The works of composer, Mikis Theodorakis and Nobel Prize-winning poet, Odysseas Elytis were celebrated at a music concert titled ‘Axion Esti’ on Saturday, May 11 at the City Recital Hall as part of the 42nd Greek Festival of Sydney.
This extraordinary collaboration showcased the immense talent of international vocalist Dimitris Basis, renowned Greek Australian conductor George Ellis, cantor George Karantonis, a 30-piece Choir, and narration by Greek Australian actor Tony Nikolakopoulos.
The focal point of the event was Elytis’ landmark work, Axion Esti. Published in 1959, this poem was set to music by Theodorakis and quickly became a celebrated anthem. Combining suffering, passion, spiritual lessons, and poetic power, Axion Esti is widely regarded as Elytis’ masterpiece and won the National Book Award for Poetry in 1960.
All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
Mikis Theodorakis, the acclaimed composer of the famous Zorba’s Dance, is Greece’s most celebrated composer. With more than 1,000 songs and song-cycles to his name, Theodorakis has become synonymous with the rich musical heritage of Greece. This event paid tribute to his legacy and showcased the timeless beauty of his masterful compositions.
As part of the ‘Axion Esti’ concert, the audience was treated to Theodorakis’ most famous melodies, including Ena To Helidoni (A Solitary Swallow) and Tis Dikeosinis Ilie (Sun of Justice).
The captivating performances were the Australian premiere of this special collaboration between the Sydney-based 30-piece Choir, a symphony orchestra, and an array of musicians performing on traditional Greek instruments.
*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
On Saturday, May 11, the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia (GOCSA) announced the launch of Neoléa (Greek for youth), a new initiative that aims to activate and encourage young Greek Australians to connect with each other, explore and celebrate their rich cultural heritage, and build a vibrant future that honours the legacy of their ancestors.
“Young people should be at the heart of our decisions that impact their involvement with the Community. Neoléa, with a dynamic committee at the helm, will amplify the voices and experiences of the next generation of Greek Australians,” GOCSA Vice President Peter Gonis said.
“We are proud of this new initiative and look forward to working with the Committee and leveraging their shared expertise, energy and ideas to not only safeguard but also progress our Community.”
Neoléa will provide advice to and actively engage with GOCSA’s Administrative Council and Leadership Team. It will serve as a platform for designing and incubating new initiatives, promoting intergenerational dialogue, encouraging language retention and forging meaningful community connections.
“I’ve always been proud to call myself a third generation Greek Australian. It’s a personal testament to the hard work, strength, bravery and determination of my grandparents, values of which have been passed down and instilled in me,” inaugural Neoléa Committee Chair Anastasia Mavrides said.
“I’m so excited to finally share this platform which was created to resonate with you. A space aspiring to connect and inspire us to delve further into our unique identity of being Greek Australians and exploring what that means.
“Whilst it’s important to honour those who have paved the way before us, it’s equally important to shine a light and empower the next generation; let our voices be heard, our thoughts shared and our successes celebrated.”
Neoléa’s first event is planned for Sunday, May 26 at the Ikaros Hall, 24 Arthur St, Unley and will feature a hands-on cooking demonstration led by Ikarian members, Chief Justice of South Australia, the Honourable Chris Kourakis and Tina Germanos. The event is part of the The Syllogo Initiative, a collaborative project with local Greek social clubs and associations that seeks to capture South Australia’s Greek migration history and make cultural knowledge accessible across generations.
About Neoléa:
Behind the name: Neoléa (νεολαία), Greek for “youth”. Tag line: Εδώ Είμαστε – We’re here
Neoléa is an initiative that seeks to activate and encourage young Greek Australians to connect with each other, explore and celebrate their rich cultural heritage, and build a vibrant future that honours the legacy of their ancestors.
The current Neoléa Committee consists of the following members: Anastasia Mavrides, Chloe Kourakis, Chloe Katopodis, Mikayla Bolkus, Sophia Zavlagka and George Foumakis.
A woman who falsely blamed the autopilot in her car for a pedestrian hit-and-run has been jailed for nine months.
According to ABC News, Sakshi Agrawal was sentenced to nine months behind bars over a crash in 2022, where she hit nurse Nicole Lagos, who had stepped onto the road to board a tram at Armadale in Melbourne’s inner south-east.
