Loved-up couple Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa won the title at the US Open charity exhibition event “Mixed Madness!” today, August 21.
The duo, commonly referred to as “Tsitsidosa,” prevailed among the four mixed teams that participated in the event that raised funds for the USTA Foundation.
“We had been planning this (to play mixed doubles with Badosa) for a long time, and I’m very happy it finally happened… I’m grateful that we were able to play good tennis and have fun, and that I got to share this experience with a special person, with whom I also share my life. It was a great night,” Tsitsipas said on the occasion.
Spanish player Badosa also shared the news that the pair intend on reunite in a week for the mixed doubles at the US Open.
Chris Kourtis, portfolio manager at Ellerston Capital, has switched out the fund’s holding in BHP for a stake in Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue (ASX:FMG).
“Following the sharp derating, we believe FMG now offers a compelling entry point at current bombed-out levels,” Mr Kourtis said to investors.
Earlier this year, Fortescue was the least-held of the ASX’s 10 largest companies by Australian fund managers.
Dr Andrew Forrest. Photo: Fortescue.
The slew of buy ratings follows a 41 per cent decline in Fortescue shares since the start of the year, outpacing a retreat in iron ore peers BHP and Rio Tinto, which have fallen 21 per cent and 19 per cent respectively in 2024.
Mr Kourtis claimed the hopeless outlook was reflected in its already-weak share price.
“Negative sentiment around sluggish but flat Chinese steel demand, elevated China port inventory and an improving iron ore supply outlook from West Africa have weighed on the big three Australian iron ore producers,” he said.
“However, we believe the valuation buffer now accounts for much of the risk to spot prices moving below $US100 a tonne.”
Nick Kyrgios has condemned the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) for clearing Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner of any wrongdoing after testing positive twice for illicit substances earlier in the season.
According to the ITIA, World No.1 Sinner provided an in-competition sample at the Indian Wells Masters on March 10 which contained a small amount of a metabolite of clostebol.
A further sample, conducted eight days later out of competition, also tested positive for low levels of the same metabolite.
Clostebol is an anabolic agent prohibited at all times by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The ITIA attributed the presence of the steroid to an inadvertent contamination from Sinner’s physiotherapist, who had used an over-the-counter spray containing clostebol when giving the tennis player a massage.
While Sinner has been cleared of any wrongdoing, he will be stripped of his results, prize money and the 400 ranking points he accumulated at Indian Wells. He was also successful in appealing his inability to compete and as such will continue with the tour.
Kyrgios took to X to express his frustration with this controversial verdict.
Ridiculous – whether it was accidental or planned. You get tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance… you should be gone for 2 years. Your performance was enhanced. Massage cream…. Yeah nice 🙄 https://t.co/13qR0F9nH2
“Ridiculous – whether it was accidental or planned. You get tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance… you should be gone for two years. Your performance was enhanced. Massage cream…. Yeah nice,” Kyrgios said.
“I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me,” the statement read.
“I will continue to do everything I can to ensure I continue to comply with the ITIA’s anti-doping programme and I have a team around me that are meticulous in their own compliance.”
While most Ancient Greek antiquities remained untouched by the recent fires in East Attica, two post-Byzantine churches have been left devastated by the blaze.
The roof of the post-Byzantine church of Agioi Apostoloi within the archaeological site of Oenoe in Marathonas sustained severe damage.
The restored roof and interior of the post-Byzantine church of Aghios Athanassios in Kalentzi, Marathonas, was also damaged. Despite the ruin, the church’s frescoes survived the blaze.
In the Municipality of Penteli, the cave of Davelis and its two churches sustained minor damage.
Greece’s Ministry of Culture said in a statement that the East Attica Ephorate of Antiquities found no damage at the following sites: the acropolis of Ancient Aphidnae in Kapandriti, the organised sites open to visitors in the Municipality of Marathonas, the Archaeological Museum of Marathon and Ikarion at the Municipality of Dionyssos.
Greece’s PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Penteli to meet with officials, as they discussed plans for the restoration of the fire-stricken areas of northeastern Attica.
