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Greek Australian sisters win national design award with creative call to fight food waste

The Greek Herald
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Greek Australian sisters win national design award with creative call to fight food waste

Two Greek Australian siblings have scored the top prize in a national design competition aimed at fighting food waste.

Fourteen-year-old student journalist and cartoonist Madison Eve won the secondary category of the Fight Food Waste national design competition while 11-year-old sibling Alexandra won the primary prize.

Their winning designs will feature on limited-edition OzHarvest Use It Up tape, which will be distributed to schools across Australia in 2026.

“Creating for a cause is a passion of mine so I wanted to come up with a fun and eye-catching design that would inspire others to join the fight against food waste,” Madison Eve said.

Madison Eve created a superhero broccoli character for her winning design while Alexandra created a series of vibrant and playful fruit and vegetable characters and shared the food-related message: “Save It. Use It. Share It.”

Image 2 - My γιαγιά
‘My γιαγιά’ by Madison Eve.

OzHarvest founder Ronni Kahn and ABC television presenters Craig Reucassel and Costa Georgiadis selected the winning designs from hundreds of entries from students across Australia.

“It’s bright, it’s bold and it’s awesome,” Mr Georgiadis said of Alexandra’s design.

Alexandra said utilising the Use It Up tape to mark food that needed to be used in the fridge and pantry was a simple step that anyone could take to help fight food waste.

Sibling George, who also participated in the Fight Food Waste national design competition, said he was inspired by OzHarvest’s mission.

“It’s sad to think of food going to waste when so many people are going hungry,” George said.

“OzHarvest does an amazing job of rescuing food that might otherwise go to waste and helping people in need.”

Madison Eve was recently named the winner of Edstart’s Achievement Awards Program (Visual and Perfoming Arts category). She was also invited to speak at Parliament House as part of the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare’s art exhibition where she spoke about the importance of family and her Hellenic heritage.

Administrator probes $14m loan linked to Derrimut Gym founder Nikolaos Solomos

The Greek Herald
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Administrator probes $14m loan linked to Derrimut Gym founder Nikolaos Solomos

The administrator of Derrimut 24:7 Gym has disclosed that a $14 million director-related loan connected to founder Nikolaos Solomos is among several accounts now being reviewed as part of the fitness chain’s insolvency process.

Solomos handed control of his companies to administrators in October, shortly after a potential rescue deal with billionaire Adrian Portelli fell through.

Administrator Stephen Dixon told creditors the Derrimut Group had accumulated around $29 million in intercompany and beneficiary loan accounts, including the $14 million associated with Solomos.

Rising expenses, an “aggressive expansion strategy,” management structures that failed to keep pace with rapid growth, and post-pandemic disruptions contributed to a $2 million loss in FY25 and ultimately the group’s collapse.

The business continues to trade after a third party agreed to fund ongoing losses, while a potential investor considers a formal rescue proposal.

Listed creditors include the tax office with a $14.9 million claim, equipment financiers, property businesses and landlords, with one property group alleging it is owed $59.1 million.

Derrimut, founded in 2010 and operating more than 25 gyms across Victoria and South Australia, has seen several abrupt branch closures in recent months due to alleged unpaid rent.

Source: The Advertiser

Catsoulis’ self-storage empire faces takeover as Brookfield leads $4 billion push

The Greek Herald
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Catsoulis’ self-storage empire faces takeover as Brookfield leads $4 billion push

National Storage REIT founder Andrew Catsoulis has been thrust into the spotlight as Brookfield and Singapore’s GIC table a $4 billion cash bid for the self-storage giant he took public 12 years ago.

According to The Australian Financial Review, the offer – valued at up to $6.8 billion when debt and development commitments are included – would mark the largest real-estate take-private in Australian history if completed.

At $2.86 per security, the bid represents a premium of more than 26 per cent to National Storage’s pre-halt trading price and sits almost 11 per cent above its net tangible asset value.

The company confirmed it has granted the consortium exclusive due diligence until December 7, following earlier confidential approaches and limited information sharing.

The move underscores surging institutional interest in self-storage, coming months after an unsuccessful $2.2 billion offer for rival Abacus Storage King.

Under Catsoulis’ leadership, National Storage has grown to more than 280 facilities across Australia and New Zealand with over 50 new projects planned, alongside an expected rise in earnings from $164 million to more than $173 million this year.

