The Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW) is set to help facilitate crucial sessions ahead of the upcoming Local Government elections, providing Hellenic members of the community with essential information to increase their knowledge on them.
The sessions, organised by the GOCNSW Welfare Department, are being held in partnership with the Ethnic Communities’ Council of NSW and the NSW Electoral Commission as part of the ‘Vote Talk’ program aimed at getting information on the elections out to the community.
The GOCNSW is facilitating four free information workshops on the upcoming elections on 14 September, which will be delivered by Greek Bilingual educators Antonis Ampatzis and Poppy Gerakios.
The information sessions will be politically neutral as they delve deep into various topics on the elections.
These include providing a general overview, explaining how to enrol to vote, check or update your enrolment, the voting options available, what to expect from a polling place, how to fill your ballot paper correctly and working at an election.
The first session will be held at the Ashfield Council Activity Rooms 3 and 4 on Thursday 22 August (11am-12pm), with the other sessions organised for the following week.
Two of them will take place at the Greek Community Club in Lakemba on Monday 26 August (11am-12pm) and Friday 30 August (10.45-11.45am) while the other session will be held in between on Wednesday 28 August at Casula Community Centre (11am-12pm).
The workshops promise to deliver valuable information for the wider Greek community in NSW, contributing to the nationwide aim that all culturally and linguistically diverse know all the important information on the elections.
The event is free for all with registrations essential. To ensure your spot, please call the GOCNSW Welfare Department at (02) 9740 6022. For more information on programs, please visit www.goc.com.au.
Sydney Olympic secured a prestigious victory on Saturday, August 17 at the Jubilee Stadium against the Western Sydney Wanderers‘ youth team, winning 4-1 in the (penultimate) 29th round of the league.
Sydney Olympic started with a quick goal when, in the 4th minute, Teng Kuol skilfully received the ball in the box and opened the scoring.
In the 63rd minute, the Wanderers equalised to make it 1-1 with a goal from Hollingdale.
This goal spurred Sydney Olympic into action, leading them to score three more goals in 14 minutes.
In the 71st minute, Roy O’Donovan made it 2-1, and Oliver Puflett added two more goals in the 84th and 85th minutes to set the final score at 4-1.
South Melbourne FC have announced today the death of football champion Jimmy Armstrong.
Jimmy was a Championship Winner, member of South Melbourne FC’s Team of the Century, Hall of Fame inductee, and former Socceroo.
Jimmy’s legacy on the pitch is unparalleled having won championships and scoring over 100 goals in his time playing for South Melbourne FC.
“It was his kindness, passion, and love for the club off the field that truly set him apart. For over five decades, he has been the heart and soul of our club, touching the lives of so many,” South Melbourne FC said in a Facebook statement.
South Melbourne FC will be paying tribute to Jimmy this Sunday, August 25 at their Australia Cup match against Olympic FC.
“We are heartbroken… Rest in peace, Jimmy. You will forever be a part of the South Melbourne family,” the Club statement added.
NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo launched his new sneakers on August 16, honouring his Greek heritage and late father.
Despite this being the Greek Freak’s sixth signature sneaker, it is the first time his shoes have become available to the public.
The sought-after red and white “Roses” Freak 6 shoes are said to be inspired by Antetokounmpo’s late father, Charles, who tragically passed away after suffering a heart attack on September 29, 2017 at the age of 54.
The Greek Freak’s “Roses” is also available in Nike’s “Black/Volt” colourway.
Photo: Sneaker News.
The other “Olympic Origins” Freak 6 style is a kid’s sneaker that pays homage to his Greek roots.
The shoe is also meant to reference Giannis’ contribution to the 2024 Paris Olympics, NBA championship and his MVP award with its gold detailing.
Giannis has used low-top height in all of his five past releases, becoming a staple of the “Freak” design.
Without nine key players and with an emergency squad, as nine players from the Under-23 team were called up, South Melbourne FC defeated the in-form St. Albans on Sunday, August 18.
Their win completes a triumph of 26 rounds at the top of the National Premier League Victoria standings with 60 points (19 wins, 3 draws, 4 losses).
During the match, attended by about 500 spectators at Lakeside Stadium, St Albans opened the scoring in the 26th minute with Brian Summerskill.
South Melbourne equalised in the 30th minute with a goal from Robert Harding, and in the 67th minute, Mac Hilson scored the final goal to make it 2-1.
