Dendias’ visit aimed to enhance defence cooperation with the UK, which Athens views as crucial in European defence planning after Donald Trump’s recent election win.
Turkey had reportedly requested a large number of Meteor missiles, produced by the European consortium MBDA, co-owned by France’s Airbus, Britain’s BAE Systems, and Italy’s Leonardo Finmeccanica.
During my meeting today with Secretary of State for Defence @JohnHealey_MP at the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom @DefenceHQ, we had the opportunity to discuss, among other things:
🔹 The potential for cooperation in tackling regional and international security… pic.twitter.com/dJgasJQ3a3
A Sydney nurse has been charged with three Commonwealth offences after allegedly making antisemitic threats in a video filmed at Bankstown Hospital and shared online.
Sarah Abu Lebdeh, 26, was arrested on Tuesday evening, February 25, after attending Sutherland Police Station.
She faces charges of threatening violence to a group, using a carriage service to threaten to kill, and using a carriage service to menace, harass, or offend.
The charges stem from an investigation launched on February 12 by Strike Force Pearl detectives.
The video, which circulated widely on social media, showed two nurses in NSW Health uniforms allegedly making threats toward Israeli patients during an online video call with Israeli influencer Max Veifer.
In the footage, Abu Lebdeh is heard telling Veifer, “One day, your time will come, and you will die the most horrible death.”
When asked how she would respond to an Israeli patient, she replies, “I won’t treat them; I will kill them.”
Relatives outside the home of Sarah Abu Lebdeh, the female nurse accused of threatening to kill Israeli patients at Bankstown Hospital. Photo: The Australian.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb praised Strike Force Pearl for their swift action.
“These charges have been laid following a lot of hard work and legal advice,” Webb said.
Police worked with international counterparts to obtain and translate a witness statement for court.
Abu Lebdeh, who has been stood down by NSW Health, was granted conditional bail and is set to appear in court on March 19.
Her co-worker, Ahmad “Rashad” Nadir, has also been suspended by NSW Health and remains under investigation but has not been charged.
Abu Lebdeh’s arrest marks the 14th under Strike Force Pearl, which has now laid 76 charges.
One year ago, Anais Menounos was named the inaugural winner of The Greek Herald Woman of the Year Award, an honour that recognised her remarkable contribution to education through St Nicholas Mission Academy (St Nic’s)—a school she co-founded in Ghana, providing free education to 250 students.
Her dedication to philanthropy, leadership and community impact made her a deserving recipient of the award, cementing her as an inspiring figure within the Greek Australian community.
Since that memorable moment, Anais has continued her tireless work, balancing her role as a disputes lawyer with her ongoing efforts to expand St Nic’s. The past year has been one of growth and reflection, and the award has further amplified her mission, allowing her to reach new audiences, forge valuable partnerships, and continue advocating for equal access to education.
As The Greek Herald prepares to celebrate another year of outstanding Hellenic women with the second edition of ‘The Greek Herald Woman of the Year’ Awards(nominate here), we caught up with Anais to reflect on the award, its impact on her life, and what’s next for her and St Nic’s.
It’s been one year since you were crowned the inaugural winner of ‘The Greek Herald Woman of the Year’ Award. Can you reflect on the moment?
Anais’ surprise of receiving award. Photo copyright Effy Alexakis.
Looking back on this special day, I still feel a huge sense of immense pride and gratitude for being honoured by my fellow Greek community. Being selected as the inaugural Greek Herald Woman of the Year was a complete surprise and I am still so incredibly humbled that I was considered worthy of this award for my contribution in co-founding St Nic’s (a school in Ghana that provides free education to 250 students).
I remember feeling quite emotional when accepting the award, as I looked out into the audience and saw my family. Growing up, my parents placed a strong emphasis on the value of education, especially coming from a migrant background, and I would not have had the strength to fight for and provide free education for children living in poverty if it wasn’t for the strong values my parents instilled in me.
What response did you receive from family, friends, and work colleagues after the recognition?
