The wait is finally over for more than 64,800 Victorian students who received their Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) results this morning.
Faced with an unpredictable year, students demonstrated commitment and resilience as they moved between onsite and remote and flexible learning due to the pandemic.
Bentleigh Secondary College school captain Tia Lambas said to The Greek Herald that before she received her ATAR, she wasn’t sure if she would be “crying or screaming of happiness” for her family to come to her room.
“But I did neither. I just saw my scores, did a little dance and smiled with pride and relief,” Tia said to The Greek Herald.
“It was a nice feeling finally looking at my ATAR after what felt like such a perpetual wait and thinking ‘I did it, I survived the COVID year’.”
Tia Lambas, 17, joins other students at Bentleigh Secondary College. Photo: Jake Nowakowski/Herald Sun
Tia said that being school captain in year plagued by COVID-19 was “not easy”, being unable to run the traditional events that the SRC would organise.
“…We couldn’t speak at assemblies and address the whole school and there were plenty other things we couldn’t do.”
Instead, Tia and her co-captain, Bayden Hill, filmed weekly “Keeping Up with Bentleigh” vlogs that were posted on the year 12 Facebook page, as well as through to the school community.
“We also got in contact with some local celebrities to give some warm wishes to our cohort, ensuring that our peers knew that they’re not alone and there are people in the world here to support them,” Tia said.
“Ultimately, we really had to think outside of the box like never before of ways in order to stay connected to the community and help those who were struggling most.”
Bentleigh Secondary student Tia Lambas and her Mum Mary Lambas celebrating Tia’s VCE results. Photo: Penny Stephens/The Age
Speaking to The Age, Tia’s mum, Mary Lambas, said she “slipped the congratulations cards under the doorway” at 6:50 a.m.
“I saw her work so hard, to not get what you wanted would have been a little devastating so I’m really happy for her,” Mary said.
Tia is looking to study medical imaging, yet says what matters most is that students “survived the year”.
“I’m really proud of all my peers,” she added.
Bentleigh principal Helen Hiotis said to ABC News that the students deserved to be able to celebrate after an unprecedented year.
“They’re what I call the students who survived COVID and I’m so incredibly proud of them this morning,” she said.
A second senior bishop in Greece has died of complications caused by COVID-19, with Metropolitan Bishop of Kastoria Seraphim passing away at the age of 61 on Tuesday.
Seraphim tested positive on December 8, being admitted to Thessaloniki’s 424 General Military Training Hospital with mild symptoms. His condition began to quickly deteriorate and, on December 20, he was transferred to an ICU.
The late bishop was born in 1959 in the village of Agnandero, in the region of Karditsa, central Greece.
The coronavirus has claimed the lives of 4,402 Greek lives so far, including Metropolitan Bishop Ioannis of Lagadas, 62, who died in mid-November.
Several other senior clerics of the Greek Orthodox Church have been hit with the virus during the pandemic. Archbishop Ieronymos, the 82-year-old head of the Church of Greece, was hospitalised for nearly two weeks.
As the New Year approaches, we turn to traditional Greek New Year’s Eve customs which we hope will bring health, happiness and luck to 2025!
Podariko
The Podariko is one of the oldest Greek customs that is done on New Years Eve. The Greek term, ‘Podariko’ roughly translates to “good foot” which summarises this tradition. As the clock hits 12 and the New Year begins, homeowners carefully select who will be the first to enter their home in the New Year.
According to Greek tradition the first person to enter a house on New Year’s Day brings either good luck or bad luck to the household. After this special guest is chosen, the home owners need to step on something made out of iron so that the family will be as strong as iron throughout the new year.
But the tradition doesn’t stop there. After the ‘first footer’ enters, the next person chosen to enter is one with a fresh and clean spirit. This person takes a pomegranate (a fruit that symbolises luck and prosperity) that has been hanging on the front door and smashes it against the door. The more seeds that are scattered at the foot of the front door of the home, the more luck that that household will have for the year. Kalo Podariko!
Credit: Lecic | Getty Images/iStockphoto
Hanging onions
On New Year’s day, many households around Greece hand onions on their doors. This is an ancient tradition which derived from Ancient Greek times. In ancient Greece, onions were a symbol of growth and rebirth, as they are highly fertile. By hanging onions on the door, Greeks are promoting fertility for the household, hoping that everyone inside experiences personal growth and rebirth in the New Year.