The plan includes, among other initiatives, a special forest recovery project and a specific program called “Greening My Garden – Greening Penteli,” aimed at the immediate clean-up and restoration of private gardens that have been burned.
An emergency grant from the Ministry of the Interior to fire-affected municipalities, will cover all public spaces affected.
Financial aid can now be applied for by citizens and businesses that have suffered damages.
Forests and mountainous terrains will be restored in conjunction with reforestation projects in Attica. They will be funded by the Recovery and Resilience Fund.
Phaedra graduated from NIDA in 2004, and has worked in productions for Channel 10, ABC and SBS. Following NIDA, Phaedra travelled to Greece and stayed there for several years after falling in love with the country. During this time she travelled through Northern Greece implementing educational programs in disadvantaged communities whilst revelling in the abundance of accessible theatre on offer.
Whilst she performs in Arlington, we spoke with Phaedra to hear more about her.
Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your upbringing.
I was born in Sydney in the 1980s to parents who had migrated from Europe. My father, of Pontian descent, grew up in Romania, while my mother, an “Epirotisa” (female from Northern Greece), was born in Hungary. Like many immigrants, they worked tirelessly and managed the complexities of supporting family members still in Greece. Our family was small, with few relatives nearby, but the economic opportunities at the time provided a stable foundation for us.
I began my education at a local public school in the Inner West but struggled to adapt. Influenced by my mother’s passion for art and literature, I found it challenging to thrive in a school system that prioritised sports. I was lucky that my parents began to recognise my growing introversion, and they decided to enrol me in a performing arts school. What started as ballet classes eventually led me to discover my deep love for theatre, shaping the path I would follow.
How did you get into acting? Did your Greek heritage inspire you at all?
I always loved stories and I remember having really wonderful drama teachers at school. I felt they ‘spoke my language’ and I began obsessing over characters and plays during other subjects. I felt I was living in a wonderful little bubble and would escape into these worlds.
Yes, my heritage probably did inspire me. For a few reasons. Firstly, the earliest stories I remember being told by my mother were Greek myths—epic tales full of adventure that also reflected the rigid values of ancient Greece, which my mother would explore and discuss in a philosophical way.
I can’t help but think that I was also indirectly inspired by Hungary. At the time of my mother’s upbringing in Budapest, Hungary was at a cultural flourish and so my mother brought those wonders to me. She used to play classical music regularly and I remember we used to dance and run around the living room responding to the changing dynamics of the music and creating stories to go with them.
I also believe my heritage and the theme of a fragmented home, shaped by my family’s migration, instilled in me a restlessness that naturally aligned with an eternal need to express and connect. The arts, with their limitless possibilities, became the perfect outlet for this deep-seated yearning.
Phaedra Nicolaidis in ‘Arlington.’ Photo: Philip Erbacher.
You’ve previously travelled through Northern Greece implementing educational programs in disadvantaged communities whilst revelling in the abundance of accessible theatre on offer. What impact did this have on you?
The most profound impacts I experienced in Greece came from daily life. I visited Greece during the crisis and witnessed firsthand the sudden insecurity and fear that many Greeks were facing. What truly moved me was the sense of solidarity I observed.
On a more creative level, I was fascinated by how the lack of strict legal parameters allowed for greater creativity. For example, in Australia, there are stringent laws surrounding performance spaces, but in Greece, the regulations are less rigid. I saw plays performed in taverns, caves, on the streets, and even in abandoned houses. As an artist, these diverse experiences enriched my own creativity and gave me a sense of greater freedom.
I was also struck by the nature of the theatre audience in Greece. Theatre is an integral part of many people’s lives there, not an exclusive or niche activity as it can be in Australia. People might go to the theatre on Saturday and then follow it up with soccer on Sunday. This creates a more diverse audience, rather than a specific “theatre” crowd.
Phaedra rehearsing for ‘Arlington.’
You’re performing in Arlington this year. How did you get the role?
