Greece has taken a major step toward reviving its offshore energy ambitions with the signing of a new exploration agreement in the Ionian Sea involving ExxonMobil, Energean, and Helleniq Energy.
The deal, signed in Athens during the US-Greece Partnership for Transatlantic Energy Cooperation (P-TEC) meetings, covers Block 2, a 2,422-square-kilometre area northwest of Corfu believed to hold significant untapped gas potential.
The concession sees ExxonMobil holding a 60% stake, Energean 30%, and Helleniq Energy 10%. Energean will lead the exploration phase, with ExxonMobil set to assume control should drilling prove commercially viable.
Today in Athens, @ExxonMobil signed a landmark deal with Greece’s @EnergeanPLC to restore offshore gas drilling in the Ionian Sea for the first time in more than 40 years.
The U.S. is proud to partner with Greece as we restore commonsense and unleash affordable, reliable, and… pic.twitter.com/osiQK6cA6a
The venture, estimated to require between $50 million and $100 million, aims to begin exploratory drilling by late 2026 or early 2027, with potential production in the early 2030s.
According to Exxon’s vice president of global exploration, John Ardill, “This significant exploration agreement paves the way for potential future exploratory drilling investments in the 2027 timeframe.” He added that the Ionian project could become a key Mediterranean milestone if results are favourable.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis hailed the agreement as “historic,” declaring, “Today we are writing a new chapter in Greece’s energy history. This is not just another investment. It is the first exploratory drilling in our country in almost 40 years.”
Κάνουμε πράξη τη δέσμευσή μας: αξιοποιούμε με σχέδιο και όραμα τον εθνικό μας πλούτο. pic.twitter.com/Jgq9d3YaC7
The Energy Ministry described the project as “high-risk, high-reward,” while Energean CEO Mathios Rigas emphasised that “this agreement represents an important step toward harnessing Greece’s natural resources and strengthening our country’s role on Europe’s energy map.”
The move also signals renewed US interest in Greek offshore exploration, following recent developments involving Chevron. As new US ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle put it, “America is back and drilling in the Ionian Sea.”
If successful, the project could mark a turning point in Greece’s efforts to establish itself as a regional energy hub and reduce European dependence on external gas sources.
From the cult sanctuary at ancient Palaepaphos (at the modern village of Kouklia), pilgrims would travel across the eastern Mediterranean to pay homage to an ancient female goddess of fertility. The sanctuary was active from at least 1200 BCE right into later Roman periods.
At some point in deep time, the ancient goddess morphed into the worship of Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, as we know her from her classical form. It was believed that she was born in the coast of Cyprus near the rocks now known as Petra tou Romiou.
The goddess required priests and priestesses to serve her and to operate the sanctuary site. Carved from local Cypriot limestone, this statue of the late sixth century BCE gives us a hint as to what a priest looks like.
The “Archaic smile” (a slight smile on his lips), the long tresses of hair and the drapery are all heavily influenced by sculptural styles in Greece, yet the pose and the head-dress are very common Cypriot forms that have been influenced by Middle Eastern traditions such as Assyrian headgear. We see the remarkable mixing of cultural traditions that informed Cypriot art for millennia.
He holds a bird in his left hand and a phiale (libation bowl) in his right, both common symbols in ancient Cyprus associated with the goddess. He stands over two metres tall.
Traces of paint remain on the statue which remind us that in antiquity statues were painted brightly. It is particularly visible on his lips, but traces are across his drapery. Vertical lotus designs and the head of a bull are carved into the statue to show us the patterning on his drapery, with the folds also carefully carved into stone.
If one looks at his left shoulder, one can see the faint remains of an inscription in Cypriot syllabic (the ancient written language of the island throughout the Iron Age until the adoption of the Greek alphabet in the fourth century BCE). It seems to read “of the Paphian goddess”.
Where this statue was found is not known. It was collected by the American consul Luigi Palma di Cesnola (1832-1904) who oversaw hundreds of illicit excavations across the island in the 1860-70s. Cesnola rarely kept notes and when he did, he often falsified evidence. We know his workers dug at Palaepaphos which is where presumably this statue was found.
When Cesnola left Cyprus in 1877 he took with him more than 35,000 ancient objects, including this. Those objects would form the basis of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was an incredible loss of culture heritage for Cyprus.
