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Looking back at the life of Greek actress, Ellie Lambeti

The Greek Herald
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Looking back at the life of Greek actress, Ellie Lambeti

By Ilektra Takuridu.

Ellie Lambeti, born as Elli Loukou, was a Greek actress. She was one of the most famous Greek actresses and remembered as a charming and elegant woman. Ellie embodied the real Greek urban woman in an etheric way. One of her most recognisable features was the melancholic look she always had in her eyes.

But who was this charming woman born in the ’20s, and why is she still one of the most recognisable greek actresses?

Early Life:

Ellie was born in 1926 in the village Vilia to Kostas Loukos and Anastasia Stamati and was one of seven children. In 1928, she moved with her family to Athens. She was destined for fame, as her family had many historical figures, as she was a descendant of Captain Stamatis, who fought with Kolokotronis against Turks in the 1821 Revolution.

In 1941, she tried to begin her journey into fame by attempting to get into Theater school, although she was unsuccessful in passing the exam. Despite this, Marika Kotopouli, a famous Greek actress in the 1900s, found in Ellie a true talent and accepted her to Drama school.

Marika Kotopoulis intuition was right and Ellie became one of her favourite students. In that same year, Ellie changed her stage name to Lambeti. As her teacher Marika Katopouli was impressed by her talent, so much so that in 1942 she gave her the main role in the play The Ascension of Little Hannele written by Gerhart Hauptmann.

Acting Career and Personal Life:

One of Ellie Lambeti’s first films ‘Adoulotoi sklavoi’ where she played a young actress on the end of World War II. Whilst on set, she met Marios Ploritis, who was the director, she ended up marrying Marios.

Although the marriage didn’t last long and the couple divorced in 1953 when she met Dimitris Horn, with whom she also co-worked. Ellie and Dimitris together created some of the greatest moments of Greek cinematography and theatre. Together they played in famous plays like Quality Street in 1956, The Rainmaker in 1956 and Gigi in 1957.

At the same time, she starred in many Michael Cacoyannis films such as ‘Winfall in Athens’, ‘a girl in black’, and the most recognisable film ‘A Matter of Dignity’. Despite her successes in films, her personal life was very dramatic. Her sister Koula died from cancer, and another sister died in a car crash, and the most painful moment in Ellie’s life was her miscarriage in 1956 with her partner Dimitri Horn.

Dimitris Horn and Ellie Lambeti in ‘Kyriakatiko Xypnima.’

Her life began to more positive in 1959 when she met her second husband, Frederic Wakeman. They move together to a big house in Ampelokipous, and started to travel around the world. But the years together were also challenging for Ellie. Her desire to become a mother and inability to naturally have a child made her to adopt a little girl with Frederic Wakeman.

After four years of struggling with many lawyers to keep the girl, the courts decided that the girl needed to be returned to her biological family. This was one of the biggest reasons that after 16 years of marriage, she finally divorced from Wakeman.

Death and Legacy:

Throughout Ellie’s career of all the successes, one of her most incredible cinematography performances was the movie A Matter of Dignity, where she was selected as a nominee as the best foreign actress in the 1960 BAFTA Awards.

After fighting cancer for many years, she died at the age of 57 in 1983 in New York.

Ellie Lambetti was remembered by all as a beautiful and elegant woman, whose performances made her arguably one of the most recognisable Greek actresses in cinema.

Councillor, Sandy Grekas, on gender abuse and harassment in local government

The Greek Herald
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Councillor, Sandy Grekas, on gender abuse and harassment in local government

Female councillors have today spoken out about how the toxic workplace culture inside federal and NSW Parliaments is replicated at a local level and is a disincentive for women to enter local government.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, female councillors face a barrage of gendered abuse and harassment from their council colleagues, politicians and the public, including bullying, verbal abuse and intimidation.

One of these females is independent Georges River Councillor, Sandy Grekas. She told the SMH that with council elections due in September, she expects the verbal abuse and online harassment she has suffered to continue “and probably get worse.”

“When other women see the rubbish that I’ve gone through, it completely puts them off from running for council,” she told the media outlet.

Georges River Councillor, Sandy Grekas.

Fewer than one in three councillors in NSW are women compared to 43 percent in Victoria.

