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UPDATE: Sydney enters strict lockdown

The Greek Herald
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UPDATE: Sydney enters strict lockdown

UPDATE:

Current stay-at-home orders have beeen extended across all of Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong from 6pm today (26 June) until 11.59pm Friday, 9 July.

Everyone in Greater Sydney must stay at home unless it is for an essential reason.

The reasons you may leave your home include:

·       Shopping for food or other essential goods and services;

·       Medical care or compassionate needs (people can leave home to have a COVID-19 vaccination unless you have been identified as a close contact);

·       Exercise outdoors in groups of 10 or fewer;

·       Essential work, or education, where you cannot work or study from home.

The New South Wales health minister, Brad Hazzard, and the premier, Gladys Berejiklian, who has flagged the possibility of greater restrictions. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

EARLIER

NSW recorded 29 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. This includes 17 cases which were announced on Friday morning.

One of the cases reported to 8pm last night remain under investigation and the source of another previously reported case, a child who attends St Charles’ Catholic Primary School in Waverley, also remains unlinked.

There were 55,227 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 47,603. This is the highest number of COVID-19 tests in one day since 23 December 2020, when 60,184 tests were recorded.

Of the 29 locally acquired cases to 8pm last night, 26 are linked to the Bondi cluster. Twelve of the 29 cases were in isolation throughout their infectious periods.

Two cases were linked to a workplace in Marrickville, Great Ocean Foods. 

Anyone who worked in, attended or was a customer in Great Ocean Foods at 5/11 Cadogan Street from Monday 21 June to Friday 25 June and their household contacts is a close contact and must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result, and call 1800 943 553 unless they have already been contacted by NSW Health:

Anyone who directly received a delivery from Great Ocean Foods from Monday 21 June to Friday 25 June and their household contacts must immediately get tested and isolate until further advice is provided by NSW Health.

NSW Health has also been notified of additional venues across Sydney visited by confirmed cases of COVID‑19.

Anyone who attended the following venue at the time listed is a close contact and must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result, and call 1800 943 553 unless they have already been contacted by NSW Health:

SydneyCheers Bar & Grill561 George Street  Sunday 20 June01.45am – 03.30am
BankstownRebel, Bankstown Shopping CentreNorth TerraceThursday 24 June3.45pm – 4.30pm

Anyone who attended any of the following venues at the listed times is a casual contact and must immediately get tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received. Please continue to monitor for symptoms and immediately isolate and get tested if they develop:

Sydney Paloma Espresso Café Shop 1 Ground floor 10 Shelley StreetMonday 21 June1:50pm to 2:10pm
Casula Oporto Casula Central Shopping Complex,16/633 Hume HwyTuesday 22 June 12.50pm to 12.55pm 
Casula Pasta Italia Cucina  Casula Central Shopping Complex, 12A/633 – 639 Hume HwyTuesday 22 June 1pm to 1.10pm  

Stay-at-home orders are also still in place for the Woollahra, Waverley, City of Sydney, and Randwick local government areas (LGAs) from midnight last night until 12:01am on Saturday, July 3.

Anybody who lives, or has worked in these four LGAs in the past two weeks, may only leave their home for essential reasons.

These reasons include:

  • Medical care or compassionate needs. 
  • Exercise outdoors in groups of 10 or fewer. 
  • Essential work, or education, where you cannot work or study from home. 
  • If you need to buy essential goods or services.
  • Visitors to households will be limited to five guests – including children. 

Nominations now open for the 2021 HACCI Awards

The Greek Herald
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Nominations now open for the 2021 HACCI Awards

The Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI) of Victoria is excited announced this week the launch of the nominations campaign for the 2021 HACCI Awards.

HACCI was established in 1974 with the vision to connect and inspire the Hellenic Australian business and the professional community to lead, collaborate and excel.

READ MORE: Winners announced for the 34th HACCI Awards

This year will be the 35th anniversary of the Awards, and they are looking forward to celebrating the outstanding achievements and significant contributions of members of our community.

HACCI are now accepting nomination entries for any of the following categories:

Bank of Sydney Business Award
Professional Services Award
Community Service Award
Sport Award
Woman of Influence Award
Innovation Award
Spiro Stamoulis Lifetime Achievement Award
Chris Saristavros Young Achiever Award

Click here to access the application and make sure you apply by 5.00 pm on 30 August 2021.

