The Cypriot Australian community mourns the loss of Peter Yiannoudes, a beloved figure who had a pivotal influence on the success of Greek cinema in Melbourne.
Peter Yiannoudes was born in Vouni, a village near Limassol, Cyprus, in 1935. From 1950 he worked at various cinemas in Limassol as ticket seller and assistant projectionist. He migrated to Australia in 1956. A pioneer of Greek cinema in Australia, he formed a film company in 1958 called “Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures” together with Andreas Papadopoulos and Stathis Raftopoulos, to be joined soon after by Chris Louis from Sydney. They became the sole Greek (and other) film distributors in Australia, catering to the immigrant populations of the post-WWII period. He was also actively involved in community affairs. In 1972, he became a member of AHEPA, serving in various roles over the years, including as its national president in Australia 2016-2018.
In 1972, he became a member of the Executive Committee of the Cyprus Community of Melbourne and Victoria, and served as its President from 1978 to 1990. From 1978-1996, he also served as President of the Federation of Cypriot Communities of Australia, and Vice-president of POMAK (World Organisation of Cypriots Abroad) becoming General Secretary of the latter in 1996-2003. From 1977 to 2003 he was President of the Justice for Cyprus Committee (SEKA). He was also involved in local fundraising and philanthropic efforts for members of the Greek and Cypriot communities. He has received several awards, including the Order of Australia Medal in 2013.
During a meeting with the President of Greece, Katerina Sakellaropoulou held on Tuesday, November 5, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis asserted that regardless of the outcome of the upcoming election, Greece and the United States will continue to share a strategic relationship.
Mitsotakis also emphasised the need for Europe to develop a more mature geopolitical stance. “The time has come for Europe to roll up its sleeves and adopt different policies,” he said, underlining the importance of the continent’s evolution in the global political landscape.
Καταθέτουμε σε δημόσια διαβούλευση δύο σημαντικά νομοσχέδια: το νέο φορολογικό, στο οποίο αποτυπώνονται οι δεσμεύσεις μας όπως παρουσιάστηκαν στη ΔΕΘ, για τις σημαντικές φορολογικές μειώσεις για το 2025. Αλλά και το νομοσχέδιο για τον καθορισμό του κατώτατου μισθού μετά το 2027. pic.twitter.com/HzrYlstfKs
On the economic front, the PM reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reducing taxes, stating that “the government remains firmly committed to reducing taxes.” He added that “as long as the scourge of tax evasion is tackled, the government will be able to make targeted tax cuts.”
In her remarks, President Sakellaropoulou highlighted the growing significance of Europe’s geostrategic independence. “The importance of Europe’s geostrategic independence is highlighted,” she said. “Our country will work with whatever president the US people elect.”
‘The Vineyard’ in St Kilda (also known as ‘The Belly of the Beast’) has a long and rich ethnic-Australian heritage. After renowned architect Carlo Catani remodeled the original, humble boat shed in 1913 to complement his now famed ‘Catani Gardens’, thereby turning it into Victoria’s very first ‘Continental Tea Gardens’, it successively became the ‘Continental Cafe’, a European-style fish and chippery, then the ‘San Remo’ restaurant and nightspot, and finally entered into two distinct phases as we now know it, as the ‘The Vineyard’ restaurant and bar.
This nearly 120-years of hospitality was characterised by a singular trend – it was always in European-Australian hands, having been mostly owned and operated (as it is today) by Italians. What is much less known, however, is its enduring Greek lineage. Even under the Croatian owner-operators of the first phase of its existence as ‘The Vineyard’ (between 1963 and 1998), this steak house was managed by head chef, Pepe Pavlou. An off-the-boat Cypriot, Pepe dominated the venue with his huge personality and extraordinary cuisine-making skills, turning the venue into one of the three finest steak restaurants within the state.
Almost inadvertently, the new owner-operators of the second phase of ‘The Vineyard’ (from 1999 to the present day), the Iodice brothers Johnny, Alex and Adrian, have kept this Greek fire burning brightly. From the near-nightly bands, which boast strong Greek Australian line-ups, to the staff and clientele, the spirit of Pepe lives on.
