The Conference, titled ‘After the Crisis, Where to? Discussing Modern Greek Studies in the Age of Uncertainty,’ will be held at the University of Sydney (USYD).
The Conference will be convened by Professor Vrasidas Karalis, Sir Nicholas Laurantus Professor of Modern Greek and Byzantine Studies at USYD; and Associate Professor Anthony Dracopoulos, Chair, Discipline of Modern Greek and Byzantine Studies, School of Languages and Cultures at USYD.
Almost six years after its last conference, the MGSAANZ are inviting all Australian academics, researchers, writers and cultural actors to their upcoming meeting dedicated to the diagnosis of what happened during the last six years in Australia with the Greek language.
What is the future of Modern Greek in Australia.
The Conference will look at the future of Modern Greek studies in Australia, the teaching of Modern Greek language, the orientations of current academic research, the publishing of relevant literature and the appearance of new creative writing, together with other papers on politics, culture, art and society.
The Conference wants to expand its scope and perspective to include a wide variety of research and cultural reconsiderations that take place in the Greek Australian diaspora, but also in Global Greek studies, including visual arts, literary writing, music and cultural performance.
Furthermore, the conference will dedicate a substantial part of its discussions in presenting books published both in Greek and English by writers based in Australia, while honouring the work and legacy of recently departed seminal literary figures, like Dimitris Tsaloumas and Antigone Kefala.
The MGSAANZ remain open to suggestions about possible panel discussions and individual contributions.
Deadline for the submission of abstracts and proposals is: August 30th, 2024. Please email: Vrasidas.Karalis@sydney.edu.au or Anthony.Dracopoulos@sydney.edu.au.
The fixtures for the Australia Cup 2024 Round of 32 have been revealed following the Official Draw on Wednesday, June 19.
Broadcast live on 10 Play, the Draw – undertaken by former Isuzu UTE A-League striker, Roy O’Donovan – has delivered several exciting match ups to open the Final Rounds, including eight fixtures in which National Premier League (NPL) sides host Isuzu UTE A-League Men opposition.
Headlining the Victorian contingent of teams will be Oakleigh Cannons FC, who host reigning Australia Cup Winners, Sydney FC in what shapes as an exciting rematch following Oakleigh’s defeat of the Sky Blues in the Australia Cup 2022 Quarter Finals. Fellow Victorians, FC Melbourne Srbija – plying their trade in Victoria’s NPL3 – will host the Modbury Jets SC from South Australia.
A minimum of two matches will be played in Western Australia, with Perth RedStar FC to face Lions FC (Football Queensland) and Edgeworth Eagles FC (Football Northern NSW) – the oldest team to patriciate in the Australia Cup – traveling across the country to meet Olympic Kingsway SC.
In their debut Australia Cup Final Rounds appearance, Capital Football’s O’Connor Knights SC and Darwin Hearts FC (Football Northern Territory) will host Australia Cup 2022 Winners and Isuzu UTE A-League Men outfit, Macarthur FC and Australia Cup regulars, Hume City FC (Football Victoria) respectively.
Blacktown City FC – who have twice reached the Australia Cup Quarter Finals – will take on the most successful team in Australia Cup history in Adelaide United FC, while fellow NSW NPL side, NWS Spirit FC will welcome the Glenorchy Knights FC from Tasmania.
In the 10th iteration of the Australia Cup in its modern form, Northern NSW’s Lambton Jaffas FC will face a tough test against Melbourne Victory FC, while it will be a battle of the NPL heavyweights with Queensland’s Olympic FC taking on New South Wales’ APIA Leichhardt FC in a tantalising inter-state clash.
As it was in 2023, the Australia Cup 2024 Playoffs will feature the four clubs that finished 9th to 12th in the Isuzu UTE A-League Men 2023/24 regular season.
Brisbane Roar FC (9th) will face Perth Glory FC (12th) on Tuesday, 23 July, before Newcastle Jets FC (10th) go up against Western United FC (11th) on Wednesday, 24 July at Darwin Football Stadium at Larrakia Park.
The winner of Brisbane Roar FC and Perth Glory FC will take on fellow Isuzu UTE A-League outfit Melbourne City FC at home, while Newcastle Jets FC or Western United FC will travel to play Rockdale Ilinden FC in New South Wales.
The Australia Cup 2024 Round of 32 will be played over two (2) weeks from late-July to mid-August.
It’s anticipated that venues, dates and timings for the Round of 32 will be made available next week, as Football Australia works with participating clubs and Member Federations to navigate ground availability.
