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NSW Local Elections 2021: Here are the people of Greek heritage elected to your Council

Andriana Simos
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NSW Local Elections 2021: Here are the people of Greek heritage elected to your Council

Votes have been counted after the New South Wales local government elections on December 4, 2021 and The Greek Herald has compiled this list of all the councillors of Greek heritage who have been elected in your area.

READ MORE: Here are the candidates of Greek heritage running in the NSW Local Government elections.

Bayside Council:

– Andrew Tsounis, Ward 3, Independent, Councillor

Andrew Tsounis.

Andrew Tsounis is a first-generation Greek Australian running as an independent candidate for his community, which he has been a resident of for almost 20 years. He is passionate about protecting green spaces and taking a stance against overdevelopment. 

Bogan Council:

– Anthony John Elias (Tony Elias), Councillor

Brewarrina Council:

– Angelo George Pippos (Angelo Pippos), Councillor

Angelo Pippos.

Angelo George Pippos was elected to Brewarrina Council in 2008. He has been on various committees including the Aged Care Committee, Big Sky Library, and the Tourism and Cultural Committee.

Canada Bay Council:

– Angelo Tsirekas, Canada Bay Ward, Our Local Community, Mayor

Angelo Tsirekas.

Angelo Tsirekas started his service as a local councillor with Canada Bay Council in 1995, served as deputy mayor for three terms and was elected Mayor of the City of Canada Bay in 2002 and again as popularly elected Mayor in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2017. 

He has served as President and Vice-President of the Inner Metropolitan Regional Organisation Council, Director of the Inner Sydney Waste Board and the NSW Architects Registration Board. 

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

Cumberland City Council:

– Stavros Christou (Steve Christou), Granville Ward, Our Local Community, Councillor

Steve Christou.

Steve Christou is an elected Councillor and Mayor of Cumberland City Council. He was elected on September 9, 2017 representing the Granville Ward after receiving a high Primary Vote of 43.5%.

Cr Christou has made numerous major achievements including the completion of the Granville Centre, Eric Tweedale Stadium, restoring Granville Town Hall and revamping Wentworthville Swimming Centre, in addition to countless community-focused programs and steadfast advocacy for the people of Cumberland amidst the COVID-19 lockdowns.

READ MORE: Cumberland Mayor Steve Christou joins NSW Premier and Health Minister at opening of new vax clinic.

Georges River Council:

– Nickitas Katris (Nick Katris), Kogarah Bay Ward, Labor, Councillor

– Sam Stratikopoulos, Kogarah Bay Ward, Liberal, Councillor

– Nicholas Smerdely, Mortdale Ward, Liberal, Councillor

– Christina Petrakis Jamieson (Christina Jamieson), Mortdale Ward, Georges River Residents and Ratepayers Party, Councillor

Inner West Council:

– John Stamolis, Balmain – Baludarri (Leather Jacket) Ward, Independent, Councillor

John Stamolis.

John Stamolis was born in Adelaide and move to Balmain in 1986. He studied maths and statistics at the University of Adelaide and has obtained qualifications in management and finance in Sydney.

He is a professional statistician. He worked for the Australian Bureau of Statistics for 20 years. He has also served on the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC).

– Zoi Tsardoulias, Marrickville – Midjuburi (Lillypilly) Ward, Labor, Councillor

Labor’s Zoi Tsardoulias (left), Mat Howard, and federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese outside the Marrickville Town Hall polling station on December 4.

Mid-Western Council:

– Alex Karavas, Mid-Western Ward, Independent, Councillor

Randwick City Council:

– Alexandra Luxford, West Ward, Labor, Councillor

Alexandra Luxford.

Alexandra Luxford was first elected to Randwick City Council in 2017 and has resided in the area for 50 years. Her key objectives as Councillor have been to be a strong voice for the community, to stop overdevelopment, to protect Randwick’s green spaces and to promote cultural diversity.

Cr Luxford has been a Delegate on the Australia Day Committee, the Community Affairs Committee, the Sport Committee and the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils Committee. She has also been Chairperson of the Multicultural Advisory Committee.

READ MORE: ‘I will always support the Greek community’: Randwick City Councillor, Alexandra Luxford.

