At Mount Rogers Primary School in Canberra, Simone Xirakis is redefining how students communicate-and connect. What might seem like a challenge, keeping a classroom of young children silent, becomes effortless when she asks them to turn their “voices off.” Her students respond with enthusiasm, switching to Auslan as their shared language, according to abc.net.au
Since the school replaced Mandarin with Australian Sign Language in 2024, Xirakis has been at the center of a shift toward inclusion, particularly for nine Deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Today, every child from preschool to Year 6 learns to sign, creating a more accessible and unified school environment.
“What we’re seeing in the playground is students signing with these Deaf students who have no other access to language and very excited to do so,” Ms Xirakis said.
As students progress faster than expected, Xirakis has had to continuously adapt her teaching. “We’ve gone from being able to sign new vocab only to actually being able to sign full sentences, have conversations,” Ms Xirakis said. “And we’ve seen an increase in the use of Auslan with staff and also with the wider community, [including] the parents.”
Her approach goes beyond language, incorporating Deaf culture, identity and history. “For all [our deaf students], it’s an increase in confidence with their signing, an increase in their Deaf pride,” Ms Xirakis said.
Xirakis has also seen Auslan empower students who struggle academically, giving them a new way to succeed. Through her work, the classroom-and the wider school community—is becoming more inclusive, expressive and connected.
A newly studied Greek inscription discovered inside the Great Mosque of Homs in Syria is offering fresh insight into the long-lost Temple of the Sun in ancient Emesa and its possible link to the Roman emperor Elagabalus, according to arkeonews.gr
The inscription was found in 2016 during restoration work, carved into the granite base of a column beneath the mosque’s floor. Measuring about one meter square, it features a 75-centimeter inscribed panel bordered by decorative elements. Although ongoing instability in Syria delayed research, the text has now been fully analyzed and published in the journal Shedet.
Homs, known in antiquity as Emesa, was an important Roman provincial capital and a center of solar worship associated with the deity Elagabalus. Scholars have long suspected that the mosque stands on the site of this ancient temple, but firm evidence had been lacking.
According to Professor Maamoun Saleh Abdulkarim, the inscription uses grand, symbolic language—comparing a ruler to wind, storm, and leopard—typical of Roman-era dedications. Its formal Greek lettering and style further support its historical significance.
This discovery may provide the strongest evidence yet that the mosque was built atop a major pagan sanctuary. Despite minor linguistic irregularities, the inscription likely dates to the Roman imperial period and was originally part of a monumental structure.
If confirmed, the find supports the idea of continuous religious use at the site, evolving from pagan temple to Christian church and later to Islamic mosque, reflecting a broader pattern of adaptation rather than destruction in the region.
Heraklion, Crete’s largest city, is confronting a growing water crisis as its main reserves approach exhaustion, with current supplies expected to last only a few months, according to local authorities.
According to ekathimerini.com, the Aposelemis dam-its primary water source, with a total capacity of 25 million cubic meters-is now close to depletion. Only about 800,000 cubic meters of usable water remain from 1.8 million cubic meters, and this must supply not only Iraklio but also Hersonissos and Agios Nikolaos.
“These reserves are enough for about three months,” said Georgios Varouxakis, head of the Municipal Water Supply and Sewerage Enterprise of Heraklion.
Mayor Alexis Kalokairinos noted that the municipality requested emergency status on December 10, but has yet to receive a response.
With the dam nearly dry, the city has turned to more than 60 boreholes, which now provide roughly 80% of its water. However, officials warn this solution is unsustainable for a population of around 200,000.
“We are talking about more than 60 boreholes. It is a heavy system that cannot serve as the main water supply source for a city of 200,000 residents,” Kalokairinos added.
To address the crisis, Varouxakis estimated that around €5 million is required to drill additional boreholes and bring desalination units into operation.
Leaders from Sydney’s business and Greek Australian communities gathered on Friday, March 27 at Business Sydney to welcome a visiting delegation of senior Members of the Hellenic Parliament, in a high-level luncheon reinforcing the growing relationship between Australia and Greece.