Anais Menounos, winner of The Greek Herald Woman of the Year 2024, with her mum, dad and brother. Photo copyright: Effy Alexakis.
Receiving the award was a reminder that my journey has been a culmination of the support, generosity and collective efforts of those around me. The support from my family, friends, colleagues and the community has been instrumental in helping launch and run St Nic’s and so it was no surprise that their responses were equally as emotional as mine!
The response I received from my co-founder and staff in Ghana was extremely heart-warming, with them hosting a small celebration on school premises to celebrate our collective recognition.
Celebrations at St Nic’s after Anais received her award.
How did the recognition change your life?
Being honoured with The Greek Herald Woman of the Year Award gave me and St Nic’s large-scale recognition and legitimacy to continue advocating for the provision of free education. It has opened up new opportunities to connect with people and organisations, notably being selected as the Kytherian Ball Guest of Honour, which further amplified our work and mission.
Speaking at the Kytherian Ball.
I have also felt more motivated to make a positive impact and work harder, knowing that the award carries with it an opportunity to lead by example and a pathway to inspire others, especially young women. I am honoured to carry this recognition as a reminder to keep striving for progress and push me further in my journey of creating access to free education for those who need it most.
Where are you now?
The last year has been a period of reflection, growth and consolidation. I am still working as a disputes lawyer at Gilbert and Tobin by day and pouring the remainder of my time into running St Nic’s.
Can you provide an update on St Nicholas Mission Academy. What has happened since the award recognition?
Over the last year, St Nic’s has thrived. We finally received our official school license of operation from the Ghana Ministry of Education (6 years in the making… talk about a slow bureaucracy!) and have continued to partner with local organisations to provide a variety of extra curriculars for our students (including computer and coding classes, Child Rights Club and Girl Guides). We have also renovated some areas of our school grounds, including installing a permanent hand washing station at our entrance. In addition, our goal in the next three years is to purchase our own land to be able to expand and build our own junior high school. In honour of this, we have begun separately raising funds for this purpose.
Anais with donated items brought from Australia.Hand Washing station.
Why would you encourage others to nominate an ‘unsung heroine’ for this year’s ‘Greek Herald Woman of the Year’ Awards?
I believe it’s so important to recognise the women who may not always be in the spotlight but are making significant impacts in their communities or fields. By nominating an unsung heroine, you are helping shine a light on remarkable Greek women who deserve to have their stories shared, inspiring others to keep creating positive change and pushing boundaries.
This year’s new ‘Woman to Watch’ category for women under 25 is especially exciting as it creates a designated space to highlight young women who are already showing immense promise and making waves. This new category will help elevate these voices and empower the next generation of female leaders.
Is there anything else you’d like to say?
Thank you to everyone at The Greek Herald for supporting me over the last few years and giving me a voice to share my story and mission with the wider community.
Do you know an inspiring Hellenic Australian woman who deserves recognition? Nominations are now open for ‘The Greek Herald Woman of the Year’ Awards 2025 and can be submitted through our web form here. Nominations close at 5pm, 27 February 2025. In 200 words or less, tell us how your ‘unsung heroine’ is making an impact.
The Parish of St Sophia and Three Daughters at Surry Hills, Sydney celebrated its Golden Jubilee on Saturday, February 22, marking 50 years of faith and community service.
A formal gala dinner was held at an events venue near Hyde Park, attended by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, who delivered a heartfelt message of gratitude and encouragement.
In his address, the Archbishop paid tribute to the pioneers of the Parish’s foundation, beginning with the late Archbishop Ezekiel of Australia and later Archbishop Stylianos, under whose leadership the church in Surry Hills was purchased.
His Eminence also acknowledged the clergy who have served the Parish over the years, including Fr. Stephanos Pantanassiotis, Fr. Gervasios Koutsouras, Fr. Nektarios Zorbalas, Fr. Ioannis Evangelinidis, Fr. Panagiotis Baskoutas, Fr. Agathangelos Masteas, and current parish priest Fr. Irenaios Triantis.
