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White Pearl Foundation raises over $22,200 at the fourth annual Breakfast for Brain Cancer

Andriana Simos
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White Pearl Foundation raises over $22,200 at the fourth annual Breakfast for Brain Cancer

Guests, sponsors and donors raised over $22,200 at the White Pearl Foundation‘s fourth annual Breakfast for Brain Cancer brunch event last Friday, March 18.

The funds from the brunch will go towards supporting the brain cancer research programme of The Brain Cancer Group, Care2Cure (TBCG), which aims to improve outcomes for patients across the spectrum – from care to finding a cure for this devastating disease.

“Thank you to everyone who attended the fourth Breakfast for Brain Cancer, a brunch held in the Pacific Room of the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Point Piper,” the founder of the White Pearl Foundation and organiser of the event, Suzane Peponis-Brisimis, told The Greek Herald.

Suzane Peponis-Brisimis speaks at the event.

“Thank you also to our sponsors, gift donors and those who donated to the cause. We aim to recognise all contributors who wish to be acknowledged on our website.”

On the day, over 126 attendees were amazed as Ms Peponis-Brisimis announced “the Lewis Foundation pledge of 3 years funding of TBCG’s Neuro-oncology care coordination programme, a critical programme for patients and families, led by Nurse Practitioner, Marina Kastelan.”

READ MORE: ‘Survivorship’: Sophie Cotsis MP hosts brain cancer awareness event at NSW Parliament.

“This reflects a commitment of close to $450,000 and we could not be more grateful. Every brain cancer patient deserves to have the support of a care co-ordinator. Marina Kastelan has been with the Group for over a decade and was my scaffold during my mother’s 15 months of treatment,” she added.

CEO of the Lewis Land Group, Matthew McCarron.

The keynote speaker on the day of the event was actually the CEO of the Lewis Land Group, Matthew McCarron, and he spoke openly about his personal brain cancer journey.

Mr McCarron explained how a seizure in the dead of night led to him being diagnosed with a high-grade astrocytom, which required chemoradiation treatment followed by chemotherapy delivered under the care of TBCG Directors, Associate Professors Helen Wheeler and Michael Back.

Despite this, Mr McCarron said the support of his family and friends were the key to his cancer journey.

READ MORE: Suzane Peponis-Brisimis: Leading philanthropist shining a spotlight on brain cancer research.

“I was surrounded by love that was unconditional. My amazing family equipped me with a deep belief that I could achieve whatever I put my mind to and that hard work and persistence could overcome any challenge,” he said to applause from the crowd.

This eye-opening speech was then followed by a very informative address by Associate Professor Back, who provided an update on how the TBCG’s programmes are progressing, with a focus on the ever-expanding TBCG Databank.

Associate Professor Michael Back.

The Associate Professor explained how every patient will be entered into the TBCG Brain Cancer DataBank through a linked pathway in which their initial brain tumour specimen is stored, alongside their actual brain cancer images and their information data.

At the conclusion of this address, guests were able to enjoy a continual flow of delicious refreshments, prepared by Zest Catering, and mingle amongst themselves.

The fifth annual Breakfast for Brain Cancer, again at the Royal Motor Yacht Club in Point Piper, is already in the planning for Sunday, March 12, 2023.

You can connect with the White Pearl Foundation and support brain cancer research by:
• Exploring opportunities for future collaboration and sponsorship with the White Pearl Foundation.
• Donating prizes & services to future events’ raffle and auctions.
• Hosting your own fundraising event in support of the White Pearl Foundation.
• Hosting your own Breakfast for Brain Cancer.
• Join the White Pearl Foundation volunteer team.

George Grosios to star in fifth season of award-winning multicultural AFL footy show

Eleni Patsalides
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George Grosios to star in fifth season of award-winning multicultural AFL footy show

The 2022 AFL footy season heralds the NEMBC MEDIA’s weekly Multicultural AFL Footy TV Show and radio podcasts. This show will be inclusive of the 8 language AFL newscasts, CRN podcasts and live matchday broadcasts covering the full 2022 AFL season and the AFLW Finals. The show begins on C31 (DVB 44) TV Thursday evening on 24th March at 7:00 PM.

