The blue and white coloured human flag will coincide with a school visit of the United Cup’s majestic trophy, which is touring across Western Australia from Geraldton to Busselton this month.
The United Cup will feature 18 countries in a mixed-teams tennis tournament all competing in a round-robin format, vying for a spot in the finals. Each team is comprised of up to three male and three female players.
Greece will be pitted against Spain and Kazakhstan in group C of the Perth draw and will be hoping to surpass their quarter final success last time they competed at the Arena in 2022/23.
St. Andrew’s Grammar is one of the fastest growing schools in Australia, boasting 900 students and is the only Greek Orthodox day school in WA.
Principal Craig Monaghan said it made sense for the school and students to show their support for Team Greece and help inspire the next generation of tennis stars.
“We are part of the wider Hellenic Community of Western Australia, and this is a great opportunity for our students to get involved in a fun activity and show their support for Greece,” Mr Monaghan said.
“They’re looking forward to learning more about the trophy and the tournament. It’s the next best thing other than having Stefanos and Maria visit the school, so all the staff and the students are pretty excited.
“This could also unearth the next generation of tennis stars so it’s a great opportunity to get involved and expose the game to more kids.”
Standing at 50cm tall and weighing 14 kilograms the hand-crafted United Cup features 36 sweeping rods to represent the 18-country mixed doubles partnerships, each shaped by hand.
The United Cup was made by Thomas Lyte, who are best known as world class designers, makers and restorers of many of the world’s most iconic trophies including the Laver Cup, and trophies for the ATP Finals, the FA Cup, the Rugby World Cup and the Six Nations Championship.
The tournament starts in Perth on December 27 with Greece facing off against Spain on December 28. For the full schedule click here.
The once prestigious Double Bay plastic surgeon Dr Richard Paris Sackelariou has confessed to grooming underage girls by showering them with cash and compliments before luring some of them to a hotel room for intercourse.
The practitioner of 40 years appeared in Newcastle Local Court via video on Wednesday, November 6, and pleaded guilty to paying multiple young girls thousands of dollars to perform sexual acts on him in various locations across Sydney, in Newcastle and Queensland.
Sackelariou declared his guilt to ten charges: using a carriage service to procure someone under the age of 16 for sexual activity, six counts of cause child between 14 and 18 to do an act of child prostitution, possession of child abuse material, cause a child 14 and over to make child abuse material and possession or control of child abuse material using a carriage service.
Thirty charges were dropped including various offences of using a carriage service to possess and access child abuse material, disseminate child abuse material, using a carriage service to procure someone under 16 for sexual activity, cause a child between 14 and 18 to do an act of child prostitution and intentionally sexually touch a child under 16.
Those withdrawn also included eight counts of having sexual intercourse with a child between 10 and 14.
Police facts state he engaged with six young victims between September 2021 and October 2022 aged 13, 14 and 15.
According to court documents, Sackelariou came in contact with the young girls through social media platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, iMessages, an adult dating website and sugar daddy websites.
Sackelariou’s matters will move to the District Court in December where a sentence date will be set.
More than 100 students at the University of Canterbury (UC) in New Zealand have fallen ill after eating chicken souvlaki at their halls of residence.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday evening, caused widespread illness during the exam period, with students queuing for toilets and some vomiting out of windows. Several students missed or had to leave exams on Monday due to their symptoms.
The suspected food poisoning is being investigated, with food safety officers on-site. Vincent Arbuckle from New Zealand Food Safety said the likely cause was improperly handled shredded chicken, which was not chilled quickly enough and not reheated properly, allowing bacteria to grow.
“Our working assumption is that the cause was shredded chicken served as part of a meal,” he said.
“The amount of time between the food being eaten and symptoms appearing (about 11 hours) is consistent with unsafe handling practices around cooling, reheating and hot holding of the meat… We are working to confirm this.”
UC has contacted all affected students, offering support and special consideration for missed exams. “We want to ensure students are aware of the support available during this time,” said UC spokesperson Paul O’Flaherty.
Affected students are advised to stay hydrated and follow health guidelines. The university will take further action once the cause is confirmed.
Senior Liberal Federal MP Michael Sukkar has called on the Victorian government to support a parliamentary motion to recognise the Greek, Armenian and Assyrian genocides.
