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Greg Hunt MP praises Greek community for pop-up vax hubs in Prahran and Brunswick

The Greek Herald
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Greg Hunt MP praises Greek community for pop-up vax hubs in Prahran and Brunswick

The recently announced vaccination popup hubs being run by the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) in Prahran and Brunswick have received support and encouragement by the Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Greg Hunt.

“In collaboration with Melbourne Primary Health Networks and the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne, the Australian Government is proud to be supporting a mass vaccination activity in the coming weeks,” Minister Hunt said.

“We anticipate that some 2,000 people will be vaccinated over the coming month at these pop-up clinics in key locations in Melbourne. This activity forms a part of the Government’s commitment to ensuring timely vaccinations for all people, including some of our most vulnerable communities including people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

“I would like to commend and thank Mr Bill Papastergiadis OAM and the Victorian and Melbourne Greek Orthodox Community for their support and leadership in this life saving effort to ensure as many people as possible are vaccinated in their community.”

Bill Papastergiadis (left) with Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt.

Following the success of the vaccine pop-up at the GCM’s St George Church in Thornbury, the GCM sought further support to extend its vaccinations program aimed in part at vulnerable community members.

Two Pfizer programs have been supported by the Australian Government’s Department of Health via the PHN:

  • Wednesday, October 20 to Saturday, October 23 at St Demetrios church in Prahran; and
  • October 30 and 31 at St Eleftherios in Brunswick.

The vaccination hubs aim to help Victoria reach its vaccination goals faster by targeting local communities.

The President of the GCM, Mr Bill Papastergiadis OAM said: “We are working with the Federal Government and Minister Hunt on bringing vaccinations closer to our communities. This is an important step in protecting lives and opening up society so that we can once again spend time with our loved ones here and abroad.”

Greg Hunt MP has praised the GCM for pop-up vax hubs in Prahran and Brunswick.

“We thank Minister Hunt for working with the Greek Community of Melbourne on this initiative. At all times the Minister has been accessible and friendly in his dealings with us. He has demonstrated a real commitment on making this initiative happen. He has personally involved himself to ensure it’s success.”

The Windsor hub is being run by medical staff from the Port Melbourne Medical Centre, who also run a pop up centre at the Port Melbourne Football Club.

As with the GCM’s earlier Thornbury effort, the Hellenic Medical Society of Australia (HMSA) will once again be supporting the Prahran and Brunswick initiatives by provide Greek speaking doctors at each location.

The president of the HMSA and GCM Board member, A/Prof Marinis Pirpiris, encouraged the community to get vaccinated saying “vaccinations have never been more accessible.”

“The Federal Government initiative is aimed to provide culturally and linguistically diverse communities an ability to get vaccinated in a hub that is convenient. The community hubs provide information in a format that addresses concerns in a culturally inclusive manner by addressing cultural and social concerns in a patient centered approach,” he noted. 

A pop-up vaccination clinic will also be set up at St Eleftherios Greek Orthodox church in Brunswick.

“The Greek Community of Melbourne and the Hellenic Medical Society of Australia are committed to providing information and access to vaccines for the members of our community to make informed and timely decision related to their health.

“Please book and come and visit the hubs. There will be health care workers and doctors to answer your questions and concerns. The vaccines help provide everyone with an ability to protect your families, loved ones, friends and colleagues from serious illness and death from COVID-19.” 

The Windsor vaccination pop-up hub at St Demetrios Church Hall at 380 High Street, Prahran, will be held on Wednesday, October 20 to Saturday, October 23.

Bookings are essential and can be made via the following link: https://bit.ly/GOCVaxHub or by calling 03 9662 2722 (Mon – Fri). 

Please note that walk-ups will not be accepted.

Information and registration details about the Brunswick vaccination pop-up at St Eleftherios church hall on Saturday, October 30 and Sunday, October 31 will follow.

