George Calombaris has departed the prominent Hotel Sorrento on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula as pub baron Jon Adgemis swipes the celebrity chef for a culinary director position with his Public Hospitality Group (PHG) in Sydney.
According to The Australian, Calombaris and a number of his Hotel Sorrento staff are leaving the iconic venue in Victoria to join PHG in September.
“To my beautiful family at Hotel Sorrento, it was a 12-month contract, it ended up being two and a half years, it was awesome and I wish the Pitt family all the success as well as executive chef Beth Candy… love them to bits,” Calombaris said on Instagram.
Jon Adgemis. Photo: Ready Media Group.
This is not the first time Calombaris has worked with Adgemis’ PHG, having previously advised the pub group on its Greek restaurant Alpha at the Hellenic Club of Sydney.
Adgemis later struck a $400 million refinancing deal with Deutsche Bank, Gemi Investments, Archibald Capital and Muzinich & Co, to save his PHG from collapse.
Maira Myrogianni has taken over from John Chrysoulakis as Greece’s Secretary General for Public Diplomacy and Greeks Abroad.
Myrogianni publicly extended her appreciation to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for being appointed.
Myrogianni is a lawyer and an expert at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Immigration and Asylum issues. She is a graduate of the Law School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Law School of the University of Lille II, France.
Ευχαριστώ θερμά τον Πρωθυπουργό @PrimeministerGR για την ανανέωση της εμπιστοσύνης του, με την τοποθέτησή μου από τη θέση της ΓΓ Διεθνών Οικονομικών Σχέσεων και Εξωστρέφειας στη θέση της ΓΓ Απόδημου Ελληνισμού και Δημόσιας Διπλωματίας. pic.twitter.com/lpmTjvlm3b
She holds a Master’s Degree in Social Discrimination, Immigration and Citizenship and is a PhD candidate at the School of Social and Political Sciences of the University of Peloponnese.
Her research area of interest is Human Rights and European Law.
“It is an honour to serve the Greek Diaspora and advance our country’s public diplomacy through culture, language, communication, education, history and international cooperation, with the valuable support of Greeks abroad, who are our country’s finest ambassadors in their communities,” Myrogianni said on her new role.
Cyprus anxiously awaits instruction as other countries have been directed to activate their equivalent ‘Estia’ plan to evacuate their citizens from Lebanon.
According to Cyprus Mail, foreign ministry spokesman Theodoros Gotsis confirmed that no requests to activate the ‘Estia’ plan had been given to the island nation.
The ‘Estia’ plan is Cyprus’ existing strategic protocol in the event of mass evacuation of European Union and third country nationals from neighbouring countries.
Cyprus’ deputy government spokesman Yiannis Antoniou, added that the government is “ready,” and their facilities are “on standby” in accordance with the ‘Estia’ plan.
“If help is needed, we will provide it. We have the know-how and the infrastructure to do so,” Antoniou said.
Photo: CBS KKTV.
Tensions have risen in the Middle East region after Israel promised to retaliate following the deaths of 12 people in a strike attributed to Hezbollah in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday, July 27.
Israel also claimed on Wednesday it had killed high-ranking Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr during its bombing of Lebanon’s capital Beirut on Tuesday.
Cyprus has also previously been targeted by Hezbollah, with the head of the Lebanon militant group Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah threatening to consider the island nation as a “part of the war” should it continue to allow Israel to use its airports and bases for military exercises.
Stefanos Tsitsipas (No. 12) was storming in the second set and with a 0-2 (5-7, 1-6) win over Argentine Sebastian Baez (No. 18) qualified for the “8” in men’s singles at the Olympic Games. Next opponent is Novak Djokovic.
Stefanos Tsitsipas (No. 12)Novak Djokovic (No. 2)
Stefanos Tsitsipas (No. 12), although he received a break only in the first game, fought against Argentine Sebastian Baez (No. 18) and with 0-2 sets (5-7, 1-6) qualified for the men’s singles quarterfinals, where he will face Novak Djokovic , who comfortably overcame the obstacle of Dominic Kepfer (7-5, 6-3).
Tsitsipas finished the match with 61% passing first serve, winning 89% of the points (32/36) and 26% in the second (6/23), took advantage of 5 of 7 break opportunities, scored 11 winners, while he also had 19 unforced errors.
The Argentinian tennis player broke Tsitsipas’ serve early on, leading 2-0, but Greece‘s tennis player answered immediately and in the 4th game he took back the break, tying the score at 2-2.
Some unforced errors by Stefanos then gave Baez the chance to retake the lead with a break for 3-2.
The top Greek tennis player, however, turned the match around and won the first set 5-7 with four straight games.
