Former Northern Territory politician Nick Dondas AM has been remembered as a larger-than-life character at a state memorial service on Monday, November 18.
Dozens gathered at Darwin’s Christ Church Cathedral on Monday for the state memorial. His daughters, Katrina and Amelia, both spoke of his legacy.
“Dad, we will forever miss your optimistic spirit and compassion you had for those around you, and your resilience and strength in trying times,” Amelia said.
NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said Mr Dondas was “one of the Territory’s greats.”
Mr Dondas, born in 1939 to a Greek migrant family in Perth, became a prominent figure in the Northern Territory’s political and business landscape.
Nick Dondas in 1996.
After moving to the NT in 1955 to assist his uncle, Mick Paspalis, at Hotel Darwin, Dondas pursued diverse ventures, including playing grade rugby league across Australia and England, running a premium car service in Hong Kong, and managing several iconic Darwin businesses such as Take 5 Cafe and Beef Baron.
Entering politics in 1976, Dondas became a founding member of the NT’s first Legislative Assembly. Over two decades with the Country Liberal Party, he served as Deputy Chief Minister, Speaker, and held multiple ministerial roles. His political career extended briefly to federal politics, representing the NT from 1996 to 1998.
In 1995, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his contributions to politics and the NT Legislative Assembly.
Mr Dondas also left a lasting legacy in the Greek community and as a founding figure of Rugby League in the NT. He passed away on September 8, 2023, at the age of 84.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia (GOAA) has issued a warning to the public after becoming aware of deceptive messages being sent from a fraudulent email account impersonating His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia.
The fake account, using the email address myofficreplymail409@gmail.com, claims to be from the Archbishop and is part of an identity theft scam.
The Archdiocese has urged recipients of any communication from this fake email to ignore them and, in general, exercise heightened caution, carefully assess the content of any such messages and, under no circumstances, provide personal information if requested. If deemed necessary, they may contact the offices of the Archdiocese by phone for verification.
The Archdiocese has confirmed that it is working with relevant authorities to investigate the case and prevent further incidents of identity theft.
The warning highlights the importance of staying alert to online scams and protecting personal information in the digital age.
Susie and John Rerakis, the former owners of Philhellene restaurant at Moonee Ponds in Victoria, have recently opened Athos Cafe in Strathmore.
The husband-and-wife team told The Herald Sun they will sell traditional Greek food such as baklava and moussaka at their new cafe, but the menu will change every day.
“I do have the best set up, using reclaimed recycled materials. In the cafe we’ll use dill, mint, parsley, leeks and silverbeet – everything that’s looking great, we’ll use,” John said.
John added that he will also continue to champion regional Crete cuisine on the menu, while there will also be a grab-and-go meal counter.
The Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW) have issued a statement expressing solidarity with the People of Palestine, and calling for an immediate end to the war with Israel.
Full statement in English:
The Greek Orthodox Community of New South Wales condemns the ongoing aerial bombardment of the Gaza Strip and the suburbs of Beirut, resulting in the deaths of more than 40,000 civilians, mainly women and children, and many thousands injured.
It is unacceptable for the United States of America to remain silent and declare that it will not reduce its military support to Israel. This clear indifference by the United States has plunged the entire region into instability with the cost in human lives spiralling out of control.
Over 1.9 million people have fled their homes while 50% of buildings in Gaza have been levelled and the area has been deemed uninhabitable by the United Nations.
The Greek Orthodox Community of New South Wales expresses its solidarity with the People of Palestine and calls for an immediate end to the war.
The Greek Orthodox Community of New South Wales believes in the creation of a truly independent and viable Palestinian State on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital and the return of refugees to their homes based on the relevant UN resolutions, as well as the release of all prisoners and from both sides.
The two peoples Israeli and Palestinian can live in peace and prosperity next to each other each in their own homeland.
The Greek Orthodox Community of New South Wales condemns any incitement of racial hatred and anti-Semitism against Israelis or Palestinians.