Anna Houston is the brilliant director of Arlington, I was fortunate enough to have studied acting with her at NIDA. Both Anna and I were in the same year at drama school and shared some incredible and intense experiences during those foundational years. A few years ago, after my return from Greece, Anna introduced me to the exciting project of Arlington. I was thrilled at the prospect of the play and the talented creatives involved.
Watching Anna bring this ambitious work to life has been exhilarating. She has fostered a collaborative and nurturing environment in the rehearsal room, encouraging each member to actively contribute and support one another. The entire experience has been nothing short of magical.
What can people expect from the theatre production?
Arlington, written by Irish playwright Enda Walsh, is a dystopian tale that delves into themes of grief, isolation, and confinement, with a strong emphasis on hope. The narrative revolves around a young woman who has spent most of her life imprisoned in a tower within a society defined by intense surveillance. In this confined space, her need for human connection grows through an unexpected relationship with the young man assigned to monitor her. Enda Walsh’s mastery of language is evident, bringing humour to the play despite its challenging themes. It is this blend of darkness and levity that highlights the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of hope.
Anything else you would like to say?
I encourage audiences to embrace this experience and to continue supporting theatre as a whole. In challenging times like these, fostering human connection is more important than ever.
Find out more about ‘Arlington’ at the Seymour Centre here. It runs until Saturday, August 24.
Greek Australian Stella Boyages is a lawyer with vast experience on a local and international level pertaining to human rights – particularly women’s rights. One of the inspiring speakers at the inaugural Women’s Global and Hellenic Conference in Ioannina, Greece in September, she has chosen to speak about ‘HERstory of HIStory – Marginalisation of women across history.’
Stella’s expansive experience includes employment with the Federal Court of Australia, almost a decade with the Aboriginal legal service and private practice. While now in her 60s, she continues dedicating her life to striving for the acknowledgement of women’s contributions to society, such as showcasing and preserving Greek culture via organisations like the Castellorizian Association of NSW and the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney where she is a Board Member.
Stella Boyages is a Board Member at the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney.
Her work in women’s emancipation is ‘intersectional,’ whereby it inherently incorporates striving for world peace, exemplified by Stella’s current role with the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILFP), not to mention being part of UN Commission of the Status of Women in New York.
Stella Boyages supports the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILFP).
“One of the reasons I studied law was that I felt it would give me the skills and knowledge to fight injustice in the community… to advocate for the rights of Indigenous people, refugees, women, the marginalised, the disadvantaged etc,” Stella said.
I’ve probably left out other important aspects of Stella’s diverse and impressive professional experience, though speaking with her – credentials aside – I was intrigued by the woman herself; down to earth, glowing, vivacious, and subsequently joyful to speak with.
Leaving Greece at the age of four with her mother and sister, to join her father who’d been in Australia for a year already, Stella described one of her experiences on board the ship ‘Patris.’
A young Stella with a friend.
“I was left on my own in the cabin for a brief time and proceeded to take my mother’s lipstick from her bag and smear my face and all the bed sheets with it. After seeing the mess I had made I became concerned about the trouble I would be in and decided to hide in the furthest corner possible under the bunk. When my mother arrived and couldn’t find me she alerted the Captain,” Stella explained.
“I remember hearing all these people in the cabin, my mother crying, younger women consoling her and the ship’s Purser and Captain discussing the likelihood of me falling overboard and preparing to turn the ship around to check the waters.”
As for attending Kindergarten in 1962, a few months after her arrival, Stella narrates: “My mother would drop me off and as she left from the front gate I would slip out of the back gate… when I saw the neighbourhood kids walking past in the afternoon I knew that school was over and I would then go into the house and pretend I had been at school all day. I was eventually found out.”
Cheeky girl humour aside, Stella said, “There was no intensive language or English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for us new arrivals in those days. We just got put into a class and had to manage. I remember being in a perpetual daze of confusion and despair for the first few months… It was also tough for my parents. A constant struggle to find work… usually menial labour work in factories etc, facing racism and discrimination along the way for being a foreigner.”