Sutherland Council:

– Theoharis Strangas (Haris Strangas), C Ward, Liberal, Councillor

READ MORE: Haris Strangas: The young Australian of Greek heritage running in the NSW local elections.

Haris Strangas.

Willoughby Council:

– Angelo Arthur Rozos (Angelo Rozos), Middle Harbour Ward, Independent, Councillor

Angelo Rozos.

Angelo Rozos has been a Willoughby City Councillor for almost nine years. He grew up in Willoughby and raises his young family in the area with his wife Megan.

In his role as Middle Harbour Ward Councillor, Rozos has championed upgrades at Willoughby Park and surrounding ovals. He has a passion for developing open space, playgrounds and parks and is a supporter of small businesses and local sporting groups.

Waverley Council:

– Paula Lexine Masselos (Paula Masselos), Lawson Ward, Labor, Councillor

Paula Masselos.

Paula Masselos was the first woman of Greek heritage to be elected Mayor of Waverley in September 2019. She is a highly experienced and award-winning strategist and communicator with a career spanning almost 35 years. She has held a number of senior positions including Director SBS Radio. She was also the Director of Education in the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.

Paula was also Chair of Sydney’s Carnivale Multicultural Arts Festival and served for six years as a Community Relations Commissioner in NSW. She was on the National Women’s Advisory Council and shaped multicultural TV broadcasting as a member of the Ethnic Television Review Panel. 

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

*NOTE: the above candidates were identified by surname. If you believe you should be on this list, please email us at info@foreignlanguage.com.au.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke sends message of hope for the festive season

The Greek Herald
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Immigration Minister Alex Hawke sends message of hope for the festive season

Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, the Honourable Alex Hawke MP, has issued a special Christmas message this festive season.

Full Message in English:

Merry Christmas to all Australians and so many around the world as you gather together to celebrate the birth of Christ and the festive season.

Christmas represents both a time of happiness and thankfulness for the good in our lives, and of reflection and renewed hope as we move forward into a new year.

In the best Australian tradition, our diverse communities have faced the challenges of this year together, unified by our shared values including mutual respect, compassion, generosity, and acceptance – embodying the Christmas message of togetherness and love, which is more important than ever as we continue to reopen.

As we come out of this period of isolation, I look forward to seeing the joy that arises as families and communities reunite. This Christmas season will no doubt be a particularly cherished time for those who can celebrate with loved ones once again.

I would like to thank all Australians for your courage and resilience throughout this year, and I commend the work of community organisations who supported our recovery and our most vulnerable Australians. As many of us gather together and reflect on the significance of the occasion, I hope you can take the time to reconnect with family and friends and enjoy the festive season.

I wish you all a safe and joyous Christmas and a happy New Year. 

Scott Morrison’s End of Year message: ‘Multicultural communities played vital role’

The Greek Herald
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Scott Morrison’s End of Year message: ‘Multicultural communities played vital role’

Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, has issued his End of Year message for 2021, where he praises the ‘vital role’ of multicultural communities in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

Full Message in English:

2021 has been an extraordinary year.

Australians have been challenged in many ways, but we’ve also risen to those challenges.

We are a strong and resilient people, and if you ask Australians to stand up, take action and play their part, they will – and they have.

I thank all Australians for doing their bit – the nurses, doctors, mental health professionals, retail staff, cleaners, truck drivers, farmers, teachers and public servants.

What we have achieved together – saving more than 30,000 lives, supporting over 3 million Australians through JobKeeper, and getting 1 million Australians back into work – it’s something every Australian can be proud to share.

Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, has issued his End of Year message for 2021.

To date over 20 million Australians have had a vaccination, and over 18 million have had two.

I want to thank our multicultural communities for rolling up their sleeves to get the jab because, under the National Plan, that means we can open safely and we can remain safely open as we go into 2022. It means those jobs come back, the businesses come back and the livelihoods come back.

Our multicultural communities have played a vital role in our national success.

I know it’s been difficult for so many to be separated from family and friends, and not be able to celebrate traditions and religious ceremonies as you normally would.

But you’ve stayed the course.

You’ve done whatever it takes to keep each other safe.

You’ve kept going, stayed strong and helped keep our nation together.

That’s why Australia is the most successful multicultural nation in the world.

A place where we all buy in and draw strength from our shared values – such as mutual respect and individual responsibility.

