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All you need to know about Greek New Year’s Eve customs and traditions

The Greek Herald
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All you need to know about Greek New Year’s Eve customs and traditions

By Victoria Loutas

As the New Year approaches, we turn to traditional Greek New Year’s Eve customs which we hope will bring health, happiness and luck to 2025!

Podariko

The Podariko is one of the oldest Greek customs that is done on New Years Eve. The Greek term, ‘Podariko’ roughly translates to “good foot” which summarises this tradition. As the clock hits 12 and the New Year begins, homeowners carefully select who will be the first to enter their home in the New Year. 

According to Greek tradition the first person to enter a house on New Year’s Day brings either good luck or bad luck to the household. After this special guest is chosen, the home owners need to step on something made out of iron so that the family will be as strong as iron throughout the new year. 

But the tradition doesn’t stop there. After the ‘first footer’ enters, the next person chosen to enter is one with a fresh and clean spirit. This person takes a pomegranate (a fruit that symbolises luck and prosperity) that has been hanging on the front door and smashes it against the door. The more seeds that are scattered at the foot of the front door of the home, the more luck that that household will have for the year. Kalo Podariko!

Credit: Lecic | Getty Images/iStockphoto

Hanging onions

On New Year’s day, many households around Greece hand onions on their doors. This is an ancient tradition which derived from Ancient Greek times. In ancient Greece, onions were a symbol of growth and rebirth, as they are highly fertile. By hanging onions on the door, Greeks are promoting fertility for the household, hoping that everyone inside experiences personal growth and rebirth in the New Year.

Vasilopita 

Like most Greek families, New Years Eve/Day is often celebrated with a large family gathering, to bring in the New Year and commemorate the feast day of Agios Basil. At this time, a traditional Vasilopita is shared, which has a strong meaning in itself. Vasilopita is a sweet cake which contains a hidden coin inside, which gives good luck to the person who receives a slice with the coin. 

Greek company, Mytilineos, lands another solar project in Australia

Andriana Simos
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Greek company, Mytilineos, lands another solar project in Australia

Athens-listed group, Mytilineos, has acquired another solar project in Queensland, Australia, through its Renewables and Storage Development (RSD) Business Unit.

The Greek company acquired the 110-megawatt (MW) Moura Solar Farm from ESCO Pacific, one of Australia’s leading solar farm developers and operators.

This acquisition brings Mytilineos’ Australian portfolio to 400 MW.

They recently announced the acquisition from ESCO Pacific of the 75 MW Wyalong Solar Farm in New South Wales, and have acquired a portfolio of six projects in NSW and Queensland, of which three (totalling 120 MW) are currently under construction.

“We are pleased to partner yet again with ESCO Pacific in Australia. The acquisition of Moura Solar Farm consolidates our position in the Australian market,” General Manager of the RSD Business Unit, Nikos Papapetrou, said in a press release.

Once constructed, the Moura Solar Farm will generate enough electricity to power approximately 40,000 Australian homes.

‘Marry a younger woman’: 100-year-old Louis Ampoulos shares his secrets to living a long life

Andriana Simos
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‘Marry a younger woman’: 100-year-old Louis Ampoulos shares his secrets to living a long life

At 100 years of age, Louis Ampoulos is full of life, love and laughter. When we sit down for our exclusive chat, along with his daughter Vicky and wife Panagiota, they tell us just how full of life he really is.

“In the last few months, he’s started using a μπαστούνι (walking stick) but having said that, I arrived today and saw him at the front holding the μπαστούνι up in the air and walking. So when he has good days, he just has it for decoration,” Vicky Ampoulos tells The Greek Herald with a laugh.

Louis himself jumps in to add that he still feels ‘young at heart’ and cheekily begins to detail his incredible 100 years of life.

At 100 years of age, Louis Ampoulos is full of life, love and laughter. Photo supplied.

Growing up in Plomari, Lesvos:

Louis was born in the village of Plomari on the Greek island of Lesvos to a big family of six siblings – three boys and three girls. Louis was the second child and as he sadly tells us, he has ‘outlived all of his siblings.’

In Plomari, Louis drove a truck for many years until he eventually met his wife Panagiota, who is now 72 years old.

“He was driving his big truck and I was impressed. He was good looking,” Panagiota says with a giggle.

In Plomari, Louis drove a delivery truck for many years. Photo supplied.

Louis adds that when he saw Panagiota, he instantly went to her parents and said, ‘I want to marry your daughter,’ and her parents said, ‘thank you very much.’ Since then, they’ve been inseparable and Louis says marrying Panagiota is one of the secrets to his longevity.

