The Pan Macedonian Association of Melbourne and Victoria has thanked organisers of Melbourne’s Moomba Festival for what it described as a “sensitive and responsible decision” not to allow the misuse of the historic Star of Vergina.
In a public statement, the association expressed appreciation to the festival for preventing the use of the symbol, which it said holds deep historical and cultural significance for Greece.
“The Pan Macedonian Association of Victoria sincerely thanks Moomba Festival for its sensitivity and responsible decision not to allow the misuse of the historic Star of Vergina,” the statement read.
The Star of Vergina – also known as the 16-ray Sun of Vergina – was discovered in 1977 by archaeologist Manolis Andronikos during excavations at the royal tombs of Aigai in northern Greece.
According to the association, the emblem is widely recognised as a symbol of the ancient Macedonian Greek kingdom and is closely associated with Philip II of Macedon and the royal dynasty of ancient Macedonia. It is also considered a protected national symbol of Greece.
“We appreciate Moomba’s respect for historical truth and cultural heritage by ensuring that this ancient Greek emblem is not appropriated or misrepresented,” the association said.
The group added that cultural diversity should be celebrated in ways that remain accurate and respectful of historical heritage.
The Pan Macedonian Association of Victoria said it remains committed to promoting Hellenic heritage while fostering mutual respect and understanding among Australia’s multicultural communities.
South Melbourne FC have wrapped up their stint on home soil with a convincing 5-0 victory over ten-man Solomon Kings FC at The Home of The Matildas.
Having had their fixture rescheduled after rain forced its postponement in Round 1, South Melbourne dominated the contest, capitalising on a second half red card to Solomon Kings FC goalkeeper and captain Phillip Mango.
The win means South Melbourne FC remain the only unbeaten club in the competition after three rounds and eight matches, sitting just one point behind Auckland FC in second on the OFC Pro League table.
Combining the long ball and high press style that has proven effective in the Pro League so far, South Melbourne applied the early pressure, and if not for the gloves of Mango, should have scored three or four goals in the first period.
Jordan Swibel first forced Mango into a fantastic stop after dispossessing David Supa on the edge of his own penalty area, before Thomas Giannakopoulos struck the right post with a close-range header shortly after.
Mango’s skillset was on show again when denying a long-range effort from Max Mikkola with a wonderful one-handed stop, before Swibel had a goal disallowed for offside.
The breakthrough for South Melbourne eventually came in the 33rd minute, Uchida guiding a well-placed header into the bottom-left corner of the net for his third goal in four OFC Pro League matches, and his fifth of the season.
The Kings may have been looking down an even longer barrel at the break though, had Mango not stopped Giannakopoulos from close range, whilst Mikkola hit the right post again, following a melee inside the penalty box.
Ben Cahn brought Rafa Lea’i into the game at half-time, but it took just five second half minutes for Solomon Kings FC to be dealt a hammer blow.
A wicked deflection in the box from a Max Mikkola shot wrongfooted Mango for the second South Melbourne goal in the 50th minute. The Kings goalkeeper and captain was shown a straight red card after VAR review though too, lashing out at Swibel in the build-up to the goal, and reducing his side to ten men.
The third goal followed just after the hour mark, Jordon Lampard scoring his first Pro League goal following a cut-back from Mikkola.
Sinisa Cohadzic took the opportunity to rotate and ring the changes with three points secured, and the fourth goal arrived in the 78th minute, Nahuel Bonada finding the top of the net with a swirling right-footed effort.
Arran Cocks rounded out the scoring with a well-taken right-footed finish in stoppage time.
The two clubs will meet again in just two weeks on the 19th of March during Round 4 in Honiara, where home comforts can’t come soon enough for Solomon Kings FC.
An appeals court in Athens has upheld the criminal convictions of the leadership and senior members of Golden Dawn, reaffirming the party’s designation as a criminal organisation.
In a unanimous decision, a five-judge panel at the Criminal Appeal Court confirmed the 2020 convictions of 42 members and associates who had appealed their sentences, including party leader Nikos Michaloliakos, 68, who received a 13-year prison term and was released on parole last year on health grounds.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis welcomed the ruling, calling it a turning point.
“This concerns a traumatic chapter in our parliamentary life, one that I hope and wish we can now leave firmly behind us,” he said in parliament.
Founded as a neo-Nazi group in the 1980s, Golden Dawn entered parliament from 2012 to 2019 amid Greece’s debt crisis, winning 7% of the vote and 18 seats in the September 2015 election.
The party was blamed for organising attacks on immigrants and left-wing activists, including the 2013 fatal stabbing of rap singer Pavlos Fyssas. The murder conviction of a party associate was also upheld.
