OASIS has been brewing up business in Australia since 1969, helping fuel the country’s renowned love affair with coffee. Melbourne-made with freshly roasted, blended and pulverised beans for an authentic tasting Greek style coffee, OASIS has become a household name.
Directors and brother’s in law, Peter Patisteas and Chris Togias, have spent decades honing their craft, carefully curating and roasting the finest beans from around the globe.
One thing that’s always at the top of their agenda? Ensuring their coffee blend is perfectly pulverised and made sustainably.
“OASIS Greek style coffee is made by locally roasting and producing a signature blend of beans which is then pulverised with specialised equipment,” OASIS Director, Pete Patisteas, tells The Greek Herald.
“Where other brands merely use the term ‘pulverised’ as a marketing claim, OASIS achieve a texture that is much finer than the grinding, creating the unique flavour profile that OASIS is renowned for.”
OASIS also runs a closed loop manufacturing system, recycling bulk coffee bags to produce animal litter and upcycling the coffee husks into pellets, which are used by sustainability partners including wineries, zoos, oyster and free-range chicken farms.
“Coffee is synonymous with community. For us sustainability means finding ways to help create economic sustainability, whilst minimising our environmental impact and maximising our social impact,” Co-Director, Chris Togias, adds.
“We’re doing what we can to reduce carbon emissions, finding ways to reuse coffee waste, and using clever minds from inside and outside the industry to tackle supply chain challenges.”
Along with these sustainability commitments, the company also has a rich history of being a proudly Australian, family-owned brand. Something which Mr Patisteas says makes it easier to produce an authentic coffee blend which reminds those who taste it of a breezy, summer day in Greece.
“OASIS coffee was created to allow Australian customers the experience of enjoying the authentic taste of a fresh, rich and smooth Mediterranean style coffee in the comfort of their own home,” Mr Patisteas says.
“We love seeing our pulverised coffee being discovered by “foodies” who enjoy the experience of brewing a coffee with a briki, and a wave of second and third generations who continue to enjoy the Greek coffee culture.”
And as the Greek Australian community only continues to grow, it’s certain that OASIS Coffee will be filling up even more people’s brikis over the years with the perfect coffee blend.
OASIS is available at Woolworths, Coles, IGA, Drakes and your favourite Greek Deli!
NYL Coach for Western Sydney Wanderers, Arthur Diles is a special personality on and off the field. His ability to bring success to the club in the youth competitions, combined with his ability to find and create Australian football prodigies, makes him one of Australia’s best youth coaches.
The Greek Herald spoke with Arthur about his career in football and how he manages to make so many young footballers dreams become reality.
TGH: Can you talk a bit about your family?
Arthur Diles: I was born in Sydney in 1982, my father Steve is from Pylos and my mother Yvonne is from Kiato.
Arthur is married to Mardi and has two 8-year-old twin boys, Lucas and Giorgios.
TGH: How and when did you start playing football?
Arthur Diles: From where did the little man, who did not go to the stadium, see Sydney Olympic? The people, the voices and the applause had not fascinated me like all the kids of that time. So I went to the academies, starting from a young age, working to reach the big Sydney Olympic team. My two twin sons, Giorgios and Lucas, often come to the stadium to watch games.
TGH: After you started with Sydney Olympic, which other teams got a taste of your skills?
Arthur Diles: I transferred to Sydney United FC, then Parramatta Power SC. Later I travelled abroad in Belgium at YR KV Mechelen for about 2 years. I returned to Sydney Olympic for a year, then to England at Crawley Town FC and back to the favourite Sydney Olympic team.
TGH: Do you know how you got involved in coaching?
Arthur Diles: Going to different countries to play in teams, knowing and gaining knowledge from the experiences I had gained, I decided to become a coach and pass it on to the small players.
I created the Academy of AEK for two years as a manager and coach. Then I took over as coach of the U-14 side at the NSW Institute of Sport. I then went on to win the National Under-14 National Youth Championship at Coffs Harbor in 2013 as coach.
