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Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney amaze Greek community with preview of costume exhibition

Andriana Simos
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Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney amaze Greek community with preview of costume exhibition

Traditional Greek costumes from regions as widespread as Crete, Macedonia, Epirus and Kastellorizo were visible as far as the eye could see at the preview of the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney’s costume exhibition, which commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution.

Held at the Hermes Lounge in Kogarah on Sunday, March 14, attendees could be heard exclaiming in amazement as they took in the Greek garments around them, many of which had been donated by the local Greek community and were in perfect embellished condition.

Traditional Greek costumes from regions as widespread as Crete, Macedonia and Kastellorizo were visible at the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney’s costume exhibition. Photo: Andriana Simos / The Greek Herald.

“It’s amazing! A lot of time, effort and background research went into this exhibit and we commend the people who put it together,” Christine, and her friend Rose, told The Greek Herald on the night.

Official proceedings kicked-off after the arrival of Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, as well as other prominent members of the Greek community, including Kogarah Parish priests, Father Kyriakos and Father Dimitris, President of the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney, Liana Vertzayias, representative of the Greek Consul General in Sydney, Costas Giannakodimos, President of the Kogarah Church Committee, Nickolas Varvaris, and Lecturer of Modern Greek Studies at Macquarie University, Patricia Koromvokis.

Members of the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney with Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, Kogarah Parish Priest, Father Kyriakos, and President of the Kogarah Church Committee, Nickolas Varvaris.

Everyone was first treated to a rousing rendition of the Greek and Australian national anthems by The National Metropolitan Choir of Australia, which made its first public appearance with Themos Mexis as musical director.

“A lot of us used to sing in the Millennium Choir which performed during the Sydney Olympic Games. So it’s nice to get back together again and have the privilege of working with such special people. It’s uplifting,” Katerina Mavrolefteros, a member of the choir, told The Greek Herald.

READ MORE: Themos Mexis to musically direct the new National Metropolitan Choir of Australia.

The National Metropolitan Choir of Australia made its first public appearance. Photo: Andriana Simos / The Greek Herald.

This uplifting performance was followed by a number of speeches from Bishop Iakovos, Mr Giannakodimos and Ms Vertzayias. In her speech, Ms Vertzayias gave a short summary of the costumes in the exhibition, and thanked everyone for attending the preview.

“If you would like to donate to the Lyceum, please do and we will duly acknowledge you,” Ms Vertzayias concluded.

President of the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney (left), Liana Vertzayias, and Costas Giannakodimos (right), representing the Consul General of Greece in Sydney gave speeches.

The exhibition will be at the Hermes Lounge in Kogarah for the next 10 weeks, with people invited to attend on Saturday between 1pm-3pm, Sunday 11pm-1pm and Monday to Friday by appointment.

The National Metropolitan Choir of Australia is also calling for more applicants (male or female). If you would like to apply, please visit: www.nmca.org.au or contact Father Steven Scoutas on 0417 771 113 or Ellie Mexis on 0404 378 745.

South Australia’s Cyprus community farewell ‘Apokries’ and welcome Lent with vibrant event

Argyro Vourdoumpa
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South Australia’s Cyprus community farewell ‘Apokries’ and welcome Lent with vibrant event

It was a full house at South Australia’s Cyprus Community ‘Apokries’ event, held on Sunday, 14 March at the organisation’s centre in Welland, Adelaide to mark the end of the Carnival season and the beginning of the Easter Lent. 

The attendees had the opportunity to enjoy Cypriot delicacies prepared by the Ladies Auxiliary and the community’s volunteers and were entertained with live music. 

A number of dignitaries as well as state and community leaders were present, including the High Commissioner of Cyprus in Australia Martha Mavrommatis, the Assistant Minister to the Premier of South Australia the Hon Jing Lee, Councillor of City of Mitcham, member of the South Australian Multicultural & Ethnic Affairs Commission (SAMEAC) Andriana Christopoulos, GOCSA Secretary General Panagiotis Ppyros and Cyprus Community SA Secretary Christina Charalambous.

“Today, we are celebrating the beginning of Lent with members of the Cypriot and Greek communities like we would do in Cyprus and we are happy that we have a good turn up,” President of the Cyprus Community of SA, Andreas Evdokiou, told The Greek Herald.