The base and feet are modern reconstructions and the bird is heavily restored.
When Kastellorizians began to return in 1945 after their evacuation during the Second World War, the harbour, once alive with colour and trade, fell silent. My maternal grandparents stood on the deck of the ship that brought them home, their young children beside them and fellow Kastellorizians gathered nearby. Together they gazed at the island that had once been their home. They returned to ruins.
For much of its history, the island was deeply connected to the Greek communities of Lycia in south-west Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) through economic, social and family ties, including Livissi (now Kayaköy), Kalamaki (now Kalkan) and Antiphellus (now Kaş). My grandparents’ displacement was not new. My grandmother, Mihalakena Sakaris (née Taliangis), was from Livissi, and my grandfather, Themistocles Sakaris, from Kalamaki. They both crossed to Kastellorizo as young children because of the genocide of Greeks, Armenians and Assyrians in the late Ottoman period (1914–1923), during which they lost members of their families.
Having lost her father, my grandmother for a time lived in Alexandria, Egypt, with her uncle and his wife, later returning to Kastellorizo to be raised by her aunt. My grandfather lost his older brother during the deportations. He worked as a fisherman and seaman from the age of fourteen in Kastellorizo, earning his living from the same sea that had carried their family into exile, yet also sustained life.
The island in the First World War
Kastellorizo, from the Italian Castelrosso meaning “Red Castle”, lies just two kilometres from modern-day Turkey. Once, goods moved freely through the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean, linking the island with distant British and Levantine ports, but that world of open movement gradually gave way to decline.
In the early twentieth century, the first major waves of migration to Australia began amid political and economic upheaval. Italy occupied the Dodecanese during the Italo-Turkish War of 1911–12. Kastellorizo’s path to union with Greece was marked by violence and uncertainty. On 14 March 1913, the Kastellorizians declared a provisional Greek administration after imprisoning the Ottoman governor and his troops stationed on the island. The following month, Ottoman forces committed atrocities against the island’s Greek population, resulting in deaths and the burning of homes. The island thereafter endured alternating periods of fear and hope under successive foreign powers.
Kastellorizo came under French control in late December 1915, becoming a naval outpost and a target for Ottoman artillery. In January 1917, Ottoman coastal artillery on the Kaş heights opened fire on Kastellorizo soon after the arrival of a British seaplane. Over several hours, sustained shelling struck the town and harbour, causing widespread destruction and civilian casualties. Ottoman shore batteries sank the British seaplane carrier HMS Ben-my-Chree while it was anchored in the harbour.
The island was transferred to Italian administration in 1921, a status formalised by the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, which confirmed Italian sovereignty over the Dodecanese. Under Italian rule, policies of Italianisation curtailed Greek education and weakened the Orthodox Church’s role. An earthquake in March 1926 added further hardship, damaging homes and churches and prompting another wave of migration. The island’s population had fallen from perhaps 10,000 at the start of the twentieth century to around 2,000 by the 1930s.
Harbour, c.1921
War returns
When the Second World War reached Kastellorizo, the island became a strategic outpost. Its position offered a vantage point over Allied supply routes between the Middle East and the Aegean. In late February 1941 during Operation Abstention, British commandos briefly seized the island before Italian forces from Rhodes retook it a few days later. After Italy’s surrender to the Allies in September 1943, British troops returned; German air raids soon followed, and the civilian population was evacuated.
Across the Dodecanese, the war left deep scars. Islands such as Leros, Kos, Kalymnos and Rhodes endured bombardment, occupation, destruction and exile. In October 1943, around 1,000 Kastellorizians were evacuated by the British, first to Cyprus and later to Nuseirat in the British Mandate of Palestine, where families lived in makeshift shelters. Life was harsh: families endured shortages and disease, yet they preserved their faith, raising their children, marking feast days and welcoming new life even as illness claimed others.
Ruins after the 1943 bombings.
In July 1944, while Kastellorizians remained in exile, a fire broke out on the island. It spread to fuel and ammunition stores left by military forces and consumed rows of homes and churches. The cause was never confirmed, but the destruction was total.
When they finally returned home in 1945, many are said to have leapt from the ships before they reached the pier, swimming towards the harbour in desperation to touch their island again. What they found was ruin; some collapsed in grief before the shells of their homes.