Your efforts have helped the country that we all love and care about respond so magnificently to this pandemic.

I can’t thank you enough.

This is why our country can open safely and stay safely open.

As we reclaim our lives and reunite with each other again, we can put 2021 in the rear-vision mirror and move forward to 2022 with confidence.

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas, a bright and happy summer, and a hopeful new year.

Dad of murdered Melbourne woman, Courtney Herron, to run for Parliament

The Greek Herald
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Dad of murdered Melbourne woman, Courtney Herron, to run for Parliament

The father of Courtney (Konstandina) Herron says his daughter’s death has prompted him to stand for Federal Parliament to reform laws on her behalf.

The Liberal Democrats were expected to announce John Herron as their candidate for the Victorian federal seat of McEwen on Wednesday, The Herald Sun reports.

READ MORE: Courtney Herron’s father demands justice for her brutal murder.

John Herron wants justice. Photo: A Current Affair.

“I’m nervous and scared about running in this election, but this is nothing compared to the terror Courtney would have felt in her last moments, or that of other women in those circumstances,” Mr Herron told the newspaper.

“In her name, I’m running for office.”

Courtney was beaten to death with a tree branch in a Melbourne park on May 25, 2019. Her attacker, Henry Hammond, was found not guilty of Courtney’s murder in August 2020 due to mental impairment.

READ MORE: Henry Hammond found not guilty of Courtney Herron’s murder due to schizophrenia.

Courtney Herron’s attacker, Henry Hammond.

Mr Herron and Maxie Antoniou, Courtney’s mother, said the verdict was like a punch in the guts and both continue to fight for justice for their daughter.

If elected to Parliament, Mr Herron said he would help change the criminal justice system and added it was time for men to stand up against violence against women.

READ MORE: Maxie Antoniou calls for coronial inquest into daughter Courtney Herron’s bashing death.

Source: The Herald Sun.

New Director of Acropolis Museum, Professor Nikolaos Stampolidis, becomes a LEGO figure

Andriana Simos
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New Director of Acropolis Museum, Professor Nikolaos Stampolidis, becomes a LEGO figure

Professor Nikolaos Stampolidis, the new Director General of the Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece, has been immortalised in LEGO by Australian “Lego Classicist,” Pop-Artist and Historical Archivist, Liam D. Jensen.

Professor Stampolidis was elected through a seven-member committee constructed by the Chairman of the Museum and the Committee, Professor Dimitris Pantermalis, who is also a member of the Lego Classicist Family (LC Family).

Before this taking up this position, Professor Stampolidis has been the Director of the Museum of Cycladic Art since 1996, served as President at the Department of History and Archaeology of the University of Crete and is an alumni of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the University of Bonn.y

Australian “Lego Classicist,” Pop-Artist and Historical Archivist, Liam D. Jensen.

Professor Stampolidis was personally requested to be inducted into the LC Family by Constantinos Vasiliadis, who is Senior Conservator of Antiquities at the Acropolis Museum and the Lego Classicists Ambassador to the Ancient Greek World.

His Lego portrait has a smiling face as opposed to the more “serious” face the Professor is known for, to represent the pure academic joy on his face when he is teaching his students.

Constantinos Vasiliadis with his Lego self at the Acropolis Museum. Photo supplied.

“It is so exciting to see such a fitting person being elected to be the Acropolis Museum’s first Director and I personally am very excited to see what amazing realities will be achieved there over the coming years,” Mr Jensen said.

“So, to Professor Nikolaos Stampolidis, welcome to the LC Family!”

The LC Family also includes specially custom-designed LEGO figures of Theodoros Kolokotronis (General of the Greek War of Independence), Alexandros Mavrokordatos (one of the first political leaders of independent Greece) and Lord Byron (a Philhellene), to mark the bicentenary of the Greek Revolution this year.

READ MORE: Greek Revolution heroes turned into LEGO figures to celebrate Greek National Day.

Altar site for Greek goddess Demeter unearthed in western Turkey

The Greek Herald
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Altar site for Greek goddess Demeter unearthed in western Turkey

Archeologists in western Turkey have discovered an altar site for the Greek goddess Demeter during excavations of the ancient Roman city of Blaundus, Daily Sabah reports.