After the match, a representative from Football Victoria presented the Dockerty Cup and the 2024 Championship to the South Melbourne players.
Greek rowers Evangelia Anastasiadou and Milena Kontou set a new world record during the first day of the World Championship in Saint Catherine, Canada.
Only three of the ten Greek groups in Canada competed on Sunday, August 18, bringing success home for Greece in the event.
It's a new WORLD ROWING CHAMPIONSHIP BEST TIME in the Under 23 Lightweight Women's Double Sculls for Envangelia Anastasiadou and Dimitra Kontou of Greece 🇬🇷!
Anastasiadou and Kontou set a world record in the K23 lightweight double sculls qualifying, finishing in 6:41.48 and improving their previous record from last year by 8.65 seconds. The two Greek rowers crossed the finish line first in their qualifying series and secured their spot in the final.
First from start to finish in her qualifying series was Evangelia Fragou. Fragou finished in 7:36 32, leaving the Austrian rower in second and the USA in third to advance directly to the semi-finals.
Antonis Papakonstantinou took fourth place in the lightweight skiff qualifier and will participate in a rematch.
SAOS Ferries has suspended its Saonisos ferry services after its captain was arrested following a viral incident at the port of Andros.
The chaotic incident that involved a car attempting to board the ferry amid strong winds has resulted in the captain’s “mandatory dismissal.” SAOS Ferries also advised passengers to seek refunds at local agencies.
According to Ekathimerini, a passenger said “We were trying to get out to avoid falling into the sea. Only one crew member came out, and he yelled at us to get off quickly, without ensuring the ship was properly secured.”
As a consequence of the unsafe handling of the departure, the captain’s arrest was ordered by a prosecutor.
Officials said the ferry remains anchored at Karystos, with no further services until a new captain is appointed.
Sydney Metro has opened its first new train line beneath the city centre in over four decades to the public. The anticipated Chatswood to Sydenham extension launched this morning, August 19 with the first service departing Sydenham.
Photo: Danny Shepherd.
The first service left Sydenham at 4.54 am with train enthusiasts eagerly waiting. The early morning commutes were a success, with New South Wales transport minister, Jo Haylen in attendance. However, the peak commute time will be the final obstacle to determining its success.
A train will arrive at least every four minutes in morning and evening peak periods, with a capacity of every two minutes if pushed.
The brand new stations are getting a final once-over before we welcome everyone onboard 🚇 pic.twitter.com/F5yb54iJxD
The duration of the entire Chatswood to Sydenham journey is 22 minutes.
Aimed at drastically cutting commute times for Sydneysiders, works on the $21.6 billion Chatswood to Sydenham section began in 2017 with a tunnel boring megaproject under Sydney Harbour drilling a new rail line under the ocean floor.
It was a festive and celebratory atmosphere at The Kyle Bay on Sunday, August 11, as AHEPA Australia celebrated its 90th anniversary.
Distinguished guests included the Very Reverend Archimandrite Fr Irenaeus Triantis; Deputy High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikolaos Varellas; First Counsellor for Public Diplomacy at the Consulate of Greece in Sydney, Athanassios Lambrou; Federal Member for Kingsford Smith The Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite MP; State Member of Oatley The Hon. Mark Coure MP; Deputy Mayor of Randwick City Council, Councillor Alexandra Luxford; Bayside City Council, Councillor Andrew Tsounis; National (Supreme) AHEPA Australia President, Sophia Notaras; Grand President of NSW, Theo Skhinas; District Lodge President of NSW, Maria Alexandrou; and Helen Zerefos OAM.
Ms Zerefos surprised guests with the singing of the Australian and Greek National Anthems, as well as the AHEPA Hymn.
Emcee Dimitrios Kametopoulos later introduced a number of speakers. Speeches were given by Mr Skhinas, Ms Notaras, Fr Irenaeus, Mr Varellas, Mr Lambrou, Mr Thistlethwaite, Mr Coure, and Ms Alexandrou.
A video message by The Honorable Chris Minns, Premier of NSW was also shown.
Certificates of Appreciation were later given to:
Daughters of Penelope
70 years service – Matina Mottee – Chapter Arete No. 3.
60 years service – Christine Karayiannides – Chapter Arete No. 3, and Despina Vanos – Chapter Arete No. 3.
