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Destination Patrida: Melbourne’s Manasis dancers embark on historic Greek Odyssey

The Greek Herald
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Destination Patrida: Melbourne’s Manasis dancers embark on historic Greek Odyssey

The MANASIS School of Greek Dance and Culture in Melbourne, Victoria has announced the commencement of its single most ambitious project to date: ‘Destination Patrida 2024.’ This endeavour is a dream come true, the last remaining item on the school’s bucket list, and the culmination of a decade’s worth of planning and preparation.

As Australia’s official representative Greek cultural group, MANASIS has consistently ensured that Greek identity and customs are presented, acknowledged, and respected with the prominence and dignity they deserve. Since its establishment in 1979, MANASIS has elevated Greek dance beyond its traditional roots to the international stage, becoming a recognised name in the mainstream realm of Performing Arts.

‘Destination Patrida 2024’ has received official recognition and endorsement from the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the Australian Embassy in Greece, as well as from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Greece) via the Office of the General Secretariat of Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy.

The “Famous 15” Manasis dancers will take part in ‘Destination Patrida 2024.’ From mid-June to mid-July, the MANASIS troupe will explore their ancestral homeland, spending an entire month traveling, performing, and experiencing all that Greece has to offer.

This journey is part of a bespoke and unique cultural, spiritual, physical, and psychological multifaceted program, years in the making.

In recognition of its contribution to the preservation and dissemination of cultural identity throughout the diaspora, UNESCO’s Council of International Dance (CID) will formally induct MANASIS as an official member at a ceremony during its 61st World Congress of Dance Research. This event will be hosted at the Dora Stratou Dance Theatre in Athens, a revered epicenter of Greek Dance.

Love on the Spectrum’s Michael Theo gets first acting gig

The Greek Herald
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Love on the Spectrum’s Michael Theo gets first acting gig

Love on the Spectrum reality TV star Michael Theo is playing the lead role in a new comedy drama called Austin.

According to ABC News, Michael will be playing a neurodiverse young man on a quest to find out who his father is.

Michael said landing his first professional acting job is a childhood dream come true for him.

“I think it [the script] was pretty spot on and I’m actually impressed they brought in an actor on the spectrum to play someone on the spectrum,” Michael told Lindsay McDougall on ABC Illawarra Drive.

“If you’re getting an actor not on the spectrum to play an autistic character, it’s not organic or authentic.”

Michael will play alongside My Big Fat Greek Wedding star, Gia Carides, Australian screen legend Roy Billing, Sally Phillips — of Bridget Jones trilogy fame — and BAFTA winner Ben Miller.

Austin premieres on ABC TV and iview on Sunday, June 9.

Greek Australian twins named on Subway Joeys squad for ASEAN championship

The Greek Herald
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Greek Australian twins named on Subway Joeys squad for ASEAN championship

Subway Joeys’ Head Coach, Brad Maloney has named a 23-player squad to contest the 2024 ASEAN U-16 Boys’ Championship held in Surakarta, Indonesia from 21 June – 4 July.

The tournament – formerly known as the AFF Championship – features 12 Members from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Football Federation.

Australia has been drawn in Group C for the tournament, alongside Malaysia, Thailand and Timor-Leste and will play all their Group Stage fixtures out of Sriwedari Stadium.

The 2024 edition of the Championship – which is also contested at U-19 level – will be Australia’s ninth appearance, having previously won the tournament in 2008 and 2016.

The selected squad is brimming with young talent from Isuzu UTE A-League club academy programs across the country, including brothers, Alexi and James Houridis (Melbourne Victory FC), Quinn MacNicol (Brisbane Roar FC) and Christian Pullella (Perth Glory FC).

Alexander Garbowski (BK Häcken, Sweden) and Noah Slunjski (Hadjuk Split, Croatia) have been selected from overseas leagues, while David Bolongi (Football QLD) and Jordan Graoroski (Football NSW) have earnt selection direct from their respective Member Federation club sides.

A large portion of the squad selected by Maloney for these Championships were part of his assembly in early-April 2024 for friendlies against U-16 Switzerland and U-17 Inter Milan FC. The camp – held at the Australian Institute of Sport European Training Centre in Varese, Italy – represented the beginning of a new cycle for this age group and their first taste of a national team environment.

Maloney will bring together his squad for a brief pre-camp in Indonesia prior to the Subway Joeys’ first game on Sunday, 23 June against Thailand. Australia will then face Malaysia (26 June) and Timor-Leste (29 June), as they look to secure a spot in the tournament’s Semi Finals by topping their Group.