Photo by: The Greek Herald/Argyro Vourdoumpa

High Commissioner of Cyprus in Australia Mrs Mavrommatis, who is also in Adelaide for the Fringe Festival, congratulated Mr Evdokiou and the organising committee for the event and expressed her gratitude that such community gatherings are going ahead in Australia while Cyprus and Greece are in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s very important to keep our traditions alive and pass them on to our children. The work the Cypriot community is doing in engaging our youth is outstanding and the fact that they currently have 80 young students in their dancing group is amazing. 

Photos by: The Greek Herald/Argyro Vourdoumpa

“We have a duty to these kids to teach them about our language, religion and culture especially as the bicentenary of the Greek Revolution is fast approaching,” said Mrs Mavrommatis and went on to explain how the 1955 Cyprus Emergency was influenced by the Greek Revolution. 

“Our Cypriot heroes drew courage and pluck from the 1821 Greek war of Independence heroes,” Ms Mavrommatis said.

From her side Councillor of City of Mitcham and SAMEAC member, Andriana Christopoulos, said that she is “thrilled to be part of the celebrations of such a kind hearted and welcoming community.”

“It’s great to engage with South Australia’s communities and make them feel valued for what they have offered to Australia and South Australia in particular. We really appreciate the efforts of the migrants who have come to Australia and have set up the culture and the country we have today,” Ms Christopoulos said. 

The next South Australia’s Cyprus community event is set to be held in May for Mother’s Day. 

Sue Chrysanthou is one of three laywers helping Christian Porter sue the ABC for defamation

The Greek Herald
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Sue Chrysanthou is one of three laywers helping Christian Porter sue the ABC for defamation

Attorney-General, Christian Porter, has launched Federal Court defamation proceedings against the ABC and journalist Louise Milligan.

Porter is suing the public broadcaster over an online article that he alleges portrays him as the perpetrator of a “brutal” rape that contributed to a woman taking her own life.

In a statement of claim lodged on Monday, it is evident that Mr Porter, who is on medical leave, is seeking damages, including aggravated damages, for a February 26 article published on the ABC’s website, headlined “Scott Morrison, senators and AFP told of historical rape allegation against Cabinet Minister.”

ABC journalist Louise Milligan, who broke the story, is also named as a party to the lawsuit.

Mr Porter, who is not named in the ABC article, has retained a trio of high-powered lawyers, including Sydney barristers Bret Walker, SC, and Sue Chrysanthou, SC, and solicitor Rebekah Giles to represent him.

“Over the last few weeks, the Attorney-General has been subjected to trial by media without regard to the presumption of innocence or the rules of evidence and without any proper disclosure of the material said to support the untrue allegations,” Ms Giles said in a statement on Monday.

“The trial by media should now end with the commencement of these proceedings.”

Ms Giles foreshadowed that Mr Porter would give evidence in the proceedings.

Sue Chrysanthou is one of three laywers helping Christian Porter sue the ABC for defamation.

Mr Porter has strenuously denied allegations made by a woman that he raped her during a debating tournament in Sydney in 1988. The woman took her own life last year, after telling NSW Police that she did not wish to pursue her complaint.

The Attorney-General’s lawyers say Mr Porter was readily identifiable as the unnamed cabinet minister in the ABC’s online story, and his name was “trending prominently on Twitter” after it was published.

The article, they say, also conveys that Mr Porter was “reasonably suspected by police” of rape, warranting criminal charges being brought against him, and there were “reasonable grounds for suspecting” both that he committed the crime and that it “contributed to [the woman] taking her own life.”

Mr Porter was “obliged” to identify himself on March 3, they say.

Ms Chrysanthou and Ms Giles have acted successfully for a series of high-profile defamation plaintiffs, many of them women, including Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young against former Liberal Democratic Party senator David Leyonhjelm.

In recent days, Ms Chrysanthou and Ms Giles also acted for former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins, who has alleged she was raped by a former staffer in the office of Defence Minister Linda Reynolds.

Ms Chrysanthou has even acted for actor Geoffrey Rush in his successful defamation suit against The Daily Telegraph, which resulted in a record $2.9 million payout.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald.

Napoleon Perdis on ‘evolving’ after his makeup empire collapsed in Australia

The Greek Herald
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Napoleon Perdis on ‘evolving’ after his makeup empire collapsed in Australia

In January 2019, Napoleon Perdis’ makeup company called in the administrators with estimated debts of $22 million in Australia alone.

At the time, the former make-up mogul and his family owned opulent homes around the world, including a mansion in the Hollywood Hills, a Double Bay villa and an apartment in New York. Now they’re all gone.

