About 1,500 members of Australia’s Greek diaspora came together on Tuesday, October 8 to honour His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at an official dinner in Sydney.
The event took place at the International Convention Centre (ICC) and was held to mark the centenary of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia (GOAA). It featured a vibrant musical program that enhanced the festive atmosphere.
During the dinner, a special video message from Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was played, in which he emphatically declared “the unbreakable bonds of our Greek people with Orthodoxy.”
The Greek PM also highlighted the significant contributions of the GOAA to Hellenism and its positive impact on Australian society, declaring its “national significance.”
During the evening, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia extended a heartfelt greeting to the Ecumenical Patriarch, expressing the deep love and respect of both the clergy and the faithful of the GOAA.
He emphasised that “it was impossible to celebrate the centenary without the presence of our Father and Patriarch,” while noting the historic invitation from the Australian Government, recognising the Patriarch’s esteemed position as a global religious leader.
His All-Holiness, visibly touched by the warm reception, expressed gratitude to the Greek diaspora for their generous hospitality and acknowledged their significant role in shaping modern Australian society.
In attendance, Leader of the Federal Opposition Peter Dutton MP spoke on His All-Holiness’ presence in Australia and expressed it “offers us an opportunity to reflect on the enormous contributions of the Greek community to our nation.”
“Known as the ‘Patriarch for Peace’, His All-Holiness has been a tireless advocate for global peace, environmental protection, and the spiritual wellbeing of all communities. His message is one of compassion and stewardship, transcending religious and cultural boundaries, and resonating with the timeless values that Australians hold,” he added.
A father-daughter duo from Sydney have changed the way people view and understand mental health by launching their own podcast – ‘The Psychiatrists Waiting Room.‘
The podcast features Georgia Cassimatis, a Greek Australian journalist from Sydney, and her father, Nicholas, who is a psychiatrist in Neutral Bay. They delve into the world of mental health, explaining a variety of mental illnesses in a series of episodes.
After releasing the first episode in January this year, the podcast now features a total of 12 episodes and has been so successful that it has been renewed for a season two, expected to launch in November.
“We know there’s a lot of overwhelming information out there on mental health, and people are getting confused and don’t quite understand different complex illnesses like autism and schizophrenia,” Georgia told The Greek Herald.
“We decided to kill two birds with one stone by creating a podcast that explains it all simply, using my dad as the expert, and me as the interviewer.”
The podcast explores things including Bipolar Disorder, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Schizophrenia, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Depression and Anxiety.
Who is the podcast for?
When Georgia and Nicholas started the podcast, they never considered the age demographic they’d be targeting.
“When I think of podcasting in general, I think the demographic for it is Gen X and under,” Georgia said.
“I would say that this podcast is for anyone aged between 18 and 80, or just anyone that is super curious about learning about mental health.”
Nicholas, a psychiatrist of more than 50 years, said he thinks the podcast appeals to the relatives and friends of patients, as well as patients themselves who are interested in mental health.
“The people it appeals to, really, are the ones who want to learn more and understand more about mental health,” he said.
Why did you do a podcast on mental health?
Georgia said growing up with a dad who is a psychiatrist, she became exposed to the “world of mental health” from a young age. At school, her peers would even approach her to pass on questions to her dad.
“People would come up to me and say, ‘can you ask your dad what this means or what this illness is, or what this problem means,’ and I thought, ‘wow dad has a really good knack for answering really complex questions quite easily and logically’,” Georgia said.
“Then, being a journalist, I knew the world of podcasting was really opening up and there are so many possibilities there, so I thought mental health would be a great topic to cover for a podcast, and I decided to team up with my dad.”
The journalist of 25 years said this wasn’t the first time she has worked alongside her dad.
“About 10 years ago, I did a stint in magazines, and I remember there was a point where I just wasn’t sure where the direction of magazines was going, and my dad said to me, ‘look, my secretary’s left, can you just help me out as I move to a new office, I’m going into a private practice’,” Georgia said.
“So, I went and helped him set up and I ended up working with him three days a week and took on freelance journalism.