TGH: Apart from AEK, did you allow others players to come from Greece?
Arthur Diles: I brought Sotiris Kyrgiakos from Greece to play at Sydney Olympic, filling the stadium with fans, who was part of the National Team of Greece. This made all Greeks proud, who embraced everyone with love and enthusiasm.
TGH: Do you have relations with Spain?
Arthur Diles: With Spain, and especially Real Madrid, I watch coaching seminars and, at the same time, bring players from Australia to the Real Madrid academies for the promotion of talents.
TGH: After this, where did you go?
Arthur Diles: I had a suggestion from the Western Sydney Wanderers, where I am so far.
Arthur undertook the Under-18s initially by winning the championship. After becoming the Under-20s coach, winning the championship, he became the assistant coach of the Men’s first grade team. He is now the head coach of the Youth in the Western Sydney Wanderers and has been part of the club for about 5 years.
TGH: In the team you met some coaches who influenced you positively.
Arthur Diles: When I started, Tony Popovic was a great advisor and mentor as well as Josep Goipo and Marcus Baipel helped a lot.
TGH: So what is missing from Australian football?
Arthur Diles: What is missing are the opportunities that should be given to young players. The talent is there, they just want promotion and trust from every team.
Teams are built from the ground up, and slowly seeing the big team being fed by young players is the A and the Z for the future of the club.
The main characteristic of Arthur Diles was his simplicity and knowledge in what he stands for, coaching. The ability to transfer teachings to younger players makeArthur a great “Detector and Creator of talents.”
I would say with certainty that Athur Diles is “A Football Diamond” and here I would like to emphasise that “Diamonds are Forever.”
This interview was translated from Greek and was originally posted in Wednesday’s edition of The Greek Herald. To see more exclusives like this, make sure to read The Greek Herald newspaper or digital edition.
A man was arrested and taken to Riverstone Police Station over allegations he was involved in the stabbing death of Kevin Kourtis in Riverstone earlier this year.
The unnamed 21-year-old man was arrested in his home at St Clair at around 8am today, following further inquiries from police.
This is the fifth suspect to be charged with the Greek Australians murder. A 20-year-old man and three boys – two aged 17 and one aged 16 – were previously charged and remain before the courts.
Just after 12.30am on Sunday 24 May 2020, emergency services were called to a home on Langton Street, Riverstone, after reports a 39-year-old man had been fatally stabbed during a break-in.
Kevin Kourtis died from multiple stab wounds after five men allegedly stormed into his home in Riverstone just after midnight.
Two women, aged 34 and 43, were also at the Langton Street address when the alleged ambush occurred. The 34-year-old woman was also taken to hospital for treatment to minor injuries.
A crime scene was established by officers from Quakers Hill Police Area Command, which was examined by specialist officers from the Forensic Evidence and Technical Services Command.
Quakers Hill detectives, assisted by the Homicide Squad, commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the man’s murder.
He has been refused bail to appear at Blacktown Local Court later today (Wednesday 12 August 2020).
Celebrating International Youth Day, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios released a special letter emphasising his prioritisation on the next generation of Greek Australians.
Message from Archbishop Makarios of Australiaconcerning International Youth Day:
Today is dedicated to the youth; to the most active and creative building block of any society, to the most beautiful and fragrant blossom that adorns the garden of humanity.
It may seem trite but we must repeat it at every opportunity: Our young people are our hope for the future.
With this admission, comes a great responsibility for all of us: Firstly, to listen to our young people; to listen to their anxieties and to share their concerns. And then to try and meet their needs and, at the same time, to generously offer not only the material but primarily the spiritual provisions that will be useful for them to create a better world than the one they receive. In other words, we have a responsibility to give them their space in the present world. The space they need and the space that they deserve.