60 years service – Leon Bizannes – Chapters Prometheus No.6 & Heracles No.12, Emanuel J. Comino – Chapter Diogenes, and Con Vlachos – Chapter Prometheus No. 6.
50 years service – Nick Hoursalas – Chapter Heracles No. 12.
Creative Australia has unveiled the shortlists for the 2024 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, the richest literary prize in the nation.
Among those shortlisted is Will Kostakis for his Young Adult novel We Could Be Something (Allen & Unwin).
The awards celebrate the exceptional talents of emerging and established Australian writers, illustrators, poets, and historians.
The Prime Minister’s Literary Awards acknowledge the contribution of Australian literature to the nation’s cultural and intellectual life. This marks the second year Creative Australia has delivered the awards, following the release of the Australian Government’s 2023 National Cultural Policy, Revive: a place for every story, a story for every place.
Reflecting on the significance of the awards, CEO Adrian Collette AM said: “Stories are the heartbeat of our culture, connecting us to our past, illuminating our present and shaping our future. The Prime Minister’s Literary Awards celebrate the storytellers who enrich our lives with their creativity and outstanding talent.”
Creative Australia received an impressive 533 entries across six literary categories: fiction, non-fiction, young adult literature, children’s literature, poetry, and Australian history.
Will Kostakis’ book has been shortlisted.
Expert judging panels have carefully considered entries for the awards to select the final shortlists, including:
Australian History
Donald Horne:A Life in the Lucky Country by Ryan Cropp (La Trobe University Press)
Bee Miles By Rose Ellis (Allen & Unwin)
Bennelong and Phillip: A History Unravelled by Kate Fullagar (Scribner)
Killing for Country: A Family Story by David Marr (Black Inc)
Courting: An Intimate History of Love and the Law by Alecia Simmonds(La Trobe University Press)
Fiction
Anam by André Dao (Penguin Random House)
Restless Dolly Maunder by Kate Grenville (Text Publishing)
Edenglassie by Melissa Lucashenko (University of Queensland Press)
The Carnal Fugues by Catherine McNamara (Puncher and Wattmann)
Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood (Allen & Unwin)
Non-Fiction
Close to the Subject: Selected Works by Daniel Browning (Magabala Books)
Eventually Everything Connects by Sarah Firth (Allen & Unwin)
Graft: Motherhood, Family and a Year on the Land by Maggie MacKellar (Penguin Random House)
A Kind of Confession by Alex Miller (Allen & Unwin)
A Clear Flowing Yarra by Harry Saddler (Affirm Press)
Poetry
In the Photograph by Luke Beesley (Giramondo Publishing)
The Cyprian by Amy Crutchfield (Giramondo Publishing)
She is the Earth by Ali Cobby Eckermann (Magabala Books)
Golden Bridge: New Poems by Jennifer Maiden (Quemar Press)
The Drama Student by Autumn Royal (Giramondo Publishing)
Young Adult
Grace Notes by Karen Comer (Hachette Australia)
Welcome to Sex by Dr Melissa Kang and Yumi Stynes (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing)
We Could Be Something by Will Kostakis (Allen & Unwin)
We Didn’t Think It Through by Gary Lonesborough (Allen & Unwin)
A Hunger of Thorns by Lili Wilkinson (Allen & Unwin)
Children’s Literature
Etta and the Shadow Taboo by Jared Field and Jeremy Worrall (Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing)
Ghost Book by Remy Lai (Allen & Unwin)
Two Sparrowhawks in a Lonely Sky by Rebecca Lim (Allen & Unwin)
Millie Mak the Maker by Alice Pung & Sher Rill Ng (HarperCollins Publishers)
Tamarra: A Story of Termites on Gurindji Country by Violet Wadrill; Topsy Dodd Ngarnjal; Leah Leaman; Cecelia Edwards; Cassandra Algy; Felicity Meakins; Briony Barr and Gregory Crocetti (Hardie Grant Explore)
The winners of the 2024 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards will be announced on Thursday, September 12 at a prestigious ceremony held at the National Library of Australia in Canberra. The winners and shortlisted authors will share in a tax-free prize pool of $600,000, the highest amount for a literary award in Australia. Each shortlisted entry will receive $5,000 with the winner of each category receiving $80,000.
For more information on the shortlists, including judging panel comments, please visit: Prime Minister’s Literary Awards on the Creative Australia website.
