A new CHOICE report has revealed that Coles is the most affordable supermarket in the Northern Territory, with an average grocery basket costing $56.98, beating Woolworths ($58.40) and IGA ($76.18).
However, Territorians are missing out on the country’s cheapest option – ALDI, where the national average basket is $54.44. Despite being present in smaller regional towns interstate, ALDI has no current plans to open stores in the NT.
But according to NT News, while many locals say they would welcome an ALDI, some are happy to shop local for fresh produce, favouring MD Fresh Produce in Coconut Grove over the major chains.
Owner Alexis Kotis said his store combines local sourcing with produce from interstate markets to offer freshness and value.
“This is why we’re cheaper,” he told NT News. Shoppers praised not only the quality but also the friendly service.
Other independent stores like Nightcliff Friendly Grocer are also gaining popularity, particularly among those seeking specialist imports and superior fruit and veg.
“The fresh produce is the best here,” Greek Australian shopper George Cevris said.
Though local independents are cheaper for fresh produce, the report found they still lag behind Coles for pantry staples, meat, and dairy.
Victoria Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate Peter Tsimiklis.
The 46-year-old is wanted on warrant for failing to appear at court and breaching court orders and bail conditions.
Tsimiklis is described as approximately 188cm tall with a slim build, and short greying hair. He also walks with a limp due to having had his right leg amputated from the knee.
Tsimiklis is known to frequent the Malvern, Bentleigh, Narre Warren and Lakes Entrance areas. It is possible he is travelling in a distinctive purple Audi sedan with registration BID 812.
The distinctive purple Audi sedan with registration BID 812.
Investigators have released an image of Tsimiklis and the vehicle in the hope that someone may be able to provide information on his current whereabouts.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Former Cypriot judge Doria Varoshiotou has announced plans to appeal her dismissal after the judicial council ruled she was unfit to serve as a tenured judge, particularly criticising her handling of the high-profile case of Cypriot Australian national guardsman Thanasis Nicolaou.
Her ruling sparked public interest and controversy, especially after she barred former state pathologist Panikos Stavrianos from testifying. Although the Supreme Court later found this to be a legal error, it did not overturn her ruling in full.
Thanasis Nicolaou was found dead under Alassa bridge in September 2005.
The judicial council, in a detailed decision dated 30 June, cited “deficient legal skills and perception of the law” as key reasons for her dismissal, along with her conduct during and after the case.
It also referenced her written reaction to criticism from a senior judge, suggesting she had implied attempts were made to influence her decision. Varoshiotou further accused the judicial council and the Supreme Court of being biased and vindictive.
Her lawyer, Achilleas Demetriades, made the judicial council’s decision public on Thursday, stating it was in the public interest. He confirmed an appeal is being prepared and that no further public comment will be made at this stage.
If upheld, the decision ends Varoshiotou’s judicial career just as she was due to secure a permanent position at the Limassol district court.
Greece has been grappling with a series of wildfires this week, with the most severe outbreak taking place on the island of Crete, where approximately 5,000 people – 3,000 tourists and 2,000 locals – were evacuated overnight near the resort town of Ierapetra.
According to Yorgos Tzarakis, head of Crete’s hotel association, the evacuations were precautionary, moving people primarily to northern Crete.
Local officials, including Vice-Prefect Yannis Androulakis, noted that aerial firefighting efforts were hindered by strong winds and the island’s difficult terrain, complicating overnight operations. Wind speeds reportedly reached level 9 on the Beaufort scale, fanning the flames on multiple fronts.
Meanwhile, a separate blaze broke out on Thursday near Rafina, just 30 kilometres east of Athens. The fire destroyed several homes and vehicles before being brought under control.
The fire at Rafina burned homes. Photo: Ekathimerini.
More than 300 people were evacuated, and the port of Rafina was closed, disrupting ferry connections to the Cyclades. Smoke from the fire also delayed flights at Athens International Airport.
