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Archdiocese responds to SA bill looking to decriminalise abortion

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Archdiocese responds to SA bill looking to decriminalise abortion

A proposed bill, put forward by Human Services Minister Michelle Lensink, looks to decriminalise abortion in South Australia, with the reformation currently being looked over by the state parliament.

Currently, legislation prohibits abortion in SA under certain conditions, such as without the approval of two doctors or outside a prescribed hospital.

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese has responded to the proposed bill in a press release placed below:

The Fight against Abortion to Birth in South Australia – Press release

Abortion is the plague of our times – responsible for more 40-50 million deaths annually worldwide.  This is more than cancer, HIV and other diseases, traffic accidents, smoking and alcohol combined. Many women are pressured into the decision against their will by a feeling of a lack of support, or even by direct coercion from those around them.

In spite of this, there are those who want to make it even easier to have an abortion. In spite of a lack of broad community support (or even interest), a Bill was tabled in SA Parliament on Wednesday the 14th of October with the goal of decriminalising abortion and “bringing it into line” with other States.

The proposed changes to the law are not without positives. One strong positive is regarding the age of viability – the law as it currently stands in South Australia (dating from the 1970s) allows abortion up until the age of viability, which it takes as 28 weeks’ gestation. The new bill acknowledges advances in medicine since that time by reducing this to 23 weeks. From our perspective, this is an improvement.

However, the biggest problem with this Bill is its lack of safeguards. Under current South Australian law, abortion may only happen legally past the age viability in order to save the life of the mother. Under the new Bill, past 22 weeks 6 days gestation, an abortion can happen if two doctors consider the abortion to be “medically appropriate”. While on the surface this looks like a safeguard, in reality it is a gaping hole – the definition of “medically appropriate” is vague and open to interpretation, and there are no restrictions on how much “doctor shopping” a person can do before they find two who will declare it to be “medically appropriate”. With nearly 9,000 medical practitioners in South Australia, finding two of them to consider an abortion to be “medically appropriate” will not be difficult. Thus, the practical effect of this “safeguard” will actually be to make abortion available on demand, for any reason, all the way up until birth. Proponents of the Bill claim that this is not what it is intended for – but intended or not, that is nonetheless what the Bill allows.

This Bill is also problematic from the point-of-view of the freedom of conscience for those medical practitioners who are opposed to abortion. While the Bill allows a health practitioner to refuse to participate in, assist or advise about a termination, it also imposes an obligation on them to refer the woman to a practitioner who will – something that undermines the whole concept of conscientious objection.

There are many other items of concern – the lack of an offence against abortion, privatisation of abortion services, and the allowance for non-medical practitioners to provide abortion services, and the lack of a requirement for full information disclosure.

The Archdiocesan District of Adelaide has taken a leading role in our State in campaigning against this Bill. On the Sunday immediately following the tabling of this Bill (the 18th of October), an encyclical was read in our parishes during the Sunday services informing our faithful of these events and encouraging them to sign a petition prepared by the local anti-abortion coalition. It was the first jurisdiction to do so, and its encyclical was reportedly used as a reference by other Christian groups for their own campaigns. Obviously, the COVID-19 state of emergency is currently imposing limits on Church attendance, but in spite of this the response from our parishes has been strong – it is clear that our faithful are steadfastly opposed to these changes. The encyclical and petition was repeated on the 25th of October. These signatures will be tabled before parliament and will hopefully convince the MPs that there is significant community opposition to the proposed changes.

May the Lord have mercy on us and our State at this critical time.

Tass Mourdoukoutas shares inspirational words from Greek father that led to career success

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Tass Mourdoukoutas shares inspirational words from Greek father that led to career success

Every young footballer has something, or someone, who pushes them to be the greatest they can be. For Western Sydney Wanderers defender Tass Mourdoukoutas, that someone was his father, Kon Mourdoukoutas.

Shared on the Western Sydney Wanderers social media, Tass speaks personally about his strong relationship with his father Kon.

“I was nine or ten years old and he was driving me to an academy,” Tass says.

