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‘It’s a piece of our history’: Why three proud Kytherians bid on the Centenary Medallion

Andriana Simos
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‘It’s a piece of our history’: Why three proud Kytherians bid on the Centenary Medallion

Picture this: It’s the launch night of the Kytherian Association of Australia’s (KAA) centenary celebrations and there’s a live auction of the first three 100-year Collector’s Edition Medallions, which were designed by Zoe Sophios and produced by The Royal Australian Mint.

Bids are flying back and forth between a number of proud members of the KAA before eventually, the first medallion was claimed by none other than Peter Maneas from My Greek Odyssey for $20,000.

Next up was John Sophios, who bought the second medallion for $6,000, and rounding out the bidders was the President of the KAA, Emmanuel Alfieris, who bought the third medallion for $10,000.

READ MORE: Kytherian Association of Australia successfully launches its centenary celebrations.

Medallion designer, Zoe Sophios. Photo: The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.

To celebrate these successful bids, we just had to find out what made these three proud Kytherians want the medallion in the first place. This is what they had to say:

First Medallion: Peter Maneas for $20,000

Peter Maneas’ instant response to the question of why he bid on the medallion was: “I would do anything to help the Kytherian Association of Australia.”

“They’ve been going for 100 years and we want them to go for another 100 years,” the host of My Greek Odyssey added.

“My family goes back, recorded anyway, 15 generations to Kythera. I live in Australia, it’s 15,000 kilometres away, and we just want to keep our history and culture alive as much as we can and for as long as we can.”

Peter Maneas at the launch. Photo: The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.

And now that he has the medallion and a piece of Kytherian history in his possession, what does he plan on doing with it?

“The medallion is sitting on my desk in my office, overlooking the window. So when I’m working it will always be there with a couple of other little bits and pieces that I’ve collected over time,” Maneas says.

Second Medallion: John Sophios for $6,000

John Sophios tells The Greek Herald he decided to bid on the medallion as it is “a unique and succinct physical representation of the long history of Kytherians in Australia and a testament to the successful connection Australian-Kytherian diaspora have maintained with our island over the last 100 years.”

John Sophios (left) with his two daughters and wife. Photo: The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.

“It serves as a reminder of our ties to our ancestors and ancestry, and it embodies the love we have for the island of Kythera as its descendants,” Mr Sophios says.  

“Moreover, I feel it commemorates the contribution made to the KAA by thousands of members who supported initiatives and volunteered their time and work over the 100 years to create the success of the Association.

READ MORE: Zoe Sophios designs the official medallion for the Kytherian Association of Australia’s centenary.

“My family and I moved to Sydney from country NSW in the mid 1970’s and the KAA was instrumental in helping us make new friends and settling into our new environment.

Medallions being shown at the auction. Photo: The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.

“Our association with the Kytherian community has been long standing and strong and I feel very privileged to have served as president of both the youth committee and the board. In essence, I bid for the coin because of this personal connection.”

What does Mr Sophios plan on doing with the medallion now?

“I am tossing up between donating it to the Kytherian Museum in Hora or the Powerhouse Museum here in Sydney,” he concludes.

Third Medallion: Emmanuel Alfieris for $10,000

The President of the KAA, Emmanuel Alfieris, claimed the third medallion on the night and he tells The Greek Herald he made a bid because “it’s an impressive artefact that is a piece of our history.”

“I’m going to bid for more coins so that I can give one to each of my children,” Mr Alfieris continues.

Zoe with Emmanuel Alfieris. Photo: The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.

“For someone like me where my grandfather, father, uncles, brother, cousins and myself have all been contributors to the Association, I feel it’s important for my children to have this memento in their homes.  

“Throughout their lives, it will catch their eyes, or a guest will ask “what’s that,” and they’ll reflect upon what their predecessors did and remind them of their own community obligation.

“It’s an artefact that will remain in Kytherian households for generations.”

Mr Alfieris adds that the fact the medallion was designed by a young Kytherian and minted by the Royal Australian Mint also played a part in his bid.

“For us Australian Kytherians, there’s amazing poetry in the fact that the Royal Australian Mint has minted a coin with the map of Kythera on one side and Aphrodite on the other. This is a rare privilege to have a coin minted by the Mint,” the KAA President says.