The National Observatory of Athens warned that July remains a high-risk month for wildfires, with the country experiencing increasingly frequent and intense blazes due to climate change. In 2024, Greece endured its hottest-ever summer, with 45,000 hectares of land scorched.
Across the Aegean in Turkey, two lives were lost as wildfires raged near Izmir, where intense winds and faulty power cables were blamed for the blazes.
As firefighting operations continue, both Greece and Turkey are being urged by experts to strengthen preventive measures amid escalating climate threats.
Greece’s Maria Sakkari has been knocked out of Wimbledon in the second round, following a straight-sets defeat to Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan.
Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion and current world No. 11, dispatched Sakkari 6-3, 6-1 in just one hour.
Although Sakkari, ranked No. 77, briefly narrowed the score in the opening set to 3-4, Rybakina regained control and closed it out in 37 minutes.
The Greek player opened the second set with a break, but her momentum quickly faded as Rybakina surged ahead, conceding only one more game before sealing the win in just 23 minutes.
Australia. It is a country known for its multiculturalism and vast ethnic diversity. Its population so diverse that according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in 2024 it was recorded that 31.5 percent of Australia’s population was born outside of Australia, which doesn’t factor in those from migrant families who speak English as a second language.
In Australia, this population has been and is continuing to be supported by a wide pool of multilingual news publications that service ethnic Australian families daily. There are more than 100 ethnic community radio stations and free to air multilingual news programs delivered, Australia-wide.
In an era when Australian journalism is fighting to be trusted and acknowledged, it is important for ethnic media platforms to remain relevant and important to its readers, ensuring voice and access to Australia’s ethnic populations.
The government-funded initiative SBS World News is a free-to-air multilingual station that has been delivering programs to dozens of ethnic communities in Australia.
SBS Director of Programs Mandi Wicks, who has been with SBS for over 15 years, directs SBS World News focusing on Australia-wide accessibility and innovation in the ethnic program sphere.
“[SBS] began as an initiative from the federal government at the time in 1975 to promote its health policy to new migrants, what we now know as Medicare. So, it was a great idea to talk to communities in their language about this new initiative and how it all worked,” Wick said.
“It proved to be so successful in communicating that it continued and became the second public broadcaster in Australia, starting with audio, and then, five years later, launched television. So, I think it’s evolved over years, and the communities that we serve changes.”
SBS is a unique Australian initiative in that it is Australia’s largest multilingual broadcaster and globally it differs from other current affairs programs due to its emphasis on multiculturalism and ethnic accessibility.
“The platforms that we choose to distribute content on have changed significantly over 50 years, from television and linear [programming] only to now, of course, being fully digital across all platforms, whether it’s websites or apps…” Wicks said.
“In order to stay relevant, we need to be essentially where audiences are choosing to consume their media and continue to evolve with that… We’ve been a broadcast that’s been quite agile and nimble, launching services like SBS On Demand… We’re very, very proud of being quite innovative.”
SBS offices in Melbourne.
Media Diversity Australia reported in 2022 that even though 48 percent of Australians have a parent born overseas, over 78 percent of TV presenters and reporters are of an Anglocentric background. Emphasising the need of longevity and interaction with independent multilingual media.
While SBS is one of the publications delivering multilingual news, there are also dozens of independent publications throughout Australia.
There are multiple large publications like Il Globo (an Italian publication) and Le Courier (a French publication) presenting Australian and global affairs in a translated and delivered format.
A pioneering publication, The Greek Herald, is one of the biggest ethnic publications servicing Greek and Cypriot Australians since 1926.
Dimitria Skalkos, Publisher of The Greek Herald, maintains the importance of independent ethnic media.
“Independent multicultural media are often underfunded despite being essential for community cohesion, language preservation, and democratic engagement — particularly in diasporic communities that may otherwise be marginalised in national conversations,” Ms Skalkos said.
“If these voices aren’t supported in a meaningful and structured way, there is a real risk of information deserts forming, where important community-specific narratives are lost altogether.”