Vasilopita
Like most Greek families, New Years Eve/Day is often celebrated with a large family gathering, to bring in the New Year and commemorate the feast day of Agios Basil. At this time, a traditional Vasilopita is shared, which has a strong meaning in itself. Vasilopita is a sweet cake which contains a hidden coin inside, which gives good luck to the person who receives a slice with the coin.
Athens-listed group, Mytilineos, has acquired another solar project in Queensland, Australia, through its Renewables and Storage Development (RSD) Business Unit.
The Greek company acquired the 110-megawatt (MW) Moura Solar Farm from ESCO Pacific, one of Australia’s leading solar farm developers and operators.
This acquisition brings Mytilineos’ Australian portfolio to 400 MW.
They recently announced the acquisition from ESCO Pacific of the 75 MW Wyalong Solar Farm in New South Wales, and have acquired a portfolio of six projects in NSW and Queensland, of which three (totalling 120 MW) are currently under construction.
“We are pleased to partner yet again with ESCO Pacific in Australia. The acquisition of Moura Solar Farm consolidates our position in the Australian market,” General Manager of the RSD Business Unit, Nikos Papapetrou, said in a press release.
Once constructed, the Moura Solar Farm will generate enough electricity to power approximately 40,000 Australian homes.
At 100 years of age, Louis Ampoulos is full of life, love and laughter. When we sit down for our exclusive chat, along with his daughter Vicky and wife Panagiota, they tell us just how full of life he really is.
“In the last few months, he’s started using a μπαστούνι (walking stick) but having said that, I arrived today and saw him at the front holding the μπαστούνι up in the air and walking. So when he has good days, he just has it for decoration,” Vicky Ampoulos tells The Greek Herald with a laugh.
Louis himself jumps in to add that he still feels ‘young at heart’ and cheekily begins to detail his incredible 100 years of life.
At 100 years of age, Louis Ampoulos is full of life, love and laughter. Photo supplied.
Growing up in Plomari, Lesvos:
Louis was born in the village of Plomari on the Greek island of Lesvos to a big family of six siblings – three boys and three girls. Louis was the second child and as he sadly tells us, he has ‘outlived all of his siblings.’
In Plomari, Louis drove a truck for many years until he eventually met his wife Panagiota, who is now 72 years old.
“He was driving his big truck and I was impressed. He was good looking,” Panagiota says with a giggle.
In Plomari, Louis drove a delivery truck for many years. Photo supplied.
Louis adds that when he saw Panagiota, he instantly went to her parents and said, ‘I want to marry your daughter,’ and her parents said, ‘thank you very much.’ Since then, they’ve been inseparable and Louis says marrying Panagiota is one of the secrets to his longevity.
“You should marry a good, younger woman that’s going to look after you and make you all your favourite foods. My wife is an amazing cook,” Louis says.
His life in Australia since 1963:
Louis and Panagiota became engaged in Plomari. But in 1963, Louis, who was 43 years old at the time, migrated to Australia to the rural town of Forbes in New South Wales. While in Forbes, Louis worked in a café ‘washing dishes,’ but he didn’t know any English.
Louis migrated to Australia in 1963 to the rural town of Forbes in New South Wales. Photo supplied.
“I would only be able to say, ‘thank you very much’ and other simple English words,” Louis explains. “But from talking to the people who worked in the café and the customers, I learnt some more English. It was trial and error.”
Panagiota followed Louis to Australia two years later and they were eventually married at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Marrickville.
Louis had moved to Marrickville by this time and the newlyweds quickly had two children – a daughter, when Louis was 46 years old, and a son, when Louis was 50.
Louis and his wife Panagiota have two children and three grandchildren. Photo supplied.
In Marrickville, as well as the northern suburbs, Louis had a number of fruit shops before he eventually retired at 65 years of age. He now resides in Earlwood and although he did suffer a stroke one day after his 100th birthday on November 10, he is recovering slowly.
In fact, it’s clear that this minor health setback hasn’t really stopped him from happily sharing his words of wisdom with his three grandchildren and of course, The Greek Herald.
“Don’t drink and don’t smoke,” Louis says. “If you are a hard worker, life is good in Australia.”
Simple words from a man who’s life story deserves to be told.