“This led to me learning all about mental health and I became really interested in it. I just found that there’s all this stuff out there in the medical world that’s just not being explained simply in the media, and that led to the podcast.”
Georgia said throughout her time as a journalist, she’s seen some major changes on the way mental health is viewed.
“I was passionate about it for years, and I still am,” she said.
“The interesting thing is, over the past 10 years, I’ve seen the world change their attitude towards mental health and it’s no longer something that’s swept under the carpet, but it’s something that’s being more and more normalised, and I feel like I’ve really seen that arc and been part of it too.”
What’s it like working with family?
Nicholas described his experience working with his daughter on the podcast as “very simple.”
“I just detach and talk to Georgia as I’m talking to you,” he said.
“She is very good at asking questions, being the journalist she is, and I’m very familiar with talking to people about mental health too, so for me, I find it very easy.
“When Georgia first suggested the podcast, I began thinking, ‘what am I getting roped into? what’s going to happen? will this cause any problems? etc,’ but the way we conducted it made me feel comfortable, like we were having a general discussion about various conditions like depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.”
Georgia said she enjoys working with her dad.
“I did have to say to him that it’s my podcast, not his, and I’m the one that’s in control, but honestly, all I had to do was give him a bit of direction and it’s been a lot easier than I thought,” she said.
What has the response been like?
Georgia and Nicholas shared how the response to ‘The Psychiatrists Waiting Room’ has been “so lovely.”
“Everyone’s just so appreciative of what we have created,” Georgia said. “I’m just so happy that my goal has been achieved.”
Nicholas shared that he was surprised at how well the podcast has been doing.
“I’m bewildered and a little bit surprised,” he said.
“There are a million podcasts out there and we don’t have a high profile, so it’s interesting that there’s people out there googling different topics and finding our podcast and engaging with it and supporting us. It’s very gratifying.”
Most people today forget about prioritising one of the most important things that affects everything in their day-to-day lives – their mental health.
This year, for World Mental Health Day, The Greek Herald decided reached out to Greek Australians of different ages to ask them how they take care of their mental health and why it’s so important.
Being self-aware
Dr Betty Damianidou is a psychologist from Thessaloniki and Santorini in Greece, who has spent the last eight years living and practicing in Australia. She owns BD Psychologist in Newcastle, and additionally provides online patient sessions to people around the country, as well as in Greece via My Mirror.
With more than 18 years of experience in her field, Dr Betty shared what helps her with her own mental health.
“As a psychologist, you still have to do your therapy yourself, and one of the benefits is that you learn all these techniques that help you become more self-aware which is very important,” Dr Betty told The Greek Herald.
“One of the things I like to do is practice mindfulness, because it allows me to try to stay in the moment, not jump too far ahead, not catastrophise, and I’m also able to catch myself when I’m doing that.
“I also try to exercise regularly and get good sleep every night, which is just a part of getting on top of that work/life balance. I really like walking, which really helps my mind and acts as a stress reliever, and I also like doing a little bit of yoga, a bit of swimming, and Latin dancing.”
The Greek psychologist shared that “mental health is something that affects everything.”
“If the mind is not well, the body is not well, and then we don’t feel as motivated or as focused to do things,” Dr Betty said.
“Having good mental health is really important for our self-development and for succeeding in life, and if anyone is ever struggling, it is important to talk and get support from others, including family and friends.”
‘Good mental health shapes your future’
Peter Tsitsinaris is a first-year plumbing apprentice from Adelaide, South Australia. He shared that as a young person finishing school and stepping into the real world to pursue a career, it’s important to have good mental health.
“Your mental health is what helps you shape your future,” Peter told The Greek Herald.
“If you go to work with a good mindset, then you’re up for a better career path, as you’re more ambitious and more motivated. If you don’t have good mental health, then you won’t want to get up to go to work, and you’ll lose that ambition and drive and then it doesn’t set you up for a good future.”
The 22-year-old added that he thinks more awareness is needed surrounding mental health.
“Mental health is covered when we’re in school, but coming out of it, you don’t really hear about it all too much, whether that’s in the workplace or just in everyday life,” Peter said.
