Police detained several dozen people and fired tear gas in Athens Tuesday as hundreds of protesters defied a ban on gatherings of more than three people to mark the anniversary of the crushing of a 1973 student uprising against the military junta then ruling Greece.

Nov. 17, the day the uprising was quashed, is marked each year with wreath-laying ceremonies at the Athens Polytechnic commemorating those who died there, followed by marches to the U.S. Embassy. The United States had backed the dictatorship that ruled Greece for seven years from 1967.

But the government banned this year’s events, citing public health concerns as the country struggles to contain a resurgence of the coronavirus that is straining hospitals and leading to record numbers of deaths. A nationwide lockdown has been imposed until the end of the month, but authorities tightened restrictions during the Polytechnic anniversary, banning gatherings of four or more people from Nov. 15-18.

Thousands of police were deployed in Athens and the northern city of Thessaloniki to prevent marches. The annual Polytechnic marches often turn violent, with protesters clashing with riot police.

Left-wing opposition parties decried the ban as unconstitutional, although the country’s highest administrative court, the Council of State, ruled otherwise.

Three left-wing parties, including main opposition party Syriza, defied the ban, as did other groups.

A Communist Party-backed union held an initial brief gathering outside the U.S. Embassy Tuesday morning, with about 250 people wearing masks and marching in formation, maintaining distance from one another.

But a later, larger gathering by about 1,500 people in central Athens dissolved after police detained several people and eventually used tear gas and a water cannon.

In a statement, the Civil Protection Ministry said police had repeatedly requested the protesters disperse, to no avail.

“Those who, through their actions, show disregard for what is happening around them, are displaying antisocial behavior and contempt for those fighting for their lives in the hospitals,” the statement said.

Authorities said about 100 people in total were detained across Athens.

Police were also detaining protesters defying the ban in the northern city of Thessaloniki. Penalties range from 300 euros for individuals attending a gathering that violates the ban, to 3,000 euros for organizers and 5,000 euros for organizations who arrange the events.

A small group of people also threw firebombs at a police station in Thessaloniki, causing no injuries or damage.

Former prime minister Alexis Tsipras, who heads the main opposition Syriza party, posted a photo of himself attending a socially distanced gathering for the Polytechnic Tuesday.

“With responsibility and observance of health protection measures, this year we again honored the dead and the struggles of our people for democracy, independence, and justice,” he said in a post on social media.

“We broke the senseless ban,” he said. “Democracy and historical memory cannot be quarantined.”

Sourced By: Associated Press

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet will undertake the state’s biggest tax reform in decades with stamp duty to be phased out to boost the economy as NSW records a historic $16 billion budget deficit.

In his fourth budget, handed down on Tuesday, Mr Perrottet said replacing stamp duty with an annual land tax on new property transactions would be a key stimulus measure, injecting as much as $11 billion into the state’s economy over four years.

“This is the reform we need to implement,” Mr Perrottet said.

Mr Perrottet said the state’s stamp duty system was centuries old and needed to be overhauled to give residents a modern tax system.

The government will seek community consultation on its proposed model to replace the transfer tax until March, which would give people buying a property the choice between paying stamp duty upfront or opting for the smaller annual property tax.

The present stamp duty concessions for first home buyers would also be replaced with a $25,000 grant, with the option of using the money on refurbishing the property.

Mr Perrottet said he wanted stamp duty overhauled “as soon as possible”.

The state’s debt will peak at $104 billion in 2023/2024 and the budget will not return to surplus until 2024/2025. NSW has not had a budget in the red for almost a decade.

Sourced By: SMH

The Greek-Australian Cultural League (GACL) is inviting artists to register for a new platform in what will be the first-ever ‘Greek Australian Artists Directory’.

The Directory will be available as an online digital resource, introducing Greek Australian artists (and small art groups) to the wider community. The GACL notes it can also be utilised for research and education by artists, curators, teachers, students and the general public.

“The GACL intends to support and promote those registered by sharing insights into this creative community with online publication of biographies, art statements, links and art work images,” a statement by the GACL says.

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“It will become an important community resource and an archive of Greek-Australian art and in Australia, worthy of international recognition.”

Artists will also have the opportunity to document their practise in an internationally recognised, archival community resource, and network with other artists in the wider community.

The new directory was announced along with the release of the GACL’s, bilingual periodical Antipodes, Vol.66. 2020. The periodical celebrates 10 years of the annual group art exhibition, Antipodean Palette, and a tribute to well-known and acclaimed, poet and author, Vasso Kalamara.

It also incorporates the annual bilingual Literary Competition results, as well as the works of the first-place recipients in this competition.

“This year’s periodical has many new contributors and a variety of articles which give this volume significant importance to our Greek-Australian literature and art scene,” the statement adds.

“We thank all the participants and offer our congratulations to the winners and wish everyone continued success in their future endeavours.”

The GACL announced that, due to the imposed restrictions, the Antipodes will not be launched in its usual physical manner, requesting that people contact them to organise a delivery method.