NSW Health has this afternoon confirmed that St Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church and The Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Wollongong were visited by confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Anyone who attended the following venues at the listed times must get tested immediately and self-isolate until they receive further advice from NSW Health:
St Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church, 39 Atchison St, Wollongong. On Sunday, December 27, 9am-10.15am.
The Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, 18 Stewart St, Wollongong. On Sunday, December 27, 10.30am-11am.
Following this announcement from NSW Health, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia has issued a message to parishioners tonight, urging them to follow the government’s rules.
“With a sense of pastoral responsibility, we once again urge our philanthropic people and all citizens to follow state rules and experts’ instructions on protecting public health and preventing the spread of the pandemic,” a statement from the Archdiocese reads.
Also listed in the public health alert were venues in Figtree and Mona Vale. Anyone who visited any of the following venues at the listed times is considered a casual contact who must get tested immediately and isolate until a negative result is received:
Figtree Grove Shopping Centre, 19 Princes Hwy, Figtree. On Monday 21 December, 12.30pm-1.30pm, Wednesday 23 December, 8.45am-9am, and Thursday 24 December, 6.45am-9.30am.
Proust Optical, Shop 49, Figtree Grove Shopping Centre, 19 Princes Hwy. On Monday 21 December, 9.30am-5pm, and Wednesday 23 December, 9.30am-2pm. Close contacts from this venue will be contacted by NSW Health.
Pittwater Place, 10 Park St, Mona Vale. All day on all the following dates: Sunday 13 December, Monday 14 December, Tuesday 15 December, Wednesday 16 December, Thursday 17 December, Friday 18 December, Saturday 19 December.
This news comes as NSW recorded three locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, with an additional six cases in returned travellers in hotel quarantine.
All three of today’s locally acquired cases were linked to the Avalon cluster. They had all been identified as contacts of known cases and were in isolation when they tested positive. Investigations continue into the source of the Avalon cluster, which now numbers 129.
As extensively reported by The Greek Herald in our 6-part series in December 2019, the civil and legal altercations of the AHEPA NSW Inc. Greek association have carried on for decades. AHEPA, which stands for Australasian Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, was founded as a non-profit organisation that aims to foster the Greek diaspora abroad, by promoting a better understanding of Hellenism through people, language, culture and education.
Disagreements between member groups regarding the structure of the organisation exploded in 2015, resulting in three major court cases before the Supreme Court of NSW and an additional case this year before the NSW Court of Appeal. Throughout these escalated tensions within AHEPA NSW Inc., a group of long-standing members decided to break off and create their own “new AHEPA”, also known as the “National Council” or “NSW AHEPA Australia LTD”.
Here is a timeline of the court cases:
2016: Court Case 1 – Victory: NSW Fair Trading, Louisa Mellas and Maria Alexandrou (defendants)
Total AHEPA NSW INC had to pay from this case: roughly $326,000 (indemnity costs)
2018: Court Case 2 – Victory: NSW AHEPA Australia LTD (the “new AHEPA”) (plaintiffs)
AHEPA NSW INC had to pay indemnity costs again
2019: Court Case 3 – Victory: AHEPA NSW Inc (defendants)
“new AHEPA” to pay
2020: NSW Court of Appeal (against result of Court Case 3) – Victory: NSW AHEPA Australia LTD (the “new AHEPA”)
The result of these cases has left AHEPA NSW Inc. with a hefty costs order to pay that covers their own legal fees as well as the fees of the victorious party.
On Wednesday 16 December 2020, AHEPA NSW Inc’s voluntary administrators, Cor Cordis, hosted a meeting for creditors. The purpose of the meeting was for creditors of AHEPA NSW Inc to decide the Association’s future through a vote on the following:
Whether the Association should enter into a deed of company arrangement (DOCA)
Whether the administration should end, or
Whether the Association should be wound up and a liquidator appointed.
In the supplementary report to creditors, AHEPA NSW Inc’s administrators recommended creditors vote for option 1: for the association to enter into a deed of company arrangement (DOCA). This option included the following:
A return to creditors of 100 cents in the dollar.
The sale of Headquarters and Rockdale Leased Premises to Rock Princes (Sydney) Pty Ltd (RPS).
A deposit totalling $1.93million be made on signing of the DOCA and the balance of funds due on settlement 28 days after exchange.