The 2021 Antenna Award winning Multicultural AFL Footy TV Show and spin-off radio podcast throughout Multicultural radio stations nationally and the Community Radio Network (CRN), collectively has over half a million Multicultural/Diversity and general community followers per week including fans from Argentina, Mexico and the North American AFANA (ARFANA.com) site. 

The show will hit the airwaves running with results from Round 1 and Round 2 previews from it’s culturally diverse cast. The program is anchored by Mexican born Vanessa Gatica, with 2019 Antenna award winning presenter Harbir Singh Kang, together with the very knowledgeable game analyst George Grosios and the Adelaide based Fouad Andrawos, reporting on everything AFL West of the Victorian border.

The half hour TV program will air weekly, showcasing the AFL’s diversity, game highlights, match reviews, news, previews and off the beaten track interviews – Starts, Thursday 24th March from 7:00 pm on Channel 31 (C44) Melbourne and Geelong. Channel 44 Adelaide on Friday evenings, nationally on Aurora-Foxtel TV 1:00 pm Saturdays and available on NEMBC YouTube AFL on demand and other digital platforms.

For information interviews and photos – Please call Producer / Director, Fiv Antoniou on 0418 539 381, email operations@nembc.org.au

Mark Coure MP – Opinion: Sydney’s a global city, but we don’t talk like one

The Greek Herald
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Mark Coure MP – Opinion: Sydney’s a global city, but we don’t talk like one

Opinion piece by NSW Multicultural Minister, Mark Coure.

For Sydney to really live up to its potential as a global city, more of us need to have greater knowledge of a second language.

Across NSW, we have people from many different backgrounds. Nearly a third of people living here were or have parents who were born overseas, and we speak some 215 different languages. And at the heart of it all is Sydney, our global city. 

On street corners in Hurstville, Lakemba, Cabramatta, Kogarah and Parramatta, you can hear Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Korean, and Spanish. Yet, we haven’t really capitalised on the presence of these languages and tried to learn them.

How often have we travelled to another country and had the comfort of hearing English on arrival? That’s because people in these countries understand the value in learning a language beyond their own. This is especially the case for our neighbours in the Asia-Pacific, like Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

I want all of us to start treating language learning as a priority. This means treating it the same as maths, science, and technologies. But, to get there, we need to have the right frameworks in place to support and empower our children to learn another language.

By encouraging the learning of a second language, we will only better position ourselves to become a stronger global city. People who learn a second language can discover pathways to working as interpreters or translators, which have been vital in situations such as the pandemic. Translators helped our businesses and even our government connect with people and keep them informed.

Over the years, the general approach to languages in NSW schools has been a bit hotchpotch. But I know we can do better by having a strong and evidence-based approach to teaching languages in schools. This is something I certainly hope to see included in the NSW Curriculum Reform led by our Education Minister, Sarah Mitchell. 

Beyond learning in our schools, we need to empower students to continue learning as adults, through university, TAFE, or at one of the many community language schools we have right here in Sydney. Even our larger institutions and public sector organisations should consider offering language learning as a form of professional development to their employees. 

Technology has certainly made it easier for people to learn another language in a cost-effective way and in their own time. It definitely has for me. I had the opportunity to learn Indonesian while in school, where I first saw the value of learning a second language. Unfortunately, after school, work and family commitments meant I was too time poor to continue studying. However, through language apps, I have been able to restart language learning in my own time.

But I also believe there is another way to learn languages that will also help us develop as a society: learning from the people around us who speak one of the 215 languages present in our state.

So, this Harmony Day, instead of just acknowledging how great our diversity is, be a part of it. Turn to your neighbour, friend, or work colleague and ask them how to say hello, goodbye, yes, no, please or thank you in their language. You might just find that you will not only build a greater relationship with them, but also motivate yourself to go and learn more.