‘Sienna Wild’ (composed of two Greeks, two Italians, a part-First Nations player and a true blue Aussie).
On the right night, you may well even find the Consul General of Greece to Melbourne, Emmanuel Kakavelakis, never missing a gig with his many Greek-Victorian friends, casually bringing in other VIPs and colleagues for a dance or two while soaking up the uniquely European atmosphere of this St Kilda hot-spot. You’ll almost inevitably find the author of this article, an Italian-Greek Australian, joining our recently-promoted ambassador, to share plenty of laughs with the endless characters of all nationalities and backgrounds who so enliven our favourite bar.
And the stories of some of these characters, so imbued with Greek fire, are well worth recounting:
Stacey Pommer (nee Kelkipsakis), D.J., M.C., band-booker, promotor, musical impresario and all-round snappy dresser is the Thursday night ‘face’ of ‘The Vineyard’. Born in Athens to a Greek mother and an Australian father, Stacey was raised within musical royalty: his father was a long-time professional musician, specialising in percussion; while his mother, Elizabeth, managed a series of top bands, including one of my favourite Australasian outfits, ‘Dragon’.
Stacey has been entertaining audiences all around Melbourne traps for much of his young life, but has a particular fondness for St Kilda, with ‘The Espy’, ‘The St Kilda Bowls Club’ and ‘The Vineyard’ being his regular gigs. Stacey mentioned to me that he finds ‘The Vineyard’ to have the single most pronounced Greco-Italian ‘flavour’ of all the many nightlife venues he’s worked at, and while he’s not exactly certain why that is, he’s far from complaining. In fact, it’s always felt like ‘home’ to him (as with so many others). When not shopping around for his latest funky look, Stacey also spends a considerable amount of time advising and mentoring promising new acts, which is actually how he met our next Greco-Victorian musician…
Nick Nico (nee Soldatos) jokingly describes his friend and mentor, Stacey, as just like, ‘…a degenerate sailor from Piraeus.’ The two friends met one night at an open mic’ session at St Kilda’s ‘The Espy’, when Nick was hungry to relaunch his musical career. Having satisfied his parents’ (father from Patra; mother from Kalokastro) ambitions with his studies and graduated as a civil engineer and urban planner, Nick then spent a year playing as a session musician in London, before he returned to Australia to kick-start his career.
The pandemic then hit him hard – like so many – with the rolling lockdowns, so he turned that ‘spare time’ to creative ends, writing as many songs as his multiplicity of influences provided him with. With one brother (David) already a promising song-writer and another (Steve) an accomplished guitarist, Nick had a lot to live up to, but his self-belief and strong work ethic saw him triumph: his signature tune, ‘Wise Guys’, caught the attention of Stacey one night and the rest – as they say – is history.
Like his friend, Stacey, Nick is very proud of his Greek roots, interweaving Hellenic influences into his performances – inspired by rebetika, Nick plays the bouzouki as well as guitar and loves belting out old Cretan war songs and classics like ‘Minore Tis Augis’. He’s actually dedicated a Greek number or two to my diplomat friend, Emmanuel, and I at ‘The Vineyard’ after declaring, ‘This is for the two dinosaurs at the bar!’ That almost got him sacked! Almost.
‘Sienna Wild’ is a new band to start playing ‘The Vineyard’, but they’ve already made a strong impact and are gathering fans. Composed of two Greeks, two Italians, a part-First Nations musician and a home-grown Aussie, they’re not just wonderfully reflective of the diversity of St Kilda (and our state) but very talented. Their debut single, ‘Inside Out’, showcases their ability, with lead singer, Louis, demonstrating a vocal range that is mature beyond his years.
Bar manager Jeremy Wilson (nee Yiallourou) & Magic Mikey (who knows a lot of Greeks)
Like his bandmate and fellow Greek-Victorian, John Giokas, Louis Goutos is both exceptionally proud of his Hellenic origins and acutely aware of walking in the footsteps of St Kilda musical giants. ‘The Vineyard’ gives him the opportunity to play out this ‘Homeric sensibility’, just as both musicians did when they played bouzouki in Greek bands at the start of their musical careers. Louis reminded me how much he cherishes his ethnic-Australian identity, as he’s not just a history teacher by day, but is proficient at both modern and ancient Greek. In fact, as Plato – that most profound of ancient Greek philosophers – once put it, ‘Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.’ ‘Sienna Wild’ live out that axiom within The Belly of the Beast.