From the Board of Director of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW
Victorian Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos finds himself at the centre of a heated national debate over public access to culturally significant Indigenous sites, as climbers and conservationists push back against sweeping restrictions at the world-renowned Mount Arapiles.
In recent years, Parks Victoria has systematically reduced rock climbing access at Mount Arapiles – also known as Dyurrite – as part of a broader agreement with traditional owners aimed at protecting cultural heritage. The closures have affected over 1,000 climbing routes, including some of the area’s most iconic climbs.
Mr Dimopoulos defended the government’s position in an ABC Radio interview this week, framing the changes as necessary to preserve the site’s cultural and environmental integrity.
“This is Australia’s most spectacular rock formations, right here,” he said, adding, “Imagine going to the pyramids of Egypt and imagine just putting a bolt in the pyramids. Like, it’s completely unacceptable.”
His remarks have drawn criticism from climbers, who argue that safety bolts and chalk leave minimal impact and that they have long been stewards of the environment.
Some climbers have said the bolts are there to save lives, pointing out the contradiction of allowing metal telecommunications towers atop the formation while banning climbing infrastructure.
Parks Victoria has systematically reduced rock climbing access at Mount Arapiles. Photo: Jason Edwards.
Mr Dimopoulos’ grasp of the issue has also come under scrutiny. During the interview, he inaccurately claimed the majority of Victoria’s rock art is located at the site, despite most of it being in the nearby Grampians.
Parks Victoria’s engagement with the climbing community has been a sticking point. Critics accuse the agency of relying on unverifiable claims to justify restrictions, including assertions of graffiti and environmental damage allegedly caused by climbers. Climbers counter that much of the supposed harm, including chainsawed trees and graffiti, likely stems from other park users.
Mr Dimopoulos met with Climbing Victoria this week, and the group said they felt “heard,” a rare moment of progress for climbers who say they’ve largely been excluded from discussions.
The debate over Mount Arapiles underscores the broader challenge of balancing public recreation, cultural heritage, and conservation.
Mr Dimopoulos described the current moment as “a time to celebrate” Mount Arapiles’ significance, but for many climbers, it marks a significant loss of access to one of Australia’s most treasured climbing destinations.
Marcus Stoinis smashed an unbeaten 61 off just 27 balls as Australia cruised to a seven-wicket victory over Pakistan on Monday night, completing a 3-0 clean sweep in the T20 series.
Stoinis hammered five fours and five sixes, guiding Australia to their modest target of 118 with 8.4 overs to spare at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart.
Earlier, Pakistan crumbled from 61-1 to be bowled out for 117. Aaron Hardie claimed 3-21, Adam Zampa 2-11, and player of the series Spencer Johnson contributed 2-24 in a dominant Australian bowling display.
That SIX from Stoinis is far better than whole current Pakistani t20 players, 1st we watch Maxwell power hitting and today it's Marcus Stoinis, have any Pakistani player played like this in this series?#PAKvsAUS#AUSvsPAK#AUSvPAK#CT25pic.twitter.com/ODUcGjwnaI
“When Stoinis is going like that, he’s really hard to stop,” said captain Josh Inglis, who will now join the Australia Test squad for the first of five Tests against India starting Friday in Perth.
Australia had already secured the series with wins in Brisbane by 29 runs and in Sydney by 13 runs.
In other news, Pakistan has appointed former fast bowler Aqib Javed as interim white-ball coach.
Following Gary Kirsten’s resignation last month, Test coach Jason Gillespie stepped in to lead the Australia tour, during which Pakistan secured their first ODI series win in Australia in 22 years.
Javed will begin his tenure with Pakistan’s tour of Zimbabwe starting Sunday and remain in charge until the Champions Trophy, hosted by Pakistan and scheduled to begin in February.
Milorad Zaric has been charged with murder after allegedly stabbing his neighbour Vicky Van Aken, nee Apostolopoulos, to death in front of her children in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
In an extreme act of bravery, it’s believed Vicky was fatally stabbed by Mr Zaric while shielding his fearful, injured teenage son from danger.
