Oakleigh Grammar’s Year 7 students are making a meaningful impact in the Melbourne community after recently carrying out a food truck service program in partnership with Five Loaves.
The initiative, part of the school’s Service as Action program, saw approximately 60 students, with the support of teachers, collaborate to prepare and cook the nutritious meals at school, while five students and their families volunteered to serve the home-cooked meals to individuals experiencing homelessness in Melbourne’s CBD.
Fresh ingredients were gathered, and additional food donations were sourced with the help of generous local businesses. On the menu were wholesome dishes including Lamb and Vegetable Stew, Greek Salad, Chicken and Vegetable Pasta Bake, and Mini Muffins.
Students preparing the meals at Oakleigh Grammar.Students and teachers serving meals at the Queen Victoria Market.
The program gave students hands-on experience in planning, cooking, and community service, fostering their sense of empathy and teamwork. By working closely with Five Loaves, they were able to provide nutritious meals and a moment of relief for vulnerable individuals in the Melbourne area.
Oakleigh Grammar’s values of Humility, Aspiration, Respect and Kindness were on full display and the School is committed to cultivating socially conscious students who actively contribute to the wider community.
The Food Truck Program is a testament to the School’s dedication to fostering not only academic growth, but also a sense of responsibility and care for others.
The Modern Greek Studies Association of Australia and New Zealand (MGSAANZ), in collaboration with the University of Sydney’s Department of Modern Greek Studies, will host its 15th Biennial Conference on December 5-7, 2024. Titled ‘After the Crisis, Where to? Discussing Modern Greek Studies in the Age of Uncertainty,’ the event will take place at the University of Sydney.
Convened by Professor Vrasidas Karalis, Sir Nicholas Laurantus Professor of Modern Greek and Byzantine Studies at USYD, and Associate Professor Anthony Dracopoulos, Chair of the Discipline of Modern Greek and Byzantine Studies at USYD, the conference aims to explore the future of Modern Greek studies in Australia, nearly six years after its last gathering.
The event will bring together academics, researchers, writers, and cultural figures to discuss key topics, including the teaching of the Modern Greek language, current academic research trends, and the publication of Greek literature. The conference will also focus on new creative writing, politics, culture, and art, with an emphasis on the Greek Australian diaspora’s contributions to visual arts, literary writing, music and cultural performance.
The event will bring together academics, researchers, writers, and cultural figures.
In addition, the conference will dedicate a significant portion of its discussions to the works of Greek Australian authors, including books published in both Greek and English. It will also honour the legacies of recently passed literary figures, such as Dimitris Tsaloumas and Antigone Kefala.
The conference promises to be a comprehensive examination of Modern Greek studies, reflecting on past challenges and looking forward to new opportunities for growth and cultural exchange in the years ahead.
Program highlights
Day 1: Thursday, December 5
The day will commence with a focus on Cornelius Castoriadis. Topics include:
“The Two Castoriadis’s” by Prof. Peter Murphy.
“Castoriadis and the Project of Critique” by Prof. Craig Browne.
“Castoriadis on the Creation of Monstrosity” by Dr Jodie Heap.
“Castoriadis and Guy Debord: Against the Tyranny of Images” by Prof. Vrasidas Karalis.
A post-graduate session will feature emerging scholars presenting on topics ranging from Byzantine culture and Greek foreign policy to contemporary Greek cinema.
Day 2: Friday, December 6
Friday focuses on language, literature, and cultural identity:
“Modern Greek as a Second Language” by Patricia Trifylis.
“Greek in an AI World” by Peter Pontikis.
Keynote speaker Prof. Katerina Kostiou will delve into “C.P. Cavafy’s Construction of Poetic Personae.”
Additional sessions explore diasporic narratives, AI implications for Greek language education, and literary contributions from Greek Australian writers.
Day 3: Saturday, December 7
The final day explores pedagogy, migration, and cultural storytelling:
“Greek Language Learning at La Trobe University” by Dr Stavroula Nikoloudis.
“Modern Greek Education in the AI Era” by Dr Patricia Koromvokis.
“Communicating Identities in Digital Spaces” by Dr Melina Mallos.
The conference concludes with discussions on diasporic identity and storytelling, featuring sessions like “Hellenic Dreaming” by Dr Helen Vatsikopoulos and a panel on publishing in the diaspora.
This gathering promises to be a pivotal event for academics, educators, and cultural actors passionate about the future of Modern Greek Studies.
