The European emergency phone number 112 will be fully operational in Greece by the end of 2019, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, the minister of digital governance, pledged on Thursday.
The introduction of the 112 service has been repeatedly delayed in Greece, and “systemic failings” were identified in the aftermath of the summer 2018 wildfire in Mati, a seaside resort near Athens, which claimed 102 lives.
Authorities believe that Greece, as one of the world’s most popular tourism destinations, also needs to introduce all necessary measures to ensure the safety of travellers.
“Citizens’ security, safeguarding their property and environmental protection is a matter of life and death for all of us involved in the General Secretariat for Civil Protection,” said Nikos Hardalias, general secretary of Civil Protection.
“In a very complex environment and having to deal with a global crisis such as the climate crisis, we have undertaken a very difficult task: to make the citizens of this country feel safe again,” he said.
The system, he said, “will be able to inform citizens in highly targeted and specific areas if necessary. It can isolate the most remote and small areas across the territory and inform a specific number of citizens who face an extreme threat.”
“The system will be ready at the end of the year,” Pierrakakis said, adding that the Greek authorities have resolved important problems with the system, such as including the required software in all smartphone brands.
The line will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and will allow the immediate location of the caller.
According to a Eurobarometer survey, six to eight percent of Greeks do not even know that the 112 emergency number exists, let alone how to use it.
Mark Wilman grew up in London’s Notting Hill area in the UK, to British parents with a Caribbean background. Starting from his childhood and spanning throughout his entire life, he found himself being constantly drawn back to Greece, particularly the Cyclades.
This commenced the journey that would see him dedicate his life’s work to photography projects in Greece. His most recent project being ‘Discovering the Beauty of the Cyclades‘, had a solo exhibition in Milan this year. The exhibition gained international recognition across Italy, Greece, Israel and more.
Mark discusses with us his intimate and authentic experiences in Greece that inspired him to share the beauty of the Cyclades, which he hopes “can help others look for and find a greater sense balance and peace” by immersing themselves in pure nature.
1. Why did you choose to focus your work on the Cyclades/Greece?
My first visit to the Cyclades was at the age of ten in 1974, with my parents and three younger sisters. A classmate in London was Greek and our parents became good friends. Also, a member of the British Sub Aqua Club, where my father was a director, was from Greece and they dived a lot together. Suddenly, we’d mostly be in the company of Hellenic people: Christenings at Saint Sophia Cathedral, the Greek Orthodox church in Moscow Road in the Bayswater area, parties and other social events. The Greek language became a familiar sound in our house. It was a special time for the family; my mother is from the Caribbean and she loved the festive atmosphere and exceptional flavours of the food we were all enjoying. At home, we’d eat Greek meals three times a week once the delicatessen near Saint Sophia was discovered.
Having experienced the beauty of the Cyclades that first year, we returned more times in the 1970s. Personally, I was amazed by the ever present blue sky, not a cloud in sight day after day, a miracle. I also loved the small, white hilltop houses, feta cheese, wild oregano and donkeys in the small streets whose owners wore shoes made from tyres.
As a young adult in the mid 80s, I visited again exploring the rugged landscapes and free-diving to the depths, as I’d learned to do in the Sub Aqua Club pool and with my father’s guidance in the Aegean a decade earlier.
I bought an inflatable boat and would travel with it from Milan, where I worked as a university lecturer and consultant particularly in the sectors of advertising, banking, fashion and law. The boat helped me discover the islands more completely above and below water, my profession permitted lengthy periods of holiday.
Each adventure had a story: battling 3 metre waves caused by ferocious Meltemi winds at dusk on return from far off free-diving explorations; the huge tuna that swam circles around me while groupers gazed up in amazement from their cave entrances far below; following steep goat paths for several kilometres to reach a historical mountain monastery where a yearly festival takes place. With the advent of digital cameras, describing these experiences to friends became more visual and interesting especially for those who’d never been to the islands, or even Greece.
I had the basic material in ideas to move forward with and actually create a project, though until the arrival of the woman who plays the role of the female in the work, I didn’t yet feel the impulse to start, the key was missing.
