Marina Strougaris, a lifelong resident of Norton Street in Croydon, Sydney, has expressed shock and distress over Inner West Council’s draft plan to acquire and demolish her home to expand a nearby playground.
“My parents bought this house in February 1969, and I have lived here all my life. I plan to live here until I die and then pass it onto my daughter… I’m not interested in selling,” she told The Daily Telegraph.
“I haven’t really had much sleep… it’s taken a lot out of me.”
Under the council’s “Fairer Future Plan,” up to 60 properties across Marrickville, Ashfield, Croydon and Dulwich Hill could be acquired or rezoned to build new apartment blocks, bike paths and parks as part of a strategy to deliver 35,000 new homes in 15 years.
In Croydon, eight homes near Lion Street and Norton Street, including Marina’s, are flagged for demolition to enlarge Lion Street Playground.
Fellow Croydon resident Margaret Noonan also said she felt “blindsided” by the proposal, which she only learned about after her home was listed for rezoning.
Council said the plan is still in draft form and part of ongoing community consultation. A spokesperson confirmed affected homeowners were doorknocked and sent letters after the draft was made public on May 13.
On Tuesday, June 3, the Australian Ambassador to Greece, Alison Duncan, visited the village of Thrilorio in the Rhodope region — named after Australian soldier and humanitarian George Devine Treloar.
In 1922, Treloar founded the village and, as High Commissioner for the League of Nations at the time, played a pivotal role in the survival and resettlement of tens of thousands of refugees from Asia Minor and Pontus.
During her visit, Ms Duncan was warmly welcomed by the local community.
In attendance were the village president, Georgios Salpingidis; President of the Pontian Thrilorio Association “Kerasounta and Gars”, Chrysa Mavridou; President of the Pontian Women’s Association, Anastasia Savvidou; the parish priest, Fr Nektarios Papalexiou; and founder of the Basketry Museum, Antonis Liapis.
Ms Duncan was briefed by Ms Mavridou on the village’s history, visited the Church of Saints Constantine and Helen, toured the Basketry Museum and one of the original village homes.
Her visit concluded with a tasting of traditional Pontic dishes, prepared by the women of the “Kerasounta and Gars” Association.
Arsenal are reportedly in advanced talks to sign 17-year-old Greek attacking midfielder Konstantinos Karetsas from Belgian side Genk, according to Greek news agency AMNA.
The Gunners, looking to bolster their attacking options, see Karetsas as a long-term asset. Known for his technical ability, vision and versatility, the youngster has drawn comparisons to Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard and Lyon’s Rayan Cherki.
While Manchester United, Liverpool, PSG, Bayern and others have shown interest, Arsenal are now said to be leading the race, with Genk reportedly valuing the player at €45 million (£38m).
The Ecumenical Patriarchate has approved plans to transform one of Europe’s most significant wooden buildings — the former Greek orphanage on Prinkipos, off the coast of Istanbul — into a hotel, reviving its original intended use.
The orphanage, perched atop a hill on the Princes’ Islands, was originally built 127 years ago to operate as a luxury hotel. However, lacking official authorisation at the time, it was instead converted into an orphanage for Greek Orthodox children, serving the community for decades before falling into abandonment and disrepair.
In recent years, the immense timber structure has become dangerously unstable, with its framework visibly deteriorating and at risk of collapse.
Determined to prevent the loss of this landmark, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has endorsed a redevelopment plan aimed at securing the building’s structural and financial sustainability. The Holy Synod unanimously approved the initiative at a meeting held at the Phanar.
Converting the site into a hotel has emerged as the most viable option, in line with a proposal previously outlined by heritage and hospitality consultancy Sevotel.
The Synod also considered alternative reuse concepts and potential investor partnerships. A long-term lease is now under discussion, with a dedicated committee to be established to finalise the terms.
Collaborations with hotel groups — Turkish, Greek, or international — are still being considered, reflecting growing interest in preserving and reimagining this cultural and architectural treasure.
Sydney’s iconic Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf has received a vibrant Greek twist with the recent opening of Akti, a contemporary Greek restaurant.
Operated by the Sydney Restaurant Group — known for its waterfront venues — Akti pays tribute to the founders’ Hellenic roots and the area’s historic significance as a landing point for Greek migrants in the 1950s.
