Football Australia unveiled the ParaMatildas on Monday night. It is the organisation’s first national team for women and girls with cerebral palsy (CP), acquired brain injury and symptoms of stroke.
At the launch event in Sydney, Nicole Christodoulou was named as one of the ParaMatildas and spoke passionately about her love of football and what led her to donning the green and gold.
Christodoulou described how she experienced two strokes at the age of 21 which left her paralysed down the left side of her body. This never stopped her from achieving her goals.
“I’ve always been a happy person, even when I was in hospital. All I wanted to do was play football,” the high school teacher said at the launch.
“I had to learn how to walk again, how to run, how to kick a ball, so being here today, means everything to all of us.”
Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor (centre) poses with ParaMatildas players Nicole Christodoulou, Holly Saunders, Tahlia Blanshard, Georgia Beikhoff and Matilda Mason, as well as head of women’s football Sarah Walsh and ParaMatildas coach Kelly Stirton. Photo: Getty Images / Brendon Thorne.
The ParaMatildas will head into camp for the first time in April to prepare for the inaugural International Federation of CP Football Women’s World Cup, which will be contested in Spain in May.
Christodoulou said she’s looking forward to the event and the sky is the limit.
“We’re going to make all of you proud. As our coach [Kelly Stirton] said, ‘We’re going to take over the whole world’,” Christodoulou concluded.
Much-loved Greek chef, David Tsirekas, has said farewell to his Petersham restaurant, Perama 2.0, after it reopened only four months ago.
“It is with incredible heartbreak that I have decided to hang up my apron – for now,” Tsirekas wrote in an Instagram post after news of his departure first emerged.
“I have stepped down from all my responsibilities at Perama 2.0 and won’t be returning back to any kitchen in the foreseeable future.”
Tsirekas, who suffered a stroke in 2019, tells The Greek Herald his decision to leave Perama 2.0 comes as he attempts to focus on his mental and physical health.
“The hardest thing about making this decision was about looking after myself. My parents always taught me the need of the many outweigh the need of the one,” Tsirekas says.
Tsirekas is hanging up his apron for now. Photo: Andriana Simos / The Greek Herald.
“The best way forward was for me to focus on health, especially mental health. I would do injustice to the values of philotimo if I didn’t do it.
“To be selfish now means that I can survive my mental, physical and spiritual self for me to continue to live the life of those virtues for my family, friends and community for the next 50 years.”
Elvis will continue to operate the new-look Perama 2.0.
Elvis Sabapathy, the restaurateur who bank-rolled Perama 2.0’s relaunch, will continue to operate it. Tsirekas said he wishes Elvis and the team “all the best for the future.”
As for his own future plans? The popular chef said he hopes he can bring his philotimo “creatively in other ways.”
“I shall return one day with a new renewed sharing of what fills my soul,” Tsirekas concluded. “Thank you for all the great times. Time to look forward to new hope.”
Paraplegic drift car racer, Christina Vithoulkas, has been crowned ‘Community Champion’ in South Australia’s prestigious Women of the Year Awards 2022.
A motocross accident in 2018 left Vithoulkas paraplegic, but that never stopped her from achieving her dreams.
She was recognised for using her platform as a social media influencer on YouTube and Instagram to break down the stigma of spinal injury with candour and positivity.
“I honestly cannot believe I won the community champion of the year award,” Vithoulkas wrote on Instagram after the award announcement.
“So lost for words. It was very emotional for me so thank you. I’m so very honoured.”
Her win was announced on Monday night at a ceremony by the Award organisers – SkyCity, The Advertiser and Sunday Mail.
Vithoulkas was among five other inspiring SA women recognised for their significant contributions to science, social justice, innovation and the arts.
This includes prominent vaccine researcher Helen Marshall, who was named SA Woman of the Year, Oakden whistleblower Barbara Spriggs, who won the Most Inspirational category, and researcher Alicia Byrne, who won Innovator of the Year for trailblazing research on stillborn and newborn deaths.