On 29 September 1945, the British ship SS Empire Patrol caught fire soon after leaving Port Said with close to 500 returning Kastellorizian refugees. Around 33 Kastellorizians and two crew members lost their lives. The sky lit red with flame as cries were swallowed by the sea. For those who had survived war and exile, the sea that once sustained life had become an agent of tragedy.
Much of the island’s merchant fleet, once its lifeline to the world, was gone, lost to war or seized for military use. Economic hardship and isolation drove many to migrate once again, seeking work and stability far from home.
Aftermath
The Treaty of Peace with Italy (Paris Peace Treaties, 10 February 1947) formally transferred the Dodecanese to Greece, and the act of union was celebrated on 7 March 1948. After decades of foreign rule and the devastation of war, Kastellorizo was Greek again, though its population had dwindled to about 500.
Celebrating the 1948 Union with Greece.
Life was difficult. The population had thinned, and the island was almost deserted. My mother, Vasilia, was born on Kastellorizo in the years that followed. She migrated to Melbourne in the 1960s, aged thirteen, with her older brother, younger sister and younger brother. She was part of the post-war exodus that would reshape the island’s destiny. The same uncle who had once cared for my grandmother in Alexandria was later uprooted from Egypt and again helped the family on their passage from Piraeus to Melbourne.
In Melbourne’s inner north, my mother worked in textile mills and other factories alongside migrant women whose tireless labour sustained the city’s post-war industries. Yet she always hoped to return to her island. My grandfather laboured at the brickworks in Brunswick, its towering chimneys visible across the red rooftops, while my grandmother persevered in raising a family through many hardships.
My mother’s three older sisters and two other older brothers had already settled in Melbourne, having migrated to Australia in the preceding years. My uncles initially worked in the sugar-cane fields of Cairns, North Queensland, while my aunties raised families under extremely difficult conditions before eventually settling in Melbourne. In the years that followed, many Kastellorizians and their descendants became influential figures in Australian public, business and community life. By the 1950s, Kastellorizian communities were thriving in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne, establishing associations, churches and cultural centres.
Aerial view of Kastellorizo today.
The island remains
Today, when the ferry from Rhodes turns into the harbour, the picturesque pastel houses are mirrored in the deep turquoise water, a calm surface concealing the memory of loss. The island’s original Greek name, Megisti (“greatest”), reminds us that although it is the smallest of the Dodecanese, it is the largest within its own small cluster, including Ro and Strongyli. The name itself speaks of endurance and pride, echoed by the vast diaspora that now thrives in Australia and returns to the island often.
Across the water lies Ro, where Despina Achladioti, the Lady of Ro, in quiet defiance, raised the Greek flag every morning from the late 1920s until her death in 1982. Throughout occupation, war, exile and unification, her devotion came to embody the spirit of all Kastellorizians.
Despina Achladioti raises the Greek flag on Ro.
The bond between island and diaspora remains unbroken. Each summer, Kastellorizians return from Australia — children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who still identify with the island. They walk lanes lined with restored houses, light candles in rebuilt churches and gather by the harbour that once rose from debris.
Kastellorizians once looked across to the Asia Minor coast, where many of their ancestors had been uprooted, and wondered whether such times might ever return. Despite periodic tensions and provocations in the region, the people of Kastellorizo continue to maintain friendly relations with their neighbours across the sea.
The old school still stands, its walls worn by time yet alive with the memories of the children who once filled its courtyard. Bougainvillea spills over stone walls in bursts of colour, and sea turtles glide through the clear water below the quay.
Waterfront today.
My mother often speaks of those years. She remembers singing echoing across the island, laughter ringing through the narrow lanes and the scent of wildflowers. She also recalls memories of Papa Yiorgis (Father George), who had once been a chanter and later became the island’s priest, chanting in church alongside her older brother. A vivid memory, though, remained: my grandmother anxiously waiting on the balcony for my grandfather to return in his boat through the rough winter seas, weaving across the waves that broke against the front door of their home. It was a familiar story, forged in fire and carried by the sea.
Dr Themistocles Kritikakos is a Greek-Australian historian and writer. He holds a PhD in History from the University of Melbourne. His forthcoming book, Armenian, Greek, and Assyrian Genocide Recognition in Twenty-First Century Australia, will be published by Palgrave Macmillan in December 2025.
