Search
Home Blog Page 1402

Antipodes festival in Melbourne pushed back until October

The Greek Herald
-
0
Antipodes festival in Melbourne pushed back until October

By Katrina Filippidis.

Melbourne’s Antipodes festival has been postponed for a second time due to pandemic woes.

The long-running Lonsdale Street celebration was unable to take place last year, with organisers citing coronavirus concerns. However, the event was replaced by a Greek music festival which featured food trucks and live music performances that kept the Greek spirit alive despite the setback.

READ MORE: Over 1,200 people flock to Melbourne’s Lonsdale Street Greek Music Festival.

This year’s Antipodes festival (Lonsdale Street Greek Festival) was originally planned for March 5 and 6, but has been postponed until late October.

“After much deliberation, the Greek Community of Melbourne believes that it is in the best interest of the community to postpone the 2022 Antipodes Festival,” says the announcement.

“The safety of our staff, performers, contractors and audience are our primary concern and responsibility so we have decided to move the dates of the festival to later in the year.”

It has been rescheduled for October 22 and 23, however, it is still unclear whether COVID-19 will create additional disturbances.

The Antipodes festival holds the enviable title of Melbourne’s longest running Greek festival. Launched in 1987, Antipodes, or the Londsdale Street Greek Festival, has been a rich showcase of Hellenic arts and culture for delighted audiences as well as a multicultural boon to Victoria.

READ MORE: Antipodes festival a huge success as over 100,000 people descended onto Lonsdale Street.

Antipodes festival.

Throughout the years, Antipodes has attracted top talents from Greece including the likes of Glykeria, Michalis Hatzigiannis and Pandelis Thalassinos. Festivalgoers have been treated to a variety of Greek cuisine, local entertainment, children’s rides, and artisanal wares and boutiques. Attendees have also the chance to compete in the infamous Zorba ‘Til You Drop contest and a pastitsio cook-off that will settle arguments over who’s the best in the kitchen.   

READ MORE: Giota Negka headlines Melbourne Antipodes Festival as thousands of Greeks flock to Lonsdale.

The 2020 Antipodes festival was a huge success, drawing a crowd that neared 150,000 to Melbourne’s Greek precinct. In 2018, the popularity of the event allowed it to expand beyond its Lonsdale Street confines, with additional festivities spilling into neighbouring Swanston and Russell Streets.

This year marks the 34th official anniversary of the festival.

Kosta Papageorgakis’ 600km round trip to find quality potatoes in South Australia

The Greek Herald
-
0
Kosta Papageorgakis’ 600km round trip to find quality potatoes in South Australia

The owner of Port Noarlunga Fish and Chips in South Australia, Kosta Papageorgakis, had to close his shop for the first time in 30 years due to the quality of local produce.

What did he do instead?

He travelled 293 kilometres from Port Noarlunga to Bordertown to collect a tonne of quality russet potatoes from a grower, after a delivery of white star potatoes from the Adelaide Hills led to “raw and soggy” hot chips.

READ MORE: ‘I love what I do’: Meet the family behind one of SA’s iconic Fish and Chips shops.

Mr Papageorgakis told The Advertiser the almost 600km round trip was worth it for his customers who expect “crispy” hot chips. He is now set to reopen his shop on Tuesday.

Jimmy Leonardos (founder of the fish and chip shop) with his daughter Marina. Photo: The Greek Herald/Argyro Vourdoumpa.

“My customers come first. I won’t serve s–t to the customers. I don’t want to tarnish my reputation,” Mr Papageorgakis told the newspaper.

READ MORE: Greeks take out awards for the best jaffles and hot chips in Australia.

This sentiment was echoed in an interview between Mr Papageorgakis and The Greek Herald in early January, where the shop owner stressed: “We have a long-lasting legacy and we will not let it slip.”

Different reasons for the poorer potato quality have been suggested, with Mr Papageorgakis blaming early harvesting of potatoes for the problem.

Source: The Advertiser.

Assistant Commissioner Paul Pisanos among candidates for senior role at NSW Police

Andriana Simos
-
0
Assistant Commissioner Paul Pisanos among candidates for senior role at NSW Police

A major restructure of NSW Police is underway with the vacancy of two deputy commissioner roles following the promotion of Karen Webb to Commissioner and sudden sacking of Mick Willing.

