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2026 National Premier League Victoria fixtures released

The Greek Herald
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2026 National Premier League Victoria fixtures released

Football Victoria (FV) has released the NPL Victoria Men’s and Women’s fixtures for the 2026 season.

For the first time in NPL Victoria history, both the Men and Women seasons will kick-off simultaneously on Friday, February 13.

And the NPLM and NPLW returns in spectacular fashion, with Box Hill beginning their Championship defence against the Essendon Royals and NPLM 2025 Champions Heidelberg United opening their 2026 season up at home against Green Gully.

Hume City will host the other season opening match when they take on Altona at Nasiol Stadium from 7:30pm.

One of the biggest matches to look forward to in Round 1 of the NPLM season is 2025 Premiers Avondale hosting a new look South Melbourne buoyed by some big offseason signings and their huge win in the Australian Championship.

Heidelberg United fell agonisingly short of an NPLW double last season and will open their 2026 campaign up with a home clash against rivals Preston Lions, who will be eager to bounce back from a disappointing season.

Dandenong City were the big surprise side of the 2025 NPLM season, going from sixth place to the big dance at Lakeside Stadium. They’ll be keen to start the season off on the right foot when they travel to St Albans for the first Croation Derby of the year.

Melbourne City fans will be able to see their NPLW side in action at home for the first time against the Boroondara Eagles, while their NPLM team will be on the road for their first match against Dandenong Thunder.

Melbourne Victory fans can get behind their NPLW team for the first time when they travel to the Veneto Club to take on a Bulleen Lions side that has had a busy offseason.

The two newly promoted NPLW sides, Avondale and Keilor Park, will both start their 2026 campaigns on the road, travelling to Spring Hills and Alamein respectively.

Bentleigh Greens and Caroline Springs George Cross begin their returns to the top-flight against each other at City Vista Recreation Reserve. 

The final game of Round 1 is a stunner; a Semi Final rematch between the new look Preston Lions and Oakleigh Cannons at Jack Edwards Reserve. This is the lone fixture of the day across the NPLM and NPLW and should draw a huge crowd.

FV Head of Competitions Frank Karatzas believes the 2026 NPLM and NPLW seasons promise to be the biggest and most exciting yet.

“After an unforgettable end to the 2025 season, where over 13,000 fans watched Box Hill United crowned the NPLW Champions and Heidelberg United take home the NPLM Grand Final trophy, 2026 has a lot to live up to,” Mr Karatzas said. 

“With simultaneous season start times, both A-League clubs joining an expanded NPLW competition and two storied clubs returning to the NPLM, I strongly believe we are about to watch the biggest NPL season yet.

“We’d like to thank our clubs for their hard work and support during the fixturing period that will assist with offering NPL Victoria fans the best possible experience in 2026 and continue to show why Victorian football is the best in the country.”

This will be the first year of FV’s groundbreaking new partnership with competition management, administration and engagement platform Dribl, which will deliver a vastly improved experience through their intuitive app and web platform.

The release also includes the fixtures for NPL U23 Men’s and U20 Women’s.  

Stay tuned for information on ECAL, which will allow fans, players and Club staff to sync the NPL fixtures with their personal calendars. 

South Melbourne FC to make OFC Pro League debut in Auckland as Oceania’s new era begins

The Greek Herald
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South Melbourne FC to make OFC Pro League debut in Auckland as Oceania’s new era begins

Auckland’s Eden Park and North Harbour Stadium have been confirmed as the venues for Round 1 of the inaugural OFC Pro League season.

The historic competition, kicking off on Saturday, January 17, will be Oceania’s first-ever professional football league, with eight clubs representing seven nations taking part.

The opening weekend will see four matches played at Eden Park. Vanuatu United FC take on Fiji’s Bula FC in the day’s first match before an eye-catching New Zealand derby, as Auckland FC face South Island United.

The following day Tahiti United take on South Melbourne FC, before PNG Hekari FC and Solomon Kings FC close out the first set of fixtures.

From there, the focus shifts to North Harbour Stadium, which will host the remaining matches in Round 1 as the league gets up and running.

The full match schedule for the OFC Pro League can be seen on the league’s website here.

Thanasi Kokkinakis among protected ranking entrants for Australian Open 2026

The Greek Herald
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Thanasi Kokkinakis among protected ranking entrants for Australian Open 2026

Australian tennis fans will see local favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis return to Melbourne Park at the Australian Open 2026, entering the men’s singles draw using a protected ranking.

Kokkinakis joins Chinese stars Shang Juncheng and Zhang Zhizhen, and Finn Emil Ruusuvuori in this category.