“I do think it needs to be spoken about more for people in their 20s, because that’s a serious age where people are getting more responsibilities and turning into adults, and stress becomes a little bit more of a factor in their day-to-day life and they’re learning how to cope with it.”
Peter said surrounding himself with loved ones, listening to music and playing soccer all contribute to his positive mental health.
“My family, my girlfriend and my friends all play a big part in it. I love spending time with them, and they make me feel like I’m never alone,” he said.
“Mental health is such a serious thing, so just knowing that there’s always someone looking out for me, and I am here for them is really comforting.”
He added that hopes to see more people feel comfortable opening up about mental health.
“It’s important that people aren’t afraid to speak up,” he said. “A conversation can change a life and all it takes is one question to check on someone.”
Supporting each other
Angela K is a Greek Australian mum-of-three and full-time teacher in Canberra, the Australian Capital Territory. She shared the importance of having good mental health to provide the best support and guidance for her students and family.
“As a parent and teacher, it can be quite challenging at times to deal with my mental health, especially when life gets very busy,” Angela said.
“Over the years though, I’ve tried to become better at looking after myself, which is essential to then look after my children and partner.”
Angela said although finding time for her hobbies can be challenging, it’s vital to ensure she has good mental health.
“One of the things that helps me with my mental health is DJ-ing, and I don’t care whether other people find that weird, or they judge me for doing it because at the end of the day, it’s something that makes me happy, and I love seeing people dance to my music” she said.
The Canberra mum added that the key to her good mental health is staying connected to friends and family.
“It’s important to prioritise family time, but also to have time for my friends too. I’m quite a social person, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learnt how to implement setting boundaries and doing what I can to take care of myself first,” Angela said.
“Having people that you can talk to and trust and share experiences with, especially as a parent, is also helpful because it reassures me that I’m not the only one that struggle at times.
“In life, we all go through our ups and downs, and everyone at any age is going through something, whether it’s big or small, but it’s important to just support each other and remind them that it’s okay to speak up.”
The AFLW community is coming together to rally behind Essendon midfielder Maddy Prespakis after she opened up about her experience with body shaming from online trolls.
At just 23 years old, Prespakis had previously shared her challenges with body image. Unfortunately, in the days leading up to the Bombers’ match against Gold Coast, she received a “horrible message” that reignited discussions about online harassment.
“To be honest, I feel very sad right now, for myself I have battled with body image and learning to love my body from a young age until now,” she expressed on Instagram leading up to the game.
“Playing football is the game I love but body confidence hasn’t always made it easy with the view I have on myself, and that’s why I’ve worked so hard to be able to look in the mirror and love what my body looks like.
“Yesterday’s horrible message has brought back A LOT of feelings I’ve worked hard to overcome over the years but with the best people around me right now I know I’ll continue to have the love from so many beautiful people in my life.”
Photo: Michael Willson / AFL Photos.
Prespakis didn’t let this hinder her later on the field however, as she accomplished 22 disposals, nine clearances and two goals.
Collingwood AFLW player Sarah Rowe took to AFL.com.au‘s Tagged to express her support for Prespakis vulnerability, saying, “We’re all behind her and we all support her but it’s shocking to think that that’s still happening.”
“We need to have those hard conversations. If it’s you that is making those comments take a good hard look at yourself. If it’s your friend that’s doing that, if it’s your child, if it’s your mum or dad, son, have a good hard look at yourself and pull your head in because it’s not good enough. It’s just not OK and it’s time to take a stand,” Rowe added.
“What she alluded to in her video was that she’s not good enough, she is more than good enough, she’s one of the best players in the League.”
Millions of extra airline seats, tens of thousands of hotel rooms and a focus on experience-led tourism will transform the state’s visitor economy into a $91 billion powerhouse as set out in a government review of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy.
On Tuesday, October 8, the NSW Premier Chris Minns and his Tourism Minister John Graham have set ambitious targets for the visitor economy.
Business Sydney, Business NSW and Business Western Sydney were proud to host the release of the strategy and publicly support the NSW Government plans going forward.