ROCKDALE Headquarters – 394-396 Princess Highway Rockdale- will be leased from RPS to the Association rent free in the first year (a saving of at least $100,000) and a reduced rate following in years two and three ($100,000 plus outgoing each year), and
For the Deed Administrators to pay a dividend as soon as possible after the DOCA is signed.
The administrators noted, “we had hoped that the DOCA process may provide a means by which the underlying disputes between factions within the membership might be resolved. Despite all parties’ genuine attempts to find a way of achieving that, ultimately that has not been possible.”
The divide between certain members of AHEPA NSW Inc. and its Committee of Management was made very clear during the creditors meeting, in regard to one particular point: the sale of AHEPA HQ in Rockdale.
The sale of AHEPA HQ has always been a major point of contention for members, many of whom were against the Committee of Management’s pursual to develop a Hellenic Cultural Centre in Bexley, which is currently owned by Bayside Council. The Greek Herald notes that the proposed Bexley development site will be leased for 20 years with an option to renew for another 20 years. The development will be funded with the proceeds of the sale of the Rockdale Headquarters.
A number of creditors took issue with AHEPA NSW Inc’s administrator’s recommendation to sell the Rockdale property to a related party (Rock Princes P/L) in an off-market transaction rather than a public auction. This tension escalated after creditors learnt there had been an external offer for $4.6 million, which is $200,000 above the valuation price of the property that Rock Princes would purchase for. The DOCA recommended by the administrators outlines that the Rockdale property will be sold to Rock Princes at valuation price. It should be noted that this valuation price was determined by a private valuation obtained by Rock Princess PL which administrators would not disclose due to “its commercial sensitivity,” despite it needing to be voted upon and requested by creditors during the online meeting numerous times.
Additionally, one of the creditors representatives who were against the DOCA supporting the sale of Rockdale HQ requested that the meeting be postponed in order to properly allow for the consideration of the higher offer at $4.6 million however, the administrators maintained that their recommendation to support the DOCA of the sale of Rockdale remained as was and that the vote could not be postponed given it was being held on the 45th day and is required to be voted upon. The same creditor asked that the meeting at least be pushed to the afternoon of the same day as the additional 200k would benefit AHEPA INC, however once again, administrators declined.
“A group of related parties are proposing to purchase this property at a price lower than what has been offered by another party. It would be most appropriate to have this property sold at an auction,” argued one creditor in the online meeting.
The Directors of Rock Princes are Mr Theophilus Premetis and Mr Bill Giakoumis.
Rock Princes’ DOCA proposal outlined that the sale of the Headquarters at Rockdale will fund the ‘Bexley Project’, which has been argued by the Committee of Management as the key to “progress ahead, bring the youth in and give them the lead to lift it up”. Meanwhile, the members who disagree with the sale of AHEPA HQ have stated they are “fighting for the memory of those gone”.
Certain creditors were unhinged by the inclusion of the Bexley Project in the DOCA due to the risk that the proposed Bexley development could not receive approval from council, or not go ahead for any reason, meaning the Committee of Management would be left to manage the funds from the sale of Rockdale. At this stage Bayside council has not offered any guarantees that this development would go ahead.
The complexity and hostility of the AHEPA NSW Inc. situation has cost the association millions, which was experienced by the administrators whose fee estimates jumped from an original estimate of $75,000 – $100,000 to $514,986.50. When asked during the online meeting why there was such a discrepancy in estimated to actual fees it was said that it was due to the “complexity and legal issues” apparent in the organisation.
It has been argued by parties opposing the sale of Rockdale HQ that AHEPA INC need not have gone into administration at all since its debts without administrators fees was $1,712,563 and its yearly rental income of its properties collectively stood at $550,000. Over some years the debts could have been repaid whilst holding onto the properties it owns.
The majority vote won for the DOCA to sell the Rockdale HQ to Rock Princes.
What happens when a court orders a “costs order”?
At the conclusion of proceedings, generally the Court will make a costs order setting out which party must pay the legal costs associated with the proceedings. Usually, the unsuccessful party will be ordered to pay the legal costs and expenses of the successful party. Even if such an order is made, it can take some time for the costs order to become enforceable. This is because other than in certain circumstances where the Court may fix the quantum of costs payable, in most cases the Court will make an order for costs to be paid, as agreed between the parties, or, as assessed after an independent review.