Personally, from the moment I arrived in Australia, I have prioritised to direct the focus and resources of our Holy Archdiocese to provide support and spiritual guidance to the young people of our community. Through a series of initiatives, we have tried as a local Church, with our local Bishops and priests, to reduce the distances and break down the barriers in order to bring the new generation closer to the way of Christ. We have tried to inspire the new generation but we also rely on the enthusiasm and joy of our youth.
So, on the occasion of this International Day, I feel the need to reaffirm my confidence in the youth and to pledge that their voice will always be heard in the Holy Archdiocese of Australia. Our Church will always have her arms open to embrace them with affection, to empower them, to give them the space they need, to give them a say and a role for the future. Above all, to give them Christ.
Victoria on Wednesday recorded recorded 410 new cases and 21 new deaths – marking the state’s deadliest ever day.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the deaths confirmed on Wednesday were: Two women and a man in their 70s, six women and five men in their 80s, five men and a woman in their 90s and a woman in her 100s. The Premier added that 16 out of those 21 deaths can be linked to aged care outbreaks.
Mr Andrews says 476 aged care residents have been transferred from residential aged care to hospital due to coronavirus outbreaks.
“There’s a very significant challenge there each and every day,” he said.
“Whilst we’ve seen some stability come to some centres, some facilities that were in crisis, everybody is working together, everybody is very much focused on trying to stay ahead of this in these settings and not have a situation where we see a repeat of some of the really difficult, really difficult, and tragic scenes.”
Photo: Herald Sun
Victoria’s virus toll has risen to 267 – with more than 100 deaths in the past week.
While today saw a devastating rate of deaths, Mr Andrews says there are positive signs in the data from the last week.
“We have seen, if you look at the average over the last seven days, we are seeing the line come down,” he said.
“Ultimately, tonight at midnight marks one week of the most significant elements of the stage 4. So work places. That’s what really drives down movement. And certainly movement that’s much more connected to the transmission of this virus.”
Victorian Treasurer slammed over hotel quarantine management
Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas was slammed by Liberal MP Richard Riordan in a parliamentary committee meeting after being asked about the state’s hotel quarantine system.
Premier Daniel Andrews recently came out to say that he did not believe Australian Defence Force support was offered to help run Victoria’s hotel quarantine scheme, a remark that was disputed by Australia’s Defence Minister.
Nationals MP Danny O’Brien asked the Premier why the Government engaged private security when it set up the quarantine hotels, rather than police or Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel.
“I don’t believe ADF support was on offer,” Mr Andrews told the hearing.
“It’s been provided in limited circumstances in New South Wales, not to provide security as such but to provide transportation from the airport to hotels.
“I think it is fundamentally incorrect to assert that there was hundreds of ADF staff on offer and somehow someone said no. That’s not, in my judgement, accurate.”
Defence Minister Linda Reynolds rejected Mr Andrews’ claim that ADF personnel weren’t offered, saying, “the ADF was consistently advised that its assistance was not required for any ‘public facing roles’ in Victoria,” she said in a statement.
In the Parliamentary committee meeting last night, Richard Riordan, deputy chair of the parliamentary committee, asked Mr Pallas whether he was aware, as a member of Victoria’s crisis cabinet, of problems in hotel quarantine.
Saying he wouldn’t comment about the situation, due to an upcoming inquiry into the program, the Liberal MP proceeded to cut off the Treasurer mid-sentence.
“It was a yes or no, I don’t need to hear the whole ‘there’s a judicial inquiry’. Victorians have heard that for three weeks,” Mr Riordan said.
Mr Pallas proceeded to state that more than 100,000 pages of documents have been sent to the hotel quarantine inquiry. Yet, Mr Riordan wouldn’t take the answer, cutting him off again.
“OK Treasurer, I don’t need a lesson on inquiries,” he said.
The chance to play one of the greatest modern Greek sports stars in an upcoming Disney movie, with no experience? Sign me up!
Disney has begun its casting call for a new movie titled ‘Greek Freak’, focusing on the life of Giannis and his brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo.
“This story recounts their rise, with the help of their family, from undocumented Nigerian immigrants, living in Greece to basketball superstars in America,” it said on the casting website.