The Government has adopted the more ambitious goal of $91 billion in annual visitor economy expenditure by 2035 – a 40% increase on the original goal.
(L-R) Paul Nicolaou, Executive Director of Business Sydney, David Borger, Executive Director of Business Western Sydney, The Hon. John Graham MLC, and Sally Loane, the Chair of Destination NSW facilitating a Q&A on the review.
Such a strong growth trajectory will further cement tourism as a critical pillar of future growth in the NSW economy, driving up to 150,000 new jobs by 2035.
The strategy identifies key challenges including:
The need for 40,000 extra hotel rooms, a 41% increase on what’s currently available.
Significant worker and skills shortages in roles such as tour guides and chefs.
Need for increased business event facilities in Sydney, Western Sydney and priority regional areas.
The Premier said “We are ready to put our shoulder to the wheel and attract even more travellers to NSW, boosting local business and creating thousands of jobs.”
Minister John Graham said “NSW has the nature, the culture and incredible experiences. We just need to match it with hard work and planning.”
The Hon. John Graham MLC with the Premier the Hon. Chris Minns MP launching the review.
The Executive Director of Business Sydney Paul Nicolaou said it’s time to “confirm the international appeal of the experiences on offer in Sydney.”
“Last week Sydney was voted the ‘best city in the world’ in the Condè Nast Traveller UK’s 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards The poll cited Sydney’s ‘unique, indoor-outdoor way of life’ which speaks directly to the review’s recommendation to focus the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy on ‘experience tourism’,” he added.
“Business Sydney fully supports the State Government’s plans and will work with all stakeholders to help achieve the goals and objectives of the review.”
Marking the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia (GOAA), His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew held a series of meetings with significant figures on Wednesday, October 9.
Consul General of Greece in Sydney
The Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis, along with the entire staff of the Consulate General, had the distinct honour of welcoming His All-Holiness.
The Ecumenical Patriarch was joined by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia and other esteemed bishops, during the historic visit.
The Consulate General of Greece in Sydney took to social media to express the team’s gratitude for the meeting, writing, “A special joy and emotion for all of us!”
Premier of New South Wales
The Ecumenical Patriarch also made an official visit to the New South Wales Parliament, accompanied by Archbishop Makarios, Metropolitan Philotheos of Thessaloniki, Grand Ecclesiarch Aetios, the Director of the Patriarchal Private Office and Archdeacon Athenagoras of the GOAA.
Upon arrival, they were greeted by NSW Premier Chris Minns, who escorted them to his office for a warm and productive discussion.
The meeting also included several state ministers: Steve Kamper, Minister for Small Business, Property, and Multiculturalism; Courtney Houssos, Minister for Finance, Industry, Government Procurement, and Natural Resources; and Sophie Cotsis, Minister for Industrial Relations and Work Health & Safety.
Following their discussions, the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Premier exchanged commemorative gifts as a gesture of goodwill.
Turkish Ambassador and Consul General of Turkey in Sydney
Also on Wednesday, the Ecumenical Patriarch held a cordial meeting with the Ambassador of Turkey to Australia, Ufuk Gezer, and Consul General Belgin Ergüneş at the official Consular Residence.
He was accompanied by Metropolitan Kyrillos of Imbros and Tenedos, Grand Protosyncellus Gregory, and Archon Konstantinos Delikostantis, Director of the First Patriarchal Office.
Greek Cypriot scientist Demis Hassabis was awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry on Wednesday, October 9, sharing the honour with his colleagues, American scientists David Baker and John Jumper. Their groundbreaking work in decoding protein structures and designing new proteins has significantly advanced drug development.
Hassabis is the CEO and co-founder of Google DeepMind. He was born to a Greek Cypriot father from Famagusta and a Singaporean mother, growing up in north London.
