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Fiona Martin MP shares thoughts on why Greek Independence Day is important to her

The Greek Herald
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Fiona Martin MP shares thoughts on why Greek Independence Day is important to her

Federal Member for Reid, Fiona Martin MP, has always been incredibly proud of her Greek heritage and strives to find out more about it every day.

That’s why for Greek Independence Day this year, we asked Dr Martin to share with The Greek Herald her thoughts on the national day and on her Greek ethnicity more broadly.

1. What does March 25 mean to you?

March 25 is a day where we thank those that came before us. It’s about honouring our ancestors for the great sacrifices made to gain independence for Greece. 

2. What do you remember as a child growing up?

I never had the chance to meet my late pappou (Mark Barbouttis). He passed away before I was born in a tragic car accident. He emigrated to Australia in 1926 and I’ve heard from family members who remember him that he was kind and smart. He was also described as a leader, a family man with a community spirit. He was a small business owner (he owned a milk bar), he became an Alderman and trained in the Australian Air Force near Newcastle. 

My late yiayia (Mersina) was widowed for half of her life. Yiayia came from a large family and her childhood was on Kastellorizo, Greece. The only daughter of the Harbour Master. 

She experienced war on Kastellorizo and consequently fled to Australia. She married my pappou in Australia and had four children but tragically lost her husband in a car accident and at the same time miscarried her fifth child. She suffered greatly. Compounding trauma lead to PTSD, which was never really treated and later she developed psychosis. Observing my yiayia suffer when I was a child inspired me to learn about mental illness and go on to become a psychologist. 

My Greek identity was strongly influenced by my yiayia’s brother, my great uncle Gus (Manettas). Uncle Gus helped raise my dad and his sisters. He lived very close by and was very protective of his family and proud of his Greek heritage. 

When I was 12 years old and in Year 6, I travelled to Greece with my Uncle Gus and Auntie Norma and my cousin Mersina. I think it was that holiday where I learned first-hand about Greece’s history and Kastellorizo, and I developed a deeper understanding and affection for my Greek heritage. 

3. Why do we need to keep honouring and celebrating national days?

Celebrating national days like Greek Independence Day helps us understand our shared history and the importance of embracing culture and multiculturalism. 

Greek Fest Darling Harbour cancelled due to forecasted weather conditions

The Greek Herald
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Greek Fest Darling Harbour cancelled due to forecasted weather conditions

Due to the current and forecasted weather conditions in Sydney, the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW) has been forced to make the difficult decision of cancelling Greek Fest Darling Harbour that was scheduled to take place this Sunday, March 27.

It is a decision that has come after careful consideration and with much regret to all those that would have been part of the long-awaited Festival, especially following the impact of COVID-19.

“This is not the outcome we wanted following postponement of the last event. We had already invested so much into making this festival happen, so it is with a heavy heart that we have come to this decision,” The President of GOCNSW, Harry Danalis, said.

The Greek Festival of Sydney and the GOCNSW appreciate everyone’s efforts and contributions to this festival and although the flagship event cannot take place this year, there are plenty of other events coming up in the program which people are urged to keep an eye out for and attend.

New project by University of Ioannina aims to digitally represent Asia Minor population exchange

Eleni Patsalides
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New project by University of Ioannina aims to digitally represent Asia Minor population exchange

A large research project is being performed at the University of Ioannina in hopes to create a digital representation of one of the largest population exchanges of the 20th century that involved approximately 1.6 million people. 

The project will research and aim to depict and clarify where the refugees who arrived in Greece following the Asia Minor Campaign and the population exchange travelled from and where they eventually settled. 

Dimitra Papadopoulou is a student at the University of Ioannina and has taken an active interest and is also a participant of this research project. She tells Ekathimerini of her motivation to learn more of her ancestor’s story as she descends from refugees on both her mother and father’s side. 

“When I was younger, I did not find them very interesting, but I now realize the importance of these stories,” says Ms Papadopoulou.

Refugee camp in 1922

The 20-year-old student contributes to the research project by gathering information and adding it to existing databases that were created by the University. Details that are added to the database include the names and journeys of over 600,000 urban and agricultural worker refugees. 

When the data is collected, it is then sent to be analysed and interpreted by project coordinator Stelios Michalopoulos, a professor at Brown University. Mr Michalopoulos relays that even though the Asia Minor Campaign was taught in schools, there are not enough facts about the refugees’ contribution to the history of Greece. 

“It is almost like there is a network with the stories of the refugees but there are no hinges to connect them,” Mr Michalopoulos says. “I hope our research will create the hinges to bring together all these social cells.” 