Outside court, Fyssas’ mother, Magda Fyssa, told supporters: “I thank everyone for being here. It’s a historic day — a victory for solidarity and a victory for love and peace.”
Former lawmakers Ilias Kasidiaris and Ioannis Lagos were the only defendants present.
Kasidiaris described the ruling as politically motivated, saying: “I challenge anyone to find anything — even half a thing — that was illegal. This case will not end in the Greek courts, but at an international court, where I will seek my ultimate vindication.”
The court will begin hearing arguments on sentencing on Thursday, March 5.
Harry Maguire has been given a 15-month suspended sentence by Greece’s Supreme Court over a 2020 nightclub incident involving police on the island of Mykonos.
The sentence, suspended for three years, relates to convictions for minor bodily harm, insulting police, attempted bribery and unlawful violence.
Maguire intends to appeal, which will quash the ruling as happened after his original 21-month suspended sentence in 2020 triggered a retrial in Syros.
Maguire, who did not attend the hearing, has denied wrongdoing, previously stating: “If anything, myself, family, and friends are the victims.”
In 2020 he told BBC Sport he was “scared for his life,” alleging: “We got down on our knees, we put our hands in the air, they just started hitting us.”
Lawyer Ioannis Paradissis, representing the officers, said: “He has never apologised — not even once. Not a single apology. As of today, he has a criminal record,” adding: “It’s unacceptable.”
No travel restrictions have been imposed, leaving Maguire eligible for England selection.
The United States has sunk an Iranian warship using a submarine for the first time since World War II, marking a major escalation in the conflict with Iran.
Speaking during a press conference at the Pentagon, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that “an American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters” off the coast of Sri Lanka.
“It was sunk by a torpedo, a quiet death…” he said.
It is the first time in more than 80 years that a country has sunk an enemy warship with a submarine. US Central Command said it has now “struck or sunk” more than 20 Iranian ships, sending them “to the bottom of the ocean.”
Mr Hegseth declared: “The Iranian air force is no more. The Iranian navy rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf.” He added that, as US President Donald Trump said, “more and larger waves are coming.”
“We are just getting started. We are accelerating, not decelerating,” Mr Hegseth said, adding Iran “are toast, and they know it.”
President Trump said the US and Israel were in a “very strong position” and would “continue forward” against Iran.
“We’re doing well on the war front, to put it mildly… on a scale of 10… about a 15,” he said, adding: “We’re in a very strong position now, and their leadership is just rapidly going. Everybody that seems to want to be a leader, they end up dead.”
The escalation comes as NATO forces deflected a ballistic missile headed for Turkey, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling attacks on the ally’s sovereign territory “unacceptable” and pledging “full support from the United States.”
Iran has also threatened Israeli embassies worldwide, while missile barrages toward Israel continued, though the Israeli military said the number launched from Iran was declining.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s navy said it recovered 87 bodies and rescued 32 people after receiving a distress signal from the IRIS Dena in international waters.
The death of prominent Greek Australian businessman and Kalymnos benefactor John Halikos has prompted an outpouring of grief across the island community and the Greek diaspora, with tributes highlighting his generosity and devotion to his homeland.
Halikos died aged 66 in a hospital in Darwin, Northern Territory, following a sudden heart attack late at night a few days ago.
News of his passing has spread shock and deep sadness among his family in Kalymnos and throughout the large Greek diaspora in Australia.
Born on Kalymnos, Halikos built a successful career in Australia as head of the Halikos Group, one of the Northern Territory’s leading development and construction companies.
Despite his business success, Kalymnos always remained at the centre of his heart and actions, with his love reflected through countless donations and sponsorships.
His contributions included funding major infrastructure projects such as the “Halikio” (Chalikeio) building at the Vouvaleio General Hospital of Kalymnos, completed at his personal expense to improve healthcare services.
He supported schools, families in financial hardship and vulnerable groups, strengthened the health sector, improved transportation and daily life on the island, and extended aid to Pserimos.
During holidays, he distributed hundreds of turkeys at Christmas and lambs at Easter to poor families.
Even after a minor regulatory issue in January 2026 led to his emotional decision to step back from involvement with Kalymnos, community leaders and residents rallied in support, underscoring how deeply he was valued.
Kalymnos Mayor Giannis Mastrokoukos said the island is “poorer from today onward” without this man of great character and generosity who left an indelible mark on its modern history.
Politician Manos Konsolas praised his profound love for Kalymnos, noting he returned everything life gave him “with greatness of soul and an abundance of love.”
The Greek Orthodox Community of Northern Australia announced his passing “with deep sadness,” stating: “Today, our hearts are heavy.”
It said the news had touched “not only his loving family and close friends, the Greek and Cypriot communities, but also the wider Darwin community, the people of Kalymnos, and the entire Kalymnian community in Darwin and across Australia.”