“We are also grateful,” he stated, “to countless people, some of whom have departed this present life, but who had worked hard and contributed in various ways, visibly and invisibly, to our reaching this remarkable milestone. All worked harmoniously with the clergy to support the progress of the Parish. We thank them; as we thank the benefactors and donors for their generosity and contribution.”
The Archbishop expressed his appreciation to those who continue to contribute to the Parish’s development, including parish priest Fr. Irenaios, President Con Zannetides, the Parish Council members, and the Philoptochos Association.
He also praised the Parish’s community initiatives, such as the “Feed the People” programme, the Senior Citizens’ and “Parea” Groups, the Greek Dancing Group, and its Youth activities.
The Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, was also in attendance and delivered a speech congratulating the Parish and its contributors. Other distinguished guests included Federal Minister Tanya Plibersek MP, State Minister Sophie Cotsis MP, Greek Consul General in Sydney Ioannis Mallikourtis, and Deputy High Commissioner of Cyprus in Australia Nikolaos Varellas.
The event marked a significant milestone for Sydney’s Greek Orthodox community, honouring the dedication and perseverance of those who have built and sustained the Parish of St Sophia and Three Daughters over the past 50 years.
On Sunday, February 23, whilst much of the community was centred at Lonsdale St for the annual Antipodes Festival, a cohort of students from the MANASIS School of Greek Dance and Culture showcased a plethora of traditional Greek folk dances, at the Bentleigh Festival, proudly presented by the Bentleigh Shops Traders’ Association.
For another consecutive year, the event fell across the same weekend as the Greek community’s headline event, and again event organisers called upon MANASIS for the Greek entertainment component.
The MANASIS school regularly performs and presents dances which highlight cultural similarities with host organisations.
“When we’re invited to perform alongside Serbians or Bulgarians, we present dances from Macedonia and Thrace; when we’re with Albanians- Epirus; or with Turkish- Pontian, Asian Minor,” MANASIS Director / Instructor, Dimosthenis Manasis, said.
“We don’t shy away from cultural similarities- we actively research it all in order to highlight these parallels; and when our audience is entirely diverse as it was over this weekend, we’re able to present an array of dances, costumes, and music, and of course finish off with the famous Sirtaki/Zorba dance, in order to encourage our audiences to join in with us.”
The Bentleigh Festival is a staple for the South-East Melburnian community, and the area boasts a fusion of trendy eateries, retail outlets, and uber-cool bars.
Centre Rd (from Jasper Rd onwards) is closed off to traffic, transforming an entire kilometre stretch, into a busting pedestrian precinct, complete with rides, activations, representation from various organisations, and street entertainment.
The young students from MANASIS performed in the blistering heat, the pouring rain, and won the admiration of the thousands in attendance.
This Friday, the APOKRIES Carnival Season reaches its pinnacle, as the school concludes its presentations with the annual Masquerade Party at Vanilla, Oakleigh. Across the weekend, MANASIS will be performing at headline events of the Bulgarian community’s “MARTENITSA FESTIVAL”, together with Serbian, Hungarian, and Romanian dance groups, and renowned folk singers/musicians currently touring Australia from the “Pirin Ensemble” in Bulgaria, Dimana Boyanova and Boyan Boyanov. Bulgaria’s Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Mr Encho Dimitrov is flying down to open the event.
MANASIS and the FROURA | Hellenic Australian Honorary Guard, are also preparing for a significant lineup of events this year, including their participation in the Moomba Parade and Festival (the first of any formal Greek representation since 1994), flash-mob activations, dance presentations, flag-raising ceremonies, parades and processions.
Their last participation in the 2023 Greek National Day Parade (Lakeside Stadium) was a spectacle of epic proportions which caught the attention of officials and media in Greece, with the endless array of flags and banners from the Hellenic Revolution, their marching band, and endless rows of hundreds of students dressed in traditional attire grouped by geographic region.
The school was not a participant in the 2024 parade, or in the National Youth Parade during His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s visit.
When asked if they will participate in this year’s parade, Dimosthenis remained optimistic.
“We understand there is a new chairperson and committee at the helm, and we anticipate honest and transparent communication. It appears they have already been quite proactive, and we would be inclined to support their initiatives,” he said.
