What’s a Greek Christmas without roast potatoes? Crunchy, salty roast potatoes are the perfect addition to any food celebration.
Our recipe for the perfect roast potato is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser this Christmas!
Ingredients
1kg potatoes
½ cup olive oil
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp pepper
Method
Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
Peel potatoes and chop into chunky square pieces.
Place potatoes in a pot and fill with cold water. Place over the stove and bring to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer for 8-9 minutes or until softened at the edges.
Meanwhile, drizzle olive oil over a baking dish and place in over for 10 minutes.
Drain the potatoes in a colander and shake well to roughen up the edges. The fluffier, the better!
Transfer potatoes to the baking dish and season with salt, pepper and oregano.
Roast in the oven for about 30-40 minutes, or until golden brown!
Remove from over, drizzle with some more salt and enjoy!
The NSW Government has introduced new restriction for Greater Sydney from tonight (11.59pm), in an effort to reduce the effect of the evolving Avalon COVID-19 outbreak.
Following updated health advice from the Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant about the growing risk to the community, the following restrictions will tonight be introduced for the greater metropolitan Sydney region:
Household gatherings will be limited to 10 visitors (until 11:59pm Wednesday 23 December).
The one person per four square metre rule will be re-introduced for all indoor settings including hospitality venues and places of worship.
A cap of 300 people will apply for hospitality venues and places of worship.
Singing and chanting at indoor venues will not be allowed.
Dancefloors will not be permitted, except for weddings, when a maximum of 20 from the bridal party will be permitted.
People in the Greater Sydney area and the Central Coast, Illawarra-Shoalhaven, and Nepean Blue Mountains, are also asked not to visit aged care facilities until 11.59pm on Wednesday 23 December, unless it is critical.
Up to 8pm last night, 36 new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed, 30 of which were locally acquired.
This domestic flight crew arrived in Melbourne from Sydney on Saturday, all being very COVID-safe. Picture: Darrian Traynor/NCA NewsWire)
These restrictions are designed to reduce the risk of further community transmission.
‘Stay at home’ orders for residents in the Northern Beaches Local Government area will also continue until 11.59pm on Wednesday, December 23rd.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the government then intends to provide further clear advice for the community ahead of Christmas.
“We realise the effect this will have on residents and venues, and hope to lift the cap and restrictions as soon as possible,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“But we must take this action now to ensure we keep on top of this outbreak.”
Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant urged the community to play their part in controlling the COVID spread, by getting tested if symptoms develop, by practising physical distancing and good hand hygiene, and by wearing a mask, particularly indoors.
“If these steps are not taken, we may see a rise in further cases,” Dr Chant said.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the restrictions were a proportional and appropriate response to the threat.
“I want to thank everyone in the community for their patience and resilience. We are in the midst of a one-in-100 year pandemic and we are not out of the woods yet,” Mr Hazzard said.
“Now more than ever it is imperative that people continue to come forward for testing until we get this cluster under control.”
The European Union is “moving at a slow pace” in its response to Turkish provocations in the Eastern Mediterranean and Aegean, but Athens will continue pushing for sanctions “with patience and persistence,” Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said on Saturday.
“A step has been made, but … the government has never claimed it was enough,” Dendias said in an interview to Parapolitika newspaper, referring to a decision at the December 10-11 European Council summit to postpone a discussion on sanctions until March.
Commenting on the argument put forward by several European governments that a ban on arms exports to Turkey would undermine NATO cohesion, Dendias asked: “How can they justify their stance when the main pillar of the Euro-Atlantic alliance, the United States, imposed sanctions on Turkey on the basis of the argument that the country is undermining NATO unity and security?”
He added that Washington’s decision to sanction Turkey over its purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system “is an undoubtedly powerful message,” particularly given that it was taken just a day after the European Council meeting.
The first Queensland students to receive the highest ATAR have been revealed with top-performing students celebrating achieving the best ranking of 99.95.
The results were published earlier than expected today with 30 Queensland students achieving the perfect score while 694 achieved a 98.9 and above, and 5,343 students received a 91.50 and above, and in total 19,524 finished above a ranking of 65.50.