For Ms Skalkos, multicultural media has always been a source of connection and a ‘lifeline’ to the Greek community she grew up in.
“Our home and office were filled with print runs, community papers, headlines in dozens of languages. The Greek Herald was central among them — I remember it vividly on the kitchen table, anchoring conversations in our home and within the Greek community,” she recalls.
Ms Skalkos adds that The Greek Herald has served as a vital record of community life — a living archive of migration stories, civic contributions, cultural identity, and political participation. Its archives are frequently referenced by students, researchers, and historians.
Cultural sensitivity and access to content:
Accessibility and willingness to connect with current affairs comes into question when multilingual publications produce.
For SBS there is an added pressure due to it being a government funded program. Wicks mentioned that journalistic guidelines are strongly implemented at SBS and influence not only how their multilingual programs are produced, but all their content.
“We would often hear from some communities who didn’t particularly want to hear a different perspective on an issue. In their minds, we should be supporting one perspective and the perspective they want to hear, probably based on their lived experience…” Wicks said.
“[But] SBS, needs to be… balanced and impartial, and so we do try to take the time to explain what we do and why we do it, why we cannot breach a code of practice, and that the journalists working on those services cannot be breaching those services.”
Alternatively, Ms Skalkos acknowledges SBS’s importance in multilingual programming, but emphasises the possibility for a lack of nuance and ability to hone in on an issue.
“Independent publications like The Greek Herald are deeply embedded in their communities. Our team lives within the community, participates in its events, understands its internal dynamics, and reflects that lived experience in our reporting,” Ms Skalkos said.
“We cover the kinds of culturally specific, sensitive, and sometimes controversial issues that can be overlooked or underreported in broader, government-funded models — including issues of internal community governance, mental health, intergenerational conflict, and identity
“Platforms like SBS play an important and complementary role, but their scope means they can’t always capture the depth, specificity, and emotional resonance that independent, community-embedded publications bring to their reporting. We serve with focus.”
Ms Skalkos explains that The Greek Heraldis often the first point of contact for community members seeking clarification or help interpreting sensitive issues, and that the community holds a strong sense of ownership over the paper, with an expectation that it will assist and advocate on their behalf.
Some of the members of The Greek Herald’s team. (Back row, left to right) Sports Editor Takis Triadafillou and Digital Editor Andriana Simos. (Front row, left to right) Publisher Dimitra Skalkos, Journalist Ikaros Kyriakou and Office Manager Vicky Drivas.
Ethnic media in Australia is essential to upholding the journalistic structures of accessible and interactive media. It supports a cohesive environment and most importantly, ensures that all Australian residents can interact within its democracy.
Although Ms Skalkos pushes for further focus and change in attitude towards the importance of ethnically delivered media.
“Like many in the sector, we’ve restructured, adapted, and innovated to remain viable — but we are now at a critical point. Without meaningful support, independent multicultural media face the risk of closure — just as many regional and community titles have in recent years,” she said.
“While both the Victorian Government and the Federal Government have taken encouraging steps to support the sector — with Victoria leading more consistent engagement — there is still significant work to be done. We continue to call for funding and support frameworks that match those extended to regional media across Australia.”
In 2023, the NSW Government, through the Department of Customer Service and Multicultural NSW, conducted a Multicultural Media and Policy Review, which led to an increase in campaign expenditure for multicultural and Aboriginal audiences from 7.5% to 9%. However, Ms Skalkos explains that this uplift has done little to benefit independent outlets on the ground. SBS — already publicly funded — continues to be included in this spend, while much of the budget is directed to intermediaries or other campaign activities, rather than reaching front-line community publishers directly.
Campaigns are also typically limited to only the top four or five CALD language groups — such as Arabic, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese and Hindi — while Greek is often overlooked. As a result, vital campaigns on domestic violence, gambling, disability, Medicare, or services like Sydney Water often fail to reach the Greek community.