Subway Joeys’ Head Coach, Brad Maloney said the opportunity for his squad to be exposed to tournament football in foreign conditions would be an invaluable experience.

“I’m really happy with the squad we’ve been able to put together, particularly off the back of a couple of strong showings in April,” Maloney said.

“We saw some fantastic individual performances in Italy and players have been rewarded with selection as a result, but most importantly, we were able to begin to implement our principles of play.

“That camp was the perfect foundation to begin this cycle, and while our focus is on our Asian Cup Qualifiers in October and U-17 World Cup Qualification, success at this tournament will go a long way in helping us reach those goals.

“The players are excited for the challenge. They will be playing in new conditions, against a different style of opposition and I believe we’ve got a group that can do well in these Championships.

“They [the Championships] present a tough format with tight turnarounds between games, so we know recovery will be extremely important and the boys will be leaving no stone unturned to get the best out of themselves.

“It’s going to be a great experience for them and we’re all looking forward to getting started.”

Two jurors dropped in George Alex’s $13 million tax fraud trial

The Greek Herald
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Two jurors dropped in George Alex’s $13 million tax fraud trial

Two jurors have been dropped from a multimillion-dollar tax fraud trial involving Sydney construction boss George Alex and five others accused of pocketing more than $13 million in unpaid taxes.

According to The Australian, Juror G was dismissed after police searched his Sydney home mid-trial for a different alleged crime and officers discovered he had been conducting prohibited internet searches related to the fraud trial.

Following interviews of the remaining jurors by police, another juror – known as Juror A – was found to have been compromised after being in contact with Juror G.

NSW Supreme Court judge Desmond Fagan told the court on Thursday that while there was “no finding of misconduct of Juror A… the communications of those two were somewhat close and repeated.” As a result, the judge discharged him from his role on the jury.

George Alex (left) and his son Arthur Alex outside the NSW Supreme Court at Darlinghurst during their trial.CREDITWOLTER PEETERS
George Alex (left) and his son Arthur Alex outside the NSW Supreme Court at Darlinghurst during their trial. Photo: Wolter Peeters.

Judge Fagan stopped short of aborting the six month trial. He apologised for being “heavy-handed” about the matter, but said if further jurors are compromised the case would “run the risk of being aborted and run again later, at a cost I leave to your imaginations.”

The trial, which began in February, relates to Mr Alex, his son Arthur Alex, Mark Ronald Bryers, Gordon McAndrew, Lindsay John Kirschberg, and Pasquale Loccisano.

All pleaded not guilty to conspiring to cause a loss to the Australian Taxation Office, and dealing with the proceeds of crime totalling $1 million or more from 2018 to 2020 in Sydney and the Gold Coast.

Source: The Australian

Australian aircrafts to aid Cyprus in combating rising wildfire threats

The Greek Herald
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Australian firefighting aircrafts will be dispatched to Cyprus in the coming weeks to assist rising wildfire threats as announced by Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou on Tuesday, June 4.

Speaking on CyBC radio, Minister Panayiotou stated that four planes will be arriving from Australia and two from Latin America. She also mentioned that there are contacts with neighbouring countries to bring aircraft to Cyprus in case of an emergency.

Ms Panayiotou expressed her gratitude to the firefighters for their efforts in extinguishing recent difficult blazes and addressed concerns about delays in responding to fires.

Agriculture Minister in Cyprus, Maria Panayiotou.

Responding to criticism of the firefighters, the association of firefighters (Sypyk) said, “On the occasion of people’s allegations of obstruction and inconsistency on the part of the Fire Service during the recent fires in the Limassol District and specifically in Ayios Sylas, it expresses its sympathy and support to the victims and underlines that the primary objective and duty of every firefighter in every operation is to save lives and protect the property of citizens.

“In this fire, the adverse conditions prevailing, with strong winds, difficulty in access, scattered garbage, etc., made it humanly impossible for firefighters to operate simultaneously in the entire area where the fire was raging, to extinguish it. During each incident, a risk assessment is carried out so that an operational plan can be drawn up and priorities can be set,” they added.

Sypyk also noted that on a large front, as with the Ayios Sylas fire last week, it was not possible for firefighters to know the exact location of the outbuildings and businesses involved.

Earlier on Tuesday, another fire broke out in the Gerasa area of Limassol, following three fires reported the previous day. Last week, arsonists set a forest fire that burnt five square kilometres.

Source: Cyprus Mail.

Greece elected to UN Security Council for 2025-26 term

The Greek Herald
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Greece elected to UN Security Council for 2025-26 term

Greece has been elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2025-26 term, securing 182 votes out of 188 participating countries on Thursday, June 6.

