Students and staff from St Spyridon College have volunteered with the Feed the People outreach program, lending their support to an initiative dedicated to assisting those in need through food, compassion and community connection.
Sharing the visit on social media, Feed the People said it was pleased to welcome the college group and praised their commitment to helping others.
“Last night the feeding program was blessed to host students and staff from St Spyridon College,” organisers wrote. “Their willingness to help those in need is a beautiful display of our Orthodox ethos and a clear representation of their school values.”
The organisation thanked the students and staff for their contribution and highlighted the importance of young people participating in acts of service that strengthen community bonds and support those experiencing hardship.
“We look forward to the next time the college visits us!” organisers said.
The visit reflected the ongoing commitment of both Feed the People and St Spyridon College to fostering community engagement, generosity and service within the broader Greek Orthodox community.
Greek Australian husband-and-wife Antonis and Vicky Petsis have helped restore community events in Tsaritsani, Greece, after donating sound equipment to support local cultural activities.
President of the Tsaritsani Municipal Council Menelaos Skantzos thanked the couple for their contribution, explaining that the community had been left without sound equipment after its previous system was destroyed by fire.
“When we told him that there is no sound in the Community anymore (it burned down) and we are forced to rent it ourselves because the Municipality does not provide it, Antonis volunteered to donate a pair of 15” speakers along with the necessary accessories to cover our events,” Skantzos said.
He said the donation would play an important role in supporting community gatherings and preserving local traditions.
“Your contribution is particularly valuable, as it contributes substantially to the preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage, customs and traditions of our country,” Skantzos said.
He added that the equipment would help strengthen cultural initiatives and ensure traditions continue to be shared with younger generations, expressing his gratitude and wishing the couple health and happiness.
The Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW) has introduced its newly elected Board of Directors and unveiled a new community website during a networking evening attended by representatives from Greek organisations and associations across Sydney.
Held at the Greek Community Club in Lakemba on Tuesday, June 16, the event aimed to strengthen connections between the Community and the broader Greek Australian community while highlighting the wide range of services and programs operating under the GOCNSW umbrella.
Opening the evening, General Manager Vicky Tomaras said the gathering had two key objectives: introducing the newly elected Board and officially launching a new digital platform designed to improve communication with members, associations and the wider community.
Vicky Tomaras. All photos copyright The Greek Herald.
GOCNSW President Con Apoifis described the organisation as a unique community institution that continues to operate debt-free while managing significant assets and services across aged care, education, welfare, childcare, culture and religion.
“We are here to provide services to our Greek community,” Apoifis said.
“Our churches, schools, childcare services, welfare programs and aged care facility all exist to serve our people. We have substantial assets and our responsibility is to grow those assets and strengthen the organisation for future generations.”
He stressed that the Community’s assets were income-producing and existed to support the long-term future of the Greek community in New South Wales.
Con Apoifis.
During the evening, Consul General of Greece in Sydney Giorgos Skemperis congratulated the new Board and encouraged organisations to work closely together while helping disseminate information throughout the community.
He also highlighted improvements at the Consulate over the past year, revealing that staffing levels had increased from eight or nine employees to 16, resulting in significant reductions in appointment waiting times.
Consul General Giorgos Skemperis.
“Appointments for registrations have gone from around two years to four or five months, and the same applies for passports,” he said.
Skemperis also called on organisations to find new ways to engage younger generations and ensure community institutions remain relevant in the years ahead.
Aged care demand continues to outpace capacity
One of the evening’s key presentations came from Katerina Kouris, Manager of the Greek Community Home for the Aged, who outlined the work being undertaken at the facility.
Kouris said the home had been recognised as Australia’s number one aged care provider for food quality for two consecutive years and remained committed to preserving Greek language, culture and faith within residential care.
Katerina Kouros.
She revealed demand for culturally appropriate aged care services continued to exceed available places, with the facility currently accommodating 48 residents while maintaining a waiting list of 172 people.
