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Great Aussie Cultural BBQ to be held on Australia Day in Sydney

The Greek Herald
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Great Aussie Cultural BBQ to be held on Australia Day in Sydney

The Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW) has announced its celebration of Australia Day on Sunday, 26 January 2025, with the much-anticipated Great Aussie Cultural BBQ at the Greek Community Home for the Aged in Earlwood.

This event will celebrate Australia’s rich multicultural heritage, promoting inclusion, respect, and community participation.

The Great Aussie Cultural BBQ offers a vibrant day of festivities, starting with a First Nation Welcome to Country ceremony to honour the traditional custodians of the land.

Guests will experience live entertainment reflecting the diversity of Australia, featuring traditional Greek, Italian, and Arabic music and dance, showcasing the cultural fabric that makes Australia so unique.

Traditional Greek food will be on display.

In addition to the exciting entertainment, attendees will enjoy a delicious range of diverse cultural foods, creating a feast that celebrates Australia’s multiculturalism.

The event is open to the public, inviting people of all backgrounds to come together and celebrate the values of respect, inclusion and community.

Event Details:

  • Date: Sunday, 26 January 2025
  • Time: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Location: Greek Community Home for the Aged, 2 Woolcott St Earlwood
  • Admission: Free

This year’s Australia Day celebration at The Greek Community Home for the Aged is more than just a barbecue – it’s a moment to celebrate unity, embrace cultural diversity, and strengthen the sense of belonging for all Australians.

Stefanos Tsitsipas promises to return to meet GCM school students

The Greek Herald
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Stefanos Tsitsipas promises to return to meet GCM school students

The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) recently welcomed Stefanos Tsitsipas to the Greek Centre ahead of the Australian Open.

GCM President Bill Papastergiadis, Vice President Michael Karamitos, Treasurer A/Prof Marinis Pirpiris, and Board Member Manuel Tsirmiris along with GCM staff warmly greeted the tennis star. They engaged in a heartfelt discussion about his connection to Melbourne and the Greek community.

Stefanos Tsitsipas visited the Greek Centre in Melbourne. All photos: Astrini Kopeloudi- Wallace.

Stefanos shared that he was thrilled to return to Melbourne, sharing his deep affection for the city which he has described in previous interviews as feeling “like home.”

During his visit, he expressed enthusiasm about being surrounded by fellow Greeks, adding, “Their support and cheers from the sidelines give me strength.”

During his time at the Greek Centre, Stefanos also vowed to return to Melbourne to meet with students from the GCM schools.

Stefanos Tsitsipas visited the Greek Centre in Melbourne. All photos: Astrini Kopeloudi- Wallace.
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He expressed his passion for language and education, emphasising the importance of staying connected to his roots and inspiring the next generation of Greek Australians. This commitment further solidified his bond with the community and highlighted his genuine appreciation for their unwavering support.

Mr Papastergiadis was delighted with the Greek tennis star’s return to the Greek Centre, saying, “We are thrilled that Stefanos and his team selected to use the Greek Community’s Centre for their media interviews and commitments.”

Stefanos Tsitsipas visited the Greek Centre in Melbourne. All photos: Astrini Kopeloudi- Wallace.

“The Greek Centre is a cultural landmark and beacon for Greeks from all over the world that we hope is welcoming to all. Stefanos was fantastic and his genuine interest in our schools’ program was well received by my Board colleagues and our staff,” Papastergiadis added.

“Although Stefanos was knocked out early in the Australian Open, he knows he has a second home at the Greek Community of Melbourne, and we hope to expand our relationship with him on our educational initiatives. This includes hopefully a potential involvement in our Melbourne University Hellenic Global Diaspora Program.”

The GCM looks forward to further opportunities to collaborate with and support Stefanos as he continues to inspire and unite Greeks worldwide.

‘Special Ks’ street art a huge hit in Melbourne’s iconic Hosier Lane

Andriana Simos
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‘Special Ks’ street art a huge hit in Melbourne’s iconic Hosier Lane

A larger-than-life poster featuring the ‘Special Ks’ – Australian Open 2022 men’s doubles champions Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios – has popped up at Melbourne’s iconic Hosier Lane.

Produced by bespoke network Yitonia alongside artist John Barrett, the poster showcases the moment Kyrgios and Kokkinakis celebrated their AO men’s doubles victory back in 2022.

yitonia special ks hosier lane melbourne
The artwork.
yitonia special ks hosier lane melbourne
John Barrett.

“We really wanted to encapsulate the attitude that Kyrgios and Kokkinakis have,” John told The Greek Herald about the creative work.

“I really like that they’re so entertaining, so when they came together as a doubles team, we sort of wanted to bring that personality off the court and into the design.”

