A tireless advocate for migrant workers through his work in the trade union movement, a pioneer of multicultural broadcasting in Victoria and long standing member of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria, George Zangalis passed away on Thursday, 25 March, ahead of a tribute to his life being planned for his 90th birthday in April.
With a statement, the Greek Community of Melbourne encourages the wider community to come together and honour his memory.
“It was with deep sadness that we learnt of the passing of a valued and long standing member of our organisation, George Zangalis.
George was one of the major proponents and advocates of multiculturalism in Australia , as well as a fierce campaigner for social justice and workers rights,” reads the statement.
“The Community in conjunction with the Rail,Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) and numerous other community organisations will be celebrating George’s life of activism on Sunday the 25th of April 2021, 2.30 pm at the Andrianakos Centre, Alphington Grammar.
We are looking forward to our members and the broader community coming together to reflect and honour George’s remarkable Contribution.”
Who was George Zangalis?
Born in Greece in 1931, George was the fourth in a family of five children. He grew up during the Resistance of the Greek people against the German occupation and the post-World War 2 Greek civil war.
After arriving in Australia in February 1950, aged 18, he became immediately involved in the working class and progressive organisations in the Greek community, the wider Australian labour movement, and the fledgling multicultural campaigns. His commitment to these causes continued throughout his lifetime
George pioneered Ethnic Community Broadcasting, serving on the ABC State and National Advisory Councils and the SBS Board in the early 1980s. He is a former President of Melbourne’s ethnic community radio station 3ZZZ and a former President of the National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council of Australia.
George was one of ECCV’s founders and served on the Board several times over its 47-year history. He was also a leading contributor to the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia’s support for migrant rights.
His involvement in numerous political, industrial and other campaigns is outlined in his 2009 book, Migrant Workers and Ethnic Communities. Their Struggles for Social Justice and Cultural Rights. The Role of Greek-Australians.
With a Gala Evening held at the Olympic Hall in Adelaide last Friday, the Greek Orthodox Community of SA (GOSCA) kicked off this year’s celebrations for the 200th Anniversary from the beginning of the Greek Revolution.
In attendance were a number of dignitaries among them federal and state politicians, the Consul General of Greece to Australia George Psiachas, representatives of Greek Associations and members of the community.
Apart from the Greek Independence bicentenary the event was also dedicated to the 90th Anniversary of the Greek Orthodox Community of SA, which was to be celebrated last year, but was due to the pandemic.
Addressing the attendees Minister for Innovation and Skills David Pisoni, representing the SA Premier, referred to the successful outcome of the Revolution saying that Greeks inspired other countries in Europe to fight for their independence.
“Greek immigrants have had a similar effect to Australia, as they have shown how one can progress and succeed,” he said.
In his speech, GOCSA’s President Vassilis Gonis said that the Community is moving forward following the heroic deeds derived from Greek history.
“By keeping in our memories those who fought and by honouring the Great Struggle, we are confident that wherever on the globe we may be, their legacy remains alive with us,” Mr Gonis said.
The President’s speech was followed by a video message from Greece’s president, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, who emphasized that the Greeks of the Diaspora were the ones who contributed significantly to the awakening of the Greek national consciousness before the outbreak of the Revolution.
The Consul General said that “”Hellenism, even if enslaved or in the diaspora, has always managed to keep alive the flame of its national consciousness, language and culture.”
The cultural part of the event consisted of traditional dances performed by students of the Community’s Dance Academy.
The list of attendees includes: the Assistant Minister to the Premier of South Australia Jing Lee, Labor MLC Irene Pnevmatikos representing Leader of the Opposition Peter Malinauskas, SA-Best MLC Connie Bonaros, Labor MP Tom Koutsantonis, Federal member for Adelaide Steve Georganas, Lord mayor of Adelaide Sandy Verschoor and Deputy Lord Mayor Mary Couros, Councillor of City of Mitcham and SAMEAC member Andriana Christopoulos and Charles Sturt Councillor Pavlos Alexandridis.
On Sunday, March 28th a memorial service followed by a wreath laying ceremony took place at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Archangels Michael and Gabriel with an extensive list of dignitaries among them Greek Australian politicians.
Sunday’s event concluded with students of the Community’s afternoon schools dressed in traditional costumes, reciting poems and singing traditional songs.
Second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas took one step closer to a first ATP Masters 1000 title on Tuesday after battling past Lorenzo Sonego 6-2, 7-6(2) to reach his first quarter-final at the Miami Open presented by Itau.