Mark Coure MP 

Minister for Multiculturalism

Minister for Seniors

Darwin’s Greek community marks Independence Day with wreath laying and school celebration

Andriana Simos
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Darwin’s Greek community marks Independence Day with wreath laying and school celebration

The Greek Orthodox Community of Northern Australia (GOCNA) marked Greek Independence Day over the weekend with a special school celebration and wreath laying ceremony.

Celebrations began on Saturday with His Grace Bishop Silouan of Sinope paying a visit to the Greek Orthodox School of Darwin in Nightcliff, where young students performed poems and songs in honour of the heroes and heroines of the Greek Revolution.

The students also participated in a small march on school grounds before Bishop Silouan was treated to a small dinner surrounded by the School’s staff and members of its executive committee.

This event was followed by a small Doxology and wreath laying ceremony at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Darwin on Sunday.

Bishop Silouan presided over the Doxology and later he, along with a number of other dignitaries and Greek community members, laid wreaths at the small cenotaph located on church grounds.

The other dignitaries included, but are not limited to, the Honourable Paul Kirby MLA, representing NT Premier Michael Gunner; the Honourable Marie-Clare Boothy MLA, representing the Leader of the NT Opposition Lia Finocchiaro; the Honorary Consul General of Greece in Darwin, John Anictomatis; Councillor Sylvia Klonaris, representing the City of Darwin; and the President of GOCNA, Nicholas Poniris, who was emcee of the event.

It was an enjoyable weekend celebrated by all in the local Greek community.

*All photos supplied by GOCNA.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke sends message ahead of Greek Independence Day

The Greek Herald
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Immigration Minister Alex Hawke sends message ahead of Greek Independence Day

The Federal Minister for Immigration, Alex Hawke MP, has sent a message to Greek Australians to mark the anniversary of Greek Independence Day this year.

In his message, Minister Hawke said he grew up learning the historical stories of the Greek struggle for independence and believes they “are a testament to the resilience and strength of the Greek people and their culture.”

Minister Hawke also extended his thanks to the Greek Australian community for their role “in Australia’s resilient and united effort to overcome the challenged of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alex Hawke MP.

Full Message:

“I join with the more than 400,000 Australians of Greek heritage in celebrating Greece’s victory against the Ottoman Empire and, its achievement of Independence.

Like myself, many Greek Australians have grown up learning the history of the Greek struggle for independence, now two centuries ago. These stories and those of the generations since, are a testament to the resilience and strength of the Greek people and their culture.

Greek Australians have a long and proud tradition of contributing to the success and vibrancy of Australia’s multicultural society. As home to one of the largest Greek communities outside of Greece, Australia’s ties to Greece are deep and strong, as are the ties that unite Greek Australians to their homeland, history and culture across generations.

As you take the time to celebrate today with family and community, I especially wish to extend my thanks for the role that Greek Australians have played in Australia’s resilient and united effort to overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I extend my best wishes as you celebrate the many achievements of Greece as both the birthplace of democracy and as a modern democratic nation.”

Dr. Maria Bougiesi to present online lecture on traditional Greek dance

Eleni Patsalides
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Dr. Maria Bougiesi to present online lecture on traditional Greek dance

Dr. Maria Bougiesi will present an online-only lecture entitled ‘Greek traditional dance, an alternative form of exercise and an inexhaustible source of well-being,’ on Thursday 24 March, at 7pm, as part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars, offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.

In recent years, there has been greater research interest shown in quality of life and health matters pertaining to dance. Greek traditional dance has been proposed as an alternative form of exercise for preventing and improving a variety of parameters in older adults, like gait balance and cognitive function, as well as stress and emotional management in all ages. 

Greek traditional dance is intricately linked with Greek culture and folk traditions, while for Greeks living abroad in the diaspora, it remains and important way of connecting with their heritage and engaging with their identity. 

Traditional Greek Dancing

The presentation will discuss the relationship of dance and mainly Greek traditional dance with quality of life and health issues since it is an inexhaustible source of well-being and cultural richness emanating from common people.

