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Australian Greek Ex-Servicemen unveil plaque honouring ancient Athenian soldiers

The Greek Herald
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Australian Greek Ex-Servicemen unveil plaque honouring ancient Athenian soldiers

The Australian Greek Ex-Servicemen’s Association held a significant commemorative event on Saturday, October 19, at the Shepparton War Memorial, unveiling a bronze plaque that symbolically links ancient Greek valour with Australia’s ANZAC legacy.

The plaque is a replica of an ancient funerary stele honouring Athenian hoplites who fought and fell in battle in 447 B.C. near the Hellespont (modern-day Gallipoli).

A historic connection between Athens and Gallipoli

The original stele, housed at the National Epigraphic Museum in Athens since 1881, was once located in the ancient Athenian military cemetery known as the Demosion Sema in Kerameikos. 

Its inscription commemorates the soldiers’ sacrifice: “Fighting beside the Hellespont, these men lost their shining youth. They brought honour to their fatherland, so that the enemy groaned as he bore the harvest of war, and for themselves they set up an immortal memorial of their courage.”

A plaster cast of the stele is also preserved at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, where it was first displayed in the 1930s following efforts by C.E.W. Bean, Christopher Brennan, and Robert Innes Kay – three Australians who recognised the inscription’s deep resonance with the ANZAC spirit.

The replica unveiled in Shepparton is the first plaque in Victoria to bear both the original ancient Greek text and an English translation.

Ceremony and Participants

The day began with a memorial service at St George Greek Orthodox Church, Shepparton, officiated by Father Platon Derlis. Following the service, members of the Association proceeded to the War Memorial for the unveiling, conducted by Dr Panagiotis Diamadis.

Dr Diamadis, a Sydney-based historian and genocide scholar, spoke briefly about the inscription’s historical context and its connection to the ANZAC legacy. His research focuses on Australia’s humanitarian efforts in the Eastern Mediterranean during and after the genocides of Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks in the early 20th century.

Wreaths were then laid by representatives of community organisations and local authorities, including: Konstantinos Antoniadis, on behalf of Consul General Dimitra Georgantzoglou; Melissa Crosby, representing Kim O’Keeffe MP, Member for Shepparton; Mayor Shane Sali, City of Greater Shepparton; and a number of representatives from local Greek community organisations.

Honouring history and legacy

Following the ceremony, attendees gathered at the Sherburne Terrace Wyndham Hotel for the main lecture, where Dr Diamadis spoke in detail about the ancient inscription’s connection to both World Wars and his co-authored book From Genocide to Rebirth, which documents the photographic collection of George Devine Treloar – a Ballarat-born soldier turned humanitarian for the League of Nations who aided refugees in post-war Greece.

The event concluded with closing remarks by Nikolaos Makridis, President of the Australian Greek Ex-Servicemen’s Association, who thanked all dignitaries, guests, and members for their attendance and ongoing support.

Hellenic Club of Canberra announces new Board for 2025/26 at AGM

The Greek Herald
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Hellenic Club of Canberra announces new Board for 2025/26 at AGM

The Hellenic Club of Canberra held its 55th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday, 19 October 2025, at its Matilda Street premises in Woden, marking another milestone year for one of the ACT’s most prominent cultural and community institutions.

During the meeting, members reviewed the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2025, and discussed key agenda items, including a special resolution to amend the Club’s Memorandum and Articles of Association concerning gold membership fees.

The proposed amendment was passed and allows the Board to determine membership fees for former Gold Members who reapply.

Newly elected Board of Directors

The Club also announced the results of its Board of Directors election for 2025/26, with the following members elected to serve:

  • President: Steve Kartsonas
  • Vice Presidents: James Koundouris, Eleni Notaras
  • Treasurer: Vicki Sofatzis
  • Secretary: Andrew Satsias
  • Directors: George Alex Diamond, Nikos Kalogeropoulos, Angelo Konstantinou, Stef Pashalidis

Outgoing Director Jim Andriopoulos was acknowledged for his 12 consecutive years of service on the Board, during which he contributed significantly to the Club’s governance and community programs.

Commitment to growth and community

The meeting reaffirmed the Club’s ongoing commitment to serving Canberra’s Hellenic community through events, hospitality, and cultural engagement, while advancing major projects such as the Woden Village development – a future mixed-use precinct aimed at revitalising the local area.

With its new Board in place, the Hellenic Club of Canberra enters the 2025/26 financial year with renewed focus on sustainability, member engagement, and strengthening ties with the broader ACT community.

