The newly established St Sophrony of Essex parish in Hectorville, Adelaide, South Australia held its first official fundraising dinner on Sunday, June 29, in the presence of His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide.
The event drew 230 attendees and raised more than $21,000 toward the construction of a parish hall and renovation of the church.
Founded in January 2023, St Sophrony is the first dedicated English-speaking parish under the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and has grown rapidly.
The new hall will provide space for hospitality, Bible study, and community gatherings, as parishioners currently meet outdoors after services due to the lack of facilities.
The dinner was hosted in the hall of the neighboring Prophet Elias Norwood parish, whose support was gratefully acknowledged.
The evening featured speeches by Dr Ioannis Salagaras, a founding council member, and Father Daniel Bradshaw, who outlined architectural plans for the renovation, including restoring the altar’s original location and extending the church’s narthex.
Bishop Silouan closed the evening, conveying the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia and praising the parish’s efforts.
Volunteers and youth played a key role in the event’s success, preparing food, assisting during the evening, and cleaning afterward.
The fundraiser highlighted the strong sense of community and spiritual purpose within the parish, which serves many English-speaking Orthodox Christians and converts.
Melbourne boilermaker Kostas Papadimitropoulos has turned his life around after being scammed out of his life savings and forced to live in his car – now becoming a homeowner and aspiring property investor.
Papadimitropoulos, who was born in Australia and raised in Greece, lost $30,000 in 2016–17 after a man posing as a business partner fled the country, leaving him with a $60,000 ANZ debt.
According to realestate.com.au, the financial blow saw him evicted from his rental and living out of his car while his wife and daughter remained overseas.
His fortunes changed in 2020 after reaching out to property investor Anissa Cavallo, founder of Eda Property, who he saw featured online. They met at a McDonald’s where she offered practical advice and helped him rebuild his credit file.
“Slowly, slowly, I found work and started to build my wealth,” Papadimitropoulos told Realestate.com.au.
With the help of savings, family support, and the Victorian First Home Owner Grant, he bought land and built a home in Melbourne’s north, moving in with his wife Bibi and daughter Sinny in 2023.
The family is now preparing to purchase their first investment property.
His story comes amid warnings from housing support groups about a growing number of employed Victorians facing homelessness.
The Sydney Dance Company captivated a crowd of 5,000 at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus last week, performing Impermanence as part of the Athens Epidaurus Festival 2025.
Set against the historic backdrop beneath the Acropolis, the emotionally charged performance explored the fleeting nature of existence through movement and music.
Choreographed by artistic director Rafael Bonachela and set to a score by Bryce Dessner – known for his work on The Revenant and The Two Popes – Impermanence drew inspiration from global tragedies such as the 2019 Australian bushfires and the Notre-Dame fire.
The piece fused elements of contemporary ballet, yoga, and modern dance to deliver a powerful reflection on transience and resilience.
Australian Ambassador to Greece, Alison Duncan, hailed the performance as a personal milestone, having hoped to see Australian artists take the iconic stage in Athens.
“It was incredible to watch the wonderful Sydney Dance Company perform ‘Impermanence’ before 5000 people in that amazing venue,” she said.
Alongside the performance, the company also hosted an inclusive dance workshop in collaboration with local Greek dance groups including Exis Inclusive Dance Company, LIMINAL Dance, Playground for the arts, and Prosxima Dance Company.
Led by dancer Richard Cilli, the workshop brought together dancers with and without disabilities to explore self-expression and bodily equality through movement.
Ambassador Duncan praised the initiative, calling it “deeply empowering” and commending the company for being “wonderful representatives of Australia’s arts sector.”
The appearance marks a major cultural exchange milestone and highlights Australia’s bold artistic presence at the festival, which also featured Back to Back Theatre’s provocative production The Shadow Whose Prey the Hunter Becomes.
Former Australian Taxation Office employee Paraskevi Vula Danassis has been convicted over her role in a $2 billion GST fraud scheme that exploited fake business claims for tax refunds.
Danassis, who worked as an executive assistant at the ATO, obtained $94,000 in fraudulent GST refunds by registering a fictitious cleaning business and submitting fake Business Activity Statements.