All Smart Kitchens, led by Nick Goumis, son of respected tradesman Denis Goumis, is facing serious allegations from a Sydney homeowner who claims her family has been left with unfinished bathrooms, an incomplete kitchen, and months of costly delays.
The All Smart Kitchens name is well known in Sydney’s Greek community, built on Denis’ reputation for craftsmanship and reliability. But according to this homeowner, that legacy has been undermined under Nick’s leadership.
A costly and unfinished renovation
The homeowner says her $120,000 renovation, which began in February 2024 and should have been completed by January 2025, has instead become a nightmare of half-finished work and mounting costs.
“All Smart’s work was riddled with mistakes,” she told The Greek Herald. “From misaligned joinery to missing powerpoints, it’s been nothing short of a nightmare. We’ve had to get All Smart back on site on numerous occasions to fix mistakes in its works.”
The project included wardrobes installed in mid-2024, followed by kitchen and bathroom works in November 2024. But problems soon emerged. The homeowner alleges joinery was installed incorrectly in several areas of the home, contributing to further errors and a significant cost blowout. She also claims the kitchen bar was not built to the approved drawings and remains unusable after repeated requests for rectification.
The homeowner alleges joinery was installed incorrectly in several areas of the home.
Disputes over workmanship and payment
The homeowner further alleges that in December 2024, Mr Goumis removed the kitchen overhead doors after determining they were not compliant with plans and refused to return to site until payment was made – a payment she says was neither invoiced nor due under the contract. She also claims other kitchen doors were installed upside down.
She alleges that the bathroom vanity drawers did not fit as designed and that All Smart Kitchens staff cut the drawer sides, leaving exposed edges – a fault she says remains unresolved.
Despite multiple site visits, the company walked away from the job in July 2025, leaving two bathrooms and the kitchen incomplete.
With a young family, she says they have been forced to live with just one functional yet unfinished bathroom for six months.
“It has been incredibly stressful,” she said. “We’ve had to make compromises every day. It’s not just about unfinished cabinetry – it’s about the disruption to our lives, the extra costs, and the fact that other tradespeople can’t finish their jobs because of this.”
The homeowner alleges that the bathroom vanity drawers did not fit as designed.
Frustration for other trades
Beyond workmanship, the homeowner alleges that Mr Goumis was difficult for other trades to work with.
“Trades have had a nightmare working with him,” she said. “We scheduled a meeting with Nick and the electrician before production to check electricals. He turned up more than an hour late, with no apology. Our stonemason’s been left in limbo. The plumbers can’t finish. Everyone’s been held up.”
The homeowner says even independent trades engaged on the site have expressed concern at the quality of the cabinetry and finishes. She maintains that she has already met her obligations under the signed contract.
While she explained she is preparing a complaint to NSW Fair Trading, she stresses her priority is not litigation but closure.
“We just want to move on and find a solution,” she said. “Living like this with a young family is not sustainable. It’s time to fix what’s been left undone.”
The All Smart Kitchens brand was built by Denis Goumis, whose work earned a strong reputation in Sydney’s Greek community for consistency and care. That reputation now faces scrutiny following the homeowner’s allegations.
The Greek Herald contacted All Smart Kitchens and Nick Goumis for comment, but no response was received by the time of publication.
On a quiet stretch of Floss Street in Hurlstone Park, two best mates are keeping the pizza ovens burning – not just for dinner service, but for the sake of legacy.
For William Kay, 33, and Georgio Panousos, 30, co-owners ofFrankly Nick’s, opening a neighbourhood pizzeria wasn’t just about food. It was about returning to their roots – to the kitchens where they once worked as teenage dishies for their fathers, Frank and Nick.
“We had been looking for a while at different concepts for a business until my father Frank Kay said in passing, ‘why don’t you do what me and your father did and do a pizza shop,’” William tells The Greek Herald.
“The more we started thinking about it, the more it made sense. We had both started in pizza working for the dads when we were in our teens and thought to ourselves that a throwback to how it began with their relationship would be the perfect homage.”
That idea became Frankly Nick’s – a name that nods to their fathers’ lifelong friendship and the family legacy that shaped them.
Frank and Nick inspired Frankly Nick’s.
A home between Belmore and Stanmore
The choice of location wasn’t a coincidence.