Researchers found gender abuse and harassment was rife in Victorian councils, with 23 percent of women councillors “very often” experiencing negative behaviour that affected them personally, compared to 3 percent of male colleagues.

More than one-quarter of local government workers experienced sexual harassment on the job, Victoria’s auditor-general found in 2020.

Cr Grekas told the SMH that some male councillors spoke aggressively to and over female councillors and staff, “and there’s no way in the world they would speak that way to men.”

A neighbour’s fence was graffitied with the words “F—in’ Snitch” after a meeting at which Cr Grekas called on two councillors facing corruption allegations to stand aside. A supporter’s car was also vandalised.

Cr Grekas said she had suffered verbal abuse in council meetings and a campaign of online abuse. “There’s been all sorts of nonsense published about me; that I’m a bully, that I’m an alcoholic,” she said.

In response, Local Government Minister, Shelley Hancock, said it was unacceptable for any woman to feel harassed, abused or bullied. She said the model code of conduct had been strengthened and any councillor found to have breached their obligations, which includes bullying or harassment, faced suspension or disqualification from civic office.

“I am appalled and horrified hearing accounts of abuse,” Ms Hancock said. “This type of behaviour has no place in any council or in society more broadly.”

Source: Sydney Morning Herald.

Unpublished letters by Maria Callas detail painful relationships with husband and Aristotle Onassis

The Greek Herald
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Unpublished letters by Maria Callas detail painful relationships with husband and Aristotle Onassis

According to new biography by Lyndsy Spence, which features never-before-seen letters by Maria Callas, the famous Greek soprano never knew real love offstage.

Her mother blackmailed her, her husband, Giovanni Battista Meneghini, stole from her, and shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis, was violent and abandoned her for Jackie Kennedy, the new research reveals.

Biographer, Ms Spence, told The Guardian that the letters relating to Onassis reveal the terrifying ordeal Callas suffered, especially when, in 1966, his physical violence threatened her life.

“I was given access to three enormous collections which were bequeathed to various archives in 2019 and, until now, have never been published. Among the papers were Callas’ letters revealing her innermost thoughts,” Ms Spence says to the media outlet.

Maria Callas with lover Aristotle Onassis in 1959. Photograph: Hulton Deutsch/Corbis/Getty Images.

“There is also disturbing information from the diary of one of her close friends detailing how Onassis drugged her, mostly for sexual reasons – today we would class that as date rape.”

Writing to her secretary, Callas confided: “I wouldn’t want him [Onassis] to phone me and start again torturing me.”

On the pain of her marriage to Meneghini, Callas despaired: “My husband is still pestering me after having robbed me of more than half my money by putting everything in his name since we were married… I was a fool… to trust him.” She described him as “a louse”, lamenting that he “passes for a millionaire when he hasn’t got a dime.”

The opera singer’s childhood:

Callas, who was born in New York to impoverished Greek immigrants in 1923, was one of opera’s most revered singers. Her performances of Tosca at Covent Garden have been described as among the greatest opera experiences of all time.

Maria was born in New York to impoverished Greek immigrants in 1923.

But the new revelations include the truth about Callas’ harrowing childhood in Europe.

“Callas resented her mother, who worked as a prostitute during the war, for trying to pimp her out to Nazi soldiers,” Ms Spence says.

Later, Callas’ mother sold stories to the press and blackmailed her to keep her mouth shut, writing to her daughter: “You know what cinema artists of humble origins do as soon as they become rich? In the first month they spend their first money to make a home for their parents and spoil them with luxuries… What have you got to say, Maria?”

Callas confided: “If she was a real mother to me a long while ago, I would [have] cherished her.”

Nor was her father better, with Ms Spence explaining to The Guardian: “He wrote her a letter, pretending he was dying in a pauper’s hospital in an attempt to get money from her. In fact, he had a minor ailment.”

Maria was one of opera’s most revered singers.

Callas wrote: “I am fed up with my parents’ egoism and indifference toward me… I want no more relationship. I hope the newspapers don’t catch on. Then I’ll really curse the moment I had any parents at all.”

Callas’ death:

Callas died in 1977 aged 53. The unpublished material also gives new insights into her health problems, which affected her performances in the 1960s, and her dependence on drugs. She lost her voice several times.