“Our home exists because earlier generations envisioned a place where Greek elders in Australia could live with dignity, respect and a strong sense of cultural identity,” Kouris said.
She said the facility welcomed collaboration with organisations through volunteering opportunities, cultural activities and intergenerational programs that keep residents connected with the broader community.
Education programs continue to grow
Greek Schools Principal Veronica Kapsimali outlined the growth of the Community’s education programs, which now serve 301 students across five schools.
Veronica Kapsimali.
She said the organisation was adapting its approach to meet the needs of third and fourth-generation Greek Australians, many of whom have limited exposure to the Greek language outside the classroom.
“Our ambition is not simply to preserve the Greek language,” Kapsimali said.
“Our ambition is to build a sustainable and thriving Greek education ecosystem that develops confident young people, strengthens community identity and creates stronger connections between Australia and the global Hellenic world.”
Kapsimali said the schools had introduced a range of new initiatives, including theatre classes, leadership activities, cultural programs and modern teaching methods incorporating technology, music and drama.
She also announced plans to work with Macquarie University towards offering students the internationally recognised Certificate of Attainment in Greek from 2027.
The Community’s schools currently employ a team of 12 educators and continue to attract growing enrolments, with interest emerging from new areas including Oran Park and the Macarthur region.
Welfare programs serving communities across Sydney
Welfare Department Manager Denianna Kolevris outlined the Community’s expanding social and welfare programs, which currently operate across several Sydney locations.
The programs are designed to promote wellbeing, reduce social isolation and strengthen community connections, particularly among older members of the Greek Australian community.
Denianna Kolevris.
A women’s yoga program operates on Tuesdays, while social support groups are held in Casula on Wednesdays and Ashfield on Thursdays. The sessions include gentle exercise, balance and fall-prevention activities, social interaction, morning tea and group discussions.
On Fridays, the Community hosts a women’s exercise group at its Lakemba premises, attracting between 30 and 40 participants each week. The program combines light exercise, Greek music and dancing.
The Community also organises regular excursions and outings for participants across its various groups.
Kolevris said GOCNSW was looking to expand its offerings further and was considering new initiatives, including programs aimed at younger families and mothers.
She encouraged community organisations to share information about the programs with their members and welcomed suggestions for future activities.
Childcare and preserving community history
Attendees were also reminded of the Community’s childcare services, which operate across two centres in Stanmore and Marrickville.
While the childcare director was unable to attend the evening, GOCNSW representatives noted that the Stanmore centre caters for approximately 58 children, while the Marrickville centre accommodates around 27 children.
Volunteer Anna Ioannidis also presented the work of the Greek Historical and Cultural Centre, which houses approximately 17,000 books, extensive archival collections, oral histories, photographs, community records and artefacts documenting the history of Greek migration and community life in Australia.
Anna Ioannidis.
The centre includes rare publications, historical newspapers, recordings, museum collections and more than 940 interviews with prominent figures from the Greek Australian community.
Ioannidis said preserving the history of community organisations remained a priority before valuable records and archives were lost over time.
New website launched
A major focus of the evening was the official launch of the Community’s new website, developed by Michalis Kostikoglou of CONNEXIA.
The Community’s new website.
The platform brings together information on aged care, education, childcare, welfare services, churches, volunteering opportunities, employment vacancies and membership applications.
Kostikoglou described the project as an important step towards modernising the organisation and making its services more accessible to the wider community.
The website also includes a dedicated news section designed to promote community announcements, events and activities.
Michalis Kostikoglou of CONNEXIA.
Apoifis encouraged associations to contribute their own content and event information, with the aim of creating a central hub for community information across Sydney and New South Wales.
The evening also acknowledged the contribution of Elena Skarlatou, who assisted in coordinating and compiling content for the website project.
Questions focus on redevelopment and community cooperation
The question-and-answer session generated some of the evening’s most substantive discussion.
One question focused on the future of the Community’s Lakemba headquarters and whether the organisation should continue investing in the site given its increasing value following rezoning.