“He said to me that all the other kids are just training as well. If you want to do the same as them, well you’re only going to be as good as them.

“It’s up to you if you want to do more.”

For many, parents can be the anchor of support that drives and encourages children to follow their dreams. For the parents, this can mean long car rides across the state, helping reiterate the balance between school and passion, along with wider emotional support from extended family.

Tass explains that the sacrifices his parents made were imperative to his development as a player and person, saying he often “took it for granted.”

“You wish you could just thank them every day”, Tass adds.

“You look back now and you think you really couldn’t have done it without them.”

Playing in Sydney Olympic’s youth and senior competitions, Tass goes on to speak about one of the last car rides with his father to training, prior to the Greek Australian gaining his license.

“He was saying to me, this could be the last few trips we do together driving to Sydney Olympic training.”

“…They were always behind me and once I signed my first pro contract, that meant so much not only to me but for them, the sacrifices paid off I guess.”

Mourdoukoutas grew up in Sylvania Waters and was promoted to a two-year senior contract at teh Wanderers on 6 June 2018, signing a three-year contract extension in February this year.

NSW to open border with Victoria on November 23

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NSW to open border with Victoria on November 23

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has confirmed border restrictions between NSW and Victoria will be lifted this month.

Ms Berejiklian said on Wednesday the border will reopen on November 23.

“We need to keep moving forward as we live with COVID-19. I have confidence that everyone will continue to work hard to keep everyone safe,” she said.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the reopening date should give people the confidence to make plans, book holidays and reunite with family members in the lead up to Christmas. 

“I want to thank the community, particularly in our border towns, for their patience during what has been an extremely difficult time,” Ms Berejiklian said. 

“We have worked closely with the Victorian Government throughout the border closure and will continue to monitor the situation as restrictions are eased. 

“Our policy in NSW is to keep moving forward and operating in a COVID-Safe manner – the reopening of the NSW/Victorian border is another step in the right direction.”

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has urged businesses to do the right thing.(AAP Image: Dan Himbrechts)

The decision was made as NSW recorded nine new cases to 8pm on Tuesday night, of which six are in hotel quarantine and three were locally acquired. Meanwhile, Victoria recorded its fifth consecutive day of no new community COVID-19 cases and zero deaths on Wednesday.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said Monday, November 23 is two weeks from the Victorian Government removing the ‘ring of steel’ border around Melbourne, allowing Victorian residents to travel freely around the State. 

“This will be good riddance to a border that COVID-19 forced on us,” Mr Hazzard said.

“Victorian and NSW residents’ efforts have ensured families and friends will be back together and businesses will operate freely but in a COVID-safe way.”

Five Greek-Americans seeking Congress return in 2020 US Elections

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Five Greek-Americans seeking Congress return in 2020 US Elections

Five Greek-Americans will be fighting to retain their spot in the US Congress at this year’s election campaign, with many others looking to gain an entry into the United States’ federal branch.

Currently, Gus Bilirakis is the only Greek-American Republican looking for re-election in Congress, joined by Democrats John Sarbanes, Charlie Crist, Chris Pappas and Dina Titus.

Gus Bilirakis

Gus Bilirakis represents the Palm Harbor region in Florida and has been with Florida’s 12th Congressional District since 2006. He currently serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

John Sarbanes represents Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District and first assumed office on January 4, 2007. Regarded as a safe Democrat seat, having been held by the Democrat party for over 20 years, Sarbanes is expected to retain his Congress seat.

Charlie Crist

Charlie Crist, also representing a Florida seat, is running as leader for the 13th district. Crist has had a hand in many environmental protection policies, along with being a high advocate for increased education funding.

Chris Pappas has been serving as the U.S. Representative for New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional district since 2019, looking to retain his seat this year. Graduating from Harvard College, he became the first openly gay person representing New Hampshire in Congress.

Dina Titus

Dina Titus will be the only female Greek-American looking to retain her Congress seat this year, representing a district in Nevada. Titus has represented the safe Democrat seat since 2013, previously serving as U.S. Representative for Nevada’s 3rd congressional district from 2009 to 2011.