If the photos of undisturbed beauty in the Cyclades can help others look for and find a greater sense balance, peace, the desire to explore enhanced by exercise, and benefit from being more immersed in nature, I’d be most pleased.
2. How did Professor Angelos Delivorias influence your work?
I met the late Professor Angelos Delivorias, a prominent archeologist and director of the Benaki Museum in Athens for over forty years, in the late 1990s, the same year and in the same Cycladic Bay (one which Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis also chose for his holidays), where I met a former U.S. President and future Secretary of State, were vacationing on a ship.
Meeting these men had a lasting impact on my approach to the project. Other than developing a sense of guidance and instinct regarding the islands’ historical past…it reinforced the idea that I could be heard at the top and taken seriously, encouraging the proposal of the work about the Cyclades, now in its sixth year, to art and cultural bodies of the highest level.
The Professor and I talked many times over two decades. For such a busy person, I appreciated the time he’d dedicate to my descriptions and impressions and his always useful answers…This new understanding furthered my desire to trek to more complex areas and dive deeper, my eye now recognising better what was on display in this immense natural museum. The rule of not touching what lay in its resting place I fully respected.
‘The Lost Lady of Sikinos, Neiko’
In July 2018, archeologists uncovered a tomb hidden under the church of Episkopi in a remote part of Sikinos. On its exterior was engraved the name Νεικω. It was dated back to the 3rd century A.D.
Two years earlier, I’d photographed the female figure in the project dressed in a classical white costume at the church…A long time after, reading about the discovery of the tomb felt wonderfully familiar; we’d anticipated an important historical discovery, a strange sensation on reflection. The title of that gallery, till then unpublished, became ‘Lost Lady of Sikinos, Neiko’.
The director of the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades found the photos very interesting.
3. Was there a purpose behind showing off Greece in Milan? How did the people of Milan react?
I began the project in June 2014, building a website some months later. The following year, metre long panoramic views were printed for a number of small exhibitions in various locations of a particular island. It was an opportunity to see if there was an artistic future; when I was five my teachers told my parents I was particularly arty, but only on that occasion!
In 2016, at the largest showing of the work, a retired couple from Milan, who were genuinely impressed by the display, insisted I should write to the Municipality and suggest the work for exhibition. This I did. Quite unexpectedly, a reply showing interest arrived soon after from the department of culture…The idea was presented to a specific committee who agreed on a public exhibition of the work, as a solo event, at the Aquarium close to the castle in the city centre.
Italians love Greece, particularly the Cyclades, so there was reason to believe the exhibition would be successful. With the dates confirmed several months before – May 9th to June 5th 2019 – preparation began in mid-winter. Finding a sponsor for the inauguration seemed a monumental task, until it wasn’t. The owner of a top Greek restaurant in Milan, Mykonos Taverna Greca, agreed to offer a buffet, which was thoroughly enjoyed by the many guests at the opening event.
People in Greece contacted me wanting to know specifics, while visitors to the exhibition wrote with enthusiasm.
Golden Sunset, Ios. Image via Mark Wilman
4. What impact do you hope to achieve from your work? Particularly for Greece.
On my 50th birthday, a question came to mind: ‘What would I do if I were free to do anything, simply anything, without restrictions?‘
The answer that quickly spoke itself was, ‘photograph the Cyclades, no doubts.’
I’ve now done it, expressed what it was I’ve wanted to say and feel good about it. When, at times, I’ve contemplated letting go due to a lack of interest from outside, something has come along, lifted me up and encouraged its continuation, e.g. an art museum requesting a detailed presentation, or a cultural office interested to talk telephonically and later presenting the work to a superior board.
An ambassador said to me in a mail recently that the texts in the project are as valid as the photography, which was pleasantly surprising. It was never about taking pretty pictures to impress others with. Being there, loving life because those places were available to me in those moments is and was the point, sharing my impressions in the form of individual images each telling its own story has been my joy. If the photos of undisturbed beauty in the Cyclades can help others look for and find a greater sense balance, peace, the desire to explore enhanced by exercise, and benefit from being more immersed in nature, I’d be most pleased.