Australia Cup 2024 Round of 32 Fixtures:
Moreton City Excelsior FC (Football Queensland) v Campbelltown City SC (Football South Australia)
NWS Spirit FC (Football New South Wales) v Glenorchy Knights FC (Football Tasmania)
O’Connor Knights SC (Capital Football) v Macarthur FC
Perth RedStar FC (Football West) v Lions FC (Football Queensland)
FC Melbourne Srbija (Football Victoria) v Modbury Jets SC (Football South Australia)
Olympic FC (Football Queensland) v APIA Leichhardt FC (Football New South Wales)
Brisbane City FC (Football Queensland) v Western Sydney Wanderers FC
Heidelberg United FC (Football Victoria) v Central Coast Mariners FC
Olympic Kingsway SC (Football West) v Edgeworth Eagles FC (Northern New South Wales Football)
Oakleigh Cannons FC (Football Victoria) v Sydney FC
South Melbourne FC (Football Victoria) v Wellington Phoenix FC
Blacktown City FC (Football New South Wales) v Adelaide United FC
Lambton Jaffas FC (Northern New South Wales Football) v Melbourne Victory FC
Rockdale Ilinden FC (Football New South Wales) v Newcastle Jets FC/Western United FC
Brisbane Roar FC/Perth Glory FC v Melbourne City FC
Darwin Hearts FC (Football Northern Territory) v Hume City FC (Football Victoria)
The Victorian Greens party has joined its voice alongside SEKA Victoria in outlining its concerns about the establishment of a new Parliamentary Friends of Azerbaijan group initiated by Natalie Suleyman MP and David Southwick MP.
The Victorian Greens said in a statement on Wednesday, June 19 that they were concerned about the formation of the new parliamentary friendship group because it risks “legitimising the action of the state of Azerbaijan that has been accused of a blockade and the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian people.”
“1.5 million Armenians and 1 million Greek and Assyrian people were killed in a genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire beginning in 1915. The genocide was a grave crime against humanity and the Victorian Greens pay tribute to the memory of the victims,” the statement reads.
“In recent times, the Armenian community has continued to suffer gravely because of the actions of the state of Azerbaijan against the Armenian community in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabkah). The recent blockade, attack and forced displacement of Armenians from the region resulted in the inaugural prosecutor of the International Criminal Court stating that there is a reasonable basis to believe that a genocide is being committed.”
In light of the growing international concern about the actions of the state of Azerbaijan, the Victorian Greens urged others members of parliament not to attend an inaugural Parliamentary Friends of Azerbaijan meeting on Wednesday night. The party said “it could send a message of endorsement of the actions of the state of Azerbaijan.”
Armenia and Azerbaijan have already fought two wars over Karabakh in the three decades.
In his letter, Mr Andronikos said Azerbaijan’s unprovoked attack eight months ago, which forced all Armenians in Artsakh to flee, compounded by crimes like occupying 215 square kilometers of territory within the sovereign borders of Armenia, desecrating religious and cultural heritage, and mistreating prisoners of war, makes “any attempt to establish such a forum reprehensible.”
“Attendance and participation in such a forum would send an inappropriate message, legitimising the crimes of Azerbaijan,” Mr Andronikos stressed.
“Each of you, as elected members, must take a principled stand and send a message to Azerbaijan that you will not allow the crimes of Azerbaijanis against indigenous Armenians and your own citizens to go unanswered.
“We, as Victorians and citizens of a free and democratic state, must stand with the people of Armenia as they endure one of the darkest chapters in their modern history. We can do better. We must do better.”
According to documents filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Register, The Oxford Rose Pty Ltd and 106 Swanson Street Pty Ltd have been placed into external administration. The entities are linked to The Rose Hotel on Oxford St in Paddington and the Kurrajong Hotel in Erskineville respectively.
Insolvency and advisory firm Ankura is working as the external administrator on the entities. It is believed that lenders are owed money in the tens of millions of dollars.
Jon Adgemis owns Public Hospitality Group. Photo: Development Ready.
This comes after Adgemis struck a $400 million refinancing deal in May 2024 with Deutsche Bank, Gemi Investments, Archibald Capital and Muzinich & Co, to save his PHG from collapse.
Earlier this week, operations at the Hellenic Club of Sydney’s Alpha restaurant and Beta Events were also taken over by Con Dedes of Dedes Waterfront Group after PHG made a swift exit.
At the time, Hellenic Club of Sydney members and the wider Greek community raised concerns to The Greek Heraldabout the future of Alpha and Beta Events, questioning the selection of Adgemis’ PHG over competitors such as the Dedes Waterfront Group, and expressing unease about the club’s financial stability as well as the potential impact on its activities and reputation.
The new management by Con Dedes has been welcomed news for the local Greek community.
Summer wildfires have plagued Greece this week with numerous new fires breaking out across the country in the last few hours.
Spokesman for the Hellenic Fire Brigade Vassilis Vathrakogiannis told AMNA.gr that “there is a new fire breaking out nearly every ten minutes” across Greece.
Late on Wednesday, scores of Greek firefighters and water-bombing aircraft succeeded in taming a large wildfire on the fringes of Athens that forced authorities to evacuate two nearby settlements.