After six months of creative brainstorming with the Yitonia team, John’s vision finally came to life and the poster is now on display at Hosier Lane, an iconic place in Melbourne known for its graffiti and street art.

“The poster is a couple of metres tall and it’s just really surreal seeing it up in Hosier Lane. The street is so synonymous with artwork in Melbourne so seeing your own work there is a bit of a weird feeling,” John said.

yitonia special ks hosier lane melbourne
yitonia special ks hosier lane melbourne

Yitonia’s Dean Kotsianis added that he loved collaborating with John on the creative work and seeing it on display was exciting.

“It was pretty obvious to us that some of the main personalities of the Australian Open are Kyrgios and Kokkinakis… so it was kind of a no-brainer that we’d collaborate on something like that,” Dean said.

“It’s a little bit creative, a little bit different. Melbourne is known for its street art, it’s a language we speak down here, so that’s what kind of inspired it as well.”

yitonia special ks hosier lane melbourne
yitonia special ks hosier lane melbourne
Yitonia’s Dean Kotsianis helps install the artwork.

As for whether John and Dean hope the poster gets the attention of the ‘Special Ks’ themselves, they remained hopeful.

“That would be cool, no doubt,” Dean said, while John added, “That’s the goal, we’d love to seem them get around it!”

Kyrgios and Kokkinakis, you heard it here first!

Greek Consul General in Sydney meets with youth from Diaspora Symposium

Andriana Simos
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Greek Consul General in Sydney meets with youth from Diaspora Symposium

The Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis, recently hosted a meeting with participants from the 1st Greek Youth Diaspora Symposium which took place in Athens, Greece on 27–28 November 2024.

During the meeting, the young participants aged 18–25 shared their enthusiasm for the Symposium and their memorable experiences in Greece.

The two-day Symposium, titled “Diaspora Dialogues: Connecting Young Voices around the World,” was organised by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of the Strategic Plan for the Greek Diaspora 2024-2027.

The initiative provided a unique opportunity for participants to connect with their Greek heritage, engage in cultural exchanges, and form lasting friendships with peers from around the globe.

Victoria’s Liberal leader and Steve Dimopoulos MP clash over neo-Nazi claims

The Greek Herald
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Victoria’s Liberal leader and Steve Dimopoulos MP clash over neo-Nazi claims

Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin has rejected claims by Victoria’s Minister for Tourism, Steve Dimopoulos, that he failed to strongly condemn neo-Nazis.

The controversy arose after reports in the Herald Sun linked Battin to a November 2024 rally in his Berwick electorate, where members of the white supremacist National Socialist Network were present. Battin categorically denied inviting the group and stated he left the rally immediately upon recognising their presence.

“There is no place for hate-filled people in our state, period,” Battin said in a statement to the Herald Sun over the weekend.

Steve Dimopoulos MP
Steve Dimopoulos has criticised Brad Battin.

At a press conference on Monday, January 13, Dimopoulos criticised Battin for using “weasel words” and not taking a stronger stance. He accused the Opposition Leader of failing to unequivocally disown neo-Nazis and called for unity against hate.

“He [Battin] needs to step up and say to these people, ‘you are wrong, and you are disgraceful’,” Dimopoulos said.

In response, Battin described Dimopoulos’ remarks as a “political ploy” and defended his record.

“I would never, ever in my life stand beside, near or around a neo-Nazi. I would call them out for the scum they are,” he said. “For Steve Dimopoulos to use this as a political ploy is an absolute disgrace…”

He also criticised the Allan government’s response to rising anti-Semitism, arguing that more proactive measures are needed to ensure the Jewish community feels safe.

Source: Herald Sun

Nikolaos Vlanis sentenced for kidnapping ex-girlfriend and extortion

The Greek Herald
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Nikolaos Vlanis sentenced for kidnapping ex-girlfriend and extortion

Nikolaos Vlanis, a 20-year-old apprentice electrician from Murrumbeena, has been sentenced after pleading guilty to kidnapping and assaulting his teenage ex-girlfriend, as well as attempting to extort $20,000 from a pizza shop owner.

According to The Herald Sun, in July 2024, Vlanis forcibly took his 17-year-old ex-girlfriend to his home, where he physically assaulted her and threatened her with a hammer.

Earlier in May, he also made threatening phone calls to his mate’s boss, demanding money and issuing violent threats.

Vlanis fronted the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on Friday, January 10, 2025.
Nikolaos Vlanis, a 20-year-old apprentice electrician from Murrumbeena, has been sentenced.

After a police investigation linked Vlanis to the crimes, he was arrested. At sentencing, the court heard he had started therapy and had a positive reference from his employer.

Magistrate Jan Maclean sentenced him to a 12-month community corrections order with 100 hours of community service.