“Today is a historic day for Greece, for our country’s imprint in the world. The UN General Assembly voted predominantly in favour of our country. This is a great success. This shows the important capital that Greece has in the world, in the international environment,” stressed Foreign Affairs Minister George Gerapetritis.

In a post on platform X, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “Greece understands the great international responsibility. We will work along with UN member-states to strengthen peace & security and ensure that global governance can effectively address emerging challenges.”

Alongside Greece, Denmark, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia also secured seats for the 2025-26 term on the Security Council.

The five elected members will commence their term on January 1, replacing Mozambique, Japan, Ecuador, Malta, and Switzerland, whose two-year terms conclude on December 31.

All five countries have previous experience on the Security Council: Pakistan seven times, Panama five times, Denmark four times, Greece twice, and Somalia once.

Search underway in Greece for missing TV doctor Michael Mosley

The Greek Herald
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Search underway in Greece for missing TV doctor Michael Mosley

A search is currently underway for TV doctor and newspaper columnist Michael Mosley, who vanished during a coastal walk on the Greek island of Symi.

Mosley, 67, recognised for his roles on The One Show and This Morning, was last seen hiking from St Nicholas beach at 1:30 pm local time on Wednesday. His wife, Dr. Clare Bailey, notified authorities when he did not return by 7:30 pm, but efforts to find him overnight were unsuccessful.

A post in a local Facebook group has appealed to the island’s 2,500 residents for any information regarding Mosley’s whereabouts.

The post reads: “A search and rescue team is coming from Athens with drones and other sophisticated equipment to aid the search.

“Have you seen this man? He set off to walk back from St Nick’s at about 1:30 pm and hasn’t made it home. His friends are worried as it has been 6 hours since they last saw him. His name is Dr. Mike Mosley and he is well-known to many British people.”

Greek police informed The Guardian that a helicopter and specially trained dogs were set to join the extensive search effort on the remote Aegean island.

“We have every available service looking for him,” said a police chief overseeing the operation, who requested anonymity. “He was officially reported missing this morning, and now police, firemen, and volunteers are involved in the search.”

A drone is also being deployed, and the Hellenic coastguard has been tasked with patrolling the island’s rugged coastline.

“We are considering the possibility that he might have been affected by the heat, or perhaps slipped and fallen from a height. Nothing is being ruled out at this stage,” the police chief said.

michael mosley
Michael Mosley in Greece. Photo: Facebook.

A senior security official described the search for the Briton as increasingly resembling “a thriller.” Mosley was staying with friends on the island “where distances are short,” yet there have been no sightings of him.

“It’s baffling, it makes no sense,” he said. “How can someone just disappear in broad daylight? If something had happened to him, we would have found him on or near the path he was walking back to the port. Yet, all these hours later, there’s nothing.”

Rumors of a sighting near a bus stop in the resort of Pedi were dismissed after checking CCTV footage, another police officer reported.

The search is expected to expand further on Friday with additional police squads and fire brigade-trained dogs arriving from Rhodes.

Mosley, a columnist for the Daily Mail, has produced several documentaries on diet and exercise, including the Channel 4 show Michael Mosley: Who Made Britain Fat? and the BBC series Trust Me, I’m a Doctor.

For the BBC Four documentary Infested! Living With Parasites, he lived with tapeworms in his guts for six weeks. Mosley is also known for popularizing the 5:2 diet, which involves fasting two days a week for weight loss. He has been named “medical journalist of the year” by the British Medical Association.

Source: The Guardian

Melbourne seminar to explore 100-year history of AHEPA in America

The Greek Herald
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Melbourne seminar to explore 100-year history of AHEPA in America

Alexander Kitroeff will give an online seminar titled ‘AHEPA 100 Years Between Americanism and Hellenism’ on Thursday, June 13 at 7pm as part of the Greek Community of Melbourne’s (GCM) History and Culture Seminars.

Seminar synopsis

The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) founded in 1922 grew to become the largest Greek American institution second only to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

It was established to combat the racism and xenophobia that the Greeks encountered in America in the 1910s and early 1920s and to encourage Greeks to Americanise as a way of protecting themselves. It made considerable headway in achieving those goals in its first decade of its existence.

So much so that it was in danger of falling victim to its own success as racism and xenophobia waned with the outbreak of WWII and Greeks became slowly but steadily accepted into America’s mainstream. But at that point AHEPA deftly pivoted and embraced Hellenism as well as Americanism and continued to adapt in the following centuries allowing it to celebrate its centenary in 2022 as Greek America’s largest secular institution.