“I’ve even requested joining the committee, and I’m awaiting updates regarding that, along with a series of other queries I’ve flagged. There’s a very simple application form which we have completed and submitted.
“The sky is the limit with what our participation can contribute towards the event, however our involvement is not straight-forward and often requires further consideration due to the scale and magnitude of our cohorts. With some support from the organising committee, we’re looking beyond the sky!”
The Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia (GOCSA) has issued a message of solidarity ahead of the second anniversary of the Tempi train tragedy on February 28. Protests are planned across the world, including in Melbourne, Australia.
Full message in English:
The Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia, on behalf of its members and expressing the sentiments of the wider Greek diaspora in Australia, declares its solidarity, support, and love for the families of the 57 innocent victims—the majority of whom were young people—who are fighting for the truth behind the tragic railway disaster in Tempi.
We join our voices in this struggle and call for the Greeks of Australia to stand in unity during the upcoming protests on 28 February, ensuring that our collective demand for justice is heard:
That the causes of this deadly accident are not covered up.
That justice is served.
That responsibility is assigned to all those accountable for the long-standing mismanagement of Greece’s railways.
We pledge that the Greeks of Australia will remain steadfast in our solidarity with the families of the 57 victims, until full accountability is established and those responsible for the policies that led to this railway disaster are held to account, ensuring that Greece never again mourns innocent lives.
After a five-year absence, Greek National Day celebrations will return to the vicinity of the Shrine of Remembrance, thanks to the Victorian Council for Greek National Day, led by President Sophia Siachos.
A wreath-laying ceremony, honouring Greek and Australian servicemen and women, will take place at the Second World War Forecourt of the Shrine of Remembrance at 12:30 pm on Sunday, March 23, as indicated on the Shrine of Remembrance website. This will be followed by a students’ parade at 1:30 pm, which will pass in front of the Australian Hellenic War Memorial at Birdwood Avenue, near the Shrine.
The last full National Day Parade held at the Shrine was in 2019, dedicated to the Pontian Genocide. That year also coincided with a visit from Greek Deputy Parliamentary Speaker George Varemenos, which triggered protests due to the Prespes Agreement signed that year. During the parade, after the 77th group marched past, the Thessaloniki group Lefkos Pyrgos sang “Makedonia Xakousti.” As they passed Mr Varemenos, chaos erupted, with crowds yelling and hissing, calling him a traitor, and throwing water bottles. Officials were escorted from the area under police guard.
The last full National Day Parade held at the Shrine was in 2019.
In subsequent years, under the leadership of Tony Tsourdalakis, the parade moved to South Melbourne Football Stadium, with dates fluctuating due to Grand Prix events, scheduling conflicts, and the availability of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia. Last year, the parade was held on April 14th. Many in the Greek community viewed this move as a demotion, expressing concerns that the event was “out of sight and out of mind.” Others, comparing the parade to those in Sydney and US cities, felt it resembled a school celebration more than a grand parade fit for the historical celebration of Greece’s freedom from the Ottoman yoke.
In subsequent years, the parade moved to South Melbourne Football Stadium. Photo: The Greek Herald / Mary Sinanidis.
“This year, a smaller group will gather at the Shrine for the annual wreath-laying as every year,” Ms Siachos told The Greek Herald. “The parade itself will not be at the Shrine forecourt, but rather down Birdwood Avenue, passing in front of the Australian Hellenic War Memorial (AHWM). It will be a two-part celebration with these two separate events.”
Final approval for the parade came at last Monday’s Victorian Council for Greek National Day meeting, with final paperwork from the City of Melbourne on Tuesday, February 25.
“It took a lot of planning and back-up plans, but we managed to achieve this and hope it will be a good parade,” Ms Siachos commented.
The Greek Herald spoke with Ms Siachos on Sunday night, when she was 99 percent certain the permit would be granted but still needed to finalise paperwork and inform venues that their services would no longer be required. School principals of Greek schools have been informed of the parade in front of the AHWM.