Fronditha Care hosted its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday, November 26, with more than 50 people in attendance.
In his opening remarks, Kostas Livadaras, Fronditha Care President and Board Chair, spoke to a year of notable achievements telling members: “This year, we have firmly established that we are a community of people with incredible impact who make a genuine difference to the lives of so many.”
He added, “We have achieved significant growth in our operations and largest turnover in our history, with a larger workforce than ever before supporting more elders than we have done in our 47-year history. Fronditha Care is thriving.”
Mr Livadaras noted that Fronditha Care’s success is rooted in more equitable and innovative ways of designing and delivering services, sustained by a robust workforce culture—a culture built on integrity, striving for excellence, smart thinking and innovation, and recognition of commitment and achievement.
He also spoke about the organisation’s finances.
“This year, Fronditha Care achieved robust financial performance, underscoring our commitment to sustainability and growth across the organisation. Our revenue increased to $106.9 million, the highest in our history, whilst EBITDA increased by 17% from FY22-23 to $9.7 million,” he said.
“Our productivity increased across Residential and Community Services alike with enviable occupancy rates of 98% and over 1,050 home care packages alone, again a first in our history. Our workforce also grew by 18% to over 1000 staff across Fronditha Care.”
Kostas Livadaras, Fronditha Care President and Board Chair.
Mr Livadaras spoke warmly about the establishment of the Fronditha Care Foundation, which marked a new era for the organisation.
“The Foundation was born out of a deep desire to build a better future for our elders and community. We are developing frameworks, programs and resources that will set new standards for delivering culturally specific aged care across Australia. We are very proud of what we have already achieved and excited about the next steps of the Fronditha Care Foundation,” he said.
Mr Livadaras ended his report saying: “We are preparing for the upcoming changes to the Aged Care Standards and the new Aged Care Act, noting that these sector reforms align with our ambition to turn our challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities, ensuring we continue to lead with integrity, compassion and a profound respect for the rich heritage of our organisation and the people we serve.”
Alex Dimou, Treasurer, provided a comprehensive financial report for members. He outlined the key factors underpinning Fronditha Care’s robust financial posture and addressed questions about the organisation’s performance.
Members congratulated the Board, CEO, and Executive team for their dedication and commitment to ensuring Fronditha Care thrives for many years to come.
The meeting unanimously endorsed three candidates who were nominated for election to the Board of Directors.
Fronditha Care has announced that the 2024 Fronditha Care Board members are:
Police have released CCTV footage of two men they believe are connected to the suspected murder of 72-year-old Bill Frangos in Adelaide’s north-west.
Frangos’ body was discovered by firefighters inside his home on Essex Street, Woodville Gardens, following a house fire on November 7.
After investigating the scene, authorities determined the fire was deliberately set, leading them to suspect that Frangos had been murdered.
The footage also shows a distinctive red Ford Falcon ute with a chrome rollbar. Photo: Nine.
The footage shows two men near the property on the night of the incident, as well as a distinctive red Ford Falcon ute with a chrome roll bar, which police believe may be linked to the crime.
“Major Crime Detectives are investigating if the people who murdered Bill were known to him or were in the vicinity of his house prior to his murder,” Detective Inspector Andrew Macrae said.
Police are urging anyone with information about the two men or the vehicle to come forward.
Angelo Gargasoulas, the 33-year-old brother of Bourke Street killer James Gargasoulas, is facing serious drug trafficking charges and may be granted bail to live with convicted sex offender John Buckley.
Gargasoulas appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, December 3, following his arrest after a police raid on his Carlton home on August 22. He is accused of disguising GHB in bottles labelled as aloe vera and distributing them across Melbourne via Uber.
The case came to light when co-accused Simon Simoudis told police that Gargasoulas had dropped off a box containing 1,4-butanediol at Simoudis’ address on July 10. During a raid, police seized drugs, including 21 bottles of GHB, and CCTV footage allegedly showed Gargasoulas delivering the box to the building shortly before the raid.
Six weeks later, Gargasoulas’ own home was raided, and police allegedly found 10 kilogramsg of 1,4-butanediol hidden in similar aloe vera bottles, along with fraudulent documents and a notebook.
At the bail hearing, Gargasoulas’ lawyer argued that the prosecution’s case was weak, citing the lack of DNA evidence linking him to the dropped package. Gargasoulas applied for bail to stay with a friend in Prahran who cares for Buckley, a former Geelong Grammar teacher and convicted pedophile.