Agrawal had spent two years fighting the dangerous driving charges, falsely claiming she was using the autopilot on her Tesla car at the time of the crash, before entering a guilty plea last month.
Ms Agrawal allegedly tried to ‘beat the tram’. Photo: ABC News.
Crash analysis showed Agrawal did not slow down before hitting Lagos and she was struck at 58 kilometres / hour. After fleeing, Agrawal didn’t return to the scene for two hours, choosing instead to contact her partner, return home, drink a glass of water and change clothes.
In making his decision, Judge Peter Rozen said Agrawal’s actions could not be taken as simply inattention and he was satisfied she knew the risks.
Judge Rozen also referenced the victim impact statement from Ms Lagos, who said she feared her injuries would leave her unable to find a life partner and start a family. She has now been left with permanent disabilities, which includes brain damage.
South Melbourne FC easily overcame the obstacle of St Albans on Sunday, winning 4-1 for the 13th game of the National Premier League in Victoria.
The victory means South Melbourne has claimed the informal champions title for the First Round of the Victorian NPL.
The match, which was held at Churchill Reserve, saw St Albans’ Alan Gerez make it 1-0 for the home side before the 1st minute, with South Melbourne replying in the 9th minute with a goal from Nahuel Bonada to level the score at 1-1.
The same player found the net again in the 30th minute (1-2). Andy Brennan made it 1-3 in the 79th minute.
The “icing” on the cake was put by George Tsitsinaris in the 89th minute, who made the final 1-4.
The unveiling was organised by the Battle of Crete Memorial Committee of WA and took place on Saturday, May 11, followed by a wreath laying ceremony to commemorate the 83rd anniversary of the Battle of Crete.
In attendance were the WA Premier Roger Cook; the Ambassador of Greece to Australia, Stavros Venizelos; co-patron of the memorial, Archbishop Makarios of Australia; and one of the last surviving veterans of the Battle of Crete, Arthur Leggett OAM.
Co-patron of the memorial, Archbishop Makarios of Australia was present at the event. Photo: Facebook.One of the last surviving veterans of the Battle of Crete, Arthur Leggett OAM, was present (front). Photo: Facebook.
The memorial seeks to acknowledge the courage, sacrifice and commitment of those Australians and Greeks who served and endured the Battle of Crete.
The 1941 campaign saw German forces raid the island of Crete in the first major airborne assault in history, ending in defeat for ANZAC, Greek and British forces stationed there.
During the two-week campaign, 594 Australians died, 1,001 were wounded and over 5,132 were captured. Many Australians did manage to escape, with the help of Greek civilians, at great personal risk to themselves.
The Battle of Crete is of distinct significance to WA. The Western Australia 2/11 Battalion AIF, and the partially Western Australian 2/3 field artillery regiments were involved in the battle, along with the HMAS Perth.
The memorial itself was created by Smith Sculptors, a team of sculptors from Gidgegannup that specialise is creating memorials. The design is based on a ‘broken column,’ a metaphor for a life cut short. Around the column are four images in relief:
An Australian Soldier of the 2nd/11th (City of Perth) Battalion facing North, direction that the invaders of Crete had come from;
To his left and facing West, is a Greek Soldier of 1941;
Facing South is a Royal Australian Navy Rating; and
Facing East is a Cretan peasant woman, to recognise the heavy involvement of local civilians in the battle.
Parts of the memorial.
In a statement after the official unveiling on Saturday, the WA Premier said the memorial “commemorates the courage, sacrifice and commitment of military personnel, as well as the people of Crete who risked, or gave their lives, to help our troops.”
“Western Australians and visitors now have a dedicated location where they can pay their respects and acknowledge the sacrifices made during, and in the aftermath of, the Battle of Crete,” Premier Cook said.
WA Premier Roger Cook gave a speech at the unveiling ceremony. Photo: Facebook.
The memorial was made possible through the hard work of the Battle of Crete Memorial Committee of WA, as well as with the support of federal and state funding (including a Lotterywest award) and individual donations.
The WA Government contributed $550,000 to the project with $250,000 supplied via the Anzac Day Trust grant program, in addition to a $300,000 grant through Lottery West.
Western Sydney Wanderers got up 3-2 in an all-action encounter with Sydney Olympic on Saturday night at Wanderers Football Park.
Sydney Olympic went in front four minutes in through Michael Vakis before goals to Alexander Badolato and Anthony Pantazopoulos for the Wanderers rounded out a thrilling first 10 minutes.
