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Effy Alexakis’ photo exhibition on Greek Australians to be displayed in Athens

A photo exhibition by Greek Australian documentary photographer, Effy Alexakis, will be on proud display from October 22 at ‘shedia home’ in Athens.

Titled ‘Greek Australians: In Their Own Image,’ the exhibition will feature select works from Alexakis’ photographic archive which capture the depth and diversity of Australia’s Greek presence through individual migration stories.

“We gave the project the title ‘Greek-Australians: In Their Own Image’ because we wanted the people themselves to share their own story,” Alexakis says in a press release.

Top Left: Bill Florence (Vasilios Florias) being Welcomed to Australia, Melbourne, 1922. Photo: J. Florence, from the ‘In Their Own Image: Greek-Australians’ National Project Archives. Bottom Left: Girls at the Glendi Festival, Adelaide, 1989. Photo: Effy Alexakis. Right: Helen and Peter Faros, Olympis Cafe, Bigga, NSW, 2009. Photo: Effy Alexakis.

The exhibition is a small part of a larger social and cultural project on the Greek Australian presence in Australia, which Alexakis has been working on in collaboration with historian, Leonard Janiszewski, since the early 1980s.

They already have three publications that bear their name on the subject of Hellenism in Australia, including ‘In Their Own Image: Greek Australians,’ ‘Greek Cafes and Milk Bars of Australia’ and ‘Images of Home.’ All are important documents of our immigration history.

The exhibition in Athens is supported by the Embassy of Australia in Greece and is the beginning of a series of events that will be set up in and around the ‘shedia home’ for the immigration history of Greece and other diasporic countries.

Exhibition Details:

  • Exhibition curator: Ioanneta Vergi from Discover Greek Culture.
  • Exhibition duration: October 22 – November 12. Due to the measures against coronavirus, no official inauguration will take place.
  • The entrance is free. First come first served.

Remembering the Battle of Giannitsa

By Georgene Dilernia.

The Battle of Giannitsa is considered to be the most important battles of the First Balkan War and took place on October 19th in 1912. To mark the occasion of this significant battle, we take a look into how General Constantine led the Greek army into victory.

Who was the battle between?

The Battle of Giannitsa was between the Greek Army and the Ottoman army in the then-Genitsa of the present prefecture of Pella.

The Greek Army was led by General Constantine, a brave army officer who later succeeded his father King George I and became King Constantine I in 1913 in the middle of the Balkan war. The Ottoman army was under Turkish General Hasan Tahsin Pasha.

Left: General Constantine. Right: General Hassan Taxin Pasha.

What were the pre-battle preparations?

On October 18, 1912, General Hassan Taxin Pasha prepared for the battle, fortifying the battlefield at a height of 130 metres. From there, Pasha could control the plain with his army, which consisted of five divisions of incomplete composition (13 infantry battalions and 8 cavalry) and seven artillery units with 30 guns.

On the other hand, General Constantine advanced with his Greek army to have a front to the northeast, with an army consisting of five divisions and a cavalry brigade, totalling at 80,000 men approximately.

What happened in the battle?

On the morning of October 19, 1912, the Greek army’s 2nd and 3rd Divisions attacked the Ottoman army head-on, while the 4th and 5th divisions attacked the right flank.

While the frontal attack was stopped by the enemy’s artillery fire, the other two divisions succeeded and overcame the enemy.

Seeing his impending doom, General Hasan Tahsin Pasha ordered a retreat and left his artillery and a small infantry division on the battlefield to harass the Greek army, in an attempt to escape with the bulk of his army. 

The Battle on Giannitsa, 1912.

The rear guard also retreated before the Greek army could reach them, completing the defeat of the Turkish Army on October 20, 1912. That same morning, the first Greek units enter the city of Giannitsa, which had a mixed religious population (Muslims and Christians).

General Constantine’s army immediately set the Muslin quarter of the city on fire, leaving the Christian one intact.

What did the victory mean?

This victory of the Greek army secured the control of Western Macedonia. The army then began their advance for the liberation of Central Macedonia and Thessaloniki.

