National and international borders are slowly reopening in Australia and COVID-19 restrictions are easing in certain states and territories as the country hits the 80% double dose vaccination rate.
For Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, this new COVID normal means it’s time for the government to step back and for Greek Australians to “get on with life and enjoy the freedoms that should be theirs.”
“The Greek Australian community is renowned for their community and entrepreneurial spirit, even in challenging times. This has been clear for all to see throughout the pandemic where they have shown great support for each other and the wider Australian community,” Mr Morrison told The Greek Herald.
“As Australia safely reopens and stays safely open, the Greek Australian community can once again freely get back to doing the things they have missed for so long, attending religious services, celebrating milestones, keeping their business and investments strong and travelling overseas.”
Scott Morrison is encouraging Greek Australians to “get on with life.”
‘Sense of freedom is in our DNA’:
For Greek Australian entrepreneurs who have invested in Greece and commute between the two countries for business, this restoration of their freedoms and the reopening of the international borders is exciting.
Lefka Georgantis, co-owner of the White Pebble Suites in Pollonia, Milos is one of these entrepreneurs.
“When we are in Greece, we hear from other hoteliers how much they miss their Australian clients,” Lefka said.
“It’s really exciting that Australians will be able to travel again after almost two years of restrictions. We need to move forward.”
Lefka Georgantis is the co-owner of the White Pebble Suites in Pollonia, Milos.
The CEO of Christopher’s Cake Shop, Kyriakos Panayi, couldn’t agree more and tells The Greek Herald he’s also happy to be back in business serving a variety of handcrafted cakes, pastries and Greek inspired desserts across 10 locations in Sydney.
“We lost 60 percent of our revenue across the stores during the lockdown but almost immediately after [lockdown ended] sales skyrocketed again,” Mr Panayi says.
“Staff hours are also up pre-lockdown and that’s very important from a mental health perspective… because a job is the best form of safety and security for anyone.”
Mr Panayi adds that now it’s time to enjoy our newfound freedoms as we adjust to the new COVID normal.
CEO of Christopher’s Cake Shop, Kyriakos Panayi.
“Being of Greek descent, that sense of freedom is in our DNA. It’s a Eureka moment and kind of brings you to tears,” he says.
“Whether it’s from a business, personal or emotional perspective, we have to learn to live with the virus and we can’t be locked down again.”
Businesses in western and south-western Sydney would relate to this piece of advice the most considering they were some of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 lockdown imposed on NSW this year.
That’s why Mr Morrison has also recently announced the Federal Government will continue to back small and medium-sized businesses in those regions to secure Australia’s recovery from COVID.
When Year 9 Adelaide High students and their teacher arrive for their annual catch up with members of the Greek Union of Aged Pensioners at Thebarton Community Centre in Adelaide, the joy can be seen on the faces of all.
“Please welcome our lovely children who are here with us today, what a happy day this is,” sounds a firm but happy female voice in the loudspeaker.
The students, split in groups of two or three and join the seniors who sit around the tables sipping on Greek coffee and chatting vibrantly with their friends while encouraging the youth to join in.
“Poio einai to onoma sou (what is your name) and apo poio meros tis Elladas eisai (where in Greece are you from),” the students ask the pensioners in Greek as they try to write the answers on a piece of paper they have in front of them.
As the intergenerational project begins for another year, a synergistic vibe fills the community centre.
“We have been doing these visits for four years now. It’s all about connecting young people with the older generation and making sure their language and stories will be carried on to the future,” Adelaide High Modern Greek Teacher, Dimitra Rozaklis, said.
“The students will go back to school and write a short biography of the person they interviewed and they will then give this back to the community.”
Most of the pensioners have their own children and grandchildren to interact with but are happy to see that young people not necessarily of Greek background are interested in learning the language.
“It is very encouraging that they [students] can speak Greek,” Dimitra Georgiadi, 74, said.
