Prosecutors in Melbourne’s Easey Street double murder case allege that DNA found at the 1977 crime scene is “highly likely” to have come from Perry Kouroumblis, the 66-year-old now accused of murdering Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett and of raping Armstrong.
Kouroumblis, who was 17 and living nearby in Collingwood at the time, has denied all charges, with his legal team arguing that the decades-old DNA evidence was contaminated, unreliable, and should be excluded.
During the committal hearing before Magistrate Brett Sonnet, prosecutor Zubin Menon told the court both women had been stabbed dozens of times, and that DNA testing linked Kouroumblis to several samples, including material on vaginal swabs from Armstrong, that were “650 million times more likely” to have originated from him.
Victims Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett.
Defence barrister Dermot Dann KC described the forensic material as “explosive,” insisting the samples were mishandled and warning that any public reporting of the DNA ratios could prejudice a future jury.
Magistrate Sonnet rejected the application for a suppression order, ruling it was not “necessary” under Victoria’s Open Courts Act.
Dann said his client would plead not guilty to both murders and seek to have the rape charge dismissed.
The prosecution claims Kouroumblis left forensic traces at the scene before fleeing Australia decades later, flying to Greece in 2017, four months after providing a voluntary DNA sample.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis unveiled the new bioclimatic facade of the Ministry of National Defence on Wednesday, October 29, describing it as a symbol of Greece’s historic €28 billion, 12-year Armed Forces modernisation program, the most ambitious in the nation’s history.
He linked the renewal of the military to Greece’s identity and continuity, calling sculptor Kostas Varotsos’ design “a tribute to those who sacrificed for freedom.”
Mitsotakis said the new building represents both “technological progress and remembrance,” reaffirming that defending the homeland remains a “non-negotiable priority.”
The Prime Minister cited Greece’s ongoing military upgrades, including Rafale and F-16 Viper jets, forthcoming F-35 fighters, Belharra frigates, and expanded unmanned systems, noting that “the Armed Forces are being strengthened like never before.”
Η σημερινή μέρα σηματοδοτεί μία ξεχωριστή στιγμή για την εθνική μας άμυνα, αλλά και για την εικόνα της πόλης μας. Στη νέα εικόνα του Υπουργείου και του στρατοπέδου που το πλαισιώνει, καθρεφτίζεται αυτός ο τολμηρός μετασχηματισμός, αναγκαίος εκσυγχρονισμός των Ενόπλων Δυνάμεων. pic.twitter.com/wsFqAkRiED
The facade, spanning 340 metres with 730 vertical aluminium louvres, improves energy efficiency while housing Varotsos’ “Ark of National Memory,” inscribed with the names of 121,692 fallen heroes.
Defence Minister Nikos Dendias praised the project as one of “uplift and restoration,” adding that the vertical elements “symbolise the confidence and austerity that lead us to the future.”
He also announced a design competition to redesign the Monument to the Unknown Soldier, reinforcing its role as a symbol of national unity.
Two olive groves planted at the ministry, one with 25 trees and another with 28, commemorate Greece’s historic dates: March 25, 1821, the start of the War of Independence, and October 28, 1940, the day Greece defied fascist invasion.
As Greek and Cypriot communities across New South Wales commemorate the 85th anniversary of Oxi Day, NSW Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure MP has shared a message recognising the day’s enduring significance and the contributions of the Hellenic diaspora to the state’s multicultural fabric.
Message from Mark Coure MP
Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism, Mark Coure MP, has extended his best wishes to the Greek and Cypriot communities across New South Wales as they commemorate Oxi Day, a day symbolising courage, unity, and resistance against tyranny.
Oxi Day marks the historic moment on 28 October 1940, when Greece’s Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas bravely said “Oxi”, meaning “No”, to the Axis Powers’ demand to occupy Greece during World War II. This act of defiance sparked Greece’s entry into the war and became a defining moment of national pride.
Mr Coure said Oxi Day remains a timeless reminder of the values that unite communities across Australia.
“Oxi Day is not only about Greece’s historic stand against fascism, but also about the universal fight for freedom, courage, and democracy,” Mr Coure said.
“The Greek and Cypriot communities have made an incredible contribution to the social, cultural and economic life of New South Wales, and their ongoing commitment to these values continues to strengthen our multicultural society.”
Mr Coure also highlighted the importance of passing down the lessons of Oxi Day to younger generations.
“It’s important that we continue to share these stories of resilience and heroism so that future generations understand the sacrifices made for the freedoms we enjoy today,” he said.
“As we mark Oxi Day, I extend my warmest wishes to all Greek and Cypriot Australians celebrating across our state.”
Oakleigh Grammar’s Class of 2025 gathered for a night of celebration, reflection, and recognition at their Year 12 Graduation Dinner, held at Leonda by the Yarra.
