Arthur Bozikas OAM, a beloved advocate, author, and pioneer for the Thalassaemia community, has sadly passed away after a battle with cancer.
Renowned for his inspiring memoir Iron Boy, Arthur shared his extraordinary journey of resilience while living with thalassaemia.
Arthur’s impact extended far beyond his advocacy. He was a devoted family man, accomplished author, and a recipient of the Order of Australia Medal for his contributions to the disabilities sector. His positivity and dedication to improving lives were unparalleled.
“We will miss Arthur greatly and pay tribute to his legacy. Our deepest condolences are with his wife Helen and his family who are in our thoughts and prayers,” the Society said in a post on social media.
Arthur’s funeral service will be held on Wednesday, January 15, at St Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Church, Blacktown, at 10 am.
PAOK Football Club has initiated a new chapter in Australia as part of its strategy to expand its global presence.
Academy representatives Kostas Lagonidis and Giorgos Gourtsas visited Australia recently to build relationships within the local football industry, especially among Greek expatriates.
Their visit aimed to enhance talent scouting, exchange coaching know-how, and develop commercial partnerships, particularly within Australia and Southeast Asia.
The visit included a training camp for 150 children and an international conference attended by representatives from various clubs, such as Watford and Eintracht Frankfurt, where PAOK’s methodology and plans were presented.
The PAOK representatives also paid a visit to the Melbourne-based PAOK Friends Association.
Launched four years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic, the program is designed for children aged 10-18 years who have not previously had the opportunity to learn Greek.
Through an interactive and engaging educational environment, students can:
Develop their communication skills in Greek,
Explore the Greek language and culture, and
Actively participate in lessons using modern technological tools.
The GCM Schools created this program to address the needs of students who, due to time constraints, daily obligations, or geographical challenges such as living far from Greek schools, have missed the chance to start learning Greek earlier.
Now, students of Greek heritage in Melbourne and across Australia can connect with their ancestral language and culture, deepen their sense of identity, and feel closer to their roots.
This highly successful program currently offers five online classes with over 30 students enrolled. A team of experienced and dedicated teachers ensures that every child receives a high-quality education tailored to their needs.
Program Structure and New Classes
Courses are offered in cycles of 8-10 two-hour lessons. Students can choose between open classes (up to 10 students) or small closed classes (4 students) for a more individualised learning experience.
The new classes begin in February:
New Class A1.1: Monday, February 3, 4:30–6:30 PM (No prior knowledge required. Develops basic skills such as learning the alphabet, greetings, self-introduction, and daily activities.)
Classes for Term 1:
A1.3: Tuesday, February 4, 4:30–6:30 PM
A1.4: Wednesday, February 5, 4:30–6:30 PM
A1.3: Wednesday, February 3, 4:30–6:30 PM
A2.2: Wednesday, February 5, 4:30–6:30 PM
A2.4: Monday, February 3, 6:30–8:30 PM
Eleni Demetriou, a teacher at GCM Schools and coordinator of the “Greek for Late Beginners” program, shared her enthusiasm.
“With this program, we offer every child who wishes to learn Greek the opportunity to fulfill their dream from the comfort of their own home. It doesn’t matter where they are or whether they have little or no prior knowledge of Greek! We start from the basics and, through our weekly lessons, nurture a passion for learning,” Ms Demetriou said.
“All that is needed is an internet connection, a computer, and the desire to learn. Our experienced team of teachers takes care of everything else. You’ll see progress from the very first week!”
For more information about the program, including the application form, please visit: greekcommunity.com.au/glb.
The Australian Open 2025 draw has set the stage for an action-packed fortnight in Melbourne, Victoria with home favourites Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis drawing significant attention.
Greek stars Maria Sakkari and Stefanos Tsitsipas prepare for their campaigns with high hopes and tough challenges ahead.
Kokkinakis will meet Roman Safiullin in their first-ever encounter. Tsitsipas, seeded 11th, will take on Alex Michelsen, who defeated him in Tokyo last year.
On the women’s side, 31st seed Maria Sakkari faces Camila Osorio.
All four players are slated to play on Sunday, January 12.
Sam Konstas, Australia’s 19-year-old batting prodigy, has retained his spot in the Test squad for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, marking another milestone in his rapid rise.
Chief selector George Bailey expressed confidence in Konstas’ adaptability to subcontinental conditions, describing him as “a quick learner” with a technique suited to the challenges of slow, spinning pitches.
“You never really know until someone’s faced with them… but we’re expecting him to get a lot out of this tour,” Bailey said.
Teen sensation Sam Konstas (R) and Travis Head (L) are both options at the top of the order this tour. Photo: Michael Klein.
Konstas’ selection raises questions about how Australia will structure its batting line-up. The teenager could open alongside Usman Khawaja, or the team might opt for Travis Head, who excelled as an opener in similar conditions two years ago.
Selectors opted for youth in this squad, with Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, and Adam Zampa missing out. Maxwell’s omission at 36 may signal the end of his Test career, while Handscomb’s solid record in Asia was overlooked in favour of younger talent.
