Michael Douglas posted on Instagram: “It is with tremendous sadness that my brothers and I announce that Kirk Douglas left us today at the age of 103.
“To the world, he was a legend, an actor from the golden age of movies who lived well into his golden years, a humanitarian whose commitment to justice and the causes he believed in set a standard for all of us to aspire to.
“Kirk’s life was well lived, and he leaves a legacy in film that will endure for generations to come, and a history as a renowned philanthropist who worked to aid the public and bring peace to the planet,” he added, saying he was “so proud” to be his father’s son.
Hits such as Spartacus and The Vikings made him one of the biggest box office stars in the 1950s and 1960s.
He was nominated for an Oscar for best actor in 1959 for his role as boxer Midge Kelly in Champion.
The
Macquarie University Greek Association (MUGA) was formed by an enthusiastic
group of young Greek individuals, in 1984. Vasilis Georgiou led the MUGA
initiative, which then established the Macquarie University Greek Studies
Foundation. The foundation began as a celebration, promotion and enhancement of
Hellenic culture, history, values and language.
Despite the
threats facing the longevity of the Greek language, founding trustee Mr
Theophilus Premetis believes MUGA, the Macquarie University Greek Studies
Foundation and Greek students across NSW, remain enthusiastic about the Greek
language.
“They
university’s got a future because the people like the course. There were a lot
of students, they were good at the time…Vasilis was very enthusiastic, he
forced you to do Greek,” said Mr Premetis.
In 2016,
Macquarie University became the only university outside Greece to offer a
full-time Bachelor of Hellenic Studies. In 2020, it is now being offered as a
Major of Hellenic Studies. In addition, the faculty works with the medical
school to offer courses in Medical Terminology and has the support of the
Faculty of Arts in promoting exchange programs to Greece.
While the
foundation has supporters ranging from the Dean of Macquarie University’s
Faculty of Arts – “philhellene” Ms Martina Möllering, the Greek authorities in
Greece and the Greek government, they are constantly in negotiations to keep
Greek studies alive at Macquarie University.
“It’s not
just money that we need help with…We’d love some students to study in Cyprus or
Greece for a year. We think that will be good for the Greek community, good for
the language, good for everyone,” said Mr Premetis. “The important thing is to
teach Greek not just to Greeks, but to non-Greeks as well.”
MUGA’s
35th Anniversary Ball
As per
their agreement with Macquarie University, MUGA hosts an annual fundraiser to
raise money for the Macquarie University Greek Studies Foundation. Each year,
this money is put forward to the university to support the continuation of the
Greek language.
This year, MUGA’s
35th Anniversary Ball will be held on Friday 7th February
at Aqua Luna Waterfront Dining.
Mr Premetis
notes that all fundraising events, big and small, reflect the ‘filotimo’ and
spirit of giving in the Greek community.
“Everyone
helps, but the little people help. Not the big communities, not the very rich
people…the normal people help, and I believe the normal people are better to
ask for help because they understand what need is,” said Mr Premetis.
While tickets to the event have sold out, the Macquarie University Greek Studies Foundation encourages any form of donation, including cash, cheque or direct deposit.
Bank Details: Delphi Bank, BSB: 941 201, Account Number: 201 422 001
P.O Box 4, Canterbury NSW 2193
Contact: Theophilus Premetis 0419 718 159
Image via MUGA Facebook.
Combined
Universities Greek Association
Mr Premetis
also believes that creating a combined Greek association for the University of
Sydney, the University of New South Wales and Macquarie University would ignite
a more effective response for supporting Greek studies among students.
“We would like to [work together]. We’ve never had any problems, we’d like to form a combined committee. It would be ideal for the 3 universities to form one committee. If we had that it would be easier to raise funds, because it would be for Greek collectively. I think we would get a better response,” said Mr Premetis.
Mr. Theophilus Premetis
The
motivation behind the Macquarie University Greek Studies Foundation
A few years
after the Macquarie University Greek Studies Foundation was established, its founder
Vasilis Georgiou, sadly passed away in 1996, leaving behind a wife and two
young children.
Not only
does the heart behind continuing Macquarie’s Greek program come from a love of
Hellenism, but the bloodline of brotherhood that has streamed from its
establishment.
“Vasilis
was my friend. He died and left his two children, 5 and 2. The 5-year-old might
remember his father. The 2-year-old, I don’t think so…so when he died I had to
go back to help with the course,” said Mr Premetis of his late friend. “He was
very enthusiastic and very hard-working,”
Macquarie’s
Greek Studies Foundation holds a poem from Cavafy very close to its values,
driving a motivation that has lasted throughout generations.
“And out
of the remarkable pan-Hellenic campaign,
Victorious,
brilliant in every way,
Celebrated
far and wide, glorious
As no
other had ever been glorified, the incomparable: we were born;
An exhibit presenting Greek antiquities with 18th and 19th-century works will open at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens on February 11, as part of the events celebrating the bicentennial of the Greek War of Independence (1821), ANA reports.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will inaugurate the exhibit which is named after a quote attributed to General Yiannis Makrygiannis, a leading historical figure who admonished Greek fighters not to sell or give away any of the antiquities in Greece; “because it’s for these we fought the war,” as he writes in his memoir.