Officials said the wildfire was exacerbated by windy, hot and dry weather and appeared to have been deliberately started. It broke out in low scrub and olive trees in a sparsely inhabited area near Vari, some 30 kilometers (18 miles) south of central Athens.
Wildfires continue to burn in Greece. This is in Varis-Koropiou, Attica, near factories and houses. Fire chief Vassilis Vathrakogiannis described the day as very difficult, noting that new fires are breaking out almost every 10 minutes. pic.twitter.com/YlOY7x2KOL
No injuries were reported. ERT showed a burnt-out home, as well as destroyed plastic boats in a yacht and speedboat parking area.
Firefighters and aircraft were also battling another major fire in the southern Peloponnese region that forced the evacuation of a village, as well as blazes in central Greece and on eastern Aegean Sea island of Lesbos.
Earlier the fire service extinguished blazes east of Athens, and on the Aegean islands of Evia and Naxos — where a man was arrested on suspicion of accidentally starting the fire.
The head of Lebanon’s Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah threatened Cyprus for the first time on Wednesday, warning it would consider the island nation “part of the war” with Israel if it opened its airports to Israel.
It is believed that Nasrallah’s mention of Cyprus’ “airports and bases” concerned the RAF Akrotiri, a permanent military base that supports ongoing operations in the region, including Israel, as well as support for the Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) in Cyprus.
In a televised address, Nasrallah said his Iran-backed group would fight with “no rules” and “no ceilings” in case a broader war with Israel erupted, and that nowhere in Israel would be safe from Hezbollah’s attacks.
The threat included possible targets in the Mediterranean Sea such as Cyprus.
“Opening Cypriot airports and bases to the Israeli enemy to target Lebanon would mean that the Cypriot government is part of the war, and the resistance will deal with it as part of the war,” Nasrallah warned.
“The enemy wants to intimidate us, but they are the ones who should be afraid.”
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides. Photo: Ekathimerini.
In response to Nasrallah, President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides said the island nation “is in no way involved” in any military operations in the region or elsewhere.
Christodoulides stressed Cyprus’ role as a humanitarian facilitator, “which is recognised globally and particularly in the Arab world” through initiatives such as the Cyprus-Gaza maritime corridor delivering humanitarian aid by ship to the Gaza Strip.
“Our humanitarian corridor is a testament to our commitment to peace and stability,” he said. “Cyprus is not part of the problem, it is part of the solution.”
The Cypriot President said there were avenues of communication with both Lebanon and Iran “through diplomatic means.”
So far, the cross-border violence between Israel and Hezbollah has killed at least 478 people in Lebanon, most of them fighters but also including 93 civilians, according to an AFP tally. Israeli authorities say at least 15 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed in the country’s north.
The Athenian Association of NSW hosted a nostalgic taverna night at the Greek Orthodox Community hall in Lakemba on Saturday, June 15.
Themed “Old Athens,” the event aimed to connect the hearts of Sydney’s Greek community with the historic city of Athens.
Cathy Valis, President of the Athenian Association of NSW.Yannis Mallikourtis, Consul General of Greece in Sydney.
The evening featured a notable speech from Yannis Mallikourtis, Consul General of Greece in Sydney, who provided a retrospective look at the population and cultural heritage of Athens and its people.
Stavros Nikolaou, Deputy Head of Mission at the Cyprus High Commission, also addressed guests in attendance on the night.
Cathy Valis, President of the Athenian Association of NSW, delivered a heartfelt address on the enduring symbolism of Athenian cultural values both in Greece and within Sydney’s Greek community. She also shared personal anecdotes, evoking cherished memories of the past.
Highlighting the theme of “Old Athens,” Board member and educator, Stella Sorotou presented an extensive history of Athenian serenades. This year marks the 160th anniversary of these beloved musical traditions in Athens. The audience joined in singing old Athenian serenades, accompanied by audiovisual presentations and the talented orchestra on the night.
Guests were treated to traditional Athenian meze crafted by Chef Aris, whose culinary expertise added to the evening’s charm. The event concluded with spirited dancing and Athenian songs performed by the orchestra, leaving attendees with a lasting sense of connection to their cultural roots.
The Cyprus Community of NSW have announced the completion of the first round in the Expressions of Interest (EOI) process for the Cyprus Club site at Stanmore in Sydney’s Inner West.
Speaking exclusively with The Greek Herald, President of the Community, Michael Kyriacou said the responses from local and overseas parties was positive.
Mr Kyriacou explained the purpose of the EOI process was to identify what can be done with the recently rezoned Stanmore property to maximise the benefit for the Community and its future needs.
The Club has accumulated more than $8 million debt over many years. Most of the debt is in the form of loans to fund real estate purchased by the Community. Adelaide Bendigo Bank advised the Community their loan term would end on March 19 this year and they would not be renewing the loan.
