Nick Diamantopoulos is the chief executive of Australian Garlic Producers and twenty years ago, he had a dream. He envisioned that Australians would never have to buy imported garlic again.
Fed up with the poor quality of Chinese garlic in particular, Diamantopoulos embarked on a project to stock Australian supermarket shelves with home-grown bulbs.
“The only problem was the Australian garlic season started around Christmas and finished later in summer,” Diamantopoulos told Good Food.
Nick Diamantopoulos is the chief executive of Australian Garlic Producers.
For an all-Australian supply, the garlic lover needed to bring the start of the season forward and push the end of harvest back.
“I had to find garlic varieties that could grow around the different climates of Australia, from the tropics in the north to the cold climate of the south,” he says.
The former industrial chemist’s quest to find the perfect garlic bulb took him from Melbourne’s eastern suburbs to Syria, and to the peaks of the Andes.
Nick Diamantopoulos is on a mission to make sure Australians never have to eat poor quality, imported garlic again. Photo: Simon Schluter.
Eventually, Diamantopoulos realised his dream.
The first Australian-grown garlic of the season was harvested in September on a farm near Robinvale on the Murray River. The bulbs come from a tropical variety sourced from Senegal.
The last garlic will be pulled from the earth in March, much of it set to be cured at Diamantopoulos’ processing facility near Mildura in north-west Victoria.
“Once cured, garlic will keep,” he says. “If stored correctly, it will still be in excellent condition in six months’ time.”
The bulbs will be trucked to retailers such as Coles and Woolworths over winter, completing Diamantopoulos’ decades-long ambition to fill supermarket shelves with Australian garlic. He says Australia is now the only country with a continuous supply of fresh, local bulbs.
“My Greek mother makes the best skordalia [garlic and potato dip] in the world,” he says.
“She says the garlic is now good enough to make it year-round. The taste has been worth all the effort.”
Paul S. Sarbanes, the son of Greek immigrants who rose the ranks of the Democratic Party to become one of the most powerful and respected US Senators, died at the age of 87 on Sunday night, according to his son.
The Democrat “passed away peacefully this evening in Baltimore,” said a statement by US Representative John Sarbanes, who represents Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District.
Sarbanes’ office didn’t immediately reply to questions about details of the death such as the cause or where he was when he died.
Paul S. Sarbanes was one of the most powerful and respected US Senators.
A workhorse with a consistently liberal voting record, the elder Sarbanes in 2000 became the state’s first US senator to win a fifth term.
“Our family is grateful to know that we have the support of Marylanders who meant so much to him and whom he was honored to serve,” John Sarbanes’ statement said.
Born in Salisbury on February 3, 1933, Sarbanes was the prototype of the self-made Greek American.
Born in Salisbury on February 3, 1933, Sarbanes was the prototype of the self-made Greek American.
He grew up around the restaurant owned by his parents, Spyros and Matina, landed a scholarship to Princeton University and went on to become a Rhodes scholar. He graduated from Harvard Law School in 1960, the same year he married his British-born wife, Christine. They had three children.
Sarbanes’ wife, Christine Sarbanes, a retired educator, died in 2009. The couple had another son, Michael A. Sarbanes, and a daughter, Janet M. Sarbanes.
A private funeral service is planned.
“Following state, local and public health guidance amid the COVID-19 pandemic, our family will hold a private service in the coming days,” John Sarbanes’ statement said.
Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has denied violating lockdown restrictions during a mountain bike ride last weekend.
A photo that was published by the Greek press and on social media went viral in the country.
It showed the Prime Minister posing without a mask and not respecting social-distancing rules alongside five motorcyclists at Mount Parnitha, 45km north of Athens.
Mitsotakis, pictured in cyclists’ clothing, was reported to have travelled to the area on Sunday with his wife.
Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has denied violating lockdown restrictions during a mountain bike ride last weekend.
The main left-wing opposition party Syrizaaccused the Prime Minister of “breaking the lockdown without protective measures,” while at the same time calling on citizens to show “individual responsibility” and respect the restrictions.
“You behave as if you were living in another world,” former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, head of Syriza, said in parliament on Thursday evening.