Victoria’s Senior Sergeant Chris Ellway said the exact circumstances of the incident on Saturday, November 16 were still being investigated, but it appeared Vicky was allegedly attacked after answering her door to Mr Zaric.
Three teenagers were at the home at the time: the woman’s two children and their friend, the 17-year-old son of the alleged killer.
The 17-year-old suffered minor lacerations during the incident. Ellway said the neighbours were known to each other but were not in a relationship, and Vicky’s death was not being treated as a family violence incident.
Police investigators in Cousin Drive, Bayswater. Photo: Simon Schluter.
Mr Zaric was charged with murder, and fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Sunday morning, appearing in the dock with a short grey beard and grey hair, and wearing a white jumpsuit.
The court was told Mr Zaric was withdrawing from drugs and alcohol, and needed to be seen by a custody nurse.
Detective Daniel Magee said investigators needed more time than usual to prepare the brief of evidence in the case, as they needed to work through material including drug analysis and police officers’ body-worn camera footage.
A magistrate denied the request and remanded Mr Zaric in custody to face court again on February 14.
Friends and family have expressed their shock at Vicky’s death, with many remembering her as a doting mum to her two sons.
“She was such a family person, just invested in her kids, her nephews, everyone around her. She was always present at everything,” one friend said.
Greece plans to repay €5 billion ($5.3 billion) in bailout-era debt ahead of schedule by 2025, signaling its ongoing economic recovery. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the move during a banking conference in Athens on Monday, calling it “a signal of the country’s fiscal recovery.”
“This … underscores our confidence in public finances and reflects our commitment to fiscal discipline,” Mitsotakis said.
The Finance Ministry outlined plans to reduce debt through primary surpluses, loan repayments, and tackling tax evasion.
While Greece has made significant progress since its financial crisis, which required extensive borrowing from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, the country now faces mounting public discontent over the rising cost of living.
Mitsotakis’ center-right government, re-elected in 2023, is under pressure as high inflation eats into household budgets. Although opposition parties have struggled to mount a strong challenge, the cost-of-living crisis has hurt government approval ratings and fueled union protests.
Η ελληνική διμερής σχέση με τις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες δεν αφορά μόνο την άμυνα και την ασφάλεια. Την έχουμε καταστήσει και μια ισχυρή οικονομική σχέση, αν δει κανείς και το ύψος των άμεσων επενδύσεων που έχουμε από αμερικανικά κεφάλαια στην Ελλάδα. https://t.co/7cNzLUDJnopic.twitter.com/bLacaqMicB
The nation’s two largest unions, representing private and public sector workers, have called a general strike for Wednesday. The strike is expected to disrupt transport, including island ferries, and halt public services. A protest march is also planned in central Athens.
On Monday, the GSEE private sector union accused the government of ignoring workers’ concerns.
“The cost of living is sky-high and our salaries rock-bottom, (while) high housing costs have left young people in a tragic position,” GSEE chairman Yiannis Panagopoulos said.
Despite these challenges, Greece’s economy is forecast to grow by 2.1% in 2024, with steady growth anticipated in the following years. Unemployment, now below 10%, is expected to continue declining, while inflation is projected at 3% this year.
The Italian government has approved Australia’s request to extradite Perry Kouroumblis – the prime suspect in the gruesome Easey Street murders in Melbourne.
The Australian-Greek national is wanted by Victorian police in connection with the murders of Susan Bartlett and Suzanne Armstrong on Easey Street, Collingwood, in 1977.
Ms Armstrong and Ms Bartlett were stabbed to death in their share house. Ms Armstrong’s 16-month-old son was found alone in his cot in the aftermath.
At the time of the murders, Kouroumblis, then 17, was found with a knife in his car, which he claimed to have found on railway tracks near the crime scene.
In 2017, Kouroumblis left Australia for Greece after being asked for a DNA sample by cold case investigators. He couldn’t be extradited due to Greece’s statute of limitations.
The Italian government has approved Australia’s request to extradite Perry Kouroumblis – the prime suspect in the gruesome Easey Street murders in Melbourne.
