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Antipodes Festival uncovered: Hot tips and memories

Mary Sinanidis
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Antipodes Festival uncovered: Hot tips and memories

Leonidas Vlahakis, a beloved figure in Melbourne’s Greek community, has an undeniable passion for celebrating Greek culture. A key organiser of the Antipodes Lonsdale Street Greek Festival, he shared some secrets and hot tips through our rapid-fire questions:

What’s the goal of the Antipodes Festival?

The overriding goal of the Antipodes Festival is to bring the community together in a joyous celebration of all things Greek in marvellous multicultural Melbourne.

What’s your earliest festival memory?

The first time I went to the Festival was 1997: George Dalaras and Eleftheria Arvanitaki absolutely owned Melbourne Town that night!

What’s your favourite thing about the festival?

My favourite thing about the festival is talking to the grandparents who come in to the city for the only time of the year, pull up a pew on Saturday at midday right in front of the main stage-and sit there for two days.

Share a top memory.

One of my greatest memories was when Michalis Hatzigiannis played in the pouring rain after we met then-Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

What’s new this year?

Something new this year is the silent disco in the open-air car park opposite the old Women’s Hospital. The Greek Herald is also supporting this year’s Cooking Demonstrations.

Share an Antipodes Festival secret.

Many people don’t know this, but the Antipodes Festival holds the record for the world’s biggest Zorba-set a couple of years ago.

Where do you go to escape the crowds?

When it gets too much, I go to the Mezzanine level of The Greek Centre, grab a seat, sit on the balcony-and watch the magic happen all around me.

What’s the Greekest thing at the festival that fits in the palm of your hands?

The Greekest thing about the festival that fits in the palm of my hand is the sheftalies from the Cypriot kitchen.

What do you do if you want to go to two events happening at the same time?

If there are two events occurring concurrently, I will go to one and view the other online-and be sure that we program better next year (lol)!

Share a hot tip.

A hot tip for festival visitors is Rena Morfi on Saturday night: we’ve never had an act quite like this before!

This year’s Antipodes Festival is being held on Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, from Saturday, February 22 to Sunday, February 23. For more details visit: www.antipodesfestival.com.au

Andriana Petrakis named SA Woman of the Year finalist

The Greek Herald
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Andriana Petrakis named SA Woman of the Year finalist

41 remarkable South Australian women have been named finalists for The Advertiser Sunday Mail SkyCity Woman of the Year awards, including Andriana Petrakis. These finalists, who range from educators to industry leaders and selfless community advocates, have made an impact in their respective fields.

Andriana Petrakis, a tennis player with autism, is recognized for sharing her experiences, skills, and knowledge with young people with intellectual disabilities. At the age of nine, her parents, unable to afford occupational therapy, turned to tennis as a way to improve her movement, hand-eye coordination, and social skills. Over a decade later, Ms. Petrakis represented Australia at the 2023 Virtus Global Games, the largest global sports event for athletes with intellectual disabilities. She currently holds the fifth spot internationally and second place in Australia in the women’s singles People with an Intellectual Impairment category. In 2023, she was also awarded Tennis SA’s Most Outstanding Athlete with a Disability.

Now serving as an assistant coach for Tennis SA’s Pathway Program, Ms. Petrakis is passionate about inspiring other young people with disabilities to pursue their goals.

George Velentzas transforms Prospect Rd in Adelaide with major developments

The Greek Herald
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George Velentzas transforms Prospect Rd in Adelaide with major developments

A wave of new businesses is set to transform Prospect Rd, with 10 retail stores opening in the coming months across two major developments, according to the advertiser.

At 85 Prospect Rd, the redeveloped former Foodland site owned by George Velentzas, four businesses will open in late February and early March: high-end gym Fitness Factory, St Louis House of Desserts, Prospect Rd’s first pub, and an RSPCA op-shop. One more space remains available for lease.

Velentzas said he aimed “to create something exciting” at the two-storey retail space. The Fitness Factory, which will occupy the entire second floor, will “probably be one of the classiest gyms available this year in Adelaide.” The health club will feature a creche, a cafe serving juices and protein shakes, steam and infra-red saunas, yoga and pilates classes, individual showers, and Italian-made gym equipment.

