Greece will allow tourists with a European vaccination certificate to enter the country without having to show a negative test for COVID-19 from February 7, Reuters reports.
The new rules were announced by Greece’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Sunday.
Previously, air passengers, including children above the age of five, had to show a rapid antigen test taken 24 hours before arrival or a PCR test no more than 72 hours old to enter Greece.
Masks must be worn in all indoor and outdoor public spaces, whilst travellers may be required to wear two masks or an N95/FFP2 mask on public transport and in supermarkets.
Greece’s Fire Service has confirmed that the bodies of three mountain climbers who had been missing since Saturday near the town of Kalavryta have been found.
This comes after a search and rescue operation was activated with a special rescue squad of 22 firefighters, two helicopters and drone operators.
The three Greek male climbers, aged between 50-55 and reportedly experienced, had set out to climb 2,355-metre Mt. Helmos in the Peloponnese on Saturday morning.
They had parked their car at the Kalavryta Ski Resort and left a cellphone contact number with the resort operators.
The operators told local media they sounded the alarm Saturday evening, when they noticed the car still in the parking lot. Attempts to call the contact number were unsuccessful.
Local media reported that the three may have been swept away by an avalanche.
Many Greek mountain climbers, skiers and hikers flock to Kalavryta town in the winter months to enjoy the pristine mountains.
Sophie Cotsis MP met with struggling taxi plate owners from the Canterbury electorate on Thursday to discuss the hardships they are facing and to sign the NSW Taxi Industry Pledge.
Taxi plate owners met with Ms Cotsis and the Deputy CEO of the NSW Taxi Council, Nick Abrahim, in Earlwood to share their concerns with the lack of Government support and compensation.
Many of these owners come from migrant and CALD backgrounds who purchased taxi plates when they trusted Government advertising that encouraged people to buy a safe Government regulated product.
However, since the introduction of the rideshare industry, value of taxi plates have significantly reduced. Many taxi plate owners have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“Speaking to these local taxi plate owners and hearing their struggles left me very emotional and in disbelief. In a Government regulated industry, the NSW Government has ignored the concerns of taxi plate owners and has left them in the dark with no financial viability,” Ms Cotsis said.
“For 6 years thousands of owners have been treated with disrespect by the NSW Government. The Government is offering them peanuts for plate that were once purchased for over $400,000.
“I will be writing representation to the Government on behalf of each taxi plate owner. NSW Labor will continue to support our Taxi plate owners have been overlooked and neglected for so many years by the NSW Government.”
On the day, Ms Cotsis also signed the NSW Taxi Council’s ‘NSW Taxi Industry Pledge,’ which supports fair and proper compensation for all taxi licence owners, the continuation of the Passenger Service Levy, and a viable, regulated and reliable taxi industry.
“I call on the Government to sign the NSW Taxi Industry Pledge,” she said.
“The upcoming by-elections are an opportunity to show the Government that their negligence will have consequences. I urge residents of Bega, Strathfield, Monaro and Willoughby to send a strong message.”
Ms Cotsis joins a number of other politicians from different parties who have also put their name to the pledge including, the NSW Shadow Minister for Small Business, Property and Multiculturalism, Steve Kamper; the Liberal Member for Castle Hill, Ray Williams; the Independent Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward; and Robert Borsak and Mark Banasiak from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party.
Greece’s Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, John Chrysoulakis, has sent a letter of congratulations to Penelope Kari on her appointment as Honorable Justice to the Federal Circuit & Family Court of Australia.
Ms Kari is the first Australian of Greek descent to be appointed to the distinguished position.
In his letter, Mr Chrysoulakis stressed how Ms Kari is a classic example of how Greek migrants worked hard when they arrived in Australia so their children could achieve their dreams.
Penelope Kari.
“Your personal story, but also the story of your family as you have told it yourself, describing the ‘sacrifices’ and ‘sufferings’ of your Greek grandparents… gives the best picture of the average Greek family who was forced to leave their homeland in very difficult times, looking for a better tomorrow,” Mr Chrysoulakis said.
The Secretary General for Greeks Abroad then concluded his letter by sending his “warm wishes” to Ms Kari and his hopes that she will “enjoy even greater success in the future.”
“In your face we all see another successful compatriot of ours,” Mr Chrysoulakis stressed.
“A distinguished Greek woman from the diaspora, who is an honour for Hellenes abroad and whom the homeland watches from afar with a feeling of love and pride.”
Two former managers of St Basil’s Fawkner have filed an appeal against orders forcing them to give evidence at an inquest into the deaths of 50 residents during a coronavirus outbreak at the aged care home in 2020, The Age reports.
Last year, the home’s former chairman, Kon Kontis, and nursing director, Vicky Kos, refused to give detailed evidence to investigators or to a coronial inquest on the grounds that it could “incriminate” them.
But State Coroner John Cain directed them to give evidence as “they played important roles in preparing for a possible outbreak of COVID-19 at the facility…”
Now, Mr Kontis and Ms Kos are seeking to quash this order in an appeal filed with the Supreme Court.