Brisbane Girls Grammar School student Matina Samios, 18, said after a sleepless night it was a relief to wake up to the ATAR of her dreams.
“Pretty much the first thing I did was open my laptop and head to the website because I really wanted to know, and I was very very surprised, I started screaming and I was crying and my mum rushed in, it was a great moment,” she toldThe Courier-Mail.
“At about 7.30 this morning I thought maybe they would release them for 9am and I thought I couldn’t wait another hour-and-a-half.
“Such a great end to such a not-so-great year, it’s a great early Christmas present.”
Ms Samios was dux of the prestigious girls school and hoped to achieve the highest ranking to study medicine at Griffith University.
“It’s such a relief, it’s a weight lifted off my shoulders,” she said.
Brisbane State High School’s Stamatios Iconomidis also achieved a 99.95. It comes as Queensland schools are heralding strong performance in the first year of the new system.
Students at St Spyridon College, St Euphemia and All Saints Grammar have done their schools proud in this year’s HSC, earning incredible individual marks and contributing to their school’s overall ranking.
St Spyridon College continues to remain in the Top 100 schools list this year, ranking 74th out of approximately 750 secondary schools across the state. The school ranked in the top 11% in NSW, with up to 100 students earning at least a band 5 in one or more subjects.
Peter Ganis had an incredible year at the college and received the highest ATAR at St Spyridon, receiving over 90 in four subjects and narrowly missing out on an all-rounders award.
See the full list of St Spyridon’s distinguished achievers below:
Peter Ganis – ATAR 98.15.Biology, Chemistry, Legal Studies, Mathematics Advanced.
Paris Mousamas – ATAR 97.60. English Advanced, English Ext. 1, Legal Studies, Modern History, History Extension.
Frances-Lee Pascalis. Drama, PDHPE (Nomination for OnSTAGE)
Jordan Polyzos. PDHPE
Amin Shokri. Legal Studies
Michael Xeras. Visual Arts
Mihalis Dovellos. 5th in State for Modern Greek Cont.
Teoni Antonopoulos. Modern Greek Cont.
Gianni Keramitzis. Modern Greek Cont.
Top (L to R): Peter Ganis, Paris Mousamas, Chadey Bteddini, Nickola Kondou, Nickola Kondou, Anastasia Reeve, James Zouroudis, Georgia Varvaritis. Second Row (L to R): Nicola Skouteris, Roza Papas, Paul Bessiris, Nicholas Drakoulis, Efthimia Kollias, Nicoletta Tsimboukis, George Hatzidis. Third Row (L to R): Alyssa Alas, Zali Albertiri, Stephanie Andreou, Marissa Diakoumis, Chloe Drougas, James Hristeff, Anna Papas. Bottom (L to R): Frances-Lee Pascalis, Jordan Polyzos, Amin Shokri, Michael Xeras, Mihalis Dovellos, Teoni Antonopoulos, Gianni Keramitzis.
St Euphemia
St Euphemia also enjoyed a highly successful year in the 2020 HSC. The school ranked in the top 16% in New South Wales, ranking 104th in the state.
Angeliki Georgakopoulou was the highest achieving student at the school, earning an ATAR of 99.7. Angeliki also placed 18th in the State for English Advanced, 3rd in the State Studies of Religion II, and achieved a band 6 in English Extension 1.
See the full list of St Euphemia’s distinguished achievers below:
Angeliki Georgakopoulou – ATAR 99.7. 18th in State English Advanced, English Extension 1, 3rd in State Studies of Religion II.
Patrick Anastasiou – ATAR 98.95. 5th in State Business Studies, English Advanced, Legal Studies, Mathematics Adv.
Nicholas Vetsikas – ATAR 96.85. Economics, English Advanced, Mathematics Std 2, 16th in State PDHPE, Modern Greek Cont.
Sophia Vetsikas – ATAR 95.7. Business Studies, Design & Technology (Nomination for Shape 2020 Exhibition), English Advanced, Modern Greek Cont.
