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.”
Discussions are ongoing between Football Australia (FA) and the eight National Second Tier (NST) Foundation Clubs on the future of the promised competition.
The eight foundation clubs, including South Melbourne FC and Sydney Olympic FC, attended a meeting with FA officials on Monday, August 19 in Sydney to discuss progress around the NST.
The Greek Herald understands the FA plan to scrap the NST in favour of a ‘Champions League-style’ model where clubs would remain in their respective state NPLs and play additional matches, akin to cup competitions.
The eight foundation clubs are opposed to the alleged ‘Champions League-style’ model, given they put significant financial resources into their bid to be involved with the new competition.
South Melbourne FC have been quite vocal on the matter, issuing an open letter on Thursday, August 15 calling on FA to make good on its promise of a NST.
South Melbourne FC are calling for the NST to go ahead. Photo: The Greek Herald.
In a statement following their Monday meeting with foundation clubs, FA said “all parties demonstrated a strong commitment to working collaboratively to develop a model that will benefit the entire Australian football community.”
“The discussions were highly constructive, with all clubs expressing a shared vision and dedication to creating an NST that serves the interests of all stakeholders,” the statement read.
“Football Australia and the NST Clubs will continue their dialogue over the coming weeks, with a focus to ensure the best possible outcome for the competition’s launch.”
Following the meeting, South Melbourne’s Chairman Bill Papastergiadis told The Greek Herald that the Club remains committed to a NST competition.
“A pathway for players, coaches and administrators is vital for the success of the game. Moreso, our supporters want it,” Mr Papastergiadis added.
“We will continue to work cooperatively with Football Australia to establish a successful NST competition. Hopefully there will be more updates in the coming weeks on this.”
A 50-day-old refugee baby was rescued on Sunday, August 18 after being stranded for three days on the Greek island of Tilos.
The Mayor of Tilos, Maria Kamma posted a video on X of the rescue operation.
The baby was part of a group consisting of dozens of refugees who had been trapped in a mountainous area of Tilos. While the baby was rescued by sea, the others were rescued by helicopter.
Mayor Kamma said the baby’s parents were making its milk with seawater whilst they were stranded.
She added that the refugees were beaten by Turkish traffickers and among them were other children and pregnant women.
“This is the scene of despair that the island’s society has been facing in recent months and the external help? Minimal,” Kamma underlined.
The Mayor also thanked her fellow citizens and local authorities, who helped with the rescue efforts.
A wild fight over toilets erupted on a Greek passenger ferry travelling from Crete to Athens on Monday, August 19.
The fight is thought to have erupted when a passenger complained to a crew member about the on-board toilet facilities during the eight-hour journey from Chania to Piraeus port. The report did not clarify if the facilities were closed or not working.
According to Ekatherimini, a crew member tried to calm down the passenger but the argument spiralled out of control and the two men came to blows. A second passenger joined the fight in support of the seaman and the three men had to be separated by other crew members and passengers.
A video on the incident recorded on a phone and published by ERT showed several men arguing. One had his T-shirt torn off.
The ship continued its route to Athens and no police were involved.
The first of four supermoons expected this year was visible across Greece on Monday, August 19.
Known as the Blue Moon, they usually occur about every two or three years.
The moon has also been called the green corn moon, the grain moon, and the red moon for the reddish colour it often takes on in the summer haze.
Full moon spotted near the famous Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Photo: Protothema.
During a supermoon, the moon appears up to 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter compared with when it is furthest away.
In Greece, more than a hundred archaeological sites, historical sites, museums and monuments welcomed the public under the moonlight to mark the August full moon.
Events took place at over fifty archaeological sites and museums, while many remained open to the public with free admission.
Sydney’s Greek community has celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Athens Olympics opening ceremony on Sunday, August 18.
The positive reception of the night proved memories of the opening ceremony have remained vivid and emotional in the hearts of many Greek Australians.
