Ex-federal MP Dr Fiona Martin has teared up her membership to the Liberal Party.
According to The Sauce, Dr Martin stopped her party membership following concerns about how the Liberal Party treats women.
I will not be renewing my membership of the @LiberalAus . My decision is based on my experiences within the @NSWLiberals_RB Division and as a former Federal Liberal MP in @ParlHouseCBR between 2019-2022.
“I will not be renewing my membership of the @LiberalAus. My decision is based on my experiences within the @NSWLiberals_RB Division and as a former Federal Liberal MP in @ParlHouseCBR between 2019-2022,” Dr Martin wrote on X.
Australia’s minimum wage and award wages will increase by 3.75 per cent from July 1, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) has announced.
The decision will mean about 2.6 million workers who are earning the full-time minimum wage will see a pay increase of about $33 a week to $915.91, based on a 38-hour working week.
From July 1, the national minimum hourly rate will be $24.10.
The FWC said a primary consideration in the wage increases has been the cost-of-living pressures felt by “those who are low paid and live in low-income households.”
The Australian Council of Trade Unions had argued for an increase of 5 per cent to the minimum wage, and the federal government had pushed for an increase in line with inflation. Business groups had wanted a modest increase of between 2 and 3 per cent to minimum wages.
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo will play for Greece in the upcoming FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament from July 2 – 7.
The news was confirmed by Greece’s coach Vassilis Spanoulis and comes despite Antetokounmpo being hit with a season-ending calf injury in April that stopped him from playing in the Bucks’ playoff run.
The 2024 FIBA Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments will be basketball tournaments set to be contested by 24 national teams, where the top teams earn a place in the 2024 Summer Olympics basketball tournament. They are scheduled to take place from July 2 to 7, 2024 in Greece, Latvia, Puerto Rico, and Spain.
Hosting Greece takes on the Dominican Republic on July 3 and Egypt on July 4 in the Peace and Friendship Stadium, Piraeus. Ranking first or second in Group B of the preliminary stage would advance Greece to a single-elimination game against Croatia, Slovenia, or New Zealand in the semi-finals. On July 7, the final will be held which will give teams a ticket to the Paris Olympics.
Greece’s last appearance at the Olympic Games was in 2008 in Beijing.
Fires are a constant nightmare for Greece, and this year is no exception. As part of strengthening Greece’s capabilities to tackle fires during the summer fire season of 2024, two Australian companies have decided to assist, reaffirming the strong ties between the two countries.
The Australian Ambassador to Greece, Alison Duncan, stated on social media that it was “great to check out the aircraft and meet some of the crews this week.”
28 firefighting aircraft and over 200 crew and support staff have arrived from Australia to support Greece this summer. It was great to check out the aircraft and meet some of the crews this week 🇦🇺🇬🇷 pic.twitter.com/dCiN1NN3Sr
Australia’s firefighting aircraft will operate from various bases in Greece, including Athens, Rhodes, Kalamata, Volos, Tripoli, Ioannina, Thessaloniki, Alexandroupoli, and Crete, covering a wide range of areas at risk of wildfires this summer.
The arrival of the Australian firefighting aircraft comes at a critical time for Greece, as the country prepares for a fire season expected to be particularly challenging due to dry conditions.
The collaboration between Greece and Australia in fire protection is an excellent example of international solidarity and the exchange of expertise in combating wildfires.
Tsitsipas trailed Arnaldi 3-6, 3-5 but saved three set points on serve at 3-5 before he fended off another in the next game to break back for 5-5. The Greek then closed out the set and powered to a 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-2 victory.
Stefanos Tsitsipas survived an early scare from Matteo Arnaldi but ultimately powered his way to the quarterfinals.
“I had to push today. It was one of the craziest comebacks I have had,” Tsitsipas said after the match.
Ninth seeded Tsitsipas will next face third seed Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-final. The Spaniard Alcaraz defeated Tsitsipas in the quarter-final stage in Paris last season.
On Sunday, June 2, the Greek Centre buzzed with debate as just under 30 people gathered to discuss the Greek Community of Melbourne’s (GCM) planned Constitutional reforms. Former GCM Secretary Costas Markos took attendees on a historical journey, revealing how the constitution has mirrored the Greek community’s evolution.
From a religious-focused association open only to Greek Orthodox men to a body representing Melbourne’s thriving Greek community, the need to modernise is clear.
