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On this day in 1922, Greek singer Grigoris Bithikotsis was born

The Greek Herald
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On this day in 1922, Greek singer Grigoris Bithikotsis was born

By Ilektra Takuridu  

The death of Grigoris Bithikotsis marked the end of an age of great urban folk music.

Grigoris has often been described as the voice of Greece, his songs brought traditional music to a contemporary audience, and within his lifetime, he composed over 200 songs. 

His music is loved all around Greece, and some of his biggest fans are among famous people Alain Delon and Aristotle Onassis.

Who was Grigoris Bithikotsis? 

Grigoris Bithikotsis was born in 1922 to a poor family in the district of Athens called Peristeri and was the youngest of 8 siblings. When he was a teenager, he developed a love of music, and despite working as a plumber, he would also sing at the local tavern near his home.

He found his true passion for music when he heard three Greek musicians singing and playing the bouzouki for the first time.

The three musicians were famous Greek folk musician: Manolis Chiotis, Markos Vamvakaris and Stratos Pagioumtzis, who were famous for playing in the ‘rebetiko’ style. This style that was a blend of music styles throughout Greece would be the inspiration for Grigoris song writing. After hearing the musicians, Grigoris bought a bouzouki and studied music in secret. 

 In 1947 Grigoris was sent into exile due to his political views he was sent to Makronissos, and island used as a political prison camp. On this island he met Mikis Theodorakis, the famous composor most known for his score in the film Zorba the Greek, together the pair began writing music. 

His collaboration with Mikis Theodorakis marked his career to the top. One of the most famous songs to come from the duo was “Epitafios” it was written by Theodorakis but it was the voice of Grigoris that completed the piece making it a masterpiece. 

After years of practice and studying, Grigoris made his debut in 1949 and performed for the first time on stage.

Grigoris Bithikotsis is also known to have sung poems written by the famous Nobel award-winning poet Odysseas Elytis “Aksion Esti” and had also performed songs by other famous composers such as Markos Vamvakaris, Vassilis Tsitsani and George Mitsakis.  

During his fame, he was married twice, and he had three children. His son, also named Grigoris, took the same path, and he became a singer. When Grigoris was asked why he give the same name to his son, he answered in his poetic nature that when he will die, he will like that after his funeral, a Grigoris Bithikotsis to return back home. 

At the later stages of his career, Grigoris received the Order of the Phoenix by president Kostis Stephanopoulos for his contribution to folk music. The Greek government usually gives this order to citizens who have excelled in arts. 

In 2005, Grigoris Bithikotsis died in Athens after three months of being hospitalized. He was 82 years old when he passed away. 

His funeral was attended by thousands of fans but also by many famous politicians. They paid their respects to the ‘voice of Greece’ with a carriage pulled by two horses, one white and the other one black, a symbolic reference to his song called “a beautiful carriage with two horses”. 

He was a great artist who expressed the happiness and the sorrow of the Greek nation throughout his music. He was authentic in his style and poetic with his performance, this is why Greeks loved Grigoris Bithikotsis and called him the voice of Greece.

Labor MPs Neumann, Georganas honour Australian forces who fought to defend Greece

The Greek Herald
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Labor MPs Neumann, Georganas honour Australian forces who fought to defend Greece

Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Shayne Neumann and Member for Adelaide Steve Georganas have marked the 80th anniversary since Australian forces took part in Allied efforts to defend Greece and Crete during the Second World War.  

Britain and Australia both felt that Greece should be supported against German invasion during the war and that the defence of Greece was a ‘great risk in a good cause’. 

Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Shayne Neumann said that the 6th Division arrived in Greece in early April 1941 and on 6 April, the Germans began their invasion of Greece. 

“Despite their efforts, the Allied force, together with Greek units, was unable to halt the rapid German advance down central Greece towards Athens and more than 50,000 troops had to be evacuated,” Mr Neumann said. 