The questioner noted that the property was now capable of supporting significant residential development and asked whether it would be more beneficial to sell the site and relocate to a more central location for the Greek community.
Responding, Apoifis confirmed the Board had explored alternative sites for several years but had not yet identified a suitable option.
“We have identified a couple of places, but they have fallen over for various reasons,” he said.
“We thought it would be better that we fix this facility, have it going, but meanwhile not stop looking.”
The funding has not yet been formally received, with final agreements still awaiting completion.
“We will do a general renovation and create a beautiful centre that the Greek community can come to and enjoy,” he said.
The President noted that the 5,200-square-metre site had been rezoned for high-density residential development of up to 15 to 18 storeys and continued to appreciate in value.
“As we hold this property, every day it increases in value,” he said.
However, he explained that previous development proposals had faced planning obstacles and that a major redevelopment could cost between $35 million and $40 million.
“We are not property developers,” he said.
“We are here as a society and a community to provide services and build things for our people.”
In his address, GOCNSW Secretary George Diamataris also reassured attendees that the Greek Community Club would continue operating, with any future closure relating only to renovation works.
George Diamataris.
A second audience question centred on how the momentum created by the evening could be used to encourage greater cooperation between Greek organisations.
The speaker noted that the event had successfully brought together leaders from many of Sydney’s Greek associations and suggested that more structured collaboration was needed to address the challenges facing the community.
“There are serious issues facing the Greek community at the moment,” she said.
“What we would like to see is how all these organisations can work together with the Community and how we can collaborate in a meaningful way.”
The crowd at the meeting.
Apoifis welcomed the suggestion and said one of the primary objectives of the evening had been to reconnect organisations and strengthen relationships across the community.
“The purpose of tonight was for us to get to know each other again,” he said.
“We want to bring the Greek community together.”
He also supported the idea of establishing a community think tank to identify priorities and opportunities across areas including youth engagement, education, aged care and long-term community planning.
“Let us all work together for the Greek community,” he said.
Looking ahead
The evening concluded with a call for greater collaboration, stronger communication and increased participation across all sectors of the Greek Australian community.
While the launch of the new website marked an important milestone, much of the discussion focused on how the Community can expand services, improve facilities and strengthen cooperation between organisations for the benefit of future generations.
As attendees gathered for refreshments and networking following the formal proceedings, the message from the new Board was clear: the future of the Community will depend not only on infrastructure and services, but on building stronger connections across the wider Greek Australian community.
The annual Hellenic Bowling Competition 2026 brought together members of Sydney’s Greek Australian community for a day of friendly competition, camaraderie and celebration, with the Mytilenian Brotherhood of Sydney & NSW emerging as overall champions.
The event saw representatives from the Mytilenian Brotherhood, the Samian Brotherhood of Sydney and NSW “O Lykourgos,” and the Kytherian Association of Australia take to the lanes in a spirited contest that has become a popular fixture on the community calendar.
Participants enjoyed an afternoon of bowling, food and socialising, with organisers describing the atmosphere as one filled with laughter, friendly rivalry and plenty of memorable moments.
“The competition was fierce, the scores were close, and the bragging rights were well and truly on the line right until the final frames,” organisers said.
Bowlers of all skill levels took part, producing a mix of impressive strikes and light-hearted moments that kept fellow competitors entertained throughout the day.
At the conclusion of the competition, the Mytilenian Brotherhood was crowned the overall winner for 2026, successfully defending its title and claiming another year of bragging rights.
Organisers thanked everyone who attended and contributed to the event’s success, noting that the spirit of friendship and community remains at the heart of the annual gathering.
“The spirit, camaraderie and laughter are what make this event so special, and we can’t wait to do it all again next year,” they said.
Former SBS news presenter Mary Kostakidis has been awarded Consortium News’ 2026 Gary Webb Freedom of the Press Award at a ceremony in Sydney, despite currently facing a Federal Court racial discrimination case over posts she made on X regarding Gaza.