“You should marry a good, younger woman that’s going to look after you and make you all your favourite foods. My wife is an amazing cook,” Louis says.

His life in Australia since 1963:

Louis and Panagiota became engaged in Plomari. But in 1963, Louis, who was 43 years old at the time, migrated to Australia to the rural town of Forbes in New South Wales. While in Forbes, Louis worked in a café ‘washing dishes,’ but he didn’t know any English.

Louis migrated to Australia in 1963 to the rural town of Forbes in New South Wales. Photo supplied.

“I would only be able to say, ‘thank you very much’ and other simple English words,” Louis explains. “But from talking to the people who worked in the café and the customers, I learnt some more English. It was trial and error.”

Panagiota followed Louis to Australia two years later and they were eventually married at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Marrickville.

Louis had moved to Marrickville by this time and the newlyweds quickly had two children – a daughter, when Louis was 46 years old, and a son, when Louis was 50.

Louis and his wife Panagiota have two children and three grandchildren. Photo supplied.

In Marrickville, as well as the northern suburbs, Louis had a number of fruit shops before he eventually retired at 65 years of age. He now resides in Earlwood and although he did suffer a stroke one day after his 100th birthday on November 10, he is recovering slowly.

In fact, it’s clear that this minor health setback hasn’t really stopped him from happily sharing his words of wisdom with his three grandchildren and of course, The Greek Herald.

“Don’t drink and don’t smoke,” Louis says. “If you are a hard worker, life is good in Australia.”

Simple words from a man who’s life story deserves to be told.

Public health alert issued for two Greek Orthodox churches in Wollongong

Andriana Simos
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Public health alert issued for two Greek Orthodox churches in Wollongong

NSW Health has this afternoon confirmed that St Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church and The Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Wollongong were visited by confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Anyone who attended the following venues at the listed times must get tested immediately and self-isolate until they receive further advice from NSW Health:

  • St Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church, 39 Atchison St, Wollongong. On Sunday, December 27, 9am-10.15am.
  • The Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, 18 Stewart St, Wollongong. On Sunday, December 27, 10.30am-11am.

Following this announcement from NSW Health, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia has issued a message to parishioners tonight, urging them to follow the government’s rules.

“With a sense of pastoral responsibility, we once again urge our philanthropic people and all citizens to follow state rules and experts’ instructions on protecting public health and preventing the spread of the pandemic,” a statement from the Archdiocese reads.

Also listed in the public health alert were venues in Figtree and Mona Vale. Anyone who visited any of the following venues at the listed times is considered a casual contact who must get tested immediately and isolate until a negative result is received:

  • Figtree Grove Shopping Centre, 19 Princes Hwy, Figtree. On Monday 21 December, 12.30pm-1.30pm, Wednesday 23 December, 8.45am-9am, and Thursday 24 December, 6.45am-9.30am.
  • Proust Optical, Shop 49, Figtree Grove Shopping Centre, 19 Princes Hwy. On Monday 21 December, 9.30am-5pm, and Wednesday 23 December, 9.30am-2pm. Close contacts from this venue will be contacted by NSW Health.
  • Pittwater Place, 10 Park St, Mona Vale. All day on all the following dates: Sunday 13 December, Monday 14 December, Tuesday 15 December, Wednesday 16 December, Thursday 17 December, Friday 18 December, Saturday 19 December.
  • Wollongong Central, 200 Crown St, Wollongong. On Wednesday 23 December, 3.30pm-4pm.

This news comes as NSW recorded three locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, with an additional six cases in returned travellers in hotel quarantine.

All three of today’s locally acquired cases were linked to the Avalon cluster. They had all been identified as contacts of known cases and were in isolation when they tested positive. Investigations continue into the source of the Avalon cluster, which now numbers 129.

AHEPA NSW Rockdale headquarters to be sold following meeting with creditors

The Greek Herald
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AHEPA NSW Rockdale headquarters to be sold following meeting with creditors

As extensively reported by The Greek Herald in our 6-part series in December 2019, the civil and legal altercations of the AHEPA NSW Inc. Greek association have carried on for decades. AHEPA, which stands for Australasian Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, was founded as a non-profit organisation that aims to foster the Greek diaspora abroad, by promoting a better understanding of Hellenism through people, language, culture and education.

Disagreements between member groups regarding the structure of the organisation exploded in 2015, resulting in three major court cases before the Supreme Court of NSW and an additional case this year before the NSW Court of Appeal. Throughout these escalated tensions within AHEPA NSW Inc., a group of long-standing members decided to break off and create their own “new AHEPA”, also known as the “National Council” or “NSW AHEPA Australia LTD”.