When all of these gifted musicians need to pour a libation to the Old Gods (or grow tired of Platonic thought), they turn to the bar, where they are often greeted by the Cypriot Australian bar manager of ‘The Vineyard’, Jeremy Wilson (nee Yiallourou). Channeling the spirit of Pepe Pavlou, Jeremy works his magic at the cocktail counter, whipping up such divine elixirs that his ‘workbench’ is always a flurry of activity. In his inventive ‘madness’ he’s even named a drink after yours truly – if you’re feeling particularly risqué, request a ‘Wolf’ and see how that energises your taste buds. You may well end up on that slightly chaotic dancefloor, once the spirit of Dionysus uplifts you.
The Jenny Souris Foundation’s (JSF) fundraising gala, held on Wednesday, October 16 at Le Montage in Lilyfield, Sydney, brought together more than 300 attendees from the community in a heartfelt effort to support four-year-old Jack, who is courageously battling Stage IV Neuroblastoma.
Through the generosity of attendees and donors, the Foundation raised an astounding $100,000, which will go directly toward Jack’s life-saving treatment in New York.
The evening featured an elegant gourmet dinner, live entertainment, a silent auction, a car raffle, and stirring speeches that celebrated resilience and community solidarity.
Auctioning off the Cristiano Ronaldo jersey.Raffle winner.
Guests heard powerful stories from those who know firsthand the challenges that families face when confronting a serious illness, including moving remarks from Jaimee Thompson, Jack’s mother, who shared the four-year-old’s journey with raw emotion and gratitude for the community’s overwhelming support.
Jaimee Thompson.
The gala was emceed by Tim Gilbert, with guest speakers Mina Souris (husband of the late Jenny Souris), Michael Souris (Jenny’s son), and Sam Phylactou, CEO of M&J Chickens, who each shared the Foundation’s dedication to helping those in need.
Special guests included NRL Bulldogs legends Terry Lamb, James Graham, and Josh Reynolds, as well as Bulldogs CEO Aaron Warburton and Chairman Adam Driussi, all of whom demonstrated their support for Jack and the Foundation’s mission.
The Greek Herald proudly supported the event as a media partner, helping raise awareness for the Foundation’s work and the urgent needs of children like Jack.
The Foundation extended its heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to making the event a success. Funds raised will enable Jack to access critical treatment, bringing hope to his family and a chance for the four-year-old to overcome this life-threatening illness.
In a powerful demonstration of grassroots activism, young Greek Australian entrepreneur George Moulos will embark on a transformative 1,200 km journey across Greece on foot, aiming to uplift local communities through charity work and storytelling.
The initiative, known as the “March Across Greece,” will showcase the resilience and spirit of the Greek people while shining a light on the challenges they face, often overlooked by governmental support.
Whilst also being a Guinness World Record attempt for the fastest crossing of mainland Greece from north to south on foot over the 30 days, daily stories will be documented and published on YouTube and Instagram.
Motivated by a desire to connect with and support local Greeks, 26-year-old George will begin this ambitious trek on 7 November to 3 December 2024. The project will not only aim to raise funds for local orphanages and charities but also seek to amplify the voices and stories of those who call Greece home.
“This has never been done before,” George said.
“I realised that while many are eager to help, there’s a disconnect between the government and the communities in need. I want to take matters into my own hands and show that change can start with one young person’s commitment.”
As George journeys through various towns and villages, he will document the lives, struggles, and triumphs of everyday Greeks. Through interviews and personal stories, the “March Across Greece” will aim to humanise the experiences of individuals facing economic hardships, social challenges, and the ongoing impacts of the pandemic.
“I first wanted to do it as it would be a challenge of my own mental and physical will. Then I realised that I could do more than just satisfy my own goals with this. I want to do this feat because it would indicate that any young Greek can achieve the extraordinary with small daily work. This is who this march is for, the youth of Greece,” George told The Greek Herald.
