Fifth seed Sakkari has made it through to the fourth round of the Australian Open for the second time after brushing aside Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 6-1 in one hour and 24 minutes.
Kudermetova may have registered more winners (15-12), but unfortunately for her, she almost tripled Sakkari in the unforced errors department (32-12).
The Greek broke the Russian five times all up and enjoyed sizeable advantages in percentage of first-serve points won (77-63) and second-serve points won (61-32).
Sakkari will meet American 21st seed Jessica Pegula in the fourth round.
Greece has vowed to intensify its campaign for the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles amid “optimistic” signs that British public opinion has shifted markedly in favour of returning the marbles to Athens.
According to The Guardian, this decision comes after Britain’s Times newspaper had an about turn recently and argued for the treasures to be returned to Greece.
The argument that Athens lacked an appropriate place to exhibit the carvings no longer held when “a magnificent museum next to the Acropolis” had been built to house the cultural heritage, the article asserted.
This statement surprised many as the British magazine had maintained for more than 50 years that the marbles should remain in London.
The Parthenon Marbles are currently in the British Museum.
In response to this unexpected, but welcomed, support from a sector of the British establishment, the Greek government said it would step up pressure for the fifth-century BC antiquities to be enjoyed in their entirety.
“The sculptures are the most important link between the modern Greeks and their ancestors,” Tasos Chatzivasileiou, an MP who is the Greek Prime Minister’s top foreign policy adviser, told The Guardian.
“Our strategy will be to turn up the heat, to keep this issue in the public sphere and to raise it at every opportunity.”
The Adelaide Advertiser has released its list of young up-and-coming talent for 2022 and there are at least three Australians of Greek heritage named.
Here’s who to keep your eye out for this year:
Emma Georgiadis:
Emma Georgiadis, or Emma G as she’s known by fans of her podcast Empowerhouse, is a rising star in South Australia.
When she’s not winning gold in the Bullseye category at the 2021 Australian Podcast Awards, she’s also visiting schools to run Enlighten Education workshops for young women.
Emma Georgiadis.
The workshops help girls aged 11 to 18 decode the mixed messages they receive about what to eat, how to act, how to look, how to please and how to be liked.
On top of all that, she also has a demanding day job at Triple M as an announcer and anchor.
Danny and Michael Philippou are the crazy YouTube pranksters better known as RackaRacka. In 2019, they famously filled a car with water and drove it through a bottle shop, earning them a date in an SA court.
But the Adelaide twins are changing their tune this year with the launch of their first feature film, a horror flick called Talk to Me.
In production since mid-2020, the movie will finally start shooting in Adelaide next month with funding from Screen Australia and SAFC, and backing from Causeway Films (The Badabook).
Australian conductor and award-winning composer, George Ellis, will be bringing beautiful music to rural New South Wales on Australia Day as an Ambassador for the Cabonne Shire.
Mr Ellis’ role as Ambassador will see him attend the Eugowra Community Bowls and Recreation Club and take part in Australia Day activities at 2pm.
“Serving as an Australia Day Ambassador in beautiful rural NSW these last three years [have been] my favourite Australia Day experiences,” Mr Ellis said.
Kogarah’s Greek Orthodox church, ‘The Resurrection of our Lord, our Lady of Myrtles, St Elessa,’ will remediate and render its outside facade after receiving a $40,000 grant from the New South Wales government.
The funding was obtained as part of the government’s Community Building Partnership Grants for 2020. It was made possible with the help of NSW Labor Leader and Member for Kogarah, Chris Minns MP, as well as the Member for Kogarah, Steve Kamper MP.
NSW Labor Leader, Chris Minns (centre) speaking with Bishop Christodoulos (left) and Nicholas Varvaris (right) outside Kogarah Parish on Thursday. Photo: Facebook.
Both Mr Minns and Mr Kamper attended the Kogarah church on Thursday to meet with His Grace Bishop Christodoulos, Father Athanasios Giatsios, Deacon Mario Baghos, and the President of the Kogarah Parish Committee Nicholas Varvaris, to discuss the Parish’s renovation plans.
Bishop Christodoulos told The Greek Herald the community was pleased to receive the grant and thanked the Ministers “for coming to the assistance of the Parish Committee in getting the funding.”
“The grant will ensure this wonderful Cathedral is kept in state-of-the-art condition for all to enjoy. This is great news for church attendees, Greek Australians and the entire St George Community,” Bishop Christodoulos said.
Museums Victoria are hosting an exciting new international exhibition in early 2022 and they want the local Greek community to be a part of it.
The exhibition is set to explore Ancient Greek journeys and cultural connections, and Victorian Greeks are being encouraged to send in treasured photographs of their life in Australia.
According to the organisation, they are looking for photographs which “record modern journeys and celebrate Greek Australian families and communities in Melbourne and Victoria, from the early years right through to today.”
