The Kalavryton Society in NSW ‘Aghia Lavra’ held its annual memorial service at St Euphemia Greek Orthodox Church in Bankstown last weekend, to honour the victims of the 1943 Kalavryta Holocaust, one of the most harrowing atrocities of WWII.
The event featured a religious service, historical reflections, and a wreath-laying ceremony to remember the massacre in which Nazi forces executed nearly all of the town’s male inhabitants aged 12 and older, while women, children and the elderly escaped a burning school.
The event was emceed by John Kikilias, Secretary of the Kalavryton Society. Key speeches were delivered by Jim Papadopoulos, President of the Kalavryton Society; John Papadopoulos, Member of the Kalavryton Society’s Auditing Committee; and Chris Spiropoulos, President of the Greek Orthodox Parish of Saint Euphemia. Each of them emphasised the importance of preserving the memory of the tragedy.
The ceremony included wreaths laid by Mr Papadopoulos; Mr Spiropoulos; Vern Faulkner, representing the Bankstown Sports Club; Kostas Skouteris, representing the Achaian Federation; and Katerina Saul, representing the mothers of all Kalavrytini.
The memorial served as a reminder of the resilience of the Kalavrytan people and a call for peace, justice, and vigilance against future atrocities.
The Macquarie Greek Studies Foundation held a pivotal ‘Town Hall’-style event at the AHEPA NSW Hall in Rockdale on Monday, December 16, gathering approximately 30 community members for a discussion on the future of Modern Greek studies at Macquarie University.
The event provided a platform for updates, open dialogue, and reflections on the Foundation’s ongoing efforts to support Greek language education
The event featured addresses from key speakers, including Leon Bombotas and Theo Premetis from the Foundation, as well as a significant contribution from the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis.
Much of the evening’s conversation centered on the future of Greek language education, with particular emphasis on fostering the language within homes and supporting early learning initiatives.
Mr Bombotas, in his address, recounted the Foundation’s extensive efforts to advocate for the retention of Modern Greek studies.
He highlighted the proactive steps taken since October 2023, when the Foundation first became aware of the proposed changes. From securing commitments for existing students to complete their studies to lobbying for the continuation of new enrolments, the Foundation’s efforts were wide-ranging and persistent.
“We met face to face with the Dean of the Faculty, Chris Dixon on at least three occasions. It was clear from our first meeting that he was resolved to discontinue the community languages as they do not align with his long term strategy,” Mr Bombotas said.
The Greek Herald worked alongside the Macquarie University Greek Studies Foundation to launch a petition calling on the university to reconsider its decision to discontinue Greek.
Challenges and Reflections
During his speech, Mr Bombotas outlined the rationale behind Macquarie’s decision and acknowledged the changing landscape of education and language learning, noting how digital tools, Artificial Intelligence, and online learning platforms are reshaping how students engage with languages like Greek.
“We have a demand problem. The success of the program over the years, in creating capable teaching staff, has out-paced the demand for Greek studies at a secondary and tertiary level,” he said.
Despite this, he emphasised that while the formal Modern Greek studies program at Macquarie is ending, the Foundation’s mission to support Greek language, history, and culture remains steadfast.
Looking ahead
The Foundation’s forward-looking strategy focuses on new initiatives that reflect the modern educational landscape.
Mr Bombotas shared plans for a five-year strategic direction to be presented to the community in the coming year. Proposals under consideration include funding higher-degree research, supporting exchange initiatives and summer schools in Greece, and deepening ties with Greek Studies departments at other universities.
“While we lament the end of something good, we are now planning for something better and more attuned to the world we’re living in,” he said.
The event’s open Q&A session offered attendees the chance to voice their concerns, share ideas, and pose questions directly to the Foundation’s leadership.
Discussions reiterated the importance of supporting Greek language education from a young age, with several speakers emphasising the role of families and early learning initiatives in sustaining the language within the community.
The annual Christmas Carols by Candlelight event took place on Sunday, December 15, at St John’s College in Preston, Victoria, drawing a large crowd to celebrate the festive season in a heartwarming display of music, tradition, and faith.
Under the auspices of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia (GOAA), the event served as a dual journey — one towards the humble manger in Bethlehem and the other towards the beloved homeland and its enduring customs.