Blaundus, also known as Blaundos, was first built by Macedonians that came to Anatolia, present-day Turkey, following the military campaign of Alexander the Great. The ruins of the ancient city were later occupied by the Romans.

Birol Can, an archeology professor at Usak University, told Anadolu Agency that the altar site was discovered in the courtyard of the temple of the goddess Demeter.

An aerial view of the altar site, Blaundus, Uşak, western Turkey, Dec. 21, 2021. Photo: AA.

“It has at least two steps, measuring approximately 5 meters by 4 meters,” Professor Can said, while adding that “…the altar is a structure from the same period, the same age as the temple,”

The team also discovered cisterns dating back to the Byzantine period during their excavations.

Archaeologists plan to continue their excavation work at the Temple of Demeter next year and complete the restoration work.

Source: Daily Sabah.

Three dead, dozens missing as refugee boat sinks off Greek coast

The Greek Herald
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Three dead, dozens missing as refugee boat sinks off Greek coast

Greek authorities have ramped up a sea-and-air search and rescue operation in the Aegean Sea after a migrant smuggling vessel sank, leaving at least three people dead and dozens reported missing.

The coast guard on Wednesday said 12 people, all believed to be from Iraq, were rescued from an inflatable dinghy off the island of Folegandros in the southern Cyclades, 180km southeast of Athens.

The bodies of three unidentified men were recovered from the sea.

The survivors said they had been on a larger boat that took on water and sank overnight. Most said there were originally 32 people on the boat, but one told authorities there were about 50.

Three dead, dozens missing as refugee boat sinks off Greek coast.

The coast guard said a navy frigate joined four coast guard vessels, eight merchant ships, three smaller private vessels, three military helicopters and a military transport plane taking part in the search and rescue operation as night approached.

“The survivors made it onto a dinghy that was tethered to the (bigger) vessel. Only two of them were wearing life jackets,” Coast Guard spokesman, Nikos Kokkalas, told state-run ERT television.

“We always presume the worst-case scenario, in this case that 50 people were on the boat.”

The coast guard said the operation began on Tuesday night after it received information that a vessel carrying migrants had suffered engine failure and later began taking on water south of Folegandros.

Source: Ekathimerini.

Greek Australians living in Athens reminisce Christmas in Melbourne

The Greek Herald
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Greek Australians living in Athens reminisce Christmas in Melbourne

By Ilias Karagiannis

A word, a picture, a voice from the past can lift waves of memories like a loud gust of air. Memories of the past overwhelm your existence, especially when Christmas approaches.

Traditionally, they are periods of reviews and new goals that keep you afloat like a plank keeps afloat the castaway. Joy and sadness dance passionately within you, especially if you are far from the place where you grew up.

Your roots, which even in difficult times are the ones that keep you strong in the face of life’s difficulties.

This strange Christmas of 2021, where the pandemic remains an invisible threat and continues to undermine our joy, The Greek Herald wanted to talk with two Greek Australians, who live permanently in Athens and to reminisce with them the Christmas of their childhood.

Author Arthur Antonopoulos and Vice President of the Australian Parthenon Committee, Elly Symons. Both grew up in Melbourne and now live in Athens.

They will spend the festive days of 2021 in Greece.

Their memories of those days will be familiar to most of our readers as well. A piece of pure joy…

Arthur Antonopoulos:

“What we ask for at Christmas is to return to our childhood”

Games, walks on the beach, cricket, songs, childhood years in Clayton. These were the ingredients of happiness for author, Arthur Antonopoulos, who recently made his literary debut with the book “Dark Athens”.

Arthur spoke to The Greek Herald about the Christmas season and his childhood memories of Melbourne.

“Christmas in Melbourne has always meant three things to me. Walks on the beach of St Kilda, a nice gift from our parents (we shared it with my brother) and cricket on the streets of our neighborhood.

“The beaches in Melbourne do not compare with those in Greece. The sea was clean but there was no ‘beach culture’, ie sunbeds everywhere, beach bars with music and panic from people.

“One of the most favourite gifts I remember receiving, was a black tape recorder with 2 slots. To us it meant only one thing. We could copy music and make mix-tapes!