She was convicted of one count of “general dishonesty – obtaining a gain” and sentenced to 18 months in prison, but was released immediately on a two-year good behaviour bond after repaying the full amount with help from her mother.
The Queensland District Court heard Danassis spent $11,000 of the money on dental implants and used some funds to repay high-interest loans allegedly forced on her by an abusive former partner.
However, the federal prosecutor argued the funds were still used for “personal gain,” including non-essentials and cryptocurrency.
Her case is part of a wider ATO crackdown on the scam, which began circulating on social media in late 2021.
The scheme involved falsely registering for GST and claiming refunds for purchases that never occurred. Over 57,000 individuals are believed to have participated, with only $160 million recovered so far.
ATO deputy commissioner Nick Shizas condemned the actions, saying, “Those who act contrary to our values do a disservice to us all and have no place in the ATO.”
Three other ATO workers have also been convicted, with fraud amounts ranging from $16,000 to $94,000. The scam has been described as the largest of its kind in Australia’s history.
The Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies (AIMS) is organising on Friday, July 11, at 6.30 pm in the Lyceum Hall of Alphington Grammar School, a Philological Memorial dedicated to the work and contribution of the late Panagiotis Jasonides, who in August 1986 was the founding Secretary of AIMS.
The organisation of the Memorial was undertaken by the President and members of the Board of Directors in close collaboration with the management of Alphington Grammar, and the dance department of the Pontian House.
The program will be essentially a celebration of the life and contribution of Panagiotis, who for more than forty years served with passion and dedication to everything that was Pontic and consequently Greek.
The event will be attended by the Principal of Alphington Grammar School, Dr. Vivian Nikou, who will refer to her family ties with Panagiotis and his paternal family.
It will be followed by a 20 minute lecture in English by the historian and coordinator of the AIMS Archives, Stavros Stavridis, on the topic “The Displacement of Pontic Hellenism from the Black Sea (1921-1922)”.
Stavridis is a specialist historian on issues of Asia Minor Hellenism and the suffering suffered by the Christian populations of the region in the first 30 years of the twentieth century by Turkish irregulars and soldiers.
Afterwards, Simela Stamatopoulou, second-generation leader of Pontian Hellenism in Melbourne and former President of the Federation of Pontian Associations, will refer to the contribution of Panagiotis. This will be followed by a short speech from the President of AIMS, Professor Anastasios Tamis, who will focus on those aspects of Panagiotis’ life and contribution that establish him as an authentic model and example to be emulated, an Australian-born leader.
The event will close with a 15-minute musical and dance performance curated by Yiannis Pilalidis, presenting musicians and a group of dancers from the Pontian House in rhythms and dances that appealed to Panagiotis.
In order to honour the memory and celebrate the contribution of Panagiotis, the AIMS will give attendees, free of charge, the now-rare collective volume entitled Ancient Macedonia, which was edited by Professor Peter Connor of the University of Melbourne on behalf of the AIMS.
The volume includes rare articles by European, Greek and American academics and researchers from the monumental International Conference on Ancient Macedonia organised by AIMS in 1992, under the scientific responsibility of the late Professor Dimitris Pandermalis. Panagiotis’ participation in the Conference was essential.
A reception will follow, jointly organised by Dr Nikou and the Vice President of AIMS, Christina Kotsifaki-Sarri. The event will be covered via video by Michalis Porphyris, edited by Platon Denazakis.
The technical coordination of the event has been undertaken by AIMS executives, Nikos Papakonstantinou and Georgios Lioukas, while the role of Master of Ceremonies has been assigned to teacher Dimitra Flessa.
An invitation to the Memorial is open and all those who wish to experience these moments of remembrance for one of the most distinguished executives of the Greek diaspora are welcome to attend.
Peter Jasonides(4 August 1960 – 2 July 2024)
In Memoriam
Panagiotis Iasonidis (Jasonides, Peter) was born (4 August 1960) in Melbourne to Greek immigrant parents, George and Anatole; he was trilingual in Pontian, Greek and English. He married Helen Sofianos, and they raised two children, Anatole and George.