Stella explained that although often labelled a ‘difficult child’ by family members, she was a curious and perceptive soul, confirming that her experiences led her to study law.
Stella working with other woman at the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILFP).
“I suppose you can say my initiation into social justice advocacy began the moment I set foot in Australia as a young four-year-old migrant girl from Greece. I realised quite early in the piece how much of a handicap it was to be a migrant…” she said.
She related how as a child she served as an interpreter to her 1st generation family for doctor’s or bank appointments for example, and “how humiliating it must have been for them.”
She also tells of a suspenseful yet heart-wrenching tale of a bleeding, severely injured man who, in the vicinity of her home, was asking for help from her parents and relatives visiting that day, and how she had to call emergency services as the adults spoke no English. The operator didn’t believe the child – Stella – on the other end of the line and insisted on speaking to an adult. Luckily, Stella’s desperation convinced the telephonist to send help.
“Apart from the struggles I faced… it was hard for me to come to terms with how disempowering the migration experience was for all the adults in my life,” Stella said.
I ask Stella why she chose to speak about the topic ‘HERstory of HIStory – Marginalisation of women across history’ at the inaugural Global and Hellenic Women’s Conference, to which she immediately and unhesitatingly replied, “Women’s true voices have been invisible and silent for too long…”
“In History, in Politics, in Science, in Peace Building, in Literature etc. In particular their representation in History has been depicted through a male memory and lens. Depicted and remembered in certain ways that perpetuate and preserve the patriarchal notion of what a woman should ideally be. Those who don’t conform to the traditional are represented as unnatural, monstrous, flawed or worthy of punishment,” she said.
Stella Boyages knew she always wanted to study law.
And in relation specifically to her personal history, added, “In my day to day life I interacted mostly with the women and saw soon enough how much more vulnerable their position was in this migrant experience. As Greek women in a traditional Greek patriarchal family they didn’t seem to have control of their own destiny, body, person, future, identity etc. This was exacerbated by their situation as migrants in a country in which they had limited language, few support structures and even fewer rights…”
In regards to Stella’s upbringing in Australia, she said, “My education was encouraging me to openly question and challenge some of the inequality and sexism I was observing around me and when I asked questions about this or tried to discuss this with my mother or her female friends it was like I was the ‘demon child’ who was challenging the norm and conventionality of their very existence.”
“I towed the proverbial line…” she continued. “I studied the conventional and only left home when I got married at 22 years of age… too young and naive to fight the system. I completed a BA DIP Ed at Sydney University, taught English / History/ Modern Greek, got married, had children and raised them… and only then returned to university, completing a Post Grad Law degree at the same time and at the same university as my children who were also studying Law there.”
Stella Boyages on her graduation day surrounded by family.
“Whilst considering myself enriched for having experienced two cultures and two countries I also felt embattled because I had to struggle and juggle with growing up in a conservative, traditional, patriarchal Greek household whilst living in an Anglo/ English speaking country with a different culture and traditions.
“Choosing to have my own identity, changing careers, and travelling alone to international conferences has been exciting and sometimes challenging. I have the support of my husband and family and I believe I am an important role model to my children.”
In response, I said, “Stella, you are a role model to the world.”
The 29th Greek Film Festival of Sydney is set to soar to new heights as it officially unveils its full program, with this year’s event featuring the Australian premiere of the award-winning feature film Murderess at a brand-new location in Moore Park.
The highly awarded and much anticipated dark film by Eva Nathena, Murderess, starring one of Greece’s most famous modern actresses in Karyofyllia Karabeti, will be premiered in Sydney on Saturday, October 19 at 8.30pm with a special pre-screening event hosted at Palace Cinemas Moore Park.
Based on a famous novel by the Greek writer Alexandros Papadiamantis, the film will transport audiences to 1900’s rural Greece where a devastating patriarchal society brings women to a breaking point, with the protagonist turning into a murderess in her twisted quest to “release” young girls from their social fate.
