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Kogarah Community Services hold special intergenerational event with Cathy Dimarchos

Andriana Simos
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Kogarah Community Services hold special intergenerational event with Cathy Dimarchos

Kogarah Community Services’ (KCS) postponed International Women’s Day (IWD) intergenerational event went ahead on Tuesday, March 22 at the KCS Hub.

The KCS intergenerational program has been running for over two years, bringing together children, students and residents from aged care homes to learn from each other and share stories.

READ MORE: ‘Bridging the gap’: Maria Anthony on the importance of intergenerational programs.

At this year’s IWD event, elderly residents from a Kogarah aged care home, The Laurels, were present, as well as Year 10 students from Moorefield Girls High School, the Mayor of Georges River Council, Nick Katris, and guest speaker, Cathy Dimarchos.

Three Year 10 students from Moorefield were emcees on the day, whilst Ms Dimarchos discussed the main theme: ‘Connection across Generations and Cultures to shape a better tomorrow.’

Ms Dimarchos spoke passionately about how people must learn from younger generations, and encouraged participants to stop and listen, work alongside and communicate with all generations.

After this, attendees were encouraged to take part in a group discussion, with many stressing how much they enjoyed the event as it gave them an opportunity to learn from one another.

One 90-year-old attendee, Joan, shared with the group how she struggled with limited career choices as a female in the 1940’s. Only families that could afford university continued their education.

One Year 10 student agreed with Joan and spoke about the pressure and expectations she feels from her family to continue her education as they don’t have the privilege or opportunity to do so.

At the end of the event, everyone left with a smile on their face.

KCS Intergenerational Program assistant, Maria Anthony, says she would like to see more of these programs out in the community as the benefits are for all, no matter the age.

“Let’s make a difference, let’s provide for a better future, let’s bridge the gap of generations,” she concluded.

Tinder Cindy brings yiayia’s dating wisdom to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival

The Greek Herald
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Tinder Cindy brings yiayia’s dating wisdom to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival

By Andriana Simos and Eleni Patsalides.

Jacinda Patty is ‘Tinder Cindy’ and she is hitting the stage at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Ahead of her show, Jacinda spoke with The Greek Herald about her new character and how her Greek heritage has influenced her work.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m a Sydney-based multi-talented artist who has travelled the globe, my passion for performance was ignited through dance at a very young age. With a repertoire that now includes actress, dancer, circus artist and personal trainer all rolled into one big bundle of energy. The creation of my company Pattycakes Productions has given me the platform to deliver a fusion of art forms on stage. Recent productions include ‘Boxed In Sideways’ and ‘Safety Banana’ achieving sell-out shows and 5-star reviews.

I am a second-generation Australian with Greek Maltese heritage and proud of it. Being asked, “Where are you from?” is a common occurrence in my life. I respond. “Sydney mate.” I’m usually met with a face of confusion to which I add, “My heritage is Greek Maltese.” My yiayia is from Crete and my pappou is from Kythera, simply an island paradise. I have always been interested in how my grandparents travelled by boat to Australia to create a life of opportunity. The idea of then and now came about whilst writing ‘Tinder Cindy,’ so I went back to the source to ask the step-by-step story of how yiayia met pappou and ended up in Australia. 

I travelled because I figured if my grandparents could get on boats to the other side of the world, I could get on a plane and go anywhere! And through these travels and listening to endless stories over tables of food my desire is to write and share the stories of before my time. I am thankful to still have both my grandmothers alive to continually be learning from them. 

Jacinda with her Yiayia Amalia
Jacinda with her Alma

2. This year you will be at the Melbourne International Comedy Fest. Is this your first time at the festival? How does it feel? 

This will be my second year at MICF, with a brand new show! It’s exciting, to say the least. As a performer, I am pushing personal boundaries with character and story techniques and a story that comes from the heart. 

3. You will be starring in Tinder Cindy. What is this comedy about?

Tinder Cindy is about exploring then vs now, old vs new. What was dating like in the 1940’s compared to the joys and frustrations of the online dating world now? Join Cindy as she navigates the online dating world, whilst living at her yiayia’s house. Can Yiayia’s lessons in love, help with Cindy’s quest for love?