Hosted by Business Sydney in partnership with the Consulate General of Greece in Sydney and supported by Bank of Sydney, the event brought together key figures from industry, government and the diaspora for direct engagement with policymakers from Greece.
Business Sydney Executive Director Paul Nicolaou. All photos copyright The Greek Herald.
Business Sydney Executive Director Paul Nicolaou opened proceedings, welcoming guests and dignitaries to what he described as “a powerful reflection of the enduring friendship between Australia and Greece.”
The formal program included the singing of the Greek and Australian national anthems, followed by a blessing from Archimandrite Father Irenaeus Triantis, who conveyed the well wishes of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia and welcomed the parliamentary delegation.
Archimandrite Father Irenaeus Triantis gave a blessing.
Nicolaou emphasised the importance of diaspora-led engagement, noting the “extraordinary contributions” of the Greek Australian community across economic, social and cultural life, and the role such gatherings play in unlocking opportunities across key sectors including shipping, tourism, energy, technology and education.
Video message by Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
In his address, Mitsotakis emphasised the enduring role of the diaspora in preserving Hellenic identity and strengthening Greece’s global presence, while highlighting recent reforms to enable Greeks abroad to vote by mail in future national elections.
Bank of Sydney Acting CEO Keiran McKenna addressed the audience, highlighting the institution’s longstanding connection with the Greek Australian community.
“The welcome that my staff receive from the Greek community… is fantastic. Long may that continue,” he said.
Bank of Sydney Acting CEO Keiran McKenna.
Consul General of Greece in Sydney, George Skemperis, delivered an engaging address challenging misconceptions about Greece’s economic performance, noting strong fiscal progress, early debt repayments and the country’s return to investment grade status.
“This is a cross-partisan delegation that symbolises the unity of Greece,” Skemperis said.
Consul General of Greece in Sydney, George Skemperis.
The delegation included Maximos Charakopoulos (New Democracy), Filippos Fortomas (New Democracy), Stavros Michailidis (PASOK), and Konstantinos Barkas (SYRIZA), representing a broad cross-section of Greece’s political leadership.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the delegation, Charakopoulos conveyed the Prime Minister’s personal message of appreciation to the diaspora and his intention to visit Australia at the first opportunity.
“I am not here to call on you to invest in Greece by invoking economic patriotism,” Charakopoulos said.
“However, I am here to tell you that Greece is an anchor of stability in southeastern Europe in an unpredictable world, and truly, an investment in Greece at this time is win-win.”
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the delegation was Maximos Charakopoulos.
He highlighted Greece’s economic recovery and reform progress, noting higher growth rates than the European average, historically low unemployment and tax reforms designed to encourage reinvestment. He also pointed to Greece’s fiscal turnaround, including the early repayment of bailout-era obligations and its strengthened position within Europe’s economic framework.
The remaining members of the delegation echoed similar sentiments, emphasising the importance of strengthening economic ties between Greece and Australia, expanding investment opportunities and deepening business relationships between the two nations.
Filippos Fortomas (New Democracy).
Stavros Michailidis (PASOK).
Konstantinos Barkas (SYRIZA).
They also reflected on the strong sense of Hellenic identity within the Australian diaspora, sharing their experiences of the warm reception received in Sydney and the enduring presence of Greek culture and community spirit abroad.
The event was attended by a number of distinguished guests, including Trade Commissioner of Greece to Australia Christina Stefanidou, former Australian Ambassador to the United States Arthur Sinodinos AO, and Chairman of Bank of Sydney, Nikolas Hatzistergos, among others.
The event was attended by a number of distinguished guests.
Proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Angela Tomazos, who acknowledged the collective effort behind the event and the importance of unified national collaboration across the Greek Australian business community.
Representing the Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI) National Federation, Tomazos highlighted the organisation’s role as a coordinated national body connecting Greek Australian businesses and strengthening bilateral economic ties.
Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI) National Federation Chair Angela Tomazos.
She reaffirmed HACCI’s commitment to deepening engagement with Greece, pointing to its established partnerships with major chambers in Athens and Thessaloniki, as well as its role as a “single point of coordination” for the Greek Australian business community.
Echoing earlier remarks, Tomazos emphasised the importance of unity across states and sectors, noting that regardless of size, each part of the network contributes equally toward advancing shared economic goals.