He studied economics and political sciences at La Trobe and Melbourne Universities and was awarded post-tertiary accreditation in translating and interpreting. He served as a Secretary of the Hellenic Club at La Trobe University, vice-president of Melbourne’s Greek Club and inter-university liaison officer and President of the National Union of Greek Australian Students (1984-1986), a post which was also held almost twenty years later by his daughter, Anatole.
Over the years he was awarded titles as Honorary President and Life Member by community organisations recognising his loyal contribution to community issues and Pontian Hellenism. In 1999 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace of the State of Victoria.
He was elected Treasurer of the Greek Australian Professionals’ Association; Secretary-General of the Central Pontian Association of Victoria “Pontiaki Estia” (1984-1986); Chairman of the Greek Festival of Melbourne (1986-1987); founding Secretary of the United Association of Greek Orthodox Communities and Parishes of Melbourne and Victoria (1986-1987); Secretary of the Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies(1988-1989); President of the Pan-Macedonian Association of Melbourne and Victoria, twice (1995-1997; 2016-2017); National President of the Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia (2005-2007); Alternate Secretary of the International Confederation of Pontian Hellenes (2007-2012), and Victorian and National Co-ordinator of the Australian Hellenic Council (2010-2012).
He embarked on a professional career as a public servant, consultant, interpreter and translator, educator, social welfare and community education CEO until 2007, when he established and became Managing Director of the ITHEA (Institute of Tertiary and Higher Education Australia), a Registered Training Organisation for vocational education and training, with an intake of local and international students, a post that he retained until his exit from this earthly life.
More than a year after the fatal crash that killed 28-year-old lawyer Mitch East, Sydney man Zisi Kokotatsios, 65, has yet to enter pleas to multiple serious charges.
Police allege Kokotatsios was illegally using his mobile phone while driving through Tamarama around 4am on March 17, 2024, when he struck East, who was on the road, and failed to stop and assist. Emergency services responded, but East was pronounced dead at the scene.
Kokotatsios is charged with failing to stop and assist after a vehicle impact causing death, dangerous and negligent driving occasioning death, and using a mobile phone while driving. The matter has been before the courts for over a year.
He faced Central Local Court on Thursday, with the case adjourned to a conference later in July. Kokotatsios remains on bail under conditions including daily police reporting and a ban on approaching international departure points.
East, a Harvard Law School graduate, was working at Sydney firm Arnold Bloch Leibler at the time of his death. The firm described him as a highly talented and valued colleague whose loss is deeply felt.
Against the backdrop of the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and its emerging challenges, the second day of the 1st Global Summit of Hellenic Lawyers 2025 underscored the role of justice as a foundation of democracy and a pillar of the rule of law.
The conference is taking place in Athens, Greece from Monday 7 July to Thursday 10 July, thanks in large part to the tireless efforts of the Greek Australian community, which played a vital role in bringing the event to fruition.
The active participation of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association, as well as the presence of senior judicial figures, lent the event both international prestige and a distinctly Greek Australian character.
Notably, the keynote address by the Honourable Justice Emilios Kyrou, a prominent Greek Australian judge, offered a valuable contribution to the international dialogue on transparency and accountability, delivering important lessons for both Australia and Greece.
The Honourable Justice Emilios Kyrou at the conference.
Defending democracy in the age of AI
The conference’s central theme, “Defending Democracy, the Rule of Law and Justice – Global Challenges and the Role of Artificial Intelligence,” reflects the legal anxieties of our era – where technological progress collides with institutional uncertainty, calling for new frameworks to guarantee democratic governance.
And what more fitting location than Athens, cradle of both democracy and law, where the very concepts now under scrutiny were first born?
The day began with keynote speeches by:
Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, The Honourable Stephen Gageler AC
Former Greek Deputy Prime Minister and Emeritus Professor of Constitutional Law at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Evangelos Venizelos
The Honourable Stephen Gageler AC.Evangelos Venizelos.
Prior to their addresses, Dimitris Vervesos, President of Plenary of Greek Bar Associations, presented a commemorative gift to Joseph Tsalanidis, President of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association, in recognition of the organisation’s instrumental contribution to the success of the summit.
The brief ceremony symbolically highlighted the close cooperation between the legal communities of Greece and Australia. Also underscoring the event’s importance were the presence of Australia’s Ambassador to Greece, Alison Duncan, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of South Australia, Chris Kourakis.
