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.’
Greek Australian mum of two and blogger, Zoe George, is set to shock audiences with her energetic yet no-nonsense attitude when she enters the Big Brother house on Monday.
The founder of The Subtle Mummy blog is one of 20 contestants set to appear on Channel Seven’s highly anticipated Big Brother reboot, and she tells The Greek Herald exclusively that her decision to enter the house was not an easy one at first.
“Throughout my audition process I spoke a lot about ‘mum guilt’ and how much of it we carry. I worried about the lecture I would receive from my traditional Greek mum about leaving my husband and children for so long but I didn’t let that stop me in the end,” Zoe says.
Zoe George with her husband Bob and two children, Ari and Ambrosia. Photo by Michelle Mckay Photography.
“I wanted to practice what I preach and go for the things I want. My husband is so, so, capable around the house. I remember deciding to leave him detailed notes but other than the washing machine, everything else he already had under control. Plus my parents help a lot with school pickups. I knew everyone would be fine.”
Knowing her husband and Greek family had everything under control at home was a huge relief to Zoe. On the eve of her entry into the Big Brother house, it meant she could focus on controlling her mixed emotions of excitement and fear that she “won’t be accepted” by the other contestants.
Episode 1 Sneak Peak. Photograph by Nigel Wright.
“I’m so excited and pumped but I have never lived with strangers before. I wonder if they will like me and if I will be accepted. I’m nervous about showing too much. As a teacher and a married woman I definitely won’t be showering naked, so I’m wondering how achievable that is,” she admits.
“I’m also really nervous about relinquishing control. In my house I can delegate jobs, tell people to take their shoes to their room and not leave a wet towel on the floor. Living with other adults I will not be able to say anything and mess usually bothers me.”
But will Zoe really be able to hold her tongue in the house? In a promotional video for Big Brother, she does describe herself as about “as subtle as a brick to the face” and we just couldn’t resist to ask whether audiences should actually expect to see her in the middle of drama.
“When I say I’m ‘as subtle as a brick in the face,’ it just means I can’t hide what I’m feeling. I can’t pretend to like someone when I don’t. I definitely don’t look for drama and I try and stay as well away from it as possible. But if I hear something I don’t like, I confront it head on. It’s the teacher in me. I will pull that person aside and ask them straight out what is going on.” Zoe answers.
Clearly Zoe is a fierce, fun and fabulous contestant who we’re sure will become an instant fan favourite.
Big Brother premieres Monday, June 8 at 7.30pm on Channel Seven.
Western Sydney Wanderers defender Tass Mourdoukoutas has shown off a familiar trick which he has labelled the ‘Fan-Tass-Tico’ in a video posted on the Football Club’s Tik Tok account.
The trick is almost an exact replication of the ‘rainbow flick’, used most prominently by professional players such as Jay-Jay Okocha or Neymar.
Western Sydney Wanderers, along with other A-League clubs, have moved to the video sharing site Tik Tok to provide their supporters with entertaining content while under social restrictions.
Mourdoukoutas is of Greek descent, growing up in Sylvania Waters. He started playing for at the Football NSW Institute before moving to Sydney Olympic’s youth team in 2016.
In 2017, Mourdoukoutas joined the Wanderers Academy playing in both the club’s NPL 2 first grade side and Championship-winning Foxtel Y-League team.
The Greek Australian player was promoted to a two-year senior contract on 6 June 2018, signing a three-year contract extension in February this year.
National Geographic’s three part series ‘The Greeks’ is the latest title to join Disney Plus’ ever-growing history catalogue, arriving on the platform on Friday.
Originally released in 2016, the PBS and National Geographic Studios series traces the history and legacy of the ancient Greeks.
From the creation of democracy to the development of art, architecture and philosophy, the series explores some of the greatest achievements of the ancient Greeks, and how they ultimately paved the way for the modern West.
“In National Geographic’s landmark event series ‘The Greeks’, historians and archaeologists, actors and athletes, scientists and artists launch a groundbreaking exploration into the ancient Greeks’ journey – not just to better understand their past, but to discover how their legacy illuminates our present, and will shape our future,” PBS said upon it’s release.
The series is narrated by Australian actor Toby Leonard Moore, with viewers guided on the journey by English historian Bettany Hughes.
What is amazing about certain Greek businesses is how they gain such a great reputation that decades may pass and people’s tastes may change, but their popularity remains firmly intact. And the longevity in their respective markets and industries only consolidates and strengthens their appeal; over the decades, they have successfully transcended beyond Sydney’s Greek market and entered the broader Australian one. In doing so, they have played a significant role in bringing the Greek cuisine and culture in mainstream Australian society.
One of Sydney’s socio-cultural institutions is undoubtedly STEKI Taverna, Newtown; it does not matter that is positioned on the narrow and dimly-lit O’Connell Street and it does not matter that it is a relatively small tavern. Through the front door, patrons enter a magical realm of live Greek music and φιλοξένια (filoxenia)…
STEKI Taverna’s history dates back to 1983 when Harry Tambakeras (and his partners) established it for university students to meet and socialise- as the University of Sydney was just down King Street. For a number of years, Nikos Antonoglou, Kostas Pinakis, Helen Bilinis and Kostas Thedoropoulos ran it. In those years, STEKI Taverna was more than a Greek live venue, as there were also Philosophy Nights, Jazz Nights and even Theatre Productions- as Nikos was a member of S.E.K ( Συγκρότημα Ελλήνων Καλλιτεχνών).
STEKI Taverna’s current owner, Paul Ioakimidis, was initially a regular customer; once Helen and Kostas Pinakis left the partnership, he took up the offer to become a partner. Over the next few years, Niko and Kostas Theodoropoulos left (at different times), leaving Paul as the sole operator and he has been running STEKI Taverna ever since.