Oakleigh Grammar welcomes Greece’s Deputy Foreign Minister for historic visit

The Greek Herald
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Oakleigh Grammar welcomes Greece’s Deputy Foreign Minister for historic visit

Oakleigh Grammar welcomed Ioannis Loverdos, Greece’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Greeks Abroad, as part of his official tour of Australia and New Zealand.

The visit formed part of the Greek Government’s broader initiative to strengthen ties with the Greek diaspora across the Southern Hemisphere, recognising the enduring cultural, educational, and community contributions of Hellenic communities abroad.

Loverdos was accompanied by a distinguished delegation of officials, including Stavros Venizelos, Ambassador of Greece to Australia and New Zealand; Athanasios Balermpas, Secretary-General for Interior and Organisation, Ministry of the Interior; Dimitrios Karnavos, Secretary-General for Citizenship; Aikaterini Ouli, Director-General for Citizenship; Zoi Tsirakopoulou-Gklinou, Secretary of Embassy, Deputy Minister’s Diplomatic Cabinet; and Dimitra Georgantzoglou, Consul General of Greece in Melbourne.

The delegation was warmly received by Oakleigh Grammar Board Chairman Chris Damatopoulos and Principal Mark Robertson, who shared the School’s rich 42-year history and its role in nurturing a vibrant, multicultural student body with strong Hellenic roots, as well as the School’s future masterplan.

During the visit, the dignitaries engaged with students in the School Library, toured the campus facilities, and visited the adjacent Sts Anargiri Greek Orthodox Church, a spiritual and cultural cornerstone of the local Greek Australian community.

The visit concluded with a shared meal at Vanilla, a beloved local Oakleigh establishment, further celebrating the deep bonds between Greece and the Greek diaspora in Melbourne.

“We are deeply honoured by the visit of Deputy Minister Loverdos and the esteemed delegation,” said Principal Robertson. “Their presence underscores the importance of cultural heritage and the enduring bonds between Greece and our school community.”

Greece and Australia deepen space and diaspora links during Loverdos’ Adelaide meetings

The Greek Herald
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Greece and Australia deepen space and diaspora links during Loverdos’ Adelaide meetings

Greece’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Greeks Abroad Ioannis Loverdos met with South Australian Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis in Adelaide on Tuesday, October 21.

During the meeting, both leaders discussed the significant role of the Greek community in SA and initiatives by the Greek government to strengthen connections with the diaspora.

Loverdos also visited SmartSat CRC, where he met CEO Professor Andy Koronios and his team to discuss collaboration in advanced telecommunications, satellite systems, and data technologies.

Photo: Consulate-General of Greece, Adelaide / Facebook.

SmartSat CRC, a consortium of universities, research bodies, and industry partners funded by the Australian government, works on innovations in space and Earth observation technologies.

The visit follows last year’s signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between SmartSat CRC and the Hellenic Space Centre during the International Astronautical Congress, a milestone in deepening cooperation between Greece and Australia in space science and technology.

Loverdos was accompanied by Greece’s Ambassador to Australia, Stavros Venizelos, and the Consul General of Greece in Adelaide, Alexandra Theodoropoulou.

Greece and Crete named as destinations for 2026 Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship tour

The Greek Herald
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Greece and Crete named as destinations for 2026 Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship tour

NSW Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Veterans David Harris today announced Greece and Crete as destinations for the 2026 Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship school study tour exploring Australia’s military history of the Second World War. 

The announcement comes a week after students from schools across NSW returned from the 2025 study tour to the Republic of Korea and Singapore. 

The students visited the site of the Battle of Kapyong, the Demilitarised Zone and the UN First Battle Memorial in the Republic of Korea. In Singapore, the tour included visits to the Kranji War Memorial, Changi Prison Chapel and Museum, and the Fort Siloso and Surrender Chambers. 

Sixteen students from across NSW will be selected to participate in next year’s study tour to Greece and Crete, with 2026 marking the 85th anniversary of the Greek and Crete campaigns of 1941. 

Key locations on the tour include Athens, war cemeteries at Phaleron and Suda Bay, and the historic site of the Battle of Rethymno, where Australian and Greek troops faced a fierce German paratrooper assault. Of the more than 17,000 Australians who served in the campaigns, nearly 600 died and over 1,000 were wounded. Each site holds deep significance in the nation’s involvement in the Second World War. 

NSW Premier Chris Minns said: “The Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship is a wonderful opportunity for high school History students to further develop their understanding of the history of Australians at war. 

“The 85th anniversary of the Greek and Crete campaigns of 1941 provides a unique opportunity to offer NSW high school students passionate about history a chance to commemorate and better understand the experience of Australian men and women who served in this important theatre of the Second World War.” 