While many knew him for his strong business spirit, the community said those closest to him knew “his unwavering devotion to his roots and his deep love for his homeland.”
It added that he “quietly and consistently gave back,” standing beside the community through sponsorships and donations and offering “real support where it was needed most.”
“Ioannis (John) Halikos leaves behind a legacy defined by service, compassion, and love for his people,” the statement said.
“May God grant him rest, and may his memory remain a blessing to all.”
The Hellenic Parliament plenary session has passed an Interior Ministry bill establishing postal voting for Greeks living abroad, with the provisions receiving more than 200 votes in favour.
The changes will apply in the upcoming national elections.
However, measures to create a dedicated electoral district for the diaspora did not secure the required two-thirds majority.
As a result, they will not take effect in the next national elections or in any repeat elections conducted with candidate lists, but only in future elections held under a preferential voting system.
The option of postal voting for Greeks abroad will therefore come into effect from the next national elections.
A room full of community leaders, business figures and dignitaries gathered in Sydney’s CBD on Tuesday, March 3, for a welcome reception honouring Greece’s newly appointed Consul General in Sydney, George Skemperis, and the newly arrived Counsellor for Economic and Trade Affairs and Head of the Office for Economic and Commercial Affairs, Christina Stefanidou.
Hosted by Business Sydney in partnership with the Hellenic Club of Sydney and supported by the Dedes Waterfront Group, the reception took place at Events by Alpha, 238 Castlereagh Street, with guests invited to mark the beginning of the new diplomatic tenure – and to signal a renewed focus on cultural ties, community engagement and deeper economic collaboration between Greece and Australia.
George Skemperis.Christina Stefanidou, Nick Pappas, and George Skemperis.
Business Sydney Executive Director Paul Nicolaou opened the evening by encouraging guests to move forward, connect, and embrace the moment – inviting attendees to share a hug for Sydney and another for Greece before the formalities began.
The reception then moved to a ceremonial opening, with guests standing for the Greek National Anthem followed by the Australian National Anthem, underscoring the dual identity and enduring bonds that have shaped Greek-Australian life for generations.
In welcoming the room, Nicolaou acknowledged a strong cross-section of public life and community leadership, including His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis (representing His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia), Courtney Houssos MLC (attending on behalf of the NSW Government), along with senior figures from across civic and community institutions, representatives of Greek Australian organisations, and Greek Australian media.
Paul Nicolaou.
Nicolaou described the occasion as more than a formal welcome – framing it as a chance to strengthen relationships and expand trade, investment and cultural exchange.
“The ties between Greece and New South Wales and Sydney run deep,” he said, pointing to the community’s contribution across enterprise, education, tourism, shipping, and civic life. He emphasised that the reception was also about “creating new partnerships” and “looking ahead.”
Bishop Iakovos delivered a brief welcome on behalf of Archbishop Makarios, offering blessings for the new diplomatic appointments and reaffirming the Church’s ongoing support for initiatives that serve the Greek diaspora and strengthen the bonds between Australia and Greece.
Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis.
Minister Houssos offered a welcome on behalf of the NSW Government, acknowledging the importance of the Greek Australian community to the state and noting the value of strong relationships between government, community and Greece’s representatives.
She said the NSW Government looked forward to continuing to foster cultural and economic ties, emphasising that diplomacy is supported not only through formal relationships, but also through the personal connections built within community life.
Courtney Houssos MLC.
A proud house with deep Sydney history
Hellenic Club of Sydney President Nick Hatzistergos welcomed guests into what he described as the community’s “house” and “home,” outlining the building’s layered significance – both as a Greek Australian landmark and as part of broader Sydney heritage.
Nick Hatzistergos.
He recounted the site’s history dating back to the late 1800s, noting its earlier life as the Protestant Hall and the building’s long-standing role as a central gathering place for Greek Australian community life in the CBD. He also spoke candidly about the club’s challenges following COVID, crediting board unity and a strengthened partnership with the Dedes Waterfront Group as key to stabilising and rebuilding.
Hatzistergos announced that 2026 marks the Hellenic Club’s centenary, flagging plans for a centenary ball on 24 October 2026 at the Hyatt Regency, and encouraged non-members to consider joining—positioning membership not only as a benefit, but as participation in an institution that has served the diaspora for a century.
Consul General Skemperis: Humour, community connection, and priorities ahead
Taking the stage, Consul General Mr Skemperis combined humour with directness, reflecting on his first six months in Sydney as a period of intense engagement across community, government and business.
He spoke openly about the growing demand for consular services in recent years and acknowledged community frustration around processing times – flagging that addressing service delivery and improving public information are priorities for his tenure.
