Search
Home Blog Page 1548

Residents at Greek nursing home get creative to reassure family they are safe

Andriana Simos
-
0
Residents at Greek nursing home get creative to reassure family they are safe

The COVID-19 pandemic might have restricted visits to aged care facilities in NSW, but this hasn’t dampened the spirits of elderly residents from St Basil’s nursing home in Lakemba.

The elderly spent their free time writing sweet messages on chalkboards to show their love to their families and reassure them they were safe and well.

“I love you. Be careful,” writes 83-year-old Maria in one heartwarming message.

“I’m well and they are looking after me. I want you all to be well and for God to look after you,” 89-year-old Anastasia joined in.

  • Maria wrote a message to her family. Source: St Basils NSW & ACT.
  • Yiayia Toula wrote to her grandchildren. Source: St Basils NSW & ACT.

And that’s not all the elderly residents at St Basils have been up to.

Over the last few weeks, the facility has been ensuring its residents remain safe and comfortable in their homes, giving them a chance to complete jigsaw puzzles and even create “Happy May Day” wreaths.

The smiles on their faces were something to behold.

  • Residents at St Basils were encouraged to make “May Day” wreaths. Source: St Basils NSW & ACT.
  • Jigsaw puzzles are becoming a part of daily life at the nursing home. Source: St Basils NSW & ACT.

Aged care visits restricted during COVID-19 pandemic:

The positive steps taken by St Basils to maintain the happiness of its residents, come in the wake of Prime Minister Scott Morrison announcing in late April that visits to nursing homes were being restricted.

In fact, the following people are currently not allowed to enter an aged care facility:

  • Anyone who has returned from overseas in the past two weeks.
  • Anyone who had been in contact with a confirmed coronavirus case.
  • Anyone with a fever or flu-like symptoms.
  • Anyone who hasn’t been vaccinated against influenza after May 1.

Visits will also be limited in time and a maximum of only two visitors will be permitted into facilities at one time per day.

No word yet on when these restrictions will be eased.

Canberra Greek Community refuses to halt community initiatives amid COVID-19

The Greek Herald
-
0
Canberra Greek Community refuses to halt community initiatives amid COVID-19

The Greek Orthodox Community & Church of Canberra (GOCCC) have not let the coronavirus pandemic hamper their progress in building upon new and existing initiatives for the Canberra Greek Community.

GOCCC have been administering community matters programs and providing regular updates to their parishioners and members via social media during this time.

The Canberra Greek Community President, John Loukadellis, says that the coronavirus restrictions on churches were the perfect chance to work on restorations to the hail damage inflicted upon the St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Canberra.

Additionally, while the churches remaining closed, the GOCCC have provided the ability for parishioners to purchase candles and make donations online.

“As part of this initiative, Father Petros will also be blessing and providing prayers for the families of our parish,” Mr Loukadellis told The Greek Herald.

READ MORE: Greek community in Canberra restores hail-damaged church.

Hands Across Canberra Foundation Grant

The GOCCC was recently awarded a local grant from ‘Hands Across Canberra’ foundation, a foundation which raises funds for community-service organisations working with vulnerable individuals and families.

The grant has allowed the GOCCC to purchase tablets for their vulnerable elderly members, allowing them to stay connected to family and friends during COVID-19 restrictions.

Photo by Sigismund von Dobshutz/Wikimedia)

The Grant also allows the elderly to access livestreams of church services until churches reopen for public worship.

In the last eight years, Hands Across Canberra has donated over $2.5 million to close to 100 community projects aimed at making a difference to some of the ACT’s most vulnerable people.

Online Learning for Greek School and Zoom GOCCC Meetings

The GOCCC have enabled online learning for their Greek School students, allowing them to continue their cultural and language education while under restrictions.

“Our teachers remain very committed to their students and we are grateful for all their efforts in managing this remote teaching environment,” Mr Loukadellis told The Greek Herald.

The GOCCC president also affirmed that the committee continues to remain active and work effortlessly via regular ZOOM meetings.

“….When we come out of COVID-19, we will be ready to go with our events, fundraisers and business matters without any delays and obstacles,” Mr Loukadellis added.

Mr Loukadellis offered his thanks to Father Petros for all his continued support of our community, along with the GOCCC committee.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our priest Father Petros for all his continued support of our community, our committee who are giving 100% of their volunteer hours to ensure the growth of our Hellenic culture in ACT and to all our members and friends for their continued support, love and generosity during this time.”

Inside a Greek COVID-19 intensive care ward [VIDEO]

Andriana Simos
-
0
Inside a Greek COVID-19 intensive care ward [VIDEO]

During a decade a debt, Greece’s hospitals were crippled by a barrage of funding cuts. But in spite of this, the country’s efforts to contain COVID-19 appear to be paying off, with a far lower death toll than many other European nations.

