Joanne Stogiannis will lead the new General Motors Specialty Vehicle (GMSV) branch in Australia and New Zealand following General Motors (GM) decision to shut down Holden in February.

Operating for almost 90 years in Australia, Holden enjoyed a plethora of success as one of Australia’s most trusted car brands.

In the coming fourth quarter of 2020, GM will begin partnering with Walkinshaw Automotive Group, the parent company to HSV.

The GMSV brand will be responsible for the Chevrolet Silverado to continue re-manufacturing the vehicles from left-to right-hand drive in Victoria. Also pegged for GMSV will be the Chevrolet Corvette which will reach Australia in late 2021.

Working at Holden for almost 17 years, Ms Stogiannis is “thrilled” to be leading a new automotive venture by GM in Australia.

“Sales of large U.S. pickups have been growing consistently and I believe the ongoing strength of that segment will provide a very solid basis for us to build a successful long-term business,” Ms Stogiannis said in a statement.

Ryan Walkinshaw, director of the Walkinshaw Automotive Group, said his business was pleased to continue its 33-year association with General Motors.

“We’re able to keep significant automotive employment in Victoria through this new business and continue to bring exciting product to market which is core to the Walkinshaw Group’s DNA,” he said.

“We’ve developed unique engineering expertise in producing OEM standard right-hand drive conversions at scale, and we look forward to working closely with GMSV in this new era.”

The 1st Yaralla Scout Group were overwhelmed after receiving a total of $8,900 in federal funds for an upgrade to their scout clubhouse and boatshed.

Member for Reid, Dr Fiona Martin MP, supported the Scout Group through a $7,700 Stronger Communities Programme grant to restore the community facilities situated in Rhodes.

“The Clubhouse, which is located on the gorgeous Paramatta River, is a great community asset. I’m glad it’s undergone the restorations it needed to be safe and functional for our Sea Scouts,” Dr Martin stated.

“The Sea Scouts have the opportunity to do activities like kayaking and sailing, while also learning leadership and teamwork skills that they will use throughout life,” Dr Martin said.

“Supporting volunteers from groups like the 1st Yaralla Sea Scouts means that the younger members of our community have opportunities to make connections, improve their social skills and build their self-esteem.”

Venturer Scout Leader Ms Wendy Berlecky said that the upgrade has taken place ahead of the Sea Scout’s centenary celebrations.

“Our Scout Group will be turning 100 next year, and it is always a challenge to keep the facilities up to date,” Ms Berlecky said.

“The Stronger Communities Grant has allowed the 1st Yaralla Sea Scouts to install an awning at the front of our hall, update the fire staircase and finalize the construction of a wall, all of which goes towards our number one goal of keeping our youth safe and giving them the opportunities to have fun and learn.”

A further $1,200 of funding was supplied through the Morrison Government’s Volunteer Grants for an IT upgrade.

“As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many community organisations like the 1st Yaralla Scout Group are depending on technology to deliver their programs,” Dr Martin said.

“By ensuring our volunteers have the tools they need, we can continue to keep our community connected.”

Ms Berlecky agreed that the grant will allow the Sea Scouts to carry on with their programs during the pandemic.

“Scouts Australia is transitioning to a new Youth Program that rejuvenates the way scouting has been delivered. The new program will maximise the digital era we live in,” Ms Berlecky stated.

“The IT upgrade will allow 1st Yaralla to purchase a new laptop to ensure all our youth and leaders have the means to stay in touch with the new program while also creating additional opportunities to communicate with international and national groups more easily.”

The 1st Yaralla Scout Group are one of the few groups to offer programs for youth of all ages, including sections from Joeys (5-8 year olds) to Rovers (18-26 year olds).

“Youth members are given the opportunity to learn and grow in a safe environment through an exciting and challenging program of activities,” Ms Berlecky stated.

Labelled one of the “most promising vaccine developments in the world” by Scott Morrison, a new deal will allow every Australian citizen and resident to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for free, assuming it clears clinical trials.

The Federal Government reached the agreement with UK-based drug company AstraZeneca, who will supply every Australian with a vaccine after it is proven to be safe and effective.

“This is one of the most promising and most advanced vaccine developments anywhere in the world and we have been working on this for some time,” Mr Morrison told Today this morning.