“We understand the need to prioritise, but it’s not equitable to continually target only a few and overlook the rest. It can feel as though engagement is being measured by reach to some communities, rather than ensuring inclusive access across the board,” Ms Skalkos said.
She also notes that the Federal Government’s Multicultural Framework Review, led by Dr Hass Dellal AO and Hakan Harman, recommended the establishment of structured funding models and the formal recognition of multicultural media as essential public interest infrastructure. The review addressed the systemic challenges faced by independent publishers, explicitly referenced the role of organisations such as Independent Multicultural Media Australia (IMMA), and called for improved inclusion in national communications strategies.
The Greek Herald is a member of IMMA, a national alliance that continues to advocate for meaningful and equitable support across all levels of government.
“These outlets are not a luxury — they are essential infrastructure for civic participation and community cohesion. If we lose them, we risk deepening information deserts and silencing diverse voices in Australia’s media landscape,” Ms Skalkos concluded.
When the first explorers crossed the Blue Mountains in 1813 they were struck by the wonderfully brilliant blue of the distant hills. Just over a century later, a young Greek migrant from the island of Kythera, part of the Ionian Island group where the English writer Lawrence Durrell famously wrote “that the blue really begins”, arrived in Katoomba and went on to establish a café and confectionery business that still stands today: the Paragon Café.
Zacharias Theodore (Jack) Simos was born on 15 August 1897 in the village of Kousounari, Kythera. Zacharias migrated to Sydney with several other Kytherian young men arriving in Sydney aboard the RMS Omrah in 1912. He proceeded to find work in various Greek cafés in Sydney and at Tenterfield, before setting up a business at Windsor, selling fruit and vegetables door-to-door.
In 1916, after having saved enough money, Jack arrived in Katoomba and leased a small shop in Katoomba Street, near the Carrington Hotel, which he named the Paragon Café and Oyster Palace, adapting the word “paragon” for a model of excellence.
Rise of the Paragon
First advertisement for the Paragon, 15 September 1916.
Jack had dreams of turning the Paragon into a high-class refreshment room and was able to pursue this goal after purchasing the shop in 1921. In that year he was joined by his brother, George Simos, who went on to be lauded as a master chocolate confectioner.
The Paragon also began advertising itself as a ‘Sundae and Candy Shop’ to take advantage of the growing ‘Americanisation’ trend in Australian food. By 1926, it was trading as Simos Bros.
In 1922, an article appeared in the Blue Mountain Echo (assumed to have been authored by Jack himself) which portrayed the Paragon as the “acme of good taste and modern ideas presented by an enterprising proprietary that believes in nothing but the best”.
In 1925, Jack engaged an architect and a firm of renown shopfitters to convert the interior of the café premises into an Art Deco-themed establishment, complete with a soda fountain made from the finest Moruya marble, and booths of Queensland maple and dark timber-panelled walls.
In 1929, Jack travelled to Europe to study the latest trends in the production of confectionery as well as presentation and packaging ideas. On his arrival in Kythera he met and became engaged to Maria Panaretos, the American-born daughter of café proprietors. Mary (as she came to be known) and Jack together returned to Australia in 1930 and to the Paragon café.
A history of elegance and enterprise
Upon their return, they embarked upon two large extensions at the rear of the café to broaden its appeal amongst locals and visitors alike with the provision of private function rooms.
In 1934, the Banquet Hall was added with its distinctive pre-Columbian American perforated plaster friezework. It was followed by the Blue Room in 1936 which was inspired by the ‘modern ocean liner’ style, with mirrored walls, mood lighting and a sprung dance floor. Both were designed by the architect Henry Eli White (who had also designed the Capitol Theatre and later the State Theatre in Sydney in the late-1920s).
Inter-war Art Deco with its vivid decorative styles was particularly popular with milk bars and cinemas during the 1930s and in the Paragon there was an eclectic architectural panoply of Art Deco moderne, pre-Columbian and the functional ocean liner influences at play with their adherence to clean geometry, sweeping lines, decorative motifs, and floral and geometric patterns.