Teng Kuol equalised for Olympic with 20 regular minutes to play but Nathanael Blair grabbed the points for Western Sydney in stoppage time.
The hosts had the first chance of the match three minutes in when Aydan Hammond jinked into a shooting position on the edge of the area and fired just over.
Olympic went down the other end moments later and took the lead.
Roy O’Donovan received the ball in the right of the box and struck the crossbar with a fierce effort. The ball came out to Vakis on the left edge of the box. He cut inside and unleashed a right-footed curler that nestled in the far side of the goal.
Zachary Sapsford was played in behind down the right and slid a low cross across the box that dropped to Badolato, who slotted the ball past Noah James in the Olympic goal. Western Sydney kept their momentum going and, seconds later, took the lead.
Ryley Hollingdale’s left-sided corner fell to Pantazopoulos in the box, and the defender passed an accurate, low finish inside the right post.
Sydney Olympic sought to respond over the next 15 minutes as they got dangerous deliveries into the box, but the Wanderers pulled off some last-ditch clearances.
The best chance in this period fell to O’Donovan, who latched onto a ball over the top and nodded beyond an onrushing Wanderers goalkeeper Taiga Harper.
However, the goalkeeper raced back and retrieved the ball that was rolling towards his goal.
Sapsford could have extended Western Sydney’s advantage in the 20th minute when he received the ball in the right of the box but blazed his shot over. In the 36th minute, the lively Kuol nearly got Olympic back on level terms firing a powerful shot on the turn in the right of the box that was well repelled by James.
Marcus Younis took the ball down the Wanderers’ right a few seconds later and hit a swerving shot that just missed the right post.
Western Sydney went into halftime with a slender lead after an exhilarating first half at Wanderers Football Park.
The side almost made a dream start to the second period as Hammond found the net within two minutes but was flagged offside.
Olympic came close twice over the next 10 minutes.
In the 55th minute, Sam McIllhatton lined up a long-range strike that Harper was forced to palm over the top for a corner.
Two minutes later, O’Donovan curled an effort that dropped onto the top netting.
The Wanderers returned fire 64 minutes in when substitute Adam Bugarija made room for a shot from outside the area that flew narrowly over.
Six minutes after this latest Western Sydney attack, Sydney Olympic restored parity.
Kuol arrowed a sensational left-sided free-kick into the top right corner to get his team back into the game against his former club.
As the game ticked into the final five regular minutes, both teams had chances to win it.
In the 85th minute, Western Sydney’s Badolato danced his way into the right of the box before rifling a low shot that fizzed across the face of goal.
Three minutes later, Olympic’s O’Donovan had even better opportunity when a left-sided cross found the forward at the far post, but he headed over.
Deep into stoppage time, the hosts were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box.
Nathanael Blair took responsibility and picked out the top right corner to snatch the points at the death for the Wanderers. The goal triggered scenes from the home fans as they celebrated the team’s winner.
The Wanderers remained resolute in the final moments to secure the points in a super match on Saturday night as well as maintaining top spot on the league ladder while it was yet another disappointing result for Olympic, a team littered with stars, currently languishing in mid-table
A judge from the Limassol district court ruled on Friday that Nicolaou’s death in 2005 resulted from strangulation, vindicating his family’s long-held belief of foul play.
Nicolaou was found dead under Alassa bridge in September 2005. He was 26. Forensic pathologist Panicos Stavrianos ruled it was a suicide, however the family has long-argued it was a murder coverup.
At the time of his death, Nicolaou was serving in the armed forces of Cyprus. Nicolaou died a day after he reported horrific bullying at his army unit, and spoke out of suspicions of drug dealing at his barracks.
After his remains were exhumed in 2020 over suspicions of foul play, further autopsies showed he had been beaten and strangled.
Thanasis Nicolaou was found dead under Alassa bridge in September 2005.
On Friday, Judge Doria Varoshiotou attributed the death to a criminal act in a comprehensive decision. Karagianni’s findings, based on an examination of the hyoid bone, supported strangulation as the cause of death.
Upon hearing the decision, relatives of the Nicolaou family who were present in the courtroom burst into applause, and Thanasis’ mother, Andriana Nicolaou, exclaimed, “There is justice!’”.