“As for Hurlstone Park, it was simple,” William explains. “Frank grew up in Belmore and Nick grew up in Stanmore. We met in the middle. Both Georgio and my own family either lives or grew up a stone’s throw away from the area and it just made sense.”
Hurlstone Park, once a quiet residential pocket, hadn’t had a dinner venue in decades. Within a week of opening, Frankly Nick’s sold over 900 pizzas – a clear sign that the community was ready for its comeback story.
The choice of location for Frankly Nick’s wasn’t a coincidence.
The lessons of Frank and Nick
The new generation might be running the show, but the philosophy remains unchanged.
“If the product’s right, with the right service and the right price people will always come for a great meal,” William says.
“Hospitality starts in the home, treat the customers as if you were entertaining the family and be open to the criticisms of the crazy aunties and uncles.”
These old-school values underpin everything at Frankly Nick’s – from their 48-hour cold-fermented dough to the generous, convivial atmosphere that greets guests as soon as they step through the door.
A friendship forged in pizza dough
William and Georgio’s friendship began in their fathers’ restaurants, scrubbing dishes and stretching dough. Years later, that bond still defines how they work together.
“Georgio has always been prevalent in the front of house in previous ventures, whilst I’ve been more in the mechanics of the kitchen and menu design,” William says.
“Through the years we can always lean on each other when either is struggling in our sections of the business. Having ourselves manage separate parts of the business allows us to excel in our own ways but neither one of us has the final say until both of us are satisfied with a decision.
“This stops us from having tunnel vision whether it comes to new flavours and menu ideas, or staff training and implementing new systems.”
Their dads also passed down a key rule: don’t let conflict linger.
“Our dads taught us to never go to sleep angry,” Georgio adds. “We’ve been working together for over a decade and we never say things on the fly. If something bothers us we sit down, listen to each other and know whenever we have those chats it’s not to hate the other person but to build each other up.”
William and Georgio’s friendship began in their fathers’ restaurants, scrubbing dishes and stretching dough.
Flavours that speak the language of home
Greek heritage runs through Frankly Nick’s like oregano through a village kitchen.
“It’s in everything we do from the sauce to the salads,” Georgio says.
“The menu items have all been built up from flavours that have been taught to us through not just our fathers but our mothers, aunties and yiayias.
“Delicious is delicious and that is a language with no barriers. Whether it’s using aniseed in the pickled onions or an excessive amount of yiayia’s oregano in the sauce or even baking the pastas like a pastitsio, the Greek influence is heavy but the flavours speak volumes.”
William sums up their cooking mantra simply: “Deduct and perfect. It’s easy to hide behind multiple layers in a dish, but it’s much harder to make simple perfect. If you do the small things right and let the ingredients shine the dish will speak for itself. An example is a horiatiki salata – it’s only feta, tomatoes, cucumber, olive and oil. Something so simple but you know when you’re getting a good one and getting a bad one.”
Greek heritage runs through Frankly Nick’s like oregano through a village kitchen.
Old soul, new look
While the menu draws on the past, the space itself feels timeless – a warm mix of vintage tones and modern design.
“Honestly all credits go to my sister Eleni Kay, also the owner of Angie Baby Kitchen Catering,” William says.
“Georgio and I had a vision but didn’t have a way to consolidate our ideas. Eleni, with her background in food marketing and styling, was able to focus our vision of a modern 1960’s pizza/cocktail bar and help us make the correct choices in terms of colour palette and material schedules to bring the warm feeling to our venue.”
Rooted in community
In a suburb long defined by small businesses and neighbourly ties, Frankly Nick’s fits right in.
“We are highlighting the other businesses around us by including and incorporating the products of our neighbours in our menu,” Georgio explains.
“All of our veggies are bought from Friendly Grocer, our local supermarket. Our meat is purchased from Carnes Latinas, the local butcher. We offer BYO from the local bottlo. We cross-promote with the local bar HP Bowlo. Our dream is not to just be a staple of this area but to be a place of cult following within the Inner West.”
And in true Greek fashion, everyone’s welcome – no formalities, no fuss. “Come down and don’t ever be afraid to say hello,” Georgio grins.
In a message to staff on Thursday, November 6, Solomos said the decision was “not made lightly” but was a “proactive step to restructure, protect jobs, and position the business for a stronger future.”