Thanasi Kokkinakis has made the difficult decision to withdraw from the Adelaide International to focus on recovering from a shoulder injury in time for the Australian Open.
Kokkinakis withdrew from his home tournament ahead of his quarterfinal match against second seed Sebastian Korda due to the recurring shoulder injury.
Despite efforts to recover, Kokkinakis said he was in worse condition on Thursday morning.
“Unfortunately, I was in a lot of pain last night… it just crept up on me,” he told The Advertiser.
“I’m already looking forward to next year… the next goal is to try and see if I can be ready for next week’s Australian Open.”
The withdrawal leaves Sebastian Korda to progress to today’s semi-final against Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic, who defeated Benjamin Bonzi in straight sets.
The Hellenic Air Force has received its final Rafale fighter jet, completing its fleet of 24 French-made aircraft.
The single-seat jet, bearing serial number 457, arrived at the 114th Combat Wing at Tanagra Air Base following a direct flight from Mérignac, Bordeaux. It was formally handed over to the 332nd Squadron.
This delivery marks the fulfilment of a supplementary contract signed in March 2022, which expanded Greece’s initial Rafale fleet from 18 to 24 aircraft. The deal also included three FDI frigates and cost €1.09 billion.
The Hellenic Air Force has received its final Rafale fighter jet.
Equipped with state-of-the-art 4.5th generation Rafale F3R jets and Meteor medium-range missiles, Greece now holds air superiority in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.
The Getty Villa museum in Pacific Palisades, California, narrowly avoided devastation as the Palisades wildfire reached its grounds on Tuesday, January 7.
According to The Guardian, despite flames burning trees and vegetation on the property, no structures were damaged, and the museum’s invaluable Greek and Roman antiquities remain safe.
The fire, driven by powerful winds, forced mass evacuations across Los Angeles County.
Katherine E. Fleming, president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust, assured the public that “staff and the collection remain safe,” crediting year-round fire mitigation efforts, including brush clearance, water storage, and advanced air-handling systems that sealed the museum’s galleries and library from smoke.
The Getty Villa, located along the Pacific Coast Highway and styled as a re-creation of a Roman country house, closed on Tuesday morning and will remain shut to visitors until at least Monday, January 13.
Footage shared online showed flames near the museum’s driveway, but these did not pose a direct threat to the Villa itself.
The Palisades Fire has damaged more than 1,000 homes and businesses. Combined with the Eaton and Hurst fires, the blazes have led to widespread devastation across LA, with approximately 180,000 people evacuated and five deaths reported.
Firefighters continue to battle the flames across multiple affected areas, including the Hollywood Hills, which was briefly evacuated but has since lifted its evacuation orders.
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson’s $26 million home in Pacific Palisades narrowly escaped the devastating wildfire that has been sweeping through Los Angeles.
According to Page Six, the couple’s four-bedroom, five-bathroom residence, purchased in 2010, remains untouched, while the cliffside mansion just above it was completely destroyed.
The Palisades Fire, which erupted on Tuesday, January 7, has damaged more than 1,000 homes and businesses. Combined with the Eaton and Hurst fires, the blazes have led to widespread devastation across LA, with approximately 180,000 people evacuated and five deaths reported.
Several celebrities, including Paris Hilton and Leighton Meester, have also suffered significant losses in the fires.
Firefighters continue to battle the flames across multiple affected areas, including the Hollywood Hills, which was briefly evacuated but has since lifted its evacuation orders.
Hanks and Wilson previously owned a 1929 Spanish-style villa in Pacific Palisades, which they sold in 2014 for $5 million. Hanks also has a beach house in Malibu, though it remains unclear if it was impacted by the fire.
Former Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis was laid to rest on Thursday, January 9 at Athens’ First Cemetery, following a funeral service at the Athens Metropolis Cathedral.
The ceremony was conducted with the honours accorded to a sitting prime minister. Simitis was laid to rest next to the co-founder of PASOK Andreas Papandreou.
Simitis’ wife, Daphne, their daughters Fiona and Marilena, and their families placed white roses and received the folded Greek flag that draped his casket.
The funeral procession paused at the Greek Parliament and the Monument of the Unknown Soldier before reaching the cemetery, where an honour guard fired three ceremonial shots.
Prominent attendees included Greece’s President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, current and former PASOK party members, and political figures such as Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who gave a eulogy and called Simitis “a fighter against dictatorship and a noble servant of democracy.”
Relatives and officials attended Costas Simitis’ funeral in Athens, Greece. Photo: AP Photo / Petros Giannakouris.
Known as the architect of Greece’s entry into the eurozone, Simitis’ tenure as prime minister (1996–2004) was marked by significant achievements, including securing Cyprus’ EU membership, preparing Athens for the 2004 Olympics, and implementing major infrastructure projects.
In her eulogy, President Sakellaropoulou praised him for “setting the bar high for a strong, equal Greece in Europe.”
Mourners lined the streets to pay their respects, recalling Simitis’ pragmatism and reformative policies.
Born in 1936, Simitis studied law and economics in Germany and the UK before entering politics. He passed away on Sunday at the age of 88, after a life dedicated to modernising Greece and strengthening its ties with Europe.