4. Are you trying to break stereotypes around what a typical Greek yiayia should be with ‘Tinder Cindy’? How and in what way? 

Yes. My yiayia is not a typical Greek yiayia towards us. She goes to church and has spent her years in the Greek community, but I have not had a strict religious upbringing. We get all the culture, amazing food and LOUD conversations and laughs.

When we were younger, we used to fight yiayia with the koutala, she would chase us around the kitchen. Tinder Cindy looks at Yiayia and grandmothers as their own person with their own stories.

5. Do you have a message for your Greek Australian fans? 

To embrace their heritage and their grandparents through laughter. Tinder Cindy was created to shine a light on our grandmothers as women.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Palace of Magnificent Experiences, 267 Swan St Richmond
7pm on 7, 8, 9, 10, 21, 22, 23 & 24 April  

Tickets: $30.

Bookings:  https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2022/shows/tinder-cindy-1 

Young students from the GCM’s Greek Schools celebrate Independence Day

The Greek Herald
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Young students from the GCM’s Greek Schools celebrate Independence Day

Students of the Greek Community of Melbourne’s (GCM) Schools (Bentleigh campus), along with distinguished guests and members from the wider community, marked the 201st anniversary since the start of the Greek Revolution this week.

The GCM’s Greek Language and Culture Schools held the simple yet emotional ceremony at Bentleigh Secondary College.

Students attended the event, which included a wreath laying ceremony, speeches to pay their respects to the fallen heroes of Greece and others who fight for their freedom.

Harry Shardey, a Year 12 student of Bentleigh Secondary College, said: “I have a great sense of pride for my heritage. The portion of my family that immigrated are a true example of what it means to be a migrant, their success in their fields and personal characteristics symbolise what it means to be an Australian and is a testament to their ability to adopt a new way of life.”

“I asked Papou Papadopoulos what the 25th of March meant to him, and his response was, ‘the 25th of March signifies freedom. Freedom for all’,” Harry added.

Speeches were heard from distinguished guests, Dimitris Linardos on behalf of Emmanouil Kakavelakis Greek Consulate who could not attend the event as he is self-isolating due to COVID-19; Dr Georgia Nikolaidou, Deputy Councillor for Educational Affairs; Andrew Clarke, Bentleigh School Council President; and Dr Nick Dallas Chair of GCM’s Education Committee.

There were also performances by the students in Greek, planting of olive trees to symbolise glory and peace, the placing of white flowers to make a peace sign, and the shadow theatre Karagiosis that delighted the children in attendance.

GCM President, Bill Papastergiadis OAM, concluded the proceedings and stressed the respect between Greece and Australia and the interconnectedness of our world.

“Being part of a multicultural country means we all have a strong connection to other nations by respecting their history and culture. 100 Greek Australians fought in World War I, 2500 Greek Australians fought in World War II and 17,000 Australians went to Greece to support an ally in War World II. A deep connection that is represented here today,” Mr Papastergiadis concluded.

Olivia Savvas set to become youngest member of South Australia’s Parliament

The Greek Herald
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Olivia Savvas set to become youngest member of South Australia’s Parliament

25-year-old, Olivia Savvas, is poised to become the youngest person in South Australia’s Parliament, according to an article in The Advertiser.

This comes after the Labor candidate won in the key marginal seat of Newland, despite being pre-selected only weeks before last weekend’s election.

The first-term councillor tells the newspaper that she is determined to be an advocate for women and young people, despite not having “20 plus years of corporate experience.”

“…but I do have 20 plus years of fight,” she said. “And what you need in a Member of Parliament is a fighter and I’ve got that in droves.”

FULL STORY: The Advertiser.

Maria Sakkari rises to World Number 3 in tennis rankings for the first time

The Greek Herald
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Maria Sakkari rises to World Number 3 in tennis rankings for the first time

Greek tennis superstar, Maria Sakkari, hit a new career high on Tuesday after she made her top three debut in the world tennis rankings.