GCM Board Member Costas Stefanidis said the current Board had allowed a period of five months for members to make submissions on the Constitutional reforms. Only six submissions were made. All submissions were sent to legal counsel for review before the GCM Board discusses the amended draft constitution on Thursday, June 13.
GCM Board Member Costas Stefanidis takes the floor. Seated in front of him are Kostas Karamarkos, Vasso Zangalis and Theo Markos. All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Mary Sinanidis.
Following this, a draft constitution will be sent to all members. They will then have an opportunity to ask questions of Piper Alderman, the legal team, marking the conclusion of a lengthy process.
Last year, as part of the process, emails were sent to members. A Greek translation of the Constitution and English version compiled from several existing versions were made available on the GCM’s website. Copies were also mailed to members along with a notice to review the documents.
Submissions laid out for people to peruse.Eleni Stamenidis, Rita and Anna Manessis came wearing their keffiyehs following a pro-Palestinian rally. “We are not members, but thought it would be a great way to reach out to the community at this event.”
A message from the GCM sent to The Greek Herald states that, as part of the engagement process, members were also invited to meet the Board of the GCM to discuss the Constitution before making submissions. Only one member took up the offer.
To further inform members, GCM newsletters on April 26 and May 31 provided updates regarding the process and upcoming consultations, including a meeting with lawyers present and an Extraordinary General Meeting to follow.
A lady reads the Community’s Constitution
Theo Markos, one of the organisers of Sunday’s meeting, said the objective was to encourage dialogue. Following an interesting historical presentation of the GCM’s constitutional history, attendees were invited to propose reforms. Suggestions included introducing a 50 per cent quota for women on the board and using gender-neutral language. Other suggestions included recognising First Nations people in the preamble, exploring a complete rewrite of the constitution, removing religious elements, limiting board member terms of office, declaring conflicts of interest, and introducing a life membership category.
Costas Markos gave a fascinating account of the history of the Community’s Constitution.
Though some suggestions were included in submissions already made, any additional items may have come too late.
Dr Michalis Michael, who had submitted his reform proposal within the deadline, said he would welcome a constitutional working group to ensure a unified document circulates that combines proposals.
Dr Michalis Michael reading through his notes.Dr Michalis Michael and Theo Markos share thoughts about how the review should take place.
A message from the GCM Board advises The Greek Herald that it has been committed to a process that provided more than ample time to make submissions and allow its members to confer with it. All submissions were sent to their legal team.
Theo Markos
At the open meeting on Sunday, Theo Markos said he was pleased there would be an opportunity for people to meet with the legal team to ask questions. From there, 75 per cent of members would need to vote for the reforms to pass.
He said that for something to change, “we need consensus and to sit together at the table.” He told The Greek Herald he was happy with the turnout at the open meeting and was pleased to see some new faces.
That first bite of Patricia K’s famous Gluten Free Lemon Cake will melt in your mouth like no other dessert. The texture of the cake, with the way the lemon melts in with the almond meal and the syrup, will make you want to slow down and savour every bite.
This superior taste is the result of years and years of 3am starts, consistent dedication and a passion for pastry making that began in a home garage more than 20 years ago, with one commercial oven.
Patricia always had a passion for baking and pastry creation, and she decided to chase her dreams.
This is a story of how following your ambitions pays off.
Patricia’s husband Aki sat down with The Greek Herald for a candid chat about doing what you love.
“We put everything into this patisserie, it’s our whole life. This love and dedication can be tasted in our pastries. We don’t advertise. The pastries advertise themselves,” Aki said.
He said they feel “very blessed and fortunate to have come out the other end of COVID-19 the way they did.”
“Covid was beneficial for us, people could order from their houses or if they were local, they could come down to pick up their order,” he explained.
Aki and Patricia met when she’d gone over to Greece on a holiday and they fell in love. They married soon after in Greece, he followed her back to Australia, and the rest is history. The couple will soon be celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary.
“Love, respect and the same dreams – that’s what makes a ‘working’ relationship work,” Aki said.
Aki supports his wife in everything she does. He’s the ‘right-hand man.’ Every design in their new store, down to the gold marble around the coffee counter, was his wife’s vision.
“Patricia is extremely creative and driven, she created everything you see in the patisserie,” he said.
The name ‘Queen’s Pastri’ was derived from the fact that every time Aki would deliver pastries to her customers in the early days, they would say “Oh the Queen’s pastries have come!”
When asked what sells out the fastest, Aki said that Queen’s Pastri’s Chocolate Croissant is their most “popular creation.”