“For these, we fought: Antiquities and the Greek Revolution” consists of five sections and presents a total of 26 artefacts juxtaposed with 26 modern works, mainly of European painters showing Greek landscapes of the time.
“The exhibit is interesting because it links two commemorations, the 2,500th anniversary since the naval battle of Salamis and the battle of Thermopylae with the Greek Revolution,” Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni said on Tuesday during the first presentation of the show.
“The Revolution did not just happen suddenly: It resulted from a series of developments related to the awakening of national consciousness, which was already detectable in the Late Byzantine era”, the Minister elaborated.
A Hermes Team consisting of IEEE Greek Student Members have developed a powered exoskeleton for people with disabilities, to be presented at the CYBATHLON 2020.
Sharing the same passion, Greek students Ιordanis Kostelidis, Despoina Markoglou, Antonis, Alexos, Tilemachos Tsiapras, Kokozidis Pavlos, Dimitrios Dallas and Stella Konstanti, came together to create an exoskeleton to help people with disabilities, offering them the opportunity of a better and easier life.
Speaking with IEEE Region 8, the students revealed the details of how this device will support people with disabilities.
“The main purpose of our device is to help people with paraplegia to stand, walk on straight or bumpy ground, to ascend / descend stairs and more generally to facilitate their daily activities,” the students said.
After working on the project for more than a year, the team is now presenting their exoskeleton at the CYBATHLON 2020, with their pilot Modestos Kapinas.
IEEE Region 8 Student and Young Professionals Congress (SYP) has the primary goal to enhance and foster the engineering sense and capabilities through different activities, exchanging experience and knowledge between young professionals and students from different parts of the world.
A full interview by the IEEE Region 8 with the Greek students can be found HERE.
Greece’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday expressed its condolences to the people and government of Turkey after an avalanche slammed into a mountain in eastern Turkey killing 38 people, including the rescue crews who rushed to help those trapped.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the avalanche accident in eastern Turkey. We express our heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families and to the people and government of Turkey,” the ministry said in a tweet.
“Our thoughts are with the families of the missing and the rescue teams fighting to save lives.”
More than 100 rescue workers had been sent to Van province in eastern Turkey to try and reach two people believed to be still buried after an avalanche on Tuesday evening hit the area, killing five, Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority said in a statement.
The second avalanche came down at around midday on Wednesday, burying rescue teams. At least 14 rescuers are among the 33 killed, the agency said.
Cypriot farmers have won back the exclusive right to trademark ‘halloumi’ cheese products, reclaiming trademark protection in the UK.
The Cypriot ministry secured trademark protection for ‘halloumi’ at the UK Intellectual Property Office in 1990, claiming it on behalf of the farmers. However, following a legal challenge brought by UK-based cheese producers, the trademark was revoked in 2018.
The trademark was renounced due to an administrative error by the Cypriot ministry, with them failing to respond to legal requests within the required time frame. The ministry has now restored the protection again, bringing an important victory for the Cypriot farmers.
“This is an important win for the Cypriot farmers and means they have regained an exclusive right to use the mark ‘halloumi’ when marketing their products in the UK. In view of the growing market for this cheese product in the UK, this is likely to prove lucrative for them,” said Fiona McBride, Partner and Trademark Attorney at European intellectual property firm, Withers & Rogers.
“The farmers are unlikely to stop there, however. They have already applied for ‘protected food name’ status to the European Commission. If successful, their application for Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status would bring permanent protection. However, it is likely to take time, so trademark protection in the UK will be helpful to them in the meantime.”
Offering advice to British food producers, McBride continued: “Food and drink producers in the UK may not be aware that they can apply for ‘protected food name’ status to protect produce with unique characteristics that can be linked back to a specific geographical location or defined product characteristics. However, it is best to do this as early as possible rather than waiting until they have spotted some potential misuse of that food name.”
British woman Tifa Givian, who left Iran 30 years ago and now lives in Greece, was allegedly told to “stand with the rest of her people,” by Greek police after walking through the Lesvos port with her family last weekend.
Mistaking them for refugees, Tifa and her family were allegedly subjected to racist abuse by Greek police officers, asking the family for documents while they raided their personal belongings.
Ms Givian spoke about the racist incident in a public Facebook post yesterday.
“I asked why we’d been stopped,” Ms Givian said. “They told me to shut my mouth. I asked if I should put down my baby’s changing bag. They told me to shut my mouth.”
Ms Givian’s husband underwent a body search while five police officers rooted through the family’s bags, discarding their personal belongings aside.
“They took out my underwear one by one, held it up, spoke in Greek and laughed,” Ms Givian said. “They took out my sanitary pads and laughed.
“They checked my baby’s clothes, his toys, his books, his nappies.