To add a distinctly Hellenic touch to this assemblage, after the war Jack commissioned a Dutch artist Otto Steen to create a series of bas-relief sculptures in alabaster depicting Greek deities, nymphs and goddesses and set against the dark timber panelling above the seating booths of the café. They depicted scenes from Greek mythology, including the judgment of Paris among the three jealous goddesses, a voluptuous Venus with her son Cupid, Pan with his pipes, the flight of Icarus and others.
The Paragon’s reputation spread far and wide. Its hand-made ice-creams and sundaes blended with syrups and fruit ingredients were popular, as were the bread, cakes and pastries manufactured on the premises. But it was to become famous for its chocolates and other confectioneries sold in exquisitely designed and coloured boxes. The popular Katoomba landmark Orphan Rock became the café’s distinctive trademark as it aspired to ‘stand-alone’ excellence.
The bakehouse and the chocolaterie which gave The Paragon its name were located upstairs from the mid- 1920s, together with the large refrigeration plant for the ice-cream made on the premises.
Gradually the Paragon started to cater to more adult tastes and it would later be described as one of the smartest cocktail bars in the Art Deco style in Australia. Café chairs even carried the “P” motif as branding and marketing figured large in the Simos’ promotion of the café.
Heritage significance: A cultural icon
The Paragon was first listed by the National Trust of NSW in 1975.
In 2015, it was listed as a heritage item on the NSW State Heritage Inventory because of its “state significance”, reflecting the flair and taste of a Greek immigrant family with a wide experience in catering and the need for a high class tea room, sundae parlour, confectionery and ballroom in the inter-war Katoomba for locals and visitors.
It was acknowledged that the Paragon provided refreshment facilities for visitors who had come to view other attractions like the “Three Sisters” and “Echo Point,” as well as being a destination in its own right. It personified how Greek cafés throughout NSW and Queensland in particular reflected an “evolutionary amalgam” of the original Greek coffee house (or kafenion) and the American-inspired oyster saloon and soda parlour.
However, the primary heritage significance of The Paragon Restaurant derives from its internal decorative finishes, use as a café, association with Jack and his family, and artists and shopfitters Otto Steen, Henry White and H & E Sidgreaves.
Jack died on 15 November 1976. His wife Mary continued as manager of the Paragon until 1987 and endeared herself to her customers and visitors for her charm and warmth. The cafe was eventually sold in 2000. Mary died on 15 May 2001 and was buried beside her husband.
Heritage at risk
The Paragon Café changed hands several times until in 2011 the business was sold to Robyn Parker and continued to operate as a functioning café and chocolate confectionary store.
However, the business sadly closed in 2018 and the iconic landmark in Katoomba fell silent after a falling out between the tenant and the building’s owner, Conset Investments Pty Ltd (a company controlled by the well-known Sydney solicitor John Landerer) which had purchased the property in 2006.
In September 2018, in a contested trademark application over the ownership of the name “The Paragon,” Landerer stated in evidence that the Paragon was “currently vacated for refurbishment works” and that it was the landlord’s intention to “reopen the Paragon Restaurant and chocolate shop with new tenants once the refurbishment works are completed”.
In 2019, Conset Investments lodged a comprehensive development application with Blue Mountains City Council to obtain approval for conservation and remediation works to the building. The application was supported by a detailed heritage impact statement and conservation strategy prepared by a prominent firm of heritage consultants, NBRS Architecture (Heritage), as well as engineering and other expert reports setting out the nature and extent of the proposed works.
The heritage report revealed that recent inspections of the Paragon and its roof had confirmed damage to internal decorative finishes caused by water ingress and localised rising damp and falling damp.
The report stated that the owner “intends to carry out general maintenance and repair of decorative finishes to facilitate the leasing of the premises and to continue using the spaces as The Paragon Café”.