Emmanuel with his wife and designer, Zoe. Photo: The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.

“There’s quite a refined process to get approval, including having the Mint’s Board agree that it is consistent with their historic purpose. I’m proud of the fact that they felt the KAA’s Centenary year fits within their mission.

“I [also] get a buzz that the coin was designed by a young Kytherian, Zoe Sophios. Zoe is only 20 something and she spent endless volunteer hours designing this amazing artefact.

“That makes me confident that the Kytherian Association of Australia remains vibrant and still retains a promising future.”

If you want to purchase the Limited Edition Centenary Medallion, now is your last chance via an online silent auction here.

READ MORE: Australian National Maritime Museum unveils 1,281 new names on Monument to Migration.

Jenny Mikakos: ‘I’m excited Minister Mendoni is coming to Melbourne’

The Greek Herald
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Jenny Mikakos: ‘I’m excited Minister Mendoni is coming to Melbourne’

Melbourne Museum and Greece’s National Archaeological Museum have collaborated to bring the new ‘Open Horizons: Ancient Greek Journeys’ exhibition to Victoria from Saturday, April 23.

The exhibition was made possible following negotiations between former Victorian Health Minister, Jenny Mikakos, and Greece’s Culture Minister, Lina Mendoni.

In a comment to The Greek Herald, Ms Mikakos said she’s “so excited that Minister Mendoni is coming to Melbourne” for the launch of the exhibition.

“She generously agreed to meet with me during her first week as a Minister when she would’ve been incredibly busy,” Ms Mikakos said.

“She was very enthusiastic at our meeting about an antiquities exhibition from Greece coming to Melbourne for the first time ever. I think Australians, and especially Greek Australians, should be very grateful to the Minister that she has made this exhibition reality.

“Whilst I haven’t seen her schedule, I would love the opportunity to thank her personally for delivering on her promise.”

The exhibition will explore Greece’s rich history through trade, spirituality and art, offering a window into the ideas and culture that have permeated into modern times and continue to include culture, politics and sport.

Displayed for the first time in Australia, ‘Open Horizons,’ will showcase 44 treasures from the Early Bronze age through to the Roman period, introducing a new generation of visitors to the history of Greece.

The exhibition is being funded in the 2020-21 Victorian Budget.

“The Andrews Government is proud to bring this exclusive exhibition to Victoria, providing a fantastic opportunity for visitors to learn more about the stories of Victoria’s Greek community, while exploring antiquities that are visiting Australia for the very first time,” Steve Dimopoulos MP said.

The CEO of Museums Victoria, Lynley Crosswell, added that they are excited to be collaborating with the National Archaeological Museum.

“This captivating exhibition will invite visitors to explore the cross-cultural connections that contributed to the formation of Ancient Greece,” Ms Crosswell concluded.

‘Open Horizon: Ancient Greek Journeys’ opens on Saturday, April 23 at Melbourne Museum.

Melbourne’s Rebetiki band set to bring Greek soul to Sydney’s Factory Theatre

The Greek Herald
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Melbourne’s Rebetiki band set to bring Greek soul to Sydney’s Factory Theatre

Melbourne’s Rebetiki are one of Australia’s premier exponents of traditional Greek music. Focusing on the urban blues of the early 19th century, the group have performed extensively here and abroad.

Following numerous successful performances as part of the Greek Festival of Sydney program, Rebetiki will be in Sydney once again for a one-time performance.

Taking place on Sunday, April 10 at the Factory Theatre, this performance will take us back to the beginning and look at the first recordings by pioneering artists that made this music so iconic.

From the birth of rebetika leading to the appearance of the first recorded composers and practitioners with a special emphasis on the ‘father’ of rebetika Markos Vamvakaris, this is an event not to be missed.

“Performances by ‘Rebetiki’ are always a highlight of the Greek Festival program. It is a group unlike any we have in Sydney and we always jump at the opportunity to have them perform,” the Festival Chair, Nia Karteris, said.

Melbourne’s Rebetiki will bring the heart and soul of Greek blues back to life. With a variety of instruments including the traditional six string bouzouki, baglama, oud, lute, guitar and percussion, Rebetiki present an acoustic passage through a musical style just as vibrant today as it was during its initial development.