Minister for Veterans David Harris said:  “The PAMS tour presents a unique opportunity for teachers and students from all over New South Wales, and I highly recommend that history teachers consider applying. 

“The 2026 tour will explore Australia’s military history during the Second World War, visiting locations that experienced the war’s impact firsthand. Students and teachers will hear the stories of those who served and sacrificed their lives in these campaigns that defined our nation’s involvement in the Second World War. 

“The study tour is an important initiative in ensuring the legacy of our Second World War veterans is preserved. By connecting young Australians with the places where our veterans served, we honour their courage, service and sacrifice, while strengthening our commitment to remembrance.” 

Applications opened today for Accompanying Teachers for the 2026 tour that will take place in the Term 3 school holidays. 

NSW teachers of Stage 5 History and/or Stage 6 Modern History are encouraged to apply for this unique professional development opportunity to enrich their understanding and teaching of Australian war time history. 

Student applications will open in early 2026. 

Applications for the role of Accompanying Teacher for the 2026 tour close at 11:59pm on 26 November 2025. Eligible teachers can apply here: https://veteransaffairs.smartygrants.com.au/PAMS2026Teachers. 

Students who will be in Year 10 or 11 in 2026 are encouraged to register their interest here. More information is available here: https://www.veterans.nsw.gov.au/education/premiers-anzac-memorial-scholarship/

Jason Sourasis faces dual legal battles over Pendlebury allegations and $6.7m tax debt

The Greek Herald
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Jason Sourasis faces dual legal battles over Pendlebury allegations and $6.7m tax debt

Sports entrepreneur Jason Sourasis, accused of misappropriating millions from Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury, also owes the Australian Tax Office $6.7 million, new court filings reveal.

Pendlebury has launched Supreme Court action against Sourasis, his financial adviser since 2013, alleging $2.15 million was transferred from his investment account without authorisation and that a $300,000 personal loan remains unpaid.

Court documents claim more than 50 unauthorised transactions were made, with funds directed to accounts linked to Sourasis and businesses connected to Western United Football Club and related property projects.

Sourasis told ABC News he “vehemently denied” Pendlebury’s allegations. “As a legal process has been started, we can’t make any further comments at this stage,” he said.

Sourasis, who owns a majority stake in AFL player agency Hemisphere and the now-defunct Western United, is also being pursued by the ATO in a separate County Court case.

The tax debt, dating back to 2021, largely stems from his Western Melbourne Group, which oversaw the stalled stadium development in Tarneit. The amount claimed has risen by nearly $2 million since the ATO first took legal action last November.

According to the ABC, Sourasis has not yet filed a defence.

Source: ABC.

Australia to formally recognise World Greek Language Day after earlier UNESCO abstention

Andriana Simos
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Australia to formally recognise World Greek Language Day after earlier UNESCO abstention

A major development for Hellenism worldwide was announced today in Perth – the final stop of Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Ioannis Loverdos’ official tour of Australia and New Zealand.

In a video, Loverdos revealed that the Australian Government has confirmed it will formally recognise and support UNESCO’s declaration of February 9 as World Greek Language Day.

The decision marks a significant milestone in celebrating the history, vitality and timeless global influence of the Greek language, while strengthening the bonds of friendship and cultural exchange between Greece and Australia.

“This is a very important day for relations between Greece and Australia and I am delighted that this development took place during this extensive tour through which I had the opportunity to engage with the Greek community here in Australia, as well as with prominent Australian officials,” Loverdos said.

From abstention to endorsement

The announcement follows controversy earlier this year when Australia abstained from voting on the UNESCO resolution establishing World Greek Language Day.

The motion, supported by 87 member states, was unanimously adopted by UNESCO’s Executive Council in April 2025, recognising the Greek language’s enduring contribution to human civilisation.

At the time, Australia’s decision not to vote in favour of the proposal drew strong criticism from Greek community leaders and academics, including Professor Anastasios Tamis, who called it “a disgrace and an insult to Hellenism in Australia.”

Under mounting community pressure, sources from the Albanese Government later clarified that its abstention was due to caretaker conventions in place during the lead-up to the recent federal election, which prohibit Australia from co-sponsoring agenda items or making international commitments during an election period.

Despite the diplomatic nuance, many within the diaspora viewed the abstention as a missed opportunity to acknowledge the Greek language’s historical and cultural significance – both globally and within Australia.

Canberra reaffirms support

At the time, in a statement to The Greek Herald, a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed that the government “supports and welcomes” the new international day.