In his letter, Mr Sukkar encouraged all Victorian Parliamentarians “to take a principled and courageous stance and to stand with our Australian Greek, Armenian, Assyrian and Maronite Lebanese communities by recognising this genocide.”
A genocide recognition motion was expected to be moved in the Legislative Assembly by Victorian Greens Senator, Samantha Ratnam, last month. It was formally withdrawn on Thursday, October 24 after it failed to receive the support of parliament, including Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and her Labor government.
Serious momentum has since been building for the motion, with more than 35 letters from Armenian, Assyrian, Greek, Kurdish, Cypriot, Tamil, Tigray, Lebanese, Indian Hindu, Christian and Islamic community leaders being addressed to the Victorian Premier and Members of Parliament supporting it.
The letter – signed by GOCNSW President Harry Danalis and Treasurer Chris Belerhas – calls out Mr Albanese for his public statement that, “For a century, the Church has preserved the culture and language of Australia’s Greek community, connecting generations to their heritage.”
GOCNSW said the comments were “historically incorrect but also an affront to the Greek Orthodox Communities of New South Wales, the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne, the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia and other Greek Associations numbering in the hundreds throughout Australia which were created by lay persons and which have contributed to the teaching of the Greek language, provided cultural activities, taught Greek culture, celebrated the various National days of Greece, and represented the voice of the Greek people in our community.”
The letter comes after a statement was issued and signed by 109 Greek Australians last month, also calling out the Prime Minister for his “historically inaccurate statement.”
Full letter in English by the GOCNSW:
The Honourable Anthony Albanese MP,
At the Annual General meeting of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW held on the 3 November 2024, the members resolved to forward to you a letter protesting at the historically incorrect statements recently made by you during the visit of His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
You stated: “For a Century the Church has preserved the culture and language of Australia’s Greek Community”, “connecting generations to their heritage”.
These comments are not only historically incorrect but also an affront to The Greek Orthodox Communities of New South Wales, The Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne, the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia and other Greek Associations numbering in the hundreds throughout Australia which were created by lay persons and which have contributed to the teaching of the Greek language, provided cultural activities, taught Greek culture celebrated the various National days of Greece and represented the voice of the Greek people in our Community.
The Greek Orthodox Community of New South Wales was established by lay people in 1898 and founded the first Greek Orthodox Church in Surry Hills, the Holy Trinity which still offers religious services to our community
It was the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW that established the first Greek School where Greek language and culture was taught and which established many other schools throughout this period.
The Greek Community of Melbourne was established in 1898.
As the historian Professor Michael Tsounis has documented, in 1975 there were over 600 schools throughout Australia teaching Greek and run by secular Greek Orthodox Communities as well as private institutions.
There was no presence of the organised Church in Australia until March 1924 when the Ecumenical Patriarch established the Metropolis of Australia and New Zealand by the appointment of a Metropolitan.
It was not until the 1st of September 1959, that the Metropolis of Australia and New Zealand was elevated to an Archdiocese and the first Archbishop of the newly formed Archdiocese, Archbishop Ezekiel was appointed
Between 1898 and 1960 it was the lay Communities of NSW, Melbourne and Adelaide that built, paid for and supported financially the churches, conducted Greek Schools, and provided cultural activities.
These initiatives were not carried out by the then Metropolis of Australia and New Zealand.
During that time many other Greek Associations were formed with the same objects in mind and made invaluable contributions to the preservation of Greek language and culture
It was not till the 1960’s on the initiative of Archbishop Ezekiel who commenced the establishment of the many churches and other institutions, that the Church was involved in teaching Greek and have some presence in cultural activities.
Mr Prime Minister there is ample evidence in the form of books by eminent historians, articles and other material on the presence of Greeks in Australia and the true contributions made by the organised lay communities and Greek Associations.
The Greek Communities continue to this day to conduct Churches, schools, cultural festivals, welfare services and endeavour to represent the interest of the members of the broader Greek Community
It is therefore disappointing that you should make statements of the kind referred to above which misrepresent history and the true position of the role of The Greek Orthodox Communities, brotherhoods and other organisations which have played a vital role in the history of the Greek Community in Australia and the maintenance of our Greek language, culture and traditions.