It is so far unclear if the film will also feature Alex and Kostas, the other two Antetokoumpo brothers. All four brothers are currently continuing to rise and become NBA superstars, with Giannis already proved to be one of the greatest NBA players in recent years.
Giannis recently shared on Instagram an interview filmed in 2013, presenting what were the Greek international’s career goals for the future.
The video shows the ‘The Players Tribune’ interviewer asking Giannis about goals for his future career, with the humble Greek-Nigerian wishing only, “To be an NBA player”.
Seven years later, ‘The Greek Freak’ is now the reigning NBA MVP. In the 2016/17 season, less than five years after the interview was filmed, Giannis became the first player in NBA history to finish a regular season in the top 20 in all five statistics of total points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.
The casting website says they are looking for young actors to play two versions of Giannis. The first is a 13-15 years old who will play Giannis in his early teens. The second is a slightly older Giannis, depicting The Greek Freaks rise to stardom.
No acting experience is required for the role, according to Disney. To learn more about the role, click on this link.
Mr Bravos pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual intercourse without consent and has been on trial in the Darwin Supreme Court since July 27.
The charges relate to alleged events after a boozy emergency services ball in November 2004.
In his closing address to the jury, Crown prosecutor Nick Papas urged them to convict Mr Bravos on the two charges and accept the evidence of the complainant, The ABC reports.
“If you accept [the complainant’s] account, you can be satisfied she wasn’t consenting to sexual intercourse,” he said.
“If you accept her evidence, you’ll be able to draw a clear inference that he knew she wasn’t consenting, that she made it clear she didn’t want to have sex.”
The court was closed early in the trial while the complainant’s pre-recorded evidence was played to the jury, but parts of her evidence were read to the court during closing addresses.
“She says she wanted to call a taxi when she realised the wife and kids weren’t there,” Mr Papas said.
“She says that when they were in the pool, she refused the suggestion to go swimming naked, she says she stopped him from trying to kiss her.”
Peter Bravos, 53, is facing two charges of sexual intercourse without consent relating to alleged events in 2004.(ABC News)
It is now 16 years since the alleged event, and Mr Papas told the jury “the passage of time” could impact people’s memories, as he pointed out several inconsistencies in the evidence presented over the past two weeks.
“I say you’d probably be surprised if after all these years, and bearing in mind it was a boozy night, people did have the same memory,” he said.
“You might doubt evidence that fits in exactly if people are recounting an event that occurred in 2004 after a night in drink.”
About 30 witnesses were called to give evidence throughout the trial.
Mr Bravos did not take the stand himself, but a 2016 interview he gave during an internal inquiry into the allegations was played to the court.
The court heard he did not dispute the fact he had sex with the complainant, but maintained it was “most definitely” consensual.
In his closing address, defence barrister John Lawrence brought up earlier evidence from a witness who said she and the alleged victim discussed the size of Mr Bravos’s “member”.
“That would make you think, I guess, that’s not the kind of thing women would talk about if it were rape,” he told the jury.
Peter Bravos resigned from the NT Police and applied for Greek citizenship prior to his trial in August last year. At a bail review in the Northern Territory Supreme Court at the same time, Crown Prosecutor Tamara Grealy said Peter Bravos was a flight risk after quitting his job with NT Police in June and should surrender his passport.
“Now that he’s no longer employed, it’s a significant tie to the Northern Territory that is no longer there,” Ms Grealy said.
“He’s got connections to outside of Australia.”
The jury is expected to begin deliberations tomorrow.
Greece will request an emergency meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers over Turkey’s decision to dispatch a seismic research vessel in an area in the eastern Mediterranean, the prime minister’s office said on Tuesday.
The two NATO allies hold fundamentally different views on where their continental shelves begin and end.
Tensions escalated on Monday after Turkey’s navy issued an advisory known as a Navtex saying that the Oruc Reis vessel would operate in an area of sea south of Turkey’s Antalya and west of Cyprus between Aug. 10-23. Seismic surveys are part of preparatory work for potential hydrocarbon exploration.