The RSPCA op-shop will focus on designer fashion, similar to the charity’s Rundle St store. “There’s no way I’d let just any op-shop in,” Velentzas said.

Meanwhile, at The Harrington, a five-storey apartment complex nearby, six ground-floor stores will open by mid-May, including R3 Reform pilates studio, He Said, She Said cafe, a frozen yoghurt bar, a yet-to-be-revealed restaurant, and two unleased spaces.

The developers of The Harrington aimed for high-quality tenants. “We’ve been quite picky with who we put in,” said CBRE leasing agent Julia Pottenger.

All 55 apartments at The Harrington have already been sold.

Source: The Advertiser

Lost works of Ancient Greek “Great Geometer” found among Islamic texts

The Greek Herald
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Lost works of Ancient Greek “Great Geometer” found among Islamic texts

Discoveries in historical research often come through years of meticulous study—or by sheer accident. The recent unearthing of two lost works by Apollonius, the ancient Greek mathematician known as the “Great Geometer,” falls into the latter category.

According to iflscience, these texts, long thought to be lost, were actually part of a collection of nearly 200 Arabic manuscripts brought to the University of Leiden in the 17th century. Locked away for centuries, they have now been identified as books five and seven of The Conics of Apollonius (c. 200 BCE).

“The work deals with the theory of ellipses, parabolas, and hyperbolas – the curves which you can see if you shine a flashlight on a wall,” explains a new book from the university. While only the first four volumes were believed to have survived, this discovery proves the enduring impact of the Islamic Golden Age in preserving ancient knowledge.

“Arabic manuscripts in Western libraries like Leiden University Libraries serve as invaluable records of Islamic civilization’s intellectual achievements, especially in mathematics and geometry,” said Mostafa Zahri of the University of Sharjah.

Despite their significance, many Arabic manuscripts remain understudied due to the specialized knowledge required to analyze them. “The study of Islamic manuscripts demands specialized knowledge, encompassing paleography, historical context, linguistic expertise, and scientific specialization,” explained Professor Mesut Idriz.

Beyond Apollonius’ works, the recovered texts include treatises on biology, astronomy, and math, such as the “Book of Perfections.” While some contain mythical elements, they remain vital records of medieval Middle Eastern scholarship.

Source: iflscience.com

Tourism in Athens more than doubles since 2008

The Greek Herald
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Tourism in Athens more than doubles since 2008

The number of visitors to Athens has more than doubled over the past 17 years, according to an article by Ilias Bellos in ekathimerini.com

In January 2008, 636,615 travelers arrived in the Greek capital, while this January, international passenger traffic at Athens Airport soared to 1,323,915—a 108% increase.

The trend shows no signs of slowing. Last month alone, international arrivals rose by 18.7% compared to January 2024, following a 12.7% increase in January 2024 compared to the same month in 2023.

The surge is evident on the streets of Athens, with a growing number of visitors, including many from across the Atlantic.

Source: ekathimerini.com

From açaí to global success: Georgios Frangulis shares how he built Oakberry

The Greek Herald
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From açaí to global success: Georgios Frangulis shares how he built Oakberry

By Despina Karpathiou

Georgios Frangulis, the visionary founder of Oakberry, has taken the global food scene by storm with his innovative approach to açaí bowls and healthy fast food. What began as a small concept in Brazil has now grown into an international sensation, with Oakberry locations popping up in cities across the world.

The Greek Herald delved into Georgios’ journey – his entrepreneurial spirit, the challenges he faced, and how his passion for health-conscious eating turned Oakberry into a thriving brand that’s redefining the fast-food industry. We sat down with him to discuss all things açaí.

For those who don’t know him, Georgios is 36 years old and was born in São Paulo, Brazil to a Greek family. His grandfather, Georgios, was born in Thessaloniki, and his father, Eleftherios, was raised in Brazil.

“I can say we were always a Greek family, in how we see the world, our values, and the way I was raised. I feel 100% Greek,” he explains, before recalling how he always wanted to follow a non-traditional path.

“I went to law school, but I’m an entrepreneur at heart. I always knew I would build a business and create something that would bring joy and good things to people.”