As a runner-up in her Indian Wells finals match against Iga Swiatek, Sakkari collected 650 ranking points and rose to the ranking of World No.3 (from No.6).

This is the highest ranking ever achieved by a female Greek tennis player.

The result has seen a shake up of the latest WTA Rankings with Barbora Krejcikova and Aryna Sabalenka moving down to 4th and 5th place respectively.

Paula Badosa rose one spot to 5th, while Anett Kontaveit is down two to 7th.

Following her match against Sakkari, Swiatek climbed to World No.2, becoming the youngest woman to make her Top 2 debut since Caroline Wozniacki on March 22, 2010. 

Australian tennis star, Ashleigh Barty, is still the World No.1.

Source: WTA Tennis.

Greek Foreign Minister to lead humanitarian aid mission to Mariupol

The Greek Herald
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Greek Foreign Minister to lead humanitarian aid mission to Mariupol

Greek Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias, said on Tuesday that he intends to lead a humanitarian mission into the besieged city of Mariupol in Ukraine where thousands of ethnic Greeks live.

Dendias said that Greece’s priority was to protect unarmed civilians and ethnic Greeks living in Mariupol, adding that he has already notified Ukrainian and Russian authorities over the humanitarian mission.

“I plan to escort this assistance myself, in coordination with the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Peter Maurer, with whom we are already in contact,” Dendias said.

READ MORE: Russian attack destroys maternity hospital in Mariupol as Greece ramps up evacuations.

“Greece will continue to be present in the region, where the Greeks settles centuries ago for centuries.”

Ukraine appealed to Russia on Tuesday to allow humanitarian supplies into Mariupol and to let civilians out of the city, which has been devastated by Russian bombardments.

Ukraine also defied an ultimatum for the city to surrender by dawn on Monday as a condition for Russian forces to let civilians leave safely.

READ MORE: Russian shelling damages Consulate of Greece in Ukrainian city of Mariupol.

Dendias’ announcement came after a meeting with the Greek Consul General in Mariupol, Manolis Androulakis.

Dendias’ announcement came after he was briefed by the Greek Consul General in Mariupol, Manolis Androulakis, about the desperate plight of the tens of thousands of ethnic Greeks in the besieged port city.

Androulakis, who was the last remaining Western diplomat left in the city of Mariupol, arrived in Greece from Bucharest on Sunday evening.

READ MORE: Greek Consul in Mariupol returns to Greece after successful evacuation from Ukraine.

At least 10 ethnic Greeks have been killed and several have been wounded since Russia started attacking Mariupol. According to the Greek government, more than 150 Greek citizens, vessel crews and ethnic Greeks have also been evacuated from the region.

Source: Reuters.

Bulgarian capital pursuing nuclear power deal with Athens

Eleni Patsalides
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Bulgarian capital pursuing nuclear power deal with Athens

In an interview with Ekathimerini, Bulgarian Prime Minister, Kiril Petkov, revealed that the capital of the nation, Sofia, is considering potential suppliers to make a proposal ‘within 12 months’ to supply Greece with energy from an emerging local power plant. 

Mr Petkov told the outlet that the aim of this proposal is to strengthen the interconnection of energy between the two countries using the IGB pipeline (a trans-boundary pipeline project involving the construction of a natural gas pipeline between Greece and Bulgaria), and natural gas reserves in the north of Greece. 

“These are two options we are interested in moving on as fast as possible, so that we have alternatives,” Mr Petkov said. 

The Prime Minister also condemned the actions of Russian President, Vladimir Putin, calling out his “unreasonable actions” and affirming the death of hundreds of innocent civilians that he said are being killed “on the altar of the imperial desires of an authoritarian leader.”

While he acknowledges that Bulgaria has close ties to the people and the culture in Russia, he separates himself and his people from the current actions being conducted by the Russian government. 

The Prime Minister stands firm in his beliefs and recently rejected Moscow’s call for NATO to withdraw from Bulgaria and Romania, he said he will not be dictated to by anyone and that as an independent state, they will make their own decisions.