“We stand ready to support the continued dialogue and the connections that we have,” she said.
The event concluded with the presentation of commemorative gifts to the visiting delegation.
The luncheon reinforced the central role of the Greek Australian community as a bridge between the two nations and highlighted renewed momentum in strengthening bilateral engagement across business, diplomacy and culture.
A groundbreaking exhibition exposing the long-concealed family traumas that inevitably affect, determine and shape lives took place Thursday, March 19 at Port Melbourne Library Arts Space and runs until March 29 during library hours.
The main speakers were the Deputy High Commissioner of Cyprus, Nicholas Varellas; the Mayor of Port Phillip, Alex Makin; PhD candidate in Byzantine Art History, Olympia Fanaras; and poet Andrea Demetriou. The MC for the evening was teacher, Greek Community board member and project manager for Hellenism of Anatolia, Simela Stamatopoulos.
The signature poems were translated with unparalleled sensitivity by Agape Pashos and were delivered sublimely by Olympia Fanaras, as well as renowned poets Petr Malapanis and Koraly Dimitriadis.
Andrea Demetriou speaking.Andrea Demetriou and Nicholas Varellas.
Admittedly, their readings were the highlight of the evening, capturing the essence of the poems and delivering them in a deeply moving and honest manner, while the audience struggled to hold back tears.
The well-hidden stories affecting family members are often taken to the grave — the pain, emotional grievance and injustice endured but never spoken. Emotional crimes are not punished, yet they can cause severe illness, sometimes even leading to death. The unspoken, concealed warfare within the family can destroy a person on every level, and it is this reality that the exhibition seeks to reveal.
Andrea says: “Don’t be afraid to confront those who systematically harm you, paraphrase history, defame your father or yourself — those who threaten and manipulate, no matter who they are. Families are not perfect and they are not always families. There is no use pretending. Diplomacy can be applied on a political level, but it doesn’t work in personal relationships.”
The Ancient Greek tragedians were the first to write about family drama. Andrea and Christella are no different to Orestis and Electra; they too seek justice for their father, who is also, tragically, named Agamemnon. They do so through their poetry, which acts as a hymn to the father and a strong condemnation of the mother.
“Even in death you are victorious,” writes Andrea to her father, while his other daughter, Christella, writes: “My father is not dead, my father is alive! He is a courageous, fearless man. He is worth more than the sky and the earth combined.”
People viewing the exhibition.
Since antiquity, Eros has been portrayed as the most powerful force of life. Christella’s sensual paintings and Andrea’s erotic poems and dream-like imagery counterbalance the dramatic family experience. They are the light against darkness — the light that can potentially heal bleeding wounds.
“Love is powerful, love is big — bigger than the sea, bigger than you think!” writes Christella.
It is easy for people to lose themselves in sorrow and despair; there is a fine line between survival and death. The exhibition’s message is that despite devastating pain, despite constant, asymmetrical, unethical and insidious warfare, life is brighter than the brightest stars. Life is magic, and darkness will not prevail over light.
When asked by Simela — whose ancient Greek name remains unaltered by time or migration — why she created the work, Andrea responded: “I did it because it is very healing. Christella asks her beloved father after his death, ‘Which doctor can heal you?’ I have to heal his pain and my sister’s inability to cope with his loss. It is quite liberating to condemn those who have harmed your loved ones and yourself — it is a form of closure.”
Among those who attended were well-known, award-winning poets Comninos Zervos and Sian Vate; academic, author and poet Dina Dounis; academic Anna Hatzinikolaou; cellist Rosemary Ingram; multi-talented actor Oliver Gorringe; Joe Caputo, former Mayor of Moreland; and long-time collaborators of Christella, including actor Ramesh Ayyar.
Many thanks were extended to the City of Port Phillip for their support, as well as photographer and videographer Arthur Paraskevopoulos, Eleni Elefterias, Achilles, and Symposiarch Artisan Wines.
The Feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos was celebrated at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of Our Lady in Sydney over two days. The celebrations were presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia who was joined by Hierarchs and a multitude of clergy of the local Church.