Tsitsipas fired 20 winners and didn’t face a break point across one hour and 31 minutes against the 24th seeded Italian.
“I’m playing well, feeling well, and enjoying these moments on the court,” Tsitsipas said in an on-court interview. “I’m thrilled to be playing the way I’m playing. I’m having a great impact with my game so far this week, so it’s important for me to capitalise [on] that.
“Each single opponent has been a separate challenge, and I’ve been managing to find solutions against them. It’s important for me to have matches like this.”
Tsitsipas will face 24-year-old Hubert Hurkacz in the next round, after the 26th seed won a nail-biter against Milos Raonic that came down to the wire on Court 1. The Delray Beach Open by Vitacost.com champion came back from a set down and edged through a third-set tie-break to win 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4).
On Friday the 26th of March, the ‘Liberal Friends of Greece’ was formally launched by the Member for Reid, Dr Fiona Barbouttis Martin MP in presence of the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Christos Karras and other distinguished guests.
Dr Martin hailed the event as a huge success.
“I am extremely grateful for everyone who could come along, it was a wonderful evening,” she said.
“Plato once said, ‘courage is knowing what not to fear.’ The Greeks who have migrated to Australia put aside fear, showing immense courage leaving their homes in search of a better life. Without the Greek community, Australian society wouldn’t be what it is today.”
There are nearly 400,000 people of Greek ancestry currently living in Australia, and just under 94,000 who were born in Greece now living here. This makes Australia home to one of the largest Greek communities in the world and makes Greeks the seventh largest ethnic group in Australia.
Who is Dr. Fiona Martin MP?
Dr Fiona Barbouttis Martin MP, a Sydney Greek Australian of Castellorizian heritage, is an Australian Liberal Party politician who was elected as Member of Parliament for Reid at the 2019 federal election.
Dr Martin, is a mum, psychologist and former small businesswoman, who has spent her life working to better the lives of people, supporting some of the most vulnerable children in our community. Her work has helped to treat a wide range of learning, developmental and behavioural difficulties that children experience.
Her father, George Barbouttis, was a professional soccer player and played for a number of clubs in Sydney, including Sydney Croatia and Panhellenic, as well as for a couple of clubs in Greece. He was selected for the Australian National team, but never played a representative game because of injuries.
“My dad was a coach for most of my childhood, so I spent many afternoons and evenings watching community sport, and the teamwork and collaboration that comes with it. I think that has had a strong influence on me today,” Dr Martin said in a previous interview with The Greek Herald.
The Conroe Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors officially welcomed the orchestra’s first female conductor at a small reception Tuesday, March 16 at the Conroe Symphony Centre.
Board of Directors Chair, The Honorable Kathleen Hamilton announced that Anna-Maria Gkouni, from Athens, Greece takes the reigns as the Symphony’s new Conductor and Music Director. Gkouni is set to lead the all-volunteer Symphony in its 24th Season, which hopes to begin performing again this summer.
Anna-Maria Gkouni is a Greek orchestral conductor, pianist, and piano instructor. Her musical interests cover a span of genres, from classical to jazz and traditional music to more electronic and progressive sounds.
A native of Athens, she holds a piano performance and a music theory degree from Philippos Nakas Conservatory. After graduating with her BA from Ionian University in Corfu island, Gkouni moved to Nebraska to pursue her MA in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and currently she is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Houston.
“To lead the Conroe Symphony Orchestra is a dream come true,” Gkouni told Broadway World.
“I am so grateful for the opportunity to conduct this exceptionally talented group of musicians. My greatest aspiration for the future is to create innovative shows that will combine multiple forms of art such as theater, which is my second passion. We are all very much looking forward to bringing music back to the city of Conroe.”
Dr. Don Hutson, who led the search for the new conductor, and served as the Music Director for 13 years said of Gkouni, “she’s precisely the fresh new talent that is needed to take the Conroe Symphony Orchestra in a bold new direction. As Board members our desire is to create experiential new works of art that help expand the reach of the orchestra. I believe that Anna-Maria will take us there,” Hutson concluded.
The creation of a monument at the island of Lemnos to commemorate Australian & New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who perished in the Battle of Gallipoli during World War I was discussed at an e-meeting held on Tuesday by the Ministries of Culture and Defense.
The proposal was reportedly put forth by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) of Australia, the government of which will fund the project.
Lemnos already features the Australians’ Monument at Mudros port and a pier built by Australian troops which has been officially named the “Australian Pier”.
Attending the e-meeting was Culture Minister Lina Mendoni and Defense Minister Alkiviadis Stefanis, among others.