“I’ve also always wanted to get a real experience of Greece. Not just Athens and a couple popular destinations. The great experiences are in the small villages and isolated areas. That’s where I want to go and explore.”
The campaign is expected to garner significant attention, attracting volunteers and supporters eager to contribute to the cause. The funds raised will directly support Greek charities focused on the youth of Greece with George’s business Ecommerce-Brokers.com covering all expenses of the journey and 100% of funds raised going to Greek orphanages in partnership with the Greek America Foundation.
“Every step I take will be a reminder that even small actions on a daily basis can lead to significant changes in the long term for our country, and our continent,” George added. “I hope to inspire others, especially young Europeans, to engage with their communities and take initiative when they see a need.”
The “March Across Greece” will not just be a fundraising effort; it will serve as a call to action for young people across Europe to take charge and make a difference, emphasising the importance of storytelling, local engagement in addressing social issues.
On November 20, the team behind the proika project invites you to the launch their multimedia exhibition, melding fashion, photography and conversations.
proika (pree-kah) – or in Greek, προίκα – encompasses the physical and metaphorical heirlooms passed on from generations of Greek Australian families.
Artist Demi Kromidellis, designer Maria Koutsoukos and journalist Marianna Alepidis have joined forces to bring the vision of the proika project to life.
Hosted in the Thematikos x MBO Tailors creative space, the exhibition will showcase photographs taken in a selection of Greek immigrant homes, featuring clothing made from reused materials and stories exploring the history of homeowners Thomi Kalavrianos, Panagiotia Mavraganis and Christine Boursinos.
“proika is an immersive, contemporary perspective on Greek culture in Australia. This exhibition will embody a new way of viewing ethnic culture in Australia, promoting viewers to see what particular cultural elements truly bound us together as a community,” the team said.
“It invites people to imagine what our Greek heritage in Australia might look like in the future.
“After migration, there is an inevitability of native culture diluting, particularly through settling in and adapting to a new country. However, there will never cease to be conversations about Greek immigration to Australia, especially as it relates to those who made their voyages in the mid 20th Century.”
Produced by bespoke network Yitonia, proika asks what early Greek Australians perceive of newer generations’ current performances of heritage and where they think their treasure trove of items will go after they move on.
“Over decades they have collected their own rich stories, doilies, experiences and knick-knacks. Unfortunately, as they start to close in on their circle of life, we want to ensure that we have conversations with them that understand their perspective, and while we might not take on all the furniture, or crystal ware, or intricate cross-stitching creations, we can find ways to reinterpret them in our own way,” the team said.
After the launch event, the exhibition will be on reduced display for the following four weekends until Sunday, December 15.
The proika project is supported by sponsors Pitliangas Food Group. The community can also throw their support behind the project by donating via donorbox.org/proika-project.
Launch Event Details:
Wednesday, 20 November
7:00pm
16 Cubbit St, Cremorne, 3121
On street and paid parking available on Gwynne St.
More than 300 guests gathered at the Star International Reception on Sunday, November 3 for a vibrant celebration of the Melbourne Cup, hosted by the Greek Women’s Network (Heliades) and the Greek Australian organisation EEAMA.
This annual event has become a beloved tradition, eagerly anticipated by members of both organisations who join together in excitement to honour Australia’s most famous horse racing event.
The packed venue came alive with Greek music, dancing, and a joyful atmosphere as attendees embraced the festive spirit. True to the Melbourne Cup tradition, guests dressed to impress, with many women wearing elaborate and eye-catching hats, adding a distinct flair of elegance to the celebration.
One of the event’s highlights was a fashion parade, judged by the well-known Harry Konstantinidis, whose humour delighted the audience. Konstantinidis was tasked with selecting the top three hats, which received awards for their creativity and style.
The culinary experience also took centre stage, with Christos Sardelis curating a gourmet menu that exceeded guests’ expectations, adding to the evening’s enjoyment.