Katerina Iosifidis – ATAR 94.5. Business Studies, English Advanced, Food Technology, Legal Studies.
Philippa Mihos – ATAR 93.8. English Advanced, PDHPE.
Catherine Louskos – ATAR 93.6. English Advanced, Food Technology, Studies of Religion II.
Michael Wait – ATAR 92.75. English Advanced, Studies of Religion II.
Efstathios John Dimitropoulos – ATAR 90.6. English Advanced.
Michael Alavanos. Modern Greek Cont.
Marell Bito. Modern History
Steven Makras. Design & Technology.
Helena Mavropoulos. Modern Greek Cont.
Nathan Nathanael. Design & Technology, Music 1.
Athan Nicolacopoulos. Legal Studies, PDHPE.
Marina Tanuos. Design & Technology (Nomination for Shape 2020 Exhibition)
Top (L to R):Angeliki Georgakopoulou, Patrick Anastasiou, Nicholas Vetsikas, Sophia Vetsikas, Katerina Iosifidis, Philippa Mihos. Middle (L to R): Catherine Louskos, Michael Wait, Efstathios John Dimitropoulos, Michael Alavanos, Marell Bito. Bottom (L to R): Steven Makras, Helena Mavropoulos, Nathan Nathanael, Athan Nicolacopoulos, Marina Tanuos.
All Saints Grammar
All Saints Grammar students showed a tremendous effort during a very difficult year, with nine students making the distinguished achievers list and achieving a band 6 in one or more subjects.
Zoe-Vasilia Fountotos smashed her HSC exams becoming the schools highest achieving student, achieving an ATAR of 97.4. Zoe was also awarded an All-Rounders award for earning a band 6 in at least 10 units.
See the full list of All Saints Grammar’s distinguished achievers below:
Zoe-Vasilia Fountotos – ATAR 97.4. 2 Unit English Advanced, 2 Unit Modern History, 2 Unit Classical Greek Continuers, 1 Unit Classical Greek Extension, 2 Unit Modern Greek Continuers, 1 Unit Modern Greek Extension.
Mia Crnogorac – ATAR 91.1. 2 Unit Legal Studies, 2 Unit Modern History.
Chengyu Li. 2 Unit Mathematics Advanced.
Thomas Koutavas. Mathematics Extension 2
Eleni Grouva. 2 Unit Modern Greek Continuers, 1 Unit Modern Greek Extension.
Chrysovalantou Saroukos. 2 Unit Modern Greek Continuers, 2 Unit Visual Arts.
Stamatia Stathakopoulou. 2 Unit Modern Greek Continuers
Victoria Kyrakides. 2 Unit Modern Greek Continuers, 1 Unit Modern Greek Extension.
Gina Zhang. 2 Unit Music 2.
Top (L to R):Zoe-Vasilia Fountotos, Mia Crnogorac, Chengyu Li, Thomas Koutavas, Eleni Grouva. Bottom (L to R): Chrysovalantou Saroukos, Stamatia Stathakopoulou, Victoria Kyrakides, Gina Zhang.
Water polo has a history in Australia as one of the most exciting and anticipated water sports at European tournaments and the Olympics. Its thrilling energy attracted people like Sam Cocokios at such a young age and has been the pathway for Sam’s involvement in the junior Australian national team and current role as captain of ACU Cronulla Sharks.
Sam grew up near the beachside Sydney suburb of Cronulla and, similar to many others in the area, swimming is more than a hobby. It’s a passion. For Sam, this passion began when he was just nine years old.
“I started in the shallow water polo pool, so I was able to stand up, throw the ball around and just play some summer sport,” Sam Cocokios said to The Greek Herald.
Sam’s ‘summer sport’ turned professional at the age of 18 when he was invited to join the Junior Men’s Australian National Team as a goalkeeper, taking part in three Junior World Championships.