“The team cricket games on the streets of my neighbourhood, Clayton, are also one of the coolest memories I have from my childhood. We were gathering together and we were almost all children of immigrants. My best friend was from Sri Lanka, others from Vietnam, Italy, Poland, Mauritania, etc. We were united by the game and Dean Jones”, says Arthur Antonopoulos.

From the Christmas heatwave in Melbourne, the Greek-Australian has arrived in the mother land, where the cold, as he says, is … “bitter”.

“No matter how many years pass, the snow and the cold weather during Christmas is something that I can not easily accept. I have associated this day with heat and picnics on the beach or the countryside. Oh, and definitely ice cream!

“In Gortynia, where dad comes from, I first heard the word “tsouhteros – potty”. It was so cold on my first Christmas in Greece. But I don’t mind it anymore because I have found the solution and I return to Melbourne at Christmas to celebrate it under the right circumstances”, he tells us laughing.

Today, if he could have the choice of where he would prefer to spend his Christmas where would it be?

“Without a doubt, Christmas in Melbourne is my best. This of course does not mean that Christmas in Athens is not equally beautiful-especially in the centre!

“To me Christmas means family and coziness. Anywhere on earth I can combine these two, I will gladly go…

“As long as I have a radio together to listen to cricket matches! I would like on this occasion to wish Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to everyone in Greece and the Greek Australian community”.

Elly Symons:

“The real meaning of Christmas is to be with your loved ones”

One of the most well-known personalities of the Greek community in Australia is Elly Symons. For the last two years she lives in Athens, the “neighborhood of the Gods”, Plaka and last year she spent her first Christmas in the Greek capital.

What did she think?

“I’ve lived in Melbourne all my life. My second Christmas away from Melbourne was that of 2020 in Athens. In lockdown, so it was pretty tough.

“What struck me was the passion of the Greeks for ornaments.

“So I found that for Greeks, Christmas is a very happy period. It’s a family celebration and it’s all about giving. To share love and celebrate with your loved ones” she tells The Greek Herald, in a small cafe in Plaka where we met in order for Elly to begin to unravel the Christmas tangle of memories.

Elly Symons talks about the impression made on many Greeks by the fact that Christmas in Australia is a: “summer holiday. So one thing my Greek friends were asking me last year was, ‘Do you have a good Christmas on the beach?’

“They couldn’t grasp that in Australia Christmas is in summer,” she said and started unfolding her childhood memories.

“On Christmas Eve we used to catch up with our friends and neighbours. The older ones would have alcohol while the little ones were eager for the next day to dawn to discover their gifts under the Christmas tree.

“On Christmas Day, some families went to church and I remember at noon big gatherings in family homes. 20 to 30 people gathered and there was a lot of Greek food.

“I remember my grandmother’s ‘pastitsio’, my mom would make oven baked eggplants. On the table there was necessarily tzatziki. Of course, we always had turkey while I remember my dad roasting crayfish and prawns. It was a multicultural table,” says Ellie and laughs at the childhood memories that overwhelm her again in our conversation.

But where would she want to be if she had the choice?

“The real meaning of Christmas is to be with the people you love. But if you can’t for some reason be with your own people on Christmas Day, then the best thing to do is help someone in need.

“What we celebrate at Christmas is the joy of giving and the appreciation of what we have. We must understand that Christmas is not for everyone a joyful holiday. There is loneliness in the world and suffering, and so we could try to offer a helping hand to some people.

This year Ellie will spend Christmas for the second year in a row in Athens.

“I don’t miss Melbourne per se. I don’t care what country I spend Christmas in. What I miss is my kids and my family. My loved ones,” she said.

The Greeks in Queensland: Denis Conomos’ book has stood the test of time

The Greek Herald
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The Greeks in Queensland: Denis Conomos’ book has stood the test of time

Denis A. Conomos, a member of the Kytherian Association of Australia (KAA) and of Kytherian descent, is the author of the book ‘The Greeks in Queensland, A History from 1859-1945’.

The KAA, through the generosity of the Aroney Trustees, provided funding to help with the research and publication of the book. The book was first published in 2002.

The book is based on interviews conducted by Denis with approximately 200 Greek migrants who migrated to Australia prior to the Second World War.

The people interviewed came from all parts of Greece but the largest group was Kytherian. Descendants of those interviewed now live in all parts of Australia and overseas.