In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Perdis says that on the day his empire collapsed, “my world didn’t go up in flames, it just evolved.”

Napoleon Perdis’ makeup empire collapsed in Australia in 2019.

“And as it was evolving I failed to understand that I had to keep pace with it as well. But I was from a Greek immigrant background in Parramatta and I was a self-made businessman without a mentor,” Perdis tells the Australian media outlet.

“I was trying to turn a profit for the company and have some success without looking at the big picture.”

Perdis was one of the world’s top 10 make-up artists, with shows at New York Fashion Week, his own program on The Discovery Channel and an exclusive partnership with the Primetime Emmys.

What actually went wrong at Napoleon Perdis is contested but Perdis’ brother Emanuel, who was the company’s managing director, said at the time the biggest factor was its failure to thrive in the United States. The brand launched there shortly before the Global Financial Crisis began.

Napoleon Perdis now lives in Greece with his family.

For his part, Perdis had blamed “greedy landlords,” “dead” shopping centres, online shopping and bankers “milking me for money.”

Today, Perdis and his family have relocated to his ancestral homeland of Greece, based in Athens, where they lead a more Spartan lifestyle.

His eldest daughter, Lianna, is studying digital communication in London where Angelene, one of his triplets, is studying law. The other two, Alexia and Athena, are working in the beauty industry and for an app developer.

But even before the perils of COVID, Perdis was struggling to adjust to his new lifestyle. At his lowest point, he often found himself sitting in an Athens’ square, day and night, chain-smoking cigarettes and pondering his future.

Napoleon with his daughters.

“One evening I found myself getting very emotional about my journey. My wife Soula-Marie called to ask where I was. As I tried to explain, she cautioned that I shouldn’t allow this state of mind to become a disease, I should cut it out and start to rebuild,” Perdis tells the Sydney Morning Herald.

“[She] also reminded me that everything we’d created to date was so much more than our parents or even in the average person would ever experience. She convinced we can do it again.”

Perdis gradually started to formulate a new concept – a skincare collection called CUL – or Conscious Urban Living. He plans to launch the brand in Athens, then Britain and the US, and has no plans to return to Australia in the near future.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald.

Remembering Greek shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis

The Greek Herald
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Remembering Greek shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis

Aristotle Onassis holds the legacy as one of the most successful businessmen in Greece’s history. He set up a fleet of oil tankers and ships from scratch, larger than the national fleets of many countries.

Early Life:

Born on January 15, 1906 in Smyrna, Aristotle’s father, Socrates, was one of the richest tobacco merchants and businessmen in the region. Yet, once the calamity of World War I took place, his father was imprisoned. Their business fell into the hands of the Turks and their warehouse was burned down.

Aristotle Onassis was born on January 15, 1906 in Smyrna.

Having no other choice, Aristotle decided to go abroad in search of a better fortune for him and his family. He arrived in Greece when he was 16 years old, staying in an outdoor camp. Soon after, he journeyed to Constantinople where in August 1923, he traveled to Argentina with only $250.

Business and Personal Life:

Aristotle got his first job at the British United River Plate Telephone Company. While in Argentina, he engaged in a tobacco importing business with help from his father back home.

However, unsuccessful negotiations with Juan Gaona, head of a giant Argentine corporation, forced Aristotle to launch his own line of cigarettes. From this, he obtained an Argentine citizenship in 1929, eventually establishing his first shipping trading company in Buenos Aires, Astilleros Onassis.

He initially bought a 7,000-ton merchant ship, which was dismantled and sank due to a storm. He then bought 6 Canadian ships, naming the first two “Penelope Onassis” and “Socrates Onassis,” in honour of his parents.

Onassis holds the legacy as one of the most successful businessmen in Greece’s history.

Many described Aristotle as having a ‘trustworthy instinct,’ which guided him to new opportunities. Seeing a gap in the airline market in Greece, in 1957 he established Olympic Airways, the first Greek air company.

Between 1950 and 1956, Onassis had success whaling off the Peruvian coast. His first expedition made a net profit of US$4.5 million and foresaw great success, yet the business crumbled when they received a scathing accusation from The Norwegian Whaling Gazette. Accusing them of mishandling the whale meat, Aristotle sold the business Kyokuyo Hogei Kaisha Whaling Company for $8.5 million.

Aristotle’s greatest wealth came from his entry into the world of oil. Large petroleum companies, like Mobil and Texaco, came to him to transport their goods with his ships. All of Aristotle’s ships had flags of Panama, allowing him to transport goods tax-free, while running at low cost.