Sam Cocokios facing off against UTS Balmain Tigers on Saturday, December 5, 2020. Photo: Peter Oglos
“The first one was in Perth, which was really cool because it was a home ground advantage and my friends and family could all come and watch. Then I did one more in Hungary and then another one in Kazakhstan.”
Travelling the world and representing his country at a junior level, aged between 18 and 21, Sam said his exposure to the world was “incredible”.
“You don’t realise how lucky we are in Australia until you travel and get those world experiences.”
Yet, with great life experiences comes many hard sacrifices. While having a great junior career and a strong opportunity to progress further, Sam felt the need to take time off and focus on his personal life.
“I booked a big Europe trip for five or six for five months… then I actually got invited to the Australian Men’s National team,” Sam said.
Sam Cocokios facing off against UTS Balmain Tigers on Saturday, December 5, 2020. Photo: Peter Oglos
Sam heartbreakingly declined the offer to join the Men’s National Team, justifying his need to take a break and to enjoy the “social side of Europe”.
“I’ve committed so much to water polo. So I think I made the right decision then to say no to that opportunity in 2017, and I’ve really given myself this four year Olympic cycle just to relax, recharge, study, work and do all those things to balance your sporting commitments.”
Graduating from a Bachelor of Accounting at university in 2017, Sam is looking to begin his career as a chartered accountant next year.
While he may not be training for Olympic glory, Sam’s love for water polo remains intact with National Water Polo League side ACU Cronulla Sharks, being named captain of the Men’s First Division Squad.
“I’ve been in this club for more than ten years and the club has given me so much, just going through and supporting my water polo,” Sam said.
“And I think being given that captaincy role is really rewarding because now you realise you have to step up into that leadership position and there’s people underneath you now that are looking up to you.”
Sam is supported by his family during every water polo match, holding a strong Greek familial bond through his father’s side. He revealed that his yiayia continues to be one of his biggest supporters, as he carries out his captain responsibilities at the club.
“She’s so supportive and loves it…. I think even having this interview and having her read through, and even my dad, would just make him so proud.”
I often hear grandparents say “My grandchildren do not understand Greek so I read to them in English!”
Really I say? So, they understand everything in English at the age of 3 but not Greek?
Well I have news for you! Children pick up language all the time.
As we read to them in any language and they look at the pictures their brains are busy decoding for meaning. The younger the child is exposed to a new language, the easier to learn it.
How many times have I heard university students of 3rd and 4th generation Greek background say to me “Miss they just didn’t bother to teach us Greek!”
They didn’t bother because they considered it too difficult when in fact it is all in the mindset.
If it is expected that children will learn Greek then they will. If it is a surprise that they learn Greek then they might! If we are uncertain they will learn Greek then they may not!
Especially for grandparents whose first language is not English I would recommend they only speak and read to their grandchildren in Greek. After all, their accents in English are quite often not so good anyway. I would rather my child know some Greek than bad pronunciation in English!
We should stop underestimating are young ones and feed their brains with as much language as possible. It is before the age of 3 that more neurones form in the brain than at any other age. Take advantage of this and just let nature do its work! By the time they are 9 and 10 it is already an upward battle. A battle that can and should be won nevertheless!
Good quality books are another issue. What makes a good storybook and are bilingual books the way to go? Next week we check out what makes a good children’s book.
The Northern Beaches is being locked down from 5pm today until midnight on Wednesday, as NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announces another 13 cases from testing on Friday.
Ms Berejiklian said there were 23 cases identified from testing in the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday, 10 of which had already been reported. Twenty-one of those cases were locally acquired and linked to the Avalon cluster, and two remain under investigation.
The Premier said it is likely that the state will see a repeat of those numbers across this 24 hours.
“Given what we know from the testing, given what we know from the likely number of cases, we are going to put in health orders for the Northern Beaches from five o’clock today to essentially go back to the restrictions people experienced in March,” she said.
That means only leaving your home if it is for essential purposes such as for work, for compassionate grounds, for exercise or to go shopping.