Ms Georgiadi immigrated to Australia from Nauplion in 1966 in search of a better life and had been a fruit picker for more than three decades until she retired in 1999.
Photo L: Year 9 Adelaide High School Student, Electra with Ms Dimitra Georgiadi
“Life was very hard in the beginning. I was picking peas and had to fill up a sack to make one dollar and later on I was picking apricots for 90 cents a tray.
“When I had kids, I used to put them in the car and take them to the orchards with me. When it was too hot, I had to cover the top part of the car with a damp blanket to keep the temperature low,” she said.
For Year 9 student, Electra, socialising with Ms Georgiadi has been a great experience.
“Finding out about their stories and knowledge and what they’ve been through is really exciting. I really like seeing them be happy and lighting up about us coming here.”
Photo R: Year 9 Adelaide High Greek Class Student Raiyana
Student Raiyana started learning Greek in primary school and continued her studies through high school because she didn’t want the knowledge to go wasted and she developed an interest in the culture.
She said she can relate with the elderly on a different level.
“My family also migrated to Australia from Sri Lanka 11 years ago and although I was young, I have memories of how hard life was for them at times, back then,” Raiyana said.
Greek Union of Aged Pensioners of Thebarton & Suburbs Committee. From L to R: Secretary Kathy Milohis, President Diomitrios Papanikolas, former President Pota Varkaris and Katerina Keliouris
“Looking at them [the elderly] I understand how hard it must have been to start a life from scratch. I am happy to be here and keep them company.”
President of the Pensioner’s Union, Dimitrios Papanikolas, says the intergenerational project is a great initiative and wishes the students could visit more often.
“I love kids and their efforts are really remarkable.The feedback we get from our members is great. We hope we can have the students again with us for our Christmas party.”
Parents of working teens are being urged to make the most of Australia’s superannuation incentives and compound interest to give their children a powerful kickstart to building wealth.
According to The Australian, big benefits can flow from the government co-contribution scheme, which pays up to $500 a year into a low-income earner’s super fund if they contribute up to $1000 of their own money – less than $20 a week.
Financial strategist, Theo Marinis, started contributing to his daughter Sophia’s superannuation when she began part-time work at a supermarket at 14.
Financial strategist, Theo Marinis.
He told The Australian he doesn’t regret it as Sophia “is now 27 years old and has a super balance approximately 2.7 times the recommended super balance for a 30-year-old.”
“It’s definitely worth doing – it’s amazing how quickly it compounds and it sets them up and teaches them,” Theo said.
Sofia couldn’t agree more and told the newspaper she “feels a sense of security” knowing her superannuation is “compounding nicely in the background.”
“Superannuation is not something to sleep on – the sooner you start, the better off you’ll be,” she said.
A shortage of material supplies and labour have hit Western Australia’s construction industry as the state’s strong local economy and lack of COVID-19 translates into a building boom.
According to the Executive Director of the Master Builders of WA, John Gelavis, an increase of 30 to 40 percent in material costs is not uncommon.
“It’s very difficult because these increases are happening at a rate of knots and they’re quite severe increases,” Mr Gelavis told The Australian.
Executive Director of the Master Builders of WA, John Gelavis.
Mr Gelavis said that supply and demand issues meant a single-story home that would have previously taken eight to 10 months to build will now take 12 to 16 months.
“There’s obviously a strong pipeline of work being built. The challenges are around the supply of materials and trade contractors,” he told the newspaper.
There are hopes the looming end of interstate and international border restrictions may provide some relief as extra workers enter WA.
Frank Poullas, the Chairman of ASX-listed company Magnis Energy, has been re-elected at an investor vote, The Daily Telegraph reports.
This comes despite Mr Poullas confirming that the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has requested documents relating to the irregular trading of the company’s shares.
The AFP raided his home in September as part of the ASIC investigation.
But Mr Poullas told investors on Monday he had no involvement in possible artificial inflation of the Magnis share price – a practice known as “pump and dump.”