The second set started with Tsitsipas storming, making it a formidable 0-5. He allowed his opponent to take just one game, the 6th, as he also won the 2nd set with 1-6 and moved to “8”.
Judoka Thodoris Tselidis won Greece’s first medal at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday. Tselidis won bronze in the men’s -90kg weight class.
The 27-year-old defeated Tristani Mosakhlishvili of Spain in the fight for third place. Tselidis took an early 1-0 lead that he maintained throughout the match.
🇬🇷To πρώτο μετάλλιο για την Ελλάδα στους Ολυμπιακούς Αγώνες Παρίσι 2024 είναι γεγονός! 🥉Είναι χάλκινο και το κατέκτησε ο γίγαντας Θοδωρής Τσελίδης στην κατηγορία των -90κ. στο τζούντο, νικώντας στον μικρό τελικό τον Ισπανό Μοσακλισβίλι 💪Μπράβοοοοο Θοδωρή#bronze#TeamHellaspic.twitter.com/AhW6zjwAnJ
— Ηellenic Olympic Committee (@HellenicOlympic) July 31, 2024
This was Greece’s first Olympic medal in judo since 2012, when Ilias Iliadis won a bronze medal at the London Olympics.
Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis congratulated Tselidis on X and said Greece was “very proud.”
Not even the rain could keep people away from Free to Feed’s Fitzroy headquarters over the weekend.
The social enterprise which regularly hosts cooking workshops run by instructors from asylum seeking and refugee backgrounds, collaborated with Melbourne-based Greek and Cypriot collective Parea to host a night of traditional recipes, songs and the good old Greek filotimo.
The event was a match made in heaven, given that both groups share a kindred ethos; a yearning for community and belonging.
All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Marianna Alepidis.
“Parea are a beautiful Greek and Cypriot collective, who celebrate their traditions, identities and shared roots through community based events. Their events are authentic representations of who they are, drawing from their own stories and memories of home, inviting others to join in and learn more about their culture too,” the Free to Feed team told The Greek Herald.
“The core of Free to Feed is very much the same. We see ourselves as a tapestry of sorts, woven by the incredible people we work with. Over the years, over 40 different cultures have been celebrated in our kitchens, dancing their way into the heart of Melbourne.”
The event, part of Free to Feed’s winter series, kicked off with two yemista cooking workshops run by Parea member Marthea and her mother Lena Stamatopoulos.
Marthea is not about “gatekeeping” precious family recipes, and instead ensured, along with her mum, that everyone got to truly get a taste of what it’s like to be in yiayia’s kitchen on a Saturday afternoon. Guests chopped, scooped and stuffed vegetables before letting the oven work its magic.
As Parea’s Alexia Keskerides runs about making sure the day is running smoothly, they take a moment to tell us why events like these are so special to them.
“I think it’s a really beautiful thing, when you see people from all different cultures coming together and connecting over food, learning about ways that people do things in different parts of the world,” Alexia said.
“It gives us the opportunity to see the way that food and culture kind of transforms with immigration and movement and the diaspora. It’s really nice to connect somewhere like the Free to Feed space because a lot of the people that are here today aren’t necessarily people that we’ve met before. And so I think that’s a really beautiful thing to open up our culture to, and our community to people that come from other communities and cultures.”
As the smell of yiayia’s yemista filled the room, guests were treated to content creator Kat Zam’s Greek Diaspora Series projected on the wall and an appearance from the social media star herself.
In the spirit of really turning it into a glenti to remember, the Meli Trio gave an enchanting rebetika performance before the Parea DJs took over to keep guests dancing the yemista off.
“Free to Feed is a non-profit social enterprise fostering social connection for people of refugee backgrounds and the Melbourne/Naarm community. We do this by celebrating diverse cultures through shared food experiences in safe and inclusive spaces. Bringing people together for beautiful exchanges of stories, cultural knowledge and personal hopes and ideas,” the Free to Feed team said.
“The space was filled with that warm and familiar spontaneity reminiscent of family gatherings, where the crowd erupted in dancing, linking arms as they made their way across the room.”
*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Marianna Alepidis.
The Greek Orthodox Community of St Albans Agia Paraskevi was established in the 1960s. The Greek Herald spoke to several former committee members and parishioners concerning the recent disarray the Community faces. Allegations abound, including accusations of nepotism and poor financial records.
Community members are critical of the choices made in appointing a school principal directly related to current president Areti Akamati, as well as the appointment of former priest Irineos.
Ms Akamati took over following the resignation of former Brimback mayor Georgina Papafotiou after a few months at the helm, followed by a spate of resignations that left a committee lacking the full support of community members in votes.
“I resigned along with at least four other committee members due to concerning financial issues, questions, and allegations raised about the then-employed priest, Father Irineos,” Ms Papafotiou said in a statement to The Greek Herald.
