Health authorities in Greece say there have been 97 new coronavirus cases since Thursday, of which 52 were in the last 24 hours, the biggest daily increase since April 23.
Thirty of the 97 cases involve travellers from aboard, authorites said.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases is now at 3,049 and there have also been two new fatalities, raising the total to 182.
“Anyone who thinks we have gotten rid of the coronavirus is wrong,” head of Civil Protection Nikos Hardalias warned and urged citizens to stay on alert and keep abiding by social distancing measures.
“The virus is in decline, but this doesn’t mean it’s gone.”
The spike in cases has led to the decision to resume daily briefings, or announcements, which had been abandoned in what now seems like a premature move.
On 9 June 1918, a young Greek Australian boy, Hector Vasyli, was fatally injured in a shocking accident.
The 11-year-old was among a crowd of people welcoming sick and injured soldiers en route to a military hospital at Kangaroo Point, when a vehicle swerved into him near Brisbane’s Victoria Bridge to avoid ramming another car in the procession.
Hector was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment for a fractured skull but died before getting help.
Despite such a short life, Hector, a newspaper boy and dedicated altar boy, was well known amongst the Queensland community, particularly for his patriotism.
According to the State Library of Queensland’s senior research librarian, Christina Ealing-Godbold, Hector nearly reached saint status following the accident because of his actions before he was hit.
The site where Hector Vasyli is buried. Source: Grave Tales.
“Hector had a habit of collecting his pocket money and spending it on cigarettes, chocolates and flowers to give to the returning troops,” Ealing-Godbold told the ABC.
“We might look back and think cigarettes weren’t good for these injured soldiers, and chocolate was probably worse, but in those days it was just a sign of respect and knowing the luxuries they missed out on during the war.”
Ms Ealing-Godbold added that Hector’s parents ran the Queensland Oyster Palace in South Brisbane, only a short distance from Victoria Bridge, and consequently, Hector would have been used to dodging trams, horse-drawn buses and the occasional car.
“He had, on many occasions, stood on the bridge and thrown cigarettes and chocolates at previous returned soldiers’ processions. I think it’s probably just a very tragic accident he was at the spot he was at the time,” she said.
A memorial to Hector Vasyli can be found on Brisbane’s Victoria Bridge.
Symbol of Patriotism:
Every year on ANZAC Day, members of Brisbane’s Greek community still lay wreaths at a stone tablet commemorating Hector’s short life.
The memorial, fixed on an abutment at the southern end of the bridge, carries a likeness of the boy’s face cast in metal and an inscription that reads:
“During his brief sojourn on earth he devoted much of his time to patriotic work for Australian Soldiers during the Great European War. In his veins ran the heroic blood of Greece, and in the breast of a child he carried the heart of a man.”
In an atmosphere of contrition but also with double joy, the great feast of Pentecost was celebrated on Sunday, June 7, at the Parish of the Resurrection of Christ in Kogarah, Sydney.
Scores of faithful gathered in church, in accordance with the current regulations regarding the coronavirus pandemic, in order to celebrate the great feast of our Lord with His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia but also to welcome with much enthusiasm their new parish priest, Father Kyriakos Stavronikitianos.
His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, with the Chancellor of our Holy Archdiocese, Bishop Emilianos of Meloa, the Very Rev. Fr Kyriakos, the Very Rev. Fr Christodoulos as well as other priests who were present, officiated during Matins and presided at the festal Divine Liturgy before continuing with Vespers for the Holy Spirit, where the set prayers for the kneeling service were recited.
At the end of the service, His Eminence spoke appropriately on the great feast of Pentecost and urged the faithful to “put the Holy Trinity in our life.”
“Today’s feast is a challenge for us,” he stressed and explained that the challenge has to do with “learning to pray to the Holy Trinity.”
“We must pray to the saints, and pray to Panagia. But, above all, we must pray to the Holy Trinity because the Holy Trinity is our God.”