The award was presented on Sunday, June 14, by Consortium News editor Joe Lauria, who praised Kostakidis for being part of a group of journalists who challenge mainstream narratives on foreign policy and war reporting.
Lauria also referenced the award’s origins, created in honour of US journalist Gary Webb, whose reporting on the CIA and the Contra cocaine scandal was later vindicated in part by an internal CIA investigation.
He said Webb was “cast out from the profession that he loved” after major US outlets discredited his work, and that the award recognises journalists who face professional consequences for challenging official accounts.
Kostakidis is currently defending a case brought by the head of the Zionist Federation of Australia, alleging breaches of the Racial Discrimination Act over two X posts made in January 2024.
Her legal team has argued the posts were political commentary directed at the Israeli government, not Jewish people.
Outside court, Kostakidis has previously said: “I’m a strong believer in freedom of the press and the freedom of political expression. I will defend my right to report the news and the right of every journalist to do so and the right of every Australian to engage in public debate.”
Consortium News described her as a journalist of “enormous courage,” linking her case to broader international disputes over freedom of expression and political speech relating to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Former Hells Angels bikie Angelo Pandeli has returned to Australia after being deported from Indonesia following a brief detention in Bali over an alleged counterfeit passport.
The 55-year-old was detained earlier this month after Indonesian authorities questioned his Brazilian passport when he and three associates attempted to leave Bali on June 6 on a private jet bound for Mozambique.
Authorities said there was no record of the passport being used to enter Indonesia and later determined it was counterfeit.
He was released without charge a few days later and deported to Adelaide.
An AFP spokesperson said they were continuing to “liaise with Indonesian authorities and other partner agencies regarding the man’s travel and the circumstances of his detention.”
It is understood authorities are now conducting a joint investigation into Pandeli, focusing on establishing his travel history.
Pandeli first left Australia in 2018 shortly before police searched his Sydney home as part of an investigation into an alleged $250 million drug trafficking operation.
Although the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission later linked him to the so-called “Aussie Cartel” – a criminal network suspected of coordinating major drug importations into Australia – he has never been charged with any offence in relation to those allegations.
Karl Stefanovic has announced Greek Australian activist Drew Pavlou as his “chief chaos correspondent” for his new media venture, with the pair saying he will lead investigations for the show.
Pavlou, known for his anti–Chinese Communist Party protests at the University of Queensland and recent videos examining alleged NDIS fraud, said he would be contributing weekly.
“I will be contributing weekly investigations as CHIEF CHAOS CORRESPONDENT,” Pavlou wrote on X.
“This has been a dream of mine since I watched Karl on the Today Show as a child… nobody else would take a chance on me but Karlos did… he is a hero and he is changing Australian journalism forever.”
Stefanovic said Pavlou had been “exposing rorts” by chasing down “dodgy operators” in the NDIS and “asking the questions that others just won’t.”
“In the coming weeks, he’ll be digging in,” he said. “He’ll be following all the leads and he’ll be reporting back to the show. You tell us what you want. We’ll go and get the answers.”
The announcement was made in a video posted to X, following Pavlou’s earlier appearance on Stefanovic’s program alongside fellow internet personality Pete Zogoulas, where they discussed alleged misuse of NDIS funding.
The move comes as Stefanovic expands his independent media presence through The Karl Stefanovic Show, which has attracted attention for its commentary on mainstream media and controversial guests.
The 2026 Greek History and Culture Seminar Series at the Greek Centre in Melbourne will continue Thursday, June 18, with a lecture by archivist and researcher Emmanouela Giannoulidou examining the often-overlooked “third side” of civil war through Greek and Spanish literature.
Held at Level 12 of the Greek Centre on Lonsdale Street, the seminar is titled The Third Side of Civil War: in Nikos Kazantzakis’ The Fratricides and Manuel Chaves Nogales’ A Sangre y Fuego: Héroes, Bestias y Mártires de España (By Blood and Fire: Heroes, Beasts and Martyrs of Spain).