In a recent meeting between the President of the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM), Bill Papastergiadis OAM, and the Premier of Victoria, Jacinta Allan, along with Greek MPs, Ms Allan expressed the significance of having the Greek Prime Minister visit Melbourne, the third-largest Greek city globally.
“It’s important we have representation by the Greek Prime Minister here,” the Premier stated. “Please deliver a personal message from me, along with a written letter of invitation, to visit our beautiful city and state.”
In the discussion, the Premier also highlighted the enduring connection between Melbourne’s Greek diaspora and their homeland, a sentiment echoed by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who said, “The Greek diaspora in Melbourne and throughout Australia fills us with pride. They are our true ambassadors, and it is incumbent upon us to support them.”
Bill Papastergiadis OAM (left) with Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
During Mr Papastergiadis’ recent visit to Greece, he met with Prime Minister Mitsotakis at the Megaro Maximos. Greeting him warmly, the Prime Minister said, “Bill, so good to see you again. Welcome back to Greece.”
Mr Papastergiadis conveyed the message from Victoria’s Premier, responding, “Prime Minister, I am here not only to pass along the best wishes of our community but also those of the Premier of Victoria. I have with me a personal letter inviting you to visit Melbourne and Australia.”
The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude and enthusiasm, replying, “It is one of my priorities to visit Melbourne and Australia. I thank Premier Allan for this kind invitation.”
He reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the Greek diaspora and stated, “I am eager to accept this invitation.”
With numerous references to Australia and its community, the presentation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Strategic Plan for the Greek Diaspora 2024-2027 took place on Wednesday, November 6.
In the packed amphitheatre “Giannis Kraniotis” at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on what Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Gerapetritis, described as a “historic day,” a comprehensive and cohesive plan was unveiled. This plan aims to significantly strengthen the ties between Greece and Greeks abroad.
The event was highly symbolic and well-attended, with political leaders, representatives of the diaspora, and various other stakeholders present. The presentation was made by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Kotsiras, and the Secretary-General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, Myra Myrogianni, while Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Minister Gerapetritis were also present.
The strategic plan includes a wide range of initiatives and actions focused on enhancing the national identity of Greeks abroad, strengthening the Greek language and culture, improving the daily lives of diaspora Greeks, and fostering closer connections between them and Greece’s central government.
“An invaluable asset: The diaspora“
In his address, Prime Minister Mitsotakis described the Greek diaspora as “an invaluable asset for Greece,” underscoring that the new plan is the result of collaboration and consultations with diaspora organisations worldwide. He also pointed out that the significant constitutional reform allowing Greeks abroad to vote from their place of residence “opened new prospects for deepening the relationship between Greece and Greeks worldwide.”
The Prime Minister made special mention of the hospitality programmes offered to children and young people of the Diaspora from countries such as Australia. He reflected on his own personal experience, having travelled to the United States at the age of 15 through the Hellenic Youth Association of Thessaloniki, an experience he described as “a life-changing journey” that brought him closer to the Greek communities abroad.
He also highlighted the importance of initiatives aimed at women in the Diaspora and noted that he would have preferred the upgrade of consular services to be the first goal of the plan, rather than the sixth.
“Greece is changing and becoming better. The challenge of national progress is not only ours, but also that of the diaspora,” he concluded.
A holistic plan with six goals
Minister Gerapetritis called the plan “visionary” and pointed out that it reflects the Prime Minister’s commitment to strengthening the ties between Greece and the Diaspora. He thanked everyone involved in drafting the plan, particularly noting the role of technology in making life easier for Greeks abroad.
“The digitisation of services, such as passport issuance, is a central pillar of our plan,” he said.
Deputy Minister Kotsiras described the day of the plan’s presentation as “the culmination of a long and collective effort” and expressed gratitude for the contributions of the Diaspora in its development. He specifically referred to the new website Diaspora.gr, which will serve as a central hub of information for the Greek Diaspora, and the creation of a Registry of Diaspora Organisations, which will facilitate communication and help map the needs of the diaspora.
“This is a primary endeavour with over 100 actions that will be continuously updated to meet the needs of the diaspora,” Mr Kotsiras said.