Here is a timeline of the court cases:

  • 2016: Court Case 1 – Victory: NSW Fair Trading, Louisa Mellas and Maria Alexandrou (defendants)
  • Total AHEPA NSW INC had to pay from this case: roughly $326,000 (indemnity costs)
  • 2018: Court Case 2 – Victory: NSW AHEPA Australia LTD (the “new AHEPA”) (plaintiffs)
  • AHEPA NSW INC had to pay indemnity costs again
  • 2019: Court Case 3 – Victory: AHEPA NSW Inc (defendants)
  • “new AHEPA” to pay
  • 2020: NSW Court of Appeal (against result of Court Case 3) – Victory: NSW AHEPA Australia LTD (the “new AHEPA”) 

The result of these cases has left AHEPA NSW Inc. with a hefty costs order to pay that covers their own legal fees as well as the fees of the victorious party.

READ MORE: AHEPA NSW Inc victory short lived as Court of Appeal overturns decision.

On Wednesday 16 December 2020, AHEPA NSW Inc’s voluntary administrators, Cor Cordis, hosted a meeting for creditors. The purpose of the meeting was for creditors of AHEPA NSW Inc to decide the Association’s future through a vote on the following:

  1. Whether the Association should enter into a deed of company arrangement (DOCA)
  2. Whether the administration should end, or
  3. Whether the Association should be wound up and a liquidator appointed.

In the supplementary report to creditors, AHEPA NSW Inc’s administrators recommended creditors vote for option 1: for the association to enter into a deed of company arrangement (DOCA). This option included the following:

  • A return to creditors of 100 cents in the dollar.
  • The sale of Headquarters and Rockdale Leased Premises to Rock Princes (Sydney) Pty Ltd (RPS).
  • A deposit totalling $1.93million be made on signing of the DOCA and the balance of funds due on settlement 28 days after exchange.
  • ROCKDALE Headquarters – 394-396 Princess Highway Rockdale-  will be leased from RPS to the Association rent free in the first year (a saving of at least $100,000) and a reduced rate following in years two and three ($100,000 plus outgoing each year), and
  • For the Deed Administrators to pay a dividend as soon as possible after the DOCA is signed.

The administrators noted, “we had hoped that the DOCA process may provide a means by which the underlying disputes between factions within the membership might be resolved. Despite all parties’ genuine attempts to find a way of achieving that, ultimately that has not been possible.”

READ MORE: The Order of AHEPA NSW Inc enters voluntary administration after legal in-fighting.

The sale of AHEPA HQ:

The divide between certain members of AHEPA NSW Inc. and its Committee of Management was made very clear during the creditors meeting, in regard to one particular point: the sale of AHEPA HQ in Rockdale.

The sale of AHEPA HQ has always been a major point of contention for members, many of whom were against the Committee of Management’s pursual to develop a Hellenic Cultural Centre in Bexley, which is currently owned by Bayside Council. The Greek Herald notes that the proposed Bexley development site will be leased for 20 years with an option to renew for another 20 years. The development will be funded with the proceeds of the sale of the Rockdale Headquarters.

A number of creditors took issue with AHEPA NSW Inc’s administrator’s recommendation to sell the Rockdale property to a related party (Rock Princes P/L) in an off-market transaction rather than a public auction. This tension escalated after creditors learnt there had been an external offer for $4.6 million, which is $200,000 above the valuation price of the property that Rock Princes would purchase for. The DOCA recommended by the administrators outlines that the Rockdale property will be sold to Rock Princes at valuation price. It should be noted that this valuation price was determined by a private valuation obtained by Rock Princess PL which administrators would not disclose due to “its commercial sensitivity,” despite it needing to be voted upon and requested by creditors during the online meeting numerous times.

Additionally, one of the creditors representatives who were against the DOCA supporting the sale of Rockdale HQ requested that the meeting be postponed in order to properly allow for the consideration of the higher offer at $4.6 million however, the administrators maintained that their recommendation to support the DOCA of the sale of Rockdale remained as was and that the vote could not be postponed given it was being held on the 45th day and is required to be voted upon. The same creditor asked that the meeting at least be pushed to the afternoon of the same day as the additional 200k would benefit AHEPA INC, however once again, administrators declined. 

“A group of related parties are proposing to purchase this property at a price lower than what has been offered by another party. It would be most appropriate to have this property sold at an auction,” argued one creditor in the online meeting.

The Directors of Rock Princes are Mr Theophilus Premetis and Mr Bill Giakoumis.

Rock Princes’ DOCA proposal outlined that the sale of the Headquarters at Rockdale will fund the ‘Bexley Project’, which has been argued by the Committee of Management as the key to “progress ahead, bring the youth in and give them the lead to lift it up”. Meanwhile, the members who disagree with the sale of AHEPA HQ have stated they are “fighting for the memory of those gone”.