“I tracked down the neurologist who treated her before her death. Callas suffered from a neuromuscular disorder whose symptoms began in the 1950s, but she was dismissed by doctors as ‘crazy.’ It also explains the loss of her singing voice, which cut her career short,” Ms Spence says.

“The death of Callas is a harrowing tale. Alone in her Parisian apartment, she relied on her estranged sister, Jackie, and companion, Vasso Devetzi, to supply her with [a sedative]. Her life was full of tragedy, but I wanted to give her her voice.”

Source: The Guardian.

Sydney’s Greek, Armenian and Assyrian communities join forces to March for Justice

The Greek Herald
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Sydney’s Greek, Armenian and Assyrian communities join forces to March for Justice

Sydney’s Greek, Armenian and Assyrian communities are being encouraged to participate in the 2021 March for Justice, which will occur in Sydney’s CBD on Saturday, April 24, according to the Armenian National Committee of Australia.

The Joint Justice Initiative, which is represented by the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU), the Assyrian National Council of Australia and the Australian Hellenic Council, are calling on their respective communities to turn up to The Domain in Sydney to begin the March for Justice, which sends a clear message to Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, and his government that these communities demand Federal Government recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides.

This cooperative expression of demand is a graduation of the Joint Justice Initiative’s activities from the strictly political to the grassroots. Since the three communities’ advocacy arms formalised their cooperation with a launch in February 2020, over 40 Federal parliamentarians have signed up to the Joint Justice Initiative, pledging allegiance to national Australian recognition of the 1915 genocides.

READ MORE: Australia’s Greek community join initiative to recognise Turkish-committed genocide against the Greek, Armenian, and Assyrian citizens.

The annual March For Justice will begin at 3pm (AEST), and typically attracts thousands of marchers. This year’s procession will begin at The Domain and proceed through Sydney’s Central Business District before concluding with a special programme at Sydney Town Hall.

Led by the Homenetmen Scouts Marching band, the leading delegation will also include political representatives, clergy, community leaders, youth groups and school students from the Armenian Australian, Assyrian Australian and Greek Australian communities.

READ MORE: Australian MP John Alexander joins Armenian-Assyrian-Greek ‘Joint Justice Initiative’.

“Most Armenian Australians, as well as many Assyrian Australians and Greek Australians, are direct descendants of survivors of what we commemorate as the Armenian Genocide,” said ANC-AU Political Affairs Director, Michael Kolokossian.

“Many of us have been directly impacted by the the Turkish State’s genocidal policies, execution and denial in our own ways, and us Armenians saw this manifest again during the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh War.

READ MORE: Michael Sukkar MP pledges support to Armenian-Assyrian-Greek ‘Joint Justice Initiative’.

The Joint Justice Initiative’s march last year. Photo: Facebook.

“We are pleased to be standing in solidarity with our sisters and brothers from the Assyrian and Greek communities at this year’s March for Justice, and are determined to project our voices all the way to Canberra.”

Buses have been organised to be leaving from numerous locations across Sydney including Willoughby, Chatswood, Ryde, Bonnyrigg, Lidcombe and Wentworthville. Announcements detailing specifics will follow.

READ MORE: Australian Senator Larissa Waters joins Joint justice Initiative for recognition of Armenian, Greek and Assyrian genocides.

The March for Justice is also co-sponsored by the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee and organised by a group of the largest Armenian Australian organisations.

A similar group of organisations in Melbourne have announced a Melbourne March for Justice for the same day, April 24, 2021.

Source: Armenian National Committee of Australia.

Turkey and Libya recommit to contested maritime borders deal, angering Greece

The Greek Herald
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Turkey and Libya recommit to contested maritime borders deal, angering Greece

The head of Libya’s new interim government and Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Monday affirmed their commitment to a controversial 2019 maritime agreement that has angered Greece and Cyprus.

Speaking following a meeting in Ankara with Libyan Prime Minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, Erdogan pledged to support Libya’s unity, its reconstruction and its military. Turkey would also be sending 150,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses, as well as manage a pandemic hospital in Tripoli, to help the North African country battle its outbreak, Erdogan said.

Libya’s interim government, which took power last month, is meant to bring together a country that has been torn apart by civil war for nearly a decade. It is also aims to steer through a general election on December 24.

A handout photo made available by the Turkish President Press office shows, Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, (right) and Libya’s interim Prime Minister, Abdulhamid Dbeibeh, during a press conference after their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Ankara on Monday. Source: EPA.