Greek doctors and nurses have addressed this success in recent interviews with The Guardian.

In fact, Dr Yota Lourida, an Infectious Diseases specialist at Sotiria hospital in Athens, said despite Greece’s healthcare system being ‘old and decimated,’ it still pushed through the crisis.

“Every day we had to come in and see what resources we had available, what more we needed to ask for, if it’s available, if it would get here today, tomorrow and so on,” Dr Lourida told the media outlet.

“But fortunately, the result of the lockdown started showing in the number of daily hospital admissions. The rate of infection dropped to a large degree so we were given the time, with the PPE we already had, to meet the demands.”

But meeting these demands came at a significant mental and physical cost for health workers as they worked day and night to ensure the safety of Greek people, potentially risking their own lives in the process.

“Apart from the physical exhaustion, which was building up, there was tremendous psychological fatigue because no matter what we did, we didn’t stop, we didn’t have time to eat, we didn’t have time to go home,” Dr Lourida explained.

“We felt that what we were doing was for nothing. In Greek, there’s an expression: ‘Trying to make a hole in water’.”

Dr Antonia Koutsoukou who is Head of ICU at the same hospital, concurred with Dr Lourida’s comments and said ‘there were moments of great emotion.’

“Especially when we had to watch patients die, without having their families next to them to say goodbye. This has traumatised me,” Dr Koutsoukou said.

For now though, Greek doctors and nurses continue to push through the mental fatigue as they know there’s still a battle ahead. For many, they’ve been reminded of why they started practicing medicine in the first place.

“I think throughout this, all of us remembered why we started practicing medicine. Both the young doctors and the older ones who are actively involved. We couldn’t be anywhere else.”

Greek economy hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic, EU says

Andriana Simos
-
0
Greek economy hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic, EU says

The Greek economy is set to contract by 9.7 percent in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Commission forecast on Wednesday.

Greece, along with Italy, Spain and Portugal, will be among the hardest hit nations by the economic effects of the pandemic.

It is believed that Italy will record the second deepest recession, amounting to 9.5 percent GDP loss, followed by Spain, with 9.4 percent.

“Economic activity in Greece, Italy, Spain, Croatia, and to a lesser extent France, are forecast to contract the most,” said Paolo Gentiloni, European Commissioner for the Economy, during a press conference.

Data showing the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on EU members. Source: European Commission.

According to the Commission, Greece’s main export markets are also expected to suffer strong declines in 2020, leading to a drop in demand for Greek goods and services.

“Despite the swift policy response, the strong contraction in output is forecast to take a toll on employment,” the Commission states.

A recent report released by the Federation of Hellenic Enterprises (SEV) did find that Greece’s unemployment rate would record the biggest increase in a decade, but the Commission says a partial economic recovery in 2021 will lessen the pandemic’s impact on labour.

“The partial recovery in 2021 is expected to have positive effects on the labour market, bringing the unemployment rate down from 19.9 percent in 2020 to about 16.5 percent.”

Data showing the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on Greece. Source: European Commission.

READ MORE: Unemployment rate in Greece to record biggest increase in 2020.

With Greece slowly returning to normalcy following the loosening of COVID-19 restrictions, only time will tell what the true economic impacts of the pandemic will be.

Israel signs deal to lease drones to Greece for border defence

Andriana Simos
-
0
Israel signs deal to lease drones to Greece for border defence

Israel will be leasing drones to Greece for the protection of its borders under a three-year agreement signed on Wednesday by the defence ministries of both countries.

The agreement is the first military deal between Israel and Greece. Due to coronavirus-related restrictions, it was signed electronically.

“Under the agreement, the Israeli Ministry of Defense will provide Greece with a Heron unmanned aerial vehicle system… for three years, with the possibility of purchasing the system after the completion of the leasing period,” the Israeli Defence Ministry said in a press release.

The Heron system, which is used by Israel’s military and in naval forces around the world, is equipped with both day and night activity platforms, maritime patrol radars and satellite communications.

It will be used by Greece primarily for border defence, the Israeli ministry said, adding that security relations between Israel and Greece were expanding.

“We hope to sign additional agreements with Greece as well as other European partners, assisting them in addressing security challenges – in times of the corona pandemic and beyond,” the statement read.

Heron surveillance drones are already widely in use by the military in many countries and have a cumulative flight record of approximately 1.8 million hours. They are considered to be among the world’s most advanced devices.

Interior Ministry publishes decision regarding enrolment of diaspora voters

The Greek Herald
-
0
Interior Ministry publishes decision regarding enrolment of diaspora voters

The Interior Ministry has published a decision regarding enrolment on the electoral register for Greeks living abroad.