Harry Danalis, President of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW), expressed the importance of expanding the Film Festival to new locations by offering “high quality Greek cinematography to Sydney cine-friends with more options than our standard home of Palace Norton Street.”
“Moore Park is an exciting new venue that we hope will become our second home for our Greek Film Festival in the future,” Mr Danalis said.
Chair of the Greek Festival and Greek Film Festival of Sydney, Nia Karteris added, “we are beyond thrilled to have secured Karyofyllia Karabeti’s latest acting work as part of our 29th Greek Film Festival! Murderess by Eva Nathena makes us proud to present Greece’s filmmaking abilities to the rest of the world through our special premiering events in Sydney.”
Adelaide fashion design student Athena Kambanos was in the process of designing a dress to promote Cancer Council South Australia’s fundraiser for Daffodil Day 2024 when her doctor discovered a lump in her breast.
According to The Advertiser, the TAFE student had previously seen a doctor about nipple discharge late last year. Her results came back normal. Later, she visited another doctor for back issues and mentioned the discharge again. This time she was referred to a breast specialist.
“My specialist told me it was a papilloma which puts you at higher risk of developing cancer if not taken out early,” Athena, who is in her final year of an advanced diploma fashion design at TAFE SA city campus, told The Advertiser.
A papilloma is a benign tumour, and while non-cancerous, they are linked with a higher risk of cancer. Athena said while her papilloma had no cancer cells, she was “one of the lucky ones.”
Athena’s outfit is now on display at Cancer Council SA on Greenhill Rd at Eastwood in the lead up to Daffodil Day on Thursday, August 22. It will later be on show at Burnside Village Shopping Centre until September 1 where the public can vote for their favourite design.
Daffodil Day is a yearly campaign run by Cancer Council and raises much-needed funds for cancer research.
“I felt deeply connected to this project and I wanted to design and make something to be proud of,” Athena said.
“This truly represented hope, life and freedom. It resonated so deeply with me and feels sentimental and close to me.”
If you want to donate or buy daffodils throughout August to raise funds for cancer research, see daffodilday.com.au.
Adelaide businessman Ross Makris has launched a new private property fund, Interstellar Capital, in an attempt to capitalise on the sell off of major shopping centres.
Interstellar Capital is backed by local and overseas investors, and hopes to target regional and sub-regional shopping centres across Australia being sold by large retail property trusts.
The company board is being led by Adelaide lawyer Christopher Townsend and will explore opportunities in prestige retail, luxury hotels and development projects.
Ross Makris is the son of commercial property magnate Con Makris. Ross is pictured here with his father in 2003.
“It’s a new company, it’s something I’ve been meaning to do for several years,” Makris said about his decision to launch Interstellar Capital.
“A lot of the institutions are shying away from the larger shopping centres, due to the lack of discretionary spending, and a number of institutions have had a run on their funds by retail investors. The LPTs (listed property trusts) which dominate this industry need liquidity, so we see a lot of opportunity for at least the next two to three years.”
Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) President Bill Papastergiadis OAM recently met with the Greek Minister for Health, Adonis Georgiadis with whom he discussed the unresolved matter of a Bilateral Health Agreement between Australia and Greece.
The Minister was emphatic in his reply to Mr Papastergiadis on the topic declaring, “yes, we support the GCM in its endeavours to secure a bilateral health agreement between Greece and Australia. I will work with the GCM and the Australian Government to achieve this.”
The GCM has for a number of years been working on such an agreement.
Mr Papastergiadis reiterated to the Minister in their meeting that “the effect of such an agreement is to support our respective citizens when travelling and being in their most vulnerable state, that is experiencing ill health while overseas.”
Mr Papastergiadis emphasised the importance of an agreement that “would allow our citizens, particularly the elderly, to have peace of mind whilst in Greece.”
“The bond between Australia and Greece stretches beyond our mutual support as allies in two world wars,” Mr Papastergiadis added.
“Through significant waves of migration, Greeks call both lands home. Our two countries have shared values and ideals. Further developing these ties by way of bilateral agreements is critical to this relationship. Such agreements have a real benefit to our citizens.”
