The executive director of Business Sydney, Paul Nicolaou, has written to Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg calling on the government to let age pension recipients earn more.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Mr Nicolaou believes older workers can fill the hospitality vacancies left behind by a shortage of backpackers and international students in Australia due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But this is only possible if the Federal Government comes to the party.
In his letter, Mr Nicolaou wrote that “currently under Work Bonus, a pensioner can earn up to $300 of employment income a fortnight… without reducing their pension.”
“Increasing the limit would allow pensioners the opportunity to earn more money in this current climate and would help businesses who are struggling to find staff have access to a pool of potential workers,” he continued.
The idea has been backed by a number of hospitality industry leaders including the founder of Doltone House, Paul Signorelli.
Treasurer Frydenberg did not respond to requests for comment.
Milwaukee Bucks star, Giannis Antetokounmpo, has come a long way in his NBA career. After selling anything he can on the streets of Greece just so he can buy a pair of basketball shoes, he’s now the league’s reigning MVP and one of the best players in the world.
To celebrate his birthday today, The Greek Herald shares its top three facts about the ‘Greek Freak.’
1. Love for Greece:
Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brothers Thanasis, Kostas and Alexis grew up in poverty in their early days in Greece, where their parents had arrived from Nigeria as immigrants.
The NBA star and his family grew up in the Athenian suburb of Sepolia. He began playing basketball for the youth teams of Filathlitikos in Athens.
Giannis’ mother and brother Alex gained Greek citizenship in 2021.
In 2013, he was granted Greek citizenship which allowed him to travel to the United States and join the Bucks later that year. His mother and brother Alex gained citizenship in 2021.
In his 2016/17 season for the Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis became the first player in NBA history to finish a regular season in the top 20 in all five statistics of total points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.
Giannis won back-to-back NBA Most Valuable Player Awards in 2019 and 2020, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James as the only players in NBA history to win two MVPs before turning 26.
Along with his MVP award, he was also named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2020, becoming only the third player after Michael Jordan (1988) and Hakeem Olajuwon (1994) to win both awards in the same season.
In 2021, Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to their first NBA championship since 1971 and was named Finals MVP. The same year, he was selected on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.
3. Disney Film:
The Disney+ service has started developing a new feature film about the life of Giannis.
The film will focus on Giannis’ early life and current career. There will be a focus on his early life as the son of Nigerian immigrants in Greece and juggling this conflict to become a leading NBA All-Star.
It is so far unclear if the film will also feature Alex and Kostas, the other two Antetokoumpo brothers.
Casting has begin for the film with the website saying they are looking for young actors to play two versions of Giannis. The first is a 13-15 year old who will play Giannis in his early teens. The second is a slightly older Giannis, depicting The Greek Freak’s rise to stardom.
The new Director of the British Museum, George Osborne, has spoken of the possibility of returning the Parthenon Marbles to Greece for a limited time in an interview published by The Times on Friday.
In the article titled, ‘It’s right to be proud of the British Museum,’ Mr Osborne discussed at length the current issues of “awakening” and the removal of monuments related to the slave trade in Britain.
“Certainly there are those who question our right to exist,” Mr Osborne wrote, adding “they did it in 1753 and they do it again in 2021.”
“Of course, there are those who demand the return of items that they think we have no right to keep. This is not new either. Lord Byron thought that the Elgin marbles should be returned to the Parthenon. Our answer is no.”
Instead, the former British finance minister suggested the museum could consider lending the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece with the corresponding guarantees for their safe preservation and their return.
“We are open to lending our items wherever they can take care of them and ensure their safe return – something we do every year, including in Greece,” he wrote.
This article comes just after the visit of Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in London last month where he spoke with his UK counterpart, Boris Johnson, about the repatriation of the Marbles. Mr Johnson said the issue was a matter for the British Museum.
Over the last five days, Pope Francis has visited Cyprus and Greece where he attempted to shine a spotlight on the current migrant crisis experienced by both countries.
Here’s your rundown of everything the pontiff has been up to on his tour.
Cyprus:
Pope Francis arrived in Cyprus on Thursday armed with a message of compassion for the thousands of people who have sought sanctuary on the east Mediterranean island, and a promise that by the end of the year 50 refugees will have been relocated to Italy.
“They are our brothers and sisters,” he said in a video message before the visit.
Pope Francis arrives at the airport in Larnaca, Cyprus. Photo: AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino.