Members of the band include Argyris Argyropoulos, (Baglama, Oud), Tony Iliou, (Guitar, Lute), and Achilles Yiangoulli (Bouzouki, Toubeleki).

You can book tickets to the event here.

Darwin GleNTi scaled back to a Greek Festival due to supply shortages

Andriana Simos
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Darwin GleNTi scaled back to a Greek Festival due to supply shortages

The iconic Darwin GleNTi, which takes place annually in the Northern Territory on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, has been scaled back this year due to supply shortages.

The news has been confirmed to The Greek Herald by Nicholas Poniris, the President of the Greek Orthodox Community of North Australia (GOCNA) which organises the GleNTi.

Mr Poniris says the GleNTi will not go ahead as usual this year, but a Darwin Greek Festival will take place instead on the grounds of the Greek Orthodox School of Darwin in Nightcliff.

Darwin GleNTi 2021. File photo: Georgia Politis Photography.

This decision was made by the GOCNA committee after suppliers from Greece, who provide quality products such as wine for the GleNTi, confirmed on Monday night they would not be able to meet the demand for the usual two-day extravaganza.

Mr Poniris said GOCNA did not want to go ahead with the GleNTi if they were unable to provide the “quality product” they are known for.

Dancer at last year’s GleNTi. File photo: Georgia Politis Photography.

There is no set date for the new Greek Festival yet, with Mr Poniris hinting at either the June 12 – 13 long weekend or earlier that month. There are also negotiations for a three month program of Greek events to align with the Festival.

“It will be a great event. It will be comparable to GleNTi,” Mr Poniris concluded. “We’ve done this before and the Darwin Greek Festival will be second to nothing else.”

Candalepas wins design for 55-storey landmark tower in Sydney CBD

The Greek Herald
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Candalepas wins design for 55-storey landmark tower in Sydney CBD

Candalepas Associates has been selected by a design panel as preferred architect for a 55-level luxury residential and commercial building by Deicorp in the Sydney CBD.

According to The Australian, the Sydney firm secured the appointment after an exhaustive competitive design process managed by the City of Sydney.

The project will be built on the corner of Liverpool and Castlereagh streets in the Hyde Park south precinct, and will include four levels of A-Grade office space, ground floor retail and a courtyard garden.

READ MORE: Angelo Candalepas and Associates unveil winning design for new NGV Contemporary.

Design by Candalepas Associates.

Candalepas principal, Angelo Candalepas, told The Australian he relished the opportunity to deliver a landmark building.

“It is a building with dramatic foyers and an oasis garden for the residents. These two facilities link to provide a sense of wellness and nature in the centre of the city,” Mr Candalepas said.

Deicorp founder, Fouad Deiri, welcomed Candalepas’ appointment and said the team is excited to work with Angelo and other leading consultants “to deliver an outstanding new building.”

READ MORE: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese site in Redfern to undergo historical refurbishments.

Source: The Australian.

Reports emerge 15 staff have walked out on Fiona Martin MP since her election

The Greek Herald
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Reports emerge 15 staff have walked out on Fiona Martin MP since her election

The Australian has reported today that 15 staff have left the office of Liberal MP Fiona Martin since she was elected in May 2019.

Former employees are accusing Dr Martin of making inappropriate comments and engaging staff in personal administrative work.

In response to a question from the newspaper, Dr Martin offered an apology.

“If any staff member felt they had a poor experience in my office, then I apologise. I know I can always do better but I am not aware of any complaints,” she said.

The Member for Reid is also facing allegations she had employed a former babysitter as a diary manager in her office – a taxpayer-funded role worth up to $90,000 a year.

While Dr Martin did not deny having hired her former babysitter, she asserted all of her staff had been hired as “part of an open and competitive process and on the basis of their ability to perform only the tasks required of them that are clearly set out by the MOPS Act.”

This news comes as two heads of the Liberal Party’s Strathfield women’s branch also withdrew their support for Dr Martin’s campaign on Monday night.

READ MORE: Local Liberals withdraw support for campaign of sitting MP Fiona Martin.

Corruption watchdog launches public inquiry into Canada Bay mayor Angelo Tsirekas

The Greek Herald
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Corruption watchdog launches public inquiry into Canada Bay mayor Angelo Tsirekas

The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has launched a public inquiry into corruption allegations surrounding City of Canada Bay mayor, Angelo Tsirekas, The Daily Telegraph reports.