Magnis Energy hub in Townsville.
Sources suggest the ASIC investigation is focused on posts about Magnis Energy on messaging platform Telegram and on stockmarket discussion board HotCopper.
Mr Poullas told investors that no director was involved in the Telegram group that was discussing Magnis shares.
The company has had a string of resignations in the last few months including Richard Petty, who joined the board in March and chaired the company’s audit and risk committee, the ex-Macquarie executive Warwick Smith and former NSW deputy premier Troy Grant.
Greek Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias, has paid a three-day visit to Manama, the capital of Bahrain, and on his last day he met with his Bahraini counterpart Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.
During their meeting, the two Foreign Ministers signed a memorandum of understanding on political consultations, Ekathimerini reports.
“The positions of Greece and Bahrain converge on a number of key areas, especially in terms of its approach to international law and the international law of the sea,” Dendias said after the meeting.
I was warmly welcomed by #Bahrain FM Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. Μy official visit is an opportunity to advance bilateral political & economic relations. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/oriYABKfo2
“Bahrain is a country which has always stood by us in international organisations, supported our candidacy for the UN Security Council, and has condemned the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque.”
Greek diplomatic sources said Dendias used the visit to boost the collaboration of the legal departments of the foreign ministries of both countries.
The two Foreign Ministers signed a memorandum of understanding on political consultations.
Dendias was the only EU minister to attend the Manama Dialogue Forum, the biggest regional conference on security issues, which was also attended by the US Defense Secretary and Israel’s National Security Adviser.
During his visit, Dendias was received by King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, to whom he extended President Katerina Sakellaropoulou’s invitation to visit Greece at the earliest opportunity.
Turkish Defense Minister, Hulusi Akar, has accused Greece of “playing the victim card” in its relations with Turkey.
“[Greece] has repeatedly and constantly made provocations, aggressive statements and actions which raise tension,” Akar said on Monday.
He added that the government in Athens is “falsifying facts and misleading [other states],” while being the one which, in fact, violates international law.
“[Greece] is making selfish statements in order to draw attention to itself,” Akar said.
Turkish Defense Minister, Hulusi Akar.
“They are trying to portray themselves as the victim and Turkey as the aggressor. However, history and ongoing developments clearly show that it is them who are adopting an expansionist and aggressive policy.”
This statement comes just days after Turkey’s Defence Ministry alleged Greek coast guard units had pushed and shot at inflatable migrant boats as they made the treacherous journey from Turkey to Greece.
Greece has recently come under fire by Turkey and the European Union after allegations emerged the country’s coastguard was illegally pushing back migrants, but Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has repeatedly denied these claims.
Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has met with His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Athens today to discuss a number of issues currently concerning the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
During the meeting, Mitsotakis told Patriarch Bartholomew that the reopening of the Theological School of Halki remains a high priority for the Greek government.
The two leaders also discussed the outstanding issues concerning the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Greek minority in Turkey.
Είχα την τιμή σήμερα να υποδεχθώ τον Οικουμενικό Πατριάρχη κ.κ. Βαρθολομαίο, στο πλαίσιο της επίσκεψης που πραγματοποιεί στην Αθήνα για τον εορτασμό για τα 30 έτη από την εκλογή του στον Οικουμενικό Θρόνο. https://t.co/1vD2Xy5Tfjpic.twitter.com/Cv82GX1psi
Mitsotakis assured His Holiness of the continued support of Greece at the bilateral and international level with regards to his demands for the religious freedoms of Orthodox Christians in Turkey.
For his part, the Patriarch informed Mitsotakis about the latest developments following his recent visit to the United States and his contacts with the American leadership.
The Patriarch arrived in Greece on Saturday.
The Patriarch is currently in Athens for an official visit to mark the 30th anniversary since his enthronement.
Over the weekend, he led a mass with Archbishop of Athens and members of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece at the Athens Cathedral for the feast of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary.