Certain creditors were unhinged by the inclusion of the Bexley Project in the DOCA due to the risk that the proposed Bexley development could not receive approval from council, or not go ahead for any reason, meaning the Committee of Management would be left to manage the funds from the sale of Rockdale. At this stage Bayside council has not offered any guarantees that this development would go ahead.

The complexity and hostility of the AHEPA NSW Inc. situation has cost the association millions, which was experienced by the administrators whose fee estimates jumped from an original estimate of $75,000 – $100,000  to $514,986.50. When asked during the online meeting why there was such a discrepancy in estimated to actual fees it was said that it was due to the “complexity and legal issues” apparent in the organisation.

It has been argued by parties opposing the sale of Rockdale HQ that AHEPA INC need not have gone into administration at all since its debts without administrators fees was $1,712,563 and its yearly rental income of its properties collectively stood at $550,000. Over some years the debts could have been repaid whilst holding onto the properties it owns.

The majority vote won for the DOCA to sell the Rockdale HQ to Rock Princes.

What happens when a court orders a “costs order”?

At the conclusion of proceedings, generally the Court will make a costs order setting out which party must pay the legal costs associated with the proceedings. Usually, the unsuccessful party will be ordered to pay the legal costs and expenses of the successful party. Even if such an order is made, it can take some time for the costs order to become enforceable. This is because other than in certain circumstances where the Court may fix the quantum of costs payable, in most cases the Court will make an order for costs to be paid, as agreed between the parties, or, as assessed after an independent review.

Once an order is made, the parties will negotiate to agree on an amount of costs payable. If they are unable to reach an agreement, the matter will need to be referred to the assessment process which involves an independent review of costs by a costs assessor.  Once that review process is complete, a determination is issued concerning the amount of costs payable which can be registered as a judgement.  Once a determination is made, there are review and appeal procedures available, if required.

As this can be a lengthy process, in many cases it can be many, many months before a quantifiable amount of costs is payable, and the costs order ultimately enforceable.

Greek Australian-owned construction group under pressure after entering administration

The Greek Herald
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Greek Australian-owned construction group under pressure after entering administration

High-profile construction group, Ganellen, placed one of its companies into administration last week, midway through a court battle over defects and only days after it was fined over the worksite death of a young apprentice.

The Ganellen construction group was founded in 1998 by building magnate-turned-television star Peter Maneas.

One of its entities traded for 22 years as Ganellen Pty Ltd before it changed its name to GDC Group in May and was placed into voluntary administration last week.

“All projects associated with this entity have been completed, occupied and in use for over two years, and all employees and contractors connected to this entity have been paid in full,” a Ganellen spokesman said in a media release.

“It has no impact on any project currently under construction.”

However, administrator’s documents seen by The Sydney Morning Herald reveal GDC Group has current court action against it that has now been left in limbo.

David Oliver tells the SMH he was stunned when his lawyers informed him the company was being wound up, three days before Christmas.

Mr Oliver is a member of an owners’ corporation that has been pursuing GDC Group through the courts since 2017 for over a million dollars’ worth of alleged defects in a North Shore apartment block.

“We were meant to be heading to a settlement conference with them in February,” he told the Australian media outlet.

It is likely that the compensation claim will now be directed to the developer, Defence Housing Australia, which subcontracted Ganellen to build the block.

“Now they’re left holding the baby – which is effectively the public purse,” Mr Oliver said. “We’re lucky Defence Housing isn’t going anywhere.”

Mr Oliver said the court proceedings had been prolonged by Ganellen’s “continual challenging of [expert] reports.”

Earlier this month, another arm of the Ganellen Group was fined over the death of apprentice formworker Christopher Cassaniti in a scaffolding collapse.

Cassaniti died days after his 18th birthday when nine storeys of scaffolding came down at Ganellen’s Macquarie Park construction site last year.

GN Residential Construction Pty Ltd was ordered to pay $900,000 as part of a scathing court verdict.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald.

Lonely Greek parents in lockdown share Christmas table with portraits of their children

Andriana Simos
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Lonely Greek parents in lockdown share Christmas table with portraits of their children

Dimitris and Tassoula Kletsas weren’t able to spend Christmas with their children this year because of the nationwide lockdown in Greece. But that didn’t stop them from getting creative to spread some Christmas cheer.

The Greek couple, from Larissa in central Greece, decided to make the best of a bad situation by creating life-size portraits of their children to accompany them at the family Christmas table this year.

Dimitris, who is an amateur painter, decided that creating a portrait of each of his sons and their wives could go at least a little way toward substituting for their physical presence during this very difficult Christmas of 2020.