Families, staff, and special guests came together to honour the students’ achievements and celebrate the friendships and memories that have defined their time at Oakleigh Grammar.
The evening began with pre-dinner drinks and canapés for the Principal, Board Chairman, School and Vice Captains, and their parents, before guests were seated for the main event.
School Captain Alexander Korlos welcomed attendees, setting the tone for a night that celebrated the accomplishments and journey of the graduating class.
School Captain Alexander Korlos.
Principal Mark Robertson reflected on the occasion, saying: “Simply the best! Close to 300 guests celebrated the graduation Class of 2025 with magnificent community spirit, with each student being individually recognised, followed by outstanding speeches and dancing that was befitting of this grand occasion.”
Principal Mark Robertson.
A standout moment of the evening was the individual student presentations, announced by the Senior School Pastoral Coordinator Manoj Patel. Each graduate was celebrated with a personal slide, music, a plaque, and a special gift.
A particularly meaningful addition was the presentation of framed gifts featuring each student’s Prep and Year 12 photos to those who had been with Oakleigh Grammar from ELC or Prep through to Year 12, celebrating their long-standing journey within the school community.
Year 12 student Helen reflected on the evening, sharing: “Our Graduation Dinner is a memory that will stay with me forever. It was not only a wonderful night to celebrate my years of schooling, but one spent with people who have become my family and helped shape me into the person I am today.”
Year 12 student Elias also reflected on the evening, sharing: “It was the perfect send-off to what has been an amazing schooling journey. Our cohort has had a connection like no other, among students and teachers as a collective. The night, which was filled with joy, entertainment and commemoration, is now a beautiful memory every single student in the Class of 2025 will forever look back on.”
The evening concluded with staff, students, and families raising a toast to the graduates, followed by lively dancing that celebrated the milestone in style.
The Graduation Dinner was a fitting tribute to the Class of 2025, celebrating their resilience, achievements, and contributions while honouring the friendships, memories, and shared experiences that have shaped their time at Oakleigh Grammar.
The annual Saint Dimitrios Parish Festival in Moonee Ponds brought together parishioners, dignitaries, and performers on Sunday, October 26, for a vibrant celebration marking 50 years since the founding of the parish.
Held in honour of Saint Demetrios, patron saint of Thessaloniki, the event reflected five decades of faith, unity, and service to Melbourne’s Greek community.
The day opened with a thanksgiving service commemorating the liberation of Thessaloniki, officiated by His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Chora.
Among the attendees was Consul General of Greece in Melbourne Dimitra Georgantzoglou, who received flowers and well-wishes on her name day.
Dignitaries including Federal MP Jo Briskey, State MP Danny Pearson, Moonee Valley Mayor Ava Adams, and Victorian Multicultural Commissioner Viv Nguyen joined in congratulating the parish for its enduring contribution.
They praised Father Ioannis Frangos and the community for maintaining Saint Dimitrios parish as a cornerstone of spiritual and cultural life.
The festival featured traditional Greek dances, live music by the Nestor College Orchestra and Moonee Valley City Band, and performances by cultural groups including the Cretan Brotherhood of Brunswick, Aristotelis Florina, Pontiaki Estia, the Greek Community of Melbourne, and Pericles Dance Group.
In his opening remarks, Konstantinos Kalymnios reflected on the ancient meaning of paniyiri (festival) as a gathering for divine worship, noting its continuing spirit of unity and collective joy.
Comedian George Kapiniaris entertained audiences with his trademark humour, rounding off an afternoon of music, laughter, and celebration.
St Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church in Burwood has received a $14,000 ClubGrant from Burwood RSL to continue the vital community work of The Cottage Kitchen, which provides free meals to those in need.
Burwood RSL Gaming Manager Glenn McEvoy visited parish volunteers last week to present the cheque and watch them serve 150 freshly prepared meals for vulnerable residents. Father John Kapetas was also present for the visit.
The parish expressed its gratitude, saying it was thankful to Burwood RSL for supporting the initiative for the second consecutive year.
Launched in July 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Cottage Kitchen began with a $5,000 grant from Multicultural NSW.
Today, volunteers cook more than 100 nutritious meals each week, available for pick-up on Mondays at 5 Burleigh Street, Burwood, or delivered to those with mobility issues.
The Northern Territory’s Greek community is celebrating humanitarian nurse and paramedic Helen Zahos, who has been recognised for her decades of service to global health and emergency response.
Zahos received the Special Commendation Award for Community Service at the Charles Darwin University Alumni Awards, held at the Darwin Convention Centre.
The honour highlighted her more than 25 years working on the front lines of crises, from disaster and war zones to the European refugee crisis and remote communities across Australia.