Source: Ekathimerini

$1 billion package proposed by NSW Government to compensate taxi licence owners

Andriana Simos
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$1 billion package proposed by NSW Government to compensate taxi licence owners

Under a proposal by the NSW Government, compensation payments for NSW taxi licence owners, who were impacted by the introduction of Uber to the ride-share industry, could increase from $20,000 to $200,000.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the $1 billion package, developed in consultation with the industry, will be considered by Cabinet’s powerful expenditure review committee

These increased payments would be funded by an extension to the $1 passenger service levy, currently applied to every trip in a taxi or ride-sharing car.

READ MORE: Greek community continues to speak out against proposed taxi licence reforms in NSW.

In early March, The Greek Herald first reported there was growing momentum for Greek taxi licence owners in NSW to receive fair compensation.

Taxis in Australia.

The NSW Minister for Transport, David Elliott, spoke about the issue during Budget Estimates in Parliament on Friday, March 4.

READ MORE: Momentum grows as Greek taxi licence owners in NSW continue to fight for fair compensation.

“I am very conscious of the fact that they [taxi licence owners], through no fault of their own, have lost the value of a business and, in many respects, tragically, that includes the life savings of families,” Minister Elliott said.

“I want to make sure that those taxi drivers who have put their life earnings and their working life into an asset which has now been devalued are compensated.”

READ MORE: Greek community rallies against proposed taxi licence reforms in NSW.

NSW Transport Minister, David Elliott.

Transport for NSW held a number of webinars in September 2021 with taxi licence owners, where they announced their plans to remove the limit on the number of taxi licences and remove restrictions on areas where taxis can operate.

During the webinars, the government agency said taxi licence owners could potentially be compensated for these reforms by being given $50,000 for each licence, but it will be capped at two licences. Anything over that will not be compensated, amounting in huge losses for many Greeks who initially paid around $400,000 for a licence.

READ MORE: Sophie Cotsis MP signs the NSW Taxi Industry Pledge and calls for fair compensation.

If today’s announcement is accepted by the expenditure review committee, taxi licence owners could be compensated more greatly. The NSW Government have also decided to drop the two licences cap which was announced as part of the reforms.

READ MORE: Greek community supports NSW Taxi Industry Pledge for fair compensation.

Source: The Daily Telegraph.

Institute of Macedonian Studies to hold Basis concert dedicated to Hellenism in Asia Minor

The Greek Herald
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Institute of Macedonian Studies to hold Basis concert dedicated to Hellenism in Asia Minor

The Institute of Macedonian Studies, after the publication and release of the epic book on Imvros and Tenedos, has organised with the consensus of the Greek Community of Melbourne and the Cypriot Community of Melbourne and in collaboration with the Australian Research Institute, a concert and dance evening with the great performer of selected Greek songs, Dimitris Basis, on Saturday, May 28, 2022, in the fully renovated Stars International Hall, 1c Bell Street, Preston, from 7.30 to 1.30.

This great cultural evening is dedicated to the Hellenism of Asia Minor, the years of its prosperity but also to the years of uprooting from 1922 onwards.

In the first part of the evening, the charismatic Dimitris Basis will perform compositions by Theodorakis, Markopoulos, Loizos, songs of Mitropanos and his own as well as folk songs, which refer to Hellenism. In the second part follows the dance program with Dimitris Basis, performing selected songs loved by the Hellenes.

An anniversary program of 40 pages will be released with notes on Asia Minor and the Anatolia where Hellenism acted, from the years of Alexander the Great to the Regiment of Cretan Evzones of Colonel Nikolaos Plastiras, the Satan Esker (Devils Army) as the Turkish fighters called it, in the depths of Asia and Saggarios.

The Anniversary Program, supported financially by sponsorships of Greek businesses, will be released in hundreds of copies and will be distributed after the event to schools, in addition to be presented to all those who will attend the event.

The current restrictions of the epidemic crisis will allow only a limited number of people to attend. The event will be accompanied by Dimitris Basis and his orchestra, as well as by the orchestra that will accompany the performer Doukissa Filippou.

The ticket price of $150 and $120 includes a full dinner, with two bottles of wine on the table, sweets, soft drinks and coffee.