The proposed works included the repair of existing roof finishes; the repair of timber floors and timber floor sub-structure; installation of additional mechanical sub-floor ventilation and sub-floor vents; conservation of internal decorative finishes located in the ground floor level public spaces, including the reconstruction of nine timber panels in one of the dining halls to match existing adjacent panels.
The conservation management strategy proposed that the original room layouts of the ground floor dining rooms were to be retained within The Paragon Restaurant (63-67 Katoomba Street) with all identified significant built elements assessed as having high significance to be retained and conserved and, where necessary, to be restored.
In particular, it was noted that The Paragon Restaurant/Café includes significant decorative finishes that should be conserved in a manner that recognises their heritage significance whilst the significant internal spaces (Dining Rooms 1, 2, 3) of the Paragon Restaurant should be conserved and any future development should ensure the spatial characteristics are retained. Any future division of these spaces should retain or interpret the significant original spatial characteristics and original fabric of the building.
The engineering report by Northrop Engineers confirmed the troubling extent of the deterioration throughout the structure and fabric of the heritage listed Art Deco café and restaurant, including extensive timber decay to panelling and flooring, brickwork mortar failings, roof leaking and moisture penetrating through the brick walls and façade.
The engineers concluded that the current ground floor timber floor framing was structurally inadequate for its purpose and imposed a risk to safety if not rectified and they recommended that the ground floor timber framing had to be fully removed and either rectified or replaced due to its unsafe condition and structural inadequacy.
On 30 June 2020, development consent was finally issued by the Council after an extensive review and public consultation.
Heritage destruction by neglect?
Initial enthusiasm that the issue of development consent and the prospect that serious repair and conservation works would be undertaken to this iconic building gradually descended into concern and doubts over whether any real action would be taken.
In May 2022, a journalist from the Australian, Graham Erbacher wrote an article titled “Is our precious heritage being served?” and addressed concerns over the fate of the Paragon. He noted that in the Paragon’s beautiful, glazed shopfront there was a notice:
“The Paragon is currently closed for conservation work to address the toll wrought by time and the mountain climate, but will reopen in 2019, refreshed to another century.”
And another Public Notice declared the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (which the author noted has not existed since 2019) had permitted “preliminary investigations into the structural drainage and damage issues into The Paragon… Serious failure in the floors and drainage especially are being addressed”.
In May 2023, the Newsletter of the Blue Mountains Branch National Trust NSW featured an article about heritage buildings being destroyed or irreparably damaged by neglect. It cited the case of the Paragon complex in Katoomba, which by that stage had been closed for five years, noting that the property needed some remedial attention to restore the toll of a century of public patronage and damage from water ingress.
The Sydney Morning Herald in an article on 28 August 2023 reported that the NSW Heritage Minister, Penny Sharpe, was going to ask the Heritage Council of NSW to prevent Katoomba’s much-loved Paragon Cafe from perishing because of neglect.
This followed a meeting of a non-for-profit organisation known as the Friends of the Paragon and the Member for the Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle MP, on August 16 2023, to discuss the group’s concerns after the group had launched a public petition calling for action as the Paragon’s future “hangs in the air”.
Also present at the meeting was Rod Stowe, the Chair of the Blue Mountains Branch of the National Trust (and formerly the NSW Fair Trading Commissioner), who told The Greek Herald:
“It is tragic that the future of this Blue Mountain’s icon is now at serious risk. Accordingly, the National Trust strongly supports the sentiment expressed in the petition being presented by the Friends of the Paragon seeking the intervention of the Minister for Heritage to ensure that essential maintenance and conservation work is undertaken at the property as soon as possible … (to) … ensure the owner, lawyer John Landerer, fulfils his obligations under the Heritage Act.”
In the report by the Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Landerer was quoted as saying that he was more concerned about the condition of the cafe than anyone else but stressed there was no delay, and said work was expected to start “this year” (ie 2023).
The Heritage Council of NSW in fact met on 4 October 2023. According to the minutes of that meeting, the Council noted recent correspondence regarding The Paragon Café, Katoomba and discussed the potential for compliance and enforcement actions to be taken if necessary to ensure the substantial conservation, maintenance and repair works are completed.