This presentation will examine AHEPA’s 100-year history and explain why and how it adapted so well to the changing American landscape and Greek America’s identity.

Bio

Alexander Kitroeff was born in Athens, Greece and educated in the United Kingdom where he received his doctorate degree in modern history from the University of Oxford. He is currently Professor of History at Haverford College in Pennsylvania. His research focuses on identity in Greece and its diaspora on in a broad range from politics and sports, on which he has published extensively.

His most recent books are The Greeks and the Making of Modern Egypt (2019) , Greek Orthodoxy in America: a modern history (2020) and The History of AHEPA 1922-2022. He has also collaborated with film director Maria Iliou as historical consultant in several documentary films including “The Journey: the Greek Dream in America”; “Smyrna 1922: The Destruction of a Cosmopolitan City” and “Athens Between East & West, 1821-1896” which is the first of a 5-part series on the city’s modern history. Kitroeff is currently working on a history of Greek-owned diner restaurants in America.

For those wishing to purchase Professor Kitroeff’s latest book, follow the link

Event details

  • When: Thursday 13 June 2024, 7pm
  • Speaker: Alexander Kitroeff
  • SEMINAR: AHEPA 100 Years Between Americanism and Hellenism
  • Where: This seminar is online I YouTube-Facebook of the Greek Community of Melbourne

Chris Christofi sets $120,000 target for seventh Vinnies CEO Sleepout

The Greek Herald
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Chris Christofi sets $120,000 target for seventh Vinnies CEO Sleepout

Melbourne businessman, philanthropist, and Vinnies CEO Sleepout Ambassador Chris Christofi, founder and CEO of Reventon, has set an ambitious fundraising target of $120,000 as part of this year’s mission to combat homelessness in Australia.

Christofi will be one of thousands of CEOs sleeping rough across the country later this month as part of the annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout.

Christofi will be participating in his seventh sleepout and has raised over $750,000 to date – as part of his ongoing push to help people ‘sleeping rough’ across the country.

Late last month, Christofi raised almost $80,000 at the ‘Lead With Kindness’ gala in one night. These funds are enough to feed over 2,500 people and provide emergency accommodation for over 150 families in crisis. This success underscores the generosity and support of the community towards combating homelessness.

chris christofi

This year’s Melbourne Vinnies CEO Sleepout will occur on Thursday, 20 June 2024, at the University of Melbourne. Hundreds of business, community, and government leaders will sleep outdoors to raise awareness and funds. Last year, the Melbourne Sleepout raised over $1 million, and this year aims to surpass that figure, helping even more vulnerable Australians.

Over the years, Christofi’s commitment to the Vinnies CEO Sleepout has made a significant impact. His fundraising efforts have already contributed $768,8181 to the cause.

“This event is more than just a fundraiser; it’s about raising awareness and driving meaningful change,” Christofi said.

He invites everyone to support his campaign and help him end homelessness.

“Your participation and donations are crucial. If you have anything to spare, please give generously and remember that sometimes; a little means a lot. Together, we can make a difference,” he said.

The Vinnies CEO Sleepout invites business, community, and government leaders to sleep outdoors to raise awareness and funds for Australians experiencing homelessness. More information is available at the Vinnies CEO Sleepout Website.

Greek Community of Melbourne pay tribute to language teacher Alexandros Giannadaki

The Greek Herald
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Greek Community of Melbourne pay tribute to language teacher Alexandros Giannadaki

The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) has paid tribute to one of its “most beloved members” Alexandros Giannadaki, who passed away unexpectedly.

Alexandros was born on the Greek island of Crete. He graduated with honors in Ancient, Modern Greek language and pedagogics from the University of Crete. He worked for many years as a philologist in Greece and came to Melbourne, Australia in 2004 as a seconded teacher in order to contribute with his work to the enhancement of Greek language skills in the expatriate community.

In 2012, Alexandros worked as a lecturer at Monash University and since 2013 he continued his educational work as an associate of the GCM, in the role of teacher and coordinator of the ancient Greek and adult programmes. Deeply knowledgeable in Greek language and history, for 19 years he worked tirelessly, with dedication and passion, serving his great love, language and culture.

In a statement on Facebook, the GCM sent condolences to Alexandros’ family and said he leaves behind “a legacy of great work and an unfulfilled void.”

“An excellent collaborator and teacher, he was distinguished for his ethos, his kindness and respect towards colleagues and students, his good humour and the quality of work,” the GCM statement read.

“We thank you for all you have generously given us over the years. You will always be in our hearts and memories.”

Alexandros’ funeral will be held in Greece according to his family’s wishes.

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