COVID vaccination certificates for international travel to be available on MyGov from Tuesday

The Greek Herald
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COVID vaccination certificates for international travel to be available on MyGov from Tuesday

Australians travelling overseas will finally be able to download an international COVID-19 certificate to prove their vaccination status before they board a plane.

Fully vaccinated travellers with a valid passport will be able access the certificate, which will be recognised internationally, from Tuesday through their MyGov account or Medicare.

The International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificates work in a similar fashion to existing vaccine certificates, but they have added QR codes that can be scanned by foreign border officials.

Australians travelling overseas will finally be able to download an international COVID-19 certificate to prove their vaccination status.

“If you travel overseas, and that overseas country requires proof of your vaccination status, you will have a copy of it,” Employment Minister Stuart Robert said.

“You may not have to use it — there may be many countries you’ll visit that have no requirement to demonstrate you’ve been vaccinated.

“But the last thing the government wants for Australians when they travel overseas is to be stuck overseas because they can’t prove they’ve been vaccinated.”

The documents are linked to a physical passport, with people asked to provide their passport details when they request the document from Medicare.

Scott Morrison announced international travel restrictions would start to ease from the beginning of November for fully vaccinated Australians. 

The certificate is then sent to the person who requested it, and they can print it off or store it as a file on their smartphone.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced international travel restrictions would start to ease from the beginning of November for fully vaccinated Australians. 

In NSW, international travel to and from Sydney will resume for Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family members from November 1 with no quarantine requirements for those who are fully vaccinated.

Source: ABC News.

German chancellor, Angela Merkel, to visit Athens on October 29

The Greek Herald
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German chancellor, Angela Merkel, to visit Athens on October 29

A visit by outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Athens has been finalised for October 29.

The Chancellor had been invited to Greece by Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, during the European Union Slovenia summit. Chancellor Merkel accepted the invitation on the spot but there was no date fixed.

On the practical level, the visit is important as Merkel remains a key player in the European Union until a government is formed and a new chancellor steps in for Berlin.

READ MORE: German chancellor, Angela Merkel, due in Athens for farewell visit.

Angela Merkel to visit Athens on October 29.

But it is its symbolic significance that is drawing attention in Greece, where Merkel worked with seven successive prime ministers, including Mitsotakis.

Before relinquishing the chancellorship, Merkel has been visiting several other countries. On Saturday, Merkel visited Istanbul and met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In a joint press conference, the chancellor stressed the importance of maintaining exploratory talks between Greece and Turkey for the resolution of outstanding differences.

Source: Ekathimerini.

Greek Orthodox church of Thomastown in Victoria listed as Tier 1 exposure site

The Greek Herald
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Greek Orthodox church of Thomastown in Victoria listed as Tier 1 exposure site

The Greek Orthodox Church of Thomastown in Melbourne’s north is among the latest additions to Victoria’s COVID-19 exposure sites list.

The Transfiguration of Our Lord church had a case visit on October 10 from 8.30am to 1pm. Anyone who was at the church during that time needs to get a COVID-19 test and quarantine for 14 days.

Other new tier 1 venues include:

  • Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa, Sanctuary Mineral Bathing Area between 1pm and 2.30pm on October 10
  • Bendigo Wholefoods Cafe between 7am and 4.30pm on October 9.
The Transfiguration of Our Lord church in Thomastown has been listed as a tier 1 exposure site.

Victoria’s new roadmap out of lockdown:

This news comes as Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, announced on Sunday that Melbourne will officially leave lockdown at 11.59pm on Thursday as the state hits its 70 per cent vaccine milestone.

Under the new road map, there will be no travel limit across metropolitan Melbourne and 10 visitors, including dependants, will be allowed to visit a home per day.

In Melbourne, the curfew will go and the 15-kilometre travel radius will be lifted, but travel restrictions between Melbourne and regional Victoria will remain in place.

Victoria’s staggered return to school will commence this Friday, earlier than previously planned. Early childhood education and childcare will be open for children of vaccinated parents.z

Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, announced on Sunday that Melbourne will officially leave lockdown at 11.59pm on Thursday.