A month ago, Greek Deputy Minister of Defence, Alkiviadis Stefanis, and Australian Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel, Darren Chester MP, presented a new proposal by the Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs for the construction of monuments on the Greek island of Lemnos, to recognise the contribution of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) in World War II and the Battle of Gallipoli.
Leaders of 23 countries and the World Health Organisation have backed an idea to create an international treaty that would help the world deal with future health emergencies like the coronavirus pandemic now ravaging the globe.
The idea of such a treaty, which would ensure universal and equitable access to vaccines, medicines and diagnostics for pandemics, was first floated by the chairman of European Union leaders, Charles Michel, at a G20 summit in November.
On Tuesday it got the formal backing of the leaders of Fiji, Portugal, Romania, Britain, Rwanda, Kenya, France, Germany, Greece, Korea, Chile, Costa Rica, Albania, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, the Netherlands, Tunisia, Senegal, Spain, Norway, Serbia, Indonesia, Ukraine and the WHO.
“There will be other pandemics and other major health emergencies. No single government or multilateral agency can address this threat alone,” the leaders wrote in a joint opinion article in major newspapers.
“We believe that nations should work together towards a new international treaty for pandemic preparedness and response,” they said.
In January, an independent inquiry into the WHO’s actions during the start of the pandemic, led by former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark, concluded the existing global alert system for pandemics “is not fit for purpose”.
“The World Health Organisation has been under powered to do the job,” the inquiry report said.
It also found that most countries did not act on warnings about early cases and did not share information fast enough when cases emerged.
The main goal of the treaty would be to strengthen the world’s resilience to future pandemics through better alert systems, data sharing, research and the production and distribution of vaccines, medicines, diagnostics and personal protective equipment, they said.
Ankara accused Athens on Tuesday of violating the rights of its Muslim minority, which it calls “Turkish,” and of pursuing policies against Turkey, saying Athens should instead “abide by international law.”
In a statement issued after a three-hour meeting of Turkey’s National Security Council in Ankara, chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the council said it “had examined Greece’s human rights violations against the Turkish minority, as well as its inhumane treatment of refugees.”
Turkey’s National Security Council (MGK) meets under the chair of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (R) in the capital Ankara (AA Photo)
It also said that “despite our calls for dialogue, Greece has entered the process of increasing its policies against Turkey. It does not respect international law and we call on it to take the necessary steps for good neighborly relations.”
On the issue of Cyprus, the security council underlined the indispensable need for a permanent and fair resolution based on two independent states to be put on the agenda, adding that the present nearly-half-a-century-old approach that ignored the existence of Turkish Cypriots on the island had been fruitless.
With poems, songs, traditional dances and speeches about the religious and historical significance of March 25th students of Adelaide’s St George College have joined the commemorative events for the bicentennial of the Greek Revolution.
On Thursday, March 25th in a special celebration held at the College’s Junior Campus Hall the students had the opportunity to acknowledge Greek Independence Day and honour the commitment of those who fought for the country’s freedom.
Photo: Supplied/St George College
Present were Father Diogenis Patsouris and the Principal of St George College, Peter Karamoshos, who gave speeches about the importance of the Greek Revolution in the continuation of the Christian faith and the preservation of the Greek language and culture.
Father Patsouris conveyed warm regards from Bishop Silouan of Sinope and Archbishop Makarios and congratulated the students, the Principal and the staff for their efforts.
“You should be proud you are Greek and you also are Christian Orthodox. This is the ultimate honour for someone who is born in Adelaide’s Greek community,” said Father Patsouris.
Photo: Supplied/St George College
The school’s Principal, Mr Karamoshos talked about the importance of speaking a second language at home and referred to his own experience as a Greek Australian.
“Never underestimate the value of a second language. I grew up in a tiny place with very few Greeks and all my friends are Aussies. I grew up as an Aussie. I wish my parents were hard on me to maintain my Greek,” Mr Karamoshos said.
Photo: Supplied/St George College
“Greeks at the time [in 1453] made sure they maintained their culture, their religion and values and those parents passed them on to their children and their children to their grandchildren and this happened for nearly 400 years. This was a massive commitment, “he said and encouraged the children to keep the Greek spark alive.
Earlier on the same day, St George College Captain, James Sotiropoulos and Vice-Captain Desi Karahalios participated in a dawn service and flag raising ceremony hosted by the City of West Torrens and on Sunday March 21st, a number of students attended the Doxology at Saint George Greek Orthodox Church Thebarton followed by the Trisagion Memorial Service at the War memorial in North Terrace.
