Fronditha Care has appointed new Directors to its Board leadership team heralding significant changes to governance leadership of the organisation.

Announced in a press release on Wednesday, the new team includes Jill Taylor (Nikitakis), re-elected at the recent AGM for another three-year term, who is the new President and Board Chair.

Kostas Kyrifidis has retained the role of Treasurer, with newly elected directors Dr. Stella Laletas taking on the role of Vice President and Kostas Livadaras becoming Company Secretary. The Board has also co-opted John Kallitsas as a Director, who has a long- standing relationship with Fronditha Care and is a benefactor.

Jill Taylor (Nikitakis), humbled and honoured by her appointment to lead the Board, said: “I am energised by the talent of the new Directors who with their diverse professional backgrounds bring significant understanding of the not-for-profit sector and specifically deep knowledge of the aged care sector, substantial business acumen with exceptional human resource management skills and extensive governance expertise to the Board.”

Importantly, noted Taylor (Nikitakis), Directors all have deep connections with the Fronditha Care membership base, the Greek and broader community and established relationships with partners and stakeholders.

After 43 years of operation Fronditha Care, with five residential facilities and extensive home care
services has built a strong reputation in the aged care sector.

This past year has been an exceptionally challenging year for Fronditha Care with the significant impacts of COVID 19 and major Government reform of the sector demanding so much of the organisation in ensuring it maintained its commitment and focus on the safety and wellbeing of those in its care and their families.

Taylor (Nikitakis) said: “An equally important responsibility of the Board and CEO was its obligation to maintain strong fiduciary oversight. At the recent AGM our members, including past Presidents, benefactors, auxiliary chairs and commercial partners expressed their significant concerns about the financial management of the organisation in the past year.”

“These members also expressed ongoing concern about the capacity of the leadership of the organisation to seriously address the financial issues, which led to a significant deficit, highlighting the lack of clarity in a plan and related timing to turnaround the business.”

“The new Board is absolutely focused on fostering greater transparency in its financial
operations, renewing the confidence of the Fronditha Care membership and broader community in
its capacity to responsibly govern the organisation.”

Taylor also reassured members and the community that the Board changes represent an “opportunity for a significant refresh and a new chapter for the organisation.”

“I want to thank all previous Directors, including the previous President and Board Chair, Prof.
Eugenia Pedagogos, Aspasia Georgiou, Tim Dionyssopoulos, Pam Kalodimos, Soula Cargakis, Dr.
Arthur Kokkinias for their service to Fronditha Care and their contributions across their respective
tenures. In particular, I pay tribute to their collective commitment to the organisation.”

The new Board is currently working on a financial strategy for shaping the future of Fronditha Care
and early in the new year will provide a detailed communique to members and the public.

“We are focused on re-envisaging operations to ensure financial security and organisational viability,” Taylor added.

“There is a long journey ahead of us and lots of work to do but I’m delighted to lead this truly talented team at this challenging moment in Fronditha Care’s history, continuing the legacy of those who have gone before for more than four decades.”

Aged care residents in NSW will be able to host as many Christmas visitors as they want as regulations imposed to stop the spread of COVID-19 into the facilities are eased.

The two-visitor rule will be lifted from Tuesday, NSW Health says. There will no limit on the number of people allowed to visit each resident.

Performers like choirs and musicians will also be able to visit for the first time since March for festive traditions of carols and Christmas concerts.

The news comes as NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday recorded 10 consecutive days without a locally acquired COVID-19 case.

“The risk of transmission in the community is now low enough to facilitate the easing of restrictions for aged care, just as the NSW government has eased restrictions across many other areas,” NSW Health’s director of aged care Stefanie Williams said in a statement on Monday.

“Social connections are important to all of us, but particularly to residents in aged care. We are very pleased to enable residents to spend time with more of their loved ones this festive season.”

The changes were announced as NSW public health orders forcing employers to consider work-from-home arrangements for staff are wound back.

Employers are now able to recall staff to NSW offices if they see fit, which Treasurer Dominic Perrottet hopes will spur productivity improvements.

“What I think we’ll see over this time is a combination of people working from home, returning to the city, doing both,” Mr Perrottet told reporters.

“If that increases productivity then that’s a great thing.

“We want to have as much culture and as much life, particularly over the weekends as well, to bring people back to town.”

Sourced By: AAP

Sport diversity activist Mary Konstantopoulos has been selected as one of 16 outstanding Australian journalists to take part in the Our Watch Fellowship program.

Administered by the Walkley Foundation, the program aims to build and refine fellows’ knowledge of best practice reporting on violence against women and deepen their understanding of the complexities of the issue.

The journalists, from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, will attend a series of three retreats in February, April and June 2021.

Mary Konstantopoulos is the founder of ‘Ladies who League’ and ‘Ladies who Legspin’; media companies focused on supporting women in sport and encouraging women to get involved in conversations about sport.

Speaking to The Greek Herald a few weeks prior to her appointment in the program, Mary said she is proud to be part of the growing voice in women’s sport in Australia.

READ MORE: Mary Konstantopoulos: The voice women’s sport in Australia desperately needs

“Whenever I get emails from young women or young people wanting me to share their stories or saying thank you for the work that I do, it reminds me of the impact,” Mary said.

“We’re moving away from simply, ‘oh gee it’s so good women play sport’, to actually covering it in a similar way we do the men’s game, which I think is really important.”

Click here to see the full list of journalists taking part in the Our Watch Fellowship program.

Thanks to persistent efforts from the Greek community in Australia, the Greek language program at La Trobe University has been saved and will continue for the next three years. Read the joint press release from the Greek Community of Melbourne and La Trobe University below:

Following a commitment made by the Greek Community of Melbourne to provide both additional funding and assistance in increasing student enrolments, La Trobe University has agreed to continue the teaching of its Greek language program for three years.