“It was a costly operation, with 320 Australia troops tragically killed and 2,065 becoming prisoners of war in the process. 

“After a month of intensive fighting, the Allied force was finally withdrawn from the Greek mainland on British and Australian warships and British transports. 

“Some soldiers were taken back to Egypt but many were put ashore on the island of Crete.”

Photo (L): Member for Adelaide Steve Georganas with one of the last surviving Australian veterans in Crete, for the 70th Commemoration of
the Batte of Crete, 2011

Member for Adelaide Steve Georganas said that Crete, which was a key strategic asset, subsequently fell in a similar way, with the Allies being overrun by the formidable German force.

“Together with Greek troops, the Allies formed ‘Creforce’ and prepared to meet the Germans, who came on 20 May in the shape of a major paratroop landing at three different places along the north coast of the island,” Mr Georganas said. 

“Despite vigorous opposition to the Germans, the Allied force eventually had to be withdrawn, once again by British and Australian warships after sustaining more than 1,700 killed, 2,000 wounded and 11,000 prisoners of war. 

“We honour the service and sacrifice of these brave men and we also owe a huge debt of gratitude to the thousands of locals who helped our troops survive.  

“Indeed, more than 450,000 Greeks sadly died during the following four years of German occupation, with almost 25,000 executed for assisting the Allies.”

More information about the Allied campaigns in Greece and Crete can be found on the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Anzac Portal. 

NSW oyster industry devastated after recent floods

The Greek Herald
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NSW oyster industry devastated after recent floods

New South Wales thriving oyster ­industry has entirely washed out to sea in recent floods, leaving devastated oyster farmers counting the costs and consumers facing sky-high ­prices at the dinner table, the Daily Telegraph reports.

NSW Farmers oyster chair Todd Graham said the impact of the floods on the industry was statewide and “current ­indications do not look good”.

“As of last Friday, oyster farmers have reported $17 million in lost stock and damage to farm equipment and sheds, but not all oyster farmers have been able to assess losses yet,” Mr Graham said, stretching that it takes about three years to grow mature oysters and the growers may not have anything to sell until 2024.

With NSW the largest producer of the popular Sydney rock oyster, Frank Theodorou from GetFish said “as far as NSW is concerned every farm is shut”.

“Tide currents are quite strong and powerful so they’ve uplifted and uprooted leases and basically they’ve completely lost them,” Mr Theodorou said. 

“So those farmers will be struggling as they will be starting from scratch again.”

GetFish are currently flying Sydney rock oysters from Western Australia to supply their Easter Show stall. Mr Theodorou said consumers could expect to see an increase in oyster prices on the menu.

*Source: The Daily Telegraph

Mitsotakis urges Libya to scrap Turkey maritime deal, restores bilateral relations

The Greek Herald
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Mitsotakis urges Libya to scrap Turkey maritime deal, restores bilateral relations

In his first visit to Libya, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called on the interim government to scrap an agreement on maritime boundaries signed with Turkey in 2019, which Athens says violates international law.

A precondition for any progress in Libya’s relations with the EU is the departure of foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya — a request also made by numerous EU countries — he said in a joint press briefing with Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh in Tripoli on Tuesday.

“And of course for us, it is very important, is the annulment of illegal documents which were presented as supposedly transnational agreements but but have no legal effect, as expressly stated by the European Council,” he added.

“It is time to leave behind everything that tested our relations in the recent past,” he said and described the opening of a Greek embassy in Tripoli as a “milestone” in Greek-Libyan relations.

Turkey and the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) signed the maritime agreement, as well as a military cooperation deal, in November 2019.

Dbeibeh’s new UN-backed unity government took office last month with a mandate to improve services and prepare for a national election in December.

*Source: Kathimerini, The Libya Observer

EU blast Turkey on human rights and Mediterranean

The Greek Herald
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EU blast Turkey on human rights and Mediterranean

European Council President Charles Michel called on Turkey to keep working to resolve disputes with Greece and Cyprus over gas rights in the Mediterranean as he visited Ankara on Tuesday to discuss trade and refugees with President Tayyip Erdogan.