He assured employees they would continue to be paid weekly and that all 26 gym locations would remain open.
The chain is estimated to owe nearly $30 million, with debts to the Australian Tax Office, landlords, suppliers and other creditors.
The ATO has been pursuing $15.4 million in unpaid taxes, superannuation and penalties but recently agreed to delay liquidation proceedings by four weeks.
Insolvency expert Stephen Dixon of HM Advisory has been appointed as administrator.
Solomos said a new investor had joined to assist through the administration process, though their identity remains undisclosed.
The Hellenic Writers’ Association of Australia (S.E.L.S.A.) has announced the winners of its 2025 Student Literary Competition, recognising outstanding creative writing by Greek language students across Melbourne.
The annual competition encourages young writers to explore their imagination and cultural identity through storytelling in Greek. This year’s entries reflected a vibrant mix of themes, from family and migration to traditions in the Antipodes.
Following careful evaluation by a panel of teachers, the winners were named as:
Primary School:“Antipodes” – Petra Drongiti, Grade 3, Coburg West Primary School
Middle School:“The Celebration” – Alexandra Barbagianni (13), Maria Voudouris (13) and Angeliki Konstas (12), Sts Anargiri Greek Language Centre
High School:“Customs and Traditions in the Antipodes” – Irini Katsoulis (17), Year 11, Sts Anargiri Greek Language Centre
Each winner will receive a $100 prize (shared equally in the case of group entries) and a commemorative certificate in recognition of their creative achievement.
The awards ceremony will take place during the official presentation of O LOGOS magazine on Sunday, 9 November 2025 at 3:00 pm, on the mezzanine floor of the Hellenic Community of Melbourne, 168 Lonsdale Street.
S.E.L.S.A. extended warm congratulations to all participating students and thanked the teachers who inspired and guided their creative efforts, continuing the proud tradition of Greek literary expression in Australia.
The northern suburbs of Adelaide were filled with colour, song, and community spirit as hundreds gathered at St Dimitrios Greek Orthodox Church in Salisbury to honour their patron saint, Saint Dimitrios the Myrrh-Streamer, and to celebrate Greek culture at Salisbury’s Premier Greek Festival.
The day was marked by faith, fellowship, and the shared joy of a growing community united in both tradition and love.
The celebrations began on Saturday, October 25 with the Great Vespers and concluded on Sunday, October 26 with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy celebrated by His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide together with Orthodox clergy from Adelaide.
His Grace conveyed the blessings and paternal love of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, expressing the unity of the Church and the spiritual care that bind Orthodox faithful across the nation. More than 600 worshippers filled the church to honour the Great Martyr.
At the conclusion of the service, the icon of Saint Dimitrios was carried in procession around the church as hymns of praise and thanksgiving filled the courtyard.
Bishop Silouan reminded the faithful that the Saint remains an enduring model of courage and steadfast faith. He also offered heartfelt thanks to the clergy, the parish council, and the volunteers for their devotion and service.
After the Liturgy, the church courtyard became a vibrant centre of Hellenic culture, Orthodox faith, and community fellowship.
The Panigiri, known as Salisbury’s Premier Greek Festival, welcomed around 1,600 people, making it one of the largest Greek community events held in the northern suburbs of Adelaide in recent years.
Visitors enjoyed traditional food, live music, and dancing in the spring sunshine as generations gathered to celebrate both faith and heritage.
Parish Priest Fr Michael Psaromatis thanked parishioners, volunteers, sponsors, and civic partners for their support. He described the Panigiri as “not merely a cultural event, but a living expression of faith, service, and love within our community.”
He also extended condolences on behalf of the parish to John Fulbrook MP, Member for Playford and a long-time friend of the community, on the recent passing of his beloved wife Briony.
Distinguished guests included Bishop Silouan, Hon. Tom Koutsantonis MP, Treasurer of South Australia and Minister for Energy and Mining, Denis Hood MLC, representing the Leader of the Opposition, Michael Brown MP for Florey, Tony Zappia MP for Makin, Chloe Kourakis of the South Australian Multicultural Commission, and Konnie Agalianos, President of the Pan-Macedonian Federation of South Australia.