While holding great power and success in the business world, Aristotle experienced great tragedy within his own family. Aristotle’s first marriage was to Athina Livanos, a daughter of a Greek shipping magnate. They had two children, both born in New York City: a son, Alexander (1948–1973), and a daughter Christina (1950–1988).

Onassis married Jacqueline Kennedy, widow of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, on 20 October 1968.

On January 22, 1973, his son Alexandros was seriously injured when his plane crashed at Elliniko airport, under unclear circumstances. Aristotle refused to believe it was an accident, offering $1 million to anyone who found evidence of sabotage.

Aristotle later divorced Livanos as during their relationship, Aristotle was unfaithful to her and had many extramarital affairs. The most famous affair of Onassis was to Maria Callas, the famous Greek opera singer. Onassis later married Jacqueline Kennedy, widow of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, on 20 October 1968.

Legacy and Death:

In December 1973, the fall of the world tanker market came. While Aristotle was largely protected due to the long term contracts arranged with the large petroleum companies, eventually he was forced to close refineries.

Two years later, the shipping giant contracted Myasthenia gravis. He retired to his private island, Scorpio, eventually flying to Paris to see the world’s best doctors. Unfortunately, Aristotle passed away on March 15, 1975, at the American Hospital in Paris.

Aristotle Onassis remains the most famous and wealthy Greek shipping tycoon of the 20th century and arguably one of the most successful businessmen ever.

Woman viciously bashed in senseless attack on steps of South Yarra Greek Orthodox church

The Greek Herald
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Woman viciously bashed in senseless attack on steps of South Yarra Greek Orthodox church

A 78-year-old woman has been viciously attacked on the stairs outside the Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox church in South Yarra, according to 3AW693.

Penelope was opening the church in South Yarra at about 6am on Saturday morning when she was attacked.

A man and woman approached her, and the male punched her in the face, pushed her to the ground and kicked her.

She lay alone on the ground on Barry Street for half an hour before she was found by a council worker.

Her hip and wrist were fractured in the cruel attack and she has bleeds on the brain.

Penelope’s daughter-in-law, Erin Katsavos, says it was a senseless attack.

“They did initially take her shopping trolley but they just discarded it without stealing anything, no money, not her phone. They’ve just done it,” she told Neil Mitchell from 3AW693.

“We’re just shocked … and just devastated for her. We want the people who did this to be found, so that, firstly, they can’t do it anybody else, and that they’re held accountable for what they’ve done.”

It’s too early to tell if Penelope will make a full recovery.

“They’re still monitoring what’s going on with her brain,” Ms Katsavos said.

Source: 3AW693.

The Greek National Opera’s bicentennial show goes on despite pandemic

The Greek Herald
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The Greek National Opera’s bicentennial show goes on despite pandemic

Dozens of museum exhibitions, theater productions, discussion panels and historical re-enactments were planned in Greece for this year to commemorate the bicentennial of the 1821-1832 Greek War of Independence.

But due to the coronavirus pandemic, mezzo-soprano Artemis Bogri and her fellow singers stepped onstage in an empty theater to perform the Greek National Opera’s new production of “Despo,” one of the events marking 200 years since the war that resulted in Greece’s independence from the Ottoman Empire and rebirth as a nation.

Greek soprano Artemis Bogri poses for the photographer Andreas Simopoulos before a rehearsal of “Despo-Greek Dances” Opera and dance performance in Athens, Thursday, March 4, 2021. Photo: AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis.

With her sword raised but defeat certain, the title character in composer Pavlos Carrer’s 1875 opera chooses death over captivity, detonating ammunition stored in a fortress as Ottoman forces close in.

“Fire! Fire!” Bogri sang in Despo Botsi’s final moments as machine-generated smoke billowed out over the stage during a performance recorded for streaming-only events scheduled for May.

“I can tell you, that sword is real and it’s heavy,” the soloist chuckled after the show, still costumed in a headscarf, brocade waistcoat and wide-sleeved pleated blouse.

A cameraman prepares for the video recording of “Despo-Greek Dances” Opera and dance performance at the empty Greek National Opera in Athens, Saturday, March 6, 2021. Photo: AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis.

“Artists prepare two or three months for a production and then take that work to an audience,” she said. “Now, we have to generate that energy with no one there. That’s not easy.”

Greece gained its independence after a grueling nine-year war. A century later, the Greeks were on the losing side in Asia Minor as modern Turkey was created out of the collapsing Ottoman Empire.