Source: The Australian Financial Review

Jamie Pherous rejects resignation calls as Deloitte audits overcharge crisis

The Greek Herald
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Jamie Pherous rejects resignation calls as Deloitte audits overcharge crisis

Corporate Travel Management chief executive Jamie Pherous has rejected pressure to resign after the company admitted overcharging UK clients by $162 million, triggering a major audit by Deloitte and a suspension of its shares until 2026.

Pherous told The Australian on Monday: “I think I am fit to do it, I’ve got to run the company through this,” while confirming the board had not sought his departure.

The probe – now including European operations and a large UK Home Office contract – follows years of unusually high profit margins that hedge funds say never “made sense.”

CTM has stood down its top European executive as investigators examine possible wrongdoing, while Pherous declined to say whether other customers should be concerned, responding: “I can’t comment.”

Source: The Australian

Maria Sakkari rallies Greek diaspora support ahead of United Cup return

The Greek Herald
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Maria Sakkari rallies Greek diaspora support ahead of United Cup return

Greece’s leading tennis players are set to open the competitive season in Australia for a fourth consecutive year, returning to the United Cup – again in Perth, where Greece will face Japan and Great Britain.

In a promotional message issued weeks before the tournament, Maria Sakkari shared her enthusiasm for representing Greece in Australia and appealed directly to diaspora supporters for continued backing.

She said: “I’m very excited to be back in the United Cup. Playing in the United Cup for Greece in Australia is unique. It’s a unique atmosphere, a unique moment for us. It will be my 4th year in the tournament and I’m very excited to see the Greek community supporting us again.”

Greece will open its campaign against Japan on January 2, followed by a fixture against Great Britain on January 5.

The Greek team heading into the tournament includes Stefanos Tsitsipas, Maria Sakkari, Stefanos Sakellaridis, Despina Papamichael, Petros Tsitsipas and Sappho Sakellaridis.

Source: tennisnews.gr

Tractors and tear gas: Greek farmers protest as EU subsidy delays deepen

The Greek Herald
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Tractors and tear gas: Greek farmers protest as EU subsidy delays deepen

Greek farmers clashed with police over delayed EU subsidy payments, using hundreds of tractors to shut the Athens–Thessaloniki motorway near Larissa on Sunday, prompting a tear-gas response and three arrests.

Authorities say payments were reduced due to an ongoing €30m subsidy-fraud investigation, with Deputy Minister Christos Kellas confirming: “They received 100 million euros [$116m] less at this stage.”

The Deputy Minister added, “After appeals, those who are entitled to funds will receive them.”

The scandal has caused a minister’s resignation, while parallel parliamentary probes continue into OPEKEPE, the agency distributing nearly €2.5bn in EU aid annually.

Livestock farmers are also demanding compensation after 400,000 sheep and goats were culled to contain a sheep pox outbreak, as officials maintain there is no proven evidence vaccines work.

Source: Al Jazeera

Student Andreas Papademetriou receives Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award

The Greek Herald
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Student Andreas Papademetriou receives Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award

High school student Andreas Papademetriou has been formally recognised at Government House after earning the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Gold Level, the program’s highest distinction.

The ceremony, led by Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales, celebrated young achievers who demonstrated exceptional perseverance and personal growth.

Addressing recipients, the Governor remarked: “Congratulations to each Gold Level Recipient – and to your families for supporting you. Never lose the desire to test yourself, to seek adventure and to rise to the next challenge. Of these qualities, leaders are made.”

Reaching Gold Level requires several years of sustained commitment across service, skills, physical activity and an extended expedition.

Papademetriou’s accomplishment underscores the initiative, resilience and determination needed to complete the program’s top tier, marking a significant personal achievement and a proud moment for those who have supported his journey.

WA Liberal leader Basil Zempilas attends St Andrew’s Name Day Dinner Dance

The Greek Herald
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WA Liberal leader Basil Zempilas attends St Andrew’s Name Day Dinner Dance

WA Liberal leader Basil Zempilas has celebrated the growth and achievements of St Andrew’s Grammar after attending the school’s Name Day Dinner Dance, an event supported by the Hellenic Community of Western Australia.

The event marks the feast day of St Andrew the Apostle, honouring the school’s patron and bringing together families, students, and the wider Greek Australian community.

In a post shared after the celebration, Zempilas said it was “my great pleasure to attend the @standrewsgrammar Name Day Dinner Dance, proudly supported by the @helleniccommunitywa, and to represent the @liberalswa.”

He congratulated HCWA President Paul Afkos and School Principal Craig Monaghan, praising the school’s progress and role within the community.