Following this, His Eminence welcomed Fr Kyriakos with warm sentiments and spoke about a most praise-worthy clergyman who is a spiritually cultivated person. He declared that he is certain Fr Kyriakos will commendably continue the work of the previous parish priest, Fr Sophrony Konidaris whom, he said, worked with a great deal of zeal.
“Fr Kyriakos will continue this and increase it and he will give his own witness,” His Eminence pointed out while inviting the faithful to embrace him, to support him, to show him their love, their dedication, and their obedience so that united they may move forward and progress.
Finally, His Eminence referred to the worthy people who contributed over time to the progress of the parish, making personal references to the pioneer and the parish priest for many years, Fr John Varvaris, and to the President of the Parish Community, Mr Nicholas Varvaris, who both were present in church.
At the end of the Kneeling Service,
His Eminence Archbishop Makarios received bouquets of flowers from young men
and women of the parish wearing traditional costumes and stood smiling beside
them for photos.
It must be pointed out that the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Sydney is the largest parish of the Archdiocese of Australia and His Eminence celebrated the Divine Liturgy for the first time since his arrival on Sunday of Pentecost.
The Federal Member for Macarthur, Dr. Mike Freelander, has signed an Affirmation of Support for the Joint Justice Initiative of the Armenian-Australian, Assyrian-Australian and Greek-Australian communities, who are calling for Australian recognition of the genocides suffered by their ancestors.
The February 2020 launch of the Joint Justice Initiative at Australia’s Parliament House featured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU), Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) and Australian Hellenic Council (AHC), which declares Australia’s recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek genocides as a priority on behalf of their communities.
Representatives of Australia’s Armenian, Assyrian, and Greek communities at Mural Hall before the signing of the Joint Justice Initiative. Photo: Asbarez.
Freelander, a Jewish-Australian, was a paediatrician before being elected to Federal Parliament in 2016. He has since served on the Australian House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport and on the standing committee for Social Policy and Legal Affairs.
“We thank Dr. Mike Freelander for supporting national Australian recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek genocides,” said Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) Executive Director, Haig Kayserian.
“The Joint Justice Initiative strives to lead Australia onto the side of truth and justice on this issue of primary importance to the Armenian-Australian, Assyrian-Australian and Greek-Australian communities, and we believe Dr. Freelander’s support brings us a step closer to achieving our goal.”
The Joint Justice Initiative has so far announced the support of Freelander, Senator Eric Abetz, Senator Larissa Waters, Senator Pat Dodson, Jason Falinski MP, Josh Burns MP, John Alexander MP, Senator Andrew Bragg and Bob Katter MP, with a promise of more announcements to come.
Two Greek Australian journalists are finalists in The Walkley Foundation’s Mid-Year Celebration of Journalism for 2020.
Natassia Chrysanthos, education reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald, is a finalist in the ‘Shortform journalism’ category with her piece, New Year’s Eve bushfire coverage.
Dion Georgopoulos from The Canberra Times is also being recognised in the ‘Visual storytelling’ category for his amazing photographic piece, Australian Bushfire Coverage.
These awards by The Walkley Foundation recognise the hard work of outstanding young Australian journalists.
They reward the efforts of journalists aged 28 and under who demonstrate excellence in the fundamental tenets of the profession, as well as the ability to present distinctive and original journalism that pushes the boundaries of the craft.
Winners will be announced at the (virtual) Mid-Year Celebration of Journalism on June 17.
Archives relating to the excavations of one of the most celebrated and famous cities of the ancient world, Mycenae in Greece, have been digitised on the Cambridge Digital Library.
The British School at Athens (BSA) has collaborated with the Cambridge Digital Library to digitise the records of Alan J.B. Wace, who led a number of excavations at the renowned Bronze Age site from 1920 until his death in 1957.
Wace was one of the leading archaeologists of early Greece in the 20th century and spent over a decade travelling and researching new sites while he was a student at the BSA. Above all, he is today remembered for his outstanding work at Mycenae and in Mycenaean archaeology.