On Tuesday, March 24, the eve of the feast, His Eminence led the Great Feast Day Vespers, joined by His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim of Sevasteia, His Grace Bishop Athinagoras of Canberra, and Their Graces Assistant Bishops Iakovos of Miletoupolis, Christodoulos of Magnesia, and Christophoros of Kerasounta.
During the service, the Archbishop announced the appointment of Fr Panteleimon Toumbelekis, Parish Priest of the Church of Saint Gerasimos in Leichhardt, as the responsible priest for pastoral ministry within the New South Wales Police Force. His Eminence read the relevant prayer and offered words of encouragement to Fr Panteleimon for his new ministry.
A delegation of officers of the NSW Police Force was in attendance and was led by Superintendent Despa Fitzgerald, Commander of the Inner West Police Area Command. Reverend Fr Murray Woolnough, Anglican priest and Senior Chaplain in the NSW Police also attended the service.
On Wednesday, March 25, the day of the feast, a Festal Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was held under Archbishop Makarios, with the same Hierarchs participating. During the service, his official message for the Feast of the Annunciation and the Greek National Regeneration was read aloud.
The congregation included visiting Greek Members of Parliament who had travelled to Australia to take part in events commemorating the anniversary of the Greek Revolution. The delegation was led by Maximos Charakopoulos and included Filippos Fortomas, Stavros Michailidis, and Konstantinos Barkas. They were accompanied by Georgios Parisis from the Hellenic Parliament’s Directorate of International Affairs, while Athanasios Lambrou from the Greek Consulate General in Sydney was also present.
Archbishop Makarios warmly welcomed the delegation, expressing appreciation for their visit and highlighting the importance of maintaining strong ties between the Greek diaspora and Greece.
Before the conclusion of the service, a memorial was held for the late Archbishop Stylianos of Australia, marking seven years since his passing on the same feast day.
On Sunday, March 22, the Holy Diocese of Adelaide commemorated Greek National Day in South Australia with a Doxology service and a wreath laying ceremony.
The formalities began with the Hierarchical Matins, Divine Liturgy and Doxology service at the Greek Orthodox Archiepiscopal Church of Saint Sophia Adelaide (Wisdom of God). The service was presided by His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide.
This was followed by a memorial trisagion service at the National War Memorial in Adelaide’s CBD. The service was hosted by the Inter-Communities Council (ICC) of the Holy Diocese of Adelaide.
The memorial service was then followed by a wreath laying ceremony. The Consul-General of Greece in Adelaide, Dr. Alexandra Theodoropoulou led the wreath laying ceremony and delivered the festive speech of the day where she honoured the heroes of the Greek revolution and paid special tribute to the 200th anniversary of the exodus of Messolonghi. She also spoke of the art and culture this era inspired.
Dignitaries who also laid wreaths included Steve Georganas MP, Federal Member for Adelaide; Tom Koutsantonis MP, Treasurer of South Australia; Olivia Savvas MP; Michael Coxon, Mayor of West Torrens; representatives of all three branches of the Australian armed forces and SA Police; representatives of the Australian and Greek branches of the RSL and from many of Adelaide’s Greek cultural associations.
After the ceremony, the community celebrated the anniversary with traditional dance performances, music and food at Torrens Parade Ground. Many Greek Language School students from across Adelaide were in attendance, dressed in historical traditional attire. They sang traditional songs and performing poems and dances.
The Pan Macedonian Federation of SA President Konnie Agalianos attended alongside Nicole Genimahaliotis, President of the Vergina Greek Women’s Society.
In a Facebook post about the day, the Federation said the day acted as “a reminder that our culture is not only something we commemorate, but something we live.”
In a historic cultural event that marks the culmination of an extraordinary eight-year journey, world-renowned Greek vocalist Dimitris Basis returns to the stage with the students of the Newtown High School of the Performing Arts (NHSPA) for their fourth and final collaboration: “THE FINAL ENCORE.”
Organised under the auspices of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW), this strictly limited engagement will take place on April 29 and 30, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the NHSPA School Hall.
With the final show on Thursday, April 30 recently sold out, only limited seats remain for the performance on Wednesday, April 29.