I was a teacher for many years and cared about the wellbeing of all my students, searching for ways to assist them in overcoming obstacles, obstacles in learning and those in their personal lives if necessary. I’d like to believe humankind can feel better about itself, do better, make better choices. Perhaps my photographic work and experiences can be inspiring in this sense.
The project has been proposed to UNESCO with the objective of helping conserve the archipelago for future generations. We should think about them more.
5. Is this a growing/continuing project? Do you have other plans for more work in Greece?
ANEK Lines, the historical Greek passenger and cargo shipping company, is a sponsor of further research of the project. Their trust is something I value decidedly. I hope other sponsors will follow.
At present, the islands included are: Anafi, Santorini (volcano and caldera), Ios, Sikinos, Folegandros, Poliegos, Kimolos, Milos, Sifnos, Serifos and Kythnos, each with its own intriguing personality. Exploration has been intense, done mostly on-foot covering great distances for many days at a time. I’ve enjoyed it a lot. 2020 could see a return to Amorgos, the Small Cyclades and Naxos.
I’ve also travelled extensively in other areas such as Crete, the Dodecanese, the Northeastern Aegean, the Sporades and Ionian islands as well as the Peloponnese. All of these would be potentially interesting subjects for future projects.
The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) hosted a fundraising tribute dinner for Senator Arthur Sinodinos AO, Monday the 28th of October – ‘Oxi Day’. The event was hosted at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, ahead of the Senator’s move to the US to embark on his role as Australia’s next ambassador to the US.
Host, George Donikian curated a series of questions for the Senator that gave guests an insight into his young life, political highlights and experiences.
The GCM President Bill Papastergiadis introduced the evening by noting the complexity of the Senator’s life:
“…with many people like Arthur Sinodinos, his life resembles an iceberg, the tip is his public profile- the things you read about on Wikipedia but beneath the water is where the real depth is and it’s the hours and hours devoted to public life, committees and community groups that’s where we change people’s lives”.
The Senator then took questions from the invited guests for over 45 minutes. Topics ranged from Australian politics, to his role as Chief of Staff for then Prime Minister Howard and the Australian/US relationship.
When asked to comment on his involvement of the Greek Community of Melbourne the Senator was particularly praise-worthy of the GCM’s current approach to its administration:
“My involvement with the Greek community here in Melbourne goes back a fair way. I had a lot to do with some of the former Presidents and Committees in the days when, it’s true to say that the Greek Community both here in Melbourne and in Australia was sort of very politically charged and were still very rooted in Greek politics…
So as the leadership here changed and they became new leadership, younger leadership… you seemed to be very plugged into the broader Australian Community that was important and very focused on how do we build our Greek community within the broader community. I saw that as a great change and one which made it easier for me as a person of Greek-Australian background to put the case as to why in government we should be helping communities like this in what they were doing.
Because if you go to the PM and say look these characters are building a Cultural Centre in the middle of Melbourne… they’re building something which will be a cultural icon not just for the Greek community but for the people of Melbourne… well, that’s the sort of thing that grabs the imagination of politicians. So in going out there and embracing the community and contributing to the Greek community, I think the Greek Community of Melbourne… have excited the imagination of politicians and got them feeling we’re dealing with people from Melbourne more… for me that’s been an important change and one which hopefully you’ve been able to capitalise on.”
Senator Sinodinos was effusive in his praise of the GCM and of the Community’s initiative in building the Cultural Centre and of the significance and value of the Antipodes Festival on a national landscape.
“…and every year now, any politician who doesn’t put on their calendars to come to the Antipodes Festival has got rocks in their head, because… this is the Centre of Hellenism. There’s no two ways about it. And when a politician of any type is on that stage looking down at Lonsdale St and seeing all those people, it makes a tremendous impression.”
Senator Sinodinos also reflected on how he changed former Prime Minister, John Howard’s stance on multiculturalism.
“You’ve got to remember that he grew up in1940’s and 1950’s Australia, and so for him and for his generation it was quite an adjustment as the society changed and he was always a great believer in the British institutions that we have inherited… and that’s fine, but I think in his own mind he couldn’t quite see, well how do you improve on it?