According to police sources who spoke to The Daily Telegraph, current Assistant Commissioner Leanne McCusker is an unbackable favourite to fill one deputy spot, while Assistant Commissioner Joe Cassar is predicted to take the role left open by Mr Willing’s departure.

But there may yet be another position opening up in the coming months, with detective Dave Hudson expected to retire before the end of the year.

Among the top candidates for promotion to this role are Assistant Commissioner Paul Pisanos, who has filled in at deputy commissioner level previously, as well as Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald, the Commander of Forensic Services, and Assistant Commissioner Peter Thurtell, the boss of Central Metropolitan Region.

Paul Pisanos. Photo: Craig Wilson.

Assistant Commissioner Pisanos has a strong chance of being selected for the role. In 2018, he received the Australian Police Medal as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

He has launched a number of youth programs credited with reducing youth crime and placing disadvantaged young people with private businesses, providing work experience for possible future full-time employment.

He has also dedicated his career to reducing violence, fear and crime ever since he entered the force as a constable in 1988.

Source: The Daily Telegraph.

Young Liberal Movement of Australia recognises Greek, Armenian, Assyrian genocides

The Greek Herald
-
0
Young Liberal Movement of Australia recognises Greek, Armenian, Assyrian genocides

The Young Liberal Movement of Australia has unanimously adopted a motion at its National Convention recognising the 1915 Armenian, Assyrian and Greek genocides, as well as acknowledging the rights to self-determination of the indigenous Armenian people of the Republic of Artsakh.

The Young Liberal Movement is the youth wing of the Liberal Party of Australia, which is currently the party in Government federally, led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

READ MORE: House of Representatives calls on Australian Govt to recognise Greek, Armenian, Assyrian genocides.

According to the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU), the motion was moved by ACT Young Liberal President, Connor Andreatidis, and seconded by a member from the ACT Young Liberal delegation.

Mr Andreatidis’ motion not only recognised the 1915 crimes committed by the Ottoman Empire, but also called on the “Federal Government to recognise and condemn the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek genocides.”

The Executive Director of ANC-AU, Haig Kayserian, welcomed the support of the Australian Young Liberal Movement and thanked them for adopting the motion.

“This motion saw future leaders of our nation call out their current leaders by taking a unanimous stand in solidarity with the Armenian-Australian, Assyrian-Australian and Greek-Australian communities by addressing past and current injustices that remain unpunished,” Mr Kayserian said.

Prominent members of the Australian Liberal Party were also present at the Federal Convention and witnessed the unprecedented motion, including Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein and Senators Eric Abetz, Claire Chandler and Jonathon Duniam.

READ MORE: Greek, Cypriot and Pontian communities call on Australian PM to recognise genocide.

Source: Public Radio of Armenia.

Harrison Kitt to spend 10 years under supervision for crash that killed Joanne Shanahan

The Greek Herald
-
0
Harrison Kitt to spend 10 years under supervision for crash that killed Joanne Shanahan

A driver who caused a road crash that killed two women – including top SA Police officer Joanne Shanahan (nee Panayiotou) – will spend the next decade under supervision, The Advertiser reports.

On Tuesday, the District Court ordered Harrison Kitt, 21, serve a 10-year limiting term, monitored by both mental health experts and the Parole Board, while living with his parents.

He was also banned from drinking, driving and from attending shopping centres near the families of Joanne Shanahan and Tania McNeill.

READ MORE: Harrison Kitt found not guilty of crash that killed Joanne Shanahan and an Adelaide mum.

In April 2020, and while affected by undiagnosed bipolar, Mr Kitt drove through the intersection of Fullarton and Cross roads, Urrbrae, at 167km/h.

The car crash scene.

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

His car collided with those driven by Chief Superintendent Shanahan and Mrs McNeill, killing them both.

Mr Kitt was found not guilty of causing their deaths, by dangerous driving, due to mental incompetence.

In response, the McNeill and Shanahan families have said in their victim statements they would forever struggle to come to terms with the verdict.

READ MORE: ‘Slap in the face’: Family share grief over Joanna Shanahan’s death.

Source: The Advertiser.