Turkey has been closely involved in Libya, backing the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), based in the capital Tripoli that controlled the west, against the Libyan National Army (LNA), based in Benghazi that controlled the east. Turkey sent military supplies and fighters to Libya, helping to tilt the balance of power in favor of the Tripoli government.

Turkey also signed an agreement with the Tripoli-based government delineating the maritime boundaries between the two countries in the Mediterranean, triggering protests from Greece and Cyprus. Both countries denounced the agreement, saying it was a serious breach of international law that disregarded the rights of other eastern Mediterranean countries.

“The memorandum of understanding concerning the maritime jurisdiction in the Mediterranean that we signed with our neighbor Libya, has secured the interest and future of both countries,” Erdogan said.

Dbeibah, who has been trying to strike a balance between Turkey and Greece following Athens’ concerns over the maritime deal, also said the deal serves both Turkey and Libya’s national interests. He added however, that it was important to start a dialogue that would take into account all involved parties’ interests.

Previously, Dbeibah has said his government is willing to establish a joint Libyan-Greek committee to resume negotiations to set the sea boundary between the two countries and demarcate an exclusive economic zone for oil and gas drilling rights.

Dendias vows Greece ‘is back’ in Libya:

Meanwhile, Greece called for the accord to be cancelled, as it reopened its embassy in Libya after seven years on Monday.

Greek Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias, met Libya’s alternative Prime Minister, Hussein Atiya Abdul Hafeez Al-Qatrani, in Benghazi on Monday and noted that Libya’s parliament had not ratified the accord, which Greece considers has no legal force.

Greek Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias (left), met Libya’s alternative Prime Minister, Hussein Atiya Abdul Hafeez Al-Qatrani, in Benghazi on Monday. Source: ANA-MPA.

“Greece has always believed that the solution of Libya’s problems must come from the immediate departure of all foreign armed forces and foreign mercenaries from Libyan soil,” he stressed.

The minister also traveled to Benghazi to meet with representatives of the Greek community of the region.

“Greece is back to help as much as it can. With our people, with our identity as a European Union member, and we hope to maintain our friendship with Libya and help Libya move forward and become a prosperous and stable country,” he said to a gathering of Greeks in Benghazi.

Source: AP News / Ekathimerini.

Greece vows to abolish all voting restrictions for Greek diaspora

The Greek Herald
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Greece vows to abolish all voting restrictions for Greek diaspora

The Greek government will introduce an amendment abolishing all voting restrictions on the Greek diaspora, Interior Minister, Makis Voridis, said on Monday.

The issue was raised after Theodora Tzakir, a SYRIZA MP responsible for diaspora affairs, said in an interview with The National Herald that Greeks living abroad were being subject to “unfair and devaluing limitations” with regards to their right to vote in Greece’s national elections. She said the leftist party would remove these restrictions if it returned to power.

In his comments, Voridis said the amendment would be tabled before Parliament on Monday. 

Greece vows to abolish all voting restrictions for Greek diaspora.

READ MORE: Greek Minister of Interior: ‘The Greek diaspora is a pillar of preservation of our history.’

Government spokesperson, Aristotelia Peloni, confirmed that with the amendment, “for the first time, Greek voters outside the country have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote from their place of residence.”

She added that “what is proposed is to abolish the precondition of staying in Greece for two years during the last 35 years and the obligation to file a tax return during the current or previous year.”

READ MORE: Mitsotakis: The role of Greek diaspora in Australia crucial to Greece’s recovery.

Recently-passed legislation gives all Greek citizens living abroad the right to vote in the next national election if they can prove that they have lived continuously in Greece for two years in the last 35 years. This can be validated by presenting a variety of documentary evidence, which among others includes the national service certificate, proof of social security contributions and degrees from Greek universities.

Kathimerini also recently reported that the government is preparing an online registry for Greeks living abroad in a bid to strengthen diaspora ties with the homeland, as well as enhance public diplomacy and nation branding.

Source: Ekathimerini.

Eleni Glouftsis on kicking through boundaries to become the AFL’s first female field umpire

The Greek Herald
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Eleni Glouftsis on kicking through boundaries to become the AFL’s first female field umpire

Being the best at her job is the only thing that field umpire Eleni Glouftsis wants in her career, as the Greek Australian continues to break down gender barriers in Australian sport.