The Greek community in the Melbourne suburb of Oakleigh have been treated to a number of special events to mark the bicentenary of the Greek Revolution this year.
Here’s our list of what went down over the last week:
Light display as a tribute to Orthodoxy and Hellenism:
The Greek Orthodox Community of Oakleigh & District, the Parish of Saints Anargiri, Oakleigh Grammar and Saints Anargiri Language Centre paid tribute to the Greek Revolution on the 200th Anniversary of its proclamation and the Annunciation, by illuminating the Church with respect and honour.
Parish of Saint Anargiri in East Melbourne is lit to mark the bicentenary. Photo supplied.
In line with many wonderful Hellenic tributes worldwide, the concept to this initiative was planted by Mark Robertson, Principal of Oakleigh Grammar, at the Shrine’s footsteps during the Independence Day wreath laying commemoration.
Members of the Board worked frantically over a 72-hour period to depict the story, paying respect and honouring Orthodoxy and Hellenism. Our Community warmly welcomed the Hellenic and Orthodox faithful of Melbourne and provided them with the opportunity to drive by and observe with pride and respect our blue and white flag and heroes from the revolution.
Prominent members of the Greek community attended the light display. Photos supplied.
The lighting effect commenced with Father George Adamakis and chanters, chanting the Akathyst Hymn and the National Anthems, leaving the massive crowd, comprising both young and old, mesmerised with unseen memories.
The Board wish to relay their deepest respect and gratitude to Melbourne’s Hellenic population for their attendance and support of this event of unison, and in particular His Grace Bishop Ezekiel of Dervis, the Greek Consulate of Melbourne, Emmanuel Kakavelakis, the President of the Melbourne Central Greek Community, Bill Papastergiadis and Tony Tsourdalakis, the Chair of the 200 Celebratory Committee.
‘The Evzones Collection by Nick Bourdaniotis’ launches at Oakleigh Grammar:
The light display also marked the commencement of The Evzones Collection, a photographic exhibition hosted by Oakleigh Grammar, in conjunction with the 2021 Victorian Bicentenary Committee and the Organisational Council for Greek National Day.
The exhibition showcases 28 beautifully selected photos of the Greek Presidential Guard, the Evzones, taken by Nick Bourdaniotis.
The Evzones Exhibition at Oakleigh Grammar. Photo supplied.
The opening night on Friday, March 26, at Oakleigh Grammar Convention Center, was attended by over 50 special guests and dignitaries, including Bishop Ezekiel of Dervis from the Melbourne District, Father George Adamakis, Oakleigh Grammar Principal, Mark Robertson, President of the Oakleigh Grammar Board, Chris Damatopoulos, Chairman of 2021 Victorian Committee, Tony Tsourdalakis, Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Emmanuel Kakavelakis, and photographer, Nick Bourdaniotis.
The photo exhibition. Photo supplied.
Guests were greeted on arrival to the event by senior college students from Oakleigh Grammar. Two Year 7 students, Dimitra Ballis and Elena Logan, from the school also gave a rousing performance of the Greek and Australian National Anthems.
This was followed by speeches from Bishop Ezekiel, who spoke of “the power of the image of the evzone,” and the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Emmanuel Kakavelakis, who gave a history of the uniform of the Evzones.
Students from Oakleigh Grammar with their Principal, Mark Robertson. Photo supplied.
In his speech, Mr Bourdaniotis thanked Oakleigh Grammar for hosting the photo exhibition, as well as Mr Tsourdalakis for helping bring the exhibition to Melbourne, and Natasha Spanos, Acting Head of LOTE from Oakleigh Grammer, for her tireless work coordinating and putting the exhibition at Oakleigh together.
From there, a number of exhibition prints were donated. Mr Tsourdalakis donated a print of the 2018 visit of the Evzones to Oakleigh Grammar to the school, and also donated a print from the 2018 visit of the Evzones to St Eustathios Church in South Melbourne to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Melbourne District.
Exhibition prints were donated on the night. Photo supplied.
Mr Bourdaniotis himself kindly donated one of his exhibition prints to be silently auctioned throughout the exhibition, with all money raised to be donated to Agapi Care Inc.
Chief Executive Officer at AGAPI Care Inc., Mrs Mary Gakopoulos, as well as members of the board, were in attendance on the opening night and thanked Mr Bourdaniotis, Chris Damatopoulos and Mark Robertson for choosed Agapi Care Inc for the silent auction.
The exhibition will remain open at Oakleigh Grammar Convention Center until Sunday, April 4.