Digital archives of Mycenae excavations are now available via the Cambridge Digital Library. Source: Cambridge Digital Library.
He and his team began excavations at Mycenae on 23 April 1920. Their work helped to clarify the chronology of Mycenae’s monuments, especially the sequence of use of areas within the fortification walls. This was an issue that had remained poorly understood ever since the spectacular discoveries made at Mycenae in the 1870s by Heinrich Schliemann and Panagiotis Stamatakis.
Since 2013, the Faculty of Classics has been home to a fascinating collection of photographs, architectural and illustrative drawings, correspondence and original archaeological notebooks, preserving important material from these pioneering excavations.
Mycenae was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999, highlighting the impact the site had and continues to have on European art and literature for more than three millennia.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, his family and some of his Milwaukee Bucks teammates joined a protest rally in Milwaukee demanding justice in the aftermath of the George Floyd killing.
Antetokounmpo was joined by his brother Thanasis, his girlfriend Mariah Riddlesprigger and their young son, Liam, and Bucks teammates Sterling Brown, Donte DiVincenzo, and Brook Lopez.
The group wore identical T-shirts with the slogan “I can’t breathe” printed on the front. All the players wore masks and gloves due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
I’m proud of all the people who came out to support this movement for change with me, my teammates and my family! This is our city, these are our streets and this is bigger than basketball!
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) June 7, 2020
The Greek player and his brother gave bottles of water and snacks to protesters. Giannis also addressed the crowd of protesters to much applause.
“We want change, we want justice, and that’s why we’re out here. That’s what we’re going to do today. That’s why I’m going to march with you,” Antetokounmpo said.
“I want my kid to grow up here in Milwaukee, and not to be scared to walk in the streets. I don’t want my kid to have hate in his heart.”
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias has said the relations between Greece and North Macedonia have “strengthened” after the Prespa Agreement.
“Despite all the difficulties emerging in the neighbouring country as a result of the unstable political situation, it is a fact that our countries have strengthened confidence building,” Dendias said in an interview with the weekly Ethnos.
Dendias also stressed that these strengthened relations between Greece and North Macedonia are a “positive thing” as they are now NATO allies as well.
“Today, the Greek air force is watching over North Macedonia’s air space. It is our ally in NATO and a potential future partner in the EU,” Dendias said.
More recently, the Greek government has been fostering relations of trust with all Balkan countries and has been offering support to the EU hopefuls in the region.
Eight prominent Greek Australians in the areas of community service, visual arts and education have been recognised today in the Queen’s Birthday 2020 Honours List.
They are part of a larger group of 933 Australians who’s contribution to their community was noted by their peers as worthy of recognition.
“In this list we see all the positives that are in our community. We see the great ideas, we see the hard work, we see the love and compassion for fellow human beings. It’s a microcosm of Australia,” the Governor-General said when announcing the list.
These are the Greek-Australians who were recognised:
In the category ‘Member (AM) in the General Division’ there is:
Mrs Jeanette Miller Anictomatis from Cullen Bay in the Northern Territory.
She was recognised for significant service to the people of the NT through representational roles, and to youth through Guides. Jeanette has been the Honorary Consul for the United Kingdom since 2008. She is a current board member of ‘Helping People Achieve Northern Territory.’ She was an elected member of the City of Darwin from 2012-2015, and she was an International Humanitarian Officer for the Australian Red Cross NT in 2005.
Mr Charalambos Andrea Vatiliotis from NSW.
Charalambos was honoured for significant service to musical instrument making as a luthier since the 1950s. He has hand made more than 780 instruments. He was also a teacher of a stringed instrument making course and art workshop at the University of Sydney from 1981-1984.
Ms Angela Lyris from Strathfield.
In the category ‘Medal (OAM) in the General Division’ there is:
Ms Angela Lyris from Strathfield.