Greek American family found dead on Father’s Day in suspected murder-suicide

The Greek Herald
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Greek American family found dead on Father’s Day in suspected murder-suicide

A husband, wife and two children were fatally shot on Father’s Day in what investigators are probing as a murder-suicide.

Nicholas Mavrakis III, 47, Lesley Mavrakis, 37, Ace Mavarakis, 13, and Pippa Mavrakis, 5, were found dead shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday in their home in Jackson Township, Ohio, local police said. 

One of Lesley’s relatives called 911 after she came to the home and no one answered the door, The Repository reported. 

“I know her husband has like PTSD from the military and he’s been having problems,” the relative told dispatchers.

Nick Mavrakis and his family. Mavrakis shot and killed his own family on Father’s Day in a murder/suicide. Photo: Facebook/Nick Mavrakis

Responding officers found all four family members deceased, and the incident is being investigated as a domestic dispute that turned deadly. 

A family neighbour, who said he also had a military background, said Nicholas suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder following his deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

According to the US Department of Defense, Mavrakis served in the US Army from April 1993 through July 2013 and retired as a staff sergeant. He was deployed to Afghanistan from January 2002 to July 2002, and twice served in Iraq, from February 2003 to February 2004 and September 2007 to November 2008.

A family member, Zach Mavrakis, shared a photo of the family on Facebook and wrote, “You will forever be missed! Words can’t describe what our family is going through right now but all of you were so loved.”

A relative told dispatchers that Nicholas Mavrakis, a military veteran, suffered from PTSD. Photo: DVIDS

“You were a rock and strong pillar for everybody. I wouldn’t be where I’m at if it wasn’t for you guys. And I’m sure a lot of us can say the same! I just can’t believe this is happening right now. I love you guys so much! Look down on us.”

In a statement, the Jackson Local School District said it “grieves the loss of two young children, and their family.”

“Ace Mavrakis was well-liked by faculty and staff at Jackson Memorial Middle School,” the district said. “He was a member of the Jackson High School ninth-grade football team. Pippa Mavrakis was registered to start kindergarten at Strausser Elementary School in August.”

Eleftherios Petrounias secures ticket to Tokyo Olympics

The Greek Herald
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Eleftherios Petrounias secures ticket to Tokyo Olympics

Eleftherios Petrounias secured his place at the Tokyo Olympics after winning gold at the rings at the Doha gymnastics World Cup on Friday.

Greece’s Petrounias, who needed to win at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup event in Doha, Qatar and do so with a score of at least 15.333, confirmed his spot in the Japanese capital with a 15.500 result, more than half a point ahead of second-placed Arthur Zanetti of Brazil.

The “Lord of the Rings”, as he is known, performed the most difficult routine of the eight finalists, receiving a 6.3 difficulty score, while also topping all competitors with the best execution score (9.200).

Petrounias suffered a setback in his qualification when he only finished fourth on rings at the 2019 Worlds after an injury-hit season.

That, coupled with Greece not sending a team, meant he would have to rely on the FIG World Cup circuit to book his Tokyo spot.

Ahead of the final qualifying event in Qatar, Petrounias said on social media that he was “so ready for the fight of my life”.

“Emotions are mixed, a lot of stress, scary pressure, anxiety,” Petrounias – who won European Championships gold in April – added then.

Photo: Getty images

“But what mostly prevails is the anticipation of the fight and the amazing feeling that I will feel after the result that will send me to Tokyo!”

Back in April, Petrounias won his fifth European title in Basel, Switzerland.

The three-time world champion beat Nikita Nagornyy, one of the favourites for multiple medals in Tokyo, to clinch his first championships title since 2018.

Now, he will get the chance to repeat as Olympic champion.

Source: Olympics

European Medicines Agency approves cancer treatment developed by Greek researchers

The Greek Herald
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European Medicines Agency approves cancer treatment developed by Greek researchers

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) on Thursday approved a new treatment combination for bone marrow cancer that was developed by a team of Greek researchers in a study codenamed Apollo.

Headed by Athens University hematologists Meletios A. (Thanos) Dimopoulos, also the rector of the university, and Evangelos Terpos, Apollo confirmed the positive response from patients with multiple myeloma to the addition of daratumumab, pomalidomide and dexamethasone, known collectively as DaraPomDex, to their treatment.

The phase 3 trial was carried out at 48 academic centers and hospitals in 12 European countries and the findings were published in “The Lancet: Oncology” on June 1.