The atmosphere was filled with festive spirit, with carols sung by choirs from parishes, schools, associations, and even the Romanian Community of Melbourne.
His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, who graced the event with his presence, reflected on the profound significance of the carols. He also emphasised the importance of maintaining cultural traditions passed down from previous generations, calling them a “precious treasure” to be preserved for the future.
The event was attended by prominent members of the community, including His Eminence Metropolitan Myron of New Zealand, His Grace Bishop Kyriakos of Melbourne, and other senior clergy, as well as the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Emmanuel Kakavelakis, and the President of the Greek Community of Melbourne, Bill Papastergiadis.
The St George Greek Orthodox Church at Rose Bay in Sydney has spread Christmas cheer by packing and distributing more than 500 charity hampers to support homeless communities, soup kitchens, and those in need.
The initiative, part of the church’s annual Community Christmas Charity Hamper Drive, saw more than 70 volunteers come together at the Church Hall on Friday, December 13 to pack an impressive 540 hampers – more than double last year’s total of 250. The effort surpassed the church’s original target of 500 hampers.
These essential hampers will be distributed to local initiatives such as “Feed the People” at St Sophia and Three Daughters at Surry Hills, “A Touch of Kindness” in Martin Place, the soup kitchen at St Constantine & St Helen Newtown, as well as the Wayside Chapel in Bondi Beach and Sutherland Community Services.
The charity drive will culminate with a final distribution of 150 hampers to the homeless at the corner of Phillip Street and Martin Place today at 5.45pm. Several St George Church Rose Bay board members will be on hand to personally deliver the packages.
The effort has been made possible thanks to the generosity of the Friends of St George Church, the Ladies Auxiliary Philoptohos, parishioners, local businesses, and community members who donated items and volunteered their time.
“Together, we’re making a real difference for those in need,” the church said in a Facebook post, reflecting on the power of community and compassion during the holiday season.
His performance drew widespread praise, with commentator Mike Hussey calling it “amazing” and Mark Waugh describing him as “impossible to bowl to.”
Warner said Konstas played with “freedom” and displayed “calm and clear” decision-making. Former England captain Michael Vaughan and several cricket pundits predicted a bright future for the rising star.
Konstas’ heroics helped the Thunder claim a two-wicket win over the Adelaide Strikers, with Daniel Sams’ late hitting sealing the victory.
Melbourne Victory FC has announced that Senior Assistant Coach Arthur Diles will take over as Head Coach of the A-League Men’s side following the departure of Patrick Kisnorbo, who is leaving to pursue an overseas opportunity.
Diles’ appointment brings stability and continuity to the squad as the team sits third on the Isuzu UTE A-League ladder.
Managing Director Caroline Carnegie expressed confidence in Diles’ ability to maintain momentum, stating, “As our attention turns to the rest of the season, we know Arthur is in an excellent position to further build on the strong foundations established as we ultimately strive for silverware.”
“Arthur has a deep understanding of the team’s dynamics and is well-equipped to ensure stability, maintain focus and provide leadership as the team moves forward,” Carnegie added.
Melbourne Victory can confirm that A-League Men’s Head Coach Patrick Kisnorbo has departed the Club to pursue an overseas opportunity. pic.twitter.com/dy25mUD7nU
Diles is now focused on his first match as Head Coach against Melbourne City this Saturday night, followed by a busy run of fixtures over the New Year period.
Kisnorbo’s departure comes after joining Melbourne Victory in June 2024. During his tenure, Kisnorbo guided the team to an Australia Cup Final berth and a strong start to the A-League season.
Chairman John Dovaston acknowledged the loss, saying, “We are disappointed to see Patrick depart the Club so early in his expected journey with us, however Patrick has advised us that this is an opportunity he wanted to take for his own development as a coach.”
While Kisnorbo’s exit marks a change in leadership, the club’s management is optimistic that Diles’ appointment will provide the consistency needed to sustain their pursuit of success this season.
Member for Bentleigh, Nick Staikos, has announced today that he is set to become the newest addition to Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan’s cabinet.
Staikos will fill the vacancy left by the departure of Treasurer Tim Pallas, with an official announcement expected in the coming days as part of Allan’s broader ministry reshuffle.
Staikos’ appointment was unopposed, with Labor’s Left-aligned National Union of Workers faction—to which Staikos belongs—supporting his move into the ministry.