“Again, I was asked about my nationality. I told them I have a British passport. They laughed and mimicked my British accent.
“I breastfed my baby in the little hut they had put us in to calm him down. They stared at my breasts, pointed and laughed.
“This was three days ago. I don’t remember everything that was said, but what I wrote above I wish I could forget. It’s been three days and I’m still shaking every time I think about it.
“Our IDs, our legitimate work, our baby, our money, nothing mattered. The colour of our skin meant we had to be stopped and harassed.”
Tougher asylum laws have been instilled by the new government that took over mid-2019 meaning many migrants, who have waited years for their asylum interviews, are being deported after their interviews.
A protest took place on Tuesday asrefugees carried makeshift signs with the word ‘freedom’ to demonstrate against tougher new asylum rules. Tear gas was fired by police at some 2,000 men and women who left refugee camp of Moria on the Greek island of Lesvos.
On the occasion of “International Greek Language Day” on February 9, the Consulate General of Greece in Sydney has invited candidates to participate in the Certificate of Attainment in Greek for 2020 exams.
The Certificate of Attainment in Greek is the only national, officially recognised by the Greek Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs certificate that confirms the knowledge of Greek as a foreign/second language at 6 levels.
The examinations will take place at the Consulate General of Greece, Sydney offices.
Students can register for the exam through the following link:
The Greek Community of Melbourne’s Lonsdale Street Greek Festival is back with a different name! The Greek Community of Melbourne’s Antipodes Festival will now take over the historic Lonsdale Street Greek Precinct for a large cultural festival on Saturday 29 February and Sunday 1 March, 2020.
Over 90 Greek stalls, three free entertainment stages, performers, rides and multiple bars will fill Lonsdale Street with Greek kefi.
Festival co-chairs Jim
Bossinakis and Leonidas Vlahakis are confident that this year’s Festival will
be the biggest and the best.
“The 33rd
Antipodes Festival will feature more stalls, vendors and performers than ever
before which is a testament to the popularity and reputation of this
internationally renowned event” said Jim Bossinakis.
Leonidas Vlahakis added “We encourage all Melburnians to attend. Attracting a crowd of over 100,000 Antipodes really is a celebration of cultural diversity. Our aim is to share the Greek culture with everyone in an inclusive multicultural celebration.”
Entertainment
Over 50 groups of local and interstate dancers and musicians will deliver free performances that range from traditional to modern Greek music.
Headlining the free Saturday night concert on the Delphi Bank main stage this year will be Athens-born singer, Yiota Nega.
The Closing night act will be one of Melbourne’s most gifted Greek exports- Sifis Tsourdalakis.
Competitions
The ‘Zorba Til You Drop’ competition, as the name suggests, will reward the winner with the highest Zorba endurance with a return flight to Greece.
The ‘Magic Mic’ singing competition invites amateur performers to sing a song in Greek or by a Greek composer.
NEW to 2020 is the ‘Pass the Pastitsio’ cooking compeittion, where judges will award the best Greek baked pasta dish.
Another new competition in 2020 is the ‘Antipodes Amazing Race’, where six teams of two will take on a series of challenges.
Food
Lonsdale Street’s iconic Greek locations like Stalactites, Tsindos and International Cakes will extend their trading hours, in addition to the 20+ Greek food stalls that will be set up, including The Cypriot Kitchen, St. Gerry’s, Ilias The Greek, Greek Trojan Yiros, Cypriot Street Grill, Salt n Pepa, Honey Dee Loukoumades and Kalloni Little Dessert Island.
Drinks
A number of bars will be serving Greek-inspired beverages including Mythology and The Laundry. In addition, bars on Lonsdale street like Storyville, Touche Hombre and Emerald Peacock will also be getting into the Festival spirit by serving up their own Greek inspired offerings.
Cocktail Party
For those who would like to experience the Festival in style, limited tickets are available for the Greek Community’s exclusive Cocktail Party (Cocktail Party at the Greek) on Opening Night. Bookings through www.greekcentre.com.au or trybooking.com.
WHAT: 33rd ANTIPODES FESTIVAL (free
event)
WHEN: 29TH February and 1st
MARCH; 10am – late
WHERE:
LONSDALE STREET, MELBOURNE (between Swanston St and Exhibition St)
Greece will issue a two-euro coin in commemoration of the 2,500-year anniversary of the legendary Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C., which saw the Spartans of King Leonidas fight and overcome the more numerous Persian army of Xerxes I.
The battle took place over three days with a heroic resistance in the gorges of Thermopylae, the “hot gates”, so named because of the numerous hot springs in the area.
Greek media said the announcement was made during the World Money Fair 2020 in Berlin.
The national side of the Greek two-euro coin, which will have regular circulation throughout the Eurozone, will depict the helmet of the ancient Hellenic warriors along with the Greek inscription “2,500 years since the Battle of Thermopylae”.
The Athens mint will also produce a commemorative silver coin for collectors that will be available for purchase for 10 euros.
That coin will depict a warrior with a shield and a spear on one side, and a battle scene on the other side.
