Libya is willing to discuss with Greece the issue of maritime zone delineation, government spokeswoman Aristotelia Peloni said on Wednesday, a day after Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, visited Tripoli.
Speaking on Skai radio, Peloni said the transitional administration of the North African country has proposed the creation of a technical committee to review the issue.
Athens wants to see the Turkish-Libya maritime border memorandum scrapped and a diplomatic rapprochement with a country of significant geographic and strategic interest for Greece.
In the same interview, Peloni denounced the 2019 pact as “groundless” and “invalid,” adding that it cast a cloud over Libya’s ties with Greece as well as with the European Union.
It took the Greek community almost three months to convince the NSW government that the 200th Anniversary of the Greek Independence is a worthy cause for the colours of the Greek flag to be projected on the sails of the Opera House and NSW Opposition Leader, Jodi McKay, played a pivotal role in this historic moment for Hellenism.
Passionate about multiculturalism and a Greek at heart due to her lengthy involvement with the Greek community in her electorate of Strathfield, Jodi McKay welcomed The Greek Herald at her office and with a smile and a sense of philoxenia, shared her thoughts on the need for more diverse voices in Parliament, women in politics and her will to lead a party that “puts people first.”
“The Greek War of Independence is a significant milestone”
I ask her why she supported the Greek community in its calls to light up the sails at the Opera House on Thursday March 25, and she says that “Independence Day occurs every year, but not 200 years of independence. This is worthy of celebration.”
Finally, last night the Premier relented and agreed to project the Greek flag on the Opera House sails on Thursday night, to celebrate the ending of 400 years of Ottoman occupation. (3/3) #freedomordeath #1821 #zitohellas
A few days earlier, McKay had written to the Premier after the request from the Member for Canterbury Sophie Cotsis, the Member for Rockdale Steve Kamper and Member of the Legislative Council Courtney Houssos in December were ignored.
“We were really pleased when the Premier decided to go ahead with this. Because the Greek community is very proud of the history that has led to independence, so this was a mighty and worthy celebration,” the opposition leader says.
Her love for the Greek community
As the state’s more than 130,000 strong Greek community lives and breathes in the rhythm of the Revolution bicentennial, McKay seems to be joining the celebrations and her presence at the community’s most significant events has been well received.
“There are many of us who are not Greek, but are very proud to represent the Greek community, like I am,” McKay said during a recent event hosted by the Consul General of Greece in Sydney and asked why she made this statement, she doesn’t hesitate to reply.
“I have a wonderful Greek community in my area of Strathfield, I do a lot of work with the older members of the community and I have a very strong relationship with St Nectarios.
“The thing I love about Greek people and particularly in my community is that there is a warmth and an enthusiasm for the culture but a deep appreciation of being here, in this country,” McKay says.
“I love the fact that particularly the older members of my community feel like almost the custodians of keeping not only the culture, but the desire to keep that going and I admire and appreciate that.”
Multicultural Communities and COVID recovery
The NSW opposition leader speaks fondly about her role as a shadow Minister for Multiculturalism and expresses her admiration for the communities that stepped up “where the government failed.”
“It’s been extraordinary to see the community rally. But this state didn’t do well with people who are on a visa, like our international students. I saw so many people, so many community groups step up where the government failed particularly during the height of the pandemic and provide food and financial support.
Picture: The Greek Herald
“Even in my community, St Nectarios established a kitchen where they would help people. I was very fortunate to help fund this,” says McKay also acknowledging the efforts of Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
“I think here in NSW we’ve had two things that worked really well. The quarantine system which has been strong and contact tracing. NSW is the very best in the world.
“I think that the Premier is a really hard worker and she’s had faith and a great response from government agencies. I think we have much to be proud of in NSW.”
“We – Gladys and I – enter the ‘bear pit’ every day”
McKay speaks openly about the challenges she faces as a female politician and recognises women in politics as “champions for change” under the current circumstances and the sexual abuse scandals.
“At the moment it’s a really difficult time for women not only in politics but everywhere. I’m so proud of women in this country, young and old, who’ve stepped up in an environment that has made it Ok to talk about consent and OK to talk about respectful relationships.
“I went to a Catholic Boys School recently and for the first time ever, I spoke about consent. I spoke about what ‘Yes’ means. I spoke about what ‘No’ means. I spoke about the responsibility they have to women and to their mates,” she says.
“I think we find ourselves as women and as female politicians in a really kind of once in a generation environment and we saw this when women wanted to vote, we saw this when women wanted equal pay, through history. I see ourselves as almost the champions of change.”
