Pediatricians in public and private health sectors will begin administering the COVID-19 vaccine to children aged 12 to 17 from their practice.
The Greek government announced the decision following an online cabinet meeting at Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ office on Tuesday.
“We’re a week before the opening of [public] schools and I believe this is the perfect time to launch a great new effort to increase the vaccination rate among minors,” Mitsotakis says.
He added that “no scientific discovery has extended the human lifespan like the vaccine”.
Σε σύσκεψη με εκπροσώπους παιδιατρικών φορέων εκφράστηκε η ομόφωνη άποψη ότι οι παιδίατροι πρέπει να αναλάβουν πιο ενεργό ρόλο στον εμβολιασμό των νέων 12-17 ετών. Καθώς πλησιάζει το άνοιγμα των σχολείων πρέπει να κάνουμε μία μεγάλη προσπάθεια να αυξήσουμε τα ποσοστά εμβολιασμού. pic.twitter.com/Do09KhsMNg
President of Greece’s vaccination committee, Maria Theodoridou, says the support of pediatricians is “crucial”.
“Because pediatricians often play the role of family doctor for many Greek families, they will be asked whether children should be vaccinated or not, so their support is crucial,” she says.
Sotiris Tsiodras is an infectious disease expert advising the government on its COVID-19 policy and says children in the age bracket can play “a catalytic role in controlling the pandemic”.
“The high transmissibility of the Delta variant also concerns our children, which is why it is so important that measures for preventing the spread of the virus are upheld at schools,” he says.
Maria Sakkari defeated Bianca Andreescu in an epic 3.5 hour duel today to become the first Greek tennis player to qualify for the quarterfinals of the US Open.
Sakkari defeated Andreescu 6-7 (2), 7-6 (6), 6-3 in the last match of the fourth round of the US Open.
The marathon match ended at nearly 2:15 am (ET). The previous women’s record was a 1:48 am finish for a first-round match in 2016 in which Madison Keys beat Alison Riske; three men’s matches have wrapped up at 2:26 am.
“I told my team I was prepared for a 7-6 in the third. With Bianca, it would never be a 6-4, 6-1. Because she fights for every point, I knew it was going to be a tough match,” Sakkari said after the match.
It will be her second Grand Slam quarterfinal and comes just 3 months after her first, which was at Roland Garros, where she reached the semifinals.
Sakkari will face two-time Grand Slam runner-up Karolina Pliskova in the quarterfinals.
After 43 years of serving Adelaidians with the finest steak and managing his business with passion and dedication, Stratos Pouras, 84, is today one of the state’s longest running restaurant owners and a powerful specimen of exemplary men in hospitality.
Like many Greek Australian success stories, it all started with a suitcase and the will to prosper in a country away from post WWII and civil-war torn, Greece.
Born in Kokkinia, a suburb in the southwestern part of Athens in 1934, Stratos Pouras migrated to Adelaide with his father in January 1953.
“My mother had siblings already settled in Adelaide and although my father was a carpenter and was busy in Athens the spirit was to always go to a better place with more opportunities,” said Mr Pouras, owner of Stratos’ Cork and Cleaver.
“We didn’t come as assisted migrants. We had to pay about 250 British Pounds for a one-way ticket from Patra to Melbourne.”
His mother, brother and sister followed later in the year after they sold the family home in Athens.
The owner of Stratos’ Cork and Cleaver, Stratos Pouras. Photos: The Greek Herald/Argyro Vourdoumpa
‘I had nothing to do with restaurants’
A fifteen-year-old boy back then with no word of English, Mr Pouras says he didn’t find the first years in Australia hard. Soon after his arrival he started working at his uncle’s deli and cake shop located in Adelaide’s once bustling and affable Hindley Street.
“My uncle, Milton Hatzivasiliou owned two shops, opposite to each other. An old-fashioned deli on one side called ‘Stones’ and Milton’s Cakes on the other. This is where I learned English,” said Mr Pouras.
Some years later, young Stratos wanted to progress his career and got a job at Woolworths. In the meantime, he got married to his late wife Evdokia and their family was about to grow.
“I needed more funds to sustain our growing family and went to the employment office to request a pay increase or more work. They told me I was already getting paid 3 pounds more than other employees and that I should wait for a management position to become available but I knew I had no chances,” Mr Pouras said.
Photo L: Sigalas Milk Bar Photo courtesy ‘The Advertiser’ Newspaper, from the “In Their Own Image: Greek-Australians” National Project Archives, Macquarie University, Sydney. Photo R: Evdokia and Stratos Pouras
But life had other plans for ambitious Stratos Pouras.
“On that same day when I went out to lunch I ran into Steve Vidale. His family owned Sigalas Milk Bar, which was an institution in the 60s. I told him I was looking for a part time job. He said he only had an opening for a waiter at the restaurant located above the Milk Bar.