In the hospitality realm, venues will be open for indoor food and drink service but only for a maximum of 20 fully vaccinated customers.

Outdoor community sport will be allowed again for training only (no competition) for the minimum number required.

Outdoor swimming pools will be open for up to 50 fully vaccinated people and zoos will open at 25 per cent capacity for fully vaccinated visitors.

Weddings will be allowed for up to 20 fully vaccinated people or 10 unvaccinated people indoors and 50 fully vaccinated people or 20 unvaccinated people outdoors subject to density limits.

Restrictions are easing in Victoria. Photo: ABC News / Danielle Bonica.

General retail will be open for outdoor service only plus click and collect, while hairdressing will be open for up to five fully vaccinated people.

Premier Andrews said on Sunday he’s proud of the community for taking actions which made the reopening possible.

“I could not be more proud of our community for coming forward and making these decisions to protect themselves, to protect the people they love, and to protect all of us against this global pandemic,” he said.

Weather, protest cloud Beijing flame-lighting rehearsal in Ancient Olympia

The Greek Herald
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Weather, protest cloud Beijing flame-lighting rehearsal in Ancient Olympia

A sunburst at the overcast birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games in Greece was too short-lived to light the backup flame for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Sunday’s dress rehearsal.

It was the second blip of the day, after two protesters were detained on the Acropolis in Athens trying to raise a banner to draw attention to human-rights abuses in China.

There has been widespread international criticism of China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims in the northwest region of Xinjiang, as well as its crackdown on protesters in Hong Kong and its policies toward Tibet and Taiwan.

A sunburst at the overcast birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games in Greece was too short-lived to light the backup flame. Photo: Reuters / Alkis Konstantinidis.

But the International Olympic Committee has shied away from the issue, saying it’s out of its remit.

The question of the weather over Olympia is simpler. Greek organisers have another backup flame lit in advance if the traditional way, using a bowl-shaped mirror to focus the sun’s rays on a torch, fails again due to clouds disrupting the ceremony on Monday.

Health measures for the second pandemic flame-lighting at Ancient Olympia, in the southern Peloponnese region, mean that much of the normal pageantry is being trimmed back. There will be no spectators on Monday, and only three runners will take part in a symbolic relay that would normally have lasted days.

Skier Ioannis Antoniou, the first torch bearer, holds an olive branch during the final rehearsal for the lighting of the Olympic flame at Ancient Olympia site. Photo: AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis.

The flame will be taken to Athens and handed over to Beijing organisers on Tuesday at the renovated ancient stadium where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896.

Protest at the Acropolis:

Earlier Sunday, two activists attempted to hang a banner from the scaffolding on the Acropolis before being detained. Human rights activists had also staged protests during the flame-lighting ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Games, and disrupted the international torch relay.

Protesters shout slogans as they climb on scaffolding at the Acropolis hill, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, October 17, 2021. Photo: AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis.

The women, 18-year-old Tibetan student, Tsela Zoksang, and 22-year-old exiled Hong Kong activist, Joey Siu, both American citizens, are members of the “No Beijing 2022” campaign, the New York-based organisation Students for a Free Tibet said.

A security officer took the banner away, but the activists remained on the scaffolding and deployed a Tibetan flag and a smaller banner proclaiming, “Free Hong Kong Revolution.” They also chanted slogans including “Free Tibet,” “Boycott Beijing 2022” and “No freedom, no Games,” before police arrived and detained them.

Protests are not allowed on the Acropolis — which has not stopped several from being held over the years by groups ranging from Communist unionists to soccer fans.

The Beijing Winter Games will run from February 4-20. Only spectators from mainland China will be allowed to attend. Everyone at the Olympics — including athletes — will be expected to be vaccinated, or else have to spend 21 days in quarantine.

The Paralympics are set to follow from March 4-13.

Source: AP News.