“We go to France every year, and because we’re on vacation we get to sit down and relax. We don’t get to relax in Australia. We try out all the different pastries and gain inspiration from our time there,” he said.
Aki explained why they chose a French patisserie over a Greek one. He emphasised the fact that Greek sweets always get ‘copied,’ for example baklava is also a popular Lebanese sweet called ‘baklawa.’
It is widely believed that ‘baklawa’ first originated in Assyria which then spread to the Mediterranean and various versions created from there developed into baklava. The Greeks dispute this fact, and with good reason.
Whereas French pastries are just French, they can’t be replicated. The croissant is a classic, no matter how hard you try to change it. You can’t exactly change a croissant recipe; you can add ingredients and make varied types and flavours.
For example, Patricia makes a decadent pistachio croissant with alternate layers of buttery green and traditional pastry. The result is a fluffy blend of pistachio blended goodness.
Queen’s Pastri
If your mouth isn’t watering by this point, then you probably don’t have a sweet tooth! Fear not, this amazing boutique patisserie also has one of the best mushroom and beef pies I have ever tasted.
With something for everyone, Queen’s Pastri is the ‘Zacharoplasteío’ to be. Head down to Sans Souci in Sydney’s south for a bite you’ll unlikely forget soon.
Calling all lovers of Greece and Greek music! If you’re going to Greece this summer, we’re sure you’ve got your flights booked, accommodation sorted and itineraries set in stone, right?
But, if you’re like us and love Greek music, listen up – The Greek Herald has got the scoop on some must-see concerts to squeeze into your trip, no matter where you are in Greece.
Nikos Oikonomopoulos
One of Greece’s most well-known and loved singers is going on tour across Greece from June 19 to mid-August, with more dates to come.
He will perform on Wednesday, June 19 in Thessaloniki, Friday, June 26 in Patra, Saturday, June 27 in Ioannina, Tuesday, July 2 in Larissa, Thursday, July 4 in Athens, Sunday, July 19 in Kos, Wednesday, July 22 in Katerini, Saturday, July 25 in Crete, Wednesday, July 31 in Kalamata and Friday, August 16 in Ancient Olympia.
Pyx Lax are going on tour this summer all over Greece from May 25 to July 24. They will kick off their tour on Saturday, May 25 in Athens, then head to Patra on Saturday, June 1, Thessaloniki on Saturday, June 8, Athens on Thursday, June 27, Piraeus on Thursday, July 18, and Attica on Wednesday, July 24.
Natasa Theodoridou is going on tour this summer with special guest, Anastasia. They will be performing from June 12 to August 28 across Greece. The tour will commence in Athens on Wednesday, June 12, then continue to Larissa on Thursday, June 20, Ioannina on Sunday, July 7, Heraklion on Thursday, July 11, Patra on Wednesday, July 17, Thessaloniki on Sunday, July 21, Kavala on Tuesday, 23 July, Katerini on Wednesday, July 31, and in Thessaloniki again on Wednesday, 28 July,
Eleni Foureira is performing this summerin Greece from June 26 until July 28. Her tour commences on Wednesday, 26 June in Thessaloniki, Saturday, 20 July, in Athens, Monday 26 August, in Chania, and Wednesday 28 August, in Heraklion.
General Admission tickets are from 17 euro. Purchase here.
Anna Vissi
Anna Vissi is performing across Greece and Cyprus this summer as part of her ‘I Prefer… Anna Vissi’ Tour. She will perform on Monday, July 1 in Thessaloniki, Wednesday, July 3 in Patra, Wednesday, July 17 in Heraklion, Friday, July 19 in Chania, Friday, August 2 in Sibires, Monday, August 5 in Kavala, Wednesday, August 7 in Alexandroupoli, Friday, August 9 in Katerini, Thursday, August 29 in Trikala and Wednesday, September 18 in Athens.
After recently releasing a new album, Antonis Remos is going on tour in Greece. He will be performing on Monday, July 8 in Athens, Tuesday, July 9 in Trikala, Saturday, July 13 in Katerini, Monday, July 15 in Thessaloniki, Wednesday, July 17 in Alexandroupoli, Friday, July 19 in Kavala, Wednesday, July 31 in Heraklion, Friday, August 2 in Chania, and on Saturday, September 14 in Patra.
The ‘Anavis Foties,’ ‘Na tin Hairese,’ and ‘Ya Habibi’ female Greek music icon Despina Vandi is celebrating 30 years in the industry, with concerts all over Greece. She will be performing alongside Kings and Mente Fuerte.