Chief Justice Gageler: ‘From logos to likes’
“There are two kinds of delegates: Greeks and Philhellenes. You can tell from my accent I’m not Greek, but I assure you I am a Philhellene,” said Stephen Gageler AC, opening his keynote to spontaneous and sustained applause.
His talk, “From Logos to Likes: Defending Reason in Justice in the Digital Age,” was, as he admitted candidly, titled with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
“I think the title of my presentation is catchy and clever. I wish I had thought of it myself—but I didn’t. It was generated when I explained the topic to an artificial intelligence programme and asked it to suggest titles,” he said.
He then questioned whether AI tools could one day substitute justice itself.
“If judicial power has nothing but judgment, and judgment is based on reason, then what was once considered its strength is increasingly exposed as its weakness,” he said.
He challenged the supremacy of logic in legal reasoning, suggesting: “Perhaps the role of reason has been overestimated, and the importance of passion under-recognised and under-integrated.”
Drawing on the myth of the Erinyes, he warned that if betrayed, the Eumenides could return with fury. He closed by emphasising that the defence of reason may well require its reconciliation with human emotion.
Venizelos: ‘Democracy is the supreme guarantee of all institutions’
Next to speak was Evangelos Venizelos, who argued that the greatest threat to democracy lies in the limitations imposed upon it.
“New technology offers vast opportunities—but also significant risks to democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights. The adaptation of the rule of law to this new environment is not just necessary—it is urgent,” he said.
He warned of both external and internal threats, noting the erosion of the social contract: “Can democracy survive without a social contract—without a commitment to reducing inequality?”
Venizelos proposed a renewed framework for democratic reform, including his earlier concept of “post-representative democracy”: “What are the limits of liberal democracy today? Who truly represents society?”
He concluded by calling on legal professionals—judges, lawyers, prosecutors—to play an active role in defending and reimagining democratic institutions, stating: “Athens is the right place for this dialogue. Democracy was born here—and it remains the highest safeguard of all our institutions.”
Greek Australian panel and AI-focused debate
The programme continued with a second set of keynotes by:
The Honorable Michael A. Chagares, Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Professor Achilles C. Emilianides, Dean of the School of Law at the University of Nicosia and President of the Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts
Their discussion focused on institutional independence, constitutional justice, and judicial education.
This was followed by a panel titled “Artificial Intelligence and Democracy: Legal Accountability, Ethical Questions and Regulatory Challenges,” chaired by Peter Tantalos, Associate to the Honourable Chief Justice Kourakis and Chair of Hellenic Australian Lawyers [SA Chapter].
Panel members included:
The Honourable Dr Melissa Anne Perry, Justice of the Federal Court of Australia
Professor John Tasioulas, Professor of Ethics and Legal Philosophy/Director of the Institute for Ethics in AI at the University of Oxford
Together, they explored the challenges AI presents to democratic accountability and the moral integrity of law—an entirely Greek Australian panel reflecting the global legal reach of the Hellenic diaspora.
(L-R) Dr Melissa Anne Perry, Peter Tantalos, and Professor John Tasioulas.
Justice Kyrou on Australia’s accountability mechanisms
Later, Justice Emilios Kyrou, President of the Administrative Review Tribunal and Judge of the Federal Court of Australia, delivered a detailed presentation on accountability as the core of democracy.
He outlined the federal structure of Australia and explained the terms “state,” “mechanisms,” and “accountability” in the context of Australia’s Constitution and judicial review processes.
Kyrou highlighted the rights to demand reasoning for government decisions, access government documents, and protect personal privacy—all crucial for transparency and public trust.
He focused on three key accountability institutions:
Commonwealth Ombudsman
Auditor-General
National Anti-Corruption Commission
These, he said, form interlocking safeguards that reinforce transparency and oversight, protecting democracy from arbitrary governance.
“Effective accountability mechanisms underpin democracy, the rule of law, and justice,” Kyrou affirmed. “Australia exemplifies a modern state where the separation of powers functions in practice.”
He emphasised the role of courts and tribunals as the strongest mechanisms for reviewing executive decisions—including in areas such as immigration, tax, education, intellectual property, and national security.