In response to this landmark hearing, Cyprus’ President said on Sunday that the executive branch will move to examine why for 19 years the tragic case of Nicolaou was not properly handled.
According to Cyprus Mail, President Christodoulides did not rule out appointing an independent investigator to examine the case.
“I am in personal contact with [Nicolaou’s] mother, at a human level, if you wish. But as an executive branch we will do whatever it takes,” Christodoulides said.
“Of course, the result is very important but we need to see why for all these years, everything that had to happen did not happen.”
George Kambosos Jr’s future is up in the air after the Greek Australian suffered a technical knockout loss to Ukrainian Vasiliy Lomachenko in their IBF lightweight world title showdown in Perth, Western Australia on Sunday.
Despite a promising start, Kambosos was no match for Lomachenko and fell short via TKO after a series of brutal body shots in the 11th round.
Kambosos managed to get back to his feet momentarily, but a second onslaught from the Ukrainian was enough for the referee to wave it off and his corner to throw the towel in and protect their fighter.
“He is a true champion and he deserves that belt. I gave it my all, that’s all I can do… that’s the type of fighter I am. I’m a warrior, I’m still standing… I ain’t dead,” Kambosos said after the match.
The devastating nature of the defeat raises questions about what the future holds for the 30-year-old Kambosos.
Kambosos has now lost three of his past four fights, including two-straight defeats at the hands of Devin Haney in 2022, placing his boxing career at a crossroad.
Amidst the solemnity of the swearing-in ceremony in Parliament, tension flared as North Macedonia‘s new President, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, defied diplomatic decorum by referring to her country as “Macedonia,” rather than the agreed-upon “North Macedonia.”
This breach of the Prespa Agreement and the constitutional protocols of North Macedonia elicited a dramatic response, marked by the departure of the Greek Ambassador to North Macedonia, Sofia Filippidou, who left the proceedings in protest.
The incident has reignited longstanding tensions rooted in the complex geopolitical landscape of the region. Greece, having diligently adhered to the Prespa Agreement despite initial reservations, now stands firm in its demand for adherence to the terms outlined therein.
📌 Announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the swearing-in ceremony of the President of North Macedonia
Any advancement in bilateral relations between Greece and North Macedonia, as well as the latter’s aspirations for European integration, hinge upon the faithful implementation of the Prespa Agreement, including the unequivocal use of North Macedonia’s constitutional name.
The Greek Foreign Ministry has responded to the use of the word “Macedonia” by newly sworn-in North Macedonia President Siljanovska-Davkova.
In a statement, it pointed out that the new president’s deliberate avoidance of the country’s constitutional name is a “gross violation” of the 2018 Prespa agreement and warns of consequences in bilateral relations and for North Macedonia’s prospects of joining the European Union.
This year for Mother’s Day, The Greek Herald decided to speak with some aspiring women in the workforce on how they balance being full-time mums, as well as pursuing their careers.
The three Greek Australian women, Angela Vergopoulos, Denise Bozikis, and Anastasia Miliopoulos, have each had a career with NSW Police spanning between nine and 29 years. They shared their experiences as dedicated mothers and thriving police officers.
The three detectives
Anastasia Miliopoulos
After living in Greece for more than two decades, another proud mum and woman in the police force, Anastasia Miliopoulos shared her journey on how she became a police officer in Sydney.
Anastasia Miliopoulos
She said it followed a career change when she moved back to Australia just under a decade ago.
“Upon my return to Australia nine years ago, I resumed my career as a hairdresser. My husband and two boys got settled easily. However, I sensed that my journey in the field had reached its conclusion, prompting me to contemplate a change in my professional trajectory,” Anastasia said.
As Anastasia was fascinated by criminal investigations, she undertook inquiries into potential career transitions.
At the age of 45, she decided to take on a new career path with the “unwavering support” of her husband and children. She secured a position with the NSW Police Force.
“My induction involved attending the Police Academy in Goulburn, where I engaged in intensive studies alongside comprehensive officer safety and weapons training,” Anastasia said.
“While physical fitness posed minimal concerns, the academic aspect proved to be a formidable challenge.
“Yet, armed with determination and commitment, I successfully navigated the training, earning a position in General Duties at the Burwood Police Area Command.”
Anastasia said after being in the police force for the last nine years, and as she continues to aid the community and support victims of crimes, she has come across multiple tasks that have been both demanding and rewarding.