Greece’s Foreign Affairs Ministry urged Turkey to “immediately cease its illegal activities which undermine peace and security in the region”. Turkey has dismissed the Greek objections, saying they had no legal basis, and vowed to continue operations.
In this taken Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, Turkey’s research vessel, Oruc Reis, center, is surrounded by Turkish navy vessels as it was heading in the west of Antalya on the Mediterranean, Turkey.
The latest advisory came after Egypt and Greece signed an accord last Thursday designating an exclusive economic zone between the two nations in the east Mediterranean, increasing friction with Turkey over the area.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias on Tuesday and called for the emergency meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers.
An EU spokesman said consultations among member states would take place before a decision on the request is made. EU foreign ministers are scheduled to meet in Berlin on Aug. 27-28.
“We agree that the situation in the eastern Mediterranean is extremely worrying and needs to be solved in a dialogue, not in a series and sequence of steps that are increasing the escalation and the tensions,” said European Commission spokesman Peter Stano.
“The EU stands in full solidarity with Cyprus and Greece.”
A similar Turkish advisory was issued last month prompting another dispute that was calmed after the intervention of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, leading Turkey to agree to a pause in operations.
Parties, beach and now, coronavirus. Mykonos, one of Greece’s biggest party islands, is feared to be the new epicentre of a Greek coronavirus spike.
The island saw a slow rising spike last week after a popular beach bar, Alemagou, was shut down by Greek authorities last Thursday. It was confirmed that seven staff members tested positive for the virus, with infection fears for guests of the beach bar.
More than 80 people have been told to isolate in their residences regardless of their test results, according to local media.
Psarrou beach, Mykonos, July 2019. Photo: Peter Oglos/The Greek Herald
This COVID-19 outbreak isn’t the first for the popular beach bar, however, with the bar also closing for 60 days back in June after owners were caught disobeying safety regulations.
Rave parties and large gatherings are feared to be potential breeding grounds for the virus, with almost no social distancing taking place on the party island.
The mayor of Mykonos, Konstantinos Koukas had requested the health teams visited the island amid mounting concern over safety violations at bars and nightclubs.
“The protection of public health is not only a duty but is the necessary precondition for maintaining the good image of the country and of the island internationally,” said Mr Koukas.
Last week the country’s Civil Protection Minister ordered increased inspections of bars and nightclubs after a party at a private villa drew more than 200 people. Police say the crackdown will intensify ahead of the peak summer season.
Locals and tourists have recently been subject to spot tests by officials from the country’s public health organisation.
“Eight women lose their lives to breast cancer every day in Australia and the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s (NBCF) mission, which is to eliminate breast cancer deaths, is very bold and ambitious but one that I believe is worth investing in,” Professor Helen Zorbas, who is Chair at the NBCF, tells The Greek Herald exclusively.
Professor Zorbas’ passion for breast cancer research should come as no surprise. For over 45 years she has been dedicated to this specialist area, having been a breast physician in the public and private health sector and later, CEO of Cancer Australia for nine years. Now, as Chair at the NBCF, she is leading Australia’s key national body funding world-class and game-changing research into breast cancer prevention and treatment.
But with such an extensive repertoire, it’s interesting to hear that Professor Zorbas wasn’t even sure what she wanted to be when she was young. In fact, she says it was the advice of a ‘wonderful, wise uncle’ of hers which inspired her.
Professor Helen Zorbas (left) has always been passionate about breast cancer awareness. She is photographed here with former Australian PM, Julia Gillard.
“No one ever suggested that I should go into medicine until I was in Year 11, going into Year 12, and my Headmistress… asked me what I was going to do and I said, ‘I really love science and I love people and I’m not quite sure how to bring that together.’ And she said, ‘go away and think about that some more’,” Professor Zorbas tells The Greek Herald.