School principals of Greek schools have been informed of the parade in front of the AHWM. Photo: The Greek Herald / Giorgos Psomiadis.
Steve Kyritsis, President of the Australian Hellenic War Memorial, told The Greek Herald that the students will gather and march down Birdwood Avenue, passing Government House and the Australian Hellenic War Memorial.
Following the cancellation of the parade at the Shrine, the Shrine’s CEO, Dean Lee, had stated that their policy since 1975 had been to not host national days and related festivities within the reserve, though exceptions had been made for the Greek Independence Day parade.
Mr Kyritsis clarified that only Greece had the honour of marching to the Shrine forecourt. The violent behavior in 2019 led to the curtailment of the service and a review of this policy.
Organisers are hopeful that due honour and appreciation will be shown this year, allowing younger generations to enjoy the parade, create memories, and respect both Greek history and the contributions of Greek Australians to their adopted homeland.
Tuesday, March 25th
As in previous years, the Hellenic RSL Melbourne will hold a doxology at St Eustathios in South Melbourne at 9.30am on the date of the Greek national day, this will be followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Australian Hellenic Memorial at 12pm, a wreath laying ceremony inside the Shrine of Remembrance at 1pm, and a luncheon at the Hellenic RSL at 1.30pm.
These events allow the Greek Australian community to celebrate their heritage as March 25th is a day of dual celebration, marking both Greek Independence Day, commemorating the start of the War of Greek Independence in 1821, and coinciding with the Annunciation of the Theotokos, and National Medal of Honor Day, honouring the highest military decoration for valour in the United States.
Nicholas Panagakos, 21, has been charged after police allegedly found multiple knives, a knuckle duster, ammunition, and drugs in his car at Lalor Park, Sydney.
NSW Police said officers patrolling Cartwright Crescent on February 21 stopped Panagakos and allegedly discovered a folding knife in his pocket.
A search of a vehicle reportedly uncovered two machetes, hunting knives, a metal baseball bat, a balaclava, a .22 bullet, and 22 grams of cannabis.
Nicholas Panagakos, 21, has been charged and faced Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.
Panagakos was arrested and charged with nine offences, including custody of a knife in a public place, possession of a prohibited weapon, and possession of a prohibited drug.
Initially refused bail, he appeared in Parramatta Local Court on Sunday, February 23 and was later granted conditional bail. He is set to appear in Blacktown Local Court in March.
Sydney model Natalie Marangos, 34, has been charged after allegedly throwing a table lamp at her ex-boyfriend Dean Contos at Tanuki, a luxury restaurant in Double Bay.
According to The Daily Telegraph, the incident reportedly occurred on Saturday night, when Marangos saw Contos dining with another woman.
Witnesses claim she caused a scene before allegedly hurling the lamp at him, leaving him with facial injuries.
Natalie Marangos, 34, has been charged after allegedly throwing a table lamp at her ex-boyfriend.
Police were called to the restaurant at about 11.40pm, but Marangos had already left. She was later arrested on Sunday night and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
She was also issued an interim apprehended violence order (AVO) and is due to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, February 26.
Contos is also facing domestic violence charges related to Marangos, including intentional choking and intimidation, with his case listed for court on Thursday, February 27.
Tanuki has not commented on the incident, although the venue is not accused of any wrongdoing.
This visit aims to honour the profound respect and camaraderie between ANZACs and Greece, reflecting on their shared history.
Evzones visit Adelaide High School, October 2022. Photo: The Greek Herald/Argyro Vourdoumpa.
The Evzones, an elite ceremonial unit of the Hellenic Army, are renowned for their distinctive traditional uniform, which includes the fustanella. Their primary duties involve guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Presidential Mansion in Athens. The unit’s origins date back to 1868, when they were established as a combatant and ceremonial elite force.
This is not the first time the Evzones have visited Adelaide. In October 2022, they participated in events commemorating OXI Day, receiving warm welcomes from local communities and schools.
Further details about the Evzones’ schedule in Adelaide will be released by the Hellenic Studies Foundation in due course.