With such a strong reputation of providing patrons with wholesome meals, memorable live entertainment and welcoming atmosphere, STEKI Taverna’s longevity reinforces its strong association with the inner city area- everyone simply knows it is there, operating Wednesdays to Sundays, with live Greek music Fridays to Sundays.
Although there are three different resident bands for each live music night, STEKI Taverna has also hosted some very popular Greek artists such as Dimitris Basis, Vasilis Lekkas, Stathis Aggelopoulos and Giorgos Xylouris. And then there are all the impromptu performances when touring artists and their entourages dine at STEKI Taverna and they get up and sing a few numbers- like Nikos Kourkoulis and his wife, Kelly Kelekidou.
Adding to these impromptu performances are the celebrity patrons such as Australian rock icon Jimmy Barnes, rock star Johnny Diesel and television celebrities such as the late Graham Kennedy and John Mangos, and this merely adds to STEKI Taverna’s mystique that you just do not know what surprise will arise there.
Asked what the secret of STEKI Taverna’s success is and Paul humbly points out, “My staff and I are very welcoming and friendly, and we work hard in providing our patrons with a great night.
“STEKI has a very friendly atmosphere; you come here for the first time and not know anyone here but when you will leave at the end of the night knowing everyone.”
And it is that same friendliness and φιλοξένια that draws so many non-Greek patrons to STEKI; as so many patrons tell Paul, many non-Greek patrons strongly associate their personal experiences in Greece with the live entertainment and warm atmosphere offered at STEKI.
“Greeks and non Greeks come to STEKI for the same reason- to have a great time. When everyone jumps onto the dance-floor, it does not matter what nationality they are- they are all one big group having a great time. And it is this warm atmosphere that makes STEKI so appealing for everyone,” explains Paul.
A business’ longevity deepens its roots in a local area and everyone associates STEKI Taverna with the inner city, as Paul points out, “People know we are here; we get young patrons telling us their parents and grandparents used to come here. People know we are open late, especially on Fridays and Saturdays, so we get patrons coming through the door after midnight- we are a place to go out after you have already gone out. So, people remember we are always there- where else can they still go out and have a good time at midnight?’
More importantly, STEKI Taverna’s longevity has experienced first-hand the successful integration and acceptance of the Greek culture and cuisine into the broader Australian community, as so many people associate ‘doing Greek tonight’ with STEKI Taverna in the inner city.
Seasons may come and go, demographics may have change and fads are replaced by new ones, but one thing definitely stays the same and that is STEKI Taverna and its warm hospitality and great atmosphere.
Multicultural community organisations are encouraged to apply for over $500,000 in
funding to provide immediate assistance for basic necessities like food, transport and
language support for vulnerable people.
Acting Minister for Multiculturalism Geoff Lee said the COVID-19 Community Support
Grants program will provide critical support.
“The COVID-19 pandemic and measures to control its spread have presented
significant challenges to our multicultural communities,” Mr Lee said.
“The NSW Government will provide urgent support to communities in crisis through this quick response grants program.”
NSW organisations that prioritise immediate community care support are being invited to apply.
“Strong communities support each other through challenges. This funding will enable
dedicated and committed individuals to continue to help the most vulnerable,” Mr Lee
said.
“We have all heard great stories over the past few months about incredible communities assisting and helping where they can and that’s what makes NSW great.”
While this announcement was welcomed by NSW Labor Leader Jodi McKay this afternoon, she says the Government’s grant package was still “too little too late.”
“NSW is now officially in recession and the promise of this help comes months too late. Our multicultural community groups have been feeding people since the pandemic began – and we should thank them from the bottom of our hearts,” Ms McKay said.
Applications are now open and close 9am, 13 June 2020.
Fans are set to be allowed to attend NRL games in small groups from next week, after the league reached an agreement with the New South Wales Government.
Groups of up to 50 will be allowed in corporate boxes in NSW stadiums, adhering to the rules around having one person per four square metres.
There was initially a plan to have crowds back by July 1, but ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys argued the reopening of pubs and bars in the state meant fans should be allowed back into stadiums in limited numbers.
“We’ll have the same rules apply to us for pubs and clubs, that’s 50 people per catering area as long as it is four square metres per person. So if you have eight or 10 catering areas, as long as it has four square metres a person you can have up to 500 people in a stadium. So hopefully we can get a few people there from next weekend,” V’landys told News Corp Australia.
V’landys is delighted to get fans back for round five. Photo: The Daily telegraph
“But it’s the same rules as pubs and clubs, so there has to be food and beverages and fans have to be seated.”
Before the NRL can decide exactly which fans will be lucky enough to end live games, a biosecurity plan outlining how crowds will be dealt with must be approved by the government.
“We have to outline our biosecurity plan and that will be done next week with the government. We’ll also talk to all clubs next week about who should be able to attend the live games,” V’landys said.
Venues such as Bankwest Stadium have multiple boxes and lounges that can be split into different sections on top of their corporate boxes, meaning the number of attendees could be able to climb much higher.
The move will allow club sponsors to return to matches, with the ruling applied only to food and drink areas such as corporate suites.
The rules will only apply to NSW-based matches.
The news comes as a big win for struggling clubs, who are doing their utmost to fulfil sponsorship deals through the coronavirus pandemic.
Meanwhile, the NRL and stadiums are continuing to map out their plans for a return to crowds.
Much work has already been done at Bankwest Stadium on traffic flow with the entry and exit points of the ground. A ticketing system is planned to ensure fans are spaced out appropriately between seats.