A modest yet significant event took place in the hall of AHEPA NSW in Rockdale, Sydney. The purpose was to honour Athens and the highly successful organisation of the 2004 Olympic and Paralympic Games, marking 20 years since these historic moments for Greece.
It is worth recalling that on August 13, 2004, Greece set the bar extremely high and showcased history across the globe by exhibiting Olympic and Greek ideals, Olympic ethics, noble competition and sportsmanship.
The hall was filled with Greek community leaders and special guests including the First Secretary for Public Diplomacy of Greece in Australia at the Consulate General of Greece in Sydney, Anastasia Christofilopoulou; President of the Athenian Association of NSW, Cathy Valis; and Secretary of the Greek Australian Teachers’ Association of NSW, Haroula Themistocleous.
AHEPA NSW Secretary Dr Panagiotis Diamantis welcomed and thanked the guests and other attendees for their presence.
Dr Diamantis emphasised that Athens provided a lesson in ethics with the perfect organisation of the 2004 Olympic Games – an organisation that “surprised everyone despite the negative atmosphere that had preceded it.”
Greetings were given by Nia Gitsa, representing AHEPA NSW President Jim Papanayiotou, and Nikos Grigorakos from the AHEPA NSW Cafe. Both speakers thanked the organisers of the event, specifically Dimitrios Kametopoulos for proposing this commemorative event marking 20 years since the Greek Olympics.
“When Greeks around the world are united, they can perform miracles, and the Olympics and Paralympics were clear proof of that!” Ms Gitsa said.
Olympic and Paralympic volunteer from Athens 2004 and Special Olympics volunteer from Athens 2011, Mr Kametopoulos, wearing the special volunteer uniform from 2004, was invited to present the remainder of the programme.
Mr Kametopoulos shared his personal story of determination, as a Greek expatriate from Australia, to contribute to the significant challenge and endeavour of Athens, recounting his memories with considerable emotion.
Emotions ran high as Olympic volunteers shared their experiences and memories of the 2004 spectacle. All photos supplied to The Greek Herald.
He also recalled his appointment as the team leader for Australia at the Special Olympics in Athens in June 2011 with “great joy.” In his closing remarks, Mr Kametopoulos thanked “heartfelt, wholeheartedly, and warmly,” the AHEPA NSW board for accepting his proposal and the Greek-language media in Australia – both radio and print – for their support of the event. He also made special mention of Ms Valis, who held the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Athens Games at the Cyprus Community Club in Stanmore in August 2014.
The event also featured emotional speeches from Greek Australian volunteers Paraskevi Paranomou and Paraskevi Skorda, who also wore their uniforms.
Ms Skorda, who was quite young in 2004, teared up while talking about her experiences as the pair recalled the unforgettable Olympic Stadium, their duties controlling venue entry points and the Games’ spectacle.
Other Olympics volunteers present at the event included Fotini Gouma and Dionysios Markou.
A clip from the magical opening ceremony was shown on the large screen in the hall. The clip focused on the connection between the Olympic Stadium and ancient Olympia and showcased Greece’s long history from the Minoan era, the golden age of Athens, the Hellenistic period of Alexander the Great, the Byzantine era, the modern Greek Revolution of 1821 and the era of Greek rebetiko music and tavernas.
Various exhibits from the Olympics and Paralympics were on display, including the beloved mascots Phobos and Athena, as well as the seahorse Proteas from the Paralympics, cards, books, photos, Olympic pins, flags, maps showing the global torch relay of 2004 and bundles of tickets for Olympic events.
The evening concluded with a lavish reception hosted by AHEPA NSW members for all attendees.
One thing is certain: the spirit and lessons from the 2004 Olympics will forever remain in the memories and hearts of fans and particularly of Greek volunteers.
Pontoxeniteas NSW celebrated Panagia Soumela on Sunday, August 18 by holding a paniyiri at the Pontian House in Earlwood.
A Divine Liturgy was first held on Sunday morning at The Transfiguration of our Lord – Greek Orthodox Church in Earlwood presided over by parish priest Father Sotiris.