European Medicines Agency.

The study concerned patients who had received at least one previous line of therapy, including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor, had a partial response or better to one or more previous lines of antimyeloma therapy, and were refractory to lenalidomide if only one previous line of therapy was received. 

It found that DaraPomDex “reduced the risk of disease progression or death versus pomalidomide and dexamethasone alone and could be considered a new treatment option.”

“For patients with multiple myeloma who relapse, it is important that efficacious treatments significantly reduce the risk of progression,” Dr Dimopoulos told the American Society of Hematology (ASH) on December 6, accroding to the Irish Medical Times. He described DaraPomDex as “a compelling treatment option for early relapsed or lenalidomide refractory patients.”

Source: Ekatherimini

Kyrgios and Humbert to square off at Wimbledon in epic rematch

The Greek Herald
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Kyrgios and Humbert to square off at Wimbledon in epic rematch

In what was one of the most exciting matches of the 2021 Australian Open, Nick Kyrgios and Ugo Humbert will face each other again on English turf at the 2021 Wimbledon tournament.

The draw for the tennis competition was released on Friday evening, where it was revealed the Greek Australian will face the Frenchman.

For those who may not remember, Kyrgios prevailed against Humbert faced in the second round of Australian Open, winning a five set thriller.

The Greek Australian had a comical response when he found out who his opponent was going to be.

Stefanos Tsitsipas was drawn with American Frances Tiafoe. The two last faced each other in 2018 during the Next Gen ATP Finals group stage, where Tsitsipas got a convincing three-set victory.

Tsitsipas became the first Greek player to reach a Grand Slam final in June, yet facing World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the final, he was outplayed by the best.

“I believe I’m able to play for titles like this. Despite my loss today, I have faith in my game and I very much believe I can get to that point very soon,” Tsitsipas said at the time of his loss.

Photo: Getty Images

“If I don’t downgrade myself, I see no reason for me not to be holding a trophy one day.”

Maria Sakkari similarly enjoyed incredible success at the Roland Garros, reaching the semi-final before narrowly losing to Barbora Krejčíková. The Greek will face Dutchwoman Arantxa Rus in what is expected to be a strong run for Greeks in the tournament.

Public worship to be suspended in eight Greek Orthodox churches in Sydney

Andriana Simos
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Public worship to be suspended in eight Greek Orthodox churches in Sydney

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia has announced tonight that public worship will be suspended in Greek Orthodox churches located in Woollahra, Waverley, Randwick and the City of Sydney Councils due to the recent coronavirus outbreak.

The eight churches affected are:

  1. Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos, Redfern.
  2. Dormition of our Lady, Redern.
  3. Holy Trinity, Surry Hills.
  4. Saint Sophia and Her Three Daughters, Taylor Square.
  5. Saints Constantine and Helen, Newtown.
  6. Saint Sophia (The Holy Wisdom), Paddington.
  7. Saint Spyridon, Kingsford.
  8. Saint George, Rose Bay.

The Archdiocese went on to confirm that while churches will be closed for public worship, “all services, the commemoration of saints’ feast days and the Divine Liturgies will be performed normally but only by the priest and the chanter.”

“Sacraments and funerals, if possible, should be conducted in other parishes,” the statement continues.

FULL STATEMENT:

Meet Gina Altas: The founder of Help For Hirschsprung’s Disease

John Voutos
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Meet Gina Altas: The founder of Help For Hirschsprung’s Disease

When Gina Altas’ son George was diagnosed with Hirschsprung’s disease around 10 years ago, it was only the beginning. 

With barely any research, organisations, funding, or any family history of this incredibly rare bowel disorder, Altas didn’t have very far to look for help and admits not much has changed. 

“We just had no idea why this was happening,” Atlas says. 

“George is an isolated case; we have no history of it in the family at all,” which she says is unusual for a condition like Hirschsprung’s. 

“He actually had a whole term off school with the amount of medication [he] was on,” she says. 

“There isn’t any support, I’ll be honest with you,” she says. 

She says she “had to leave work for all the surgeries” and trials that George has taken part in since birth. 

“I know some families have received [support through the] National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) but it’s only because they have another disease as well. A lot of children with Hirschsprung’s disease have Down syndrome and other diseases that are worse,” she explains. 

Hirschsprung disease is a birth defect which arises when nerve cells in the muscles of the colon are absent. 

For George, now 10, that means that he has to have his colon manually cleared daily. 