The queue for the pop-up COVID testing clinic at Avalon on Thursday. Picture: Tim Hunter/The Daily Telegraph
The Premier has also asked the rest of Sydney to avoid unnecessary activity, and flagged the possibility of further restrictions being put in place tomorrow for the Greater Sydney area.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said “we’re all going through this together” and urged his fellow Northern Beaches residents to stick to the rules.
“We don’t want to be responsible for seeding this across Sydney or NSW, or indeed anywhere else.”
Signalling a spectacular end to the 2019 season with the Newtown Jets, as well as in his five appearances in the NRL so far, Billy Magoulias has also recently completed a bachelor’s degree in Business at the University of Wollongong.
“I had an interest in business throughout school and when I finished at Endeavour I went straight into the course at Wollongong Uni,” Magoulias explained.
That was 2015 when he was a part of the Sharks then-Holden Cup under-20’s squad, Magoulias dedicated in his efforts to combine his training with his university timetables.
“I’d commit the first half of the day to study, then we’d do our three, four hours of training of a night,” he said of his time in the Sharks NYC team.
Billy Magoulias. Photo: The Daily Telegraph
In 2018 Magoulias was promoted into the full-time NRL squad at the start of the season, and while the task to combine the two pursuits became more complicated, his commitment, coupled with understanding and assistance from the Club and coaching staff, allowed him to forge ahead and ultimately finish his University degree.
“I went part time with my course from 2018 and there was always some flexibility around training. I could work my weights sessions in to be able to get to the lessons, attend the tutorials at the Loftus campus and then the lectures and assessments were on-line,” Magoulias added.
Now ready to take the next step with his rugby league career, where he aims to become a regular in the Sharks NRL team in 2020, Magoulias, who is also working through a Cert 4 in Elite Athlete Wellbeing and a Cert 3 in Fitness, has ambitions to enroll in a Masters of Business Administration and is doing so with an eye to what might come somewhere down the track.
University of Wollongong
“I don’t know where footy will take me in the next few years, but I’d love to stay in the game, maybe in a management role,” Magoulias said.
“I’ve enjoyed the management type subjects and with my footy knowledge, when you mix it in with what I’ve learnt and what I’m learning, it might be something I can look at going into in the future.”
Jeff Robson, a 177-game NRL veteran, who teams up with Amanda King to deliver the Sharks Education and Welfare program, explains his role in assisting the current playing group with their football-life balance and in their educational activities.
“Even though some are just beginning their NRL careers, our role in Welfare and Education is to prepare the boys for life after footy,” Robson began.
“Here at the Sharks we have above 90 per cent of the squad involved in career engagement, which means they are either studying, in work experience or attending TAFE.”
The Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) have sent a letter thanking Greek diaspora organisations for acting quickly to save the La Trobe Greek Studies Program, which was under threat of being terminated.
SYRIZA MPs raised the Greek Studies issue in the Greek Parliament on November 28, requesting that the government take action.
“….We wanted to add our voice to your own voices and efforts and we called on the Greek government to take initiatives,” Rallia Christidou, SYRIZA MP, said in her letter to the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne last month.
In response, Greece’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Kostas Vlasis, expressed the Greek Government’s assurances they will do everything possible for the continuation of the program.
Greek parliament.
“The continuation of the Greek Studies Program is a top priority, because it has for us, the Hellenism of Victoria and also the Greek community in Australia, a substantial and special emotional value,” Mr Vlasis writes in his letter.
The La Trobe Greek Studies program was saved with the persistent efforts from the Greek community in Australia. The Greek Community of Melbourne committed to providing $192,000 over three years as well as proactive assistance in ensuring the program reaches a financially viable enrolment target after semester 1 census in 2023.
Photo: La Trobe University
In a letter sent by Rallia Christidou on Friday, the SYRIZA MP reassured that the opposition party is “at your disposal” for any other issue related to the Greek diaspora in the future.
“We consider issues that have to do with Greeks abroad and Greek Diaspora of the greatest importance and we are always happy to communicate and to help in any way possible,” Rallia Christidou said.
The La Trobe Greek Studies Program is to continue for another three years, with the program to be reviewed after semester 1 census in 2023.