The tournament will feature 99 of the world’s top-100 men and 98 of the top-100 women, led by world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz and two-time AO champion Aryna Sabalenka.

Notable absentees include world No.15 Holger Rune and former champions such as Danielle Collins and Ons Jabeur.

Australian Alex de Minaur, world No.7, leads the local men’s contingent, while world No.32 Maya Joint heads the Australian women’s field.

The 128-player singles draws will be completed by eight wildcards and 16 qualifiers, with qualifying matches held 12-15 January at Melbourne Park.

Bishop Bartholomew speaks about ‘Power of Unity’ at Queensland Parliamentary Breakfast

The Greek Herald
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Bishop Bartholomew speaks about ‘Power of Unity’ at Queensland Parliamentary Breakfast

His Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Brisbane addressed a Christian Parliamentary Breakfast at the Queensland Parliament this month, speaking at the invitation of Minister for Multiculturalism and Women Fiona Simpson.

Bishop Bartholomew thanked the minister for the invitation and conveyed the “appreciation and blessing” of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia to attendees before delivering a keynote on “The Power of Unity.”

He stressed that “unity is an invitation for all of us to honour the dignity of every human being, to recognise the Image of God in each other and to choose cooperation over conflict.”

Citing His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, he added that unity is “not a luxury, but a necessity for the survival of the world.”

The Bishop also warned against forces that divide society, pointing to anti-Semitism as “a wound on the conscience of humanity,” and discussed how unity can be strengthened through practical action, including the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence guided by human wisdom.

He concluded by thanking MPs for the “love, generosity and sincerity” with which Queensland had welcomed him and wished them a Merry Christmas and a “safe, productive and fruitful 2026.”

Greek Australian MPs Charis Mullen and John Barounis were among those present.

Greek community rallies to help rising tennis star Odysseas Geladaris compete in Australia

The Greek Herald
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Greek community rallies to help rising tennis star Odysseas Geladaris compete in Australia

A campaign has been launched to support 17-year-old Greek tennis player Odysseas Geladaris, currently ranked No. 139 in the ITF Juniors world rankings, as he aims to compete in Australia in early 2026.

Geladaris is set to play in the J300 Traralgon Junior Tournament and the Australian Open Juniors qualifiers, events critical for his junior career.

Greek Australian Haris Manaras created the campaign to raise approximately 7,000 AUD, covering airfare, accommodation, and travel expenses for Geladaris and his coach in Victoria.

With Australian dollars nearly half the parity of euros, the costs are substantial.

Junior international tennis remains one of the world’s most expensive sports, often leaving promising athletes without institutional support.

Geladaris’ campaign not only seeks to fund his participation but also highlights the broader financial struggles faced by Greek juniors aspiring to professional tennis.

The initiative has gained widespread support from the Greek community, with tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas making a private donation to assist the Geladaris family.

Australian supermarkets reassure shoppers amid global feta shortage

The Greek Herald
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Australian supermarkets reassure shoppers amid global feta shortage

A viral outbreak of goat and sheep pox in Greece has forced farmers to cull hundreds of thousands of animals, threatening global feta cheese production.

With authentic Greek feta legally required to be made from sheep and goat milk in specific regions, shortages and price spikes are expected.

Despite the crisis, major Australian supermarkets say local supply will remain steady.

Woolworths confirmed, “We know fetta cheeses are popular with our customers and we have a good supply across our stores, including a number of Australian-made products sourced locally.” Coles and Aldi made similar assurances.

Almost half a million goats and sheep have already been culled in Greece, though the disease is not transmissible to humans.

While local Australian alternatives remain available, authentic Greek feta may become harder to source and more expensive as production falters.

Source: News.com.au.

Former Stonnington Mayor Jami Klisaris receives apology after defamation dispute

The Greek Herald
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Former Stonnington Mayor Jami Klisaris receives apology after defamation dispute

Former Stonnington mayor Jami Klisaris has secured an apology from Council Watch Victoria figure Dean Hurlston after resolving a defamation case centred on what she alleged were persistent and unreasonable online attacks.

Klisaris filed the writ in August, accusing Hurlston and Council Watch of spreading “persistent and baseless allegations of corruption” during the 2024 council election, including “posting manipulated images of Ms Klisaris’ face on the body of animals”.

Court documents also detailed a separate allegation posted online about inappropriate physical contact, which Klisaris firmly denied, stating she had “at no stage” made any such contact and noting she had “only 3 months earlier become happily married”.