In a public statement on Wednesday afternoon, ICAC announced an inquiry will launch on April 26.

ICAC will probe allegations Mr Tsirekas, who was first elected Canada Bay mayor in 2002, deliberately failed to disclose relationships he had with several individuals, and property and development companies.

READ MORE: City of Canada Bay Mayor Angelo Tsirekas to stand as an Independent at local elections.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, these allegations concern multiple properties across the Canada Bay local government area, including two Victoria Road addresses in Drummoyne, and two properties in Rhodes.

Development giant Billbergia, as well as Prolet, are among the companies identified in ICAC’s public statement regarding the investigation.

Canada Bay mayor Angelo Tsirekas.

ICAC also allege Mr Tsirekas received financial benefits, international flights and accommodation from a company in return for favourable council considerations relating to planning decisions.

In a statement to the SMH, a Canada Bay Council spokesman declined to say whether Mr Tsirekas would be stepping down from his role following Wednesday’s announcement.

“We are not able to make a comment on this inquiry at this time,” the spokesman said.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald and The Daily Telegraph.

Greek and Australian passports among the top ten most powerful for 2022

Andriana Simos
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0
Greek and Australian passports among the top ten most powerful for 2022

The Henley Passport Index has released its rankings for the most powerful passports in the world and Greece and Australia have tied in 7th place.

Both countries have jumped one place in the rankings from last year, where they were 8th in the world.

The Index uses data from the International Air Transport Association and ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holder can visit without a visa.

According to the data, passports from Greece and Australia allow citizens to holiday in 185 countries without organising a visa.

Both countries have tied with Canada, the Czech Republic and Malta in seventh place.

Meanwhile, at the top of this year’s index are Japan and Singapore, with their passports allowing citizens to visit a whopping 192 countries without requiring a visa.

Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the ranking with its nationals only able to access 26 destinations visa-free.

Here are the top rankings:

  1. Japan, Singapore, 192
  2. Germany, South Korea, 190
  3. Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, 189
  4. Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden, 188
  5. France, Ireland, Portugal, United Kingdom, 187
  6. Belgium, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United States, 186
  7. Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Greece, Malta, 185
  8. Hungary, 183
  9. Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, 182
  10. Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia, 181

Russian embassy warns of ‘consequences’ after Greece orders expulsion of 12 diplomats

The Greek Herald
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Russian embassy warns of ‘consequences’ after Greece orders expulsion of 12 diplomats

Russia’s embassy in Athens on Wednesday warned of “consequences” after Greece asked 12 Russian diplomats to leave the country over the war in Ukraine.

“We have strongly protested against this unjustified and hostile step which aims to further destroy our bilateral relations,” the embassy said in a statement. 

“We made clear that this action will not remain without consequences.”

This statement comes after Greece declared 12 Russian officials personae non gratae earlier on Wednesday.

According to Ekathimerini, Russian Ambassador Andrey Maslov was summoned to the Greek Foreign Ministry to be notified of the decision.

The Foreign Ministry said the decision was made in line with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963.

READ MORE: Ukraine’s President thanks Greek FM for offering to lead humanitarian aid mission.

Greece pushing back phase-out of lignite plants:

The Greek Foreign Ministry announcement comes as Greece’s Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, also said on Wednesday that Greece will push back the phase-out of lignite plants to reduce dependence on Russian natural gas.

READ MORE: Greece, Cyprus and Israel to expand energy cooperation amid Ukraine war.

Mitsotakis made the announcement at the inauguration of a 204.3 MW photovoltaic park by Hellenic Petroleum in Kozani. Photo: Twitter.

Mitsotakis said Greece will boost coal mining by 50% and extend the operation of all its coal-fired power plants to 2028, instead of closing them down by 2023 as previously planned.

“It is a temporary measure,” Mitsotakis said at the inauguration of a 204.3 MW photovoltaic park by Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE), Greece’s biggest oil refiner, in Kozani. 

Mitsotakis added that “in no case” will these changes affect Greece’s announced goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% in 2030 and achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

US Undersecretary of State: Russians must access the truth on Ukraine

Elsewhere, the US Undersecretary of State, Victoria Nuland, paid a visit to Cyprus on Wednesday and stressed that Russian “disinformation” about its war against Ukraine needs to be exposed, including on Russia’s “war crimes.” 