Greek soprano Artemis Bogri holding a sword, sings during a rehearsal of “Despo-Greek Dances” Opera and dance performance in Athens, Thursday, March 4, 2021. Photo: AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis.

Bicentennial events intended to display Greece’s modern accomplishments have been postponed, scaled back or moved online because of the pandemic. National parades by school children set for Greece’s March 25 independence day holiday were cancelled on Friday amid the latest surge in COVID-19 infections.

Like the National Opera, other cultural institutions formed small work teams to salvage their celebration plans even as they faced acute financial pressure due to lockdown measures now in their fifth consecutive month.

Elton Dimrochi holding Elpida Skourou, dancers of the Greek National Opera Ballet, perform during a rehearsal of “Despo-Greek Dances” Opera and dance performance in Athens, Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. Photo: AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis.

Actors and singers working on the production of “Despo” wore masks during most rehearsals, many driven by a stubborn resolve, Bogri said.

“It’s the creative arts that helped us keep going” during the pandemic, she said. “But the sad irony is that, after all this is over, there will be fewer of us left. A large part of the arts world will be swept away.”

Source: AP News.

European Union backs Greece on return of Parthenon Marbles

The Greek Herald
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European Union backs Greece on return of Parthenon Marbles

As if Brexit tensions were not bad enough, Brussels has opened a new row with the UK by backing Greece’s long-standing claim over the Parthenon Marbles, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

When the UK and Greece were both European Union members, the bloc tried to remain above the fray and adopted a position of studious neutrality in the dispute.

However, a day after UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said the Parthenon Marbles were not being returned, the Greek EU commissioner announced it backed Greece’s claim.

Margaritis Schinas, European Commission’s Vice-President for Promoting the European Way of Life, has backed Greece on the return of the Parthenon Marbles.

READ MORE: Boris Johnson rules out return of Parthenon marbles to Greece.

“The Marbles belong in the Parthenon. In these difficult times, universal cultural heritage should uplift humanity, not divide it,” Margaritis Schinas, European Commission’s Vice-President for Promoting the European Way of Life, said.

The call was backed by former Labour Europe minister, Denis MacShane, who said on Twitter: “He’s Greek. [It’s] like asking a Brit official if Falklands belong to Argentina.

“Why are we so proud to defend a syphilitic looter? We made the Nazis hand back stolen art [and] sculpture after 1945.”

READ MORE: ‘Product of theft’: Greece urges UK again to return Parthenon marbles.

The 2500-year-old Parthenon Marbles are a long running sore point in Britain’s relations with Greece. In the lead up to Greece’s bicentenary celebrations of the 1821 Greek Revolution, Athens has reinvigorated its campaign to repatriate the fifth-century BC carvings.

Greece has long argued that reunification of the sculptures, displayed in museums across Europe but mostly in London, is integral to understanding the artworks in the context of the Parthenon.

READ MORE: George Clooney calls for the repatriation of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald.

Clean Monday: Five traditions you need to know

The Greek Herald
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Clean Monday: Five traditions you need to know

Kathara Deftera, or “Clean Monday,” is the beginning of Lent among Orthodox Christians. The holiday is also the unofficial start of Spring for the Greek people.

From flying a kite to lagana and taramas, The Greek Herald takes you through the symbolism and origin of some of these Clean Monday traditions and customs.

1. Flying a kite / Koulouma:

Clean Monday is the day Greeks fly kites (which are symbolic of the Resurrection) and go on picnics outdoors. People typically believe that the higher the kite, the more likely God was to hear their prayers. 

Tradition dictates that Athenians go to Filopapou Hill to fly their kites. The hill, near the Acropolis, is usually shoulder-to-shoulder with kids and their families, mostly attempting to fly a kite despite the crowds. The atmosphere is always fun and festive, despite the sobriety of Lent.

2. Greek flatbread called Lagana:

The special characteristic of lagana is that it is prepared without the yeast and its flat. Greeks eat it on Clean Monday as it is related to the “help,” the unleavened bread that God sent to Jewish people for them to get out of Egypt.

From then on, it was imposed by Mosaic Law to be consumed throughout Easter. This mandatory law was in force until the last Passover when Christ blessed the bread.

Lagana. Photo: fournoskatsaros.gr.

3. Taramas:

Taramas or Taramasalata is an authentic Greek fish roe dip, which is popular during the Lent period. This dip consists of mashed potatoes, fish roe, olive oil, lemons, onions, and breadcrumbs. There are two types of tarama dip, the classic white one and the pink one, which is exactly the same recipe but in a pinkish color. 