GACL literary competition winners

Ποίηση Ελληνική γλώσσα

1ο Βραβείο: Ξημέρωμα – Γεράσιμος Μ. Λυμπεράτος 2ο Βραβείο: Η Φωνή του Πόντου – Konnor Terzakis 3ο Βραβείο: Δεν απονέμεται βραβείο

Έπαινος Α: Τα δύσκολα στα μισά της Νύχτας– Χρήστος Νιάρος Έπαινος Β: Ο Αλή Πασάς στα Γιάννενα – Ανδριάννα Καραμήτρου

Πεζό Ελληνική γλώσσα

1ο Βραβείο Ισοβάθμιο: Ο Καπετάν Ντούντουλας– Βασίλειος Μαλλικούρτης, 1ο Βραβείο Ισοβάθμιο: Το Κλειδί– Γιάννης Γεωργίου
2ο Βραβείο: Δεν απονέμεται βραβείο
3ο Βραβείο: Η Δύναμη της πρώτης αγάπης– Γεράσιμος Μ. Λυμπεράτος

Poetry in English:

1st Prize: The Hot Breaths of Anemoi- Elektra Orfanos 2nd Prize: Diaspora footnotes- Jena Woodhouse
3rd Prize: Twilight of Hellas – Theofilos N. Rigas

Short Story in English

Joint 1st Prize: Protomayia- Chris Papachristos,
Joint 1st Prize: Fifi and the Fig Tree – Konstantina Dounis 2nd Prize: A set of wall robes – Xenia Toul
3rd Prize: A conversation with Peter – Nina Koufomanolis

Panel of Judges

Coordinator:
Cathy Alexopoulos, OAM, (President GACL)

Members:
Dr Christos N. Fifis (Honorary Research Associate, La Trobe University)
Dr Angela Evangelinou-Yiannakis (Academic – ACU, UWA; Honorary Research Fellow – UWA).
Mr Konstantinos Kalymnios (Lawyer, Writer, Columnist)

As residents return to the streets of Melbourne’s CBD, large floral displays blossom the city’s iconic landmark buildings, laneways and streets.

The project, dubbed Urban Blooms (delivered by the City of Melbourne and the state government through the $100 million Melbourne City Recovery Fund), will last until November 27 to get visitors back into the grid, taking photos, generating social media hashtags and supporting local businesses.

Melbourne Flower Merchant’s Elizabeth Ricci came up with the floral concept, taking it to the City of Melbourne and commissioning local florists to join in the fun. 

Flowers Vasette has taken on the project with a firm hold, installing a grand archway floral sculpture around iconic Flinders Street Station.

The archway is the biggest public installation that Flowers Vasette (on Brunswick Street in Fitzroy) has undertaken in its 30 year history, and that compelled Vasette’s founder and managing director Cherrie Miriklis-Pavlou to give it her all. 

The spectacular arch features more than 500 varietal stems including, Callistemon, Eucalyptus nicholii, bottlebrush, she-oak, red box gums, blackwood wattle and more.

The garden base is filled with banksia, kangaroo paw, king protea and towering three-metre tall Acer maple plants. She sourced extra foliage and flowers from Flowers Vasette’s own Beechmont Garden Retreat in Olinda and worked with construction engineers Showtech Australia for the triumphant moment. 

Speaking to Domain, Miriklis-Pavlou says the floral display was inspired by the iconic building’s facade, and the fabulous weaves of green foliage and flowers of red, pink, gold and lavender tones breathe a sense of hope and prosperity. 

“The arch is a tribute to our industry and the unsung heroes – I hear their stories and get emotional because I want to make a difference to their lives too,” Miriklis-Pavlou says. 

“It’s a salute for all of us to get back out there and celebrate what’s possible in Melbourne. It’s a chance to celebrate our landmarks and what makes our city great.”

Miriklis-Pavlou would love to see the floral installations become a permanent part of Melbourne’s spring calendar events. “I’d love this to become a bit like the Chelsea Flower show on steroids,” she says. 

“It definitely should be an annual event to celebrate our industry and the talent that exists in Victoria. It’s a chance to show off Melbourne by spending on floral decor.”

The Morrison Government has rolled out a COVID-19 mental health campaign How’s your head today? to urge people to prioritise their mental health, raise awareness about how to identify when something is wrong, and encourage people to seek help.

Dr Fiona Martin MP, Member for Reid, said that the campaign will be especially valuable to those from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

“In a multicultural area like Reid, being from a culturally or linguistically diverse background is one of the biggest barriers to accessing mental health support,” Dr Martin said.

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“I am pleased that this campaign will be available in languages like Mandarin, Greek, Italian, Korean and Arabic so that this important mental health information is accessible to everyone in our community.”

“Having practised as a psychologist prior to entering Parliament, I’m proud to be a part of a Government that is committed to supporting the mental health of all Australians.”

The campaign will be provided in 15 languages across radio and print, including Greek.

COVID-19 has had a significant effect on the mental health and wellbeing of many people across the country. Lifeline and Beyond Blue are reporting a significant increase in the number of people seeking help.

Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, said, “Through this campaign, Australians are encouraged to make their mental health and wellbeing a priority. We want them to know support is available, when and where they need it.

“I encourage all Australians to seek help if experiencing mental ill-health. Talk to your GP, reach out to Beyond Blue or Lifeline, or visit the Headtohealth.gov.au,” Minister Hunt said.

The Morrison Government has allocated $10 million to support the How’s your head today? campaign. Since March 2020, the Government has made available more than $500 million in funding for direct supports to respond to the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, with $10 million allocated to this national mental health communications campaign.