Credit: Dimitris Kletsas/Facebook.

Six place settings for the portraits had been carefully laid on the table, which was appropriately decorated in red, green and white for the festive occasion.

Speaking to Proto Thema, Dimitris said he had known all along that because of the virus “no one will be able to visit us — and so I thought of my own way to feel close to them.”

His family were so impressed by the portraits that they shared them on Facebook, writing “when you are creative, you even overcome the lockdowns!”

“Well done! You proved that nothing can keep parents ‘away’ from their children! Up close next year!” his son, Evangelos, wrote on Facebook.

Greek Presidential decree on extension of western territorial waters comes into force

The Greek Herald
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Greek Presidential decree on extension of western territorial waters comes into force

The presidential decree on the closing of bays and drawing of straight baselines in the maritime area of the Ionian and the Ionian islands up to Cape Tainaro in the Peloponnese entered into force on Sunday through its publication in the government gazette.

The move is a necessary step in the process of extending Greece’s western territorial waters.

In a statement Sunday, the Foreign Ministry said the decree was issued pursuant to the law ratifying the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“The Presidential Decree highlights that Greece reserves the right – as deriving from the Convention on the Law of the Sea, which reflects international customary law – to exercise its respective rights in other areas of its territory,” it said.

The presidential decree was published in the government gazette.

“Firmly committed to upholding International Law, including the Law of the Sea, Greece always acts in line with international legality,” it said.

Plans to extend the western limit of Greece’s territorial waters in the Ionian Sea to 12 miles were announced by Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in August.

READ MORE: Greece to extend territorial waters in the Ionian Sea, says PM.

They do not affect the Aegean region, off the country’s eastern and southern coasts.

Source: Ekathimerini.

Greek diaspora encouraged to return to Greece for university during online conference

The Greek Herald
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Με μεγάλη επιτυχία πραγματοποιήθηκε η διαδικτυακή ημερίδα που διοργάνωσαν η Γενική Γραμματεία Ανώτατης Εκπαίδευσης του Υπουργείου Παιδείας και Θρησκευμάτων και η Γενική Γραμματεία Δημόσιας Διπλωματίας και Απόδημου Ελληνισμού του Υπουργείου Εξωτερικών με τίτλο  «Ενδυναμώνοντας τις γέφυρες ανάμεσα στα ελληνικά πανεπιστήμια και τον Ελληνισμό της Διασποράς» και την οποία παρακολούθησαν χιλιάδες Έλληνες από 69 χώρες του κόσμου. Κατά τη διάρκεια της ημερίδας, η οποία διοργανώθηκε με αφορμή τον εορτασμό της Παγκόσμιας Ημέρας Εκπαίδευσης και τη συμπλήρωση διακοσίων χρόνων από την έναρξη της Επανάστασης του 1821, επιφανείς Έλληνες του εξωτερικού και αξιωματούχοι της κυβέρνησης υπογράμμισαν το υψηλό επίπεδο της ελληνικής τριτοβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης αλλά και την πληθώρα επιλογών στην ελληνική και την αγγλική γλώσσα που προσφέρουν τα ελληνικά πανεπιστήμια σε ομογενείς αλλά και ξένους πολίτες.

Κατά την έναρξη της ημερίδας η Υπουργός Παιδείας και Θρησκευμάτων, Νίκη Κεραμέως, τόνισε ότι «…τα ελληνικά πανεπιστήμια έχουν πολλά να προσφέρουν στην παγκόσμια ακαδημαϊκή κοινότητα μέσα από συνεργασίες, ανταλλαγή φοιτητών, εκπαιδευτικών, ερευνητών, διπλά και κοινά προγράμματα σπουδών. Καλούμε όσους ζουν στο εξωτερικό, ημεδαπούς ή αλλοδαπούς, να επιλέξουν την Ελλάδα για τις σπουδές τους. Απευθύνω ιδιαίτερο κάλεσμα στους Έλληνες της Διασποράς, για έναν ακόμη λόγο. Γιατί για εσάς, η Ελλάδα δεν είναι μία ξένη χώρα, είναι πατρίδα σας, και θα είναι μεγάλη μας χαρά να μπορέσουμε να σας προσφέρουμε υψηλού επιπέδου τριτοβάθμια εκπαίδευση».