Once an order is made, the parties will negotiate to agree on an amount of costs payable. If they are unable to reach an agreement, the matter will need to be referred to the assessment process which involves an independent review of costs by a costs assessor. Once that review process is complete, a determination is issued concerning the amount of costs payable which can be registered as a judgement. Once a determination is made, there are review and appeal procedures available, if required.
As this can be a lengthy process, in many cases it can be many, many months before a quantifiable amount of costs is payable, and the costs order ultimately enforceable.
High-profile construction group, Ganellen, placed one of its companies into administration last week, midway through a court battle over defects and only days after it was fined over the worksite death of a young apprentice.
The Ganellen construction group was founded in 1998 by building magnate-turned-television star Peter Maneas.
One of its entities traded for 22 years as Ganellen Pty Ltd before it changed its name to GDC Group in May and was placed into voluntary administration last week.
“All projects associated with this entity have been completed, occupied and in use for over two years, and all employees and contractors connected to this entity have been paid in full,” a Ganellen spokesman said in a media release.
“It has no impact on any project currently under construction.”
However, administrator’s documents seen by The Sydney Morning Herald reveal GDC Group has current court action against it that has now been left in limbo.
David Oliver tells the SMH he was stunned when his lawyers informed him the company was being wound up, three days before Christmas.
Mr Oliver is a member of an owners’ corporation that has been pursuing GDC Group through the courts since 2017 for over a million dollars’ worth of alleged defects in a North Shore apartment block.
“We were meant to be heading to a settlement conference with them in February,” he told the Australian media outlet.
It is likely that the compensation claim will now be directed to the developer, Defence Housing Australia, which subcontracted Ganellen to build the block.
“Now they’re left holding the baby – which is effectively the public purse,” Mr Oliver said. “We’re lucky Defence Housing isn’t going anywhere.”
Mr Oliver said the court proceedings had been prolonged by Ganellen’s “continual challenging of [expert] reports.”
Earlier this month, another arm of the Ganellen Group was fined over the death of apprentice formworker Christopher Cassaniti in a scaffolding collapse.
Cassaniti died days after his 18th birthday when nine storeys of scaffolding came down at Ganellen’s Macquarie Park construction site last year.
GN Residential Construction Pty Ltd was ordered to pay $900,000 as part of a scathing court verdict.
Dimitris and Tassoula Kletsas weren’t able to spend Christmas with their children this year because of the nationwide lockdown in Greece. But that didn’t stop them from getting creative to spread some Christmas cheer.
The Greek couple, from Larissa in central Greece, decided to make the best of a bad situation by creating life-size portraits of their children to accompany them at the family Christmas table this year.
Dimitris, who is an amateur painter, decided that creating a portrait of each of his sons and their wives could go at least a little way toward substituting for their physical presence during this very difficult Christmas of 2020.
Credit: Dimitris Kletsas/Facebook.
Six place settings for the portraits had been carefully laid on the table, which was appropriately decorated in red, green and white for the festive occasion.
Speaking to Proto Thema, Dimitris said he had known all along that because of the virus “no one will be able to visit us — and so I thought of my own way to feel close to them.”
His family were so impressed by the portraits that they shared them on Facebook, writing “when you are creative, you even overcome the lockdowns!”
“Well done! You proved that nothing can keep parents ‘away’ from their children! Up close next year!” his son, Evangelos, wrote on Facebook.
The presidential decree on the closing of bays and drawing of straight baselines in the maritime area of the Ionian and the Ionian islands up to Cape Tainaro in the Peloponnese entered into force on Sunday through its publication in the government gazette.
The move is a necessary step in the process of extending Greece’s western territorial waters.
In a statement Sunday, the Foreign Ministry said the decree was issued pursuant to the law ratifying the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
“The Presidential Decree highlights that Greece reserves the right – as deriving from the Convention on the Law of the Sea, which reflects international customary law – to exercise its respective rights in other areas of its territory,” it said.
The presidential decree was published in the government gazette.
“Firmly committed to upholding International Law, including the Law of the Sea, Greece always acts in line with international legality,” it said.
Plans to extend the western limit of Greece’s territorial waters in the Ionian Sea to 12 miles were announced by Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in August.