The parties have now settled, with terms undisclosed.

Hurlston issued a statement saying: “To the extent that I, (Dean Hurlston) have made statements about Cr Jami Klisaris that may have negatively impacted her reputation and standing within the community, I regret doing so. I wish to apologise for any such statements and withdraw them entirely. I wish to apologise for any distress caused to Cr Klisaris for the way these statements were made.”

Klisaris welcomed the outcome, saying she was “very pleased that the matter has resolved” and “very glad that this matter is behind me so I can continue to focus on the community.”

Source: The Age.

Greek farmers step up blockades as aid delays persist

The Greek Herald
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Greek farmers step up blockades as aid delays persist

Greek farmers intensified nationwide blockades on Tuesday, December 9, disrupting major highways and intermittently shutting border crossings as they protest delays in more than 600 million euros of EU aid and other payments.

The delays follow investigations into a subsidy fraud scandal involving falsified land claims, slowing audits and payments at a time when farmers are also battling a severe sheep pox outbreak that has forced mass culls.

Key transport routes between Athens, Thessaloniki and the Turkish border were affected, while protesters in the north threatened further action at Thessaloniki’s port and airport.

On Crete, flights were cancelled after farmers stormed Heraklion airport, though operations later resumed.

Photo: AP Photo.

“It’s a matter of survival,” farmer Yiannis Koukoutsis told ERT, calling for measures such as freezing tax debt.

The government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis has acknowledged delays and says more funds will be released this month, with 3.7 billion euros due this year.

Amid escalating tensions, Supreme Court Prosecutor Constantine Tzavellas ordered local prosecutors to intervene and investigate any offences or property damage linked to the protests.

Australia enforces historic under-16 social media ban

The Greek Herald
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Australia enforces historic under-16 social media ban

Australia’s world-first ban on social media for under-16s has taken effect, prompting platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick and Twitch to remove young users’ accounts or face fines of up to $49.5m.

Early rollout issues have seen some under-16s pass facial age checks while others lose access, sparking mixed reactions from parents.

Some say their children are distressed or learning to bypass restrictions with VPNs, while others welcome the ban as overdue support against social media addiction.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the policy “won’t be 100% perfect” but said its message is clear. The move has drawn global attention, with several countries and the EU considering similar measures.

eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant will now require platforms to report how many accounts they have removed and how they are preventing circumvention.

An independent evaluation will assess both benefits and unintended consequences, including whether teens move to less regulated corners of the internet.

Source: The Guardian.

OEEGA NSW celebrates community spirit and generosity at 2025 Christmas Dinner

The Greek Herald
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OEEGA NSW celebrates community spirit and generosity at 2025 Christmas Dinner

The Organisation of Hellene and Hellene-Cypriot Women of Australia (OEEGA NSW) welcomed members, friends and supporters to its annual Christmas Dinner on Saturday, 7 December 2025, filling the Ramsgate Lifesavers Club in Sydney with warmth, colour and the unmistakable energy of the festive season.

As guests arrived, the room quickly took on the familiar atmosphere that OEEGA is known for – a gathering united by tradition, philanthropy and a shared devotion to community life. Laughter echoed, glasses clinked, and the first notes from the live band set the tone for a lively and heartfelt evening.

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President Christine Manolakos opened the night with a sincere expression of thanks to her committee and to everyone who has stood beside OEEGA throughout the year. She spoke of the joy in seeing the community together, and the pride she feels in the organisation’s ongoing mission to support charitable causes and celebrate Hellenic and Cypriot women in NSW.

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She also offered a warm acknowledgment to the Greek associations who continue to champion OEEGA’s work. Among them were the Mytilenian Brotherhood NSW, which contributed $5,000, and the Kefalonian Association, which generously donated $2,000, helping strengthen the organisation’s philanthropic efforts this year.

Former President Mary Alexandrou shared a brief reflection on OEEGA’s long and meaningful history. Her words reminded guests that the organisation’s foundations were built on unity, volunteerism and the desire to uplift others – values that continue to guide its committees and members today.

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As dinner was served, conversations flowed easily between generations. Plates were shared, stories exchanged, and familiar faces reunited. When the band began to play, the dancing that followed added a vibrant pulse to the evening – a joyful reminder of the cultural spirit that binds the community, especially in the lead-up to Christmas.

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oeega nsw

Guests linked arms, families joined in, and the dancefloor became a lively expression of connection and celebration.

The evening closed with gratitude and optimism as members reflected on another meaningful year – one that continued OEEGA’s long tradition of community service, cultural pride and charitable giving.

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