Water bombers and crew return to Australia after fighting wildfires across Greece

Andriana Simos
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Water bombers and crew return to Australia after fighting wildfires across Greece

After 155 flight hours, 986 water-bombing operations, and more than 2,460 tonnes of water dropped, four water-bombing helicopters and 20 crew members have been redeployed back to Australia from Greece.

The Four Bell 214BI water-bombing helicopters owned and operated by McDermott Aviation Group, along with a crew of 20 pilots, translators and engineers, were donated by industrial group Mytilineos to the Greek fire-fighting and civil protection authorities for a period of two months.

  • Australian crew at the farewell ceremony.
  • Photos: Facebook.

READ MORE: Mytilineos sources helicopters and crew from Australia to fight fires in Greece.

“Mytilineos has proven over time that it is always present during difficult times of our country. This disaster has shocked us all,” Vivian Bouzali, General Manager of Communications and Strategic Marketing at Mytilineos, told The Greek Herald in August.

“These helicopters, with a cost of 3.3 million euros, fully covered by Mytilineos will remain in our country for two months. Until the last spark that threatens our homeland goes out.”

  • Bell 214BI water-bombing helicopter.
  • Crew.

READ MORE: Australian helicopters arrive in Athens and prepare to fight wildfires across Greece.

And so with a moving ceremony, the Greek authorities, Mytilineos, and Consul Sue Parkes, bode farewell to the crews and Australian helicopters that assisted in the Greek firefighting efforts over the summer.

“A big thank you to the authorities and Mytilineos SA for their confidence in fire-fighting capability. A big thank you to the crews for their efforts to support Greek firefighters and the local communities,” the Australian Embassy in Greece said in a Facebook statement.

St. George Mining executive chairman John Prineas discusses new diamond drilling project in WA

The Greek Herald
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St. George Mining executive chairman John Prineas discusses new diamond drilling project in WA

St George Mining (SGQ) has begun diamond drilling at its flagship Mount Alexander Project in Western Australia.

SGQ executive chairman John Prineas says he is excited to begin drilling at Mt. Alexander. 

“We are delighted to resume diamond drilling at Mt Alexander, particularly given the portfolio of exciting nickel-copper sulphide targets that we have identified and lined up for drilling,” Mr. Prineas commented.

Four holes will initially be drilled to test deep nickel-copper sulphide targets with further drilling to be planned based upon the review of the results.

Drilling will focus on a combination of offhole and electromagnetic conductors.

According to the company, these are compelling targets with strong potential to make further nickel-copper discoveries at Mt Alexander.

“This area remains underexplored and only lightly drilled, providing an opportunity for further drilling to deliver exciting discoveries to expand the mineralised footprint that we have identified at Mt Alexander,” Mr. Prineas said.

Source: The Market Herald

Beijing Games torch lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia facing boycott

The Greek Herald
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Beijing Games torch lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia facing boycott

The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics is set to hold its spectator-less ceremonial torch-lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia on Monday. 

The event is being met with opposition as rights groups and US lawmakers call on the International Olympic Committee to postpone the Games. 

Hundreds of Greek police officers are expected to lock down the town for the weekend in a bid to ensure there are no disruptions to the ceremony.

Activists opposing the event call on China to end what the US deems ongoing genocide against Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups.

Chinese authorities have been accused of facilitating forced labor by detaining around a million Uyghurs and other primarily Muslim minorities in camps since 2016.

China denies wrongdoing, saying it has set up vocational training centers to combat extremism.

Next week’s ceremony in Olympia, the site of the ancient Games, will be held without spectators and only a limited media presence due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

They then disrupted the relay start in Olympia, marking the beginning of months of international protests.

“There is heightened mobility of the Greek police regarding the Beijing torch lighting, especially compared to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics,” a Greek official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters.

“The scenario of potential disruption is obviously being seriously considered by police.”

Human rights groups, without revealing details, have told Reuters they will be present in Greece during the ceremonies to highlight China’s human rights record and to call again on the IOC to stop the Games.