Pope Francis stayed in the Vatican nunciature, or embassy, which is located in the U.N.-controlled buffer zone that divides Cyprus.
But he did hold a meeting with Cypriot President, Nicos Anastasiades at the presidential palace. During the meeting, the Pope urged Greek Cypriots and the breakaway Turkish Cypriots to resume talks on reunifying the Mediterranean island nation.
“Let us nurture hope by the power of gestures, rather than by gestures of power,” Francis told Anastasiades and other government leaders.
H παρουσία σας σήμερα στο πλευρό όλων των Κυπρίων, ενισχύει τις προσπάθειές μας για την επίλυση του Κυπριακού προβλήματος. Πέραν της αποφασιστικής στάσης που αναμένουμε από τη Διεθνή Κοινότητα, προσβλέπουμε στη προσωπική στήριξή σας ώστε να επιτευχθεί μία δίκαιη και βιώσιμη λύση. pic.twitter.com/7cilAXMnNE
Acknowledging the stall in talks and the continuing suffering of Christians unable to return to their homes in the majority Muslim north, Francis encouraged an initiative of the island’s Christian and Muslim faith leaders to promote reconciliation.
In a speech in response to the Pope, Mr Anastasiades denounced “Turkey’s continued intransigence,” its “unprecedented belligerence” and “bellicose rhetoric.” He vowed to nevertheless work to find a just settlement and reunification of all Cyprus’ communities.
Greece:
The next stop for Pope Francis during his five-day tour was Greece. He was received at the Presidential Mansion on Saturday and was greeted by President Katerina Sakellaropoulou.
The President welcomed Pope Francis in Athens, extolling his work and his “deep social sensitivity.” She also thanked him for expressing his support on the change of status of Hagia Sophia from a museum into a mosque by the Turkish government.
Pope Francis with Greece’s President.
In his address, the Pope warned warned about a “retreating of democracy” in Europe.
“Democracy was born here. Today, there is a retreating of democracy, not only in the Old Continent. Everyone’s participation is fundamental not only to achieving goals but because it reveals who we are,” the Pontiff said.
“Without Athens and without Greece, Europe and the world would not be what they are today.”
Following this welcoming ceremony, the Pontiff met with Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
During the meeting between Mitsotakis and Pope Francis, the two officials discussed issues of “mutual interest,” government sources said, without elaborating further. Mitsotakis thanked the Pontiff for his visit in a year of “high symbolic significance” as it is the bicentenary of the Greek Revolution.
Είχα την τιμή σήμερα να συναντήσω τον Προκαθήμενο της Ρωμαιοκαθολικής Εκκλησίας @Pontifex. Η επίσκεψή του στην Ελλάδα γίνεται σε μία χρονιά με υψηλή συμβολική σημασία λόγω της επετείου των 200 ετών από την έναρξη της Ελληνικής Επανάστασης. https://t.co/UIFU2kKKeBpic.twitter.com/X9m2Faos50
Later, the Pope met with the leader of Greece’s Orthodox Church, Archbishop Ieronymos. Pope Francis was heckled by an elderly Greek Orthodox priest as he arrived for the meeting.
“Pope, you are a heretic!” the priest shouted three times as Francis arrived at the residence of Archbishop Ieronymos in the Greek capital of Athens.
The protester fell to the ground as police led him away, and Francis appeared not to notice as he walked into the residence for his private meeting with the Orthodox leader.
Police hold a protesting Orthodox Priest during the visit of Pope Francis at the Archbishopric of Greece in Athens, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021. Photo: AP Photo/Michael Varaklas.
The incident followed small protests against the pope on his previous stop, the island of Cyprus, which is also predominantly Christian Orthodox.
Lesvos:
Pope Francis returned on Sunday to the Greek island of Lesvos to offer comfort to migrants at a refugee camp and blast what he said was Europe’s indifference and self-interest “that condemns to death those on the fringes.”
“Please, let us stop this shipwreck of civilisation!” Pope Francis said at the Mavrovouni camp.
“Let us stop ignoring reality, stop constantly shifting responsibility, stop passing off the issue of migration to others, as if it mattered to no one and was only a pointless burden to be shouldered by somebody else!”
A maskless Pope took his time walking through the camp on Sunday, patting children and babies on the head and posing for selfies. He gave a “thumbs up” after he was serenaded by African women singing a song of welcome.
Pope Francis spoke at a refugee camp on the island of Lesvos. Photo: AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino.