Greece, Turkey reactivate joint economic committee after 11 years

The Greek Herald
-
0
Greece, Turkey reactivate joint economic committee after 11 years

The Greek-Turkish Joint Economic Committee met in Athens on Monday for the first time in 11 years, Ekathimerini reports.

The meeting concluded with the signing of a Protocol by Greek Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic Diplomacy and Openness, Kostas Fragogiannis, and Turkish Deputy Minister of Trade, Mustafa Tuzcu.

According to a joint announcement, the heads of the two delegations expressed satisfaction with the re-activation of the committee, whose last session was held in Ankara in October 2010.

The two sides also expressed their commitment to continue working to achieve progress in issues included in the “positive agenda,” with emphasis on promoting economic cooperation and trade transactions between the two countries.

Other issues discussed include tourism between both countries, increasing cooperation in the energy sector, and the resumption of bilateral cooperation in research and technology.

Source: Ekathimerini.

Heavy snow blankets Athens, Greek islands causing major disruptions

The Greek Herald
-
0
Heavy snow blankets Athens, Greek islands causing major disruptions

Heavy snowfall from the Elpida storm disrupted air and road traffic in the Greek capital of Athens and on the Greek islands on Monday.

The snow came down thick and fast throughout the day in central Athens, settling on the marble columns of the ancient Acropolis. Greek authorities sent out emergency alerts to cell phones in the wider Athens area warning of severe snowfall.

  • Mesogeion Avenue, Athens. Photos: The Greek Herald / Panagiotis Dalatariof.

Authorities also warned the public to limit outdoor movements to only essential ones on Monday and Tuesday, while schools in many areas were closed.

Snow chains were mandatory for cars on many roads, while trucks were banned from the main highway heading north from Athens.

Nevertheless, the icy conditions and lack of snow chains on some vehicles left traffic snarled for hours on many of the Greek capital’s roads, including a highway ring road and one of the main avenues in Athens. Several drivers reported being stuck in their cars for hours.

  • Pagrati, Athens. Photos: The Greek Herald / Panagiotis Dalatariof.

Climate Change and Civil Protection Minister, Christos Stylianides, apologised for the problems on the ring road, and said its private operators would be called to provide explanations. He added that efforts were being made to keep all major highways open.

Mr Stylianides also said only minor power supply problems had occurred, mostly on the island of Evia, and were expected to be resolved by later Monday.

  • Pagrati, Athens. Photos: The Greek Herald / Panagiotis Dalatariof.

Several domestic and international flights to Athens airport were cancelled, while subway service to the airport was partially suspended as some of it runs above ground.

The health ministry announced that COVID-19 vaccination centers in the wider Athens region and Evia would close early Monday and remain closed Tuesday.

Authorities expect the snowfall will persist on Tuesday and according to Ekathimerini, a public holiday is set to be declared for the country.

  • Evangelismos, Athens. Photos: The Greek Herald / Panagiotis Dalatariof.

Snow is common in the Greek mountains and in northern Greece but is less frequent in central Athens and on Aegean islands.

Last year, the Greek capital was hit by a major snowstorm that caused severe problems, knocking out power for days in certain neighbourhoods and making all streets impassable without snow chains. Thousands of trees collapsed from the weight of the snow and ice.

Source: AP News.

Stefanos Tsitsipas outlasts Fritz to reach Australian Open quarter-finals

The Greek Herald
-
0
Stefanos Tsitsipas outlasts Fritz to reach Australian Open quarter-finals

Greek fourth seed, Stefanos Tsitsipas, survived a gruelling fourth-round battle with American, Taylor Fritz, on Monday, twice coming from a set behind to win 4-6 6-4 4-6 6-3 6-4 and reach the Australian Open quarter-finals.

At just past midnight on Rod Laver Arena, the Greek ended Fritz’s resistance to set up a clash with Italian Jannik Sinner. He will be seeking to reach the semi-finals at Melbourne Park for the third time in his career.

Tsitsipas looked edgy at times but his greater experience on the big stage eventually showed as he got the decisive break in the fifth set before claiming victory.

Fritz, playing in his first Grand Slam fourth round, converted only two of his 15 break points and will rue a missed opportunity to become the first American male to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final for two years.

“It was an epic match that’s all I can say, I gave everything out there on the court today,” Tsitsipas said after his match.

“I’m proud of the way I fought.