The authority, according to the minutes of its 5 March 2024 meeting, subsequently conducted a “compliance inspection” at the Paragon.
Things came to a head earlier this year when photos appeared on social media of vandalism and damage to the building, including graffiti, broken fittings and significant water damage inside the property, and the ensuing public outcry over the building’s deteriorated condition.
A number of photos taken by concerned locals have magnified those concerns, none more so than the current state of what was one of the main dining rooms in the Paragon.
Photos of the deteriorated condition of the bar also tell a sorry tale of neglect. Ironically, the bas relief that can be seen above the bar depicts the legendary flight of Icarus with wings designed by his father Daedalus and made of wax, feathers and string.
We all know what happened: Icarus flew too close to the sun, his wings melted and Icarus fell into the sea and drowned.
A metaphor for the unfortunate descent of the Paragon, perhaps?
Heritage NSW intervenes
On 2 May 2025, Heritage NSW issued a formal Notice of Intention to make a compliance order under section 120A of the Heritage Act, directing the property owner to take urgent measures to secure the building and prevent further deterioration. The order required the Paragon Café to be secured within 14 days and a detailed heritage report to be submitted within two months.
It was subsequently reported that Heritage NSW inspected the former Paragon Café in Katoomba on 2 June with the owner’s building manager and that further work had been undertaken to make the property safe from trespassing and ongoing vandalism.
The spokesperson added that Heritage NSW would continue to work closely with the owner, Blue Mountains City Council and the Heritage Council of NSW.
“The Paragon Café is an incredibly important historical site and protected on the State Heritage Register. The failure to protect this item has been devastating for those who have been hoping to see the building restored to its former glory.”
Mr Landerer has previously stated that efforts to restore the building have been delayed due to difficulties finding skilled tradespeople for the specialised work.
In an interview on ABC Radio, Rod Stowe was rather dismissive of this claim, stating that “it does not really cut the ice” given the many reputable conservation building companies in the state.
The Paragon Café is now boarded up with signs declaring that it is now “under Restoration”.
The future of the Paragon
The restoration of the Paragon Cafe represents a significant step towards preserving this iconic cultural heritage site.
The immediate challenge is ensuring that the restoration works are carried out to the highest standards of conservation practice with meticulous attention to detail and respect for the building’s original fabric and architectural grandeur.
The Paragon Cafe will once again stand alone.
*George Vardas is a cultural heritage consultant and is also a past President of the Kytherian Association of Australia.
Oakleigh Grammar is celebrating the selection of three Year 10 students into the prestigious Monash Scholars Program.
Irene Koutsovasilis, Issam Alaeddine and Ilya Umarov will each participate in the three-year program which will run from 2025 until 2027, when they are completing their VCE in Year 12.
Entry into the Monash Scholars Program is based on strict criteria relating to academic excellence and well roundedness. The program offers high achieving secondary school students an opportunity for a head start into university life, providing opportunities for academic and personal growth, development of study skills and enable them to build a network of different academic, employment and peer contacts.
Monash Scholars recipients Issam, Irene and Ilya.
Selection in the program reflects not only academic excellence but also a commitment to leadership, innovation and community, all of which Irene, Issam and Ilya display strongly.
Principal Mark Robertson praised the achievements of the students, saying “my wholehearted congratulations are extended to Irene, Issam, Ilya and their families for this selection to the prestigious Monash Scholars Program. It will prove to be a unique and rewarding experience for them providing plenty of opportunities for academic and personal growth as they head towards their VCE studies.”
This fantastic student success reflects Oakleigh Grammar’s commitment to elevating its students to achieve their best and the school’s passionate educators who drive positive outcomes for learning across all year levels.
A historic church in Mount Gambier, South Australia may soon be revived as a place of worship, as the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia (GOAA) lodges a formal proposal to transform the former Rosaville Methodist Church on Herbert Street into a fully functioning parish.