A row between Turkey and EU members Greece and Cyprus over offshore jurisdiction has strained ties, reaching a peak last summer when Turkish and Greek navy frigates escorted vessels exploring for hydrocarbons in disputed waters.

The European Union backs Athens, while Ankara has accused the bloc of bias and of not honouring its pledges under a 2016 migrant deal.

The visit by Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen follows an EU summit last month at which the bloc said work could begin on deeper trade ties and on providing more money for refugees in Turkey.

Despite concerns over what some European leaders call recent Turkish backsliding on human rights, the EU has applauded Ankara’s recent withdrawal of vessels operating in disputed waters and restarting talks with Greece.

“In Ankara, ready with (von der Leyen) to start discussion with (Erdogan) on the future of EU-Turkey relations,” Michel said on Twitter. “Sustained de-escalation is needed to build a more constructive agenda.”

The EU last month opened the door to begin updating a Customs Union as demanded by Ankara. This would bring EU candidate Turkey into the internal market of the world’s largest trading bloc and allow unhindered flow of goods and services.

Erdogan has downplayed EU membership in recent years and few analysts see it as imminent.

The EU chiefs, who last held in-person talks with Erdogan a year ago, were expected to present Ankara with three options if the maritime de-escalation continues, including improving economic ties, a formula to support the more than 4 million refugees in Turkey, and ways to increase contacts.

“We are no longer in an emergency situation so this is more about working for a longer-term perspective,” an EU official said.

At the summit last month, the EU also warned Ankara of sanctions if it restarts energy exploration in disputed waters and voiced concern over Turkey’s human rights record.
Michel and Von der Leyen are expected in Ankara to stress that the EU will not approve closer ties without fundamental rights being honoured.

Both the EU and the United States have criticised a move by Turkey to abruptly withdraw from a convention protecting women from violence, as well as a legal case to shut down the third biggest party, the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP).
Source: Reuters, France 24

Combining fashion and history: Meet the designer behind the Greek brand ‘MagnaDi’

Argyro Vourdoumpa
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Combining fashion and history: Meet the designer behind the Greek brand ‘MagnaDi’

The founder and designer of ‘MagnaDi’, Margianna Dragoumanou from Nafplio, talks to The Greek Herald about the history of her brand, the collection of silk scarves on the Greek Revolution and her ties with Australia.

The word ‘magnadi’ in ancient Greek means scarf (μαντήλι) and is interwoven with the myth of the goddess of the waves Leukothea, who appeared to the castaways, wrapped them with her ‘magnadi’ and guided them to safe land.

Inspired by this myth and because of her desire to learn more about the history and mythology of her country, Margianna started the company ‘MagnaDi’ six years ago, which deals with the design of scarves printed in high quality silk from Soufli, an area in Greece also known as the ‘silk town.’

“Studying and living in England for a few years, I realised that the groups I was associated with, knew aspects of Greek history and mythology that I was unaware of. This saddened me so I decided to make something entirely Greek on the one hand to learn by creating, and on the other hand to honour my country,” Margianna tells The Greek Herald.

Margianna’s mother painting on silk and (L) the ‘1821’ Silk Collection

Her studies in economics and marketing were defeated by her love for drawing in Greek colours and patterns and her mother’s painting-on-silk skills were also an important factor in her decision to deal with this art form.

“I create the designs and then the digital printing is done in Soufli, in the same factory that silk is made. Hem and stitching are usually done by hand from Pomak women who live in the area,” says Margianna.

The collections of ‘MagnaDi’ are inspired by ancient Greece, history and mythology while the new silk collection entitled ‘2021’ features key revolutionary personalities such as Laskarina Bouboulina, Theodoros Kolokotronis and Yannis Makriyiannis and aims to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Greek War of Independence.