Treasurer Terry Bieri said that the Cyprus Club has not traded well for decades, with its last major renovations done back in 1989.
The Cyprus Club at Stanmore has accumulated more than $8 million debt over many years.
Mr Bieri said the Club rezoning provided a once-in-a-generation opportunity for renewal, with the Community already launching a young professionals membership drive to get more youth involved and secure the future of the Community.
Garry Day, the Club’s long standing external auditor, has audited many clubs throughout New South Wales including the Castellorizian Club in Kingsford before it closed its doors.
In a report to Community members earlier this year, Mr Day made it clear ‘staying’ at the Club and ‘doing nothing’ was not an option.
Mr Bieri said Mr Day’s report highlighted that the Club in its current state was not feasible and it was not viable to maintain and operate such a large building which was not used and made no money during the week. The report also estimated the Club’s losses were between $2,000 to $6,000 per week.
Mr Bieri said that without the help of members raising funds for Cyprus Capital Ltd, the Club would not be able to operate. He reassured members that the Community’s assets had significantly increased in value and it still held licenses for 60 gaming machines – 33 of which are operational.
Mr Kyriacou added that the Community operates a ‘kafenio,’ Greek language and dancing schools, a soccer club, the ‘Cypriots for ANZACs’ initiative and many other activities. But said the Community cannot continue in its current state indefinitely.
Mr Bieri said the EOI was not solely focused on any sale, but rather it was open to any party with a good track record, a balance sheet and a proven ability and capacity to put forward a viable solution for the benefit of the Community.
Mr Kyriacou said that the Community also has a future needs programme in place as a result of input from many stakeholders and experts.
Mr Bieri thanked the Community’s supporters, volunteers and team of experts who have worked very hard over many months to deliver a successful EOI.
The Community has identified the type of facilities and services it will need to engage with the next generation and preserve its sacred mission. The use of real estate is only one part of the renewal process.
The EOI process has brought up very unique and creative proposals for the Stanmore property, not just the typical land development ideas.
Shortly, the members will be asked to consider the EOI proposals in what is being considered a historic moment for the Community.
Mr Kyriacou said there have been many ideas put forward, but they must be viable and not risk the Community’s property and mission and ensure the Community gets the best use and benefits from its property.
“We are very excited that the market has responded in such a strong manner,” Mr Kyriacou concluded.
“Our focus must always be about the next generation – a Community that is relevant to the generations to come. We all have an obligation to our youth, to our mission to preserve our culture and identity.
“This is more than real estate or buildings. It’s about moving forward to continue to be vibrant and inclusive. The EOI process and the upcoming members decision is only a part of our renewal process as the Community approaches its centenary.”
There was a full house at the Ramsgate RSL Club in Sydney on Monday, June 17, as Emanuel J. Comino -a tireless advocate for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece – gave a stirring lecture on the latest developments on the issue.
Mr Comino’s lecture was so thorough that, although it lasted 1.5 hours, all his listeners were captivated and wanted to hear more.
Narrating with the aid of projected images, Mr Comino explained the entire issue of how the Parthenon Marbles were stolen by Lord Elgin and given to the British Museum. He also detailed names, historical incidents, dates and statements from notable figures – all from memory.
At the end of the lecture, the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Yannis Mallikourtis, who was in attendance, presented Mr Comino with a newly published book on the Parthenon Marbles.
Greek-Cypriot Australian soprano and actress Christiana Aloneftis is the recipient of the 2024 Brian Boak Outstanding Performer Bursary worth $20,000.
The Brian Boak Outstanding Performer Bursary is awarded to an emerging Australian artist between 18–35, to support study or professional development endeavours in the areas of acting, dancing, singing or instrumental performance.
Aloneftis, who is currently based in Munich, Germany, will use the bursary to further develop her career in both opera and acting.
Aloneftis will undertake a mentorship with Italian soprano and Puccini expert Donata D’Annunzio Lombardi at Accademia di Alto Perfezionamento Vocale in Rome. She will also attend acting courses at Los Angeles’ Stella Adler Academy of Acting and London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Christiana Aloneftis is currently based in Munich, Germany,
“To receive this award is a huge honour for me,” Aloneftis told Limelight Arts.
“Now, as a full-time performing artist pursuing two exceptionally demanding art forms and their challenging industries – film and opera – I feel equipped to manage what comes up ahead. It is a very exciting time for me, a time of endless possibility but also a time of preparedness and a time of intention and creation.”
Fluent in five languages, Aloneftis has performed with the Connecticut Lyric Opera, North Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and the Cyprus Philharmonic Orchestra.
The Greek-Cypriot Australian has also won multiple awards including a 2016 Mike Walsh Fellowship Award and the 2015 Cyprus Vocal Scholarship Competition.