You can watch her perform on Sunday, June 10 in Ioannina, Sunday, July 1 in Heraklion, Sunday, July 8 in Thessaloniki, Tuesday, July 10 in Athens, Tuesday, July 24 in Chania, Tuesday, July 30 in Larissa and on Saturday, August 10 in Moudania.
Giorgos Sambanis is performing this summer as part of his “Like You Know Me” tour. He will be showcasing his chart-topping hits and popular ballads in Crete alongside up-and-coming female Greek artist, Klavdia. You can watch them perform on Friday, July 19 at Fortetza Fortress in Rethymno and on Monday, July 22 in Heraklion.
Melina Aslanidou will take the stage this summer alongside Stelios Vamvakas for their “Nero kai Homa” tour across Greece. The tour takes place on Wednesday, June 26 in Piraeus, Wednesday, July 3 in Thessaloniki and on Tuesday, August 27 in Larissa.
On his Greece tour, Michalis Hatzigiannis will be joined on stage by talented performer Tina Alexopoulou, as well as Solonas Apostolakis (keyboard), Spyros Mazis (bass), Dimitris Tsolis (drums), Kostis Pyrenis (electric and acoustic guitar), Nikolas Platon (trumpet and vocals), Estella Kopanou (flute), and Giorgos Panteloglou (saxophone).
Hatzigiannis will be performing on Wednesday, June 12 in Athens, Monday, July 1 in Veroia, and on Wednesday, July 31 in Chios. Tickets are from 15 euro. Purchase here.
Peggy Zina
Popular Greek singer known for her soulful voice and contemporary pop music style, Peggy Zina is performing on Tuesday, June 18 at Alsos Theatre in Athens. Tickets are from 10 euro. Purchase here.
Dimitris Basis
Greek singer and musician Dimitris Basis will be performing on Thursday, June 27 in Athens as part of the City Garden Festival. Tickets are from 12 euro. Purchase here.
Music Festivals and Award shows
If you’re into the music festival scene, we’ve got two we think are worth checking out this June:
Colourday Festival
A day of vibrant colours and music is taking place in Athens this summer on June 16 at OAKA Stadium. Tickets to Colourday Festival are from 18 euro.Purchase here.
MAD VMA Awards
Greece’s biggest music awards show is back. If you’re visiting Athens in June, the MAD VMA’s are a must see… especially if you want to see all your favourite singers perform on one stage and receive awards for their chart-breaking hits. The event will take place on Wednesday, June 22 at the Tae Kwon Do Stadium in Athens. Tickets are from 30 euro. Purchase here.
For Tony Whitefield, his love for Greece is not only expressed through his regular visits to the country, but in his novels and literature.
As a proud Philhellene from Brunswick, Victoria, Tony, together with his wife Despina Whitefield (formerly Kassavetis), developed a love for the Northern-Aegean island of Lemnos in Greece. His fascination for the island sprung from his passion for history and research, where he tied his Australian roots to his wife’s Greek roots.
Despite now being retired, the husband, father-of-two and grandfather-of-two has lived an eventful life full of discoveries and adventures. In his career, he has been a high school teacher, a university lecturer, a researcher, and an author. He completed a PhD 20 years ago. Tony has also published several books which were inspired by his regular visits to Lemnos.
“I wanted to create something that focuses on the mythology of the island, the history, the archaeology, and the modern history right up to the ANZACs being in Lemnos,” Tony told The Greek Herald.
His first novel was A Lemnos Odyssey, published in 2015, which he co-authored with his friend Roger Hawthorn. It explores Lemnos’ connection to Australia through the lens of ANZAC history. It also delves into his family’s roots, including his grandfather’s involvement in World War I.
A Lemnos Odyssey
“It was a journey of discovery,” Tony said.
“I wanted to understand not just the events, but the people behind them. Lemnos wasn’t just a setting; it was a character in its own right.”
After releasing the successful non-fiction book, Tony went on to write fiction, where he published The Queen of Limnos in 2020, Georges Café in 2021, and most recently, Jason and the Argonauts in 2023.
George’s Cafe
“I wanted to breathe new life into these ancient stories,” Tony said.
“To imagine what it would be like if these myths were not just legends, but lived experiences passed down through generations. I just like to reimagine Greek mythology as if it happened today.”