George is the only one of Gina and husband Anthony’s three kids who was born with the condition. 

Altas has committed her non-for-profit initiative Help for Hirschsprung’s Disease (HELP4HD) to helping support her son and end the cycle which sees families finding themselves in the same lost and unsupported position she found herself in all those years ago. 

“A lot of our families… get directed to us either through the Bowel Clinic at the Children’s Hospital or through the doctors,” she says. 

With no existing organisations to support Gina and her son, HELP4HD was born nearly five years ago in 2016 out of a single Instagram post and “it all just sort of grew from there”, Gina tells me. 

“I just put out one post saying, ‘I’m trying to make some toiletry kits [to help kids with inconstinence that] I can donate to the hospital and other families’,” she recalls. 

Gina now visits other children living with bowel disorders and gifts them HELP4HD’s signature Buddee bear. 

“Just recently, we visited a little boy Hunter… because he’s going through a really difficult time…,” Altas says. 

Gina gave Hunter a big HELP4HD welcome in June (Source: Instagram @help_for_hirschsprung_disease)

HELP4HD has partnered with the University of Melbourne to for a project to research the early stages of stem cell therapy and has amassed a cavalcade of high-profile Australian ambassadors jumping on board. 

John Mangos and Braith Anasta are two of HELP4HD’s ambassadors (Source: help4hd.org.au)

Veteran reporter John Mangos and former footy star Braith Anasta are just two prominent Greek Australians who knew they had to get behind Altas’ initiative. 

Christopher’s Cake Shop impacted by critical labour shortage in the hospitality industry

Andriana Simos
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Christopher’s Cake Shop impacted by critical labour shortage in the hospitality industry

Greek-owned family business, Christopher’s Cake Shop, has been serving a variety of handcrafted cakes, pastries and Greek inspired desserts across 10 locations in Sydney since 1955. But despite this success, they haven’t been immune to the critical labour shortage impacting Australia’s hospitality industry due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The industry has historically relied heavily on an overseas workforce from highly skilled chefs and experienced restaurant managers, through to casual waiting staff and international students, many of whom returned home when the pandemic struck last year.

This has now left more than 46,000 hospitality jobs currently advertised online and businesses, such as Christopher’s Cake Shop, struggling to fill these vacancies.

“Recruiting is difficult as there’s a lot more people looking for staff and employees can pick and choose more and come to you with what they want. So as a business, you need to decide whether to stick to your guns or compromise,” CEO of Christopher’s Cake Shop, Kyriakos Panayi, tells The Greek Herald.

JobKeeper and International Students:

Of course, for Mr Panayi, it was all about sticking to his guns and that’s why he decided to keep trading all of his 10 stores throughout the pandemic, despite the labour shortage and reduced profit turnover. He says he was able to continue employing his over 60 employees, who are mostly Australian citizens, with the help of the Federal Government’s JobKeeper supplement.

Christopher’s Cake Shop has been serving customers across 10 locations in Sydney since 1955.

“In my opinion, JobKeeper was outstanding. Pre-JobKeeper, we were looking at closing six out of the ten shops so the supplement was a massive injection,” Mr Panayi explains.

“In the end, it was just best to keep the shop open, pay the bills and maintain our workforce… because if we closed then reopened, we didn’t know if the staff would return.”

To ease some of this uncertainty for businesses in the hospitality industry, the Federal Government temporarily removed the 40-hour fortnightly cap on working hours for international students already in Australia.

Whilst experts such as Associate Professor Chris F. Wright from the University of Sydney Business School say scrapping the cap will only expose already vulnerable workers to bad faith employers and lead to increased wage theft, Mr Panayi disagrees.

The Greek Australian business owner says removing the cap is the answer to increased growth and “keeping people on the ground” at a time when the hospitality industry clearly has limited options in terms of skilled labour.

CEO of Christopher’s Cake Shop, Kyriakos Panayi. Photo supplied.

“The only solution I see is that if they can’t bring foreign workers in, they have to let those who are already here to work longer hours. The students are prepared to do that,” Mr Panayi says.

The burden of paying rent:

When Mr Panayi isn’t fighting for more workers, he’s also struggling under another burden of the COVID-19 pandemic – that is, paying the rent.

“Most of our landlords provided some rent relief but we all have bills to pay and more could’ve been done. Rent was the biggest burden,” Mr Panayi says.