Founder Bill Drakopoulos says the venue honours the Greek spirit of filoxenia (wholehearted hospitality), while head chef Robert Judd (ex-Hellenika) and Athens-based consultant Ntinos Fotinakis bring a modern approach to nostalgic Greek flavours.
Expect standout Australian seafood dishes, moussaka croquettes, smoking lamb shoulder, and a theatrical take on galaktoboureko.
The drinks list is equally inventive, featuring Greek Australian wines and playful cocktails like a Greek salad martini and tzatziki-inspired mix, crafted by Nicola Drakopoulos and Fotinakis.
With views, history, and flavour, Akti is set to become a new favourite on the wharf.
Paris Cockinos was left fighting for his life after a motorcycle accident in 2020 that resulted in severe internal injuries and multiple fractures.
The 32-year-old, who spent four days in a medically induced coma and required 4.5 litres of blood transfusions, now credits everyday Australians and blood donors for saving his life.
“Without the blood donations… I’d probably be six feet under,” he told The Daily Telegraph.
Paris is now urging others to donate blood, highlighting how many people remain unaware of their blood type.
His plea comes as O-type blood stocks reach critically low levels, prompting a national campaign led by emergency services workers.
Stuart Chesneau from Australian Red Cross Lifeblood stressed the urgency, noting that “an hour of your time might give someone the rest of their life.”
Greece’s remote Fournoi archipelago, rich in ancient coral reefs and marine biodiversity, is set to benefit from a government ban on bottom trawling introduced last month to protect its fragile seabed.
Local fishermen, such as 76-year-old Manolis Mytikas, have welcomed the move, describing trawlers as destructive “bulldozers” that have long depleted fish stocks in the area.
The ban follows groundbreaking discoveries by scientists from Archipelagos and Under the Pole, who found thriving coral ecosystems at depths of 60–150 metres, including black corals and red gorgonians.
Experts warn these underwater “forests” are highly vulnerable, with even a single trawl pass potentially causing irreversible damage.
While marine scientists praise Greece’s leadership — becoming the first European nation to phase out bottom trawling in all marine protected areas by 2030 — industrial trawler operators have criticised the decision, citing lack of consultation and concerns over livelihoods.
The debate is expected to feature at the upcoming UN Ocean Conference in Nice.
Tony Xanthopoulos, director of failed South Australian home builder Xtraordinary Constructions, is under scrutiny after the company’s collapse revealed a string of luxury purchases, including a Lamborghini Gallardo valued at $200,000.
A report prepared by Xanthopoulos lists the Lamborghini as the most valuable of four high-end vehicles owned by the company, alongside a Nissan 350Z coupe, a Nissan Navara, and a Mercedes-Benz E200.
According to The Advertiser, these assets, along with a $570,000 property in Blakeview and a marina berth at Port Adelaide, are now in the hands of liquidators.
With company assets totalling around $1 million and over $2 million owed to unsecured creditors, many are expected to suffer significant financial losses.
“The Lamborghini is a valuable asset of the company that is securely stored, and will be offered for sale in due course,” said liquidator Andrew Langshaw of DuncanPowell, noting strong anticipated buyer interest.
Xtraordinary Constructions collapsed last month, leaving more than 40 incomplete residential projects worth $17 million.
The builder had been hired to complete works at Port Adelaide’s Dock One after the fall of Qattro, and was also active in suburbs including Woodforde and Glanville.
Construction giant Metricon has since stepped in to finish homes and assist affected customers with insurance claims.
It has further been revealed that Xanthopoulos, who co-directed the company with wife Tara and also operates a Wagyu cattle business Two Cow Creek Wagyu, sent abusive emails to a customer, calling them an “ass with first-world problems.”
The emails came amid growing complaints about delays and defects.
Langshaw said the directors had tried to restructure the business but rising costs and material shortages proved too great.
“Xtraordinary has faced increasingly challenging operating conditions that have affected the entire industry,” he said.
South Australian tomato grower Peter Petsios is calling for an inquiry and threatening legal action after the federal government abandoned efforts to eradicate the tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV), a decision he says came too late to save his business.
Petsios, owner of SA Tomato, said the now-defunct eradication policy cost him $4 million, his health, and his 65-year-old family business, which has been shut for months.
“This is the worst thing that’s happened to me – it’s like a death in the family,” he said.
The virus was detected in South Australia in July 2023, leading to widespread quarantine measures and severe industry disruption.
Petsios said he and other growers had advocated early on for a virus management strategy, in line with international approaches, rather than eradication.