Numerous Greek Americans will be fighting for an opportunity to join the US Congress for the furst time this year, including Alek Skarlatos and Nicole Malliotakis.

Sophie Cotsis: Government must provide better QR code support for local businesses

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Sophie Cotsis: Government must provide better QR code support for local businesses

Labor is calling on the Government to support businesses in establishing QR code check-in systems and COVID safety plans in the lead up to Christmas.
 
The Shadow Minister for Better Public Services Sophie Cotsis said Premier Gladys Berejiklian continues to condemn businesses who have not implemented QR codes as a condition of entry without providing any support to those who may need it.
 
“We support the need for all hospitality venues to have QR code check-in systems and COVID safety plans in the lead up to the busiest time of year but the Government has to assist rather than threaten NSW businesses,” Ms Cotsis said.

Photo: ABC News/Kevin Nguyen

“Small businesses are already trying to do their part and the Government needs provide them with clear instructions and in some cases more hands on assistance for those who are less tech-savvy.”
 
Ms Cotsis also said she was concerned the Government has overlooked people in the community who don’t have smartphones for QR code sign-ins.
 
“Victor Dominello has to take more leadership in helping the many businesses and citizens who need assistance in adopting the code system,” she said.
 
“The Government must act now to ensure the community is protected from COVID-19 while keeping venues open during Summer and securing jobs in the hospitality sector.”

Tributes flow in for two British teens killed in Greek parasailing accident

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Tributes flow in for two British teens killed in Greek parasailing accident

Tributes have flown in for two British teens tragically killed in a parasailing accident in Greece.

Cousins Michael Connelly, 13, and Jessica Hayes, 15, from Northamptonshire, died on Wednesday after their parachute rope snapped, Daily Star reports. Michael’s brother James, 15, remains in hospital.

Jessica’s devastated school, Uppingham Community College, published a statement from principal Ben Solly on Tuesday.

Jessica pictured as a child with cousins James Connolly. Photo: Daily Star

He said: “We were deeply saddened by the news that Jessica Hayes, one of our students in Year 11, tragically passed away whilst on holiday with her family in Greece.

“Jessica was a popular character at UCC and was well-liked by students and staff. She will be greatly missed by everyone at UCC and we will always remember her.

“She had so much potential to achieve whatever she wanted to in life; she had such a fabulous personality and we are devastated she is no longer with us.

Jessica, and Michael Connelly, 13, died following a parasailing accident as James Connelly was left seriously injured. Photo: Daily Star

“Our school community has been rocked to the core by Jessica’s tragic death and we will work with our students to create a fitting tribute in memory of her life.”

Her teachers paid tribute to the popular student who had a “real zest for life”.

Mr Sievewright, who knew the teenager well, said: “Jess was larger than life, she would light up a room and she lived for the moment. She was bright, articulate, infectious through her personality, her confidence and laughter, and had a real zest for life. Jess was, and will always be remembered as, a character.

“Jess was always passionate about what she liked and believed in, from issues in society, TikTok, and her take on school uniform!”

British media reports Jessica’s father, Tony, said that two people had been arrested over the tragedy and charged with manslaughter by way of negligence.

As the families arrived at their hotel on the island of Rhodes on 24 October, Mikey had said he “always wanted” to try parasailing. On 28 October the three cousins boarded a boat with other holidaymakers after the family were told it was suitable for anyone over the age of three, Mr Hayes said.

Photo: The Sun

“We’ve since learned that in Greece you should be 16 to take part,” the father said.

Both sets of parents watched as the boat set sail with the cousins on board. The cousins reportedly fell 400ft onto a rock face after the rope holding their canopy snapped.

“We waited for them on the beach and they never came back,” he added.

Nick Kyrgios furious after thieves break into tennis star’s $350,000 car

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Nick Kyrgios furious after thieves break into tennis star’s $350,000 car

Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios ranted on social media yesterday over thieves breaking into his $350,000 car, calling out the “low-lives” who got away with his wallet and clothes.