Police opposed the bail, citing concerns about Gargasoulas living with a “registered sex offender” and the priority being given to Buckley’s care.
The court also heard that Gargasoulas had a history of involvement with the Court Integrated Services Program (CISP) and was on a community corrections order at the time of the alleged offences.
Magistrate Matthew Page adjourned the bail application, noting that the prosecution case was not weak and that Gargasoulas had a history of non-compliance with court orders. His bail hearing will continue on Wednesday, December 4.
Gargasoulas’ brother, James Gargasoulas, was responsible for the 2017 Bourke Street massacre, in which he killed six people in a horrific rampage.
Greek and Turkish diplomats held the third round of political dialogue talks in Athens, Greece on Tuesday, December 3, focusing on bilateral relations, EU-Turkey ties and regional developments.
The meeting, attended by Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou and Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Mehmet Kemal Bozay, aimed to prepare for the 2025 High-Level Cooperation Council in Turkey.
In a joint statement, both sides expressed a commitment to fostering cooperation and dialogue in a “constructive and positive atmosphere.”
The statement emphasised the two countries’ shared goal of enhancing both bilateral and international cooperation, particularly in the context of the upcoming 6th High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting scheduled for early 2025.
📌 Joint Statement following the Political Dialogue Meeting between the Deputy Foreign Ministers of the Hellenic Republic and the Republic of Türkiye (03.12.2024)
The discussions also covered regional issues and the state of Turkey-EU relations. These talks are part of broader efforts to improve relations between the two countries, which have historically been marked by tensions over issues such as irregular migration, the Cyprus dispute, territorial sovereignty in the Aegean and energy exploration.
In recent years, Greece and Turkey have taken steps to ease tensions, including a significant moment during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan‘s visit to Athens in December 2023. This visit resulted in a friendship declaration, visa facilitation for Turkish citizens to visit certain Greek islands, and a decrease in irregular migrant flows to Greece.
Despite the positive momentum, challenges remain. The long-standing disputes, particularly over Aegean territorial issues, continue to present obstacles, with recent clashes between Turkish and Greek jets underscoring the fragile nature of the normalisation process.
Additionally, deals reached by both countries with the US for fighter jets have raised concerns about the potential for renewed tensions in the region.
Greece’s government is optimistic that the United Kingdom will no longer block the return of the Parthenon Marbles following a key meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and UK Labour leader Keir Starmer on Tuesday, December 3.
Although No. 10 Downing Street insists there has been no change in its position, Greek officials were encouraged by the discussions.
A senior Greek government official said, “We welcome the fact that the British government will not stand in the way if there is an agreement with the British Museum.”
While neither government statement directly mentioned the marbles, the Greek official confirmed that Mitsotakis raised the issue in his one-on-one talks with Starmer.
Συναντήθηκα σήμερα με τον Πρωθυπουργό του Ηνωμένου Βασιλείου Sir Keir Starmer. Είναι αμοιβαία η βούλησή μας για ενίσχυση της συνεργασίας. Η Ελλάδα αποδίδει μεγάλη σημασία στις ελληνοβρετανικές σχέσεις και η συνάντηση αυτή αποτελεί ευκαιρία για να δοθεί νέα ώθηση σε αυτές. pic.twitter.com/yarFfZ5QAW
The Parthenon Marbles, originally part of a frieze from Athens’ Acropolis, were removed in the early 19th century by British diplomat Lord Elgin and have been housed in the British Museum ever since. Greece has long argued they were taken illegally and should be returned to be displayed in Athens, alongside the remaining sculptures.
The British Museum, however, remains governed by a 1963 law that prevents it from permanently returning the marbles, though a loan arrangement could be possible. Efforts to return the sculptures have gained momentum, with 53% of Britons supporting their return, according to a recent poll.
Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni emphasised the international shift in attitudes towards the restitution of cultural artefacts, calling the issue “ethical” and noting that “there is now an international climate that favours the return of cultural goods that have been stolen or forcibly extracted.” She added, “We do believe they will come back.”
The newly appointed Greek Consul in Perth, Eleni Georgopoulou, was officially welcomed at the Holy Diocese of Perth on Monday, December 2.
Accompanied by her husband and two children, the Consul was warmly received by His Grace Bishop Elpidios of Perth, representing His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia.
The evening included a formal dinner, during which Bishop Elpidios presented two videos: one on Patriarch Bartholomew’s visit to Australia, and another marking the centenary of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia (GOAA).