Greece to deploy new steel barrier against migrants at Turkish border

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A new steel barrier on Greece’s northeastern border with Turkey to dissuade migration will be ready by April 2021, the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said on Saturday as he visited the area.

“The construction of a new border fence at Evros was the least the government could do to provide a sense of security to Greek citizens, whose morale remains high at such a difficult juncture,” Mitsotakis said.

Greece’s Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, attends a presentation of the construction of a new part of a fence which will be built at the border with Turkey. Photo: Dimitris Papamitsos/Greek Prime Minister’s Office via AP.

The Prime Minister made the statement with the Eastern Macedonia/Thrace Regional Director, directly after a detailed presentation in the town of Feres on the progress of the fence’s construction.

The government is also hiring an additional 400 border guards for the northeastern Evros area and will upgrade an existing 10 kilometre stretch of the border fence.

READ MORE: Greece strengthens defence of Evros border with blade wire fence and 400 new guards.

The Prime Minister made the statement with the Eastern Macedonia/Thrace Regional Director. Credit: Greek Government.

The 26 kilometre barrier in Evros was announced after Turkey in March decided not to prevent migrants from crossing the Greek border, which led to thousands arriving to cross into the EU via Greece.

Greek security forces were deployed to prevent people from entering at the time. The EU border agency Frontex was also stationed at the Greek-Turkish border.

READ MORE: TGH Exclusive: Evros border guards empowered by support of Greek diaspora.

Newcastle Olympic win the Herald Women’s Premier League grand final

Newcastle Olympic completed an historic double with a 3-2 win over Warners Bay in the Herald Women’s Premier League grand final on Sunday.

The win put the icing on the cake for the women from Darling Street, who secured both the premiership and championship in their inaugural season in the competition.

The decider’s opening goal came six minutes into the match as Olympic’s Jemma House found the final touch on a pinpoint cross from Georgia Amess. The delicate volley from House gave the premiers a one-goal advantage.

Warners Bay wasted no time in finding an equaliser. A bolting run from Sophia Laurie played Warner Bay’s Jen Hoy into space, with the former W-League player too good for the Olympic defence as she weaved her way past goalkeeper Nat Wiseman.

Olympic captain Sophie O’Brien savours the moment. Photo: Jonathan Carroll.

Olympic returned serve on the scoreboard as the half neared completion. House was on the end of a near perfect cross from Georgia Little, making the half-time score 2-1 to Olympic.

Warners Bay appeared certain to level the score in the second half. Hoy and Annika D’Amico peppered the opposing goal mouth as Hoy found the posts, while D’Amico sprayed a long-range effort over the bar.

And just as Warners Bay looked destined to score, Olympic found themselves deep in Panthers territory. Panthers keeper Ally Boertje unable to clear the ball as Laura Hall tapped in to extend the margin for Olympic.

Panthers’ captain Elodie Dagg gave the Panthers hope of a comeback as she switched a midfield turnover into a genuine chance. The following strike enough to reduce the deficit to 3-2.

Newcastle Olympic take championship glory. Photo: Jonathan Carroll.

The closing stages were spectacular as Warners Bay pressed deep into the opposing half. Dagg looked certain to score as her strike forced a diving save from Wiseman, before Olympic’s Brooke Summers made a scrambling save to avoid the game going into extra-time.

A last-minute long-range effort from Hoy was not enough to square the score as Olympic recorded a memorable 3-2 win.

“It was an excellent game,” Newcastle Olympic coach, Harmonie Attwill, said post-match. “Warners Bay played excellent. They were dangerous all over the park and very structured. It was hard to break them down but luckily we did.

“You can’t expect 10 opportunities in a grand final – they’re going to be few and far between. So it was more a matter of taking the opportunities when they came. Or if we felt like they weren’t happening, we really had to create.

“And credit to Jemma. I’ve said that about her before – if something’s not going her way she finds a way to make it. And I do think she was the difference for us today.”

Warners Bay coach, Craig Atkins, was disappointed to lose but full of praise for a team he rebuilt this season after the departures of a host of talent.

“It was a fantastic effort from our girls and they showed why they deserved to be here,” Atkins said.

“They never gave up. They were fighting to the death and that’s the culture we’ve created this year. We’re looking forward to next year.”