Together with Jumper, he utilised artificial intelligence to predict the structures of nearly all known proteins. Baker, the third recipient, developed innovative methods for computational protein design, as noted by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
BREAKING NEWS The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the 2024 #NobelPrize in Chemistry with one half to David Baker “for computational protein design” and the other half jointly to Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper “for protein structure prediction.” pic.twitter.com/gYrdFFcD4T
Hassabis is not only a neuroscientist but a video game designer, entrepreneur, and champion chess and poker player, who has long aimed to develop machines capable of independent thought to tackle global challenges. He gained early recognition for his remarkable chess abilities and contributed to the well-known video game Theme Park at the age of 17. He graduated with double honours from the University of Cambridge in 1997 and later earned a PhD in perceptual neuroscience before founding DeepMind.
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry, one of the highest honours in the scientific field, carries a value of 11 million Swedish crowns, which equates to approximately $1.1 million.
Greece defender George Baldock was found dead at the swimming pool of his home in Glyfada, a suburb of southern Athens, on Wednesday night.
The circumstances surrounding his death are still unclear, and police have launched an investigation.
The 31-year-old player, born in the UK, had joined Panathinaikos in the summer. He was not known to have any significant health issues.
Baldock earned 12 caps for Greece but was not part of the squad currently in London for Thursday’s UEFA Nations League match against England.
Born in Buckingham, England, in 1993, Baldock obtained Greek citizenship through his grandmother. He began his career as a right-back at MK Dons, where he remained until 2017, with loan spells at clubs such as Tamworth and Oxford United.
In 2017, he joined Sheffield United, where he made over 200 league appearances across seven seasons and secured a place in the Greek national team, playing three years in the Premier League with the “Blades.”
In the summer of 2024, Baldock moved to Panathinaikos, marking his first stint with a Greek club. He had recently regained form and become a regular starter for the Greek Cup holders.
In the 2024 September school holidays, 18 young members of the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) set off on the inaugural Greek Youth Camp to Athens, Greece to immerse ourselves in the Greek culture and improve our connection to the area and our heritage.
In Greece, we were welcomed as guests of the Governor of Attiki to the Army Summer Resort Agios Andreas Attica, our base for our time there. Every day was jam-packed with trips to bucket list destinations like Delphi and Poros, amazing food like the lunches overlooking the Acropolis at Dionysos Zonar’s, and free time to explore with our friends.
Photos by Amelia Tsilfidis.Photo by Amelia Tsilfidis.
My favourite memories were streaming and singing along to music from my friend’s speaker at the back of the bus on the way to whichever amazing destination was planned for the day, surrounded by the beautiful scenery and our friends.
Visiting Nafpoli, with the glittering blue waters and quaint pastel buildings, and the cruise of the Greek islands where we tasted the pistachios of Aegina and met the donkeys and horses in Hydra, were definitely my highlights. It wouldn’t be possible without our amazing guides Meg, Tass, Andreas and Kelly, who allowed us a rich view of the region while keeping it fun and exciting.
Photos by Amelia Tsilfidis.Photo by Amelia Tsilfidis.
I’d personally never been to Greece before, so I was so lucky to have the support of the GCM for this trip – an opportunity to experience Greece both as a tourist, but also for the education and culture as part of a group with friends and as guests of the Governor. It gave us access to some once-in-a-lifetime adventures like staying at the Army Summer resort with the most incredible facilities.
Even though I didn’t speak any Greek, my friends did and they helped me learn words as I went, introduced me to Greek music and translated anything I didn’t understand – it enriched my time there and made us all closer as a group.
Everything about this trip was amazing:
Incredible food – moussaka, pastitsio, souvlaki, pita, tzatziki, Greek salad every day
Immersion in true Greek culture, dancing and language
My only hardship was that I didn’t know Greece served soft drinks without carbonation, so I accidentally ordered a Fanta with no bubbles!
Photos by Amelia Tsilfidis.
It was incredible to visit and experience the thrill of Greece, especially with a group our own age. It allowed us to build lifetime friendships and connections, and I’m so honoured and excited to be an ambassador for Attiki with my friends.
To anyone offered this opportunity in the future, I would urge you to absolutely apply and attend – you won’t regret it!
Greek community hubs have been at the heart of the migrant Hellenic experience since the post-WWII era. These hubs have offered a strong sense of cultural solidarity for our people, who, after making the long voyage to an unknown land, felt the pangs of homesickness at a deep, spiritual level.