Giannoulidou, an Archivist at La Trobe University’s Dardalis Archives of the Hellenic Diaspora, will present research that challenges the common perception of civil war as a conflict fought solely between two opposing sides.
Her study explores what she describes as a “silenced, unrecognised and oppressed third side” within both the Greek and Spanish Civil Wars, drawing on literary analysis of Kazantzakis’ The Fratricides (1963) and Chaves Nogales’ By Blood and Fire.
The research argues that civil wars cannot be fully understood through a simple binary framework, as many citizens did not align themselves entirely with either faction. Despite extensive historical scholarship on both conflicts, little attention has been given to those who existed outside the dominant political camps.
Through an examination of the two literary works, Giannoulidou proposes a definition of this “third side” and explains why literature provides a valuable lens through which to explore the concept.
The analysis also highlights the authors’ criticism of ideological conflict and their condemnation of the violence experienced by both Greece and Spain during their respective civil wars.
Ultimately, the research seeks not only to establish the existence of a “third side,” but also to argue for its significance and prevalence within both conflicts, opening the door for further scholarly discussion of the concept in other historical and cultural contexts.
Giannoulidou completed her Master of Arts in 2021, specialising in comparative literature in Modern Greek and Spanish. Her thesis earned both the Christos Fifis Award from the Greek Studies Program and the Allan Martin Award for Best Interdisciplinary Thesis in La Trobe University’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
In her current role at the Dardalis Archives, she oversees archival management, researcher support and community engagement initiatives, helping preserve and promote the history and heritage of the Greek diaspora in Australia.
The seminar will begin at 7pm on Thursday, June 18, and will be held in person only at the Greek Centre, 168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.
Melbourne chef Philip Vakos has reached the top five of MasterChef Greece, with supporters celebrating his progress as he continues his international cooking run.
The achievement follows Vakos’ run on the Greek edition of the hit cooking competition, where he has been representing the Greek Australian community and competing against chefs from Greece and the diaspora.
Vakos, who previously appeared on MasterChef Australia in 2010 as Tasmania’s first-ever contestant, has become the first Greek Australian to compete on MasterChef Greece and the first Australian to appear in two different international versions of the franchise.
He is part of the Red team in the season’s brigade format and has impressed judges with his desserts and versatility, despite Greek being his second language.
“This is really special, to come back on a show after 15 years, to cook, and show my culinary experience, in Greece,” Vakos said.
“After almost 12 years of running our restaurant Bahari in Melbourne, I believe it’s good to challenge yourself, and get out of your comfort zone — in order to grow.”
He added: “Sometimes life throws you an opportunity, and you either say no, or grab it with both hands,” and said he was grateful for the support of his wife and family while representing Australian Greeks.
Born in Hobart, Vakos built his career in hospitality after retraining from accounting, later establishing Melbourne restaurant Bahari The Hellenic Palate in Richmond with his wife, Heleena, alongside a Mediterranean ready-meal business.
He remains active in the Greek Australian community through festivals and events, while continuing his run in the competition airing on STAR Channel in Greece.
Italy has backed Greece’s long-running effort to secure the return of the Parthenon Marbles, with Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli voicing support for the Greek position during a visit to Thessaloniki.
Giuli made the comments alongside Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni at the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, where the countries marked the return of 145 bronze coins from Italy and renewed an agreement on cooperation against antiquities trafficking.
The expanded partnership will focus on tracing, preserving and restoring cultural objects removed from their original locations, including thousands of archaeological fragments connected to the case of convicted antiquities dealer Robin Symes.
Mendoni said the cooperation, launched in 2025, includes research and restoration work on about 70,000 pottery fragments discovered in the possession of a company linked to Symes.
The Symes investigation, which began after authorities uncovered a warehouse on Schinoussa, has been described as one of the largest antiquities-trafficking cases in recent decades and has resulted in the return of hundreds of artifacts to Greece.
The renewed Italian support comes as Athens continues diplomatic efforts to reunite the Parthenon Marbles, held by the British Museum, with the remaining sculptures of the Parthenon in Athens.