“I had nothing to do with restaurants but I thought to try. By the end of the first day, I knew what I would be doing for the rest of my life.”
Mr Pouras still praises the chef and the Hungarian head waiter who helped him make his first steps into an industry that later on became his life.
For the last 43 years, Stratos Pouras has been putting in twelve hour days. Photo taken in 1994. Courtesy of Dennis Rogers
The birth of Stratos’ Cork and Cleaver
In 1965, the Hungarian Head waiter left Sigalas’ restaurant to become manager at the Arkaba Hotel that had just opened a year before.
“He kept calling me, telling me a Head Waiter’s job was waiting for me at the Arkaba and although I found it hard to leave Steve [Sigalas] who gave me opportunities I decided to take the job,” said Mr Pouras.
“I met people and made many contacts there. At some point I got a call from two people who wanted to start a restaurant. I had no money but I knew how to manage a hospitality business successfully and so I accepted the challenge.
“In February 1967 we opened Swains Seafood Restaurant which soon became a roaring success. We had a good formula that was working.”
To complement the seafood restaurant, the partners later on decided to open a steak restaurant.
Stratos’ Cork and Cleaver in Glenunga. Photo: The Greek Herald/Argyro Vourdoumpa
“John Swain had a friend from America, John Short, who was visiting Adelaide at the time. He said there was a steakhouse chain in the US called Cork and Cleaver and he suggested that we visit the restaurant in Tucson, Arizona.
“Within a week my wife and I were having dinner in Arizona. I saw what they did, I liked it and in early September 1978, Stratos’ Cork and Cleaver was born and again we had the same success as with Swains.”
Stratos Pouras, August 2021. Photo: The Greek Herald/Argyro Vourdoumpa
The partnership came to an end in 1988, but Mr Pouras who has been running the restaurant since day one bought his partners out and kept on working.
For the last 43 years, Stratos Pouras has been putting in twelve hour days.
When asked what motivates him to keep working he doesn’t need to think much.
“A restaurant is a living spirit. This is my life. I have three daughters, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild and between this restaurant and the family, my life is full.”
Stratos Pouras surrounded by his children, grand children and great grand child. Photo: supplied
The first boss of SA’s next Governor
Stratos’ Cork and Cleaver is not only known for its good service, fine steaks and soutzoukakia that are served to the diners free of charge with hot bread and virgin olive oil as soon as they sit down.
The Greek’s restaurant is embedded in memories of generations of South Australians and became the first job place for many of the state’s well-known personalities.
“I think this story will be of interest to you,” Mr Pouras tells me as we are ready to wrap up the interview.
“In the early 80s a very polite blonde girl came in to ask for a job. She was holding a folder with her academic records and birth certificate. She told me her names was Frances Adamson. Her mother, Jennifer Adamson, was the then Minister for Health and tourism in the Tonkin Government and a customer of ours,” he said.
Stratos Pouras was the first boss of South Australia’s next Governor. Photo: The Greek Herald/Argyro Vourdoumpa
“I hired her and she started waitressing. She was very clever. After 2-3 years she told me that she would go to Canberra to study political science. She left, but her mother kept coming and through her I was learning about Frances.”
Next month, Frances Adamson who is considered one of Australia’s most accomplished and respected public servants and diplomats will become South Australia’s new Governor succeeding Hieu Van Le.
“My little girl will be our Governor,” Mr Pouras says proudly as he holds a laminated paper clipping from a local newspaper announcing Adamson’s appointment.
Photo L: Stratos with his grandson Tom Boutsis. Photo R: Jim and Christine Boutsis
I ask him what the future holds for the business but Stratos Pouras knows the legacy will continue through his daughters, Elli, Christine, Diana, son-in-law Jim and his grandchildren who are by his side.
His advice for generations to come;
“Love what you do, be soft with people but tough in business, love your staff equally and work hard,” he says.
Sydney FC and Bank of Sydney are excited to announce a new commercial partnership.
Bank of Sydney is dedicated to forging strong relationships with customers and community groups looking for a personal, rewarding banking experience. The deal represents a major alignment with a sports club.
“It’s a great partnership between two proud Sydney institutions,” Sydney FC Chief Executive Officer, Danny Townsend, said.
Sydney FC and Bank of Sydney announce new major commercial partnership. Photo supplied.
“Sydney FC and Bank of Sydney have a shared focus on serving their people and their communities in Sydney, New South Wales and Australia. With our dual focus I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together in this space.”
Bank of Sydney Chief Executive Officer, Miltos Michaelas, is extremely happy to be joining the Sky Blue family.
“We’re really excited that our major sports partnership is with Australia’s most successful football club,” he said.