NATO Headquarters

Mr Petkov went on to explain why Sofia wants to be excluded from the European Union’s decision for an embargo to be placed on Russian gas imports stating that they are dependent on that energy. 

“Many European countries are taking tough measures against Russia, and even countries like Germany or Austria cannot completely rule out Russian gas, on which they are highly dependent.”

“We are more than 80% dependent on Russian energy. In essence, we would be shutting down our economy,” he said.

Source: Ekathimerini

Yiayia’s Bakery brings the taste of Greece to Canberra for all to enjoy

Andriana Simos
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Yiayia’s Bakery brings the taste of Greece to Canberra for all to enjoy

Picture this: A shop filled with Greek sweets such as bougatsa, baklava and galaktoboureko, as well as savoury food like moussaka, pastitsio and spanakopites.

If this hasn’t already caused your mouth to water then you haven’t yet stepped into Canberra’s new kid on the block and first-ever Greek bakery – Yiayia’s Bakery.

This new bakery in the Canberra suburb of Gungahlin is the brainchild of Greek father-and-son team, John and Theoklitos Anousas, and was made possible with the help of former Supabarn owner, Eric Koundouris.

Theoklitos Anousas from Yiayia’s Bakery.

Speaking to The Greek Herald, Theoklitos says opening the bakery was an easy decision as hospitality and cooking runs in the family.

“My father and my mother had a bakery for 28 years in Greece. They came to Australia in 2014 and my father started working for another bakery,” Theoklitos says.

“After four years, my father started John’s Family Kitchen. He used to supply Supabarn’s and IGA’s in Canberra and Sydney. Later, Eric gave us the opportunity to open a new shop and here we are.”

The rest, as they say, is history.

Theoklitos migrated to Australia with his wife in 2019 to join his father at Yiayia’s Bakery. Now, he spends most of his day baking traditional Greek sweets and cooking savoury food using his yiayia’s recipes.

 “My yiayia came to Australia in 1959 and stayed for ten years. She returned five months ago for my wedding and to give us her recipes,” Theoklitos says, while stressing that’s where the bakery gets its name from.

“With my yiayia’s recipes we make everything with love.”

Theoklitos says he hopes to pass this love onto everyone who visits the bakery to try the food, whether that is Greek people or people from other local ethnic communities.

“We try to include food in our menu which is catered for other ethnicities as well, such as halal – no alcohol and pork,” Theoklitos says.

“Whatever you can find in a store in Greece, you can find in our store. We want everyone to be able to enjoy the tastes of Greece.

“We are bringing Greece to Canberra.”

European Union divided on Russian oil sanctions

Eleni Patsalides
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European Union divided on Russian oil sanctions

Foreign ministers in the European Union disagreed on Monday on how to or whether to impose sanctions on Russia’s energy sector based on its recent invasion of Ukraine, with Germany stating that the nation depended too much on Russian oil to decide on this embargo. 

Many nations worldwide including in the EU and its allies have already imposed several sanctions and restrictions against Russia, including the freezing of its bank’s assets. 

The recent siege of the Mariupol port by the Russian government is the latest event to motivate action by the union with the EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrel calling these actions “a massive war crime.”

EU Foreign Policy Chief, Josep Borrel

The United States and Britain have already targeted Russian oil with sanctions, although this decision for the EU is a far more divisive topic. the 27 nations included in the Union relies on Russia for 40% of its gas causing some to argue on Monday that they could not afford to impose these sanctions while others argued they may not be able to avoid this step. 

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said before this meeting “looking at the extent of the destruction in Ukraine right now, it’s very hard to make the case that we shouldn’t be moving in on the energy sector, particularly oil and coal.”

Germany and the Netherlands responded to this though acknowledging that the EU was dependent on Russian oil and gas and would not be able to make a snap call on how to proceed without causing damage to their own economies. 

Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock attend a EU Foreign Ministers meeting.   © Reuters

“The question of an oil embargo is not a question of whether we want or don’t want it but a question of how much we depend on oil,” said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. 