The heritage-listed building, originally constructed in 1869 by the Primitive Methodists, has stood largely unused for years and was most recently approved for conversion into an Airbnb before falling into disrepair and being vandalised.
Now, the Archdiocese hopes to restore the site to its original religious purpose.
According to a planning proposal seen by The Greek Herald, the Archdiocese plans to use the building as a small parish church to serve the local Greek Orthodox community, which has grown steadily since the post-war migration period to approximately 30 families.
Currently, services are held irregularly in the nearby Hellenic Hall, and Christ Church Anglican Church on Bay Road has hosted Orthodox baptisms, weddings, and funerals since the 1960s.
His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide travels to Mount Gambier annually and holds church services at the Hellenic Hall.
The former church building includes a 50-square-metre chapel space, which will host regular services, and a 30-square-metre utility room, intended for use after services for casual gatherings, committee meetings, and Bible study. A small mezzanine level will be used by the priest for writing and storage.
The application also outlines upgrades to the toilet facilities to meet accessibility standards, the installation of a new kitchen bench in the utility room for light food preparation, and the construction of a wheelchair-accessible ramp at the entrance. Notably, the Archdiocese is seeking permission to retain the original front doors due to their heritage significance, despite them not fully meeting accessibility codes.
As there is no space for on-site parking, attendees will be encouraged to use nearby street parking.
The Archdiocese has acknowledged the building requires urgent repairs following years of neglect and vandalism. Planned works include rewiring and plumbing repairs, mechanical ventilation, restoration of limestone walls, improved subfloor ventilation, the fixing of warped floorboards, and repairs to windows, gutters, and the western wall of the meeting room.
An engineer’s report identified several serious structural concerns, some of which, the Archdiocese warns, are nearing the point of irreparable damage if not addressed soon.
“Whilst the work described above seems like general maintenance, we need to point out that some defects are near the point where any further deterioration will result in destruction of that element,” the proposal notes.
During their tenure, the Archdiocese has committed to completing all necessary repairs based on urgency, funding availability, and access to qualified trades.
Public feedback on the proposal is open until 15 July 2025, with the Mount Gambier community encouraged to have their say.
“There is no doubt about the necessity for the Orthodox Archdiocese to establish a parish in Mount Gambier,” the proposal concludes. “There is no doubt about the suitability of this former Methodist Chapel becoming the home of that parish.”
Australia’s largest heli-aviation operator, McDermott Aviation, has been announced as a finalist in two categories at the 2025 Australian Aviation Awards: ‘Aerial Services Business of the Year’ and ‘Training and Mentorship Program of the Year.’
The recognition reinforces McDermott’s role as a critical partner in emergency response, specialist aerial operations, and aviation workforce development across Australia.
With the largest helicopter fleet in the Southern Hemisphere and a fully in-house MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) capability, McDermott Aviation is built for high-risk, high-performance operations – from bushfire suppression and natural disaster response to heavy-lift logistics and remote access.
Founder and President John McDermott said the dual finalist announcement was a proud moment for the business and its people.
“This is recognition of our team’s skill, professionalism and deep commitment to getting the job done safely and without compromise,” Mr McDermott said.
“For over 40 years, we’ve been on the frontline in some of the toughest conditions – and we’re still here because we invest in our people, we back our standards, and we focus on what matters – showing up when and where we’re needed most.”
In addition to its aerial operations, McDermott Aviation has also been recognised for its work supporting aviation’s future workforce. As a finalist in the Training and Mentorship Program of the Year category, the business has been acknowledged for its in-house training pathways, mentorship culture, and investment in early-career pilots, engineers, and aviation professionals.
With one of the only live operational environments in the country where trainees gain direct exposure to real-world, high-stakes missions, McDermott continues to play a critical role in shaping the next generation of rotary aviation talent.
The winners will be announced at a black-tie gala on Thursday, 29 August 2025 in Sydney, attended by leaders from across the aviation sector.