Reflecting on nearly a decade of partnership, Basis shared a deeply personal sentiment regarding the students he has come to mentor.
“Performing with the students of the Newtown High School of the Performing Arts has been one of the greatest honours of my international career,” he said.
“Every time I return to Australia, I am moved by their passion and the way they embrace the ‘global language’ of Greek music. I have full confidence that this journey will not end here; it is my dream and my firm belief that these talented young artists will soon visit Greece to present their incredible artistic flair on our home soil.”
The partnership was sparked by NHSPA music teacher Emlyn Lewis-Jones, who followed Basis’ career for a decade after first seeing him perform on the island of Samos in 2008. In 2018, Basis visited the school and was so impressed by the orchestra and choir that he immediately committed to a joint project.
What followed was a series of landmark, sold-out collaborative concerts, culminating in the highly anticipated 2026 ‘The Final Encore’, the fourth and final chapter of this historic partnership.”
2019:Byzantium to Zorba – A debut that crossed cultural and age barriers.
2021:200 Years: A Celebration of Greek Music – Marking the bicentenary of the Greek War of Independence.
2026:The Final Encore – The definitive final chapter of this historic partnership.
“THE FINAL ENCORE” promises an evocative journey through the pillars of Greek identity. The program features a powerful selection of works including:
Fight for Freedom: Honouring the defenders of Messolonghi through the poetry of Dionysios Solomos and the music of Yannis Markopoulos, alongside the heroic folk anthem “Saranta Palikaria.”
Urban Life & Struggle: A tribute to the resilience of the human spirit with classics like “Cloudy Sunday” (Vassilis Tsitsanis) and “Roza.” (Dimitris Mitropanos)
Rebetika & Cinema: Exploring the “Greek Blues” of Markos Vamvakaris and cinematic masterpieces from films like Z and Never on Sunday.
Global Echoes: Featuring legendary covers by international icons, including Edith Piaf’s “Beautiful City” and The Beatles’ rendition of “The Honeymoon Song” by Mikis Theodorakis.
Beyond his collaboration with NHSPA,Basis is a pillar of contemporary Greek music whose career began with a Diploma in Byzantine Music at age 17. Discovered by Stamatis Kraounakis at 20, he rose to international fame following the 1997 success of Psithiri Kardias, which sold over 120,000 copies.
A defining milestone occurred in 2001 when legendary composer Mikis Theodorakis ended a 17-year studio hiatus specifically to record To Tragoudi Tou Nekrou Adelfou with Basis, cementing his status as a premier cultural vocalist.
Apart from Basis, this final production brings together an elite team of musical directors and performers:
George Doukas: An integral force in the Australian-Greek music scene, Doukas serves as the orchestrator for this tour, blending traditional Greek sounds with symphonic grandeur.
Emlyn Lewis-Jones: The NHSPA orchestra director and former ABC Sinfonia violinist whose vision started this collaboration.
Ynping Mak: A scholarship graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium and veteran of over 150 musical productions, leading the vocal and choral ensembles.
Themelis Samarkos: A bouzouki virtuoso who brings the authentic, soulful “colour” of 1930s Rebetiko to the modern stage.
Event Details
What: “THE FINAL ENCORE” Dimitris Basis & NHSPA
When: April 29th & 30th, 2026 | 7:00 PM
Where: Newtown High School of the Performing Arts Hall | 352 King St, Newtown, NSW 2042
The Sydney Morning Herald have ranked Sydney’s takeaway hot chips to find the best in the city and among the list of the Top 13 are five Greek-owned business.
The search for the best chips coincided with Good Food’s Chip Month and involved reporters testing the hot chips at every major national fast-food and takeaway brand, and also searching independent outlets in Sydney.
The final rankings considered overall taste, seasoning, texture (both inner and outer), temperature and appearance.
The well-known burger joint has been operating since 1957 and has been voted ‘Australia’s Favourite Burgers by I Love Food Awards’. Paul’s chips are yellow with chicken salt and spill out of a classic paper bag where all the best chips are found.
George’s has served south-east Sydney Greek-Australian takeaway food since 1970. Their small serving of hand-cut chips are anything but small and rival other store’s family pack size. Locals can’t help but come back to this second-generation store.