Tsipras also accused Mitsotakis of “lack of empathy for citizens who are not allowed to move” away from their homes.
But in a statement to Euronews, the press office of Mitsotakis said the PM was entitled to travel within the Athens region.
“During the first lockdown in Greece, in March and April of this year, the government mandated that exercise only be allowed in the proximity of one’s home,” the statement reads.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis has been criticised for the leaked photos. Photo by Louisa Gouliamaki / AFP.
“For this second lockdown, this guidance was updated and the government outlined that exercise activities and walks would be allowed in a broader region, but that they must be limited to the prefecture one lives in.”
On November 5, Prime Minister Mitsotakis noted that the country would be more flexible with citizens wanting to exercise during the second lockdown as long as basic rules are obeyed.
“The rules in Greece outline that Greeks are allowed to travel within their prefecture, which is what the Prime Minister did,” the statement adds.
Officials from Syriza have hit back at what it described as “ridiculous excuses.”
“[There is] only lack of empathy and arrogance, at a time when the public health system is at its limits and the health staff on the verge of psychological and physical collapse,” said Nassos Iliopoulos from the Syriza-Progressive Alliance.
Physical exercise is listed as one of the accepted reasons for leaving home, according to the strict containment measures imposed by Greece to stem the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
However, such physical exercise is now limited to their prefecture, and any infringement without a clear reason is punishable with a €300 fine.
The wearing of masks is also compulsory outdoors in Greece under the regulations announced by Prime Minister Mitsotakis.
Greece extended its national lockdown for the second time on Thursday, until December 14.
Authorities in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki have dug dozens of graves for the victims of COVID-19 after a sharp increase in the number of deaths.
Greece has ordered a second nationwide lockdown after a spike in cases of the new coronavirus. By Sunday, it had recorded 115,471 cases and a new grim milestone – 3,003 deaths.
Greek Orthodox priest Father Efstathios and workers in personal protective equipment (PPE) stand next to newly-opened graves in Thessaloniki, Greece. Photo: New York Times.
Thessaloniki, a city of about one million and where the first nationwide cases surfaced in February, has been particularly hard hit during the second wave.
“We didn’t encounter many cases in the first lockdown… There were very few cases (then) and it wasn’t every day. These days it’s daily,” funeral services provider, Stavros Chatzivaritis, said.
“There are between five and eight funerals, almost every day.”
At the Resurrection of the Lord Cemetery in Thessaloniki, on the eastern side of Greece’s second largest city, many new graves have been opened. The Greek Orthodox chapel in the compound conducts funeral services, with pallbearers in full protective clothing.
The silence in its graveyard is punctured by the gentle chant of an Orthodox priest, or by the thud of the shovelled earth hitting the coffin, wrapped in plastic.
There are flowers, but grieving relatives are kept to a minimum and at a distance. “To my beloved,” wrote one on a wreath.
On Sunday, December 6, the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra celebrated the name day of Saint Nicholas, of which the church is named after, holding a special service followed by plenty of food and dancing from the Hellenic dancers.
The celebrations consisted of many special guests including Ms Tara Cheyne, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Zed Seselja, Assistant Minister to the Treasurer & Senator for the ACT representing the Prime Minister, Mrs Maria Vamvakinou MP, Mr Steve Georganas MP, His Excellency, Ambassador of Greece Mr George Papacostas, Her Excellency, High Commissioner of Cyprus Mrs Martha Mavrommatis, His Excellency, Ambassador of Austria Mr Wolfgang Lukas Strohmayer, President of the Greek Community, Mr John Loukadellis, as well as former Parish Priest George Carpis, current Priest of St Nicholas, Father Petros Kipouros and current Priest of St Demetrios, Father Iakovos Syriotis.
Politicians and prominent members of the Greek community attended the special event. Photo: Eva Karatzas.
Mr Seselja conveyed Scott Morrison’s well wishes at the beginning of the ceremony and welcomed His Eminence to the capital.
“I can not stay until the end of today’s celebration but I came, even for a while, to convey to you the wishes of the Prime Minister of the country and to welcome you to the Australian Capital on his behalf and on behalf of the Australian Government,” Mr Seslja said.