“I will offer unforgettable moments and unspeakable emotion to our guests. They will leave the event with memories of an unforgettable Greek night,” Dimitris Basis stressed

For reservations and tables those interested can call 0436 415 999, as well as to the executives of the Institute of Macedonian Studies, Mr. Panagiotis Gogidis 94656218, Mr. Nikos Papakonstantinou 0451032924, Mr. Stavros Petrou 0416252722, and Mr. Christos Mantzios 046871581. They can also communicate electronically at the addresses: Panos.Gogidis@aims.edu.au;panosgogidis@hotmail.com stavros.petrou1@gmail.com;  logogramma.sm@gmail.com; Anastasios.tamis@aims.edu.au

Any surplus from the event will be allocated to research as well as to the Cultural Sponsorships and Scholarship Program of the Institute of Macedonian Studies. In a later briefing, the names of the Sponsors of the Event will be mentioned.

Tom Koutsantonis and Andrea Michaels become Ministers in new SA Labor Government

The Greek Herald
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Tom Koutsantonis and Andrea Michaels become Ministers in new SA Labor Government

South Australia’s new Labor government was sworn in during a special ceremony at Governor House on Thursday.

SA Premier Peter Malinauskas decided his ministry members on Wednesday night following a brief caucus meeting.

The Honourable Tom Koutsantonis MP was sworn in as Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining, and became a Member of Executive Council and Leader of Government Business in the House of Assembly.

The Honourable Andrea Michaels MP‘s new portfolio is as the Minister for Small and Family Business, Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs, Minister for Arts, as well as a Member of Executive Council.

Ms Michaels will be sworn in at a later ceremony.

More to come.

Record-breaking $2.8 million raised for Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation at Silver Party

Andriana Simos
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Record-breaking $2.8 million raised for Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation at Silver Party

The who’s who of Sydney’s philanthropic community gathered on the lawns of Justin Hemmes’ Vaucluse mansion on Saturday night for The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation’s annual fundraiser, The Silver Party.

Among the guests who adopted the “flats, wedges or barefoot” Haute Boheme dress code were rich-listers John Symond and wife Amber, luxury car salesman Neville Crichton and wife Nadi, and property developer John Boyd and wife Marlee.

And they weren’t afraid to spend big on the night.

Event host Justin Hemmes and his girlfriend Madeline Holtznagel. Picture: Getty Images.
Hemmes’ Vaucluse home was the backdrop for the Haute Boheme-themed event. Picture: Damian Shaw.

The Silver Committee, which is Chaired by Maree Andrews who has Greek heritage, had ambitions of raising a million dollars for the Kids Cancer Centre at Sydney Children’s Hospital at the party, but this expectation was exceeded.

A live auction on the night, run by auctioneer Damien Cooley, started with Liberal party vice-president Teena McQueen pledging $300,000 for the children’s cancer centre on behalf of Australia’s richest person, billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart.

In the end, according to a post on the Foundation’s Facebook page, “a record-breaking $2.8 million was raised [on the night] to help support the kids Cancer Centre at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick.”

“The Silver community has shown enormous generosity over the last two challenging years,” Ms Andrews, who is celebrating 20 years on the Silver Party committee and 16 years as Chair, told The Sydney Morning Herald.

“Donors have continued to pledge money to support Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation and guests donated their ticket monies and have repurchased afresh.”

Great success for a fantastic event!

Traditional Greek recipes: Pantzarosalata (Beetroot Salad)

The Greek Herald
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Traditional Greek recipes: Pantzarosalata (Beetroot Salad)

Pantzarosalata is the name of the traditional Greek beetroot salad. This is one of the healthiest dishes around as beetroots are a great source of fiber, folate, manganese, potassium, iron, and vitamin C. As a result, beetroots have been linked with several health benefits, such as improved blood flow and lower blood pressure.

INGREDIENTS 

1 bunch beetroot, bulbs and leaves 
2 garlic cloves, minced 
Juice of 1 lemon 
Splash of apple cider vinegar 
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 
Salt and pepper to taste 
Fresh mint and parsley, chopped 

Photo: Pieces of Greece

METHOD

1. Trim the stems off your beets leaving 1 inch on your bulbs. Set aside leaves in cold water. Trim the roots but only up to the surface of the bulb, don’t cut into the bulb. Rinse bulbs well, rubbing with your hands. 
2. Boil water in large pot, adding 1 tsp of salt. Then add beetroot bulbs and boil for 1 hour or until tender when pierced with a skewer. Add leaves and boil for a further 15 minutes. 
3. Remove from heat, top up with cold water to stop the boiling process. Allow to rest for 15 minutes. Drain water. 
4. Now trim the roots and stems off your bulbs. Put on food grade gloves and use your fingers to slide off the skin. Then cube your beetroot and place into large bowl. Squeeze excess water from leaves and add to bowl. 
5. Mix together garlic, lemon, vinegar, oil, salt, pepper and herbs in a small bowl. Pour all over beetroot and mix through gently. 
6. Season with extra salt only if required. 