The way we improved on it without being very conscious about it, was we employed every…succeeding wave, first the Italians and Greeks and other European’s and then the Vietnamese followed by the Middle East and Africans and so on…
I think in the end he was surprised by the extent in which it went so smoothly, and I think in retrospect – and he said this in ’95 when he came out to leadership – he regretted some of the things he said earlier because he realised it could actually work. But it could work because of the values that brought us together.”
Senator Sinodinos will depart for Washington in the new year to commence his role as the next Australian Ambassador to the United States of America, becoming the first Australian of Hellenic background to hold such an auspicious role.
With the first part of his latest book, ‘Little Athens (Volume One): Marrickville’ being published this year, Vasilios Vasilas has teamed with The Greek Herald to introduce ‘Vasili’s Taxidi: Marrickville’s Memory Lane’ . Vasilios will be taking The Greek Herald’s readers on a journey through Marrickville, making stopovers at the Greek stores and workshops that made Sydney’s Greek presence what it is today.
Vasilis Vasilas shared with us his motivations, his pride in his Greek heritage, and the future of Greek businesses in Sydney.
You have published several collections of personal narratives, over different themes; what inspires you to work on different projects?
Over the years, I have made a conscious decision to look for opportunities to undertake very different projects, whether they are subject matters that have not been focused on previously, or a personal attempt to widen my collective work. In doing so, I have tried to avoid being categorised as the person writing about one specific subject matter, as an actor avoids being typecast.
For instance, many books were published on Australian football and football personalities’ autobiographies but I wanted to compile a book, The Giant Who Never Awoke, on a specific club- Pan Hellenic SC. Moreover, a collection of war veterans (who have migrated to Australia) and their stories had never been done in Australia. Branching out beyond the Greek community and compiling oral history books on the Estonians, (Jewish) Hungarian and Ukrainian was a determined effort to see whether I could replicate my work in other communities….With my personal narratives on Greek shops and businesses, I feel so many of these stories were being lost, for whatever reason. Even the Marrickville book looks at the diversity of Greek shops and businesses from another perspective- as they are all located in one suburb. So, I am continuously on the lookout for new ideas and opportunities.
What inspired you to go ahead with this project on Marrickville’s shops and businesses?
This project is actually an extension of my latest book, ‘Beyond the Shop Windows and Counters’, which focused on a range of Greek businesses such as barbers and hairdressers, cobblers, florists and others.
The first Marrickville narratives I collected were done the same period (2015-16); as I gathered more narratives, I realised Marrickville deserved its own volume. Marrickville is such a unique case because its relatively large Greek population (1960-90) spurred Greek enterprise in the area- Marrickville is a microcosm of the Greek contribution to Sydney business and the marketplace.
On a personal level, my paternal grandparents lived in Marrickville; not only did we visit them regularly but we visited Marrickville for our shopping practically every week. When my family was between houses, we lived at grandparents’ house too. Our family’s parish has always been Agios Nikolaos Church. Up until the Antoniou family opened up the delicatessen in Earlwood, where I grew up, we visited nearby Marrickville to buy our Greek cheese and coffee etc. As Marrickville provided many job opportunities, my father worked for Australian Confectionary (Edinburgh Rd) in the 1980s; he then worked for Cleana Services (Chandler St) in the 1990s. I was part of the first crew when Marrickville McDonalds opened in 1984 and I spent a lot of time there. So I feel as close connection to Marrickville, even though I would regard myself as a ‘tourist’, and this is what inspired to undertake this project.
The front cover of Vasilis Vasilas’ book ‘Little Athens’
Is there a common theme you have noticed when comparing all these old Greek businesses to the way they are now?
The longevity and subsequent success of any business is based on so many factors. In Marrickville’s case, so many Greek-owned shops and businesses shut over the years; the ones who have remained there for forty or fifty years highlight several things, such as their enormous work ethic, high-quality products and services, and their acceptance within a broader market – they no longer cater for only Greek customers.
For the Greek-owned eateries, the Greek cuisine is now an accepted part of the Australian cuisine and Australians of all ethnic backgrounds crave for Greek foods…For the Greek-run ‘trade’ factories and workshops, they service a broad clientele too.