Bank of Sydney’s logo will appear on the front of the Sydney FC’s A-League shorts. Photo supplied.
“Like Sydney FC, we’re committed to diversity, inclusiveness and supporting our customers. Our plan is to combine our efforts and ensure we are both serving our community to the best of our ability.”
“I can’t wait for the season and our work together to begin, and I’m looking forward to a great couple of years.”
Over the next two seasons, Bank of Sydney’s logo will appear on the front of the Sydney FC’s A-League shorts, they will be involved in Home Game activations and will provide a supportive digital presence to the Sydney FC audience.
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC, Governor of New South Wales, had a videoconference with the Consul-General of Greece in Sydney, Mr Christos Karras, on September 6, 2021.
Her Excellency was accompanied by Mr Dennis Wilson and the Official Secretary, Mr Michael Miller RFD. The Consul-General was accompanied by the Trade Commissioner of Greece in Australia, Mrs Katia Gkikiza.
File photo of a 2020 meeting between the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC, Governor of New South Wales (centre), the Consul-General of Greece in Sydney, Mr Christos Karras (left) and the Trade Commissioner of Greece in Australia, Mrs Katia Gkikiza (right).
The two sides discussed a number of topics of common interest, focusing on the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, its impact on the Greek-Australian community and the importance of vaccination for protecting ourselves and the broader NSW community.
Her Excellency the Governor of New South Wales also had the opportunity to extend her deep condolences on the recent passing of the great Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis.
Everyone from the Greek diaspora will remember that iconic scene from the 1964 film, Zorba the Greek, where Alexis (Anthony Quinn) teached Basil (Alan Bates) how to dance the sirtaki on a Cretan beach.
Everyone will also remember who composed the music for that iconic scene – the legendary Mikis Theodorakis, who passed away last week at the age of 96.
This scene and Theodorakis himself hold an extra special place in the heart of Greek Australians, many of whom got to meet the man himself in 1972 when he toured Australia.
“Never before in the history of Greeks in Australia has there been such an immense and spontaneous popular excitation for the Greece of struggle, justice and beauty as has happened during the Theodorakis concerts,” The Communist Party of Australia said in a statement at the time, according to The Conversation.
A few years after his tour, Zorba becoming a mainstay at multicultural festivals such as Melborune’s Lonsdale Street Greek Festival, and other events like the Sydney Olympics and at the NRL’s multicultural round.
But according to The Conversation, the most famous rendition of the dance came from an unexpected source.
In 2007, a group of young Yolngu dancers from Elcho Island made global headlines. The Chooky Dancers (later renamed Djuki Mala) became famous when Frank Djirrimbilpilwuy uploaded a video of the men dancing in sync to a pop techno remix of Zorba.
As a way of saying thank you to a Greek friend named Liliane, the dance strengthened the relationship between Yolngu people and the Northern Territory’s Greek community.
The video went viral with Djuki Mala performing their hit on Australia’s Got Talent and touring Europe and the Middle East, including an invitation from Theodorakis’ family to dance in Athens.
If that’s not a clear example of the way Greek Australian culture has become firmly part of the fabric of modern Australia, we don’t know what is!
A controversial quarry operation is using land and water inside a South Australian conservation park, according to The Advertiser.
The leader of Residents Against White Rock Quarry, Demetrios Bastiras, says the community group have discovered 7.5 hectares of the land used by mining company, Hanson Australia, is actually part of Horsnell Gully Conservation Park.
“The apparent destruction of Horsnell Gully Conservation Park by Heidelberg Cement Group’s Hanson White Rock Quarry is completely unacceptable, whether licensed or not,” Mr Bastiras said.
“If there is any illegal activity whatsoever, we demand an immediate revocation of their right to mine anywhere within the private mine boundary, let alone in the Conservation Park.
Rusty machines dumped in Horsnell Conservation Park. Picture: Tom Huntley.
“We demand that the destruction of the area concerned is reversed, and that the area be rehabilitated.”
A spokeswoman for the Energy and Mining Department said use of the land as part of the quarry operation “predates” the Horsnell Gully Conservation Park.
“The existing (Environment Department) lease permits use of the land for ancillary quarry activities such as water supply and stockpiles… There is no active mining of quarry material within the lease area,” she said.
Hanson Australia said in a statement: “Hanson has a current and longstanding agreement to use a small portion of Horsnell Gully Conservation Park for water retention and stockpiling.”
NSW clubs are making preparations to open their doors to vaccinated patrons from mid-October as they await the green light from the state government.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the industry recently submitted a reopening plan to the government and Clubs NSW CEO, Josh Landis, said this plan had been accepted by NSW Health. The agreement on timing is still to come.
Mr Landis added that he was confident it would be back to business as usual this Christmas.