Denis Conomos. Photo: ABC Southern Qld / Peter Gunders.

The book is the culmination of over twenty years of research and it is a detailed history of the
Greeks in Queensland from the beginning of Statehood in 1859 to the end of the Second World War. Denis also covers some migration to NSW.

‘The Greeks in Queensland’ deals with the life in Greece, departure, voyage, arrival and experiences in Australia of the Greek migrants, the initial settlers being Kytherians – Harry Menegas and Arthur
and John Comino, who settled in Sydney.

The Comino brothers established a successful café business. When news of their success reached Kythera, many young Kytherian men decided to migrate to Sydney. Among them were the Freeleagus brothers, who were to repeat the Comino success story in Brisbane.

Denis’ book.

Denis feels that these stories of the early Greek pioneers should be told.

Although the KAA has sold out of this book, it is available for purchase through its publishing house
CopyRight Publishing and it retails for $49.50, plus postage.

If you would like to purchase this wonderful book, please contact CopyRight Publishing in Brisbane,
through the following means:

• https://www.copyright.net.au/1/
home/the-greeks-in-queensland-ahistory-from-1895-1945
• info@copyright.net.au
• John McRobert on 0402 858 818

*This article was initially published in the November-December 2021 newsletter of the Kytherian Association of Australia.

Bill Papastergiadis attends launch of the Australian Assyrian Chaldean Advocacy Network

The Greek Herald
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Bill Papastergiadis attends launch of the Australian Assyrian Chaldean Advocacy Network

As a Commissioner of the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC), Bill Papastergiadis recently addressed a new entrant into the state’s cosmopolitan fabric – the Australian Assyrian Advocacy Network (AACSAN).

The aim of the AACSAN is to become a leading forum for sharing information, enhancing partnerships and working with Government to deliver services to Assyrian, Chaldean and Syrian communities.

Mr Papastergiadis was greeted warmly by AACSAN’s President, Mr Youhana, on arrival at the event in Coolaroo.

A number of significant political and community leaders had also made their attendance at the event including Ms Vamvanikou MP, Mr Giles MP, Mr McGuire MP along with Councillor Haweil.

Ms Vamvakinou MP also spoke at the event. Photo: Facebook.

In his speech, Mr Youhana emphasised how AACSAN was developed to make sure that these communities engaged meaningfully with the society they lived in. 

Most of the overseas born community had come to Australia as refugees but within a short period of time from its inception, AACSAN had received Victorian Government grants to support its vulnerable members during the Covid crisis.

Mr Papastergiadis had been asked to speak as the VMC representative but from the angle of how the Greek Community in Melbourne operated from a cultural and advocacy perspective.

Bill Papastergiadis. Photo: Facebook.

Mr Papastergiadis commenced his speech by noting the importance of the VMC as an advocate to Government but which relied on grassroots organisations like AACSAN which truly understand the needs of their community members and which voices need to be communicated to Government. 

It is this wealth of knowledge that comes from AACSAN and other similar organisations which allows the VMC to play its advocacy role, Mr Papastergiadis stressed.

In regards to the broader Greek Community in Melbourne, Mr Papastergiadis also noted that it was a mature community with settlement that extended over 150 years in our city. He emphasised that unity was an important part of any conversation with Government as it allowed policies and ideas to be quickly identified and implemented through identifiable representative structures. 

Equally, Mr Papastergiadis made mention of the need for any organisation to be relevant and to be constantly reinventing itself. This could take the form of programs or building initiatives. He also noted the construction of the 15 storey Cultural Centre by the Greek Community of Melbourne which had created a vertical Greek precinct and which had rejuvenated in many ways the organisation.  Hence, a history of steady partnerships with Government and members along with a long term vision was fundamental to the success of an organisation. 

Everyone in attendance. Photo: Facebook.

Mr Papastergiadis then noted that not all decisions are universally accepted and hence community leaders are often required to make difficult decisions. As an example, he referred to the vaccination hubs set up by the GCM in its church halls, which arose from its direct relationships with the state and federal Health Ministers. Although not entirely popular, these initiatives were successful in building relations with Government and offering important services to those in need during this pandemic.

Although the event came to an end later that night, Mr Papastergiadis agreed with AACSAN’s President and his Board to meet in the near future to identify ways to continue the relationship.

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