In the 1960s, Marrickville’s Greek migrants went to Greek shops and businesses because they could communicate with the owner and their needs and sensitivities were understood; nowadays, Marrickville is a very different marketplace and the current businesses have adapted to changes, whether demographical or technological, to survive. They have transformed themselves to cater the broader market whether it was renovating premises and even changing the business name from a Greek one to something more universal.
It should be noted so many Greek owned businesses successfully grew beyond Marrickville; they moved to western and south western Sydney to larger premises too and I look at these reasons why they relocated.
Do you think the ‘Greek family business’ model is becoming redundant?
One of the reasons for the closure of so many Greek-run shops and businesses over the years was there was no succession plan- for the business to pass onto the next generation.
For many of the current shops and businesses, there are cases that will eventually close. But many have had a succession plan in place for many years. M and J Chickens, Valitel, Hellenic Patisserie and Gelato Bar, Danas Deli Café, Corinthian Rotisserie, Rasko Linen Services, Prestige Smash Repairs, Cleana Services, Souvlaki Boys, Nice Products, Franks Auto and Tyre Service, Golden Top Bakery, Universal Finance and Zois Embroidery are just a number of businesses where the migrant parents work alongside with their children who will eventually take over the business (if they have not already).
Even newer businesses, such as Pagoto Gelato and Waffle Bar and Georgia’s Kitchen, have parents and their children working together. In a case such as Danias Timber, it is a third- generation business. If a business is so successful, there is pragmatism for it to be passed down to the next generation. In labour- intensive shops and businesses, however, there will be a high probability the children may not wish to continue…
What is your favourite thing about being Greek?
Over the years, I have interviewed, Lesvian migrants, Greek footballers, Greek war veterans and Greek shop owners and this has truly developed my love for our community- I love immersing myself within it.
As an Australian of Greek parents, that dual identity is very special. It may have been difficult growing up in the 1970s when, as children, we just wanted to fit in. I accepted being called Bill, and even William, but maturity has given me a strong sense of pride about my Greek heritage. This Greekness distinguishes me from other Australians – whether it is the spirituality, language, history, cuisine, music, arts or whatever, it sets me apart for others and it is so special to be able to tap into my Greek heritage.
So, my favourite thing about being Greek is just that… my identity of being Greek.
What is the most memorable thing you’ve learnt from a grandparent/older Greek figure?
My paternal grandfather featured prominently in my formative childhood years; he was definitely larger than life. He had a strong work ethic but enjoyed a great time – he loved his social life. He was always a giving person; I distinctly remember him always offering strangers, at a bus stop or train station, a cigarette.
He was a survivor. He survived without knowing his father (as a passenger, his father’s ship hit a mine and he drowned (1917); he, and his family, survived the burning of Smyrne in 1922; he survived the Greek Italian War in 1940-41; he survived migrating to the other side of world.
So many adversities, and he overcame them all to live his life the way he wanted. I have said before that his generation was the Age of Heroes – the heroism of an ordinary person.
The Daily Greek opened their cafe doors in Earlwood at the beginning of October 2019, and since then, have hardly been able to close them. With an almost overwhelming dose of popularity amongst Sydney’s Greek community, principal franchisee, Andreas Efentakis, has remained continuously amazed.
“We were expecting to be busy but never expected such a huge response,” said Efentakis.
“The reception and show of support was amazing. People are still excited with the store and are continually giving us positive feedback.”
The Daily Greek’s popularity was mostly anticipated, as it is the first franchise outside of Greece from popular dessert master, Terkenlis.
“Our products are identical those manufactured in Greece by Terkenlis as all the ingredients are imported from Greece and the recipes are identical,” said Efentakis.
The overseas Terkenlis franchise has been taken on by Savros Terkenlis’ son, Pavlos Terkenlis.
Pavlos strives to be actively involved in every aspect of his business – even when running the business from Greece.
He was present for the grand opening of The Daily Greek in Sydney, along with the staff from the Thessaloniki store.
“He tests and approves every product that his company manufactures and continually strives to improve them,” said Andreas.
The Australian staff were even trained in the Terkenlis store in Thessaloniki, Greece during a “training visit”, to ensure they were clear on delivering authentic and quality service.