Dr. Maria Bougiesi has graduated from the department of Physical Education and Sport Science of the University of Thessaly, Greece and her Masters was in ‘Sport Psychology’ at the same university, in conjunction with the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland and the University of Leuven, Belgium. 

She went on to receive her PhD in Greece and the University of Magdeburg, Germany where she worked in cognitive function improvement through dance and exercise in older adults. 

University of Thessaly, where Dr. Bougiesi begun her studies.

Maria uses Greek traditional dance as a mean of quality of life and health promotion.  She has collaborated with cardiologists organizing proper exercise programs through dance focusing on cardiac function improvement. 

She has been teaching Greek traditional dance in Greece and abroad during her studies, and since 2020, has been teaching Greek traditional dance at the University of Thessaly. 

Maria has presented her research at many international conferences and seminars and prides herself on her motto:  ‘Our life is a dance whose rhythm and melody is determined by us’. 

When: Thursday 24 March, 7.00pm

Online Platforms: Facebook and Youtube

Language: Greek

NSW Multicultural Minister calls on adults to learn a second language ‘as a priority’

The Greek Herald
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NSW Multicultural Minister calls on adults to learn a second language ‘as a priority’

NSW Minister for Multiculturalism, Mark Coure, has called on adults to learn a second language “as a priority” if Sydney is to become a truly “global city.”

Mr Coure said NSW had failed to capitalise on its ­diverse culture and was critical of the ‘hotchpotch’ approach to language in state schools.

“On street corners in Hurstville, Lakemba, Cabramatta, Kogarah and Parramatta, you can hear Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Korean, and Spanish. Yet, we haven’t really capitalised on the presence of these languages and tried to learn them,” Mr Coure told The Daily Telegraph.

READ MORE: ‘I’ve got the best job in government’: NSW Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure.

“I want all of us to start treating language learning as a priority. This means treating it the same as maths, science, and technologies.”

The President of the Teachers Federation, Angelo Gavrielatos, agreed with Minister Coure and said although languages were “a very important part of the curriculum,” they had suffered a decline in recent years.

READ MORE: ‘We are bracing ourselves’: Angelo Gavrielatos reacts to NSW back-to-school plan.

Mr Coure called on NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell to fix the issue in her ongoing school curriculum reform. Minister Mitchell encouraged community members to have their say on the draft language syllabus.

Source: The Daily Telegraph.

New Government with Greek flavour for South Australia

The Greek Herald
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New Government with Greek flavour for South Australia

After leading Labor back into government in South Australia on Saturday night, Premier-elect Peter Malinauskas has vowed to hit the ground running to implement his future-focused agenda for the state.

Determined to help him on this journey is his new-look government are at least three candidates of Greek heritage set to be elected in the new SA government under Labor.

First up is Tom Koutsantonis MP, who retains his seat of West Torrens.

During his victory speech on Saturday night, the new Premier paid tribute to Koutsantonis and stressed that he is now “the longest serving MP” in the SA Parliament.

Malinauskas paid tribute to Koutsantonis on Saturday night. Photo: ABC News / Screenshot.

“Every team needs a lion and in Labor we have a loyal Labor lion in the Honourable Tom Koutsantonis,” Malinauskas said to wild applause.

“The thing about Tom is that he and I, like every other South Australian, are utterly committed to our families and the long-term future of our state and I thank him for his service.”

Elsewhere, Olivia Savvas is a new Labor MP who won in the key marginal seat of Newland. On Facebook, Savvas said she’s “incredibly humbled” by the win and thanked “the hundreds of people who’ve worked on the Newland campaign.”

Premier-elect of SA Peter Malinauskas with deputy leader Susan Close and new MPs Nadia Clancy, Olivia Savvas, Lucy Hood, Erin Thompson and Rhiannon Pearce at Prospect on Sunday morning (L-R). Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes.

“I am incredibly humbled to have had their support and the support of so many others,” she said.

READ MORE: Greek Cypriot MP Andrea Michaels appointed to South Australian Labor Shadow Cabinet.