Zahos has worked with international aid organisations in disaster and conflict zones and continues to mentor emerging health leaders, inspiring communities both in the NT and abroad.
For the past 11 years, the Greek Community of Melbourne’s (GCM) Creative Drama & Arts program has brought Greek theatre to Melbourne stages. Catering to children and adults, the group has fostered an environment of growth and dedication, creating a space where Greek culture is celebrated through the art of theatre.
Currently the largest Greek theatre group in Melbourne, Creative Drama & Arts was founded in 2014 by production coordinator Katerina Poutachidou. Katerina migrated to Melbourne in 2007 and considers herself “lucky” to have “turned [her] hobby into a profession.” With a background in Drama Education in Brno, Czech Republic, she shared her extensive theatre experience with Melbourne’s Greek community.
The group began with a focus on student theatre in 2014 before expanding to include an adult division in 2015. Through her work with the GCM schools, Katerina noticed the students’ interest in theatre and then created a space for them to explore drama outside of the classroom.
“As a theater teacher… I saw how much the students ‘came alive’ through theater, even though they had no theater experience. I saw their confidence to speak Greek even though it was their second language,” Katerina told The Greek Herald.
Two children’s groups were formed: one for students learning Greek as a second language, and another for recent Greek migrants.
Some of the first children’s productions directed by Katerina include Hans Christian Anderson’s The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Horseman (Aristophanes), Hansel and Gretal (Elena Akrita), and The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry). Notable members of Creative Drama & Arts performances are Stathis Grapsas, Eleni Boukouvala, and Jeremy Artis.
Creative Drama & Arts also offers workshops to assist their members with developing performance skills and to explore different theatre styles, such as Commedia dell’Arte mask-making workshops with artist Christos Akrodalitis.
While the children’s theatre department laid the group’s foundation, adult performances also captured the heart of Melbourne’s Greek community. The adult division came from a want to recreate how theatre is practiced in Greece and to establish relationships in a theatre setting.
Recent adult productions include Alone (Greek and world literature excerpts), Twenty-Two (refugees testimonies from the destruction of Smyrna), Girls in the Shadow (exploration of the female experience in different eras), and Makrigiannis (a solo performance based on Makrigiannis’ memoirs).
Artis has directed and performed in these theatre productions over the past five years and told The Greek Herald that he’s “proud of what we’ve accomplished in the last five years… [and is] proud seeing the group growing and evolving.”
The ten-year anniversary production Girls in Crisis, was a unique blend of existing plays Jeremy had combined. Katerina explained, “The choice of the play was not intentional due to the anniversary, but arose naturally, as the group included nine women and one man, which created an ideal dynamic to explore the female experience with humor, tension and theatrical complexity.”
Moving forward, Katerina and Jeremy see the group continuing to evolve. Katerina said their “goal is to constantly… enhance the theatre experience for the participants and the audience.” Jeremy added that future productions might incorporate more English to reflect their diverse audience, considering how they could “incorporate both languages without subtitles and everyone understanding the whole play.”
Presenting theatre in a language other than English in Australia can be difficult when connecting with wider audiences. While it might be easier to perform plays in English with Greek themes, Creative Drama & Arts values the nuance the Greek language brings to the stage.
Jeremy highlighted theatre’s ability to transform how people view Greek language: “I think Greek language over here is… close to extinction. I think it’s vital to have any form of performing arts, books, or music… in Greek, especially theatre and comedies.”
He emphasised that Greek comedy helps people think that “there isn’t a distance between me and this language,” and can perhaps be drawn to the performance and culture.
Since 2014 Creative Drama & Arts has staged 17 productions combining classical and contemporary theatre.
Katerina reflected, “Greek theatre is not just an art form – it is a living bridge that connects us to our language, culture and roots. Through Creative, we give children and adults the opportunity to experience their language, to speak it with passion and to feel it on stage.”
Creative Drama & Arts’ decade-long journey is a testament to their dedication and friendships and how they have successfully united performers of all ages to celebrate Greek language and theatre.
Creative Drama & Arts’ next production, “170 Square Meters (Moonwalk)” by Giorgis Tsouris – directed by Jeremy Artis and presented in collaboration with the Greek Australian Film Society (GAFS) – will run from 7 to 9 November 2025 at Studio 2, The National Theatre Melbourne, St Kilda.Book online here.
The Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW) hosted a moving OXI Day commemoration at the Greek Community Club in Lakemba on Tuesday, October 28, bringing together community leaders, political representatives, clergy, and families to honour Greece’s historic defiance on 28 October 1940.
Proceedings opened with the Australian and Greek national anthems performed by students from the Community’s Greek Afternoon and Saturday Schools, followed by a minute’s silence for the fallen.