The spokesperson for Turkish ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Omer Celik, confirmed on Monday that the two leaders will discuss a ‘big dossier’ of issues.
Celik listed a number of specific issues which will be focused on including the delineation of the continental shelf, Turkish claims about the militarisation of Greek islands, the Blue Homeland doctrine and Cyprus.
“Greece must understand that we are her neighbours, we live together. We can solve our own issues,” Celik said.
A ‘dossier of issues’ including the East Med will be on the table for the meeting.
“There are mechanisms that work, but there are clearly issues we disagree on. We do not have to hide this from anyone. By extent, this meeting will address all these issues extensively.”
Greece’s leftist opposition has welcomed this planned meeting between Mitsotakis and Erdogan and expressed the hope that it will provide “an opportunity for substantial dialogue with clear red lines and with the immediate aim of reducing tension.”
Tens of thousands of residents across south-western Sydney have been told to evacuate immediately due to flooding concerns,ABC News reports.
The State Emergency Service (SES) has issued evacuation orders for the following locations: Chipping Norton, Georges Hall, Picnic Point, Pleasure Point, Sandy Point and parts of Lansvale, Holsworthy, Milperra, Moorebank and Warwick Farm.
“If you remain in the area you may be trapped without power, water and other essential services and it may be too dangerous to rescue you,” the evacuation order said.
Evacuation orders were also issued for parts of Camden, with residents in some areas told to leave by 9pm on Monday night and others advised to be out by midnight at the latest.
The latest closures and evacuation orders come as a new east coast low bears down on NSW.
The weather bureau has warned of more heavy rain, flooding and possible landslides for large parts of coastal NSW and inland as far as the Blue Mountains.
Meanwhile, NSW Police are also calling for public assistance after a car, belonging to a mother and adult son, was found in a stormwater canal in Sydney’s west.
Greece’s Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias, confirmed on Monday that Operation ‘Nostos 5’ was successful and 34 people were evacuated from the Ukrainian city of Odessa.
The evacuees were accompanied by Odessa Consul General Dimitrios Dochtsis to Moldova.
So far, Greece has repatriated nearly 200 of its own nationals from Kyiv, Mariupol and Odessa, according to the Greek Foreign Ministry.
Η επιχείρηση #Νόστος 5, για την εκκένωση 34 ατόμων από την Οδησσό, περιλαμβανομένων ναυτικών ελληνόκτητου πλοίου, ολοκληρώθηκε επιτυχώς. (1/2)
International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8 every year and is a focal point in the movement for women’s rights.
But why do we celebrate on March 8?
The UN began celebrating International Women’s Day in the International Women’s Year – 1975. In 1977, the UN General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for women’s rights and world peace.
In Australia, International Women’s Day has been informally celebrated since the early 1920s.
International Women’s Day rally, Melbourne 1975.
The first Australian IWD rally, organised by the Militant Women’s Movement of the Communist Party of Australia, took place on March 25, 1928 in the Sydney Domain.
IWD gained momentum in Australia around the time of the Second World War. Activists such as Jessie Street campaigned for women’s rights as workers because women at the time were often paid only 54 percent of men’s wages.
These days, International Women’s Day is marked in Australia with a diverse array of events including marches, rallies and fundraising events.
To mark International Women’s Day this year, The Greek Herald asked our readers to share with us who their female hero was. This is what they had to say:
Message by Kalli-Ann Sevaptsidis:
I am nominating my Grandma Anneta as my Unsung Female Hero. She has always supported me at home, school, community and everyday life. I’m very lucky that my Grandma Anneta lives on the same street as my family. I’m always welcomed by her and can visit her any time of the day. She is always happy to see me.
At school, she always encourages me to complete my homework and to help me with reading, writing and math. She volunteers at my school and is known by all the children at school as “Grandma Anneta.”