“Women have had scarves for various uses for thousands of years. I hope that one of my designs will stay in someone’s closet and seeing it, they will remember something from our history,” says the designer, explaining that the majority of her customers are people with Greek heritage living in the US, England and France as well as tourists who buy the scarves as souvenirs.

During its six years of operation, the Greek business has also collaborated with the British Museum and the Natural History Museum of Chicago. Margianna now hopes that her scarves will also reach Australia, where she has family.

“One of my mother’s uncles – with the surname Houdalas – emigrated to Melbourne in 1922,” she says, speaking enthusiastically about the visit she made to the country in 2015, in order to meet her relatives.

England, Nafplio, Soufli, Australia.

The world is indeed small and the stories told by the motifs on Margianna’s scarves must remain unchanged, because they are the ones that reveal the identity of every Greek wherever in the world she or he may be.

READ MORE: ‘A phenomenon’: Pavlos Demertzis-Bouboulis on his ancestor naval commander Bouboulina

Cypriots across Australia honour those who lost their lives in the EOKA struggle

Andriana Simos
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Cypriots across Australia honour those who lost their lives in the EOKA struggle

Cypriot communities across Australia have honoured the heroes and heroines of the EOKA (National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters) struggle against British colonial rule with a number of church services and wreath laying ceremonies.

On Sunday, April 4, Sydney’s Cypriot community gathered at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of The Annunciation of Our Lady in Redfern to attend a memorial service, presided over by His Grace Bishop Emilianos, for all those who lost their lives during the struggle. This was followed by the laying of wreaths and a number of short speeches.

  • Memorial service held at the Cathedral of The Annunciation of Our Lady in Redfern. Photos: Facebook.
  • Wreath laying ceremony in Sydney.

In attendance were a number of prominent members of Greek and Cypriot community organisations including, but not limited to, the High Commissioner of Cyprus in Australia, Martha Mavrommatis, the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Christos Karras, the President of the Cyprus-Hellene Club, Panicos Achileos, and the President of the Cyprus Community of NSW, Spiros Constantinou.

A number of similar events were also occurring at the same time in the cities of Melbourne and Adelaide, where wreaths were laid on behalf of Mrs Mavrommatis.

  • Adelaide’s Cypriot community marked the anniversary of the EOKA struggle. Photos: Facebook.

A few days earlier on March 28 in Brisbane, the EOKA struggle was marked with another Divine Liturgy and memorial service at the Greek Orthodox Church of St George, followed by a wreath laying ceremony.

Some prominent members of the Greek and Cypriot community who laid wreaths at the event were the High Commissioner of Cyprus in Australia, Martha Mavrommatis, the President of the Cyprus Community of Queensland, Stathis Zambas, and other representatives of the Honorary Consulate General of Greece in Brisbane, among many others.

Immediately after the wreath laying, a luncheon was held to mark the occassion, with speeches, poems and traditional Cypriot dancing.

Wreath laying ceremony in Brisbane. Photos: Facebook.

What is the EOKA struggle?

EOKA was an underground nationalist movement of Greek Cypriots dedicated to ending British colonial rule in Cyprus (achieved in 1960) and to achieving the eventual union (Greek enosis) of Cyprus with Greece.

EOKA was organised by Colonel Georgios Grivas, an officer in the Greek army, with the support of Makarios III, Orthodox archbishop of Cyprus.

Its armed campaign, begun early in 1955 and reached a climax in 1956, with the exile of Makarios to the Seychelles and the temporary depletion of British forces in the island because of the Suez Crisis.

  • The EOKA struggle was also commemorated in Brisbane. Photos: Facebook.

By early 1957, however, a reinforced British army renewed attacks on the mountain hideouts of the considerably outnumbered EOKA. Violence subsided after Makarios’ release from detention in exile in March 1957, though there were increased hostilities leading up to mid-1958, when EOKA clashed with Turkish Cypriot guerrillas.