A week out before the ninth round of the 2017 AFL season, Glouftsis was told that she would be umpiring the match between Essendon and West Coast on May 21, 2017. On this day, she made AFL history as the first ever female field umpire.

“It was something that when I first started umpiring I never thought was possible or something I never necessarily aspired to when I first started,” Glouftsis said to The Greek Herald.

“I just loved football and being part of the game.”

Eleni Glouftsis. Photo: Wayne Ludbey/The Advertiser

Eleni had been umpiring at an SANFL and VFL level for up to ten years before she finally got her start in the national league. She began in 2008 with the North Eastern Metro Junior Football Association in Adelaide, before umpiring in the South Australian National Football League and becoming the first female to officiate as a field umpire in a SANFL match.

“I grew up next to a football ground and just loved playing the game in primary school and high school and kicking the footy with my dad and my brother,” Glouftsis said.

“An advertisement came up at my local school bulletin about umpiring and I thought, well, I’m a footy and I love keeping fit, I’ll give it a go.”

“Went out to umpire and just fell in love with it. And I was lucky enough to have supportive coaches and peers around me to help that journey make that a lot easier.”

Eleni Glouftsis. Photo: AFL Photos

With plenty of social media hype before her first AFL match as a field umpire, Glouftsis said she was grateful to not only her family but the AFL community for rallying behind her.

“It was a pretty crazy week when I try and reflect on it, but a really humbling experience where people were really supportive and reached out. So it gave me confidence going into that game that I had a role to do and I knew how to do it.”

The Greek Australian field umpire also made headlines in July 2019 after she got a heart-warming, ring-shaped surprise on the field following the round 19 match between Carlton and Adelaide.

Eleni Glouftsis got a heart-warming, ring-shaped surprise on the field. Photo: AFL.com

“That it was a really big surprise. We hadn’t ever umpired an AFL match together. Dillon had been umpiring in the AFL for quite a long time, but obviously I was quite new on the list and so to have our first game together to start with was a really exciting experience, and then to have it topped off with that was just really special,” Glouftsis said.

“It was really important to us in terms of football and umpiring, that’s how we met… it wasn’t really supposed to be as widely viewed as it was in the end, but we were really fortunate to have that experience and have that shared with our family and friends.”

Glouftsis was named South Australia’s Young Person of the Year in 2019 and awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2021 for her service to Australian rules football. A “humbling feeling”, she said this has helped her give back to the AFL community for everything they have done for her.

Glouftsis was named South Australia’s Young Person of the Year in 2019. Photo: Australia Day South Australia

“I’ve been able to help lots of young people see there are different pathways available to them that we probably haven’t seen before,” the AFL umpire added.

The Greek Australian makes sure AFL games stay calm and orderly, yet everyone knows that the school yard can be the biggest jungle of them all. While working as an umpire on the weekends, Glouftsis works as a high school PDHPE teacher.

“They love the football side of things. It’s a really great way to build relationships, to have conversations with students… it’s a really nice way to kind of have them get to know me as well and be able to share things with them that are relevant to them, but also exciting,” Glouftsis said.

Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney launch costume exhibition to mark Greek Revolution bicentenary

Andriana Simos
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Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney launch costume exhibition to mark Greek Revolution bicentenary

The Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney has officially launched its amazing costume exhibition at the Hermes Lounge in Kogarah to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution.

Over 200 people were in attendance and had the pleasure of admiring traditional Greek costumes from regions as widespread as Crete, Macedonia, Epirus and Kastellorizo.

(L-R) Wife of Australian PM, Jenny Morrison, Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Christos Karras, Trade commissioner of Greece in Australia, Katia Gkikiza, and His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia. Photo: Vasilis Vasilas.

These attendees included a number of dignitaries and prominent members of the Greek community, including His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Christos Karras, the wife of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Jenny Morrison, Trade Commissioner of Greece in Australia, Katia Gkikiza, the High Commissioner of Cyprus in Australia, Martha Mavrommatis, the President of the Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of Kogarah, Nick Varvaris, Parish priests, Father Kyriakos and Father Dimitris, and the President of the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney, Liana Vertzayias, among many others.