It was a big day for the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church as the original priest of Canberra’s parish, Father George, was promoted to High Priest and Father Prochoros was announced as the Archdiocesan Vicar of the newly announced Archdiocesan District of the ACT. This was a huge honour for the Canberra community and church, showing a bright future for our faithful in the ACT.
A special celebration was held to mark the name day of St Nicholas. Photo: Eva Karatzas.Father Prochoros was announced as the Archdiocesan Vicar of the Archdiocesan District of the ACT. Photo: Mark Petropoulos.
The event had a great turnout of people, including special performances from the Canberra Hellenic Dancers who performed some traditional Greek dances, showcasing our culture and traditions that continue to be embraced.
His Eminence Archbishop Makarios shared his positive feedback on the celebrations and how he looks forward to seeing the Greek Community of Canberra grow and continue to embrace their faith and culture.
“I am very happy. The community of Canberra is very warm and they love the church,” His Eminence said in a speech at the event.
In a speech during the service, His Eminence also thanked Mrs Tara Cheyne, State Minister for Human Rights, Culture and Business, and the expatriate Federal MPs Maria Vamvakinou and Steve Georganas, from Victoria and Adelaide, respectively, for their constant support to the Greek diaspora and to the Holy Archdiocese, especially for the clear position they took on the issue of condemning the conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque.
His Eminence Archbishop Makarios (centre) thanked Steve Georganas MP (left) and Maria Vamvakinou MP (right) for their support of the Greek diaspora. Photo: Facebook.
His Excellency, Ambassador of Greece, Mr Papacostas, shared: “We are very happy that the Archbishop came and honoured us with his presence today. The church was full and this means that Hellenism respects its traditions and will continue to be so.”
President of the Greek Community, Mr John Loukadellis, stated: “After a long 15 hour day, it was an amazing day and I wish everyone celebrating a joyous and love filled day.”
Following this successful festivity of celebrations for Saint Nicholas, parishioners were welcomed to catch a bus to Nimmitabel, to visit the burial plot of Gikas Voulgaris, who was the first Greek Australian Pioneer.
His Eminence Makarios presided a memorial service to recognise and celebrate the life, sacrifice and love for Gikas Voulgaris. A wreath was laid by Archbishop Makarios on behalf of the Archdiocese of Australia and the President of the Greek Orthodox Community & Church of Canberra, John Loukadellis also laid a wreath on behalf of the Community & St Nicholas Church.
Over 100 people have been arrested in Athens on Sunday after attempting to hold a demonstration for the anniversary of the police killing of 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos in 2008.
The arrests came in the face of the Hellenic Police announcing on Saturday a ban on protests ahead of the notorious murder’s anniversary, citing coronavirus-related restrictions on mass events.
The majority of arrests in Athens were made in the neighborhood of Exarcheia, where 60 people were brought in by the police for violating the ban.
A clash reportedly occurred between police and a group of around 50 protesters carrying a banner and yelling pro-Grigoropoulos statements, after which officers began dispersing the crowd and used two stun grenades.
Scenes have also emerged of a German couple, who brought flowers to the site of Grigoropoulos’ murder, being detained.
The police officer carrying out the arrest did not specify its reason, neither did he introduce himself, even though the woman was speaking Greek to him. He forced the couple into a police vehicle amid journalists’ comments that his actions were illegal.
Closer to the evening, police began forcing journalists out of the neighbourhood.
Every year, demonstrators gather to commemorate the memory of Grigoropoulos. He was killed by a Special Guard of the Greek Police Force on December 6, 2008, after a verbal altercation that witnesses say was instigated by the officer and his partner.
The two officers were both charged and found guilty in relation to the murder, one with the murder itself and the other as an accomplice. At the time, the heinous killing was marked by riots and protests around the country.
In November, Citizen Protection Minister, Michalis Chrysochoidis, announced a similar ban on protests on November 17, hoping to stop demonstrations for the anniversary of the Polytechnic Uprising during the pandemic.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry released a statement on Saturday saying it has “sovereign rights” over the Greek island of Kastellorizo and will “never compromise on this.”