It was his second trip to Lesvos in five years. He lamented that little had changed since 2016, when Lesvos was at the heart of a massive wave of migration to Europe and when Francis brought 12 Syrian Muslim refugees from the island back home with him aboard the papal plane.
That concrete gesture of solidarity had raised hopes among current residents of the Lesvos camp. But there were no papal airlifts on Sunday and Francis returns to the Vatican on Monday.
Patricia Karvelas be taking over from broadcasting veteran Fran Kelly as the host of Radio National’s breakfast show.
“Fran Kelly told me to listen carefully because the conversation can go in any direction based on what the person is telling you,” Karvelas tells the Sydney Morning Herald.
Listeners can expect a change in direction as Karvelas replaces Kelly, who has been at the Breakfast helm since 2005.
“I am not a very scripted person. I can be pretty fearless and I do not care about being popular in a political interview. I care about getting to the heart of the issues. I just want the answer and I think people respect that,” Karvelas says.
The Greek-Australian journalist, who has two daughters with her longtime partner, believes her multicultural experience will add a new layer to RN Breakfast.
“My background is different to people who have come before me, not just Fran, those before us and I think that’s a good thing to have a diversity of hosts with different backgrounds and experiences. I understand this country in a way that differs from others, so I hope I can bring a fresh perspective to this show,” she says.
“I want RN Breakfast to be appointment radio, the sort of radio that you have to shush your kids in the car because you need to hear the answer to the questions being asked. Fran does that now, but we execute it differently. We may have a different style but we are both committed to getting the answers, and that’s what people can expect.”
Karvelas, whose appointment was announced on Monday morning, said she also helped to bring a younger audience to RN Breakfast without alienating the show’s long-term listeners.“I do want to build an audience of people who are in my demographic; I’m not young, I’m not old, but I’m somewhere in the middle,” says Karvelas, who is in her early 40s.
Having spent the last seven years anchoring RN Drive, Karvelas says the opportunity to host RN Breakfast fulfilled a long-held ambition.
“I have been hungry for a bigger role; the afternoon news cycle is different to the morning; in the morning, you can set the day’s agenda, that’s what I’m ready to do,” Karvelas says.“Fran’s decision to move on from this role was perfect timing from where I am at, especially as we go into an election year.”
Liberal MP and psychologist Fiona Martin is calling for “critically significant structural reform” to Australia’s mental health system.
“When I say that, I mean every role within the mental health workforce needs to be reviewed and looked at to maximise the various services that are available to ensure that people who really need mental health services and expect to be able to get mental health services when they need it, have access to that,” Dr. Martin tells the Greek Herald.
The Member for Reid recently chaired a parliamentary mental health and suicide committee.
She tabled their final report, which makes 44 recommendations to improve the system, in Parliament last week.
“One of the most important things is that people can access mental health services when they need them. That is at the core of this report in its 44 recommendations,” she said.
“What we heard from people was that accessibility was the biggest concern across the nation; that people felt that they couldn’t access services that were needed.”
“I think that our mental health system was already fragmented and was already under stress before the pandemic but the pandemic really just put the next level of pressure on it and really had tipped it over.”
Fiona Martin MP (Photo: Supplied)
The pandemic has shown digital technology can be a legitimate tool to fix the system, allowing more people to access treatment online.
The final report highlights the need for well-designed digital systems to fill the gap.
“It’s not in place of treatment by a mental health professional, but it certainly helps in the early intervention and prevention of services,” she said.
Martin also recognises the need for culturally competent and trauma-informed workforces for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.
“I know my yiayia and pappou came from Kastellorizo in Greece and when they came, my grandmother was traumatised by what she experienced (war) on the island during her time just before,” Martin said.
“So many people come to this country fleeing war, fleeing persecution, fleeing a whole lot of horrible, adverse situations in their countries.”
“It is important that we do provide culturally competent mental health services but also trauma-informed services as well.”
This week is Psychology Week. 'Working MInds' is the theme – psychology in the workplace. I was on the panel at the @AustPsych Working Minds Breakfast. We discussed 'Job Crafting'. Learn more here 👇https://t.co/Zteff02Jkypic.twitter.com/tRxYBqKVlj
This week is the Australian Psychological Society’s 19th Psychology Week, with the theme ‘Working Minds’ focusing on promoting workplace wellbeing.
“People want to have autonomy and choice in the workplace,” Dr. Martin said.
“A healthy, high sense of agency is really what underlines happiness.”