The IOC is also facing criticism for awarding two Olympics to China in a span of 14 years despite what rights groups say are no improvements in the human rights situation since the 2008 Games.

But IOC Vice-President John Coates defended the Olympic body’s stance on Wednesday.

“The IOC’s remit is to ensure that there is no human rights abuses in respect of the conduct of the Games within the National Olympic Committees or within the Olympic movement,” he said.

“We have no ability to go into a country and tell them what to do. All we can do is to award the Olympics to a country, under conditions set out in a host contract … and then ensure they are followed.”

Source: Ekathimerini

‘Hub of Melbourne’s creative scene’: Greek Australians on the Nicholas Building

The Greek Herald
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‘Hub of Melbourne’s creative scene’: Greek Australians on the Nicholas Building

The creative community was shocked when The Nicholas building was listed for sale in June. 

Former staff members of the heritage-listed building are pleading for potential buyers to keep using the space as a hub for artists. 

Architect Christie Pestinis told The Guardian the building is a ‘really important’ part of Melbourne’s creative scene. 

“People are proud and happy to be there – and everyone has a story about the building,” Pestinis says.

“It’s the hub of Melbourne’s creative scene.”

“It’s always had incredibly diverse occupants.”

Dimitri ‘Dimi’ Bradas was a lift operator in the building between 2006 and 2013. He also spoke with The Guardian about his experience working at the building.

“I used to sculpt and draw. While being a lift attendant I’d be working on my own drawings in the lift, in the corner. I was in my own fantasy land,” Bradas says.

“I would just sit and draw. I would draw in the mornings when it was quiet. Then I’d pack it up when it got busy and later in the afternoons I would draw again. And eventually, I had a studio there in the building.

“I made good, lasting friendships from the building.”

Source: The Guardian

‘Utter joy’: Maeve O’Meara on her travels to Greece

The Greek Herald
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‘Utter joy’: Maeve O’Meara on her travels to Greece

Food Safari presenter Maeve O’Mara grew infatuated with Greek life and culture as a young adult. 

She says reading books about ancient Greek legends and tales captured her imagination as a young child.

“As a child growing up in the white-bread suburbs of Sydney, I adored reading books about Greek myths and legends.” 

“One book, Tales of the Greek Heroes, opens with the most astounding description of Greece with its ‘towering mountains sloping steeply into the bluest of blue seas’ and ‘valleys green and silver with the leaves of a million olive trees’.

“It captured my imagination and I couldn’t wait to see it for myself the first chance I got.” 

She eventually set off, aged 20, for the quiet forests of Corfu and the vibrant buoyancy of Cretan beaches. 

“…I felt utterly beguiled by its people, its landscape and its food as I travelled on a Eurail pass between islands,” O’Mara says.

“Most times, the ferry was met by locals offering rooms in their homes. What utter joy to enter a Greek home and be welcomed into the ebb and flow of Greek island life.”

“Over the decades that followed, I have returned to the Greek Islands many times, enjoying the freedom of hiring motor scooters and zipping around winding roads to perfect secret beaches, that incredible water so clear and buoyant you feel like a superhero and can swim forever. Santorini was the first island to capture my heart but, over the years, I’ve also grown fond of the tiny island of Folegandros, as well as Limnos.”

“That said, no matter which island you go to, you’ll get caught up in philoxenia, the Greek spirit of hospitality.”

“I’ve been taking travellers to Greece now for 20 years, each time introducing them to that special philoxenia across four islands, including Evia, Lesvos, Limnos and Chios. Some of my favourite places to visit? Stay at Fanari Villas in Santorini and the stylish Anemomilos on Folegandros, enjoy lobster folmari at Giannakaros Fish Taverna in Kotsinas, Limnos, and hike around Paleochora on the south coast of Crete. A walking track winds through rocky gorges and takes you to hidden beaches. Swim wherever you can – the colour, the buoyancy, it’s something you’ll remember forever.”

Source: Traveller

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