Angela was honoured for her service to education. Her roles within the NSW Department of Education include: Principal, Strathfield Girls High School (since 2008); Supervisor/Teacher, Kogarah Saturday School and St George Saturday School (since 1988); Relieving School Education Director, Disability Portfolio, South Western Sydney Region (2009-2011); Principal, Granville Boys High School (2005-2007); Deputy Principal, Granville Boys High School (2001-2004); Leading Teacher, Granville Boys High School (2000); English as a Second Language/English Teacher, Bankstown Senior College (1987-1999).
Angela, in conjunction with Strathfield Girls High School, is also a supporter of Zonta International Australia through the donation of birthing kits.
Mr Dimitrios Alexopoulos from Victoria.
Dimitrios was acknowledged for his service to the Greek community of Victoria. He is a prominent member of the Panarcadian Association of Melbourne and Victoria as a President (2005-2016), Treasurer and Secretary (2001-2004), Public Relations Officer (since 2016) and current editor of the Voice of Arcadians Newspaper. He has been the President of the Panarcadian Federation of Australia since 2006 (bi-annual position). President of the Panarcadian Federation of Victoria since 2005. He was also awarded the Spiros Stamoulis Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2018.
Mr Stefanos Christofis from Nightcliff in the Northern Territory.
Stefanos was recognised for service to the Greek Orthodox community of Darwin. He has been a cantor at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in the NT since 1990. He is also an ongoing member and supporter of the Greek Orthodox Community of North Australia.
Mr George Petrou from Mont Albert in Victoria.
George was honoured for his service to the visual arts and to veterans. He is an Artist and Graphic Designer at George Petrou Design since 1979. His works include: Twelve Great Australian Stories Collection, Sports Player Portraits, Remember Me – The Lost Diggers of Vignacourt Collection, and The Victoria Cross Collection.
He is a patron of the Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Ex-Servicemen and Women’s Association of Victoria (TPI Victoria) since 2017. He is also a supporter of The Cross of Valour Association of Australia.
Mr George Petrou from Mont Albert in Victoria.
Mr John Coutis from Queensland.
John was acknowledged for his service to the community and to sport. He has been an Ambassador for the Australia Day Ambassador Program since 1999. He is also the current Ambassador for ‘Busy at Work’, an organisation that delivers training and employment programs to homeless youth.
John was invited into the Sydney 2000 Olympic Team Village to support the Australian team and in 2001 the Australian Wallabies. He was the first person with a major disability to play indoor cricket in Australia. He is a former player of Grade Cricket at the Bankstown Cricket Club. He was also crowned Australian Disabled Table Tennis Champion in 1994.
He is the author of ‘From the Ground Up’ (2001). He is a Keynote and Motivational Speaker, Coutis International Pty Ltd, since 2012. He has also been awarded a National Family of the Year Award with his wife.
Ms Philia Angela Polites from Murrumba Downs in Queensland.
Philia was recognised for service to people with a disability and to the community. She is a prominent member of the Queenslanders with Disability Network as a Director (2015-2018), Former Deputy Chair and Former Chair, Audit and Compliance Committee. For the Women’s Centre for Health Matters (ACT), she was a Convenor of the Management Committee (1999-2000), a Manager (1998-1999) and a facilitator (1996-1997). She was also a prominent member of the Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia as a Vice President (1990), a Former Special Consultant and a Former Member of Access and Equity Committee. To see the extensive list of Philia’s achievements, please click here.
Mr Saki George Ganella from Sandringham in Victoria.
Saki was recognised for his service to education. He has held multiple roles at Melbourne High School including: Mathematics Teacher (since 1971), Yarra House Coordinator (1988-1998), Forrest House Coordinator (1973-1987), Former Mathematics Coordinator and Former Year Coordinator.
He was also in the 415 Squadron Australian Air Force Cadets as a Commanding Officer from 1986-1996 and Second in Command from 1997-2001 and 1971-1985.
All exceptional Greek Australians who deserve to be recognised for their hard work and dedication to important causes.