Organising committee members, including Heliades Vice-President Sylvia Kourkouvelis, Mary Lefteriotis from Heliades, and Vetta Kalaitzis, a board member of EEAMA, were instrumental in the event’s success. They worked tirelessly to ensure the celebration captured the excitement and spirit of the Melbourne Cup.
The evening was beautifully documented by volunteer photographer Petros Sachar, whose images captured the celebration’s vibrant energy, joy, and style.
The Modern Greek Teachers’ Association of Victoria (MGTAV) has announced the winners of the 6th Greek Public Speaking Festival.
The Festival is an opportunity for children, regardless of their language level, to enjoy and use the Greek language. The competition is open to all students studying Greek.
The Greek Public Speaking Festival consists of two sections:
Recitation of Poetry or Literature: The students recite selected poems or extracts of literary works of some of the great Greek poet and writers
The Demostheneia: Students prepare a speech on a chosen topic and present it within the time limit set for their year level.
All participants receive a certificate, as well as medals and awards for placing 1st, 2nd or 3rd. This year the MGTAV had over 100 entries from students in both primary and high school from all school sectors – government, non-government and community schools.
The awards ceremony was held at Axion Estin in Northcote on October 24 where students were awarded for their excellent efforts. It was a lovely night with parents, teachers, guardians and participants present.
Winners:
Section 1: Poetry Recital
Years 3 and 4:
1
Anastasia Hondros
Aetolian College
2
Demetra Mead
Alphington Grammar School
3
Nikoletta Koljatic
Alphington Grammar School
Years 5 and 6:
1
Olivia Vlahos
Greek Community of Melbourne School Balwyn
2
Nikolaos Papantoniou
Greek Community of Melbourne Schools
3
Isaac Cokalis, Greek Community of Melbourne Schools
Zane Falduto, Aetolian college-St Albans
Years 7 and 8:
1
John Sismanidis
St John’s College Preston
2
Despina Kyriakou
Aetolian College – Reservoir Campus
3
Andreas Xylouris, St John’s College Preston
Sofia Papadopoulou, St Panteleimon Greek School Dandenong
Years 9 and 10:
1
Angelina Kyriacou
St Monica’s College Epping
2
Eleni Georgiou
City campus, Greek Community Schools Melbourne
3
Michalis koufomanolis, St Panteleimon Greek School Dandenong
Sofia Souhlas – Greek Community of Melbourne
Pavlos Dimitriu, Greek Community of Melbourne – City Campus
Section 2: Demostheneia
Years 7 and 8:
1
Harry Vitanopoulos
Mathesi/Greek Community of Melbourne
2
Jessica Lagos
Mathesi/Greek Community of Melbourne
3
Evgenios Kolokithas
Mathesi/Greek Community of Melbourne
Years 9 and 10:
1
Despoina Klostopoulou
St John’s College Preston
2
Athanasios Vavitsas and Vaia Klostopoulou
St John’s College Preston both students
3
Anabelle Fardis
St John’s College Preston
Years 11 and 12:
1
Theo Beharis
Oakleigh Grammar
2
Sara Kolovos
The Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria (GCM)
Philhellene and fifth generation Australian, Peter McCarthy, arranged for a Greek flag to fly proudly outside the Inverell Shire Council (ISC) chambers on Otho Street for OXI Day on Monday, October 28.
Present at the flag raising was Inverell Shire Council Mayor, Cr Kate Dight; Peter Caddy, ISC Tourist manager; Mr McCarthy and his wife Deana.
Mr McCarthy and Deana were representing the Greeks of Inverell district past and present since 1899.
Deana holds the ‘dainty flag.’ Photo supplied.
Deana also brought the ‘dainty Greek flag’ with her. The flag was made by Deanna’s grandmother Sophia Phacheas and was flown during the victory celebrations at Inverell on 27 October 1944.
The flag was also used on numerous occasions by Deana’s mother, Beatty Psaros during fundraising for the Greek war effort in the Inverell community from 1941 -1946.
Subway Young Socceroos’ Head Coach, Trevor Morgan has selected a 23-man squad for the upcoming China Panda Cup International Tournament 2024 to be held in Chengdu, China during the November Men’s FIFA International Window.