The opposition leader says that the Labor Party has done well when it comes to women.
“We have over 40% of our representatives who are women, we have introduced a set of rules in our party to ensure that women are promoted and are supported,” she says referring to the Premier.
“Politics is a tough game, particularly in NSW.
“We – Gladys and I – enter the “bear pit” every day. And it’s called the ‘bear pit’ for a particular reason. It’s robust and it’s rough.”
The need for diversity in Parliament
From women in politics back to multicultural communities and their representation to the state Parliament McKay doesn’t hide her words.
I ask her whether if the state Parliament represents its community.
“We don’t have much of our multicultural community in Parliament. Diverse communities’ perspectives are important in a multicultural country and a Parliament that is there for these communities.
“Diversity in all its forms -and not only women- is important,” she says and explains how she tries to motivate young students to step up during school visits at the Parliament.
NSW Opposition Leader Jodi McKay, with Consul General of Greece in Sydney Christos Karras and Trade Commissioner Katia Gkikiza. Pic: The Greek Herald/ Argyro Vourdoumpa
A Leader born in rural NSW
Although McKay’s next appointment is already waiting outside, her eyes spark when I mention her upbringing in rural Australia.
“I am the first Labor Leader in recent memory that has grown up in rural NSW and I’m really proud of that,” she says.
I ask her to expand.
“Sometimes people have the view that the Labor party is about the city areas only. The Labor Party that I lead and I’m proud to be a part of, is the Party for everyone. I want people to know that we are there for everyone.
“When I grew up in a town of 2,500 people, I had values instilled in me by that community, in that community, that were rural values. I call them country values. Integrity and genuineness, honesty, a desire for hard work,” she says.
“When I was first elected as a Labor Leader, I didn’t go to Wollongong or Newcastle. I went to Cootamundra. Because Cootamundra is not where you expect a Labor leader to be, but people of Cootamundra should know the Labor Leader.”
“We have to get back on putting people first.”
I ask her for a message to the Greeks out there who might be reading this interview.
“I celebrate with you. I am proud to represent you and I hope one day I’ll be your Premier,” she concludes.
On Monday, April 5th, centenarian Maria Boulas from Mascot, celebrated her 101st with family and friends.
“I feel like a girl,” she tells The Greek Herald.
Mrs Boulas immigrated to Australia from the Greek island of Samos, in 1953, with her husband Aristarchus and her two kids, John and Koula.
“We came to Australia for a better life. My husband wanted our kids to study and in Samos they couldn’t, due to his political views,” Maria Boulas told us in a recent interview.
Aristarchus, Maria’s late husband, had the opportunity to emigrate to the country under the ‘ten pound assisted passage scheme’ funded by the British and Australian governments. The program was aiming to attract more British to the country, because they were seen to be culturally close to Australians.
Photo (L): Maria Boulas with her late husband and two kids, photo (R): Mrs Boulas with her daughter Koula, 2020
However, a great number of migrants from other cultural backgrounds also emigrated during this period.
Last year, Mrs Boulas was recognised for her contribution to her local community by NSW Labor politician, Ron Hoenig.
“Like so many other Greeks, Maria and her family are a great Aussie success story – they came to this country with nothing but the clothes on their back and a will to work hard. They succeeded and made a new life for themselves and their children,” said Hoenig.
The Hellenic Initiative Australia today announced it has awarded Winter Appeal grants totalling €31,000 (almost AU$50,000) to two Greek charities, Together for Children and Wise Greece.
THI Australia President, Nicholas Pappas AM, said he welcomed the two new partner charities which join a stable of eight other Greek charities already supported by THI: “We are proud that these grants will directly address the needs of people facing food insecurity during the COVID-19 lockdowns in Greece.”
A grant of €15,000 to Together for Children, a not-for-profit organisation established in 1996, will provide immediate relief to children and their families by providing 50 eligible family members with €50 monthly supermarket vouchers for six months. Beneficiaries will also be able to seek the support of a social worker and the Counselling Helpline provided by Together for Children.
A grant of €16,000 to Wise Greece, an innovative and award-winning social enterprise and not-for-profit organisation established in 2013, will support hundreds of disadvantaged people across Greece with the provision of 1,000 Hope Boxes, containing 6 tonnes of food items, that will be distributed by three charities with a regional presence – Aspres Petaloudes in Volos, Konstantio Elderly Care Unit in Kavala, and Kivotos tou Kosmou homes for children in Athens, Epirus, Kalamata and Chios.