Dr Finokaliotis: The Constitution as a check on power
On the same panel, Dr Dimitrios Finokaliotis, President of the Thessaloniki Bar Association, addressed the role of constitutional safeguards in curbing the overreach of majority power.
“In Greece’s constitutional democracy, provisions exist to ensure that even democratically legitimate power is subject to limits. The Constitution offers continuity and coherence across time,” he said.
He stressed the importance of judicial independence, clear separation of powers, and the ongoing balance between democratic mandate and constitutional accountability.
Legal developments in the light of technological advancement
The final session on Tuesday addressed “Digital Governance, Artificial Intelligence, and Cross-Border Transfer of Personal Data: Legal Developments in Light of Technological Progress.”
It was chaired by Stathis Michos, lawyer, LL.M., Head of Legal Affairs for Pfizer (Greece, Israel, Cyprus & Malta). Speakers included Kostas Argyropoulos, Director of Legal Services & Regulatory Compliance, SPACE HELLAS GROUP, and John C. Stratakis, Partner at Poles Tublin, Stratakis & Gonzalez LLP.
Greece and Australia have once again secured top spots on the 2025 Henley Passport Index, reaffirming their status as global leaders in travel mobility.
Australia ranked 6th, tied with New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, offering its passport holders visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 189 destinations.
The strong ranking reflects Australia’s diplomatic outreach, economic stability, and global partnerships, enabling citizens to travel widely for business, education, and tourism.
Greece placed 7th alongside Canada, with access to 188 destinations. Its passport strength is bolstered by EU membership and strong diplomatic ties, supporting both tourism and international connectivity.
Greece’s ranking also highlights its role in fostering cultural exchange and business growth, particularly in the travel and tourism sector.
The Henley Passport Index evaluates global mobility based on visa-free access, diplomatic influence, and international cooperation.
While Singapore topped the 2025 list with 195 destinations, Australia and Greece continue to be among the most mobile nations, underscoring their strong international standing and commitment to cross-border engagement.
Greek Migration Minister Thanos Plevris, along with counterparts from Italy and Malta and EU Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner, was denied entry into eastern Libya on alleged entry violations, after the delegation first visited Tripoli in the country’s west.
The eastern Libyan administration, led by Prime Minister Osama Hammad, declared the officials “persona non-grata,” claiming they entered “illegally” and violated Libyan diplomatic norms and sovereignty.
The ministers had intended to discuss migration cooperation amid ongoing EU efforts to curb smuggling operations from Libya.
Greek Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hadzidakis told state broadcaster ERT that while the meeting in Tripoli with the internationally recognised government went ahead, the refusal in Benghazi appeared linked to the delegation’s failure to first coordinate with the east-based authorities.
“I don’t think that was a constructive move,” Hadzidakis said, noting the EU’s efforts to address complex migration issues.
Libya remains divided between rival administrations in the east and west, with General Khalifa Haftar wielding military power in the east.
Visitors are typically required to coordinate with both governments, though it remains unclear whether such coordination occurred in this case.
A 25-year-old woman, Eirini (Irini) Mourtzoukou, has been arrested in connection with the deaths of three infants and the attempted murder of an adult woman in Amaliada, western Greece.
Authorities have charged her with serial intentional homicide and attempted suffocation.
Mourtzoukou was taken into custody on Monday under a warrant from an Athens court and transported to Athens Police Headquarters. She is due to appear before a prosecutor within 24 hours.
The case spans several years, beginning in 2021 with the death of a six-month-old child belonging to a friend.
In 2022, Mourtzoukou’s own newborn died of interstitial pneumonia, and in 2023, her second child died at Agia Sofia Children’s Hospital, reportedly from epileptic seizures—though investigators have raised questions about a possible third-party presence.
The most recent incident occurred in August 2024, when a 15-month-old baby of another friend died while under Mourtzoukou’s care, prompting national outrage and an investigation by the Patras Appeals Prosecutor’s Office.
Mourtzoukou denies all charges, has requested independent expert reviews, and stated publicly, “I am not involved. I want my children’s souls to be vindicated.”
Her lawyer has called for additional forensic and pediatric evaluations.