“There are about 160 different projects around the world and Professor Brendan Murphy is leading a team of experts to identify and work through the other promising options.”

The Oxford University vaccine has been considered a front runner in the global race for a vaccine, which include Australia’s own ‘COVAX’ vaccine. The vaccine developed by AstraZeneca has already entered its third phase of trials, where it is being tested on thousands of volunteers to confirm its effectiveness.

“There is no guarantee that this, or any other, vaccine will be successful, which is why we are continuing our discussions with many parties around the world while backing our own researches at the same time to find a vaccine,” Morrison said in a statement.

The government proposes to sign a letter of intent with AstraZeneca and enter a consumables contract with Becton Dickinson for the supply of needles and syringes. The total cost of the program is likely to be in the billions of dollars.

The UK has already reserved 100 million doses of the vaccine, and the Prime Minister hopes it could be rolled out in Australia by “early 2021.”

“If we can get it done earlier than that, then we will,” Morrison said.

The Greek Welfare Centre is offering delivery of free meals to individuals and families who are experiencing difficulties during Covid-19.

The community and welfare services arm of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, the Greek Welfare Centre continually offers free meals to those in need of supplies.

The organisation promised on their Facebook that meals are “freshly cooked, nutritionally balanced and provide a variety of meals and flavours.” The meal deliveries, the GWC says, are also an opportunity for individuals to engage in social interaction.

“The meal delivery enables social interaction as well as giving a strong message that as a community, we care for each other,” the GWC says.

For further information, including delivery locations and times for delivery, people can contact the GWC office on 95162188.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke with Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis this evening. It was the first opportunity for them to catch up since the pandemic outside of the first movers meetings.

The two leaders swapped notes on COVID-19 and their respective economic recovery processes. The Australian PM also says Mitsotakis was interested in Australia’s Greek community, especially in Melbourne with the outbreak.

The two world leaders also discussed their shared aid for for Beirut following the recent explosion.

“Our strong ties grow even stronger,” Mr Morrison said in a Tweet.

Mitsotakis and Morrison spoke with six other world leaders in May to discuss global COVID-19 strategies. Hosted by Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz via a video call, the Australian Chancellor dubbed it the “First Movers COVID Group”.

Read More: Scott Morrison joins Greek PM and other world leaders to discuss global COVID-19 response

Leaders of the countries discussed the most effective ways to “reopen our economies” and considered strategies to manage potential localised outbreaks.

“We swapped notes on the need to reopen our economies safely, including schools, how to manage localised outbreaks, the importance of rigorous tracing and testing, and keeping supply chains open,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in his Instagram post.

A man who lost his 92-year-old mother due to an outbreak at a Melbourne aged-care facility has been the first to take legal action with a top-tier personal injury law firm.

Sebastian Agnello will be the lead plaintiff in a class action being brought by Carbone Lawyers, which is representing about 30 families with relatives who have either died at the home or who were living there until recently.

Sebastian’s mother, Carmela Agnello, moved to Epping Gardens in September 2018. During her residence, she was exposed to a COVID-19 positive staff member. Carmela tragically lost her life on July 28 after suffering severe Covid symptoms.

Read More: Nursing home CEO expects ‘Golden Age’ to be over for Epping Gardens co-owners

The Epping Gardens aged-care facility has so far been responsible for 205 infections and multiple deaths.

Jack Karantzis, head of personal injury law and litigation for Carbone Lawyers, said: “We fight for the rights of the vulnerable who have been affected by mismanagement, greed and incompetence. Such conduct is abhorrent and unacceptable in a civilised society.”

Mr Agnello claimed in his writ that Epping Gardens had allowed staff and residents to not wear personal protective equipment even though aware there was a pandemic.

The aged care home had also allowed workers and residents to “move freely within Epping Gardens when there was a risk of spreading contamination and contracting a COVID-19 infection”.

John Karantzis said the families his company represented had suffered “stress and anxiety as a result of the actions of the management of Epping Gardens. This should not happen again,” Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Epping Gardens’ parent company, Heritage Care Pty Ltd, which has nine for-profit aged-care homes across Sydney and Melbourne, is directed and owned by multi-millionaire aged-care moguls Tony Antonopoulos and Peter Arvanitis.

Heritage Care chief executive Greg Reeve previously insisted that Epping Gardens had been “absolutely, categorically prepared” for the pandemic, with enough training and equipment.