The tomato virus. Photo: Growing Produce.
“This should have been a one-week issue,” he said. “Common sense has finally prevailed… We want answers now.”
The federal biosecurity committee’s change in strategy followed the discovery of infected seedlings in Victoria that originated from a nursery in New South Wales — a state previously unlinked to the virus.
Petsios described the emotional and physical toll as immense, citing persistent health issues caused by stress. “I could have had a heart attack. I could have been dead,” he said.
Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven said SA Tomato had received some compensation and was eligible for further reimbursement.
However, opposition MP Nicola Centofanti criticised the government’s “reactive” response, saying early transparency and consistent national policy could have prevented significant losses.
Petsios now intends to pursue legal action to recover damages, stating, “I’m gonna have to work right around the clock for the rest of my life to pay this debt off.”
If you’re a Greek Australian who’s grown up in Canberra, you’re probably familiar with the Canberra Hellenic Dancers (CHD).
The Greek dance organisation is unique to Canberra, as it is the only one in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), and offers both traditional and modern Greek dance classes for children and adults.
With 11 different dance groups, and more than 200 dancers aged 5 to 70 enrolled and attending dance classes each week, the dance organisation has been a hit for Greeks in the community since the 80s.
In an interview with The Greek Herald, the President of the CHD Maria Kouparitsas revealed how the dance organisation was founded, as well as some of its greatest achievements over the years.
How did the Canberra Hellenic Dancers come about?
Maria said the dance group started in 1980.
“It was founded by Mrs Effie Antoniou, who wanted to start a dance school for the youth of Canberra,” Maria told The Greek Herald.
“We started off with quite a small number of students, and it has grown over the years.”
What will you learn?
Joining the group is like joining a community and embracing “a love for dance.”
“Depending on your level, you will learn the basics and then the more advanced style of dance, and gain experience in the different styles of Greek dancing from the different regions in Greece,” Maria said.
Connections to the Hellenic Club
The Hellenic Club of Canberra has played a vital role in the formation of the CHD. Maria described it as the dancers’ “second home and biggest supporter.”
“It’s where all our dancing classes are held,” she said.
“If we aren’t dancing here, then on many nights we are eating here!
“We are very grateful to the Hellenic Club for continuing to support us in so many ways and we could not do what we do without them.”
Accomplishments over the years
The CHD have become known for performing all around Australia, showcasing their special talents on multiple occasions including multicultural festivals, Greek association events, private functions, National Museum exhibitions, local fetes, and at Aged Care facilities.
Maria shared that one of their biggest accomplishments includes travelling to Greece in 2024 with two senior groups for a “once in a lifetime experience.”
“Our committee spent months planning this trip for our students and tried to pack as much as possible so they could get a taste of history, culture and dance all packed in a 10-day experience,” Maria said.
“As part of this trip, we attended Greek dancing workshops with some of the best dance schools in both Athens and Crete, learned more about our history at various historic and archaeological sites, performed on the streets of Crete together with the locals and got to immerse ourselves completely in our culture.
“For many of the students, who are now second and third generation Greeks, this was their first time visiting the motherland.”
The importance of Greek dancing
The CHD President emphasised the importance of Greek dancing amongst young people.
“It is so important for us to pass Greek dancing knowledge down to younger generations to keep the passion for Greek dancing alive,” Maria said.
“I also think that Greek dancing is an excellent opportunity for our young Greek Australian community to connect with their Greek heritage and culture, meet new people and make lifelong friendships.”
The dancer experience
The Greek Herald additionally spoke with two CHD dancers, Nicole Schwirtlich and Michael Voudouris, to hear about their experiences.
Nicole, 25, with Greek origins from Kythera, said her dancing journey began when she was a child in Sydney. Once she moved to Canberra, she joined the CHD to get involved with the local community.
“In addition to being a great workout, Greek dancing teaches us about our history,” she said.
“We may live far away from Greece, but learning these traditional dances is a way for us to engage with these stories and continue connecting with our heritage.”
Michael, 19, began Greek dancing at the age of five here in the ACT.
“My parents forced me to do it and I was young, but I’m glad they did,” Michael said.
“I like Greek dancing because all of my best friends are here, and we get to travel the world together.”
He encourages more young people to join the dance group.
“The amount of people you meet and what you learn about the culture is what will make you love it even more,” Michael said.