There was a procession of the icon of Panagia Soumela through the church, followed by a march down Homer Street to the Pontian House. This was the first time the Pontoxeniteas NSW committee decorated the icon by themselves with beautiful flowers. They were guided by Laki Zikos.
Once inside the building, people enjoyed morning tea and had the opportunity to pay their respects to Panagia Soumela.
With a BBQ cooking and the youth playing live Pontian music, the dance floor flooded with multiple generations. In attendance were State Member for Canterbury Sophie Cotsis MP and Canterbury-Bankstown Councillor Clare Raffan, who joined in on the dancing festivities.
Four generations of Pontians gathered on Saturday, August 17 to celebrate the 60-year history of the Pontian Society of Sydney Panagia Soumela.
Celebrations started at 7.30pm at the Society’s hall in Hurlstone Park. Members and friends of Panagia Soumela Sydney mingled, shared memories, and enjoyed a delicious dinner served by Gina’s Catering.
President of Panagia Soumela Sydney, Hellene Flampoulidou Flame kick started official proceedings by inviting the Society’s dance groups to perform alongside talented Pontian musicians Eric Fotiadis and Chris Klazidis.
All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
The performance drew loud applause and had everyone on their feet, with parents and grandparents joining their children and grandchildren on the dance floor for some traditional Pontian dancing.
Young and old danced together.Musicians.
Speeches were then given by former President of Panagia Soumela Sydney, Peter Papoulidis representing the President of the Pontian Federation of Australia, Esta Paschalidis-Chilas, and Ms Flame.
In her speech, Ms Flame spoke about the history of Panagia Soumela Sydney.
Hellene Flampoulidou Flame.Peter Papoulidis.
She said a dream to forge the first Pontian society in Sydney was born in 1956 thanks to a few young immigrant men travelling from house to house gathering support. In 1964, their dedication culminated in the establishment of the Pontian Brotherhood of the Virgin Soumela, now known as the Pontian Society of Sydney Panagia Soumela.
“For the first and second generations of immigrants—our parents and grandparents—cultural associations were lifelines helping them navigate the new world while holding onto their identity,” the President said.
“And today, as we stand here as third, fourth, and fifth generations, these associations still remain vital because they create a space for us to belong, to share our stories, and to keep our traditions alive in this rapidly changing world.”
Founding members and former Presidents were then called up to the front to receive gifts as a form of appreciation for all their hard work and dedication to the Society. Present on the night were Kalistrato Kilazoglou (Founder – member for 60 years), Panteli Tsipidi (former President – member for 55 years), and Harry Tsipidi (Treasurer – member for 55 years).
The official proceedings ended with the current Executive Committee and past Presidents gathering together to cut a cake in celebration of the Society’s 60th anniversary.
“Please all raise your glasses! Here’s to many more years of unity, culture, and tradition!” Ms Flame exclaimed.
Executive Committee of Panagia Soumela Sydney.Musicians on the night.
Attendees enjoyed the rest of night, dancing to live music by Pontian musicians Adam Neou and Prodromos Moysiadis, as well as Modern Greek band Sam Christodoulides and Thanasis Pylarinos.
*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
The winners of the Kennedy Awards for Outstanding Journalism were revealed at the Kennedy Foundations Annual Gala Awards held in the ballroom of the Royal Randwick on August 16.
The Gala was attended by over 400 media and luminaries and hosted by SBS & NITV presenters, Natalie Ahmat and Janice Petersen.
This year the Kennedy Awards received 1,400 entries, smashing last year’s record. Among the selected winners were two Australians of Greek heritage.
Mario Christodoulou won in the Outstanding Podcast category with Stop and Search (Background Briefing, ABC), alongside the rest of the podcast team including Paul Farrell, Benjamin Sveen, Leila Shunnar and Ingrid Wagner.
Outstanding News Photography was awarded to Mick Tsikas for his work Tears for Albo (Australian Associated Press).