Ο Υφυπουργός Εξωτερικών, αρμόδιος για τον Απόδημο Ελληνισμό, Κωνσταντίνος Βλάσης, ανέφερε ότι η Ελλάδα, η χώρα που γέννησε την Φιλοσοφία, τις Επιστήμες και τον Πολιτισμό φιλοδοξεί να καταλάβει κομβική θέση στον παγκόσμιο εκπαιδευτικό χάρτη. Σε αυτήν την προσπάθεια ισχυρό σύμμαχο αποτελούν οι απανταχού Έλληνες, οι οποίοι διψούν για Ελλάδα. Ειδικότερα σήμερα, προσφέρεται στη νέα γενιά ομογενών η δυνατότητα να παρακολουθήσουν ξενόγλωσσα προγράμματα σπουδών υψηλού ακαδημαϊκού επιπέδου, αλλά και να γνωρίσουν από κοντά την ελληνική γλώσσα και κουλτούρα. Αυτή η διαδικασία θα έχει πολλαπλά οφέλη για την χώρα μας, αλλά και για τους ίδιους τους ομογενείς, οι οποίοι θα αποκτήσουν τα απαραίτητα εφόδια για την μετέπειτα πορεία τους, έχοντας, παράλληλα, ανακαλύψει και τις ρίζες τους. Το Υπουργείο Εξωτερικών θα βρίσκεται πάντα στην πρώτη γραμμή και θα συνδράμει με όλα τα διαθέσιμα εργαλεία το Υπουργείο Παιδείας, στην μεγάλη προσπάθεια για ανάδειξη των ελληνικών Α.Ε.Ι. στο εξωτερικό και στην προσέλκυση ενδιαφέροντος των μελών της Διασποράς στην παρακολούθηση των ξενόγλωσσων προγραμμάτων τους.

Ο Υφυπουργός Παιδείας και Θρησκευμάτων, αρμόδιος για την Ανώτατη Εκπαίδευση, Άγγελος Συρίγος, υπογράμμισε ότι φέτος το σύγχρονο ελληνικό κράτος συμπληρώνει 200 χρόνια ζωής. Η ελληνική διασπορά συνέβαλε αποφασιστικά στην προετοιμασία του απελευθερωτικού αγώνα των Ελλήνων. Αλλά και μετά τη δημιουργία του σύγχρονου ελληνικού κράτους, οι ελληνικές Kοινότητες του Εξωτερικού διατήρησαν έναν αναβαθμισμένο πολιτικό ρόλο κατά τις περιόδους των εθνικών κρίσεων του Ελληνισμού. Οι ακατάλυτοι δεσμοί των Ελλήνων της διασποράς με την πατρίδα υπογραμμίστηκαν με τον ευεργετισμό και τις πρωτοβουλίες τους στο χώρο της παιδείας. Οι κοινότητες της ελληνικής διασποράς ήταν και θα είναι πάντα, ένα από τα σημαντικότερα πλεονεκτήματα της Ελλάδας. Η εξωστρέφεια, η διεθνοποίηση των ελληνικών πανεπιστημιακών ιδρυμάτων πρέπει να ενισχύσει και την καλύτερη διασύνδεση της Ελλάδας με την ακαδημαϊκή, ερευνητική και επιχειρηματική κοινότητα της διασποράς.

Ο Πρόεδρος της Ειδικής Μόνιμης Επιτροπής Ελληνισμού της Διασποράς και βουλευτής της ΝΔ, Σάββας Αναστασιάδης, επισήμανε ότι τα Ελληνικά Πανεπιστήμια μαζί με τις πρωτοβουλίες της Κυβέρνησης, των αρμοδίων φορέων και θεσμών και η επέτειος των  200 χρόνων από την Επανάσταση, μπορεί να προκαλέσουν «συναγερμό» του Ελληνισμού, στην προσπάθεια ανάτασης και αναγέννησης του Έθνους και της Πατρίδας μας.

Ο Γενικός Γραμματέας Δημόσιας Διπλωματίας και Απόδημου Ελληνισμού του Υπουργείου Εξωτερικών, Ιωάννης Χρυσουλάκης, τόνισε το ολοένα και αυξανόμενο ενδιαφέρον των Ελλήνων ομογενών, αλλά και αλλοδαπών υπηκόων, να εγγραφούν στα εκπαιδευτικά ιδρύματα της χώρας μας, ενώ χαρακτήρισε του Έλληνες επιστήμονες που έχουν σπουδάσει στη χώρα μας και τώρα διαπρέπουν στο εξωτερικό ως πρεσβευτές της ελληνικής κουλτούρας και του πολιτισμού μας.