Sydney’s Greek live music scene is a very tight-knit industry, as most musicians and singers have worked with each other, in various musical combinations, over the respective careers. It is not surprising then to find they develop strong bonds and friendships amongst them; moreover, they also create a special connection with their audience. So, when popular artists, among their peers and audiences, passes away, they leave behind everlasting impressions and memories. It will ten years next year when Nikos ‘To Kalymnaki’ Koutouzis passed away, and both peers and fans fondly reminisce about his singing career and feats.
Having worked in the Greek merchant navy for many years, Nikos ‘disembarked’ and initially settled in Darwin (1967), where he worked as a painter by day; with his natural singing voice, he also accepted offers to front Greek bands and sing at social function. He enjoyed singing laika songs and adored Greek singers such as Stelios Kazantzidis. One of the huge highlights of Nikos’ early singing career was opening for Greek star, Nikos Xanthopoulos, who toured Australia and played in Darwin in the late 1960s.
Singing at Sydney’s Kalymnian Association’s social dance at Paddington Town Hall (1974), he met and later married Irene (nee Giannopoulou) and he settled in Sydney where he continued painting by day and singing at night. Becoming friends with local bouzouki legend, Nikitas Naris, provided him with work opportunities; whenever Nikitas played at the Greeks from Egypt Club on McEvoy Street, Alexandria, he called Nikos to sing for his band.
And then, the six-week stints began at various Greek clubs such as the Cyprus Hellene Club on Elizabeth Street, Sydney or the Castellorizian Club, Kingsford, and later the Megas Alexandros Club, Marrickville. Nikos longest stint was at Marathonas, Dulwich Hill, where he sang six nights a week and he did this for six years.
Like so many Greek artists at the time, their families came along to many of these performances; for Nikos young children, Katrina and Necktarios, a few chairs locked together became beds and coats became blankets as everyone saw out the live show until the end.
Unfortunately, Nikos singing career and illness cannot be set apart; with his kidney problems and subsequent need for dialysis, his passion for singing became so important for him, as his wife, Irini, points out, ‘Niko had two kidney transplants, in 1977 and 1982, so he singing was like an escape for him- it provided him with an enjoyable outlet and a lot of comfort.’
His favourite song in his repertoire was Manos Loizos and Lefteris Papapdopoulos’ classic, “ΤΑ ΠΟΥΛΙΑ”, which was made famous by Giorgos Dalaras. He had an affinity with the song, as it was a reflection of his own feelings and life, and he made it his own by the distinct manner he sang it and the way he often changed the lyrics. Irene fondly remembers Niko singing “ΤΑ ΠΟΥΛΙΑ”, ‘Patrons would eating their meals and the bouzouki player’s taximi would start and they would just continue with the meal.
Once he began singing the opening lines of “ΤΑ ΠΟΥΛΙΑ”, the power of his voice would stop patrons eating and they were awestruck by him. Then, of course, customers would show their appreciation for his performance by buying champagne bottles for to toast and loads of carnations were thrown on him!’
In the 1990s, Nikos overcame thyroid cancer; after the operation, he lost an octave in his voice and could no longer reach the high scales. There is a classic story of the camaraderie amongst musicians when Nikitas (Naris) proposed to play bouzouki one scale lower to accommodate Nikos voice.
As he became more and more hampered by his illnesses, Nikos could no longer perform long stints in the Greek clubs; he began singing one-off shows such as New Year Eve, Mother’s Day and philanthropic shows in Brisbane, Darwin, Perth and Melbourne.
Nikos passed away in 2011. His legacy is expressed from all his admirers who remind his family of the incredible voice he had. His children, Katrina and Necktarios, point out just how much loved Nikos was to so many people, ‘We often saw our father perform; the drum roll would begin and the bright lights would shine once he came onto the stage. At home, though, he was just a great father.
‘We realised the impact his talent and voice had on people after his passing when we meet people who realise we are ‘To Kalymnaki’s’ children and give him so many compliments and even shed a few tears.
‘He had such a passion for life and music, and people fondly remember him for that.’