The service was also attended by Education and Religion Minister, Niki Kerameus, Culture and Sports Minister, Lina Mendoni, Tourism Minister, Vassilis Kikilias, and Athens Mayor, Kostas Bakoyannis.
The 48th anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic Uprising was commemorated on Sunday with a special event organised by the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW) and the Combined Universities Greek Association (CUGA).
Held at the Greek Community Club in Lakemba at 4pm, the event was emceed by Athanasios Kallos and began with a minute silence followed by the national anthems of Greece and Australia.
A wreath laying ceremony was then held at a special cenotaph set up at the front of the stage.
All photos copyright: The Greek Herald / John Voutos.
Among those who laid floral wreaths in honour of the 1973 Uprising were the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Christos Karras, the Mayor of Randwick City Council, Dylan Parker, Randwick City Councillor, Alexandra Luxford, Councillor for Georges River Council, Nick Patris, and Councillor for Canterbury-Bankstown Council, Clare Raffan, as well as other representatives of Greek communities across Sydney and many university students.
After the wreath laying ceremony, a video titled ‘One week diary of the Polytechnic – by Yiannis Ritsos’ was displayed to the roughly 70 people in attendance and this was followed by two speeches from the Consul General and the Secretary of GOCNSW, Michael Tsilimos.
During his speech, the Consul General said the commemoration was important to honour all those who struggled for the values of democracy and freedom during the Polytechnic Uprising.
“Today’s anniversary reminds us that the struggle to defend democracy and freedom must be continuous and undiminished. The messages of the uprising are today as timely and valued as ever,” Mr Karras said.
These speeches were followed by a number of poem recitals from students of the Community’s schools, as well as the Hellenic Society of the University of New South Wales (Hellsoc), Sydney University Greek Society (SUGS), UTS Hellenic and the Macquarie University Greek Association (MUGA).
Professor Vrasidas Karalis from the Modern Greek Department at the University of Sydney also gave a small presentation on the influence of legendary Greek composer, Mikis Theodorakis.
The commemoration event was concluded with a one hour mini tribute concert to Theodorakis by popular Greek band, IHO NYX.
Over the last two weekends, parishioners have attended St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Marrickville, Sydney, or gathered around a livestream to watch as the ordinations of four new bishops for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia were conducted.
The new bishops are: Bishop Kyriakos of Sozopolis, Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia, Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta and Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis.
Bishop Bartholomew of Charioupolis:
On Sunday, November 22, The Greek Herald attended the ordination of the Archiepiscopal Vicar of Canberra, Bishop-elect Prochoros of Charioupolis, along with hundreds of others.
Archbishop Makarios. Photo: The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
Photo: The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
The ceremony was presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia with the assistance of over 15 clergy from across Australia, as well as His Eminence Metropolitan Ezekiel of Dervis, their Graces Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, Emilianos of Meloa, Elpidios of Kyaneon, Silouan of Sinope, Kyriakos of Sozopolis, Chistodoulos of Magnesia, and Evmenios of Kerasounta.
Photo supplied.
Photos: The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
Also in attendance were a number of officials and prominent members of the Greek community including, but not limited to, the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Mr Christos Karras, the High Commissioner for the Republic of Cyprus, Her Excellency Martha Mavromatis, the NSW Senators, The Honourable Peter Poulos and Courtney Houssos, the President of the Inter-communities Council of Victoria, Mr Tony Tsourdalakis, and the President of the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra, Mr John Loukadellis.
Photos: The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
The service was also honoured by the presence of the Right Reverend Bishop Malcolm Richards of the Anglican Church and Bishop Robert Rabbat of the Melkite Church.
Prior to his ordination, the Bishop-elect declared his devotion to Orthodoxy and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. He also thanked a number of people who had inspired him throughout his life, including his late parents Vasilis and Lygeris.