At the time, the value of the Community’s assets was around $7-8 million, including two houses, one vacant property, a warehouse, the church, and a community hall.
The Greek Orthodox Community of St Albans Agia Paraskevi was established in the 1960s. Photo: Screenshot / Google Maps.
Bishop Nektarios of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand told The Greek Herald that his Archdiocese – not to be confused with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia (GOAA) – has two open legal cases against the Greek Orthodox Community of St Albans Aghia Paraskevi.
These were initiated following his termination from heading the church while visiting his sister in England earlier this year. As per the Memorandum of Understanding conditions, he was given four weeks’ notice, “of which it will be paid in advance and your services will cease effective from 1 June 2024. Additionally, we will terminate the cooperation of the radio broadcast program on FM 97.9.” The Holy Archdiocese had a radio show on FM 97.9 in collaboration with the St Albans Community.
Bishop Nektarios returned to Australia unable to retrieve his personal belongings following the committee’s decision to change the locks to his lodgings. He has since sought legal recourse and told The Greek Herald that there is a case at the Magistrate’s Court for “oppressive conduct” and refusal “to take action that is unfairly prejudicial to, or unfairly discriminatory against, a member (including in the member’s capacity as a member of the committee) or against the interests of the members of the association as a whole.” With this action, Bishop Nektarios hopes to remove the present committee and appoint an administrator who will investigate and surrender the organisation to a new committee acting in the best interests of the organisation.
The second action is with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. “We just want to be paid what is owed to us,” he said.
Current president Areti Akamati (right) with Bishop Nektarios.
In one of three videos uploaded on the Holy Archdiocese’s YouTube (which is no longer active), Bishop Nektarios pointed to services provided by the Holy Archdiocese. These included having the Holy Archdiocese’s solicitor write letters to the City of Monash for Ms Akamati’s traffic infringements, a radio program application to present a program on 97.9 FM, the business registration of Aghia Paraskevi ($92), business cards ($98.38), and a May 28 lecture to help parishioners understand the sacraments.
Bishop Nektarios told The Greek Herald that he was not paid by the Community, receiving just food and lodgings. The Holy Archdiocese, however, received a $1,000 payment for services.
Committee members would not respond to The Greek Herald’s questions concerning the nature of this payment, including a request for treasurer Anastasia Myrianthopoulos to clarify fees.
Ms Akamati told The Greek Herald that her solicitor had advised her not to talk to the media, and she refused to answer even general questions unrelated to Bishop Nektarios. Similarly, Community Secretary Peter Zafiris said, “All the allegations that have been made have been forwarded to our solicitor and we were advised not to comment at this stage.” In a press release issued on Monday, July 15 by the Community, Ms Akamati and Mr Zafiris said they have since been advised by their solicitors to initiate legal action.
Former treasurer John Louloudakis, who served two terms on the committee, told The Greek Herald that he would always clearly document salaries paid to clergy. These were $450 per week, paid in cash, when he was treasurer. “These financial transactions and payments need to be clearly documented as a salary, and not a donation,” he said.
Priest Foivos Georgiou, hastily ordained by Bishop Nektarios before he departed abroad, said he does not want any payment for his service to the church. “I am 79 years old and have always been part of this church in some way, including as a psalter. All I want is for this controversy to end,” he said, adding that he would be ordained again. However, on Monday, July 1, Bishop Nektarios defrocked Fr. Foivos.
Foivos Georgiou (right) with a parishioner.
Bishop Nektarios’ own journey to priesthood has raised eyebrows. He told The Greek Herald he was born in Poros, Kefalonia, and moved to New Zealand with his parents when he was one month old. At the age of 11, he moved to Sydney with his parents, who he said died in a car accident before he and his sister Georgia were raised by Wesley Mission. A spokesperson for Wesley Mission told The Greek Herald no one matching the Bishop’s identity went there.
In heavily accented Greek English but flawless Greek uncommon for someone raised in the antipodes, he admitted to a troubled youth and involvement with a bikie gang. “My faith was shaken many times,” he said.
However, there have been doubts cast over his identity. In one of his videos, he presented a certificate of naturalisation where he and his sister were listed under his father’s name, Ioannis Alexandratos. He also presented a Certificate of Baptism from Wellington.
Some say he is Panagiotis Bouras, a man with an alleged history of fraud. Parishioners from Wellington told The Greek Herald that he showed up as a priest named Panagiotis Bouras, married to a psychologist, and immediately raised eyebrows.