The Hope Boxes will also help more than 100 small Greek food producers that are also facing severe economic strain due to the COVID pandemic.
Ms Alexandra Martinou, President, Together for Children, said “We are excited to be partnering with THI Australia to make sure we can provide the necessary support to many families, including those who for the first time had to ask for help as they have not been able to provide the basic needs for their children during COVID-19.”
Ms Melina Taprantzi, Founder, Wise Greece, expressed her deep gratitude for the trust THI Australia has displayed in supporting both the non-profit and social mission of Wise Greece.
“You are enabling small family-owned businesses to continue their work with the same love and energy despite the difficulties of the pandemic,” she said.
In January this year, THI Australia was also able to provide additional funding of $50,000 to Doctors of the World Greece and Emfasis Foundation. Both organisations are providing invaluable support to people facing severe financial and social challenges during COVID-19 in Greece.
Doctors of the World Greece has already distributed more than 200 food parcels to households in the Attica region and provided 1,000 hot meals and 500 PPE kits to homeless people.
Emfasis Foundation. Photo: Supplied
Operating in the extreme weather conditions during January and February this year, Emfasis Foundation was able to expand its services with the Winter Appeal grant. It responded to 6 cases requiring temporary housing, 12 cases requiring extra food and survival items, 5 cases requiring assistance with medical examinations & prescribed medication, and 5 cases requiring assistance with house items for families living below the poverty line.
Mr Pappas added that THI Australia was deeply grateful to the hundreds of donors in Australia who had made these grants possible, many of whom have themselves faced additional pressure since COVID-19. “Without them, we could do nothing. But with their support, we are able to help many people facing hardship in Greece and who otherwise might not find the help they need.”
Last week, over 200 members of South Australia’s Messinian Association gathered at the Messinian Function Centre to commemorate and celebrate the Greek Revolution bicentennial and were treated to Greek delicacies, live music and a traditional performance by the senior students of the Association’s Dance School.
The event that followed a Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Memorial Gardens in Hilton, Adelaide also marked the Liberation of Kalamata from the Ottoman Occupation.
“It is an occasion for us all to celebrate and pay our respects to those who fell for the cause of freedom and the right to self-determination,” President, Martha Ioannides told The Greek Herald.
This Luncheon is one of the monthly events the Messinian Association has been organising for over three decades to bring its members together.
“On 12th July 1988 the management committee made the decision to organise a monthly barbeque luncheon for the Association members on the last Sunday of each month. Since that time, the Association has continued that tradition and has recently recommenced after almost one year due to the Covid 19 restrictions,” Ms Ioannides said.
“The monthly barbeques have always been a much looked-forward-to event by not only generations of Messinians but by members of the wider South Australian Greek community.
Beautiful Ceremony commemorating 200 Years since the beginning of the Greek Revolution of 1821 by the Messinian Association of SA. Now the dances & culture our ancestors kept alive are on display. pic.twitter.com/gClRLiaQvK
“They have become a regular event on all Messinians’ calendar bringing them together once a month on a Sunday to catch up with their “patriotes” and enjoy a great lunch and entertainment.”
Recently, some of the Association’s young members took the initiative to revamp the website in order to encourage member enrolment and participation.
“With the use of modern technology, we have been able to grow our membership base by 20% in just one year. Historically, signing up as a member meant you needed to attend a Sunday BBQ and Annual AGM,” said Secretary, Kostas Mantis.
“We understood that our community is a lot larger than the membership base we had and felt it was time to invest in online channels to connect with the community. We are also active across Instagram and Facebook.”
As part of the the holistic revamp the Association’s hall is also undergoing renovations with the goal to remain relevant and continue to serve the next generation of Greek-Australians.
“The Messinian Association of SA was established in 1959 by new migrants to Australia. For over 60 years, its core purpose has been to serve the ethnic community by promoting a range of cultural, social and recreational activities. Over the years, the Association has expanded its reach in the multicultural community by establishing a Greek Dance School and a Soccer Club.
“We have recently completed Stage 1 renovations of the Messinian Function Center through the use of Association funds and the support of a State Government grant. We hope these upgrades will make the Messinian Function Center more desirable for use by a younger demographic, particularly for members of our Dance School and Soccer Club,” said Vice President, Peter Bouzalas explaining why it is important for community organisations to stay alive.
“The Messinian Association plays an important role in the Greek community. We help preserve a sense of identity by maintaining strong links to Greek culture and traditions, and host a range of social and recreational activities.