Nick Kyrgios was taking his new partner, Chiara Passari, to work at approximately 8am when he found his car had been broken into overnight.

“This message is to … the scums of Canberra,” he said in an Instagram story on Tuesday morning.

READ MORE: ‘You’re nuts but I love you’: Giannis Antetokounmpo spreads tennis love to Nick Kyrgios

“I come to my car and it’s been broken into. Nothing in my car, thankfully … has been broken.”

“These are things I worked for, show some f—ing respect.”

Kyrgios proceeded by venting to his 1.4 million Instagram followers that he would prefer people simply ask him for money, rather than take his hard earned fortune.

 Nick Kyrgios took to Instagram on Tuesday outraged after his car was broken into. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos

“I’d rather you just knock on my door, I’ll put food in your mouth … I can put clothes on your body, I can give you a shower even,” the tennis player adds.

“Don’t break into someone’s car and take their s–t.”

Kyrgios donated much of his time this year to Australia’s younger, highly ambitious tennis players while on a competitive tennis break, due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

READ MORE: Nick Kyrgios pays sweet virtual visit to Queensland Children’s Hospital
READ MORE: NK Foundation inspiring tennis community with new facility development in Canberra

Opting to skip this years US Open, the Cypriot Australian tennis star payed a virtual visit to the Queensland Children’s Hospital in September.

The 25-year-old tennis player spoke with die-hard tennis fans Hayden, who was in hospital in Brisbane, and Claire at the Gold Coast University Hospital.

“I just want to say all you guys are amazing, you’re incredibly strong and I’m always thinking of you,” Kyrgios said from his Canberra home at the end of the visit.

“Stay strong, stay happy. I’d love to come back. I’d love to talk to more kids and also some of the workers.”

The NK Foundation, founded by Kyrgios, also made its first steps as a government funded initiative after securing funds to develop a Gungahlin tennis facility in Canberra.

“For all the families in the Gungahlin region, this facility will fill the desperate need for tennis courts in the area,” Nick Kyrgios wrote on Facebook.

First mosque in Greek capital opens doors to worshipers

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First mosque in Greek capital opens doors to worshipers

The first mosque in the Greek capital of Athens opened its doors to Muslim worshipers on Monday, local media reported.

Inaugural prayers were held with social distancing measures in place, led by the mosque’s first imam is Zaki Mohammed, 49, a Greek citizen of Moroccan origin, Ekathimerini reports.

“A long effort by successive governments since 2006, when Law 3512 was passed, has been completed. Greece sends a clear message inside and outside the country, of democracy, religious freedom and respect,” said General Secretary of Religions Giorgos Kalantzis.

Photo: anews

The decision to build a mosque in Athens was first made in 2006, with a budget of €887,000 ($1.04 million), yet encountered various bureaucratic hurdles and protests by Greek citizens.

The opening signified an end to the country’s long record as the only European Union capital to lack a mosque.

Young girl miraculously pulled from rubble in Turkey four days after devastating Aegean quake

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Young girl miraculously pulled from rubble in Turkey four days after devastating Aegean quake

Even as hopes of reaching survivors began to fade, rescuers in the Turkish city of Izmir pulled a young girl out alive from the rubble of a collapsed apartment building on Tuesday, four days after a strong earthquake hit Turkey and Greece.

Wrapped in a thermal blanket, the girl taken into an ambulance on a stretcher to the sounds of applause and chants from rescue workers and onlookers.

Health Media Fahrettin Koca identified her as 3-year-old Ayda Gezgin on Twitter and shared a video of her inside the ambulance. The child had been trapped inside the rubble for 91 hours since Friday’s quake struck in the Aegean Sea and was the 107th person to have been pulled out of collapse buildings alive.

The girl, Ayda Gezgin, was seen being taken into an ambulance on Tuesday, wrapped in a thermal blanket, amid the sound of cheers and applause from rescue workers. (AFAD via AP)

After she was pulled from the rubble, little Ayda called out for her mother, in video of the rescue broadcast on television.