In 1958, Makarios announced he would accept independence for Cyprus rather than enosis. In February 1959, a compromise agreement was concluded between Turkish and Greek representatives at Zürich and endorsed by the Cypriot communities in London. The next month, EOKA disbanded.

On This Day in 1957: Aristotle Onassis officially launched Olympic Airways

The Greek Herald
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On This Day in 1957: Aristotle Onassis officially launched Olympic Airways

By Ilektra Takuridu.

On April 6, 1957, Aristotle Onassis renamed TAE Greek National Airlines (TAE) to Olympic Airways, thus propelling the golden era of Greek aviation.

The business started off humbly with only domestic flights and grew to become one of the largest airline companies linking Greece to the rest of the world.

Before Aristotle bought TAE, the Greek aviation industry was facing difficulties. In 1951, the three main airline companies operating in Greece merged together to form TAE – this was a decision made by the Greek state to try and save the industry.

Four years later, the government initiative did not work and they were forced to sell TAE due to financial problems. The state could not successfully find a buyer for the airline and repurchased it.

Aristotle Onassis bought Olympic Airways in 1956.

Finally, in 1956, they reached an agreement with Aristotle Onassis to buy the airline. However, it was not until 1957 when Aristotle decided to change the company name and the historic Olympic Airways was launched.

READ MORE: Olympic Airways museum to be built inside Hellinikon Development Project.

Who was the man that saved Greek Aviation?

Aristotle Onassis, or ‘Ari’ as known to the public, was a Greek shipping entrepreneur who owned the world’s largest privately-owned shipping fleet and was one of the world’s wealthiest and most influential persons of his time.

Onassis was born in Smyrna (now Izmir, Turkey), in 1906 and fled to Greece in 1922 with his family, after the Great Fire of Smyrna. At only 17, Ari moved to Argentina and made a fortune as a tobacco trader and shipping owner during the second world war. His business dealings led him around the world and eventually back to his Greek roots when he purchased TAE and created Olympic Airways.

READ MORE: On This Day: Greek shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis, passed away.

Aristotle Onassis was also a shipping tycoon.

The company was already in a poor financial state when Aristotle bought it, not only because the people of Greece had little interest in flying, but also because of the negative opinions of airlines.

To make Greeks start trusting air transport, Onassis launched “aviation days of 1957 scheme” giving out short flights for free, this engaged the Greek population in flying. The next step he took was to buy the most cutting edge technology to change the stigma around flights being unsafe. Under Onassis’ management, the company developed a reputation as luxurious and elegant.

The cabin crew wore uniforms designed by the famous Pierre-Cardin, and the passengers could eat with golden cutlery specially made for the company. This was a crucial and historic moment because this had never happened in any other aviation company.  

Another iconic moment for Olympic Airways under Onassis was 1971 when he formed a subsidiary airline, the Olympic Aviation. He invested in smaller planes which helped aviation to smaller airports, making flying to the islands more efficient and economical.

The iconic cabin crew uniforms of Olympic Airways.

A huge moment for the company’s international recognition was in 1972 when Olympic Airways launched flights from Greece to Australia. The flight route was exactly from Athens to Melbourne and was twice a week via Bangkok and Singapore.  

In 1973, Onassis’ influence in the Greek aviation world was suddenly stopped after his son tragically died in a plane crash. He soon sold the company’s shares and its future was left in the hands of the Greek state. Unfortunately, the company faced many problems and eventually ceased operations in 2009.

Aristotle’s management of the company successfully changed Greek people’s views of flying, which greatly helped the Greek economy, tourism and connecting Greek people around the world. His involvement in aviation and time at Olympic Airways has had such impact on the aviation industry in Greece and his influence has been felt until today. 

Australian MP for Veterans’ Affairs marks 80 years since Allied campaigns in Greece and Crete

Andriana Simos
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Australian MP for Veterans’ Affairs marks 80 years since Allied campaigns in Greece and Crete

Today marks 80 years since German forces invaded Greece along the Greek-Bulgarian border on April 6, 1941. At the same time, German planes bombed Piraeus and the coasts up to Salamis Naval Base, causing human casualties and huge damage. One month later, the Greek island of Crete was also attacked.