While Andreas will be manning The Daily Greek in Sydney, he works very closely with Terkenlis to deliver the high quality standards of the stores in Greece.
“I am excited and honoured to be involved with such an exceptional and successful company,” said Andreas.
The ‘Zeibeikiko’ dance is something that will remain integral to Greek culture, throughout all generations, in Greece and abroad. While older generations are growing more concerned that young Greeks are losing their sentiment for tradition, when it comes to a Zeibekiko, they can be assured the young ones know how to get down.
Michael Mournehis is a 26-year-old, third-generation, Cypriot-Australian who, together with his sister, Georgia, started the Sydney Academy of Greek Dance & Culture.
Michael has been dancing for over 22 years, and started teaching children and adults around 8 years ago.
“I mostly love to teach the Zeibekiko and am very fond of traditional Cypriot dances due to my Cypriot heritage,” said Michael.A great Zeibekiko dancer is one who looks like they are dancing on clouds.
“A great Zeibekiko dancer is one who looks like they are dancing on clouds.”
Michael shared with us, his top tips for mastering a Zeibekiko.
“I would say that the most crucial part of the Zeibekiko is keeping in time with the dance. Too many people think the dance can be rushed and is meant to be a strong dance. I rather believe that a great Zeibekiko dancer is one who looks like they are dancing on clouds,” he said.
“I wouldn’t say there are any crucial steps to the Zeibekiko. What I will say, however, is that less is more. Some of the best dancers I have seen do not over-do the kicks and flicks (figoures).”
“When I teach I work on four or five plain steps that can be adopted and used in any freestyle moves. Having a basis of steps allows you to be creative later on, as you progress.”
“Dancing Zeibekiko is, in my opinion, one of the hardest dances to master. Many people think after a couple of lessons you can pick it up, but in my experience, it takes years of practice and knowledge to become a true master.”
Bondi’s famous ‘Sculptures by the Sea’ exhibition will have a Greek wave, this year, with award-winning Greek artist Danai Nikolaidi Kotsaki having one of her sculptures displayed.
Danai Nikolaidi Kotsaki, who graduated from the prestigious School of Fine Arts of Athens, is the recipient of the inaugural $20,000 Greek Artist Program for Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, 2019.
The Greek Artist Program for Sculpture’s by the Sea was developed by The Hellenic Club Sydney and members of Sydney’s Greek Australian community, with support from the Mayor of Waverley, Ms Paula Masselos.
The program is also coordinated by the Consulate General of Greece in Sydney, with aims to “showcase Greek artistic talent and contribute to helping Greece’s standing in the global arts world.”
The recipient artist must be a student or graduate (within 10 years of completing their degree) of a University-level School of Fine Arts from Greece, in order to be eligible for the program.
Danai Nikolaidi-Kotsaki was born in Athens in 1992. She went to the Experimental Music High School and Lyceum of Pallini and studied sculpture at the School of Fine Arts of Athens with Professor George Lappas.
Danai says her work is “inspired by the concept of ‘the journey’ as both a fantasy and as lived experience, and exploring the point of separation between reality and fantasy.”
“I am also interested in exploring the idea of how our senses respond to movement and distance,” she says.
Her work primarily tackles physicality and interaction. The installations and sculptures she creates are movable, invested with her own compositions and sound environments, sometimes producing sound themselves through motion and performance. The main material of her work is metal, but she also uses a wide range of other expressive means and techniques.
“The foundation of my practice is a constant search for a new perception and understanding of vision, hearing, space and time. I aim to activate the sensory system and emotions of the public through my work,” says Danai.
“As a result my artworks are designed to become an interactive physical experience for the viewer.”
She is also passionate about including traditional and classical Greek themes throughout her art.
“Beyond my academic studies in sculpture, I have studied the expressive art forms in traditional Greek and classical music, contemporary dance and circus acrobatics. As a result I am particularly interested in local cultures and traditions,” Danai says.
Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi is the world’s largest annual free-to-the-public outdoor sculpture exhibition, which celebrates its 23rd anniversary this year, returning to the spectacular Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk from 24 October – 10 November 2019.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has come a long way in his NBA career. After selling anything he can in the streets of Greece just so he can buy a pair of basketball shoes, he’s now the league’s reigning MVP and one of the best players in the world. Moreover, his brothers Thanasis and Kostas have also made it to the NBA.
Now, the Antetokounmpo brothers want to give some 100 children and coaches an opportunity to turn their lives around through their foundation, the AntetokounBros Academy.
According to a report, the AntetokounBros Academy aims to help boys and girls aged 12-16 and aspiring coaches aged 18-25 jumpstart their professional basketball careers. The said foundation will run for two years in Athens and will be funded by Nike, Giannis’ official sports apparel partner.
EuroHoops and other foundations will also work with the Antetokounmpos to make this academy successful.
“The time for action has come for AntetokounBros Academy and we can’t hide our joy and excitement. For the next two years, in collaboration with the Onassis Foundation, Eurohoops Organization and Nike, we will work hard to create development opportunities for underprivileged children – and this is only the start,” the Antetokounmpo brothers said in a joint statement.
“We are on the same page as our collaborators and we start this journey of social contribution with a shared vision. We will work together as a big family with no social or individual exclusion. We are certain that the creation of the AntetokounBros Academy will leave a positive footprint and offer essential help to families who need support; and let’s repeat – this is just the beginning!”
Giannis and Thanasis are both with the Bucks, while Kostas is with the Los Angeles Lakers. Meanwhile, their youngest playing brother, Alex is still in high school but is likely to be in the NBA in the near future.
The night his one-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer, Jason Sotiris made her two promises.
The first, a trip to Disneyland.
The second, “Daddy is going to find a way to keep this invisible monster away.”
He delivered on his first promise the day young Angela was released from hospital.
“My wife is from France, so she has family over there she’s never met. To be able to take her to France with all her family waiting at the arrivals gate, and then to take her to Disneyland, was the most amazing day,” said Jason.
Angela and her brother on their trip to Disneyland Paris.
“Then to make good on my second promise, which I’m still in the process of, I want this to be the standard garment for someone in hospital.”
Jason is a full-time tradie who has sacrificed his spare time to create ‘Supertee’ – a medical garment fit for a superhero, for those little fighters taking on life-threatening battles in hospital.
“The idea came from my daughter and seeing how hard it was for her to go through her battle, and me desperately wanting to find a way to help,” said Jason.
“Parent’s feel like they can’t touch anything that is connecting their child to a machine, in case they stuff it up or cause further injury. I was trying to take her T-shirt off when she was throwing up, she had this array of tubes, lines, heart monitors etc..and you can’t do it without the help of the nurse.”
“I thought to myself, I need to do something to make her more comfortable. My original focus was just on her, like every parent, you’re just focusing on your child in that moment.”
When Jason’s daughter was cleared from hospital, unable to simply “let go” of what his family went through, his mission became helping other families who were going through the same thing.
“I couldn’t help but feel that I needed to do something, and that’s where this idea came from – ‘let’s see if we can challenge or disrupt the way people are perceived, and how they wear their t-shirts in hospital, in a way where they feel strong, and it gives some independence back to the parents where they don’t need the nurses helping them.’”
Jason pitched his idea to a lifelong friend, who he describes as “the most skeptical person in the world”, and with his support, the two of them put money towards creating Supertee.
“It can’t be reused – it’s an individual gift to that child. It’s even got space on the packaging for their name to be placed. Inside this pack, there is the comic book that tells the story of how it gets given to them. Only a nurse, parent or superhero can give it to them, so you need a sidekick. It has stickers to represent any battle they’ve overcome – if they have a needle there’s stickers there that say ‘brave’, ‘warrior’, ‘strong’, ‘fighter’.”
“There’s a bookmark for the parents, we don’t want to forget the parents in this. It says, ‘keep fighting’, this is a battle and we have to fight it every day. Just know there’s someone out there believing in you.”
The target market was initially people who wanted to buy gifts for children in hospital, that would bring them as much joy as a toy would.
“All of a sudden we started getting these random purchases from people we didn’t know, and we’d get in contact with them and ask who they wanted to send them to. They’d respond by saying, ‘just give it out on our behalf, we love what you’re doing,’” said Jason.