Tip: Boil the beets with the skin on and simply slide the skin off when you’re done. This way the beautiful rounded shape of your beets are preserved. Also, enjoy some of the most tender “horta” by simply boiling your beet leaves in with the bulbs. 

*Keep up with Christina’s culinary adventures by following Pieces of Greece on Instagram or Facebook 

‘A day of celebration for Greeks and Philhellenes’: Australian Ambassador to Greece Arthur Spyrou

The Greek Herald
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‘A day of celebration for Greeks and Philhellenes’: Australian Ambassador to Greece Arthur Spyrou

The Ambassador of Australia to Greece, Arthur Spyrou, has sent an exclusive message to The Greek Herald to mark the 201st anniversary since the start of the Greek War of Independence.

In the message, Ambassador Spyrou honours the heroes of the Greek Revolution, congratulates the Greek community on their role in the development of Australia, and emphasises how in the current geopolitical situation Greece and Australia are again allies and on the same side of history.

The full message, as told to Nick Siriodis, is below.

“March 25 – the day on which National Polygenesis is celebrated. It is a day of celebration for Greeks and Philhellenes everywhere. It is also a special day of joy and pride for one of the most active and vibrant Greek communities in the world, the Greek community of Australia, which despite the distance maintains prosperous ties with the land of its ancestors.

Every year, numerous Greek Australian communities honour their ties to Greece with events across Australia. This may not have been possible over the last two years due to COVID-19 restrictions but now all of us, the Greeks of Australia, hope that with the gradual return to normalcy we will be able to meet again and celebrate Greek National Day as it deserves to be celebrated.

The 201st anniversary of the Greek Revolution is an occasion to pay tribute to the prominent and lesser-known heroes of the war, to celebrate the impressive path the country has taken over the past two centuries, and to reflect on the challenges and opportunities that Greece can seize in the future. At the same time, it is an occasion for Greek Australians to celebrate their strong ties with Greece and to reflect on the ways they can strengthen them for the benefit of both countries.

Ambassador Spyrou.

The Greek community has made a decisive contribution to the progress of the Australian nation, contributing to the full range of social, economic, political and cultural activity and participating in shaping the multicultural character of society. It is also a traditional bridge between Greece and Australia and has proven to play a key role in expanding and enhancing bilateral cooperation by promoting synergies in the fields of culture, education, sport, trade and investment.

Finally, the anniversary of 1821 is an occasion to reflect on the common values ​​that unite Australia and Greece, the unwavering belief of both countries in the values of democracy, the rule of law, respect for international law and, especially in the current context, in the supreme good of freedom. At major historical crossroads, Australia and Greece have found allies and rivals.

We are bound by bonds that were forged through common struggles on the battlefields and in the current geopolitical situation, Australia and Greece are again allies on the same side of history. At this historic crossroads, let us reflect again on the value of freedom and the hard, daily struggles it requires to conquer and protect its essence.”

Greece’s high court blocks construction of high buildings around Acropolis

Eleni Patsalides
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Greece’s high court blocks construction of high buildings around Acropolis

The Environment Ministry announced a number of special terms and building restrictions that will be enforced around the immediate suburbs that surround the Acropolis in an effort to protect the wider area from illegal construction. 

According to the approved draft, construction in the wider Makrygianni-Koukaki area at the base of the Acropolis can only be approved and carried out within the parameters of three zones, with heights ranging from 17.5 metres to 24 metres maximum. 

The ministry said the aim of these new terms and restrictions is to preserve the area around the Acropolis and showcase it through ‘transparent legal framework.’

There has been a public outcry for these restrictions or terms to come into place after a 10-story hotel almost was being built within the archaeological site of the Acropolis, if permitted to continue it would have completely blocked the view of the heritage listed site. 

The issue prompted investigation from the environment and culture ministries to ensure that any gaps in zoning laws are corrected and provisions are put in place to allow intervention in order to preserve the integrity of the Acropolis site. 

Deputy Environment Minister, Nikos Tagaras told the Athens News Agency, this draft opens up the way for investments that are greatly needed within the area and opens up development potential for the future. 

“It was our responsibility to protect the Acropolis and at the same time to highlight and preserve the special urban, aesthetic, historical and architectural character of the area by clearly defining the building terms,” Tagaras said. 

Source: Greek Travel Pages

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