To mark the occasion, Australian Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Darren Chester, has released a statement recognising the strong ties between the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) and Greece during WWII.

“In 1941, Australian and New Zealand troops, the ANZAC Corps, along with British armoured and artillery units, were sent to assist in the defence of Greece following the collapse of the main Greek defensive line,” Mr Chester said in his statement.

Today marks 80 years since German forces invaded Greece.

The Australian Minister then went on to give a short summary of events following the German invasion, saying the Allies were “inadequately prepared to resist the German attack” and by April 20, when it became clear that “all they could do was disrupt and slow the German advance,” the Greek Government “agreed for the force to be evacuated.”

“Over the following five nights, more than 50,000 troops were evacuated from Greece. They left behind some 320 Australians who were killed and some 2,065 who became prisoners of war,” Mr Chester continued.

Later in his statement, Mr Chester turns to the Battle of Crete and stressed the bravery of the Allied forces in their efforts towards securing the Greek island.

The German attack on Crete in May 1941. Photo by ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images.

“In May 1941, an airborne operation codenamed Merkur (Mercury) saw some 9,500 German paratroopers land on Crete. While initially suffering heavy losses, the Germans managed to gain control of one of the airfields allowing further German troops to be flown in,” Mr Chester said.

“Allied evacuations began shortly after, with around 16,500 troops successfully removed from the island. Sadly though, the British Commonwealth losses numbered more than 1,700 killed, over 2,220 wounded, and around 11,370 taken as prisoners of war.

“The service and sacrifice of these brave men will never be forgotten, and we also pay a special thank you to the locals who helped many of our troops survive.”

New Museum of Philhellenism opens its doors in Athens

The Greek Herald
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New Museum of Philhellenism opens its doors in Athens

A new museum has opened its doors in Athens to honour the foreigners and Philhellenes who supported the Greek War of Independence and helped end 400 years of Ottoman rule.

Founder of the Philhellenism Museum, Constantinos Velentzas, says the museum will tell the story of the birth and evolution of the Philhellenism movement and the critical role it played in the struggle for Greece’s liberation.

The Philhellenism movement, derived from the Greek words philos (friend) and Hellas (Greece), refers to an intellectual movement which was particularly strong in the 19th century among the Greek diaspora and the intelligentsia in Europe and America, who wanted to support Greece as it took up arms against the Ottomans.

A new Philhellenism Museum has opened its doors in Athens. Photo: Lefteris Partsalis / Xinhua.

“We know about 1,500 Philhellenes from all over the world who came to Greece to join the Greek forces and combat side by side with the Greeks for the liberation of Greece,” Mr Velentzas said.

“They were students, intellectuals or experienced military officers, veterans of the Napoleonic wars, from the Scandinavian countries to Spain and from Britain and France to the United States of America, all of whom united by their love for Greece and ancient Greece.”

Mr Velentzas says visitors at the Philhellenism Museum will be able to learn the story of Philhellenism from the Renaissance up to the beginning of the 20th century through thousands of art objects, books, letters and personal objects of famous Philhellenes.

During 2021, the focus of the museum is the actions of Philhellenes to support the Greek War of Independence in celebration of the bicentenary of the beginning of the war.

The exhibits include paintings of the Greek War of Independence by European painters of the early nineteenth century, as well as bronze, porcelain, fabric, wood and paper artifacts, weapons from the War, more than 250 first-edition Philhellenic books, scores of Philhellenic music, and letters written by Greek fighters and Philhellenes.

Among the vast collection, there will be some personal belongings of Lord Byron, the beloved British romantic poet who died in Greece in 1824 after fighting for the liberation of Greece from the Ottoman Empire.

Source: Athens Insider.

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