At the 13th meeting of the Bishops of the GOAA on 28-29 March 2022, under the chairmanship of Archbishop Makarios, he was mentioned as someone who “passed through several Metropolises of the Church of Greece, insisting that he was a canonical priest of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia” before being discovered. The same meeting said he subsequently joined a group in the United States under the leadership of Melchizedek and was the “Archbishop of the Church of Palestine in America.”
“At one point, he also pretended to be a doctor, without having a medical degree or license, for which he was prosecuted,” the report stated.
The GOAA at the time warned people that he poses by the names Panayiotis Marlassi-Bouras, Panagiotis Mariassi-Bouras, Panagiotis Bouras, Panos Bouras, Panos Marlassi, and Arana Hokianga, and “has been implicated in the Greek and Australian judicial systems and the mass media.”
The Greek Herald has contacted the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of New Zealand for comment.
Australians in Lebanon are being urged to “leave immediately” as the security situation in the Middle East exacerbates.
Arrivals and departures from Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (Lebanon’s only airport), have all been cancelled or delayed due to security and insurance risks amid tensions in Hezbollah.
Rubble in southern Lebanon. Photo: AFP.
Sydney travel agent Maria Tadros said there has been an increase in demand and pressure from customers eager to get home or cancel their upcoming arrival flights.
“Everyone’s on edge. Don’t get me wrong. I woke up to so many messages, missed calls. Yes, people are on edge. People are wanting for me to change their flights to bring them back home earlier… But unfortunately, they have to pay a fee to change. I am not sure if you are aware that all travel insurance has been suspended from last year. So anyone travelling to Lebanon are travelling with no travel insurance. So this is another risk they took to travel to Lebanon,” Tadros said.
These sentiments reiterate the attitude of Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who has warned Australians about the government’s inability to help those who stay in Lebanon.
“The travel advice very clearly is don’t go to Lebanon… Australian citizens should ensure that they take advantage of the commercial flights that are available out of Lebanon at this time. This is a troubling area… it is important that people are cognisant of those warnings,” Albanese said.
An inquest has been opened into whether South Australia’s police force had more resources to potentially intercept mentally ill driver Harrison Kitt before he caused a fatal crash.
The investigation was initiated on Tuesday, July 30 after counsel assisting Martin Kirby said Kitt was reported by multiple witnesses driving dangerously before he killed senior police officer Joanne Shanahan (nee Panayiotou) and mother Tania McNeill in a collision in 2020.
Kirby details Kitt had been reported to South Australian police by copious witnesses for speeding and driving dangerously but they weren’t able to provide the registration plate.
The inquest found Kitt was also picked up by a speed camera at 12.41pm travelling north on Victor Harbor Road, Tatachilla at a speed of 187km/h.
Harrison Kitt’s speeding vehicle. Photo: Coroners Court of South Australia.
“Because of the technology used and the manner in which those fixed cameras operate, this information was not passed on to SA Police or any other authority,” Kirby said.
“The unfortunate flow on from this limitation was that when later reports came of a speeding driver travelling dangerously on the Southern Expressway, the vehicle couldn’t be identified.”
Kitt was found not guilty of causing the two women’s deaths due to mental incompetence and was sentenced 10 years under supervision in 2022.
The late Joanne Shanahan (left) and Tania McNeill (right). Photo: ABC News.
The ongoing inquest however, disregards Kitt’s undiagnosed bipolar disorder at the time and instead focuses on the police resources available in the hour leading up to the fatal collision that may have been able to identify and prevent the fatal collision.
“And if not, what, if anything might help prevent a similar event happening in the future,” Kirby concluded.
In 2013, John Peros’ former girlfriend Shandee Blackburn, aged 23, was left to die after she was attacked on her walk home from work in Queensland’s Mackay, suffering 23 stab and slash wounds to her face, neck, chest and arm.
Peros was found not guilty of her murder in 2017 and has ever since declared his innocence.
However, a 2020 inquest conducted by coroner David O’Connell concluded Peros did in fact kill Blackburn but found no “fresh and compelling evidence” required to charge him with murder under Queensland’s double jeopardy laws at the time.
Peros has recently filed to sue Nationwide News as publishers of The Australian, Shandee’s sister Shannah Blackburn, and investigative journalist Hedley Thomas over comments made in the Shandee’s Story podcast.
Shandee’s Story podcast.
Peros stated episode 13 of the true crime podcast, in which Shannah Blackburn confirmed her belief in the coroner’s findings and ultimately Peros’ guilt, was detrimental to his reputation by implying he murdered Shandee.
At a hearing before judge Peter Applegarth on Monday, July 29, the consensus was that no further damage was made to Peros’ reputation as the coroner’s findings was public information.
Peros’ barrister David Helvadjian said that the over 380,000 listeners “reached a concluded view that the plaintiff was a murderer.”
The Supreme Court hearing is expected to continue today.