Master of Ceremonies Dimitri Kallos welcomed guests and noted that the community “proudly commemorates the Greek National Day of October 28, 1940 – a day that marks the Greek people’s heroic stand against fascism and their brave resistance during the Second World War.”
Reflections on courage, sacrifice and national unity
GOCNSW President Harry Danalis set the historical scene, describing OXI Day as an enduring example of courage and principle.
“No matter what the odds, liberty and independence are worth fighting for. Greece’s stand became the first victory against fascism in Europe and gave impetus to others to resist,” he said, adding that the sacrifices “did not come cheaply,” and that resistance continued throughout the occupation.
George Skemperis, Consul General of Greece in Sydney, also reflected on the rare national unity of 1940, noting, “A dictator said ‘no’, but the people in the streets made that ‘no’ a reality – and that is why we triumphed over a much superior enemy.”
Reflecting on the Asia Minor catastrophe and the integration of 1.5 million refugees, he said, “It was the sense of ‘never again’ that led Greeks to fight like lions.”
He urged contemporary vigilance, “Let us say ‘OXI’ to indifference and division, and live with courage, serve with honour, and cherish freedom.”
Also addressing the audience, Archimandrite Father Irenaeus Triantis delivered a message on behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, describing OXI as “a small word written in indelible letters” and “a moment when freedom triumphed over tyranny.”
Father Irenaeus called on the Greek diaspora to remain connected to its faith and cultural identity, noting that “the spirit of national unity shown by our heroic forebears constitutes an invaluable inheritance for all Greeks today.”
Messages of leadership and remembrance
NSW Minister for Industrial Relations Sophie Cotsis MP thanked teachers, families and volunteers and drew on archival reporting from the Parliamentary Library to illustrate how Sydney’s Greek community followed developments in 1940.
“It was one word that created the action of resistance and kept the Germans at bay. It changed the trajectory of World War II,” she said, adding a call to be “continuously vigilant about democracy and our institutions,” while celebrating the contribution and advancement of migrant families in Australia.
NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman MP emphasised shared values and bonds forged in war.
“OXI Day embodies courage, unity and the indomitable spirit of the Greek people,” he said. “Greece became the first nation in Europe to halt the advance of fascism and bought precious time for the Allied cause… The Greek Australian story is now inseparable from the New South Wales story.”
The keynote address was delivered by Argyris Kallos, President of the Sydney University Greek Society (SUGS), who said the legacy of 28 October was not confined to the past.
“The spirit of resistance continues to inspire us today. The tendencies Greece opposed are not foreign to our communities. Let’s carry on in unity and solidarity, wherever we are,” he said.
Poetry, performance and dance
One of the evening’s most heartfelt moments came through the voices of the youngest participants. Students from the Greek Afternoon and Saturday Schools took to the stage to recite patriotic poems with confidence and emotion, earning warm applause from the audience.
Their words – spoken in Greek – served as a living reminder that the language and values of courage, sacrifice and unity continue to pass proudly from one generation to the next.
Those performing included:
Dimitris Babalis (Clemton Park Saturday School): “The Dawn of 1940”
Eleni Halatsis (Summer Hill Afternoon School): “Never Forget”
Konstantinos Halatsis (Summer Hill Afternoon School): “October 28”
A short play, “The Mother of 1940”, was later presented by Year 6 students of Clemton Park Public School as a touching tribute to the women and mothers of wartime Greece – those who endured hardship with dignity and resilience.
The night concluded with a joyful Greek dance performance by the GOCNSW Dancing Group, under the direction of Paroula Thurban, which brought the hall to life in a celebration of tradition and pride.
Guests, families and students then mingled over cocktail refreshments, closing the evening in the same spirit of unity and remembrance that defined it.
The importance Australia places on Kythera, as the birthplace of a dynamic part of the diaspora, was confirmed during the recent visit of the Deputy Head of Mission of the Australian Embassy in Greece, Lachlan Scully, to the island’s Mayor, Efstratios Charchalakis.
The meeting highlighted the island’s special role as a bridge of friendship between Greece and the large Kytherian community of Australia, which numbers almost 80,000 people with direct or indirect origins from the island, as the Mayor noted in a post on social media.
The relationship between Kythera and Australia has deep social roots. It began with the mass migration of Kytherians to Australia during the 1950s and 1960s, when many sought better life opportunities.
As the Mayor pointed out, it was agreed that this relationship would be further strengthened through cultural exchanges and joint initiatives showcasing the long-standing historical connection between Kythera and Australia.
“I was very pleased to meet in my office the Deputy Head of Mission of the Australian Embassy in Greece, Lachlan Scully. We had an in-depth discussion about the whole network of strong ties between Kythera and Australia… and agreed to further strengthen these bonds through events and cultural exchanges,” Mr Charchalakis noted in his post.