He also emphasised the strengthening of Greek Studies programmes in universities across the United States, Canada, Australia, and South America, stressing that “support for Greek Studies is a fundamental issue.”
The plan focuses on six main objectives:
Supporting and developing networks and structures of the Diaspora, with an emphasis on new ways of organising them.
Leveraging the presence of the Diaspora to enhance the image of Greece.
Maintaining the elements of Hellenism by strengthening the Greek language, history, traditions, and culture, while approaching and empowering the younger generation.
Maintaining and strengthening bonds with the Orthodox Church as a unifying factor between the metropolitan centre and the Diaspora.
Strengthening bilateral and multilateral collaborations in the area of Diaspora affairs.
Upgrading the services provided by the consular authorities.
Innovative actions for the diaspora
Secretary-General for Greeks Abroad, Ms Myrogianni discussed the initiatives being promoted for the youth, such as the Greek Youth Diaspora Symposium, and collaborations with organisations such as the Food for Thought Network. Based in Australia, the Food for Thought Network is an organisation dedicated to empowering Greek women in the Diaspora and organised the first global conference in Ioannina titled “Women and Hellenism,” held from 2 to 6 September 2024.
“Companions, the Greeks Abroad”
During the event, a short video was shown highlighting the main themes of the plan. The message was clear: the Diaspora is an integral part of the national strategy, and the bonds that unite us with Greeks around the world must be strengthened further.
Prime Minister Mitsotakis referred to the postal vote system, which was approved by the government majority only for the European Parliament elections and successfully implemented.
He stated, “This proves that the greatest reforms can be achieved, and we are ready to extend this to the national elections of 2027. For this, we need broader consensus, as we require 200 MPs. I hope that there will be consensus among the parties, so that we can send a unified message to the Greeks abroad.”
He added, “Greece in 2024 is different from Greece in 2019, and this is something recognised primarily by the Greeks abroad, who can see the progress from afar, free from the distorting lenses of toxic internal political realities.” The Prime Minister concluded by emphasising that “Greece is changing every day, and on this journey, Greeks everywhere must be our companions.”
“With planning and hard work, you can be certain that we will achieve our goals and implement the plan for the Greek Diaspora,” concluded Kyriakos Mitsotakis, sending a message of optimism and national unity to the global Greek community.
The latest US elections have highlighted a significant presence of Greek American voices in the House of Representatives, as several community leaders express their contentment with the growing influence of the diaspora in American politics. A total of six Greek American candidates secured seats in Tuesday’s election, with three re-elected and three others elected for the first time.
Among the victorious candidates, Republican Nicole Malliotakis, a prominent New York politician, was re-elected for a third term in the 11th District. She triumphed with 64.7% of the vote, based on 96% of ballots counted. Meanwhile, in Florida’s 12th District, Republican Gus Bilirakis successfully retained his seat, securing 71.1% of the vote with nearly all precincts reporting.
In New Hampshire, Democratic Representative Chris Pappas was re-elected to the 1st District, gaining 54.4% of the vote with 90% of ballots counted. His victory underscores the ongoing support for Greek-American politicians across party lines.
Maggie Goodlander, the wife of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, made her debut in Congress by winning a seat in New Hampshire’s 2nd District. Of Greek descent from Grevena, Goodlander secured 53.3% of the vote, with 92% of votes reported, marking a significant achievement in her political career.
Florida’s 8th District also saw a Greek American newcomer, Republican Mike Haridopolos, win with 62.3% of the vote. At 54, Haridopolos is set to begin his first term in Congress, adding to the growing representation of the Greek-American community.
In Nevada, Democratic Representative Dina Titus was re-elected for an eighth term in the 1st District, securing 51.1% of the vote and leading her Republican challenger by a solid margin with 87% of votes tallied.
While not all Greek American candidates were successful in this election, the results underscore the rising influence of Greek American politicians in US politics, with community leaders expressing satisfaction at the increasing visibility and impact of the diaspora in shaping the nation’s political landscape.
Trump becomes the first convicted criminal to win the White House. At 78, he is also the oldest person ever elected to the office.
Trump defeated Kamala Harris, a Democrat who had been seeking to make history herself as the first woman, first Black woman and first south Asian American to become president in the US’ 248-year history.