“The Greek language has an enduring influence on contemporary Western culture, politics and philosophy. We value the rich cultural contributions of our vibrant Greek diaspora in Australia and our strong bilateral relationship with Greece,” the statement read.

“We look forward to celebrating this day with Australian Greek communities on 9 February.”

Honouring a global legacy

In Greece, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis hailed UNESCO’s designation of World Greek Language Day as a landmark moment for Greek cultural diplomacy.

“The whole world will now celebrate, each year, the very language through which the values of the nation that gave birth to democracy – and laid the foundations of philosophy and science – have been transmitted across centuries,” Mitsotakis said.

The date of February 9 was chosen to commemorate the death of Dionysios Solomos, Greece’s national poet and author of the Hymn to Liberty – the poem that became the Greek national anthem.

The official UNESCO proclamation of World Greek Language Day will take place at the organisation’s 43rd General Conference in November 2025, formally enshrining the Greek language’s status as one of humanity’s most influential and enduring cultural achievements.

Arthur Sinodinos AO welcomes Australia-US critical minerals deal

Madison McGuinness
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Arthur Sinodinos AO welcomes Australia-US critical minerals deal

Former Australian Ambassador to the United States Arthur Sinodinos AO has welcomed the newly signed Australia-US critical minerals investment deal, saying it represents a long-awaited show of genuine commitment from both governments.

Speaking to Sky News Australia following the White House announcement, Sinodinos reflected on his time in Washington and the years of groundwork leading up to the agreement.

“They see Australia as a good partner, a steadfast partner,” he said. “Finally, I think the government has put real money on the table and real incentives to get this done.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (left) with US President Donald Trump (right). Photo: AP.

The $8.5 billion (A$13 billion) investment package, unveiled by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Donald Trump on Tuesday morning, will fund a series of mining and processing projects to reduce global dependence on China for rare earths and critical minerals.

Both countries have pledged US$1 billion each over the next six months, including a US$200 million equity stake in a West Australian gallium plant and US$100 million for the Arafura Nolans rare earths project in the Northern Territory.

The initiative is intended to boost supply-chain security across defence, renewable energy, and technology sectors, deepening strategic and economic ties between the two allies.

Greece moves to ban protests at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, sparking outcry

The Greek Herald
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Greece moves to ban protests at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, sparking outcry

Greece’s conservative government has proposed a ban on protests at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the monument outside Parliament in Athens that has become a gathering point for families of victims of the 2023 train disaster.

Opposition parties accuse Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of intolerance and political opportunism.

The amendment would allow public visits but prohibit demonstrations or physical alterations to the site, with violators facing fines or up to one year in prison.

“In this sacred area, gatherings and protests of any kind will not be allowed,” Mitsotakis told Parliament, adding that the tomb “is not a board for posting demands.”

Photo: AP Photo / Petros Giannakouris.

The measure prompted heated debate and a protest organised by the left-wing Syriza party on Tuesday. A roll call vote delayed passage until Wednesday, though the ruling conservatives’ majority is expected to ensure approval.

A makeshift memorial for the 57 victims remains in front of the monument. One father, Panos Ruci, whose 22-year-old son died in the crash, recently ended a 23-day hunger strike after winning approval for his son’s exhumation.

Mitsotakis urged grieving parents not to let “unscrupulous politicians” exploit their pain, while Ruci’s lawyer, MP Zoe Konstantopoulou, said the hunger strike “panicked the prime minister.”

The 2023 Tempi crash exposed severe safety failings in Greece’s rail system and sparked mass anti-government protests. The trial of 36 people charged over the disaster is due to begin in March.

Source: AP.

Greek music legend Dionysis Savvopoulos dies at 80

The Greek Herald
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Greek music legend Dionysis Savvopoulos dies at 80

Renowned Greek singer-songwriter Dionysis Savvopoulos passed away on Tuesday, October 21, at the age of 80 following cardiac arrest. He had been hospitalised in a private clinic since last Friday.

Born in Thessaloniki in 1944, Savvopoulos briefly studied law at Aristotle University before dedicating himself to music.

Known for fusing folk, classical, and rock influences, he became one of the most significant figures in modern Greek culture, his songs blending humour and philosophical depth to reflect the contradictions of contemporary Greece.

His debut album Fortigo (Truck, 1966) is considered a landmark in Greek music, while To Perivoli tou Trelou (The Madman’s Garden, 1969) cemented his distinctive artistic voice.

Savvopoulos was imprisoned during the dictatorship for the political and social themes in his work but continued to create after the restoration of democracy, collaborating with leading musicians and performing widely.

He also contributed to theatre and television, producing programs that celebrated Greece’s musical heritage.

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