Skemperis noted that work is underway to strengthen capability and streamline processes, including closer collaboration with community organisations and better guidance for applicants to help reduce delays.
He also referenced preparations underway for several key cultural and diplomatic engagements in the months ahead, including the possibility of a visit by the Greek Prime Minister later in March, subject to international developments.
Trade Commissioner Stefanidou: A ‘matchmaking point’ for business
Trade Commissioner Christina Stefanidou, who has served in international postings for more than three decades and has recently arrived in Sydney, spoke about the strong appetite she has already observed within the Greek Australian community to remain closely connected with Greece.
Christina Stefanidou.
She outlined the breadth of her office’s remit – covering not only Australia, but also New Zealand and Pacific jurisdictions – and described the Office for Economic and Commercial Affairs as a business matchmaking hub.
Stefanidou emphasised that the office supports companies seeking trade partners and connections, facilitating networking and information flows, and encouraged ongoing engagement with the community and industry leaders.
The evening concluded with a vote of thanks from Hellenic Club Board Member Christine Kanellakis, who acknowledged the speakers, organisers and community members for their role in making the reception a successful and meaningful occasion.
Following a brief Q&A, guests remained to share drinks and canapés, continuing conversations across community, government and business – many reflecting the same message that framed the evening: that the Greek Australian relationship is not only cultural and historical, but also forward-looking, practical, and built through people.
Greece’s Consul General in Sydney, George Skemperis, has announced a series of measures aimed at improving consular services and significantly reducing long-standing appointment delays for the Greek Australian community.
Speaking at a community reception in Sydney this week, Skemperis addressed growing demand for citizenship registrations and passport services, acknowledging that extended waiting periods in recent years have caused frustration among applicants.
“I think it is unacceptable to be offering appointments years into the future,” he told attendees, signalling that reforms are now underway.
Increased staffing levels
The Consul General explained that delays in recent years were driven by a combination of reduced staffing levels and a substantial increase in applications for Greek citizenship.
He confirmed that staffing at the Consulate has increased significantly over the past 12 months, with new employees recruited in 2025 and additional hires recently finalised. The expansion, he said, reflects the Greek Government’s recognition of the growing needs of the diaspora in Australia.
The staffing boost is intended to restore processing capacity and improve service responsiveness.
Appointment timeframes to be reduced
Skemperis announced that new appointment scheduling arrangements will result in substantially shorter waiting times.
He confirmed that:
New appointments for citizenship registrations will be scheduled within months rather than years.
Applicants who previously secured appointments far into the future will be contacted to have those bookings brought forward.
The Consulate will progressively review and reschedule existing appointments to reduce the backlog.
While precise timelines were not detailed publicly, the Consul General indicated that the changes would take effect immediately and that applicants would begin receiving communication from the Consulate in the coming weeks.
Improving public information and preparation
Beyond staffing increases, Skemperis identified public information gaps as a contributing factor to processing delays.
He noted that many applicants arrive without a clear understanding of:
The distinction between citizenship registration and passport issuance.
The documentation required for each process.
The importance of identifying the last ancestor registered in Greece.
The need for accurate Greek-language registration details.
To address this, the Consulate will implement a structured information strategy aimed at reducing incomplete applications and repeat appointments.
The Consul General noted that many applicants arrive without a clear understanding of the distinction between citizenship registration and passport issuance.
Engagement with community organisations
As part of this approach, representatives from Greek community associations have been invited to attend briefing sessions at the Consulate.
Associations will be encouraged to nominate a designated contact person who can:
Provide accurate procedural guidance to members.
Assist applicants in preparing documentation correctly.
Direct inquiries appropriately before appointments are booked.
The initiative is designed to ensure applicants attend appointments fully prepared, thereby increasing efficiency and enabling more cases to be processed.
Digital outreach to younger applicants
Recognising that many younger Greek Australians may not engage through traditional associations, the Consulate will also launch a social media information campaign.
Short explanatory videos will outline key procedural steps, documentation requirements and common errors to avoid, with the aim of improving clarity and reducing unnecessary administrative delays.
Managing increased passport demand
The Consul General also acknowledged that increased citizenship registrations have led to a rise in passport applications, placing additional pressure on appointment scheduling.
The Consulate is working to balance demand across service categories while maintaining progress in reducing backlogs.
A priority for the new tenure
Skemperis made clear that improving service delivery is a central priority of his tenure in Sydney.
The combination of expanded staffing, revised appointment management and improved public guidance marks the most significant operational adjustment at the Consulate in several years.
Community members in attendance responded positively to the announcement, with many welcoming the commitment to practical reforms and improved accessibility.
Further updates are expected as the new scheduling arrangements and information initiatives are rolled out in the coming months.