The decision provides details regarding the enrolment of diaspora voters with the use of a digital application which is expected to go online on the Interior Ministry website this summer.

The application will be connected to the database of the education, labor and national defense ministries for the issuing of the necessary certificates.

Greeks will be eligible to vote if they can prove with state documents that they have lived in the country for two years over the past 35 years.

They will also need to have Greek tax identification numbers and have filed a tax declaration in the current or previous tax year.

The ministerial decision is expected to be published in the Government Gazette, with ministry officials ruling out any connection between the decision and the possibility of an early election.

Locals in Northern Greece set hotel on fire to prevent resettlement of refugees

The Greek Herald
-
0
Locals in Northern Greece set hotel on fire to prevent resettlement of refugees

Protesting locals in Northern Greece set fire to a hotel which refugees relocated from island camps were supposed to be housed in, Greek authorities said on Wednesday.

Police said 150 protesters prevented buses carrying 57 refugees, brought to the mainland from Moria camp on Lesbos island, from reaching a rented hotel at a village in the northern region of Pella, and set fire to a room on the hotel’s ground floor.

No injuries or arrests were reported. Greece’s COVID-19 lockdown only allows public gatherings of up to 10 people, who must observe social distancing.

The buses were rerouted to another village in the Pella region, where protesters had set up roadblocks to prevent their entry. The group was eventually driven to the northern city of Thessaloniki, where they were put up in a local hotel.

Smaller protests also occurred at a hotel in the northern region of Kilkis, where 250 refugees from Lesbos were being taken to. Those protests were short-lived, however, and the migrants were housed in the facility which already accommodates other refugees, authorities said.

Greece’s government has vowed to ease massive overcrowding in refugee camps on the eastern islands, where tens of thousands of migrants and refugees live, and has begun moving some to the mainland.

Due to lockdown measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus, new arrivals on the islands from the nearby Turkish coast are not allowed into the camps.

So far no coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the island camps, although two refugee camps on the mainland were put under quarantine due to local outbreaks.

#KeepItGreek: Unmissable Greek rock concert is now available online

The Greek Herald
-
0
#KeepItGreek: Unmissable Greek rock concert is now available online

For #KeepItGreek this week, The Greek Herald is bringing the pulse and liveliness of Greek concerts to the comfort of your home.

First up is a concert by the late Lavrentis Machairitsas and Vassilis Papakonstantinou, from the summer of 2018 at the Petra theatre.

Each Greek artist sings some of their greatest hits separately, before performing ‘South,’ ‘Gemini Blues’ and ‘Before the end’ in a duet.

We hope you enjoy the concert and if you’d like, we would love to see photos of you singing and dancing along to the songs! #KeepItGreek.

#KeepItGreek:

Τι θα λείψει πολύ αυτό το καλοκαίρι στην Ελλάδα;

Μα φυσικά, οι συναυλίες, ο παλμός των ζωντανών εμφανίσεων των αγαπημένων τραγουδοποιών.

Μέχρι να ξαναβρεθούμε σε ανοιχτούς χώρους για να παρακολουθήσουμε αγαπημένους Έλληνες καλλιτέχνες, ο «Ελληνικός Κήρυκας» σας μεταφέρει τον παλμό και την ζωντάνια από συναυλίες του παρελθόντος.

Ας αρκεστούμε να τους δούμε σε προηγούμενες εμφανίσεις τους να λένε αγαπημένα κομμάτια, τραγουδώντας κι εμείς μαζί με το κοινό από κάτω τους στίχους!

Ο αείμνηστος Λαυρέντης Μαχαιρίτσας και ο Βασίλης Παπακωνσταντίνου, σε μια συναυλία από το καλοκαίρι του 2018 στο θέατρο Πέτρας.

Θα ακούσεις τον καθένα τους ξεχωριστά σε μεγάλες επιτυχίες αλλά και τα «Νότος», «Διδυμότειχο blues» και «Πριν το τέλος» σε ντουέτα.

WEAREOPEN: A photograph, a wish and a post to support small businesses during COVID-19 restrictions

The Greek Herald
-
0
WEAREOPEN: A photograph, a wish and a post to support small businesses during COVID-19 restrictions

By Vasilis Vasilas

While the number of COVID- 19 cases in Australia growing at the time, the impact of the Federal Government’s announcement of Stage 2 restrictions was sudden and quick as people’s everyday lives practically changed overnight. And the impact was none greater to small businesses in Sydney’s business networks. 

As Greeks play such a significant role in Sydney’s hospitality industries, so many Greek-owned businesses, whether cafes, restaurants and clubs or all their suppliers, found themselves either shutting, struggling to remain open or quickly readjusting their business models to continue operating.