When restrictions first hit in early 2020, the NSW Government issued a “Mandatory Code of Conduct” (MCOC) which introduced several policies, including a moratorium on evictions for all commercial tenants in financial distress as a result of COVID-19. The lessor and lessee were also encouraged to hold “good faith” negotiations to agree on conditions such as a waiver of rental and deferred rental payments (paid back over a 24-month period).

Senior Sales Executive at LJ Hooker Commercial, Michael Loupis, says the impact of these policies on the commercial retail sector was “immediate.”

Senior Sales Executive at LJ Hooker Commercial, Michael Loupis. Photo supplied.

“[There was] a drastic drop in transactions being completed in 2020 due to the reduced confidence in the market, especially in the retail sector. There was an increasing amount of small-to-medium cafes and restaurants closing, downsizing or relocating their business due to the COVID-19 stress on the business,” Mr Loupis tells The Greek Herald.

The Sales Executive goes on to add that although there is an argument the government should’ve done more to help retailers, “the situation was delicate from the outset” and commercial property owners who had to pay a mortgage also needed to be considered.

“… if the government had their time again, I’m sure there could have been a different approach undertaken,” Mr Loupis said.

“With that being said, we were lucky in NSW that we were closed for a relatively short period of time compared to other states and also other countries around the world.”

A sentiment which Mr Panayi agrees with as he continues to push through the COVID-19 pandemic, trading and serving the loyal customers of Christopher’s Cake Shop.

Film documenting 100 years since establishment of Panathinaikos BC to premiere on June 27

The Greek Herald
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Film documenting 100 years since establishment of Panathinaikos BC to premiere on June 27

A film which shares the story of 100 years since the establishment of Panathinaikos BC will be available to all Greeks worldwide on June 27 via online streaming.

The screening times for ‘Journey to the Stars’ are: June 27 at 18:00 and 22:00, June 28 at 04:00 and 12:00, and June 29 at 21:00. All times are in EEST – Athens time.

The film will focus on the Giannakopoulos family, a family who adored “Panathinaikos” deeply and decided to take over the reins of the club’s men’s basketball team.

This wonderful journey, filled with so many indescribable moments, ranging from impressive victories to unexpected defeats, and unmeasurable joys to undeniable sorrows, but most importantly, six European championships, is captured throughout this film.

“Writing the script, I wanted to reach those who might have thought that we were simply talking about basketball, when in fact, we are actually taking a look at something more. We are talking about family, fathers, daughters, sons, loneliness. All that is more or less sports,” Christos Dimas, the film’s Director and Screenwriter, said at a press conference.

“Because it does narrate the 100 years since the team’s establishment, we had to go through the story, but also find a way to include the emotional imprint in order to have the audience understand what makes the team great. We also wanted to show what characterizes Panathinaikos, and the family as well.”

President of Panathinaikos BC OPAP, Panagiotis Triantopoulos, agreed and said he’s impressed with the way the film perfectly captures the Giannakopoulos family.

“I have lived close to this family for so many years. I thought it would be difficult for a film to capture, within two hours, what I feel, close to these people. But I want to say well done to everyone. It’s an amazing job. We felt what we wanted,” Mr Triantopoulos told the media.

“The film shows how the foundations and values ​​of the group came into being, and generally, how the family started. It is not based so much on the competitive part, as on that of morality and love.”

Find out more about the film here.

Starring: Danis Katranidis, Themis Panou, Argyris Pantazaras, Giorgos Gallos, Vaggelis Mourikis, Anna Maria Papacharalampous, Gilles Touchais, Markos Lezes, Daphne Lamprogianni, Nikos Arvanitis, Tasos Iordanidis, Ioanna Pilichou, Christos Plainis, Vaggelis Alexandris, Giorgos Gerontidakis, and Kostas Apostolakis. Guest Appearance:  Zeta Makripoulia.

Screenwriter-Director: Christos Dimas; Executive Producer: Vicky Laskari; Production Execution: Panos Papachatzis; Photography: Kostas Triantafillou; Editing: Stella Filippopoulou; Music: Nikos Kipourgos; Set: Kiki Pitta; Costumes: Katerina Zoura; Sound Recording: Dinos Kittou; Sound Design: Nikos Konstantinou; Sound Mix: Kostas Filaktidis; Production Organization: Dimitris Gkanos; Production Management: Yiannis Karantanis; Make Up: Dimitra Giatrakou.

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