During the official proceedings, Treasurer Mr Koutsantonis announced a new $20,000 grant to help cover the costs of the Panigiri Festival, in addition to the $5,000 Celebrate Together grant previously provided by Multicultural Affairs. He praised Bishop Silouan, Fr Michael, and the parish for their ongoing contribution to the spiritual and multicultural life of South Australia.
The parish also expressed gratitude to the City of Salisbury Council for its $35,000 capital grant, which made possible the renovation of the front narthex entrance and the replacement of the old air-conditioning units, creating a brighter and more welcoming church for all.
The festival reflected a true spirit of community. Dozens of volunteers, both young and old, worked for weeks to prepare the grounds, food, and hospitality areas.
Families gathered under the shade of olive trees while children enjoyed games, face painting, and a petting farm that brought delight to the youngest visitors.
Live music by Band Kosmos filled the air throughout the day, setting a joyful tone that brought everyone to their feet. The crowd was also treated to lively performances by the Pontian Dance Group, St George College Dance Group, Cypriot Dance Group, Cretan Dance Group, and the GOCSA Dance Academy, whose energy and enthusiasm captured the spirit of Greek tradition and unity.
This year’s Panigiri became a clear symbol of harmony and renewal, with young people leading the way. The strong presence of youth from across Adelaide reflected a spirit of togetherness and optimism. Those attending included members of Neolea SA, the Hellenic Collective, Greek Youth SA, Port Adelaide Youth, Norwood’s Ark, St Nectarios Croydon Park Youth, St Sophia Bowden Youth, and St Anthony Youth Prospect, along with many young representatives from other parishes, cultural organisations, and community groups.
For the first time, the GOCSA Dance Academy performed at an official event of the Diocese of Adelaide under the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. Their participation was warmly received, marking a moment of great joy and reconciliation after many decades of division within the Adelaide Greek community.
The festival also highlighted the charitable and missionary work of the St Dimitrios community. The parish continues to support the internal missions of the Diocese of Adelaide, with volunteers assisting rural parishes and diocesan outreach programs.
Young members of the parish are active participants in the GO Youth Fellowship of the Diocese, an initiative that brings together youth in faith, service, and missionary work under the guidance of Bishop Silouan.
The spirit of service extends beyond Australia’s shores. Earlier this year, parishioners joined a mission trip to Fiji, where more than 150 family packs of food, clothing, and essential items were distributed to families in need. The team also prepared meals for children at St Tabitha’s Orthodox Orphanage in Saweni. This missionary work is complemented by the parish’s Winter and Christmas Hamper Drives, which provide assistance to families across Adelaide.
Through ongoing cooperation with Mr Fulbrook MP and Mr Alipate Carlile from the Pacific Islands Labour Mobility Scheme (PALMS), the parish will also support Fijian and South Pacific Islander families living in the northern suburbs, extending both practical help and spiritual care.
Looking ahead, the parish of St Dimitrios will host a South Pacific Mission Fundraising Lunch at 12pm on Sunday, 7 December 2025, held with the blessings of Archbishop Makarios and in the presence of Bishop Silouan.
On that same day, His Eminence Metropolitan Myron of New Zealand, who oversees the Orthodox Mission in Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa, will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at St Dimitrios and attend the fundraising event in support of the growing missionary work in the South Pacific.
As evening settled over Salisbury and the bells of Saint Dimitrios the Myrrh-Streamer rang across the neighbourhood, the joyful sounds of music, laughter, and prayer reflected a community alive in both spirit and service.
As Bishop Silouan reminded those gathered, “Saint Dimitrios teaches us that true courage lies in love and sacrifice.” The feast day and festival together stood as a living witness to that truth — a community where faith, culture, and unity continue to grow hand in hand.
The Canterbury-Bankstown Council has voted to raise the Greek flag annually at sites in Earlwood, Campsie, and Bankstown to mark OXI Day (28 October) and Greek Independence Day (25 March), following a motion put forward by Councillor Barbara Coorey during last week’s Council meeting.
Clr Coorey’s motion paid tribute to Greece’s historic defiance of fascism in 1940 when Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas responded “No” (“ΟΧΙ”) to Mussolini’s demand to occupy Greece.
“Today, we stand against totalitarianism; today, we stand for independence,” her background statement reads, noting the significance of the day to Canterbury-Bankstown’s large Hellenic community – particularly in Earlwood, where nearly a third of residents are of Greek or Cypriot heritage.