The Yeeros Shop’s Annandale store recently opened in 2024 and its thick-cut crunchy chips have made the list. The cosy store is reminiscent of a traditional Greek restaurant and features earthy toned walls and cobblestone-patterned flooring, blending simple Greek aesthetics with modern touches.
Wrapped in white butcher’s paper, the hot chips at My Father’s Yeeros are just crisp enough on the outside and soft on the inside. Owners John and Olympia Plangetis use the same legendary recipe Greek expat Stamatios (Steve) “Taki” Plangetis used during his 30+ year tenure at The Yeeros Shop in Marrickville. Passed down through generations, the hot chips tell the history of the family’s legacy.
1. Olympic Meats, Marrickville
Coming in first place is Marrickville’s Olympic Meats. The chips are perfected by Timothy Cassimatis. The spuds are grown by The Gourmet Potato in the Southern Highlands and are hand cut, double-fried in rendered tallow until deep golden. They are then tossed in salt and Nostimini, a secret blend of Mediterranean herbs and spices, fragrant with oregano.
The late Vivi Germanos-Koutsounadis has been posthumously recognised for her lifelong contribution to multiculturalism, named among the 2026 inductees into the NSW Multicultural Honour Roll at the Premier’s Harmony Dinner on Thursday, March 26.
Held before more than 1,600 guests, the flagship event celebrated individuals and organisations driving social cohesion and community harmony across New South Wales.
Ms Germanos-Koutsounadis leaves behind a profound legacy within both the Greek Australian and wider multicultural community. A founding figure of the Ethnic Childcare, Family and Community Services Cooperative (now Ethnic Community Services), she also played a pivotal role in establishing the Ethnic Child Development Unit.
In 2000, she became the first woman to serve as President of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW, breaking new ground in community leadership. Her decades of advocacy were recognised during her lifetime with the Human Rights Medal and the Medal of the Order of Australia. Her Honour Roll induction now cements her enduring impact.
The late Vivi Germanos-Koutsounadis.
She was one of five individuals inducted posthumously into the Honour Roll, alongside Father Chris Riley AM, Mr Ali Karnib, Mr George Bartolo OAM and Mr Syed Atiq ul Hassan.
The evening, hosted by Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper, also recognised 13 recipients through the 2026 Multicultural Community Medals.
Among the major awardees, Reverend Bill Crews AM received the Community Harmony Medal for his decades of service supporting vulnerable communities, including providing more than 200,000 free meals annually. Ken Habak OAM was honoured with the Lifetime Community Service Medal for 55 years of volunteer work, including founding an Arabic language school and leading multicultural organisations in the Illawarra.
Other recipients included Marta Barany BEM OAM, recognised for her lifelong work as an interpreter supporting refugees and shaping multicultural policy in NSW, and Khushee Gupta, who received the Best Report in Multicultural Media award for her podcast Don’t Talk Back, tackling taboo issues within the South Asian community.
Winners from the Premier’s Harmony Dinner 2026. Photo: Salty Dingo 2026.
Additional winners spanned a wide range of sectors: Gargi Ganguly (Regional Unity Medal), Leo Tanoi (Arts and Culture Medal), Monica Njoroge-Eaton (Community Languages Teacher Medal), CASS Care Ltd (Multicultural Health Medal), Chinese Australian Forum (Multicultural Not-for-Profit Medal), Adina Dawod (Multicultural Youth Support Medal), NRL’s In League In Harmony program (Sports Medal), Indian Link (Multicultural Publication of the Year), and CulturalPulse (Multicultural Marketing Campaign of the Year).
Minister Kamper said the awards recognise those who “quietly make an extraordinary difference,” highlighting the everyday efforts that strengthen the state’s multicultural fabric.
Multicultural NSW Acting CEO James Jegasothy added that the event brings together “proud custodians of their culture,” demonstrating how inclusion and community connection continue to shape modern Australia.
The evening also included a tribute to the 15 lives lost in the December Bondi attack, with one of the heroes of the tragedy, Ahmed Al Ahmed, honoured with a Community Hero Award for his bravery.
