult times,” Mitsotakis said.

The PM also held meetings with leading businessmen like Microsoft President, Brad Smith, and Pfizer CEO, Albert Bourla, and members of the Greek community of New York.

Among the issues he referred to in both his speech at the General Assembly and with investors were initiatives to curb the steep rise in electricity bills, which also required a pan-European response.

Mitsotakis with Pfizer CEO, Albert Bourla.

He also discussed incentives to keep “a very well-educated younger generation” in Greece and reverse the brain drain of the past decade, and measures to deal with climate change, a global issue to be addressed at the upcoming UN summit in Glasgow.

Later that same day, Mitsotakis met with Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and discussed the reopening of St Nicholas at Ground Zero, issues of the Greek diaspora but also ways of further cooperation.

Archbishop Elpidophoros also met with Cypriot President, Nicos Anastasiades, in NYC on Saturday.

READ MORE: Greek and Cypriot leaders meet with Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.

Castellorizian Association of SA brings community together with monthly lunches

Argyro Vourdoumpa
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Castellorizian Association of SA brings community together with monthly lunches

After a successful inaugural Business Luncheon in August the Castellorizian Association of SA’s second networking monthly lunch event was held on Thursday, September 23 in Torrensville, Adelaide.

More than 50 male-only attendees had the opportunity to celebrate their common roots, discuss with old acquaintances and listen to speeches from the philhellene Mayor of The City of West Torrens, Michael Coxon as well as Federal Member for Adelaide, Steve Georganas. 

Attending were also Greek Orthodox Community of SA President, Bill Gonis and Bank of Sydney Relationship Manager, Andrew Ladas as well as Arthur Mangos and George Dimitriou, two of the longest serving former councillors of the city of West Torrens with more than 50 years of combined service to the community. 

“The Castellorizians were one of the first Greek groups to arrive in South Australia and a lot of the fruit that we are enjoying today as Greek Australians in South Australia is because of the foresight that some of the Castellorizians had back then with a vision to continue the Greekness in a land so far away from their own,” said Member for Adelaide, Steve Georganas in his speech. 

The funds raised from the Luncheon go towards the upgrading of the Association’s building which started in 2019 but paused due to the pandemic a year later.

A Women’s Networking Event from the Association’s Ladies Auxiliary is due to be held later this year. 

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