The motion was carried as a matter by exception, meaning it was approved without debate as part of a bloc of uncontested items. Council minutes confirm the resolution was moved by Clr Abu-Samen and seconded by Clr Cahill, passing unanimously.
Under the decision, the Greek flag will now be raised each year outside the Earlwood Senior Citizens Centre, as well as at Council’s service centres in Campsie and Bankstown, in recognition of the enduring contribution of the Greek Australian community and the shared values of freedom and democracy that OXI Day and Independence Day represent.
The Council’s CEO noted that any costs associated with the flag raising would be minimal and absorbed within the existing operational plan.
CommBank Pararoos Head Coach Kai Lammert has confirmed his squad to compete at the IFCPF Asian-Oceania Cup in Indonesia.
The CommBank Pararoos will assemble at Valentine Sports Park, Sydney from 8–11 November for a pre-departure training camp before flying to Surakarta City, Indonesia, where the tournament will be held from 12–23 November across UNS Stadium and Sriwedari Stadium.
Following the draw on 31 October, Australia were placed in Group A alongside hosts Indonesia and Japan.
While Japan are a familiar opponent through previous Asian-Oceania Cups and World Cups, the clash with Indonesia will mark the Pararoos’ first-ever meeting against the host nation. Malaysia, Iran, Thailand and South Korea make up Group B on the other side of the draw.
The tournament marks the CommBank Pararoos’ return to international competition since last year’s IFCPF World Cup in Spain, where they finished 13th against the world’s best. Ranked 12th globally, and the second-highest ranked team in the Asian-Oceania Cup behind Iran (2nd), the Pararoos will be determined to continue their upward trajectory.
At the 2023 edition of the Asian-Oceania Cup held in Melbourne, the Pararoos produced a spirited campaign to reach the final, falling 2–0 to a professional Iranian outfit after a brave defensive performance.
This year’s squad features a blend of youth and experience, including 11 players who represented Australia at last year’s World Cup. Josh De Silva, Connor Bunce and Tomas Scotti have earned recalls to the national team, further reinforcing the depth and competitiveness within the squad.
CommBank Pararoos and Australian football veteran David Barber will continue his everlasting career with over a century of caps in the green and gold, extending his record as the most capped international men’s player in Australian football history since making his debut against the Netherlands on October 27, 1999.
With preparations well underway, the CommBank Pararoos will be aiming to go one better in Indonesia and bring home their first-ever IFCPF Asian-Oceania title.
CommBank Pararoos Head Coach Kai Lammert, said:
“We’re really excited to be back playing international football again. It’s been a year since the World Cup in Spain, and the players and staff have been counting down the days to get back on the pitch and represent Australia.
“This squad has a great balance to it, we’re young, but we’ve also got a core group of players who have been part of the program for several years and know what it takes at this level. To have 11 players from last year’s World Cup squad is fantastic, and bringing in players like Josh, Connor and Tomas adds even more energy and depth to what’s already a strong group.
“The quality of opposition we’ll face in Indonesia will be extremely high. Teams like Iran, Japan and Thailand continue to raise the bar in our region, and we know we’ll have to be at our best in every single match.
“We want to perform to our potential, play our brand of football, and compete for a place in the final. A spot in the final will guarantee qualification for next year’s World Cup, and that’s our main objective. If we stick to our strengths and bring the same belief we’ve had in past camps, we’ll give ourselves every chance to achieve that.”
CommBank Pararoos Squad | 2025 IFCPF Asian-Oceania Cup in Indonesia
First Name
Surname
Member Federation
Rafferty
Bacon
Football West
David
Barber
Football QLD
Jeremy
Boyce
Football NSW
Connor
Bunce
Football West
Josh
De Silva
Football West
Giacomo
Izzo
Football West
Alessandro
La Verghetta
Football West
Luc
Launder
Capital Football
Taj
Lynch
Football NSW
William
McGrath
Football NSW
Augustine
Murphy
Football NSW
Tomas
Scotti
Football NSW
Christian
Tsangas
Football Victoria
Kaylan
van Heer
Football Victoria
IFCPF Asian-Oceania Cup in Indonesia When: November 12-23, 2025 Where: Surakarta, Indonesia