“Congratulations … on the outstanding growth and success of St Andrew’s… every member of the Perth Greek/Australian community is very proud of the vibrant learning hub and shining light for Hellenism the school has become.”

Zempilas concluded his message with a celebratory “Bravo St. Andrew’s,” noting how the Name Day celebration showcased the school’s strong cultural foundations and its important role in preserving Hellenic heritage in Western Australia.

Sydney Olympic FC secures $1.8m to deliver new women’s ‘Goal for Inclusion’ facility

The Greek Herald
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Sydney Olympic FC secures $1.8m to deliver new women’s ‘Goal for Inclusion’ facility

Sydney Olympic Football Club has welcomed a major funding boost after securing $1.5 million under the Australian Government’s Play Our Way program, with a further $300,000 in additional secured funding bringing the total project value to $1.8 million.

The investment will support the development of a new purpose-built women’s facility in NSW as part of the Club’s “Goal for Inclusion” project – an initiative designed to strengthen pathways, participation and high-quality infrastructure for women and girls across the club’s football programs.

A significant step forward for women’s football

Club President Chris Charalambous said the announcement represents a major milestone in Sydney Olympic’s long-term commitment to growing the women’s game.

“Sydney Olympic Football Club warmly welcomes this support from the Australian Government’s Play Our Way program. The $1.5 million investment, together with an additional $300,000 in secured funding, brings the total project value to $1.8 million – a significant step forward in strengthening opportunities for women and girls in our community,” he said.

He noted that the Club has spent the past year actively preparing the proposal through a structured and collaborative process.

“Over the past 12 months, we have worked diligently in partnership with Collappor8, whose expertise has been instrumental in developing a strong and future-focused proposal. This process has ensured the project aligns with our strategic priorities and the needs of our players,” he said.

Collappor8, a Sydney-based business consultancy with experience in strategic planning, operations and grant development, supported the Club through the technical requirements of the application – helping to shape a proposal that met the program’s standards and positioned the project for success.

Charalambous added that more information about the development will be shared publicly as the project moves into its next phase.

“We expect to share further details soon regarding the specifics of the ‘Goal for Inclusion’ women’s facility and the benefits it will deliver across our programs. This funding marks an important milestone for the Club and reinforces our long-term commitment to building sustainable, inclusive pathways for the next generation of female footballers,” he said.

Part of a national push for equity in community sport

The Play Our Way program, announced by the Australian Government to close long-standing gender gaps in community sport, aims to create safe, modern and inclusive spaces for women and girls. Funding streams support both infrastructure projects and participation initiatives, with a focus on long-term change.

Sydney Olympic FC’s grant sits at the upper end of the facilities stream, reflecting strong federal backing for the Club’s strategic direction and commitment to elevating the women’s game.

The Greek Herald will continue to follow the development of the “Goal for Inclusion” project as further updates are released.

Gold Coast cinematographer Simon Christidis to contest stalking charge

The Greek Herald
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Gold Coast cinematographer Simon Christidis to contest stalking charge

Renowned Gold Coast cinematographer Simon Christidis, who has worked with major filmmakers including Ron Howard and James Cameron, will contest a charge alleging he stalked a person known to him over 13 months.

Christidis, 56, an accredited Australian Cinematographers Society member with decades of industry experience, was charged earlier this year with stalking between 1 March 2024 and 31 March 2025, with police alleging “voluminous digital communications” formed part of the conduct.

The matter was mentioned in Southport Magistrates Court on November 4, where defence lawyer Joshua Tiffin confirmed his client would fight the charge. A review has been set for 22 January 2026, followed by a hearing on 5 March.

The court heard of a dispute over police disclosure, with the defence seeking access to all QPRIME-recorded interactions between Christidis and a witness, a relative of the complainant.

Police argued the material was irrelevant, but the magistrate disagreed, saying it was “difficult for the prosecution to work out what’s relevant” to the defence case and urging a “pragmatic” approach.

The issue has now been resolved to both parties’ satisfaction.

Christidis, known for his underwater and surf cinematography, has worked in the film industry since the 1980s. His IMDb credits include Aquamarine, Fool’s Gold, Nim’s Island, Unbroken, Kong: Skull Island, Godzilla vs. Kong and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.

He founded his production company, Big Boy Films, in 1995, with clients such as Tourism Queensland, Sea World and Flight Centre.

Source: Gold Coast Bulletin.

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