The statement from Ankara comes ahead of the EU Summit next week, where EU leaders will discuss sanctions on Turkey due to its provocative actions in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Calling Greece “the spoiled child of Europe,” Ankara also asked its neighbor to “engage in unconditional dialogue, sooner rather than later.”
This statement came in the face of Ankara announcing on Friday that a firing exercise would take place on December 9 and 10 in the sea area between the Greek islands of Rhodes and Kastellorizo.
St. Basil’s Training is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) that trains not only staff of St. Basil’s Homes NSW/ACT but also international students.
St. Basil’s RTO is for students who choose to explore their potential, offering more than simply an education, but the training to truly thrive.
St Basil’s Homes NSW/ACT decades of experience in hospitality, aged care, management, and leadership provides students with practical real-life experience and insights.
With world-class college facilities and supportive and knowledgeable teachers, the students of St Basil’s can also be a valuable part of a caring community and can make friends for life.
Some of the courses offered by St. Basil’s RTO include:
SIT50416 – Diploma of Hospitality Management
CHC43015 – Certificate IV in Ageing Support
BSB51918 – Diploma of Leadership and Management
BSB40315 – Certificate IV in Customer Engagement
English Language Courses
The Graduation Ceremony for the RTO graduating students of 2020 took place on 15th October. The Chairman of St. Basil’s Homes NSW/ACT, Mr James Jordan attended this prestigious event.
Of the 44 graduating students, 24 students completed the Diploma of Leadership and Management and 20 students completed the Certificate IV in Ageing Support.
These courses are continuing with students in attendance from all sites of St. Basil’s Homes NSW/ACT.
St. Basil’s RTO is open to anyone who wants to study any of the courses that are offered. Find out more on the St. Basil’s Training website.
Three inner west councillors have written to ICAC asking it to investigate the circumstances surrounding the council CEO’s departure.
Independent John Stamolis, Liberal Julie Passas and Green councillors Marghanita Da Cruz have all signed a letter demanding ICAC investigate a string of complaints about the council and its former CEO Michael Deegan.
It comes a week after they made the same request to Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock and the Office of Local Government.
Cr John Stamolis. Picture: Adam Yip/The Daily Telegraph
A key part of their concerns is the terms of Mr Deegan’s departure in October, and whether he received any pay-out when his contract was terminated.
Mr Deegan’s role as Inner West Council’s CEO first made headlines in June 2019 after revelations he had been found to have engaged in misconduct while working for the South Australian Government.
Some of the findings made by the South Australian Ombudsman related to him signing off on FOI requests into his own spending and using taxpayer dollars to fund extravagant booze-fuelled lunches.
Cr Da Cruz. Photo: The Daily Telegraph
The council was reportedly never made aware of those allegations before hiring him, according to numerous sources, and sparked 12 months of internal infighting over what to do.
That came to a head in September when Mr Deegan sent a group email to council’s 1400 staff to say he was seeking help from the United Services Union to negotiate his contract termination.
A month later Inner West Council announced Mr Deegan would be leaving and they had begun a search for a replacement.
A typical house in Sydney is now worth over $1m again, after the property market saw a second consecutive month of price growth in November.
CoreLogic’s November Home Value Index showed Sydney house values have grown 0.9 cent in the past month to $1,000,170.
This was an increase of $6243 from the previous month as values are 1.2 per cent higher than three months ago.
CoreLogic head of residential research Eliza Owen said the market was bouncing back after experiencing just over a two per cent decline throughout the pandemic, and was spurred on by growing consumer confidence, fiscal policy and low interest rates.
“The falls we’ve seen are far from the 10 per cent declines many predicted at the start of the pandemic,” she said to realestate.com.au.
“Sellers are benefiting from auction clearance rates growing, along with a fall in days on market and vendor discounts,” she said.
The apartment market on the other hand is continuing to suffer with values declining 0.7 per cent to $728,168 in November. This made Sydney units the only type of dwelling in any capital city or regional area to record negative growth.
Apartments have lost around $40,000 in value since March, but are only 0.1 per cent down from the start of 2020.
Ray White NSW CEO Andrew McCulloch, speaking to realestate.com.au, said the market is now in a stronger position than what it was at the start of 2020.
“There are a lot more people looking to buy at the moment and confidence is really high at the moment,” he said.