Calling Greek Victorians! We're hosting an exhibition in 2022 which explores Ancient Greek journeys and cultural connections. As an introduction to the exhibition, we are seeking treasured photographs of Victoria’s diverse Greek community.
In a big win for Melbourne’s Greek community, this week saw Victoria’s Heritage Council grant heritage protection to Melbourne’s iconic Amphitheatre complex at Fairfield on the banks of the Yarra. The decision comes after an immense community campaign led by Melbourne’s Stork Theatre, which founded the theatre with the then Northcote City Council.
Heritage Council Victoria issued its decision on 18 January, determining “that the Fairfield Park Amphitheatre Complex is of State-level cultural heritage significance and is to be included in the Victorian Heritage Register”.
Significantly, the decision covers the whole complex – the Amphitheatre, Kiosk and Pavilion – a key aspect of the Stork Theatre’s campaign and was made against the recommendation of Heritage Victoria, part of the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, as well as a previous VCAT decision.
This is great news not only for the Stork Theatre but also to all interested in the theatre’s role as a supporter of Hellenic culture and the wider arts community. In granting protection, the Heritage Council cited the theatre’s importance as a reflection of Victoria’s migration story, specifically the role of the local Greek community in supporting its creation.
With the then Northcote City Council overseeing its development, the Amphitheatre was conceived on the model of Greece’s world famous Epidavros Amphitheatre, reimagining recycled bluestone from the streets of Northcote. The whole project was support by the then Federal Labor Government and its local MP the Hon Brian Howe. Since its creation the Amphitheatre has been the site of original Epidivros Festival, many Stork Theatre productions and witnessed many productions of Hellenic artistic works – from theatrical productions to the recent readings from Homer’s Iliad.
The Heritage Council Victoria decision specifically recognizes the Amphitheatres significance as “an expression of the consolidation of Greek migrant identity in Australia”, as an expression of Australia’s multiculturalism and in “its bi-cultural importance to Greek-Australians in Victoria’s cultural development” through its “symbolism, design, programming, community engagement and cultural influences”. The Amphitheatre Complex demonstrates the underpinning of migrant acceptance by the broader Australian community, and a self confidence in established migrant communities in the expression of their own identity and cultural heritage in Victoria.
The public campaign has been widely supported by members of Melbourne’s Greek community – from politicians, through community organizations to the thousands of individuals who joined in the campaign petition. This has included local MP Kat Theophanous and colleague Lee Tarlamis MP, local school students, NUGAS representatives and the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria amongst many others.
In welcoming the decision, Local MP Kat Theophanous said that she was overjoyed at the decision. “I have been working in support of the campaign for many months. Not only is the Amphitheatre an important and iconic arts facility, but it represents an important aspect of Melbourne’s multicultural history, a cultural asset that has been supported since its inception by the local Greek community.”
Ms Theophanous hoped to that the local council would now work to support the growth and long term future of the Amphitheatre. In welcoming the decision, she was joined by Lee Tarlamis MP who has also taken part in the campaign in support of the Amphitheatre and congratulated Helen Madden and the Stork Theatre campaign team for their efforts.
Greek Community President Bill Papastergiadis welcomed the decision on behalf of the wider Greek community and committed to working with the Stork Theatre to enhance the use of the theatre.
“The Greek community has a long tradition of supporting community arts projects, including those who came together to support the development and use of this theatre. I look forward to working with others in the community to continue this commitment into the future. I strongly believe that we need to seize the opportunity presented by the Amphitheatre’s heritage protection to expand its use as a centre for the appreciation of the Hellenic culture to our common heritage”, he said.
Bill Papastergiadis said that he had been proud to support the campaign and would be holding urgent discussions with Stork Theatre and relevant Greek community organizations to advance this commitment in coming weeks. He was also keen to engage with the State and Federal Government’s as to how they might support the future of the complex.
“I look forward to full program of cultural events being held at the Amphitheatre, encompassing the Stork Theatre’s events, its incorporation into our annual Antipodes Festival, Greek community cultural events and local schools and tertiary institutions. I can see the Amphitheatre as a hub for theatre, readings and celebrations – all recognizing the vitality of our Hellenic culture in Australia”, Bill said.
In welcoming the decision, the Stork Theatre’s Helen Madden looked forward to a new and bright future for the Amphitheatre. Helen said that with the decision she felt that something truly magical has happened on the banks of the Yarra – Greek culture has been recognised by the Heritage Council Victoria in its manifestation in the Fairfield Amphitheatre Complex.