As many of us know, Greeks from various regions settled in Australia and quickly established connections with their homeland – specifically with their local cities, small towns, and even villages.
One of these connections is the Panarcadian Association of Melbourne & Victoria – ‘O Kolokotronis,’ which, from its inception, catered to migrants from the Arcadia region in the Peloponnese. The association infused its festivals, gatherings, and dances with traditional flavours unique to their community.
This month, on October 12, the Panarcadian Association is celebrating its 65th anniversary, while also commemorating the Liberation of Tripolitsa on September 23, 1821.
The Greek Herald caught up with the President of the association, George Kotsirilos, to learn more about this historic club.
Brief history of the Panarcadian Association
The Panarcadian Association of Melbourne was officially established on September 13, 1959.
“It was formed as a philanthropic hub for Arcadians to get together, support one another, and raise money to assist in the shared goals of their community,” George said.
“Back then, various regional Greek groups were forming to solidify community ties in this new country; the Cretans, Macedonians, Spartans, Messenians etc. People from Arcadia wanted to maintain that sense of family in this new, unfamiliar land.
“Over time, Greeks from different parts of Greece began interacting with one another. This is how a unified Greek Australian identity began, but it all started with the local clubs, such as ours.”
Key milestones and achievements
George explained how this year marks the association’s 65th anniversary. He has been involved for 12 consecutive years, with the last two serving as President.
“I personally believe that one of our biggest milestones was the purchasing of our community building – our Panarcadian hall (known as ‘The Arcadian’), located on 570 Victoria Street North Melbourne – on September 1986,” he said.
“We did run into some difficult times in the late 80s due to the financial crisis and high interest rates; but thanks to Andreas Andrianopoulos, who generously donated a significant sum of money to rescue the building from the bank, we have been able to keep hold of an asset of $15 million, debt free.
“It is one of the most beautiful historic buildings of any Greek organisation in Melbourne. I would have to say, the property itself is a massive achievement for our community.”
Differentiating the Panarcadian Association
George was quick to note that, in many ways, all Greek clubs in Melbourne share a common story.
“We all have similar traditions—dances, music, values. We’re all Greeks. What makes us different is the unique local flavour we bring from Arcadia, but ultimately, we all support each other,” he said.
George added though that one of the biggest challenges has been fostering support among the second and third generations of Arcadians.
“The first generation of immigrants was highly involved, but it’s become difficult to maintain that same level of commitment over time. People marry into different ethnicities, cultures, and this is of course, what is beautiful about Australia.
“People of Arcadian descent know about their heritage, but are less willing to stay involved with their community. This is natural, but looking to the future, one of our primary goals is to figure out the best methods to keep our second and third generations engaged with the association so it continues to thrive for many years.”
Engaging the next generation
When asked how he would encourage younger Greek Australians to remain involved, George pointed to the work done by groups like NUGAS as a great example.
“The younger generation is proud to be Greek, and that pride will help keep our traditions alive. It’s almost as if the younger generation is prouder to be Greek than my generation! Which is fantastic,” he said.
“Hosting events like dances, charity events, or film festivals at spaces like ‘The Arcadian’ is key to bringing people together and celebrating our shared heritage. This is the best path forward, I believe.”
George added that as President, his primary goal is to ensure the continuation of the association’s legacy.
“Who will be the heartbeat of the organisation in the future? Who will we pass the torch to? Embracing and engaging the youth is the key to ensuring that the third and fourth generations can carry on our Arcadian ethos,” he said.
The 65th Anniversary Ball
When asked about the association’s upcoming 65th Anniversary Ball, George chuckled.
“We’re going to have plenty of dancing and beautiful, loud music!” he said.
“We’ll have 25 traditional dancers in the foustanella and amalia dress, courtesy of the Greek Community of Melbourne. We’ll also cut a cake to celebrate our 65th birthday, alongside our first-ever president, Leonidas Argyropoulos, who is now 93 years old.
“It promises to be a night of dancing, music, speeches, and mingling – a truly fantastic occasion. We invite all Greek Australians to come down and celebrate with us.”