Martin says poor mental health in the workplace is driving the Great Resignation — a ‘worker revolt’ that has seen a spike in people rejecting their 9 to 5 jobs.
Martin says there are signs Australia could go the same way.
She says the pandemic has “affected people in the sense that they’ve reassessed what they want out of life” and whether the stress they experience at work “is really worth it”.
“People really had an opportunity to stop and also reflect on what they want in their life [and] how they want to live,” she says.
Alexandra Sideris’ passion for architectural design began at just five years old.
“I used to go to building sites with my father, who was a roof carpenter, which piqued my interest from a young age,” she tells The West.
“As a child of Greek migrants, it was an unusual choice back then but I was very lucky to have parents who were very supportive of my decision.”
She earned her bachelor’s degree in architecture from Curtin University and got straight to work.
“While I was at university I would work at architects’ offices during summer, so I was lucky enough to have a foot in the door and I could go directly into my field,” she said.
Beginning her Broadway Homes journey three-and-a-half years ago as a senior designer and head of the design department, Ms. Sideris supervised and supported other design staff at the company.
“With my background in architecture, I was brought to the team to ensure continued growth and innovation in our designs, and to create an experience that would continue to exceed client expectations,” Ms. Sideris said.
As a senior designer, Ms. Sideris takes the individual needs of each client and converts their dreams and visions into a functional reality.
“It still excites me to come in each day to produce something from nothing but an idea and get to watch it come to life,” she said.
“I design all of our clients’ individual custom homes, from initial briefs and meetings with clients, through to planning approval and everything else in between.
“I am involved in creating concepts for new display homes, which is an exciting way to incorporate new styles and trends into our designs.
“As a team, we work with the client’s overall budget and goals to produce quality-built homes and place a lot of emphasis on the overall client experience to make it the most personalised and enjoyable journey possible.”
Sydney Olympic FC has today confirmed that its goalkeeper, Nicholas Sorras, has joined Perth Glory’s Isuzu Ute A-League squad on a short-term injury replacement contract.
Sorras could play for Glory in Sunday’s A-League Men clash with Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park.
Sydney Olympic’s CEO, John Boulous, wished Sorras all the best.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for Nick and a great reward for his effort and performance,” Mr Boulous said.
“As a Club we sign players to not only contribute to the success of the Club on the field, but also provide a football environment and pathway for them to reach their potential and progress.
“We wish Nick the very best for his stint with Perth Glory.”
An Australian of Greek Cypriot heritage Anthony Nicola is the Resident Director of South Australia’s State Theatre Company or as his colleagues call him the Resident ‘Enfant Terrible’ due to his outstanding artistic achievements at the young age of 22.
We chat with Anthony as he reminisces about his love for storytelling from a young age, talks about the people who have influenced his career and provides some details on his collaboration with Elena Carapetis for the play ‘Antigone’.
-Anthony give us a brief background of yourself and when did you first realise your penchant for theatre?
When I was a young boy, I loved telling stories. I had a very traditional Greek-Orthodox upbringing and I would often escape into the world of the imagination. I would put on little plays with my cousins at Yiayia’s house for my family, and it all just came naturally to me.
I knew it was what I wanted to do for ages, so straight out of high-school I auditioned for the Flinders Drama Centre, and there I trained as a director for four years before landing my job at the State Theatre Company of South Australia.
What I learned in my time there was that it wasn’t telling stories that I loved at all. What I actually loved was whatever happened between the storyteller and the listener. It is this magical unexplainable communion.
Theatre became my religion. The way that theatre can touch people’s lives and help them understand the world and how to live in it still amazes me. I really believe that every theatrical experience has the potential to create true and lasting social change.
Performers Kidaan Zelleke and Kathryn Adams with playwright Elena Carapetis.
-Are there particular people who have mentored or influenced your career?
So many! But primarily Tom Healey, former Head of Directing at Flinders Drama Centre, who took me under his wing and taught me everything I know. He’s a wonderful human being and a genius theatre maker. We have become great friends.
And similarly, former Resident Artist at State Theatre Company of South Australia (STCSA) Elena Carapetis has also been hugely influential to me. At first, we gravitated towards each other because of our cultural bond, but very quickly we realised that we speak the same language when it comes to theatre making. She inspires me every day.
Also, the current Artistic Director of STCSA Mitchell Butel has greatly influenced my career, as he has believed in me from day one and given me my first main stage show.
-The last two years have been tough for the entertainment and the performing arts sectors. As we transit from crisis to recovery what can we do as a community to protect and grow the country’s theatre culture?