As votes were counted overnight, Trump won the swing states of North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Wisconsin to get him across the line. He’s also won Michigan, toppling the blue wall. Projections show him comfortably clearing the 270 electoral vote threshold required to win the White House.
Donald Trump makes a victory speech. Photo: Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg.
Addressing the public after the voting count was announced, Trump said, “This is a movement like nobody’s ever seen before.”
“This is, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time. There’s never been anything like this in this country and now it’s going to reach a new level of importance, because we’re going to help our country heal,” he said.
“We’re going to fix our borders. We’re going to fix everything about our country… I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve, this will truly be the golden age of America.”
World leaders have also reacted to the news. Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis congratulated Trump on X.
Congratulations @realDonaldTrump on your election victory. Greece looks forward to further deepening the strategic partnership between our two countries and working together on important regional and global issues.
“Congratulations @realDonaldTrump on your election victory. Greece looks forward to further deepening the strategic partnership between our two countries and working together on important regional and global issues,” Mitsotakis wrote.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed these sentiments.
Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his election victory.
Australians and Americans are great friends and true allies.
Working together, we can ensure the partnership between our nations and peoples remains strong into the future.
“Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his election victory. Australians and Americans are great friends and true allies. Working together, we can ensure the partnership between our nations and peoples remains strong into the future,” Albanese wrote on X.
Harris called Trump to concede defeat on Wednesday before delivering remarks at Howard University in Washington, DC at 8am (AEDT).
Peter V’landys, the influential head of Racing NSW and chairman of the NRL, has responded to recent discussions about gambling regulation, defending the average bet on NRL games as modest and arguing that proposed changes to betting incentives could harm punters.
V’landys, known for his outspoken views, pointed out that the average wager on NRL matches is just $16 and claimed that proposals to ban bookies offering free bets would only lead to punters losing more of their own money. The comments come in the wake of a parliamentary inquiry into gambling, led by the late Labor MP Peta Murphy, which recommended sweeping changes to gambling advertising and inducements.
The inquiry’s report, You Win Some, You Lose More, called for a three-year phase-out of gambling ads, a ban on inducements like free bets or credits, and a levy on online gambling companies to fund harm reduction efforts. V’landys, however, dismissed these recommendations as being driven by ideological views rather than evidence. While he acknowledged that certain gambling advertisements might need to be reduced, he argued that the overall findings of the inquiry were misguided.
“I should have stressed it was on all the recommendations,” V’landys told The Australian Financial Review on Monday, admitting he had been too focused on the gambling ban aspect without addressing the full package of proposed changes. He specifically criticised the proposed ban on gambling inducements, arguing that these were not harmful, but rather “generosities” similar to retail offers like “buy one, get one free.” Removing them, he claimed, would only result in punters losing more of their own funds, as these offers were a way to encourage continued play without additional financial risk.
Photo: News Corp Australia.
An industry source also backed this view, stating that these “generosities” were essential for betting apps to remain competitive, as the odds are often the same across platforms. However, government sources have suggested that banning inducements will not feature in the official response to the inquiry, but instead will be looked at in collaboration with state and territory governments. The response is expected by the end of the year.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has proposed a blanket ban on social media gambling ads, but her plans do not extend to television advertising. Under her proposal, TV ads would be limited to an hour before and after live sports broadcasts, with no more than two ads per hour until 10pm. This proposal has drawn criticism from both the gambling industry and sporting organisations, which argue that it is too restrictive. At the same time, reform advocates, including the Greens and independent MPs, have called on the government to adopt a full ban on gambling ads, in line with the inquiry’s recommendations.
During a recent appearance at the 40th Asian Racing Federation Conference, V’landys also discussed his vision for the future of horse racing. He expressed a desire to use mobile apps and “gamification” to attract younger audiences, particularly teenagers. He cited the success of the English Premier League and the US National Basketball Association in engaging young people and lamented that horse racing lacked the “tribalism” that has helped other sports build loyal, long-term fanbases.
“The challenge for racing is to get to where other sports are: attacking the 14-year-olds,” he said, highlighting the importance of making the sport appealing and entertaining without relying solely on gambling.
V’landys’s remarks on gambling regulation continue to spark debate, with the issue of how to balance harm reduction and industry growth remaining at the forefront of the ongoing discussion.