Staikos’ career background includes a stint at ANZ Bank while he was a student at Monash University. Since graduating, he has primarily worked for various state and federal politicians and served as a councillor for Glen Eira City before entering state politics.
In a post on Facebook, Staikos thanked the Bentleigh electorate community for their support.
“I am East Bentleigh born and bred. That’s why it has always been the greatest honour of my life that our community has chosen me at three elections to be our representative in the State Parliament,” he wrote.
“It is due to the support from our community that I will now be able to serve Victoria as a Minister.”
Nick Kyrgios has announced he will play doubles with Novak Djokovic at the Brisbane International, starting on December 29.
The Australian tennis star credited Djokovic for motivating his return from injury, saying the former world number one’s encouragement played a key role in his comeback.
Kyrgios shared the news on Instagram with a photo of himself and Djokovic walking onto the court before their 2022 Wimbledon final, captioning it: “Doubles at Brisbane. See y’all there.”
The Brisbane event will serve as a warm-up for January’s Australian Open, where Kyrgios has secured a spot using an injury-protected ranking.
The unlikely doubles pairing follows a shift in their relationship from rivals to friends. During this year’s Australian Open, Djokovic urged Kyrgios to team up with him before retirement, saying, “You’ve got to promise me something… recover quick, come back to the tour before I retire and we’ve got to play doubles.”
Kyrgios has played just one ATP match since the 2022 US Open due to wrist and knee injuries that required three surgeries. He revealed that a pep talk from Djokovic after a practice session at Wimbledon was pivotal.
“I was hitting with Novak and when he said to me, ‘It doesn’t look like you’ve had surgery,’ and that was a big motivation,” Kyrgios said.
Before Brisbane, Kyrgios will play in the World Tennis League exhibition in Abu Dhabi on December 19, joining stars like Iga Świątek, Casper Ruud, and Daniil Medvedev.
Victoria’s Premier Jacinta Allan announced on Tuesday, December 17 new measures to combat anti-Semitism and promote social cohesion.
Key measures include banning public displays of terrorist symbols linked to Hamas, Hezbollah, and white nationalist groups. Protesters will also be banned from wearing face masks and using devices like glue, chains, and locks to disrupt public spaces.
George Lekakis, former Chair of the Victorian Multicultural Commission, has been appointed to lead a new advisory group called the Local Escalation And Help (LEAH) group. The group will work with Jewish leaders, councils, and security services to address threats quickly.
Premier Allan stated, “Antisemitism thrives in extreme and radical environments,” adding that the measures aim to balance the right to protest with public safety.
Premier Jacinta Allan.
The government will also introduce a ‘social cohesion pledge’ requiring multicultural groups to uphold inclusive values to qualify for state funding. Groups that promote division risk losing financial support.
Jewish groups cautiously welcomed the measures. Jewish Community Council of Victoria’s CEO Naomi Levin called for close monitoring of the changes, while Zionism Victoria President Elyse Schachna praised the government’s support against anti-Israel protests.
The government also pledged to assist in rebuilding the Adass Israel synagogue after it was firebombed. Additionally, efforts will be made to revive the state’s interfaith dialogue program, Building Bridges, which had recently stalled amid tensions within the multifaith community.
The Greek government has proposed an amendment to suspend state funding for the far-right Spartiates (Spartans) party due to alleged criminal affiliations.
The legislation, introduced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to prevent public funds from supporting criminal activities.
The amendment stipulates that parties linked to criminal organisations will have their funding suspended and must return previously received funds within a month of notification. Failure to comply will result in triple the amount being deducted from future state funding.
Imprisoned former deputy leader of Greece’s far-right Golden Dawn party, Ilias Kasidiaris. Photo: Ekathimerini.
Kasidiaris, convicted in 2020, later founded the nationalist Hellenes party, which was banned from the May national elections due to his criminal record. Subsequently, he endorsed the Spartiates, leading to their unexpected success in the June elections, where they secured 12% of the vote and thirteen parliamentary seats.
Despite being barred from participating in the European Parliament elections, the Spartiates received substantial state funding, including three sums of €788,067.18, €59,998.58, and €25,898, intended for election purposes. The proposed amendment seeks to recover these funds and prevent further allocations.
The trial of the 11 Spartiates MPs has faced multiple postponements, with the next court date scheduled for December 20.