But Ayda’s mother did not survive. Her body was found amid the wreckage hours later. Her brother and father were not inside the building at the time of the quake.

Her rescue came a day after a 3-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl were also pulled out alive from collapsed buildings in Izmir, Turkey’s third-largest city.

The girl was taken into an ambulance, wrapped in a thermal blanket, amid the sounds of cheers and applause from rescue workers. (Turkish Gendarmerie via AP)

The vast majority of the deaths and some 1,000 injuries occurred in Izmir, Turkey. Two teenagers also died and 19 people were injured on the Greek island of Samos, near the quake’s epicenter in the Aegean Sea.

READ MORE: Three-year-old girl pulled alive from rubble days after deadly Aegean earthquake
READ MORE: Strong earthquake in Aegean Sea kills at least 14 people in Turkey And Greece

The quake also triggered a small tsunami that hit Samos and the Seferihisar district of Izmir province, where one elderly woman drowned. The tremors were felt across western Turkey, as well as in the Greek capital of Athens. Hundreds of aftershocks followed.

Tents set up for homeless people are placed on a basketball court in Izmir, Turkey, Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Officials said 147 quake survivors were still hospitalized, and three of them were in serious condition.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “to offer my condolences for the tragic loss of life from the earthquake that struck both our countries.” 

The Greek leader added, “Whatever our differences, these are times when our people need to stand together.”

Sourced By: Associated Press

Eight Greek Australians named among the richest 200 people in Australia

Andriana Simos
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Eight Greek Australians named among the richest 200 people in Australia

The Australian Financial Review (AFR) has released its Rich List for 2020 and among the 200 wealthiest people are eight Greek Australians from across the country.

By the looks of things, it was a very good year to invest in property and natural resources, despite the coronavirus pandemic, as many of the chosen Greek Australians have a background in these industries.

Here’s the full list in chronological order:

Nick Politis – Ranked 79, $1.31 billion (retail and property)

Proud Kytherian, Nick Politis AM, is an prominent businessman and Chairman of Sydney-based NRL team, Sydney Roosters.

Nick Politis ranked 79th in the AFR’s Rich List for 2020.

Politis ran and expanded WFM Motors Pty Ltd from March 1974, eventually transforming it into “City Ford,” one of the largest Ford dealerships in Australia.

The majority of Politis’ wealth is derived from his 38 privately owned car dealerships and a major holding in ASX-listed auto retailer, A.P Eagers.

This year, his wealth jumped up by 6.7 percent from last year’s estimate of $1.23 billion.

READ MORE: Sydney Roosters supremo Nick Politis slammed after calling for NRL ladder reset.

Con Makris and family – Ranked 82, $1.25 billion (property)

Con Makris arrived in Adelaide from Greece as a teenager in 1964 and built a vast property development and shopping centre empire that began with a barbecued chicken shop.

Con Makris arrived in Adelaide from Greece as a teenager in 1964.

Makris stepped back from the day-to-day operations of the Makris Group several years ago and put in place an independent advisory board to guide expansion, which has been focused on Queensland.

He put two high-profile Adelaide retail assets on the market in July – Rundle Mall’s City Cross shopping centre and the North Adelaide Village neighbourhood shopping complex worth a combined $200 million.

READ MORE: Billionaire Con Makris puts $200m of shopping centres up for sale.

Makris became a billionaire in 2015.

According to the AFR, Makris’ wealth dropped 5 percent compared to last year, which was $1.32 billion.

Nicholas Paspaley and family – Ranked 83, $1.25 billion (resources, property)

The pearling company, Paspaley, was founded by the late Nicholas Paspaley snr, who fled the Greek island of Kastellorizo in World War I and settled on the Western Australian coast.

Working in Port Hedland and Broome, he purchased his own pearl lugger by the age of 21. His three children – Nicholas Paspaley jnr; Roslynne Bracher and Marilynne Paspaley – now own the company.