Photo on left: ABC News / Kristian Silva. Photo on right: AAP / Con Chronis.
According to The Age, the appeal was filed on the grounds Judge Cain misapplied his statutory powers and erred, including when he found the risk of the plaintiffs being charged with criminal offences was “speculative.”
The appeal further alleges the decision was affected by bias.
John Karantzis, a partner at Carbone Lawyers, which is representing about 20 families who lost relatives at the home, said he would file submissions against the appeal and seek to have it heard expeditiously to avoid more delays.
Mr Kontis declined to comment when contacted by The Age on Thursday. Kartya Gracer, senior associate at Galbally & O’Bryan, acting for Mr Kontis and Ms Kos, did not respond.
Liberal Party members are building pressure on Immigration Minister Alex Hawke to end his refusal to hold formal meetings to approve candidates in marginal seats, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Senior Liberal figures told The Australian, the refusal was an attempt by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister Hawke, who represents the PM in NSW preselection issues, to get their preferred candidates endorsed in key seats.
Liberals from all sides of the Party blamed Minister Hawke on Thursday for refusing to attend nomination review committees over the last six months to clear candidates so their names could be put to branch members for party preselection ballots.
Alex Hawke MP.
“At every roadblock there was Alex Hawke, like an Eastern bloc border guard,” one Liberal said.
In response, state executive members are now examining an option that would allow the committee to meet even if Minister Hawke declined to attend, giving him an ultimatum because decisions would be made without the Prime Minister being represented.
Minister Hawke told a state executive meeting last Friday that he would attend the nomination meetings soon.
Cypriot businessman, Andrew Yiasemides, sells his iconic petrol station on Bay Street at Brighton-Le-Sands after 46 years at the helm, The Leader reports.
The petrol station will remain open and will continue to operate as a Budget Petrol Station.
“I’m a little upset and stressed after being here since 1976,” Mr Yiasemides told Eva Kolimar from the local newspaper.
“I will miss my customers, many have been with me through three generations.”
The petrol station in the late 1970s. Photo: The Leader.
Budget Petrol Brighton-Le-Sands is known as one of the last petrol stations in Australia to stop drive way service.
Mr Yiasemides said things have changed a lot at the petrol station since then, but he still has fond memories of his time there and of celebrity customers such as Guy Sebastian and Don Lane.
Over the years, he’s also had the honour of being able to work alongside his wife Maria, and his children, George, Eleni and Maria.
Now, he told The Leader, he looks forward to spending time with his grandchildren and travelling.
On February 4, 2022, the article read that “Budget Petrol Brighton-Le-Sands was being taken over by developers who bought the lot to build residential units.” This is incorrect. The business will continue to operate as a Budget Petrol Station.
Australia’s Ambassador to Greece, Arthur Spyrou, has met with His All Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia at the Phanar in Constantinople.
In a tweet, Ambassador Spyrou said he was “honoured to meet” with the Ecumenical Patriarch, who is the “spiritual leader of Orthodox Christian Greek Australians.”
After meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Ambassador Spyrou attended a Divine Liturgy which was presided over by His All Holiness at the Patriarchal Church of St George.
Also in attendance at the Divine Liturgy was Archbishop Makarios, as well as Bishop Kyriakos of Sozopolis, Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia and Bishop Evmenios of Kerasountos.
Ambassador Spyrou’s visit to the Phanar came just days after he visited the Greek village of Thrylorio in Rodopi, Northern Greece, which has been named in honour of Ballarat-born Major George Devine Treloar.
So moved to visit Thylorio, the village named after 🇦🇺 George Treloar, Commissioner of the League of Nations for Refugees, to honour his humanitarian work for thousands of Greek and Pontian refugees from Minor Asia. His memory lives on.@dfat@GreeceMFA@cityofballarat@SBSGreekpic.twitter.com/gXEtl5YCah
Archbishop Makarios and the newly ordained Bishops of Australia have also made a number of trips overseas and recently held a meeting with the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, where they discussed Hellenism in Australia.
Former Greek President, Christos Sartzetakis, passed away early on Thursday morning in a hospital in Athens at the age of 92.
Sartzetakis had been hospitalised in the intensive care unit of Athens’ Laiko hospital and died in the early hours of Thursday of respiratory failure, the hospital said in a statement.
Who was Christos Sartzetakis?
Born in April 1929, Sartzetakis held the largely ceremonial post of president of Greece from 1985-1990, a politically tumultuous time in the country.
Sartzetakis was also an investigating judge in the 1963 murder of politician, Grigoris Lambrakis, by right-wing extremists, and was lauded for resisting intense political pressure during the case. Lambrakis’ killing triggered mass protests and a political crisis.
Christos Sartzetakis.
The former Greek President was fired from the judicial branch in 1968 during the military dictatorship, arrested, tortured and imprisoned without trial. He was eventually released in 1971 and was reinstated into the judiciary after the fall of the junta in 1974, rising to become a Supreme Court judge in 1982.
He was nominated as president by the socialist PASOK party in 1985, and served in that position until May 1990.