Savvas is joined by another senior female MP, Andrea Michaels who retained her seat of Enfield and said her re-election was “incredibly humbling.”

For the Senate, there is no Greek Australian close to being elected yet. Stavros Pallaras’ Real Change SA got less than one per cent and Senators Connie Bonaros and Irene Pnevmatikos are still in the fight.

Despite losing the election, Mr Marshall directly addressed the SA people in his concession speech and said he was proud of the work his government had done over the last four years.

“We leave this state in an immeasurably better state than we found it four years ago.

“It’s been an honour and a pleasure and privilege to lead this state. I love this state.

“I’m just so proud of the way that South Australians have responded to a global pandemic. We’ve come out of this stronger than before and all South Australians must share in this fantastic result.

“Thank you for your support. I think we have immeasurably changed South Australia. We’ve put it on a new trajectory going forward.

READ MORE: Greek Australian politicians on why SA Parliament has the worst female MP representation in Australia.

Formalities around the transfer of government, which requires the authorisation of the SA Governor, will be finalised in the coming days.

Votes are still being counted and South Australians can find further information HERE.

READ MORE: Connie Bonaros MLC proposes Gender Equality Bill to protect SA’s public sector.

Maria Sakkari makes Greeks proud despite loss in Indian Wells final

Andriana Simos
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Maria Sakkari makes Greeks proud despite loss in Indian Wells final

Greek tennis star, Maria Sakkari, went down fighting in her Indian Wells final against Iga Swiatek this morning, but it wasn’t enough to give her the win.

Her performance, which saw her lose to Swiatek in straight sets, still made Greeks proud as Sakkari was the first-ever Greek woman to make it into the Indian Wells final.

The 26-year-old will also move into the top 3 of the WTA world rankings from tomorrow.

Swiatek is the best player in the world at the moment, having reached her 11th consecutive victory on the tour and her second consecutive WTA 1000 title of the season.

More to come.

‘Never Again’: Officials commemorate the Holocaust in Thessaloniki with memorial march

The Greek Herald
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‘Never Again’: Officials commemorate the Holocaust in Thessaloniki with memorial march

Greece’s President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, along with European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas and Israeli Ambassador Yossi Amrani, participated in a memorial march in Thessaloniki on Sunday to commemorate the deportation of Jews from the city during WWII.

The march was titled, Never again, Thessaloniki – Auschwitz – 79 years since the departure of the first train, and was attended by over 2,000 people who carried white balloons and help up placards that read ‘Never Again.’

During the event, Sakellaropoulou laid flowers on the steps of the train which travelled with the first 2,800 Jews from Thessaloniki to the extermination camp complex Auschwitz-Birkenau in occupied Poland.

READ MORE: ‘Torn Apart by War’: Vic Alhadeff’s play uncovers the unexpected love story of his Greek Jewish father.

The Greek President then gave a small speech and stressed how acknowledging the Holocaust and its deadly impact will ensure it never happens again.

“It is only if we transmit the historical knowledge to the next generation, if we preserve the memory, if we all have the empathy, feel the pain and the anguish of the victims as it were our own, if we understand that the Holocaust is part of an international historical heritage, that can we arm ourselves against the march of evil,” she said.

READ MORE: Jacky Benmayor: The last speaker in Greece of a Jewish language close to extinction.

The Vice President of the European Commission agreed and emphasised the need for peaceful coexistence and historical remembrance in these dark hours, when Europe is once again being put to the test.

The Israeli Ambassador thanked everyone present at the march and said “the historic lesson of the Holocaust is one of responsibility, individual and collective, within our states and country, to stand by the victim, the weak, the refugee.”

The Jewish community of Thessaloniki, with roots since the 15th century, was decimated by the Nazis during WWII. Of the community’s nearly 50,000 people, almost 45,000 were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where only a handful survived.

READ MORE: Greek Jewish manuscripts ‘return home’ after being stolen by Nazis nearly 80 years ago.

Source: Ekathimerini.

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