“I have a very wonderful, wise uncle and I spoke to him about not knowing where I wanted to land with this and he said, ‘Have you thought about being a doctor?’ and it actually hadn’t occurred to me. Perhaps I thought it was beyond me. I don’t know. But once he put it in my head… it sort of grew a seed inside of me and that was it. I’ve never looked back.”
The female GP making waves:
And it would’ve been so easy for Professor Zorbas to change her mind. Studying to become a General Practitioner (GP), and later a specialist breast physician, was no easy task. It involved hard work, dedication and years of studying medicine at the University of Sydney. Add to that the fact that Professor Zorbas was also raising three young children at the time.
But even with all these extra responsibilities, Professor Zorbas says she loved the challenge as she was able to foster her passion for women’s health in a clinical environment dominated by male GP’s at the time.
“I worked in General Practice for about 14 years… and a number of female patients were attracted to coming to see me in a clinic or a General Practice which in those days, was dominated by male GP’s. It was a natural transition that they would feel more comfortable seeing a female GP at the time,” Professor Zorbas says.
“And so that developed in me a particular interest in women’s health and led me to further study in breast cancer and I became a breast physician, working in both the private and public settings in breast disease and in cancer diagnosis, treatment and follow up.”
Professor Zorbas was the CEO of Cancer Australia for nine years. Photo: Office of the Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Making a name for oneself in a health field dominated by males would be difficult for anyone. But Professor Zorbas says it was achievable back then and it’s possible to do the same today. When we asked how, she humbly acknowledged that while she doesn’t consider herself a role model, she did have some words of advice for young doctors.
“It doesn’t stop with just getting your degree. There’s lots of hard yards after that as well. But if you’re passionate about what you do, then you don’t begrudge it so much. You really do it with your heart and soul,” Professor Zorbas explains.
“And don’t be too rigid about where you’re going to end up. Be open to new doors and new challenges when they appear on your path.”
‘I have a deep pride in my Greek heritage’:
Professor Zorbas herself had a new door open for her in 2015 when she became a Board of Director at The Hellenic Initiative Australia (THI Australia). Some may think this role is a bit ‘left-of-field’ for someone with such a strong background in medicine and health. But on closer inspection, it’s clear Professor Zorbas was made for this role.
She is a first generation Greek Australian born in Sydney, with both parents ‘from the beautiful island of Crete.’ She says she was brought up to maintain Greek traditions and customs at home and as a result, she developed a deep pride in her Greek heritage.
Something which has only been fostered further through THI Australia, which partners with eight innovative NGO’s in Greece to deliver programs that provide immediate relief and hope for the future.
Professor Zorbas, Niki Zolota, Pedtrauma Program Manager, and Kastoria Hospital Medical Service Director, Dr Christos Lazarou, at the opening of the Kastoria Paediatric Trauma Clinic, one of five hospitals THI Australia supports.
“We upheld Greek traditions and customs at home and we spoke Greek to my parents, even though they spoke English, and it was important to keep up that Greek heritage if you like,” Professor Zorbas says.
“Ever since, I have had a deepfelt pride in my Greek heritage and a strong emotional tie to the homeland, while also being very proud to be Australian. So being on the Board of THI Australia has been very important to me because I feel it’s an obligation to give back to our homeland.”
One way that Professor Zorbas has been able to give back is through THI Australia’s new collaboration with Doctors of the World Greece (MdM Greece), which will provide access to public health services for more than 2,800 disadvantaged and vulnerable people in Athens.
“I’m really thrilled that just in the very first month of this 12-month project, MdM Greece provided medical care to over 460 patients and that included consultations, emergency pharmaceuticals, specialist referrals and medical follow-ups,” she says.
“At the end of the day, it’s really about looking at the immediate needs of people in vulnerable communities, but also building capacity for the future and building hope.”
Important goals which we’re sure Professor Zorbas will continue to champion as she remains dedicated to breast cancer research and more broadly, philanthropic initiatives inspired by her Greek heritage.