In what may come as a surprise, Georgios is also a professional racing driver. He explains that his biggest dream since he was nine years old has been to own a Formula 1 team.

“Managing such a complex environment always amazed me,” he says.

Georgios’ girlfriend is current World No. 1 women’s singles tennis player, Aryna Sabalenka.

“I end up splitting my time between tennis matches, Oakberry, and racetracks,” he jokes.

Oakberry started in Brazil in 2016 but was created while Georgios was living in the USA. Georgios explains how he became infatuated with açaí, the fruit that made him who he is today.

“Açaí is a fruit that is only found in the Amazon rainforest, mostly in the northern region of Brazil. Being raised in Brazil, I knew the nutritional value of açaí as a superfood, and I noticed people around the world were trying to eat healthier. Açaí would be perfect to fulfill that demand. That’s essentially how the idea for Oakberry formed,” he says.

“I saw that the demand for healthy food was booming, and people started searching for açaí, but no one was offering it with a strong brand and the standards to establish a business that could grow worldwide. I took the last €30,000 I had and invested in our first store in my hometown of São Paulo. From that moment, we’ve opened over 800 stores in over 50 countries, and the rest is history!”

In a world of extreme competition in the fast-food sector, Oakberry has continued to be successful for nearly a decade, something that many newer açaí businesses aren’t accomplishing.

Georgios attributes this success to “creating a brand that is stronger than the product.”

“I think we were able to build a sense of community between our customers, employees and all the stakeholders, including the Riverside population in the Amazon rainforest that harvests the organic Oakberry açaí and our factory workers. We made sure we were keeping the standards needed for a regular fast-food operation, but with a healthy and branding factor that would surpass expectations,” he explains.

Georgios is very ambitious and in 5 years’ time, he wants to have “3,000 locations in over 80 countries across five continents.”

“I see Asia and the Middle East as key markets moving forward, alongside the continued growth we’re already seeing in Europe and the Americas. We’ve been on a very important growth track since 2016, with an average of one new store opening every three days since day one, and we won’t stop!” he says.

His end goal is to make Oakberry the biggest healthy food chain in the world. He happily offers advice for other entrepreneurs who dream of starting a business in the food industry.

“Usually, we end up thinking too much, planning too much, to the point that you start to doubt yourself. The best advice I could give is trust yourself, and make sure whatever you’re thinking of opening makes sense in your life,” he says.

“We are not that different from one another, and if it makes sense for you, it should make sense for more people – you just need to let them know, because people usually don’t know what they want! So, be true to your gut feeling, and don’t listen to the naysayers.”

Sound advice to conclude.

Australia’s passport processing system causes travel delays at airports

The Greek Herald
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Australia’s passport processing system causes travel delays at airports

Australian travelers are facing long airport queues due to ongoing technical failures in the SmartGates system, despite costs exceeding $120 million. Originally designed to streamline border clearance, the system has instead led to significant delays, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian Airports Association has called the situation embarrassing, with CEO Simon Westaway stating, “Bali is a more seamless travel experience than going in and out of Australia.” The system, expected to handle 90% of travelers by 2020, has only processed 57% of inbound passengers.

A major issue is Australia’s unique two-step process, requiring travelers to obtain a ticket from a kiosk before proceeding to a SmartGate. Frequent technical failures, reduced manned processing desks, and poor signage have worsened congestion. In Sydney, queues have stretched for hours, with frustrated passengers comparing the experience to being herded through a pen.

Despite costly contracts with Idemia and Vision-Box—totaling over $160 million—Home Affairs has acknowledged that biometric scanning technology remains inadequate. While countries like Singapore have introduced passport-free clearance, Australia has yet to modernize.

Tourism and industry leaders warn that inefficient processing could deter visitors, especially given Australia’s high travel costs. Calls are growing for the government to reinvest its $1.1 billion passenger movement charge into fixing the system before international arrivals reach a projected 27 million by 2030. “Australia should be right up there globally leading this space,” Westaway said.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

Green sea turtle nest discovered for the first time on Rhodes

The Greek Herald
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Green sea turtle nest discovered for the first time on Rhodes

The Sea Turtle Protection Society “Archelon” has confirmed the first-ever documented green sea turtle nest on the island of Rhodes, ekathimerini.com, has reported.