“We are preparing to open both indoors and outdoors to fully vaccinated patrons when we hit 70 per cent vaccination early to mid-October,” Mr Landis told The Daily Telegraph.
Landis (left) and Batch Brewing Company owner, Andrew Fineran, at the brewery in Marrickville. Picture: Jonathan Ng.
“Then we expect to open to everyone else when we hit 80 per cent.
“We understand that in the next couple of months there will be more than enough vaccines for anyone that wants to get vaccinated to get vaccinated so by Christmas, there should be no excuse for further restrictions to apply because everyone will have limited their risk – unless they have chosen to be unvaccinated, in which case that’s their decision and they will bear the possible consequences.”
Landis hopes to reopen NSW Clubs to vaccinated patrons from mid-October.
As part of the first phase of reopening, patrons would be required to show their vaccination status to a door person, Mr Landis said.
He said the reopening plan had been reviewed by a professor of epidemiology enlisted by Clubs NSW who was an expert in infectious diseases, and was well-known and respected by NSW Health.
Mr Landis said the epidemiologist had said it was already safe to open outdoor areas.
The pilots of the two French Rafale fighter aircraft and the “Patrouille de France” aerobatic display team bid farewell to the city of Athens on Monday.
🇫🇷 🇬🇷 Σήμερα Δευτέρα 6/09, τα δύο αεροπλάνα #Rafale &το ακροβατικό σμήνος της Γαλλικής Αεροπορίας «Patrouille de France» πέταξαν πάνω από την #Αθήνα για να αποχαιρετήσουν την Ελλάδα, σχηματίζοντας στον ουρανό τα χρώματα της 🇬🇷 πάνω από την Ακρόπολη @FranceenGrece@PAFofficielpic.twitter.com/Yumrq0xKaN
They flew in formation above the Acropolis, while releasing smoke in the colors of the Greek flag. They were accompanied by the Greek F-16 Zeus.
The French aerobatic team was in Athens to participate in the Athens Flying Week air show, held at the Tanagra air base on September 4-5.
At the Athens Flying Week, audiences were able to watch the French Rafale, and the original Warbird and the Greek Spitfire, as well as the flying ‘dance’ of the Patrouille de France and of the Saudi Hawks, the Greek F-16 Zeus and the Danish F-16 Solo Display, the RC Kavala Acro Team and the Twilight Flying Display by Italian Luca Bertossio.
Η @HAFspokesman για ακόμη μια φορά, μας εντυπωσίασε στην 114 Πτέρυγα Μάχης στην Τανάγρα και στο “Athens Flying Week 2021”, αλλά και αεροσκάφη συμμαχικών χωρών. Εντυπωσιασμένος από το μαχητικό αεροσκάφος “Rafale”. Μια δυνατή πρόβα για αυτά που έρχονται. https://t.co/8qcVrk1PJ9pic.twitter.com/UAQFt941Ox
Regional and international issues of mutual interest, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East and Afghanistan, were discussed during a meeting between Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and visiting US Senators, Chris Murphy and Jon Ossoff, on Monday.
Greeting the two senators, Mitsotakis commented that relations between Greece and the United States were “going from strength to strength on all fronts: security, defense, geopolitics and economics.”
According to government sources, the meeting reaffirmed the excellent level of bilateral relations between Athens and Washington.
Mitsotakis and the two Senators also explored the possibilities for their further deepening and expansion in areas such as defense cooperation, investments in strategic infrastructure and cooperation in energy and the environment.
They also discussed the government’s planned reforms of the Greek state and economy.
Mitsotakis outlined the recent developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and analysed Greece’s role as a pillar of stability and security in the wider region, via cooperation schemes with joint partners, such as Cyprus, Israel and Egypt. Regarding Afghanistan, the prime minister stressed that those fleeing the country should stay as close to their homes as possible.
Pleased to discuss with Senators @ChrisMurphyCT and @ossoff the excellent ongoing relationship between Greece and the US. We see great potential to further expand and deepen our cooperation on all fronts: security, defense, geopolitics, energy, the economy. pic.twitter.com/oTMb3vDkk1
The meeting also addressed the progress of the US-Greece Defense and Interparliamentary Partnership Act that is currently in Congress, which will strengthen Greek-US cooperation even further. It also examined the changes in the US-Greece Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement that are currently being negotiated.
Participants in the meeting on the Greek side include Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister for Economic Diplomacy Kostas Fragogiannis, the head of the PM’s diplomatic office Ambassador Eleni Sourani, deputy government spokesperson Aristotelia Peloni and the head of the PM’s Economic Office Alexis Patelis. It was also attended by US Ambassador in Athens Geoffrey Pyatt.
The Senators met with Greek Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias, earlier on Monday and also discussed further strengthening strategic relationships between both countries. Dendias is due to visit Washington in the coming months.