“I thank them from the bottom of my heart for their labours. They raised me with love, faith, humility, meekness and the fear of God. They sealed my life with their instructive guidance,” he said with tears in his eyes.
Photos: The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
Following his address, there was audible surprise within the church as Archbishop Makarios announced the new Bishop would be renamed Bartholomew, in honour of the 30 year anniversary of the enthronement of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. The Archbishop also praised His Grace Bishop Bartholomew for his hard work, ecclesiastical ethos and philanthropy.
Parishioners then exclaimed ‘Axios!’ (He is Worthy!) three times as His Eminence placed the final liturgical items associated with the Episcopacy on the new Bishop.
At the end of the ceremony, everyone in attendance approached the new Bishop and offered their congratulations. They received a gift in return in the form of a small cross and icon.
Photos: The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
Bishop Kyriakos of Sozopolis:
On Saturday, November 13, the parish priest of The Resurrection of our Lord Greek Orthodox Church in Kogarah was ordained and became His Grace Bishop Kyriakos of Sozopolis. He will now assume the duties of Archiepiscopal Vicar at the Archdiocesan District of Melbourne.
On the day, Bishop Kyriakos gave a small address and referred to the time when he was ordained a priest in “The Garden of Panagia.” He remembered a phone call he received from his late mother, who thanked him for the honour he had given his parents through his priesthood.
“These words have accompanied me ever since and I ponder the importance of this honour. So, at this time, this honour belongs to my parents. I invoke their blessing and prayers today, from the heavenly Kingdom of God where they rest,” the Bishop said.
Later, Archbishop Makarios spoke about the life of Bishop Kyriakos and how it “sends a great message” of how “a life left in the hands of Christ becomes a mystery, which holds peaceful and graceful surprises.”
“The hitherto humble and lowly monk, Fr Kyriakos, who has demonstrated to have never sought any promotion or office in his life; who had nothing to do with being a “careerist clergyman,” is called today to take on the highest position – that of a bishop,” the Archbishop said.
“We thank the Triune God from the depths of our being because such clergymen exist, with your eminent qualities and spiritual calibre.”
Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta:
On Saturday, November 20, His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta was ordained in a ceremony presided over by Archbishop Makarios and a large number of other Bishops and clergy.
Also in attendance on the day were various officials including, but not limited to, the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Mr Emmanuel Kakavelakis, the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, the Most Reverend Anthony Fisher, the President of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria, Bill Papastergiadis, and the brother of the Ecumenical Patriarch, Mr Nikolaos Archontonis, and his wife Catherine.
In his address, Bishop Evmenios expressed his thanks for his promotion and made special mention to his parents, John and Vasiliki, who sacrificed everything to offer him and his siblings a warm Christian family.
The newly ordained Bishop also mentioned the parish where he had served for 12 consecutive years, the Church of the Transfiguration of our Lord, in Thomastown, Melbourne, thanking all his faithful parishioners.
For his part, Archbishop Makarios addressed Bishop Evmenios with paternal words and spiritual counsel, stressing that the high office he is taking up is accompanied by many responsibilities and obligations towards God and the community.
Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia:
On Sunday, November 14, the ordination of Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia took place at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Marrickville, a community of which he has been parish priest for eight-and-a-half years.
Emotionally laden during his address, Bishop Christodoulos stressed that the parish holds a special place in his heart.
“In the church where we are today, I received holy Baptism from the sanctified hands of Fr Nektarios Zorbalas. Here, I became an Orthodox Christian. This is where I took my first steps in life and faith,” the Bishop said.
“Here, my parents came into the communion of marriage. St Nicholas invited me to serve him, here. Everything began for me from here and today, my new path in the Church begins, again, from here.”
For his part, Archbishop Makarios, who presided over the ordination, urged the newly ordained Bishop to walk the new path of his life with love for his brethren and to remain faithful to the principles and ethos of the Orthodox Church.