The situation will be reviewed after semester 1 census in 2023 and the future of the program will be dependent on whether enrolment targets have been met.

The commitment follows a change proposal shared with staff for consultation on 11 November, as well as feedback from key external stakeholders of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HUSS). This change proposal is part of La Trobe’s response to the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the University.

The Greek language program was considered financially unviable because of consistently low enrolments and was proposed for closure from 2022 as part of the change proposal.

Following constructive meetings between La Trobe’s Vice-Chancellor Professor John Dewar AO and other University senior executives and Mr Bill Papastergiadis OAM, President Greek Community of Melbourne, and other senior figures from the Greek community, the Greek Community of Melbourne has committed to providing $192,000 over three years as well as proactive assistance in ensuring the program reaches a financially viable enrolment target after semester 1 census in 2023.

La Trobe Vice-Chancellor Professor John Dewar AO warmly welcomed the support from the Greek Community of Melbourne and said he looked forward to continuing a fruitful collaboration to find constructive solutions to enrolments in the Greek language program.

“La Trobe University plays a significant role in providing quality higher education to communities in Melbourne’s north, including the Greek community,” Professor Dewar said.

“It has been pleasing to see such a strong and passionate response to the proposed closure of our Greek language program and that senior leaders from the Greek Community have come to the table to offer positive solutions – both financial and to assist with enrolments — to ensure the program can survive and, hopefully, flourish in the future.”

Mr Bill Papastergiadis OAM, President Greek Community of Melbourne, said, “As the sole provider of a major in Greek Studies in Victoria, it is heartening that an agreement has been reached to save this program.

“The Greek Language is a critical part of our culture. It plays a vital role in strengthening the multicultural and cosmopolitan fabric of Victoria.

“A broad coalition of interested persons and groups worked tirelessly with the University to ensure that the Program not only survives but thrives. I am excited about what the future will bring for our Greek language program.

“I thank the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor of La Trobe University for being open and honest in their dialogue and workings during this process. Today is an important moment for our community.”

The Very Reverend Father Evmenios Vasilopoulos, Archiepiscopal Vicar for the District of Northcote Victoria said, “The continuation of the La Trobe University Modern Greek programme evidences the sensitivity of La Trobe University towards the broader multicultural community and its nuanced appreciation of language learning, as intrinsic to the promotion and enhancement of cultural diversity within our polyglot state.

“The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and its primate, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios eagerly look forward to an enduring partnership with the University and other key community stakeholders so as to maintain and advance the study of a linguistic corpus that has exercised such a profound influence on the political, cultural and religious development of world civilisation.”

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia announced in a press release yesterday that they will be encouraging students to take up Greek language programs through their educational institutions.

The agreement reached today continues a tradition of the Greek community’s commitment to Greek language studies, including through the bequest of Mr Anastassios Vassilogiannis, which supports part of the costs of the program at La Trobe.

The La Trobe University Library continues to house, maintain and make available to the community the Dardalis Archives of the Hellenic Diaspora.

The University also remains committed to providing teaching and research related to Greek culture, history and heritage through the A.D Trendall Research Centre for Ancient Mediterranean Studies and other teaching programs.

Iconic McLaren Vale winery, Fox Creek Wines has been purchased by long-time mates and industry colleagues, Ben Gibson, Jock Harvey and Dim Georgiadis, Glam Adelaide reports. 

Dim, whose background is in law, is a founder and Director of Business Development for the FABAL group of companies that specialise in large scale agri-business and vineyard management.

Ben has held a broad cross section of wine industry roles over the last 20 years, including various Director positions at Pernod Ricard and more recently CEO of Clare Valley winery, Kirrihill Wines. Jock, a wine industry stalwart, is best known as proprietor of Chalk Hill Viticulture.

Together, the three men will pool their collective experience to embark on the next journey for Fox Creek Wines.

All three share a love of high-quality Shiraz, Grenache and alternative varietals along with a passion for the McLaren Vale region, the wines, the food, the environment and the local community.   

While standing on the dam wall during a site visit, Gibson, who will assume the role of CEO, said that they quickly realised the hidden gem that is Fox Creek Wines with its rich soils, 1,200 tonne winery, 20 hectares of premium vineyards and historic cellar door – all within the 46hectare property. 

“In spite of the hardships the wine industry has faced in the current climate and pandemic, Jock, Dim and I immediately saw the value in investing in such an iconic wine brand in McLaren Vale”. 

McLaren Vale’s unique combination of world class wines and produce with a beach lifestyle, ensures that the region truly offers a unique, welcoming experience.  

“With Fox Creek located so close to our hometown of Willunga, Jock and I could not be happier to be reunited. In partnership with our great friend Dim, we embark on what will be an exciting new chapter for Fox Creek Wines”, Gibson said.   

“We have a shared passion for the local community, which will sit foremost at the heart of the Fox Creek Wines philosophy,” he added. 

Fox Creek was established in 1984 by Helen and Dr. Jim Watts following the purchase of the property on Malpas Road in McLaren Vale. Fox Creek has won numerous domestic and international wine awards, along with being recognised by James Halliday as a 5 Star rated winery.

Langley and Co were the advisor to the sale for the Watts’ family. “I would like to thank the Watts Family, the Fox Creek Board and Langley & Co Director Stephen Strachan for their commitment to achieving the sale,” Gibson said.  

“We are indebted greatly to the Watts’ family for the legacy that they have created and look forward to writing the next exciting chapter for Fox Creek Wines.” 

Sourced By: Glam Adelaide