My religious, heritage and cultural background are Greek. I’m the second generation born in Canada and proud to be able to speak, read and write Greek. My Grandma Anneta is very proud of me and she is the one that takes me to Greek school every Saturday. When I was younger, I didn’t want to go but now realise that it is important to learn about the Greek language and culture. I’ve also developed some close friendships that I hope will last a lifetime.
My Grandma Anneta has not had an easy life. She came to Canada when she was 19 years old not knowing any English and arriving with only one suitcase that contained her belongings. She worked as a seamstress during the day and attended English classes in the evening.
Through my Grandma Anneta, I’ve also learned that it is also important to be a cheerful giver. We also volunteer within our community and help various organisations. Every year we participate in a walk/run fundraiser for the Kitchener-Waterloo Salvation Army. We’ve also participated in collecting food for the local Food Bank and collecting new books and toys for needy kids. It gives me a good feeling of being able to help people less fortunate. It makes you feel good when you are able to help others. If you go out and do good things, you will fill the world with hope, and therefore, you fill yourself with hope.
My Grandma Anneta has always and continues to be a very special person in my life.
My mum. My hero. By Kiki aged 14:
I guess mum learned nurture when she gave birth to my brother Dimitri and I. Then again, I have a feeling this endless sense of giving, caring, sharing was probably part of her very being before us.
During COVID lockdown a year ago, she opened a cafe. Massive career change from corporate to food, but she followed her heart. She wanted to share her knowledge of good, clean Mediterranean eating with a community who were hungry for it. Mum is even feeding the hard-working medics at the local hospital when she can.
Hellenism is at her inner core. In the cafe you’ll find it dotted around the place. Subtle but significant. She now curates art exhibitions every six weeks to help bring the community out of their shells. She also releases artworks from one lounge room into another when someone buys it. It’s amazing how art can help connect people. As does food. Mum thinks it’s a spiritual experience.
Southern Sydney’s most loved Greek Summer Festival is returning to Carss Park this year on Sunday, May 1 from 10am to 7pm.
The ‘Greek Summer Festival’ will be hosted by St Basil’s NSW/ ACT and is anticipated to be the largest of its kind in Australia with over 50 stalls already pre-registered for the event.
People are able to enter the festival for free and can expect to see a Greek style marketplace with product, information and food stalls spread across the waterfront park.
The organisers have promised the event will pay tribute to the Greek culture with a special emphasis on the participation of some of the most-loved Greek Australian brands.
Attendees will even be entertained by some of Australia’s most loved Greek artists, as well as a few extra surprises lined up. Activities to keep the children entertained will also be available.
The festival will be held in the presence of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios and many officials.
“With the challenges we’ve recently faced, it’s been a dream for many of us to experience a Greek summer,” a St Basil’s NSW/ACT spokesperson told The Greek Herald.
“With this kept in mind, the Greek Summer Festival will bring together the dynamic Greek culture in its true element through entertainment, food and product stalls, as well as showcasing our talented Greek Australians and Greeks abroad.”
Sydney’s State Theatre erupted in applause on Saturday night as popular Greek singer-songwriter, Yannis Kotsiras, took to the stage to perform many of his iconic hits.
Kotsiras was supported by his amazing band on the night which included a pianist, a bouzouki player, guitarist, drummer and a female singer.
Yannis and his band.
The performance was watched by an almost sold-out crowd made up of Sydney’s Greek community and prominent individuals such as His Grace Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia.
One young attendee, Petros, told The Greek Herald on the night that the concert was fantastic and he really enjoyed it.
Yannis Kotsiras.Singer Dimitra.
“The concert was so good! The bouzouki and violin were a great combo and Yannis was outstanding,” Petros said with a smile.
Kotsiras’ Sydney concert is the first of three across Australia, including one at the Thebarton Theatre in Adelaide on March 9, the Palais Theatre in Melbourne on March 12 and the Darwin Entertainment Centre on March 16.