His lawyer, Serena Tucci, said on Monday that Italy’s Justice Minister, Carlo Nordio, had agreed to Australia’s extradition request, and she had informed Kouroumblis of the decision.
“He’s lucid. He’s very attentive to what’s being told to him, and he’s prepared to face his trial in Australia,” Ms Tucci told the ABC.
Before extradition can take place, judge Aldo Morgigni from the Rome Court of Appeal, must grant final approval under an executive order. Ms Tucci said she expected the judge to make a decision on the case this week.
Once the extradition had been approved, Australian authorities have 15 days to transfer him from Rome to Melbourne.
Over the weekend of November 16–17, the Pan-Macedonian Federation of South Australia brought the vibrant Dimitria Festival to life in Adelaide.
This 43rd annual event honoured the rich culture, history, and traditions of Macedonia, delighting more than 1,000 attendees with music, dance, food, and festivities.
The Dimitria Festival stands as the cornerstone event for the Pan-Macedonian Federation of SA, a federation representing five organisations.
Young and old attended the event. All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Peter Tantalos.
Reflecting on the tireless efforts of the Federation’s committees, President of the Federation Konnie Agalianos expressed her admiration.
“This group of dedicated committees and their members have worked so hard to preserve and uphold our rich traditions, our folklore, customs, religion, music, dance, and, of course, our food,” she said.
“They came here from Greece looking for a better future for their families, and in the process, they developed a multicultural community for all Australians. It is our filotimo and filoxenia – which means generosity of spirit – that we share with all people. So today as we celebrate Saint Dimitrios, with all his blessings, let us look towards our future and keep our traditions alive.”
President Konnie Agalianos.The Hon. Cressida O’Hanlon MP.
Enduring impact of the Greek community in SA
Speaking at the festival, state Member for Dunstan, Cressida O’Hanlon MP, commended the contributions of the Hellenic Macedonian community.
“The Hellenic Macedonian community in South Australia has played an enormous role in promoting Greek culture across our great State – sharing cultures, preserving languages, and celebrating customs and traditions while, at the same time, participating in the life of the broader community…”
Ms O’Hanlon went on to highlight the significance of the festival, saying, “The Dimitria Greek Festival is an excellent example of how diverse communities give us the opportunity to experience and understand the significance of rich tradition, culture, heritage, faith, family, and community.”
Addressing the impact of multiculturalism in SA, she added: “our Greek community is contributing to a skilled and highly educated workforce that is helping our State to open doors to new opportunities and economic growth. Today, in every sector – from academia to business, community services, and government – you will find members of our Greek community… thank you for the significant economic and social contributions that you make to our great State, with energy, enthusiasm, and vibrancy.”
The Mayor of the City of West Torrens, Michael Coxon also praised the 43rd Dimitria Festival, highlighting its cultural significance and the values it promotes.
“You are the backbone of the community of West Torrens and an outstanding example of inclusion, acceptance, and generosity,” the Mayor said.
A celebration of history and tradition
Dr. Alexandra Theodoropoulou, Consul General of Greece in SA, shared heartfelt remarks, saying: “To you proud and beloved Greek Macedonians, congratulations for keeping not only the traditions [alive] but the beautiful name and symbol of our country.”
“I cannot help but say how moved I am to see the beautiful sun of Vergina, the symbol of Alexander the Great, on a beautiful sunny day here in Australia. I could never have imagined that this ‘sun’ would have travelled all the way here…” she added.
Dr. Alexandra Theodoropoulou, Consul General of Greece in SA.
The festival featured captivating performances by the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia Dance Group, the Greek Lyceum of SA Dance Group, and the Flambouron Philanthropic Society of SA, among others. These groups showcased a rich array of traditional Macedonian and Greek folk dances, offering festival-goers a vibrant connection to Hellenic culture and heritage.
The celebrations continued into the late evening with live music providing an energetic atmosphere of kefi, encouraging attendees to join in the dancing and celebrate their cultural inheritance of the great Hellenistic region of Macedonia.
Special guests included Steve Georganas MP, Federal Member for Adelaide, and His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide.
*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Peter Tantalos.