The tournament – played out of Chengdu Shuangliu Sports Centre Stadium – will feature U19 sides from China PR, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia, to be contested in a round-robin format.
Trevor Morgan’s squad will assemble in Chengdu from 10 November for the tournament, which will act as preparation for the AFC U20 Asian Cup China PR 2025™.
Australia, China PR and Kyrgyzstan have all recently qualified for the U20 continental tournament – which serves as qualifying for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025™ – to be played from 12 February to 1 March.
The China Panda Cup International Tournament 2024 will be the Young Socceroos’ final assembly prior to their return to China PR for a pre-camp ahead of the AFC U20 Asian Cup China PR 2025™.
Trevor Morgan and his staff have made several changes to the squad that successfully navigated recent qualification fixtures in Saudi Arabia, with the inclusion of a number of European-based players and a selection of talent from Isuzu UTE A-League Men set ups across the country.
Daniel Bennie (Queens Park Rangers FC) returns following his successful transition into the EFL Championship and will be joined by Sebastian Esposito (US Lecce), Paul Okon-Englstler (S.L. Benfica), Musa Toure (Clermont Foot 63) and Dimitri Valkanis (AEK Athens).
Marcus Younis will join the squad in Chengdu following his successful off-season loan to PSV Eindhoven, along with Liam Bonetig (Celtic FC) and Steven Hall (Brighton & Hove Albion FC) who have featured regularly in recent Subway Young Socceroos’ squads.
Nathan Amanatidis (Sydney FC), Dean Bosnjak (Macarthur FC), Abdul Faisal (Perth Glory FC) and Ryan White (Adelaide United FC) are amongst seven players who have received their first call up for the Subway Young Socceroos and will feature alongside Jesse Cameron (Western Sydney Wanderers FC), Tiago Quintal (Sydney FC) and Kayne Razmovski (Melbourne Victory FC).
Subway #YoungSocceroos’ Head Coach Trevor Morgan has selected a 23-man squad for the upcoming China Panda Cup International Tournament 2024
Subway Young Socceroos’ Head Coach, Trevor Morgan said his team’s participation in the China Panda Cup International Tournament 2024 would prove invaluable ahead of their AFC U20 Asian Cup China PR 2025™ campaign.
“The ability to familiarise ourselves with conditions in the host nation of the Asian Cup and play competitive games in a tournament format will be extremely beneficial for the players and staff,” Morgan said.
“While it’s an opportunity to take some great learnings for our ongoing planning for next February, we’re also continuing to broaden the depth of players available for selection in the way we’ve structured this squad – creating competitive pressure for places is key to our success in the Asian Cup.
“Given this tournament falls within a FIFA Window, we’ve been able to bring in European-based players who have missed recent camps due to clashes with their club schedule, we feel it’s important we keep them connected with our pathway and give them every chance to stake their claim for Asian Cup selection.
“We’ve also provided opportunities to several players from the A-League Men competition – with some joining the program for the first time – and we’re looking forward to welcoming them into the environment.”
Morgan added he had been impressed with what he had seen from his squad in recent months, with many of those who have regularly featured set to remain with their clubs during this window.
“Those players performed well during our recent Asian Cup Qualifiers and our tour of South America, and we felt it was best to have that core group remain in Australia ahead of a busy few months of club football. This allows others to come into the squad, creating another opportunity for players with less international experience to show what they can bring to the team,” Morgan concluded.
MATCH DETAILS:
Subway Young Socceroos v Kyrgyzstan
Wednesday, 13 November 2024 Chengdu Shuangliu Sports Centre Stadium, Chengdu
Kick-off: 3.30pm local / 6.30pm AEDT
China PR v Subway Young Socceroos
Saturday, 16 November 2024 Chengdu Shuangliu Sports Centre Stadium, Chengdu
Kick-off: 7.35pm local / 10.35pm AEDT
Subway Young Socceroos v Mongolia
Tuesday, 19 November 2024 Chengdu Shuangliu Sports Centre Stadium, Chengdu
Kick-off: 2.00pm local / 5.00pm AEDT
SUBWAY YOUNG SOCCEROOS SQUAD | CHINA PANDA CUP INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT 2024