Nicholas Paspaley and his family have recorded a huge 12 percent jump in wealth from last year.

Interestingly, pearls now account for less than half the revenue in the broader Paspaley Group, which has interests in livestock, a fleet of planes and property.

This year, Nicholas Paspaley and his family have recorded a huge 12 percent jump in wealth from $1.12 billion last year.

Spiros Alysandratos – Ranked 124, $798 million (travel, property)

Spiros Alysandratos founded Consolidated Travel in 1967 after emigrating to Melbourne from the Greek isle of Kefalonia.

Consolidated Travel is one of 1500 or so private companies exempted from having to lodge financial accounts. But when your business is selling airline ticketing technology to travel agents, in 2020 there is nowhere to hide.

Spiros Alysandratos founded Consolidated Travel in 1967.

IBISWorld estimates Consolidated Travel’s revenue fell 16 percent to $1.25 billion in 2019-20.

Alysandratos is bearish on the travel sector, declining to participate in a capital raising for travel company Helloworld Travel and selling shares, which saw his stake fall to 13.76 percent between May and July.

According to the AFR, Alysandratos’ wealth dropped 14.3 percent this year from $931 million.

Harry Stamoulis and family – Ranked 126, $793 million (manufacturing)

The Stamoulis Property Group came into its own when the late Spiros Stamoulis sold his Gold Medal soft-drink brand to Cadbury-Schweppes in 2004.

The company is now overseen by his son Harry, with major acquisitions including the $91 million Woolworths distribution facility in the Melbourne suburb of Mulgrave and the $125 million One Collins Street tower in the CBD.

The Stamoulis Property Group is overseen by Harry Stamoulis.

Harry’s sister Melina oversees the family-owned Nafsika Stamoulis Hellenic Museum.

A passionate soccer fan, having served as a director of Melbourne Victory, Harry remains involved in a venture to bring an A-League team to Tasmania.

Theo Karedis – Ranked 131, $775 million (retail, property)

The website of Theo Karedis’ Arkadia Property Services still carries its pre-pandemic self-assessment of the worth of its 25 properties: $900 million.

Given half of them are malls or large-format neighbourhood centres, it remains to be seen how much value has been permanently chopped off by e-commerce.

Theo Karedis founded Arkadia Property Services.

Arkadia was founded by Karedis after the $175 million sale of his Theo’s Liquor bottle shops to Coles in 2002, following a bidding war with Woolworths.

Karedis migrated from the Greek island of Kythera, opening a deli in Sydney’s Neutral Bay in 1955. He applied for his first in-store liquor licence in 1979.

Karedis recorded an estimated 4.9 percent drop in his wealth from last year, which was $815 million.

George Koukis – Ranked 146, $715 million (software)

George Koukis migrated from Greece in 1971 with $140 to his name.

He got a job as a Qantas “office boy” in 1973, and his break came when he volunteered to computerise the airline’s managed accounting system.

George Koukis migrated from Greece in 1971.

In 1993, he paid $948,000 for a small Swiss banking software maker, renamed it Temenos, and built it up with the help of venture capital to a 2001 float at a $2.1 billion valuation.

Koukis has gradually sold off his holding to below 3 percent. He left the board in April.

His eponymous aviation software business claims more than 100 installations worldwide.

Kerry Harmanis – Ranked 154, $690 million (resources)

Kerry Harmanis wasted little time in his return to public life since selling Jubilee Mines to resources giant Xstrata for $500 million in 2007.

Kerry Harmanis sold Jubilee Mines to resources giant Xstrata for $500 million in 2007. Photo: Iain Gillespie / The West Australian.

The long-time investor in gold explorer, Talisman Mining, became its chairman in July. By September, a new CEO was in the chair and corporate costs cut. Talisman shares have been flat over the past year despite a roaring gold sector.

It’s a different story for Harmanis’ investment in Capricorn Metals, which is developing a gold project in WA. Its shares have doubled this year.

Harmanis, a meditation devotee, set up Mindful Meditation Australia which sells workshops to businesses and schools.

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