The Philhellene said while he never anticipated becoming an author, he took pride in all his accomplishments and cherishes the opportunities he’s been given to write about his love for Greek history and mythology.
Jason and the Argonauts
“I never ever thought that I could write a novel,” Tony said.
“However, I’m a great believer that anyone can write, and having been a high school teacher for years, I thought, well I’ve written lots of articles, listing things and curriculum things and I’ve completed a master’s thesis and a PhD, so I just wanted to take that next step and commence writing.”
The 64-year-old said what he loved most about writing was the “aha moments.”
“I just love when I’m focused on such miniscule things and I can’t work out how to construct something, so I go away and clear my mind. Then, when I come back and start typing, it clicks,” Tony said.
“It’s the ‘aha’ moment for me, which is such a great feeling.”
Tony said he aims to continue writing in the long term.
“I still do one semester at the University of Deakin for a good four hours a week, which gives me time to continuing pursuing my passion of writing,” Tony said.
“My next project is to release another non-fiction book called Oedipus and the Seven against Thebes in 2025. As long as there are stories left to tell, I’ll keep weaving them into the fabric of this ancient land.
“I may be an Aussie by birth, but Lemnos holds a piece of my heart.”
Tony’s books are available on all major book seller platforms online, in hard copy and on kindle.
Welcome to the mind of Koraly Dimitriadis, a spirited Cypriot Australian writer and performer who calls out almost everything through the lens of an “angry Greek girl” in her latest book ‘She’s not normal.’
Provocative, with a special purpose, Dimitriadis delivers her poetry in a style that revives the importance of rawness in writing, and without a doubt, causes a few jaws to drop along the way.
Boundary-pushing and erupting off the pages, each and every poem in the ‘She’s not normal’ collection takes readers on a journey of a “white wog” attempting to live out “the Australian dream,” straight from Dimitriadis’ “Cypriot heart.”
Through her poems, she boldly urges readers to really sit with the uncomfortable, laugh a little, and begs the question of what actually is “normal” in today’s society.
Dimitriadis strips herself of the cultural apron that she was dressed in since birth, breaking “out of the box” weighed down by expectations to “go back to the kitchen and make a souvlaki.”
Exposing the Turkish government as the “spoilt child who wants and still wants,” while delving deeper into the flaws of Australia’s “capitalist system” where “security is an illusion,” she invites readers to protest against the patriarchy, and redefine their sense of trust in the power dynamics present between world leaders and the greater community.
Those who aren’t migrants will even be encouraged to wonder if they truly feel safe, stable, and at home within themselves. This exemplifies the true purpose of the book – Dimitriadis’ quest for belonging.
In a diary-entry like series of confessions crossed with late night drunken deep and meaningfuls with someone you’ve just met at a bar, she lets her walls down as she takes a “drink from the vein of Melbourne’s melody,” reflecting on the financial demands placed on Victorian performers and venues before diving further into the waters of womanhood, sexuality, and breaking free from religious shackles.
The female body is depicted as an endless canvass of transformation and sometimes erotic exploration, while being restrained to the needs and desires of men. She condemns the societal expectations that women must have a man to feel validated, and poetically illustrates her stance on relationships by smashing the “memories of the past” on the “grave of her first love” – “I’ll be my own husband,” she says.
Ranging from despair to pleasure, sometimes all in the same sentence, all themes present become intertwined in a loud, literary landmine of words that demand the attention of the reader through every twist and turn. As Dimitriadis points out, “the future is as unpredictable as me.” Overall, her tone dances between a misunderstood artist – “my poetry is homeless” – and an empowered woman who is unabashedly herself, with sporadic spurts of capitals, exclamation points, and annotations to accentuate a concoction of radical realisations and personal revelations.
Some poems even help us to catch a more intimate glimpse into her sensitivity, with brief expressions of family love – especially for her daughter – through the eyes of a single mum.
Reading between the lines, it is clear she simply wants to be understood. She wants to break free and wants others, especially women, to break free, too. The concept of loneliness is revisited more than once, showcasing that the pursuit of true freedom can often feel isolating before it liberates the soul.
Page by page, through the light and the dark, ‘She’s Not Normal’ unpacks the ‘She,’ the ‘Not,’ and the ‘Normal’ through honesty and transparency, acting as a definitive reminder that nobody else will love you until you love yourself, and that “shit days” are just a “part of the human condition.”
And whether anyone likes it or not, Dimitriadis will not abandon her art as it is clearer than ever, she belongs to these words, her words, where she is “finally free to be ME.”