  • Archbishop Makarios. All photos by Vasilis Vasilas.
  • Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Christos Karras.
  • igh Commissioner of Cyprus in Australia, Martha Mavrommatis
  • President of the Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of Kogarah, Nick Varvaris.
  • President of the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney, Liana Vertzayias/
  • The National Metropolitan Choir.

READ MORE: Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney amaze Greek community with preview of costume exhibition.

Official proceedings kicked off with a blessing ceremony (Agiasmos) by Archbishop Makarios, and this was followed by the national anthems of Greece and Australia, as well as the Ode to Freedom, by the National Metropolitan Choir.

Speeches were then given by Archbishop Makarios, Mr Karras, Ms Mavrommatis, Mr Varvaris and Mrs Vertzayias, all drawing attention to the rich Greek history and culture surrounding them.

  • The Aristotelion Academy of Greek Traditional Dance. Photos by Vasilis Vasilas.

The launch concluded with traditional dances from Morias and Thrace by the Aristotelion Academy of Greek Traditional Dance, which brought a smile to the faces of everyone in attendance.

*All photos by Syndesmos Connecting People and Their Stories / Vasilis Vasilas.

Sydney’s Cretan community commemorates the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Crete

Andriana Simos
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Sydney’s Cretan community commemorates the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Crete

The words ‘MAXH’ shone brightly at the Croatian Club in Punchbowl on Saturday night as Sydney’s Cretan community gathered to commemorate exactly that – the Battle (MAXH) of Crete.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the battle and the Cretan Association of Sydney & NSW marked the significant occasion with a special dinner dance.

The dance was attended by about 400 people, including a number of guests of honour, dignitaries and representatives from Greek communities across New South Wales.

  • There were over 400 attendees at the commemoration.
  • Photos by The Greek Herald.

These included, but are not limited to, the President of the Cretan Association of Sydney & NSW, Terry Saviolakis, the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Christos Karras, the Very Reverend Father Christophoros Krikelis and the Archdeacon Athenagoras, the Chairman of the Joint Committee of the Commemoration of the Battle of Crete and the Greek Campaign, James Jordan, the Vice President of the Greek Returned Servicemen League of NSW, Peter Tsigounis, New Zealand RSL representative, Margaret McInroy, and Delphi Bank representatives, Nick Kalikajaros and Tom Christopoulos.

  • Greek community leaders at the event. Photos by The Greek Herald.
  • Ryan, Kelvin and Phillip Bourke with Terry Saviolakis.

Also in attendance on the night were Kelvin and Phillip Bourke who came to honour their late father Nick Bourke, a runner from the 22nd Battalion, who fought in the Battle of Crete.

Official proceedings began with a minutes silence for members of the Cretan Association who had passed away over the last few months, followed by the entrance of each guest of honour walking side-by-side with Greek dancers dressed in traditional Cretan costumes.

A number of prominent officials gave speeches. Photos: The Greek Herald.

Speeches then began, starting with Mr Saviolakis, Mr Karras, Mr Jordan, Mr Kalikajaros, who presented Mr Saviolakis with a commemorative award, and the Very Reverend Father Christophoros Krikelis. Messages from Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, and the NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, were also read out.

In his speech, the Consul General focused on the relationship between Greece and Australia and stressed how the Battle of Crete “was the culminating moment of the co-operation between two peoples.”

  • Awards were given throughout the night.
  • Photos by The Greek Herald.

“The Anzac contribution in Greece is a chapter of great importance to our two nations. Australia and Greece share a history of strength and dignity, a history of common values and struggles,” Mr Karras continued.

At the conclusion of the speeches, the Cretan band for the night, which included Sifi Tsourdalakis on the Lyra, Paddy Montgomery and Angelo Goutzios on the laouto, Tony Iliou on guitar and George Ganakas on the bass guitar, were presented with awards before they went on stage to entertain attendees for the remainder of the night.

A Cretan band performed on the night. Photo: The Greek Herald.

Their music was accompanied by Cretan dance performances from the Cretan Association’s youth, intermediate and senior dance groups, which brought a smile to the faces of everyone in the room.

The night ended with large groups of people, who had enjoyed a meal of delicious steak or chicken, jumping on to the dance floor and grooving to the music. One lucky attendee also walked away with an 18ct white gold diamond cross from Steven James Jewellers.

A great night enjoyed by all!