Ο Γενικός Γραμματέας Ανώτατης Εκπαίδευσης του Υπουργείου Παιδείας και Θρησκευμάτων, Αποστόλης Δημητρόπουλος, αναγνώρισε το ισχυρό ενδιαφέρον της Διασποράς για συνεργασία στον τομέα της εκπαίδευσης,  «Οι γέφυρες που ενώνουν την Ελλάδα και τα ελληνικά πανεπιστήμια με τον ελληνισμό της Διασποράς είναι υπαρκτές, έχουν ισχυρά θεμέλια και σε εμάς αναλογεί πλέον η ευθύνη να τις ενισχύσουμε με σύγχρονα υλικά». Συμπλήρωσε επίσης πως «πρέπει να εργαστούμε για να δημιουργήσουμε συνθήκες επιστροφής των νέων μας και αντιστροφής του brain drain, ενισχύοντας την εξωστρέφεια των ελληνικών πανεπιστημίων ώστε να αναδειχθούν σε πόλους έλξεις για τους νέους της ομογένειας μαζί με εκείνους άλλων χωρών».

Οι Έλληνες που διαπρέπουν στο εξωτερικό αποδεικνύουν το υψηλό επίπεδο  των ελληνικών πανεπιστημίων, ενώ η διεθνοποίηση της εκπαίδευσης της χώρας που επιχειρείται σήμερα αποτελεί θετική πρωτοβουλία την οποία μπορεί να στηρίξει και να διαδώσει η ομογένεια, ανέφεραν οι καθηγητές Νικόλαος Παπαιωάννου, πρώην Πρόεδρος της Συνόδου των Πρυτάνεων Α.Ε.Ι., Ζήσης Μαμούρης, Πρόεδρος της Συνόδου των Πρυτάνεων Α.Ε.Ι., Μάρα Νικολαϊδου, Πρύτανης του  Χαροκοπείου Πανεπιστημίου και Περικλής Μήτκας, Πρόεδρος της Εθνικής Αρχής Ανώτατης Εκπαίδευσης.  

«Μία από τις πιο ισχυρές σχέσεις που αντέχουν στο χρόνο, είναι η σχέση που διαμορφώνει ένας φοιτητής, ένας επιστήμονας, ένας επαγγελματίας με τη χώρα που τον βοήθησε να αποκτήσει γνώσεις … Οι πλούσιες εμπειρίες που αποκτά κάνεις σε μία χώρα, είναι αυτές που μετασχηματίζονται αβίαστα σε πολιτική υποστήριξη αυτής της χώρας και σε οικονομική δραστηριότητα με τους ανθρώπους αυτής της χώρας», τόνισε ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής Ελπιδοφόρος, ενώ ο Μητροπολίτης Γουινέας Γεώργιος, ως εκπρόσωπος του Πατριάρχου Αλεξανδρείας και πάσης Αφρικής Θεόδωρου αναφέρθηκε στις πρωτοβουλίες του Πατριαρχείου στον τομέα της εκπαίδευσης στην Αφρική και χαιρέτισε τις προσπάθειες ενίσχυσης της εξωστρέφειας της ελληνικής εκπαίδευσης.

Για τις υποτροφίες που παρέχει το ελληνικό κράτος μίλησε ο Πρόεδρος του Ιδρύματος Κρατικών Υποτροφιών, καθηγητής Μιχάλης Κουτσιλιέρης, ενώ τα ελληνόφωνα και αγγλόφωνα προγράμματα σπουδών των ελληνικών πανεπιστημίων παρουσίασε ο επιστημονικός υπεύθυνος του «Study in Greece», καθηγητής Χρήστος Μιχαλακέλης.

Την εμπειρία τους από τη φοίτησή τους στα ελληνικά πανεπιστήμια, το υψηλό επίπεδο των σπουδών που αυτά προσφέρουν δωρεάν και την ανάγκη διασύνδεσης των πανεπιστημίων με την αγορά εργασίας, τόνισαν επιφανείς Έλληνες που διαπρέπουν στο εξωτερικό, όπως ο Αλβέρτος Μπουρλά, Πρόεδρος και Διευθύνων Σύμβουλος της PFIZER, ο Γιώργος Βέλμαχος, καθηγητής Χειρουργικής της Ιατρικής Σχολής του Πανεπιστημίου Harvard και αποδέκτης του Βραβείου Argo (2020), η Μαρία Θέμελη¸ επίκουρη καθηγήτρια στο Τμήμα Αιματολογίας της Ιατρικής Σχολής του Πανεπιστημίου Άμστερνταμ και αποδέκτης του Βραβείου VIVA400 (2017), ο Κωνσταντίνος Δασκαλάκης, καθηγητής στο Τμήμα Ηλεκτρολόγων Μηχανικών και Επιστήμης Υπολογιστών του Πανεπιστημίου MIT και αποδέκτης του Βραβείου Rolf Nevanlinna (2018), ο Γιώργος Αναγνώστου,καθηγητής Νεοελληνικής Γλώσσας και Πολιτισμού του Πανεπιστημίου Οχάιο (Έδρα  «Μιλιτιάδης Μαρινάκης» για τη νεοελληνική γλώσσα και τον πολιτισμό)  και ο Θάνος Τσιρίκος, επικεφαλής του Κέντρου Σπονδυλικής Μονάδας και Σπονδυλικών Παραμορφώσεων Σκωτίας και Γιατρός της Χρονιάς 2011 στη Σκωτία.

Ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον είχαν οι τοποθετήσεις εκπροσώπων ελληνικών συλλόγων της διασποράς, όπως ο Σπύρος Μεζίτης, Πρόεδρος της Ομοσπονδίας Ελληνικών Ιατρικών Συλλόγων ΗΠΑ και Καναδά, ο Παναγιώτης Μανώλας, Πρόεδρος του Ελληνικού Ιατρικού Συλλόγου Νέας Υόρκης, ο Βασίλης (Bill) Παπαστεργιάδης, Πρόεδρος της Ελληνικής Ορθόδοξης Κοινότητας Μελβούρνης και Βικτώριας, ο Βασίλης Μωσαϊδης, Εκτελεστικός Διευθυντής της AHEPA, ο Χρήστος Καβαλής, Πρόεδρος της Ελληνικής Κοινότητας Καΐρου, η Ιωάννα Ζαχαράκη, Πρόεδρος του Δικτύου Ελλήνων Αιρετών Αυτοδιοίκησης της Ευρώπης, ο Λούης Λοΐζου, Πρόεδρος της Ελληνικής Ένωσης Τραπεζών Ηνωμένου Βασιλείου και ο Φώτης Καραντώνης, Πρόεδρος της National Hellenic Student Association, οι οποίοι τόνισαν την ανάγκη θεσμοθέτησης της συνεργασίας μεταξύ των ελληνικών και των ξένων πανεπιστημίων, καθώς και της συστηματικής ενημέρωσης της ομογένειας για τις εκπαιδευτικές ευκαιρίες που προσφέρει πλέον η χώρα μας.

Ο Δημήτρης Κράλλης, Διευθυντής του Κέντρου Ελληνικών Σπουδών του Ιδρύματος Σταύρος Νιάρχος στο Πανεπιστήμιο Simon Fraser (SFU) παρουσίασε την επίσημη πλατφόρμα εκμάθηση της ελληνικής γλώσσας για τους Έλληνες της Ομογένειας www.staellinika.com, ενώ την ημερίδα έκλεισαν παρουσιάζοντας βέλτιστες πρακτικές από τις χώρες όπου υπηρετούν, ο Βίκτωρ Μαλιγκούδης, Γενικός Πρόξενος της Ελλάδας στο Τορόντο και ο Στράτος Ευθυμίου, Γενικός Πρόξενος της Ελλάδας στη Βοστώνη.

Sydney father, Theo Theodosi, makes miracle recovery from advanced lung cancer

Andriana Simos
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Sydney father, Theo Theodosi, makes miracle recovery from advanced lung cancer

Sydney dad and physiotherapist, Theo Theodosi, was told to get his affairs in order when he was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer in 2017.

“CT scans, MRIs, lung biopsies… I came out with stage three lung cancer. They couldn’t do surgery, they couldn’t do radiation, they couldn’t do chemo,” the 62-year-old told Nine News.

Then he met Dr Venessa Chin, who suggested a new immunotherapy drug called Keytruda, which helps the body’s own immune system target and kill cancer cells.

Mr Theodosi quickly began to see results in what he calls a “Benjamin Button” recovery from lung cancer.

Mr Theodosi was given a new drug treatment which is now on the PBS. Photo: 9News.

“I look younger and healthier, and my face looks totally different, so yes, Benjamin Button,” Mr Theodosi said — referencing the famed F. Scott Fitzgerald story (and later film adaptation) about a man who ages backwards.

Mr Theodosi said he paid close to $6,500 apiece for the first four rounds of new treatment. After two years of treatment and surgery to remove a lump, Mr Theodosi got the all-clear.

“The lymph nodes within the lungs, which had previously had cancer in them on the scans, looked like they’d been cleared of cancer,” Dr Chin said.

“Theo’s been able to continue to work during this time. He’s been relatively well, doing overseas trips and sort of getting on with his life.”

Mr Theodosi’s case has helped put the potentially life-saving drug on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Dr Chin is now conducting research to see if there is a way to predict which advanced lung cancer patients will respond to immunotherapy. Mr Theodosi has donated $10,000 to the study, in the hope it helps others achieve results like his.

“I hope it gets out there and really, really helps the masses,” he said.

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