4. The ‘Straw Gligorakis‘:

Popular legend has it that Gligorakis was a fisherman who turned his back to the sea and moved to live in the mainland. Contemporary anglers in Vonitsa condemn to date his act and punish Gligorakis every year on Clean Monday by making a fisherman figure of straw, tying it on a donkey and wandering it around the village. When the day passes by with singing and dancing, the men throw “Straw Gligorakis” in a boat set on fire to burn away in the open sea.

5. The custom of the “Aga”:

In the village of Mesta in Chios island, there is the tradition of “Aga.” This tradition originates from the Turkish occupation years. “Aga” was the name of the master of the area and he used to sit in the main square and judge the residents for their misconducts and crimes. The “Aga” used to define the appropriate punishment in compliance with the severity of the action.

Each Clean Monday, a man is dressed up as “Aga,” judges the resident’s actions and sets out their punishment. The amount of money, that is gathered from the “punishments” is offered to the Community Center of the village. All this of course happens in a humoristic way and entertains the visitors, as well as benefits the work of the center.

A Tale of Two Festivals: 200 Years of Liberty Foregone!

The Greek Herald
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A Tale of Two Festivals: 200 Years of Liberty Foregone!

By Zografos Zappas

As we scurry to the 25th of March 2021, the single biggest day in Hellenic history in 200 years, we are witnessing the truth about our divided community. Not even the celebration of our liberty, some of the greatest battles in history, battles that changed the course of history and the western world, can we sit at the round table and smoke the peace pipe.  

Today we have been told that the Independence Day March, that has been held every 25thMarch for over 30 years, has been cancelled. This is not the doing of the State Government, nor COVID, but of a failure of those bodies that represent our Greek communities that are failing us, that are failing our children and failing our Hellenic spirit and pride.

File Photo, The Greek Herald

This year is the most symbolic year of Hellenic Independence since 1821.We are a proud people, who fought and won freedom after 400 years of Ottoman Islamic rule. A victory that not only freed the Hellenic people and created the new Hellenic State, but also ensured the freedom of Europe from the Ottoman stranglehold. Battles that rewrote war strategy, generals who became heroes.

Yet, we are denying the just celebration as a united community, for reasons we do not understand or are not being told. We are denying our children and our schools from celebrating the history they need to be aware of. The history that will carry Greek language and culture onward and forward into the next generation and beyond.

At this time, in our history, everyone should be onboard, but we have a Greek Orthodox Community that is at best, dysfunctional, we have a disconnected National Committee, and we have no real major event to send a message to the world that we celebrate liberty, precious liberty!

At this time, we are the only country in the world that can celebrate this event. The only country which can have a street parade and celebration on the Opera House forecourt. We should be out in the streets, with our flags, our beautiful traditional dress, dancing and singing; telling the stories of our hero’s, and how precious liberty truly is.  

 A united Greek community with one simple objective. A united Greek community in Australian televised to the world to give our families in Greece, the diaspora around the globe, and our fellow Greeks our love and our celebration of Hellenic victory.

Our individual ambitions should be united under a common banner.  But this is being hampered by leaders with egos and self-interest, leaders who are not being true to the Greek community, leaders who must hand the batton to the next generation. We are witnessing the casual destruction of a Greek community that should be uniting under a common purpose – Hellenism.

READ MORE: Sydney cancels Greek Independence Day parade this year

File photo, The Greek Herald

Where is the black-tie charity event with 1000 people to celebrate our liberty?  Where are the flags at the events being held? At the official launch last Friday at the Enmore theatre there was not one flag. Where is the literature to tell our fellow Australians about 1821 and its importance to Hellens around the globe? Where is the transparency that would have us know about the large amounts of money being received from the State and Federal Governments that funds the many events, including this year’s Hopewood Estate event.  

Greece is struggling with COVID, it is up to us to present to the world, but instead, we sit back as spectators to the greatest embarrassment, that is, the Greek community fragmented by ego. 

It is time we got serious about our community and held those that drive what they think is in the best interest of the community, accountable. In time, we must unite if we are to have a future.  Today, we must unite to show the Greeks around the world, that our liberty continues, that the Hellenic spirit will never die. Today, our leaders must throw their self interest in the fire, and rise above their egos to deliver Hellenic liberty to the world.

READ MORE: Opinion: A Tale of Two Festivals

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