“We all have an interest in exposing Russian disinformation, ensuring our citizens have the truth and ensuring that Russian citizens also (have the truth)… despite the Iron Curtain that Putin has put down over that,” Nuland said during her official visit.

According to Ekathimerini, Nuland was asked whether the US had asked Cyprus to transfer its Russian-made weapons and she said: “It is not for the United States to ask of Cyprus. It is for Cyprus to make its own decisions about what it wants to and can do.”

Cypriot officials said no weapons would be transferred to Ukraine without securing replacements, to avoid weakening the war-divided island nation’s defences.

READ MORE: US asks Cyprus to transfer its Russian-made weapons to Ukraine.

Nuland was in Cyprus as part of a five-nation tour aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and rallying support for Ukraine. This included a visit to Greece as well.

Source: Ekathimerini.

‘I want my people at the Sydney Opera House’: Mary Coustas ahead of one-woman comedy show

Argyro Vourdoumpa
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‘I want my people at the Sydney Opera House’: Mary Coustas ahead of one-woman comedy show

After two years of covid hiatus award winning comedian, actress, writer and creator of the iconic 90s character Effie, Mary Coustas, will for the first time in her career take the Opera House’s Playhouse in May to premiere her intimate one-woman-show, This Is Personal.

But what is personal in a world that experiences this level of speed and connection?

“Everything is personal,” Mary Coustas tells The Greek Herald, promising the audience a candid, unplugged performance that combines the colourful tapestry of her migrant upbringing in Melbourne’s suburbs and her recent experience of motherhood. 

“When I was growing up, I used to think that racism, is not personal. It happens to lots of people that look like me, but it didn’t stop it from happening to me. And it felt very personal at the time,” says Mary.

“And you try to be bigger than that although you continuously not fit in with what is considered the norm,” she says. “I didn’t see faces that looked like mine in the media or in the public sphere.”

Neither racism nor the fear of the unknown stopped the then young migrant from entering the entertainment industry with optimism and with the goal to show that being a strong female and comfortable in your own skin is not a hinderance but an advantage.

“You need to build strength from the inside out and my Greek grandmothers were my role models,” she says. “Being strong is not a threat but a box you have to tick before any other.”

It was Mary’s younger self who created the suit of armour we’ve come to know as “Effie” and have loved for over three decades. 

I ask her if it’s tempting to put her theatrical character aside to perform this new show but Mary says “Effie is never too far away.”

“I am at my most fearless when I’m performing her [Effie]. Literally nothing worries me. It’s like time stands still,” she says.

“I talk to the audience and it’s electrifying. I can walk into parliament house and get up as Effie and perform for whoever the leader is at the time and feel like I have every right to be there and that I’m representing working class ethnic women, or just people that are like me, the everyday person. Effie represents that,” she says.

“But I felt like it’s time to sort of go commando without the comfort and security of Effie. And to really strip myself back away from the bells and whistles.”

Laced with Mary Coustas’ comedic flair, This Is Personal, under the direction of Blazey Best, is a kaleidoscopic exploration of love, loss, laughter, fear and the characters that shaped the comedian’s life.

“This is Personal gives me the freedom to discuss the themes we all face in this life – race, gender, belonging, and freedom of expression. Now, I feel I am ready to tackle these issues of the human condition as Mary. To step away from the puppet and expose the puppeteer,” she says.

“It is a funny show because I have to bring comedy even to the most tragic of things. That’s just how my mind works.” 

Mary Coustas believes that sharing pain through laughter is “a much more intravenous way of dealing with life stuff.”

And I can’t disagree with her. 

“I think people walk away from all of my shows -whether it’s an Effie show or not- standing a little taller and feeling a bit better about themselves.”

“I want my people, my audience, to come to the Opera House. This show is not just for the white middle class,” she says.

“Whether they are from the suburbs, from different cultures, from different sexual inclinations I invite them to the Opera House, to look at that Harbour Bridge, marvel how beautiful this place is and to feel like they belong.”

*This Is Personal, will premiere in the Opera House’s Playhouse from 25 – 29 May 2022. The performance on 28 May at 7.30pm will be livestreamed to audiences around the world via the Opera House’s online streaming platform, Stream. 

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