According to Archelon, this discovery “marks a possible expansion of the species’ breeding area in the Mediterranean.”

The nest was identified in June 2024 during research on Rhodes’ beaches as part of a sustainable tourism project funded by the TUI Care Foundation. It was located in Apollakia Bay on the island’s western coast. On June 22, researchers spotted traces of an adult green turtle, leading to the discovery of a nest containing 86 eggs, 78 of which successfully hatched.

“The species is globally endangered, and this recent discovery is particularly important as it suggests a potential shift in the green turtle’s breeding areas, possibly due to rising sea temperatures linked to climate change,” Archelon stated in its announcement.

Source: ekathimerini.com

Ancient Greek wall unearthed in Croatia

The Greek Herald
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Ancient Greek wall unearthed in Croatia

During an official visit to Stobreč near Split, Croatia’s Minister of Culture and Media, Dr. Nina Obuljen Koržinek, and State Secretary Krešimir Partl attended the presentation of a remarkable archaeological find—part of the ancient Greek city of Epetion, labrujulaverde.com has reported.

Archaeologist Dr. Marina Ugarković revealed that a well-preserved Greek wall, approximately 70 meters long and over three meters high in some sections, has been uncovered. This discovery, one of the most significant of its kind in Croatia, also includes structures from multiple historical periods, from prehistory through the Middle Ages. Notably, evidence suggests Epetion was inhabited as early as the 16th or 15th century BC, revising previous assumptions about its origins.

Archaeologists Silva Kukoč and Ivica Pleština explained that prior surveys identified this area as a site of potential interest. Excavations, initiated as a preventive measure before construction, uncovered additional megalithic structures, including double gates, indicating that the city may have been larger than previously believed.

Minister Obuljen Koržinek emphasized the site’s cultural significance and affirmed that further research will ensure its preservation.

With continued excavations, this discovery offers valuable insights into Epetion’s history and broader Greek influence in the Adriatic region.

Source: labrujulaverde.com

The Greek Herald expands Women’s Awards with new ‘Woman to Watch’ category

The Greek Herald
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The Greek Herald expands Women’s Awards with new ‘Woman to Watch’ category

As International Women’s Day (IWD) approaches on March 8, The Greek Herald is once again set to honour exceptional women within Australia’s Hellenic community.

This year, the publication is expanding its recognition program with a brand-new category: the ‘Woman to Watch’ Award, celebrating young women under 25 who are emerging as leaders and changemakers.

The theme for IWD 2025, #MarchForward, underscores the power of progress and resilience, making it the perfect time to shine a spotlight on young women who are already making an impact.

Recognising the next generation of trailblazers:

The ‘Woman to Watch’ Award joins the prestigious Greek Herald Woman of the Year Award, which honours women over 25 for their leadership, innovation, and contributions to society. This new category specifically highlights rising stars who are making a difference in their communities.

the greek herald woman of the year
Anais Menounos was named ‘The Greek Herald Woman of the Year’ 2024.

“We are especially proud to introduce the ‘Woman to Watch’ Award, which shines a spotlight on young women under 25 who are already making waves and showing great promise as future leaders,” Andriana Simos, Digital Editor at The Greek Herald, said.

“By recognising both established and emerging changemakers, we hope to inspire more women to #MarchForward and continue shaping a brighter future for all.”

How to nominate a ‘Woman to Watch’:

Do you know an inspiring young Greek Australian woman who deserves recognition?

  • Nominations are now open for both award categories.
  • Submissions must be received by 5pm, 27 February 2025.
  • In 200 words or less, share how your nominee is making an impact.
  • Winners will be revealed on 16 March 2025 at The Greek Herald’s International Women’s Day event with the Greek Festival of Sydney. There will also be an exclusive cover story in The Greek Herald.
  • Nominate here.

With the addition of the ‘Woman to Watch’ category, The Greek Herald continues its mission to celebrate and uplift women of all ages who are making a lasting impact in the Greek Australian community.

Don’t miss the chance to nominate an unsung heroine today.

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