She went on to explain the complexities of the dependence on Russian oil by saying “Germany is importing a lot (of Russian oil) but there are also other member states who can’t stop the oil imports from one day to the other. If we could, we would do it automatically,”

There is a European split as to how to proceed in response to the recent invasion of Ukraine, although there is also the threat of higher increases on oil and energy on top of already increasing prices. 

Twitter post by Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis

Some sanctions would prove disastrous for smaller countries with a larger dependency on the oil giant, with Moscow already warning that such sanctions could prompt it to close a gas pipeline to Europe. Something that many nations wish to avoid. 

No decision on potential energy sanctions will occur at this point of the meetings as there are more conversations to be expected during the next week or so, with U.S. President Joe Biden arriving in Brussels on Wednesday for more talks with other EU nations and NATO’s 30 members on how to proceed with a tougher response from the West towards Moscow.

The Kremlin has not been deterred so far by these EU sanctions, which include 685 Russians and Belarusians and on Russian finance and trade. With a fifth round of sanctions to include more names on the EU blacklist, it is expected that nations will unite to strengthen the response to the war on Ukraine. 

Source: Ekathimerini, Reuters

Australian National Maritime Museum unveils 1,281 new names on Monument to Migration

Andriana Simos
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Australian National Maritime Museum unveils 1,281 new names on Monument to Migration

The Australian National Maritime Museum unveiled a further 1,281 names on the National Monument to Migration during three heart-warming ceremonies on Sunday, March 20.

The National Monument, which is a bronze-panelled wall that faces Sydney’s Darling Harbour and Pyrmont Bay, honours the thousands of migrants who have made Australia home.

This year, names from Afghanistan, Gabon, Sierra Leone and Somalia were inscribed on the wall, including an additional 91 from Greece.

This was all announced at one of the unveiling ceremonies attended by The Greek Herald.

All photos copyright: The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
SBS Presenter, Virginia Langeberg.
Craig Madden
Chantal Sneddon.

The event began with emcee and SBS Presenter, Virginia Langeberg, welcoming Craig Madden to the stage for the traditional Welcome to Country. Chantal Sneddon sang the Australian National Anthem.

Later, five keynote speakers addressed the audience and shared their personal stories and connection to the theme of migration.

They were: the President of the Kytherian Association of Australia (KAA), Emmanuel Alfieris; Museum Representative, Stephen Coutts; Multicultural Australia CEO, Christine Castley; National Monument to Migration donor, Madilina Tresca; and the first Afghan migrant to feature on the Monument, Mahboba Rawi OAM.

President of the Kytherian Association of Australia, Emmanuel Alfieris.
Madilina Tresca.
Multicultural Australia CEO, Christine Castley.
Mahboba Rawi OAM.

During his speech, Mr Alfieris shared the ‘boomeranging’ migration story of his father, George, who’s name is inscribed on the Monument and was seen getting emotional during the event. Mr Alfieris also encouraged others to think about inscribing their own parents or grandparents’ name on the wall.

READ MORE: Kytherian George Alfieris: ‘Boomeranging’ between Greece and Australia for over a century.

“I think we need to reflect on the sacrifices that all those 30,000 names on that wall made to get us here. To come to a country where there’s peace and prosperity, and that has let us stand on their shoulders,” he said.

“So I encourage all of you who don’t have your family names yet on the wall, please make the effort. Mark them for prosperity.”

The Consul General of Sydney was present at the event.
Emmanuel Alfieris’ dad became emotional.

The KAA President then went on to conclude his speech by announcing that there will be “a special monument” for Kytherian migrants on the wall.

Following the conclusion of these speeches, which were enjoyed by all in attendance including the Greek Consul General in Sydney Christos Karras, attendees walked together to the Monument for the customary press photos.

Afterwards, another two unveiling ceremonies were held including one featuring the CEO of Settlement Services International, Violet Roumeliotis, and Effie Alexakis on behalf of Father Nektarios, who’s name was one of those added to the Monument.

Note: The Museum has worked closely with the Greek community on a special fundraiser to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Greek War of Independence and to honour the contribution of Greek Australians in building our nation. You can find out more about it here.

Violet Roumeliotis.
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