Paying tribute to the former President:
In a message after hearing of Sartzetakis’ death, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Sartzetakis was known for “the denunciation of unconstitutional mechanisms in the Lambraki case. Those who, unfortunately, came to the fore with the seven-year dictatorship, leading to his own persecution.”
Με θλίψη πληροφορήθηκα την απώλεια του πρώην Προέδρου της Δημοκρατίας και ακέραιου δικαστή Χρήστου Σαρτζετάκη. Στους οικείους του απευθύνω τα ειλικρινή μου συλλυπητήρια. pic.twitter.com/49eXxOBOnQ
“During the 1989-90 period, in an atmosphere of intense political tension, his work on the formation of a government was impeccable,” the PM added.
President Katerina Sakellaropoulou spoke of a “principled servant of Justice who, in difficult times for the country and its democracy, handled as an investigator the case of the murder of Lambrakis with exemplary independence and judicial ethos, [and] paying…a heavy price in the years of the junta.”
“Later, as President of the Republic, he honoured the office with conscientiousness, dedication and a high sense of responsibility in the execution of his duties,” she said.
Aποχαιρετάμε τον Χρήστο Σαρτζετάκη, δικαστή που σε δύσκολες για τον τόπο ώρες χειρίσθηκε με σθένος την υπόθεση Λαμπράκη, πληρώνοντας βαρύ τίμημα στα χρόνια της χούντας. Και που ως Πρόεδρος της Δημοκρατίας υπηρέτησε με ευσυνειδησία το αξίωμα. Θερμά συλλυπητήρια στους οικείους του.
Movement for Change (KINAL) leader, Nikos Androulakis, also expressed his condolences to the late President’s family, noting that “he was a patriot who consistently served the public interest, Justice and Democracy.”
Former socialist Prime Minister, Costas Simitis, said Sartzetakis supported democracy “bravely and stubbornly,” in adverse conditions and expressed his condolences to his family.
Sartzetakis is survived by his wife and their daughter.
In the ‘Outstanding Bakery / Cake Business’ category, The Good Filo in Ramsgate came out on top of other finalists including Christopher’s Cake Shop in Kogarah and Piccola Cannoli Bar in South Hurstville.
The owners of The Good Filo, Nick and Martine Delaveris, tell The Greek Herald they’re “absolutely thrilled to have won” and to be recognised for their fresh handmade sweets, cakes and pastries which are made “using the finest local and imported Greek ingredients.”
“It’s been an incredibly challenging year not only for us but for all small businesses. We are so proud of our FILO team and so grateful to our customers and the local community for their ongoing support,” the owners say.
“We encourage everyone to continue staying strong and support local businesses, who are all winners in our eyes.”
Elsewhere, in the ‘Outstanding Business Services’ category, Work It! With Kathy G in Ramsgate was also crowned the winner. Kathy Goussis, the owner of the beauty business, tells The Greek Herald she was overwhelmed with happiness after finding out she had won.
Kathy Goussis from Work It! With Kathy G.
“I am overwhelmed with gratitude and appreciation for everyone who supports my business. It makes the hard work truly worth it,” Kathy says.
“Providing eyelash extensions as a service is such a rewarding career and I thank God every day for guiding me on this journey.”
The iconic Gyradiko Bexley also won in its category of ‘Outstanding Fast Food / Takeaway’ over other finalists such as Chicken Licious in Rockdale and Nieos Grille Express in Ramsgate.
“We were established in 2014 and since then we’ve received support from all over Sydney. It’s been astounding and we thank our customers for making Gyradiko what it is,” Gyradiko Bexley owner, Kosta Giannakaros, tells The Greek Herald.
“We’re a family-run business and we use the finest ingredients, provide good customer service and quality food so it is nice to be recognised for that.”
In the ‘Restaurant – Fine Dining’ category, George and Pav Andreou from Lugarno Seafood were crowned winners. This was their third time in a row winning their category.
In the ‘Automotive Services’ category, Greek-owned business, JDC Automotive in Lugarno also beat out finalists such as Elite Pro Tuning in Riverwood.
The owners of JDC Automotive.
Vicky Zafiropoulos from Hairem Hairdressing also won in the ‘Hairdresser’ category of the awards, whilst siblings, Diana Valsamis and George Christodoulou, from The Kyle Bay on Georges River won the ‘Most Outstanding Specialised Business’ Award.
To top it all off, Stephenie Tziomakis from Meeting Morgan won ‘Outstanding Cafe,’ Denise and Chris Kouroupakis from Kogarah Town Centre Deli won ‘Oustanding Delicatessen/Gourmet Food,’ Raine & Horne Sans Souci won ‘Outstanding Real Estate Agency’ and Maria Fellas from Emoda Couture won ‘Specialised Retail Business.’
The St George Business Awards, which are hosted by Precedent Productions, acknowledge the drive and dedication required to succeed in business and recognises the best in local industry across over 25 categories.
*Please note: If you are a Greek-owned business who won in the Awards, please send us an email to info@foreignlanguage.com.au