This is where the concept of sponsoring a ‘Supertee pack’ came from, where the pack is delivered to hospitals and dispersed to patients as a gift.
In addition to the garments and packaging goodies, Supertee also has volunteers who dress up as popular superheroes and present the children with their own superhero costume.
“If it was up to me, I’d make hospitals a mix of Disneyland and an amusement park,” said Jason.
Jason displaying Supertee’s products.
Jason’s “business model” is entirely based on helping others.
“It’s probably not the most sustainable one, but if you have food in the fridge, a warm bed at night, what’s your biggest concern at the moment? Would you consider helping someone that’s doing it a little more tough?” he said.
He has been in contact with charities, businesses and organisations all over the globe who may be interested in sponsoring Supertee garments that can be gifted to children fighting in hospital.
Jason’s ultimate goal is to contribute funding to cancer research.
So far, Jason’s project started from Westmead Hospital, where Angela was treated, and has sent him from Perth to Queensland to Newcastle, and he hopes, Greece and beyond.
“This is time I volunteer, away from my family, my work, my children’s future, because I feel it’s an obligation. My daughter was saved, and I can’t let go of what happened to her,” he said.
He has gained support from a number of organisations, including the Pan Lesvian Federation who organised a gala fundraiser for Supertee, after they heard Jason’s business pitch at a networking event.
“To be able to have the support of parents, especially when we all come from different backgrounds, races, cultures…nobody cares about that stuff because we’re seeing it through the eyes of the mother or father. We’re able to relate to each other from that perspective,” said Jason.
Families showing off the Supertee costume at the Pan Lesvian Federation’s Supertee fundraiser event.
The sincerity behind Jason’s business idea is one that applies to everyone who wants to help spread joy to people doing it tough in hospitals.
“I’m not guilting anyone, I don’t hassle anyone. I just get my word out, this is my mission, if you want to help by all means, join us,” he said.
“I would love people who feel the same way as I do to get involved. I’m a tradie, I’m not a business guru!”
His business idea stemmed from a promise made to his daughter that he has committed to, and feels obligated to share with as many people that have and will go through what his family did.
“It’s a tough thing that never leaves you. It stays with you for life.”
If you want to get involved in Jason’s mission, head to supertee.org.au to find out how to sponsor a Supertee pack for a little superhero fighting in hospital.
The Hellenic Initiative Australia announced today that they would be supporting a youth empowerment program called ‘The Tipping Point’, which connects students in remote or disadvantaged schools in Greece, with mentors from all around the world.
The Tipping Point program is an online, interactive classroom that connects highly-skilled professionals in Greece, and all over the world, with students in remote classrooms in Greece.
So far this year, three regional schools in Greece will be trialling The Tipping Point, including Krinides High School in Kavala, Fourfouras High School in Crete, and Vardas High School in Western Peleponnese.
The purpose of The Tipping Point is to encourage students to broaden their career choices and cultivate new innovations, collaborations and potential entrepreneurial projects in Greece.
In 2018, over 11 000 students in Greece took part in the program, with over 1000 mentors. The Tipping Point is targeted at schools in small, isolated regional towns, particularly in areas with high unemployment, high school dropout rates and areas with a lack of local opportunities.
The Hellenic Initiative has supported this program with intent to get more Australian mentors involved from all areas of expertise.
“This program uses technology to provide students from even the most remote regions of Greece the opportunity to be inspired and shape their own future by providing career guidance and mentorship from inspirational role models at a time when they are making their most critical career decisions,” said President of The Hellenic Initiative Australia, Mr Nicholas Pappas.
“Australian professionals from all fields can join the global Tipping Point mentor community and share their knowledge and experience with high school students around Greece,” Mr Pappas said.
Mentors can participate in the program by submitting a 100-second video answering a range of questions via a mobile app, and scheduling 20-30min live video sessions in the classroom.
Tipping point welcomes mentors from all fields of expertise, particularly people with experience in entrepreneurship, economics and business, medicine, law and agriculture.
Anyone interested in mentoring students can register online or contact: info@thehellenicinitiative.com.au for further information