“The decision is a great relief to all who know and love the Amphitheatre. “As we said in our submission to Heritage Council Victoria, the Ampitheatre is the only professionally equipped amphitheatre and outdoor performing arts venue in Victoria with unique acoustic qualities. The challenge now is to secure its future as a vibrant community facility and importantly as a permanent home for a theatre company. I look forward to working with the Greek community and its representatives to realize this vision”, she said.
*Jim Claven is a trained historian, freelance writer and published author. He reviewed the Stork Theatre’s recent production of Homer and has been an active supporter of the Fairfield Amphitheatre campaign.
Macarthur FC have confirmed the signing of former Australian international, Apostolos Giannou, for the remainder of their 2021-22 A-League campaign.
This is the first time the dual Greek-Australia citizen, who has 12 caps for the Socceroos, will be playing in the A-League.
Though born in Naousa, a small region of northern Greece, Giannou moved to Australia as a child and grew up in Melbourne.
He has since represented both Greece and Australia at youth levels and as a senior player, with 13 international appearances in total. He most recently represented Greek side OFI Crete FC, having departed the Super League 1 side earlier this year.
Giannou most recently represented Greek side OFI Crete FC.
After the announcement of his signing, Giannou said he’s excited to see what’s ahead for him at Macarthur FC.
“Although it is mid-season, I believe I can add my part to the club and continue the club’s success for the remainder of the season,” he said.
“It’s an exciting opportunity and challenge which I’m looking forward to and I believe it will be a great stepping stone for my career.”
Apostolos Giannou has signed on with @mfcbulls for the remainder of the @IsuzuUTE A-League Season.
The forward has been capped 12 times by the @Socceroos and scored four goals.
Macarthur FC head coach, Ante Milicic, echoed these statements and said he’s thrilled to have secured “such a valued player.”
“Even though he will be joining us mid-season, I believe he will have a smooth transition into the club and onto the pitch,” Milicic said.
In the weeks leading up to the 2021/22 A-League competition, Macarthur FC has signed a handful of players to increase the depth and strength of its squad.
That work has paid off, as the club currently sits in second place on the ladder after six games, with four wins, one loss, and one draw.
Controversial Melbourne business identity, Geoffrey Edelsten, has left his two most famous ex-wives, Gabi Grecko and Brynne Edelsten, nothing in his will.
But according to The Age, Edelsten left $300,000 to his long-time friend, Lewi Karalis, and up to $100,000 to the Carlton Football Club Foundation and an equal amount to his former school, Mount Scopus Memorial College.
The flamboyant businessman also left his only child, Matthew Beard, just $50,000 plus $1000 per year from 2017 until Edelsten’s death.
Edelsten’s son Matthew Beard.
Edelsten’s will states he has made “no provision” for his former wives Brynne and Gabi, having made “substantial and excessive provision” for them during their marriages.
This news comes after Edelsten’s will, which was drawn up in September 2017, was probated this week.
Geoffrey Edelsten and then fiancee Gabi Grecko at the 2014 Melbourne Cup. Photo: Jesse Marlow.
Edelsten, who died in Melbourne in June last year aged 78, was famous for founding a chain of medical clinics and for once owning the Sydney Swans AFL club.
He was known for his lavish lifestyle, which featured sports cars and big spending on women, despite debts of millions of dollars.
The Agehas sought comment from Mr Beard, Ms Gordon and Ms Curtis/Grecko.
Christian Porter and barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC have been ordered to pay $430,200 in legal costs to Joanne Dyer, a friend of a deceased woman who had accused the former Attorney-General of raping her three decades ago.
It came after Mr Porter launched legal proceedings against the ABC, when the broadcaster published a story about an unnamed cabinet minister accused of a historical alleged rape.
At the time, Dyer began her own legal action, seeking to block Chrysanthou from acting for him.
Jo Dyer outside the federal court in May 2021. Photo: James Gourley/AAP.
Dyer argued successfully that Chrysanthou had a potential conflict arising out of a meeting about a separate matter between the two women in November 2020. A federal court judge ruled in May 2021 that the lawyer had received confidential information which was relevant to the case and could present a “danger of misuse.”
Four days later, Porter dropped his case against the ABC, despite failing to secure an apology or retraction from the public broadcster.
Instead, the ABC agreed to pay mediation costs and publish an editor’s note stating it “regretted” that some readers had “misinterpreted” the article “as an accusation of guilt against” Porter.
Christian Porter and barrister Sue Chrysanthou ordered to pay $430,200 in legal costs
The separate case between Dyer and Chrysanthou has continued to make its way through the courts. Following the decision that Chrysanthou should stand aside, lawyers for her and Porter sought to have the costs claim reduced, as well as access to timesheets and invoices to challenge the claim.
But in a brief hearing on Wednesday, national judicial registrar Tim Luxton found Dyer was entitled to costs of $430,200 as part of a lump-sum payment. The costs order applies to both Chrysanthou and Porter, The Guardian reports.