We just need to support each other’s work and see as much theatre as possible.
Life is short, so while we can we need to dive headfirst into every single theatrical experience that we can get our hands on.
Thrilled that my play #Antigone is part of the @StateTheatreSA 2022 program. The first in western #theatre to say no to a king was a girl. This is her story and the story of all Antigones who followed. Spectacular Girls. I’ll show you what a girl can do. pic.twitter.com/W9D7RZiFCq
— Elena Carapetis Ελένα Καραπέτη (@ElenaCaraSays) October 19, 2021
-What are the lessons you’ve learned during this pandemic period?
I’ve learned that the connections we have with people are all that matters. When everything else falls away, all we have are the people that we love to lean on.
– The company’s upcoming season presents an eclectic and exciting variety of shows. What would you like patrons to know?
This season is one of my absolute favourites that the company has ever done! As you say, it’s an incredible mix of shows and extremely diverse. There is something in there for everyone. We have true stories, reimagined classics and gripping one-man shows.
Anthony Nicola working with playwright Elena Carapetis in rehearsals for the The Gods of Strangers. Photo Credit: Sia Duff
-Next year you will be directing Elena Carapetis’ ‘Antigone’. Why should one watch this play and how do you think it will resonate with contemporary audiences?
Antigone is one of the great stories of all time. It explores fundamental questions about the conflict between civil and religious law and common humanity.
The story is simple: Antigone, a young girl, chooses to defy the laws imposed by the king, her uncle Creon. It is this central conflict that Elena Carapetis’ new play explores – a young girl rises up against a powerful man.
Elena uses this classic story to explore the endurance of patriarchy in our world, and how Antigone’s spirit lives on in modern women like Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai and Emma Gonzalez – just to name a few.
But even deeper than his, I think Elena’s play wants to conjure the spirit of Antigone in all of us.
It is a firecracker of a play that wants us all to leave the theatre shouting from the rooftops for the ones we love and for what we believe in. This is a show for all those who have ever felt like an outsider, and how we find the strength to speak our truth.
– What would you say to someone who may be unfamiliar with Antigone to get them to come see the show?
You don’t need to know anything about Antigone to enjoy this show.
We begin in Ancient Greece with the original characters before hurtling 2 thousand years into the future to modern-day Australia and all around the globe. We show different versions of the Antigone story today – different young women speaking truth to power.
Four actors – one man and three women – play dozens of different characters in a collection of scenes that will make your head spin. It’s a wild rollercoaster ride that you won’t want to miss!
*Antigone will be held at the Odean Theatre at 57a Queen Street in Norwood, SA from 27 May – 11 June 2022. To find out more visithttps://statetheatrecompany.com.au
The Greek community of Sydney will watch with great interest the Annual General Meeting of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW), to be held on Sunday, December 5 at 2 pm. Two matters of interest will dominate the meeting: (a) the construction of the coveted, and much discussed, Greek Cultural Centre, and (b) the rumours about the sale of the Greek Orthodox Community Home for the Aged in Earlwood.
Cultural Centre:
In this historical General Meeting, detailed information will be provided on the “Cultural Centre” – an impressive three-storey building that promises to cover all the cultural and social needs of Hellenism with multipurpose rooms, such as a theatre, restaurant, offices, conference rooms, library etc.
The construction of the Cultural Centre, which is expected to be completed in five years, is estimated to cost more than $20 million and it is certain that State and Federal grants will be requested, as well as funds from the Greek government. The financial contribution from organisations and associations of our community is also expected.
Greek Orthodox Community Home for the Aged:
While the plans for the construction of the Cultural Centre are a dominant topic in the discussions of our community, the rumours about the possible sale of the Greek nursing home in Earlwood took everyone by surprise.
The Greek Herald received numerous phone calls from members of the Greek community who expressed their concern about the possibility of the nursing home being sold. At this stage, we must emphasise, that it has been categorically denied by the President of GOCNSW, Mr Haris Danalis, and committee members of the Greek Orthodox community.
It should be noted that in the financial year 2020-2021 the Greek nursing home of the community showed profits of $163,131 compared to $455,755 in the previous financial year. This reduction is of course due to the restrictive measures for COVID-19. In the same period, community childcare centres increased their profits from $145,233 to $313,717.
Many, however, justifiably argue that if the nursing home had shown an annual profit even in the difficult period of the pandemic, why talk of its sale?