  • Cretan Association of Sydney and NSW’s dance groups.
  • Photos by The Greek Herald.

Greek flags sail across Burwood as council celebrates bicentenary of 1821 revolution

The Greek Herald
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Greek flags sail across Burwood as council celebrates bicentenary of 1821 revolution

Burwood Council took part in the month long celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the Greek revolution, held under the auspices of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Australia.

Dignitaries present at the event include Christos Karras, the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Martha Mavrommati, High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus, Jodi McKay, leader of NSW Opposition and Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism, Katia Gkikiza, trade commissioner of Greece in Australia, John Faker, Mayor of Burwood Council, Cr Heather Crichton and Cr Raj Dixit, Tommaso Briscese, General Manager of Burwood Council, Antoine Doueihi, Mayor of Strathfield, Rev. Fr George Liangas, as well as the Greek RSL sub-branch representing Peter Tsigounis.

  • Burwood as council celebrates bicentenary of 1821 revolution. Photo: The Greek Herald
  • Burwood as council celebrates bicentenary of 1821 revolution. Photo: The Greek Herald

The ceremony commenced with a parade of young school children and Greek dancers marching onto the large stage sat in Burwood park, which was decorated with hanging Greek and Australian flags. Following a Greek dance on the stage, the students joined Fr George Liangas and Mr Peter Tsigounis in the opening proceedings.

Master of Ceremonies Dimitrios Kametopoulos introduced Mayor John Faker as the first speaker to celebrate the historic occasion, who noted the unforgettable role St Nectarios Church has played in the Greek community of Burwood.

  • Burwood as council celebrates bicentenary of 1821 revolution. Photo: The Greek Herald
  • Burwood as council celebrates bicentenary of 1821 revolution. Photo: The Greek Herald

“I want to say a big thank you to the contribution you are making to our community for the last 30 to 40 years, some of you 50 years, and it’s really important that we continue to celebrate this diversity and your culture and importantly the faith,” Mayor Faker said.

Mr Christos Karras spoke about the role Greek Australians have played in shaping their new homeland, but also about the role the Greek diaspora and philhellenes played during the Greek revolution.

“The philhellenes and Greek diaspora struggled together to promote the Greek cause… and their work proved to be critical to the future of the revolution,” Mr Karras said.

  • Martha Mavromati. Photo: The Greek Herald
  • Jodi McKay MP. Photo: The Greek Herald

Martha Mavrommati spoke about the unforgettable role Cypriots played in the Greek revolution, and continue to play a role in honouring the heroes of the Greek revolution.

“Be proud of your heritage, be proud of your language and be proud of your religion, and don’t forget what the Greeks said when they were fighting during the revolution: It’s better to be free for one minute than to be for 40 years in imprisonment and enslavement,” the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus said.

Concluding the dignitaries speeches was Jodi McKay MP, who expressed her honour in participating in the month long celebrations of the Greek revolution bicentenary anniversary, especially in her representative seat of Strathfield.

  • Photo: The Greek Herald
  • Photo: The Greek Herald

“I also what to acknowledge the 50th anniversary of St Nectarios Church last year,” Ms McKay said, adding that the work of Rev. Fr George Liangas is greatly appreciated in the Burwood and Greek communities of Sydney.

Following the speeches was a choir and musical performance by members of the St Nectarios parish, as well as a poetry recital by the Greek school students.

Mr Chris Christogeorge gave his Greek national day address in the Greek language, speaking about the heroes of the Greek revolution.

“Greek general Theodoros Kolokotronis once said that ‘God is with us and he’s helping us. Because we fight with our faith for our country, for our elder parents, our children and ultimately for our Freedom. And when God helps, we can’t be defeated'”, Mr Christogeorge said.

Photo: The Greek Herald

The Nassibian dancers followed the powerful speech by Mr Christogeorge, who were directed by Christina Efthymiades. Mr Costa Vertzayias, author of ‘1821’, also spoke about the significance of the Greek revolution when looking upon all revolutions in Europe and the United States of America.

Another poetry recital followed, along with a speech from Mr Tony Diakopanagiotis, the Greek School sub-committee President.

The event concluded with another performance from the Nassibian dancers, along with a speech from Greek school principal Dimitrios Kametopoulos, and closing statement by Rev Fr George Liangas.

Photo: The Greek Herald
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