Turkish Cypriot hardliner wins elections in occupied Cyprus

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A hardliner, who favours even closer ties with Turkey and a tougher stance with Greek Cypriots in peace talks, has defeated the leftist incumbent in the Turkish Cypriot leadership runoff on Sunday.

Turkish Cypriot broadcaster BRT says with 100% of the votes counted, Ersin Tatar secured 51.74% of the vote compared to 48.26% for Mustafa Akinci.

READ MORE: Close Turkish Cypriot election result leaves peace deal in the balance.

Akinci, 72, is a champion of Turkish Cypriots who oppose Turkey’s complete domination of their affairs. Tatar, 60, advocates fully aligning Turkish Cypriot policies with those of Turkey, the region’s patron.

Ersin Tatar secured 51.74% of the vote compared to 48.26% for Mustafa Akinci.

Tatar appears to have benefited from a higher turnout in the runoff, managing to rally supporters from the approximately 200,000-strong electorate who may not have voted in the first round.

Akinci conceded defeat to Tatar in a speech to supporters at his campaign headquarters, congratulating his opponent on his victory.

“We went through an election contest that wasn’t normal … These results mark the end of my 45-year political career,” Akinci said. “I wish good luck to our people.”

Tatar declared victory in a speech to his supporters.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took to his official Twitter account to congratulate Tatar for his election victory.

“Turkey will continue to make all necessary efforts to defend the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people,” Erdogan said. 

A first test for the winner will be a meeting with Greek Cypriots and Cyprus’ “guarantors” — Greece, Turkey and Britain — that U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to call soon. The aim will be to figure out if there’s enough common ground to restart dormant peace talks.

Nearly five decades of UN facilitated attempts at achieving reunification based on a federal framework have failed.

Tatar shares the Turkish government view that federation may not be the most viable option and alternatives such as a two-state deal should be pursued.

Source: Ekathimerini.

Scott Morrison sends message of support to Year 12 students ahead of final exams

Year 12 students across Australia start their final examinations this week, marking the end of their formal school education and the beginning of a new journey.

The Greek Herald would like to wish all Year 12 students good luck in their upcoming exams and congratulate them on their resilience and determination through this unprecedented year.

Below is the following message from the Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison:

“Starting this week, Year 12 students across Australia will begin their final examinations.

Like every Year 12 student before you, this marks the end of your formal school education.

After this, you may decide to study a university degree, learn a trade, study a vocational qualification, upskill with a microcredential, start a business or get a job.

There is no single pathway to success in life and you may find that life takes you down many different paths. That’s OK.

However you choose to pursue success in life, good luck.

COVID-19 has presented additional challenges and it has taken a lot from your final year of schooling.

Know that it won’t take your hard work or diminish the quality of your years in school. Your results will be as valuable this year as any previous year.

It may not feel like it now, but the challenges of 2020 have made you more resilient, stronger, self-motivated and adaptable. These will be useful qualities for the rest of your life.

So to the Class of 2020, good luck with your final exams and beyond.”

Turkey claims jurisdiction over half of the Aegean in new provocation

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Turkey claimed jurisdiction for search and rescue operations in almost half of the Aegean Sea on Sunday.

In a post on Twitter, Turkey’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Adil Karaismailoglu, announced that Turkey has expanded its search and rescue area of responsibility to cover the “Blue Homeland,” a doctrine which aspires to give Turkey control over the waters of the eastern Aegean and the northern Mediterranean.

The announcement was supported by a map of the areas Turkey says it will assume responsibility of.

In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Greece said that the new Turkish law that defines the area of responsibility is “illegal insofar as it covers areas of Greek sovereignty and jurisdiction.”

The Ministry added that international treaties have clearly defined that Greece is responsible for such operations through the Greek Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) located in Piraeus.

“Greece coordinates all search and rescue operations in its area of ​​responsibility, providing services in this case to all those at risk, whether they are on ships or on and planes,” the statement reads.

“The latest Turkish move has purely political motives that could endanger human lives.”

South Melbourne FC targets young African-Australians in new recruitment program

South Melbourne Football Club, which plays in the top division of Victoria’s National Premier League competition, is targeting talented young African-Australians in a new recruitment program.