She further explained that resilience and empathy stand out as indispensable qualities in navigating the challenges inherent in the profession.
“To fellow women with an interest in investigation or forensics, I wholeheartedly encourage considering the NSW Police Force as a viable avenue, offering a plethora of opportunities across various domains,” Anastasia said.
“The experience has been transformative, and the sense of fulfillment derived from serving the community and contributing to justice is unparalleled.”
Denise Bozikis
One of the women we spoke with includes Detective Senior Constable Denise Bozikis. She is a 50-year-old woman who works at Burwood police station.
Denise Bozikis
She told The Greek Herald that she has been in the police force for 24 years, “and prior to that I worked for five years within the NSW Police as an unsworn officer.”
Denise shared what inspired her to become a police officer and how she decided that a career in the force was for her.
“I was studying and completing a degree in Social Science where I majored in psychology and criminology. I was also working as an admin officer in a police station,” Denise said.
“I got to observe first-hand the thrill of Policing and went home and told my parents that I was joining the Police Academy.
“I was very lucky that they took me straight away. The academy was hard, and the physical stuff was challenging, but I was so proud of myself for putting all the hard work in and passing.”
She said that despite her job having its challenges, it was one that was very rewarding.
“We meet people in the worst aspects of their lives at times,” Denise said.
“We get the opportunity to help these people get out of these bad situations and get back on their feet.
“The most rewarding part of the job is actually bringing justice for the victim. Even though it’s a stressful occupation, it makes it so worth it when the good people get their justice.”
Denise said some of the most valuable skills she’s learnt during her time with the police force includes being able to show compassion, being understanding and being non-judgemental.
“This is hard sometimes when we are dealing with certain people, but I push through it with integrity. It is something I think was taught to me from a young age,” Denise said.
“Both my father and mother taught me how to have compassion to all people.
“My father devoted his whole life to helping people and I would like to think I have followed in his footsteps in a roundabout way.”
Denise said she encourages young people interested in a career in the police force to pursue it.
“It is the most empowering job in the world,” she said.
“As women, we can offer so much to this job. Our communication, mothers’ instinct and general women’s intuition.”
Angela Vergopoulos
Detective Senior Constable Angela Vergopoulis is another Greek Australian mum with an impressive career in the police force.
Photo: Angela Vergopoulos
Angela told The Greek Herald she joined the NSW Police Force 13 years ago, when she was 42 years old. She said she always dreamt of being a police officer.
“It was my childhood dream to be a police officer but my Greek, old-fashioned parents disapproved,” Angela said.
“I was conditioned to believe that my boundaries could extend no further than being a wife and mother. I married at 21 years old and had two children.
“When I realised there was no age limit to join the police, and with the support of my husband and teenage children, I applied.”
Angela said that due to her upbringing, and the expectations of her family wanting her to marry and have kids, she didn’t purse her dream until later in life. Once she finally made the decision to apply, Angela said her parents were “horrified, and used every guilt technique to talk me out of it.”
The Detective Senior Constable said the next step to her police career was spending eight months at a Police Academy in Goulburn.
“I found both the academic and physical training difficult, especially keeping up with people half my age,” Angela said.
“I worked hard, stayed focused and graduated.
“I am as proud and honoured to be a police officer today, as I was on the day I graduated. I am thankful for the evolution of women in policing and to be part of an organisation committed to equality and free of discrimination.”
Angela said one of the most important things she has learnt on the job is the importance of communication skills.
“From day to day we attend a variety of situations and deal with a diversity of people who need our help. It’s rewarding that I have developed the skills and knowledge to assist in my capacity as a police officer,” she said.
“The work is demanding, and such are the rigours of the job, that unless you have a deep-rooted sense of duty and community service, your chances of a long career in this profession diminish.
“Part of what we experience from day to day takes a substantial mental, emotional, and physical toll, be it the shift work, domestic violence incidents, assaults, robberies, and road crashes, to name a few. It’s important not to get worn down by cynicism and the content of the work.”
Angela said in a world full of male-dominated fields, she encourages more women to pursue their passions and try out a career in the police force.
“In tribute to our Greek mothers and grandmothers, I would like to acknowledge them for paving the way for a better life for us,” she said.
“Some remained traditional, others challenged the ways of the past and adopted a more modern outlook.
Either way, their dedication and devotion to family never wavered. I am inspired by their courage and resilience.”