Source: The Herald Sun

Key decisions await as GOCSA hold first meeting after elections

The Greek Herald
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Key decisions await as GOCSA hold first meeting after elections

The Electoral Committee of the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia (GOCSA) has announced the successful candidates elected to the Administrative Council for the 2025-2026 term.

The elected members, listed in descending order of votes, are:

  • Sylvia Cassoudakis
  • Stan Salagaras
  • Penny Anagnostou
  • Nickolas (Nick) Psarianos
  • Argiro Terzakis
  • Sophie Diamandi
  • Athanasios Koutelas
  • Arthas Flabouris
  • Arthur Galantomos
  • Peter Gonis
  • Eleni Mermingis
  • Vasilios (Bill) Pantelis
  • Emanuel Frossinakis
  • Panayiotis Ppiros
  • Nicholas Glaros

These results came after GOCSA held its Administrative Council elections on Saturday, January 11, with 600 members casting their votes at Olympic Hall in Adelaide.

The electoral contest saw Peter Ppiros and his Independent Community Progressive Party securing 11 out of the 15 positions on the Council, leaving Peter Gonis’ Leading the Community Party ticket with four.

The newly elected Administrative Council and Supervisory Committee will hold their first meeting today, 14 January 2025, at 7pm at GOCSA’s premises to form and announce the structure of the new Board.

Blessing of the Waters held for the first time at Wallaroo in SA

The Greek Herald
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Blessing of the Waters held for the first time at Wallaroo in SA

For the first time in its history, the fishing village of Wallaroo in South Australia celebrated the Feast of Epiphany with a unique Blessing of the Waters ceremony on Thursday, January 9.

The Divine Liturgy was celebrated earlier at the local Greek Orthodox Parish of St Nicholas, which operates regularly with the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia and under the guidance of His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide.

The service saw a significant turnout of young people and families from Adelaide, many of whom were holidaying in the area.

Father Michael Psaromatis, the parish priest, later invited the congregation to the beach at Wallaroo for the Blessing of the Waters ceremony.

During the ceremony, nine young men and boys entered the sea to retrieve the Holy Cross. The Cross was successfully retrieved by Dionysis Stamatelopoulos from the Parish of Saint George in Thebarton, Adelaide.

Following the ceremony, the congregation enjoyed a festive meal prepared by members of the parish committee.

Greece and Saudi Arabia strengthen bilateral relations at landmark meeting

The Greek Herald
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Greece and Saudi Arabia strengthen bilateral relations at landmark meeting

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman co-chaired the inaugural Greece-Saudi Arabia High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Al Ula on Monday, January 13.

This meeting marks the first such council between Greece and a Middle Eastern nation, underlining the growing importance of bilateral relations between the two countries.

In the meeting, Mitsotakis highlighted the strategic significance of Greece’s cooperation with Saudi Arabia, particularly in the context of global instability.

“The security of Europe and the Middle East is interdependent,” Mitsotakis stated, emphasising the role of Saudi Arabia as a key partner in stabilising the region.

The two leaders discussed a broad range of cooperation opportunities, including defence, trade, energy, tourism, culture, and sports.

Mitsotakis underscored the need for collaboration in energy, investments, and trade, with particular focus on shipping, agrinutrient products and construction.

They signed off on 46 initiatives agreed upon by the joint committees of the Council, with each committee focusing on specific sectors such as political relations, military cooperation and energy.

The leaders also addressed regional and global issues, including the ongoing crises in Gaza and Syria. Mitsotakis reiterated Greece’s call for a ceasefire in Gaza and a political resolution for a two-state solution. Additionally, he reaffirmed Greece’s commitment to Syria’s territorial integrity and discussed the importance of maritime safety in the Red Sea.

Source: AMNA.gr

Snow and storms cause chaos across Greece

The Greek Herald
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Snow and storms cause chaos across Greece

Greece is grappling with severe weather, bringing heavy snow, rain and storms that have disrupted daily life across the country.

According to Ekathimerini, regions like Epirus, Macedonia, Thrace and Thessaly are experiencing intense snowfall, while strong winds are impacting the Aegean and Ionian seas.

In Macedonia and Thrace, hazardous conditions have closed roads and left several villages in Halkidiki under snow. Snowplows are working to maintain access, and snow chains are mandatory on many roads.

Schools in northern Greece remained shut on Monday, January 13 due to the adverse weather, which also caused road closures on Mount Parnitha near Athens.

In the Peloponnese, Kalamata faced flooding and landslides, damaging businesses and sweeping away vehicles. Strong winds also suspended the Rion–Antirion ferry service.

Heavy rainfall has been recorded in Eastern Peloponnese and Central Greece, with the National Meteorological Service forecasting continued adverse weather into Tuesday morning before conditions improve later in the day.

Source: Ekathimerini

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