As a gesture of goodwill, Bishop Elpidios presented the Consul with a commemorative coin celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Greek War of Independence, as well as a special set of coins marking the centenary of the GOAA.
The evening concluded with an exchange of Christmas gifts, with Bishop Elpidios wishing all a blessed and joyful Christmas.
The 65-year-old Australian-Greek dual citizen arrived in Melbourne on Tuesday, December 3 at night.
Kouroumblis is accused of the murders of Suzanne Armstrong, 28, and Susan Bartlett, 27, who were found stabbed to death in their home in a “gruesome, horrific, frenzied homicide.” Armstrong was also raped, with DNA evidence collected at the scene.
Armstrong’s 16-month-old child was left unharmed in a cot nearby, with neighbours discovering the crime days later after hearing the baby’s cries.
Kouroumblis arrived in Melbourne late on Tuesday night. Photo: NewsWire / Jason Edwards.
Kouroumblis, who had been living in Greece, was arrested by Interpol at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport. Despite an extradition treaty between Australia and Greece, a Greek law previously prevented his arrest, as charges must be filed within 20 years of an offence.
Kouroumblis’ public defender, Serena Tucci, explained that he was unaware of Italy’s different legal requirements.
“He had no idea that there was a different law in Italy,” Tucci said. “He said he wants to come back to Australia and explain everything.”
Kouroumblis is expected to be formally charged with two counts of murder and one count of rape at a Melbourne court today. He had lived near the victims and was a 17-year-old student at the same school where Bartlett taught, but continues to maintain his innocence.
After his extradition flight from Rome, Kouroumblis was escorted to Melbourne’s police headquarters, where he spent the night ahead of his court appearance.
“I don’t think my purpose is to do something that the audience wants to watch necessarily, something that will have commercial success. I see theatre as a means to express myself and what I’m thinking,” Jeremy Artis tells The Greek Herald.
The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) is set to present its new theatre production Makriyannis. It’s a solo theatrical monologue performed by Artis and will open from Friday, December 6 to Saturday, December 7.
You’ll find it hard to venture into Melbourne’s Greek theatre space without seeing the passionate and humble Artis. With endless performance experience, he joined the GCM’s Creative Drama & Arts adult group amidst COVID-19 lockdowns and has since directed several of their shows. Artis’ plays with the group have been MόNοι, a story about belonging, then 22, a dramatic look at the Asia Minor Catastrophe, and in 2023, Girls in the Shadows, a successful comedy focusing on women’s struggles over time.
A still photo from MόNοι.
His latest work is a theatrical monologue about the memoirs of General Makriyannis from the 1821 Greek Revolution which is aptly titled, Makriyannis. With a historical and literary focus on the traumas endured during the revolution, the monologue uses Makriyannis’ memoirs to share the story.
Artis’ admiration for the memoirs led him to create this piece of theatre.
“I think it’s an amazing text. It’s a very powerful, strong text about human rights, and freedom… It’s very interesting how [Makriyannis] writes – he was illiterate. He learnt how to write in order to write his memoirs… that makes it powerful. He’s going from being a narrator to [speaking in] first person and changing voices and bringing other people in; it’s a very theatrical form,” he explains.
Rehearsals for Makriyannis.
Artis undertook extensive research into the writings of Makriyannis to create the monologue. He sorted through Makriyannis’ 800-page memoirs and narrowed down key moments of his life and time in the revolution. He also used articles and other literary works of Makriyannis to better understand his character and the life he led.
The monologue is performed in Greek and is accompanied by music and projected visuals and subtitles. Artis decided to employ these elements to engage his audience as he knows “we are so far away from that world” of the 1821 revolution.
Jeremy Artis.
When asked about his solo process of refining the monologue, Artis said, “It’s so challenging. You have to be very disciplined—stick to targets and time frames… My biggest concern was the timeline and the characters’ journey. I was trying to keep that even though I was cutting a lot of the text. That was a bit challenging.”
After viewing his performance of Makriyannis, Artis hopes audiences can take away the idea of human freedom. He hopes they can “connect back to our history as Greeks” and with themes of social rights, despite being disconnected from the revolution by time and place.
Artis is excited to share his new work with audiences over two shows this weekend on Friday, December 6 and Saturday, December 7 at the Doncaster Playhouse. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.greekcommunity.com.au/events/makriyannis