“However, in order for Associations like ours to survive they must evolve with the community they serve,” he said.
Night fell as a talkative, well-dressed crowd settled into red, cushioned seats in Sydney’s Town Hall. The ceilings and walls were illuminated by lights in shades of blue as two large Greek flags were suspended in the foreground of the pipes of the Grand Organ.
It is March 25th, 2021, Greek Independence Day, and an orchestral performance of the Greek National Anthem, The Hymn To Liberty, is about to begin.
It is the first time the hymn, written by Dionysios Solomos in 1823, will be performed in its entirety in Australia to mark the 200 year anniversary of the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire in 1821.
It is a bittersweet occasion for the members of the Greek Diaspora as many have been physically unable to visit Greece over the past year with COVID-19 border restrictions in place.
Town Hall in Sydney was decorated for the performance of the Greek National Anthem “The Hymn To Liberty” on 25th March 2021. Image author’s own.
The performance is just one of many events included in the program of the 2021 Annual Greek Festival, now in its 39th year.
“There’s been a marked difference in the interest levels from our community…We have been reaching capacity at most of our events and online engagement is significantly more active than in previous years,” says Festival Director, Pamela Proestos.
This enthusiasm, she says, can also be directly linked to the significance of the Bicentennial celebration of Greek Independence.
“2021 is a year which allows us to reflect and commemorate this important moment in our shared history. The community is enthusiastic about celebrating the Greek War of Independence and is actively seeking ways to do so,” Ms. Proestos said.
This need to validate and strengthen ties to cultural identity has materialised for the Greek Diaspora during the pandemic through music. As George Ellis, the conductor of the orchestra, waved his baton, the atmosphere in the room was sombre.
Conductor George Ellis and vocalists Maria Yiakoulis, George Karantonis and Leon Vitogiannis performing “The Hymn To Liberty”. Image author’s own.
“The Hymn to Liberty is not simply a poem,” said Professor Vrasidas Karalis, Chair of the Modern Greek Department of the University of Sydney.
“This melody escorted thousands of Greeks to their deaths…thanks to poems and music like this we survive forever,” he said..
Just down the street from Town Hall at Circular Quay, the walls of the Sydney Opera House were illuminated with the Greek flag. This is the first time in Australia that Greece has been artistically commemorated on perhaps our most iconic monument.
Many Greek Australians gathered on the steps of the Opera House and along the shore to experience the historic moment with their friends and family. Many could be seen dancing traditional Greek folk dances.
“All the Greeks were there, some wrapped in flags and dressed in national costume, dancing among themselves because they couldn’t do that during COVID. It was very moving and beautiful,” said Greek Australian Fay Kotsis who was at Circular Quay that night.
The Pandemic had also taken its toll on the local arts and entertainment industry in New South Wales but Nia Karteris, Chair of the Greek Festival says it has been “encouraging to see the resilience of creators, in spite of it.”
For brothers Tass and Haris Strangas there could be no better way of re-invigorating their connection to Greece after COVID then by planning the return of their nightclub event, Olympus, at the Ivy Pool.
“People haven’t had this experience for a long time,” said Haris Strangas, Event Organiser at Olympus Entertainment.
“We want this event to capture the beauty of Greek music,” said Haris.
The Greek youth of Sydney are not the only ones who are using music to connect with their roots after the pandemic. Mary Zournazi, a Greek-Australian filmmaker and Associate Professor in the School of Social Sciences at the University of New South Wales, has spent her time during the pandemic editing her latest documentary titled “My Rembetika Blues”.
“My film is a story about home, migration and about how music is a connecting thread that brings people together. When I listen to Rebetiko music I am living the lives of my ancestors, almost like a body memory from the past,” says Mary.
As the colours of the Greek flag ribboned around the Sydney Opera House on that cloudless night in March, one sound could be heard above the commotion, the melodic strings of a bouzouki.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Με την επαναλειτουργία της Ελληνικής Πρεσβείας στην Τρίπολη δραστηριοποιείται και πάλι η ελληνική διπλωματία στο λιβυκό έδαφος ύστερα από 7 χρόνια απουσίας, ενώ σύντομα θα έχουμε και δεύτερη διπλωματική εκπροσώπηση στη Λιβύη, με τη λειτουργία του Γενικού Προξενείου στη Βεγγάζη. pic.twitter.com/0B3Obdm1Jf
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) April 6, 2021
“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.