The club’s youth director, Peter Kokotis, and junior coach, Emanuel Saakai, are lobbying for financial backing to create bursaries for African players.

“We have a GoFundMe page, which we are getting out there to people. Every little bit helps to try and get some kids, give them the opportunity to change their lives,” Mr Kokotis said.

Such is the hardship faced by many young men that the club last year chose six African boys during a trial process and none of them could afford to play.

Melbourne school student Bol Tong is an aspiring footballer who dreams of playing in Europe.(Photo: Bol Tong/ABC News)

“I realised these boys are not able to take the opportunity because of the fees involved at the club registration,” he said.

Mr Kokotis said football had become a middle-class sport in Australia, which excluded many on lower incomes.

Tanzania-born Mr Saakai is working with African communities to find the right talent for the club.

“South Melbourne is a great place where African aspiring footballers can call home, a place where they can feel respected, valued and given full attention for their talents to be developed and nurtured,” Mr Saakai said.

“Every day I’m realising that we are very familiar and similar when it comes to our cultures, whether Tanzanian, African, and the Greek culture. It is all about family, community, being expressive, giving your all, competing and being one.”

Mr Tong, who is at high school, is hoping to showcase his football skills and impress the coaches when trials begin next month.

“It will be great to play for South Melbourne if I make it,” Mr Tong said.

“I will do everything in my life to play football professionally. I will listen to my coaches and learn what they will teach.

“This is me. This is how I grew up, fighting for everything, and at the end of the day when you fight, you win, and when you win, it is a reward.”

Sourced By: ABC News

Greek Australian Basil Zempilas elected as new City of Perth Lord Mayor

Basil Zempilas is the new Lord Mayor of the City of Perth.

The high-profile media personality edged out former ABC journalist Di Bain in a neck-and-neck count at Council House on Saturday night.

After trailing Ms Bain for most of the count, there was a last minute surge in votes for Zempilas, who has vowed to “reboot” the capital.

Zempilas finished with 1855 votes ahead of Ms Bain’s 1571, a margin of 284 votes.

Spacecubed founder Brodie McCulloch finished a distant third (786 votes), followed by Mark Gibson (716), Sandy Anghie (603), Bruce Reynolds (398) and Tim Schwass (371).

The three-hour count quickly became a two-horse race between the pair, who were streets ahead of the other five candidates.

In his victory speech, Zempilas declared Perth the world’s best city and said a line had been drawn in the sand after years of scandal at the council.

“Perth has given my family wonderful opportunity and it has given me wonderful opportunity and it’s the same opportunity that Perth can provide for all of its citizens,” Zempilas said.

With wife Amy at his side, Mr Zempilas said the new council would be a “united” force, lessons had been learned from the past and the capital now had the leadership which had been missing for three years.

“Now the job for us is to get busy and to do our very, very best for ratepayers, for residents, for visitors and for those who choose to spend time in the City of Perth,” he said.

“It is the best city in the world. We are wonderfully blessed to be its custodians for a short time, so let’s not waste that opportunity, let’s make the most of that opportunity.”

Zempilas, who works for Seven West Media, publisher of The West Australians, plans to continue his 7NEWS duties as Lord Mayor but will finish his 6PR breakfast show hosting role.

Dutch king returns from Greek vacation after lockdown uproar

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The Dutch royal couple were back in the Netherlands Saturday after their vacation trip to Greece had to be abandoned because of an uproar back home, where people are urged to stay at home as much as possible.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima said in a statement that they saw the reactions of people, “which are intense, and they touch us.” As a result they said they would cancel the rest of their vacation.

“Let there be no doubt: To beat the COVID-19 virus it is necessary to follow the rules. The discussion caused by our vacation does not contribute to that.”

Though the king’s vacation in Greece did not break any of the Netherlands’ lockdown rules, including new restrictions introduced this week amid one of Europe’s biggest coronavirus outbreaks, the government has discouraged unnecessary travel.

“This is unwise and incomprehensible,” the ANP news agency quoted lawmaker Joost Sneller of the D-66 party, one of the coalition partners in Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s governing coalition, as saying of the King’s vacation.

Reuters/AP