For Sydney historian, Vasilis Vasilas, who has been compiling oral histories and photographs on Sydney’s Greek businesses over the last few years, it was difficult to observe so many friends whose businesses were financially suffering and this prompted him to do something to help these businesses and consumers.

WEAREOPEN: The Dulwich Hill Chicken Shop, Dulwich HillBusiness and busy as usual… refurbished and modern… been…

Posted by Syndesmos Connecting People and Their Stories on Wednesday, April 29, 2020

At a time when people were encouraged to stay at home and only shop for essential items, Vasilis used his Syndesmos Facebook page as a platform to launch the WEAREOPEN initiative where he visited Greek-owned businesses, took a photo of the business, wished the businesses owners to stay safe and posted the photograph and wish on his Syndesmos Facebook page.

“I just felt as though I wanted to help these businesses in some small way,” Vasilis explains.

“On my way home from work, I would take an alternate route, stop at the Greek businesses along the way- every day was a different route- and I witnessed first-hand the impact of the Stage 2 restrictions across so many Sydney’s small business landscape.

“With the WEAREOPEN initiative, I just wanted to raise awareness that there were so many small businesses still operating and we could still use their services and buy their products. Shop owners had taken precautionary measures such as social distancing or having hand sanitisers readily available. With the frenzy of panic buying in the major supermarkets, for example, I was reminding people the Greek delicatessens were well-stocked in items such as pasta, flour and sugar.”

Asked about what Vasilis encountered while visiting so many businesses and shops, the realities were quite stark as he recalls, “I visited so many business owners the worry and concern was on their faces. They were dealing with the domino effect of problems whether it be the loss of business, losing staff or mounting bills. The saddest part of all this was visiting businesses and finding them shut- with a sign of having to shut as a result of the COVID-19. 

“After a few week, I suppose business owners had clearer idea of what is going on- though it has definitely had not made it any easier for them- but at least they could take whatever necessary steps were needed to keep operating.

Despite the sudden struggle of their business, I encountered so many business owners in high spirits and this is so inspiring to watch such people not giving into all the adversities; whether it was through changing their business models or coming up new ideas or ways of doing things, they have persevered and continued on.”

In almost one month, Vasilis has visited over 120 small businesses; asked about the responses on the Syndesmos Facebook page, Vasilis states, “Not only did the posts highlight which businesses were still operating but so many people responded to each post (of a business) with messages of encouragement and praise, and this just highlights the strong sense of support people have for our small businesses and their hope these businesses and our lives return to some normality.”

Archbishop Makarios joins Liverpool Greek Orthodox Church for new “Homeless Feed” program

The Greek Herald
-
0
Archbishop Makarios joins Liverpool Greek Orthodox Church for new “Homeless Feed” program

His Eminence Archbishop Makarios attended Sydney’s Hart Park, near Liverpool on Tuesday afternoon, the 5th May, participating in a new “Homeless Feed” program.

The Homeless Feed program has been successfully implemented by members of the Church of Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene in Liverpool, which is aimed at helping those who are homeless as well as other people that are in need of food supplies.

The program commenced with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, who was welcomed by the Parish Priest of the Church of Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene, the Very Reverend Archimandrite Prohoros Anastasiadis and members of the Ladies Philoptochos of Liverpool.

Photo: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia

The program embraces the wider district of Liverpool, gaining the support of the local authorities and actively helping members of the community by offering food items and packaged meals. The program feeds about 40 people every Tuesday by providing packaged meals that have been prepared by the women of the Ladies Philoptochos of the Parish of Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene.

Prior to the the imposing of social distancing measures, the meals were prepared on site, with the program helping the community bring a friendly atmosphere of love and camaraderie.

During his visit to Hart Park, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios spoke with the volunteers and to congratulated them for their God-pleasing work. He encouraged them to continue with the same zeal and fervour and then did not hesitate to put on the gloves himself, observing the required protective measures, and to assist with the distribution of the meals.

Photo: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia

His Eminence also praised Fr Prohoros for the program’s excellent organisation and indicated that it may be used as a model for similar initiatives taking place through other parishes of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia notes that many similar schemes are being undertaken throughout Australia and His Eminence expressed the desire and expectation that they intensify their efforts and become even further organised to better meet the great needs faced by our fellow human beings.

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia also adds that “Homeless Feed” is open to all people without exception and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, nationality or anything else. His Eminence characteristically points out, “we look at the face of our fellow human being, whoever they may be”.

Posted by Saints Raphael, Nicholas & Irene Greek Orthodox Church Liverpool on Tuesday, May 5, 2020
1...1,5471,5481,549...1,663Page 1,548 of 1,663

Stay connected:

Other

© 2024 The Greek Herald. All rights reserved.