“I’m overwhelmed. It’s too good to be true. I knew it was going to be physical, and I knew I had to be patient and in the end it paid off.”

Source: Ekathimerini.

Greek Australian rapper, Masked Wolf, is pop’s ‘Next Big Thing’

The Greek Herald
-
0
Greek Australian rapper, Masked Wolf, is pop’s ‘Next Big Thing’

Radio has been deposed by social media giant, TikTok, as the platform to launch unknown artists into the pop culture stratosphere, The Daily Telegraph reports.

One of these artists is global rap sensation Masked Wolf, whose followers and trending moments converted to millions of streams in the last 18 months.

READ MORE: Meet the Greek Australian rapper, ‘Masked Wolf’, topping international charts.

The Greek Australian rapper, who’s real name is Harry Michael, released Astronaut In The Ocean in June 2019, but it didn’t lift off until late 2020.

Why? Because TikTok creators began using its dramatic 30 second opening to soundtrack videos about welding, four-wheel drives and feats of superhuman athleticism.

JLo also gave the hit an extra bump when she posted a video of her dancing poolside to its infectious beat.

Masked Wolf.

This in turn sent Masked Wolf’s fans to streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music to play the whole song.

TikTok’s Director of Music, Ollie Wards, said the song’s explosion into the music ecosystem was “mind-blowing.”

“It was completely mind-blowing to watch this rapper from Maroubra in Sydney go from being completely unknown to having a song in the top 10 of the US Billboard chart and a billion streams purely because of TikTok trends, and now he’s a bona fide touring and recording artist,” Wards said.

Source: The Daily Telegraph.

Cretan Association of the Northern Territory re-established after five years

The Greek Herald
-
0
Cretan Association of the Northern Territory re-established after five years

The Cretan Association of the Northern Territory has been re-established after five years, according to a press release by the Cretan Federation of Australia & New Zealand.

The re-establishment comes after several passionate Cretans in Northern Australia requested assistance from the Federation to re-elect a new committee following the resignation of Honorary President Kostas Hnaris.

Mr Tsourdalakis (left) with President of the Greek Community of North Australia, Nick Poniris (right).

The President of the Cretan Federation of Australia & New Zealand, Tony Tsourdalakis, spent over five days in Darwin meeting with local authorities, seeking their support and hosting the Annual General Meeting of Cretans.

The AGM led to the election of a new committee which consists of:

  • The Lord Mayor of Darwin Cr. Kon Vatskalis (left)
  • The new President of the Cretan Association of the Northern Territory, George Mamounis (right).

• President: George Mamounis from Prefect of Iraklio.
• Vice President: Manolis Kourmoulis from Prefect of Rethymno.
• Secretary: Alexandros Larentzos from the Prefect of Rethymno.
• Assistant Secretary: Christos Makrynakis from the Prefect of Lasithi.
• Treasurer: Eleftheria Petrakakakis from the Prefect of Rethymno.
• Public Relations: Konstantinos Tererakis from the Prefect of Jannis.
• Media & Marketing: Thomas Kallonas from the Prefect of Lasithi.
• Committee Members: Peter Paroulakis from the Prefect of Hania, Yianna Paterakis from the Prefect of Iraklio, Sofia Lendaris from the Prefect of Rethymno and Katerina Tererakis from the Prefect of Hania.
• Cretan Youth Representatives: George Kourmoulis, Nikos Makrynakis, Maria Kourmoulis

“We welcome them all with open arms to the big Federation Family and offer our undivided support,” the Federation said in the press release.

The Hon. Consul General of Greece in Darwin John Anoictomatis (left).

“We pay our respects for their years of service and contribution to the Hnaris Family, Paterakis Family, Christakis Family and Tererakis Family.  

“The Cretan Federation of Australia & New Zealand extends its warmest thanks to: The Hon. Consul General of Greece in Darwin John Anoictomatis, The Lord Mayor of Darwin Cr. Kon Vatskalis and the President of the Greek Community Nicholas Poniris for their current and future support of the Cretan Association of Northern Territory, as well as a warm thanks to the Mamounis Family for their warm Cretan Hospitality.”

1...1,4011,4021,403...1,986Page 1,402 of 1,986

Stay connected:

Other

© 2024 The Greek Herald. All rights reserved.