The PWII Australian Ranking is the mathematical method of ranking Australian tennis athletes with an intellectual disability or Autism on a calendar year basis.
Petrakis is on the autism spectrum and she has been playing tennis for more than ten years, competing in state tournaments and climbing the ranks to become part of the Australian national team.
As of 1 May 2024, Petrakis was ranking in top place in Australia in the women’s singles II-1 category with 510.00 points.
“My dreams came true. I am feeling happy, humbled and acknowledged by this honourable achievement. My family are very proud of me,” Petrakis said in a statement to The Greek Herald.
The events started from early morning with Girls Netball taking place between 9am and 3pm at Netball Central, and Girls Futsal from 9am to 3pm at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Halls. The Boys Futsal competition took place between 9.15am and 3pm at the Billbergia Sport Centre.
St Spyridon College won the Girls Netball and Boys Futsal competitions, whilst St Andrew’s Grammar won Girls Futsal.
The sports games were followed by a Performing Arts Festival and Dinner Dance at night. The events were held at Spyridon College Senior Campus SPACe.
The schools that are taking part this year are: St Spyridon College (host, NSW), Oakleigh Grammar (VIC), All Saints Grammar (NSW), St Andrew’s Grammar (WA), St Euphemia College (NSW), St George College (SA), and St John’s College (VIC).
The response – which was sent by the Director of the Age Pension and Payment Rates Policy Section at the Department, Rita Scholl – outlines the Australian Government’s plan to “ensure that pensioners’ living standards are safeguarded by the Age Pension.”
Ms Scholl said that the Australian Government expects to spend around $59 billion on the Age Pension in 2023-24 to assist around 2.6 million eligible Australians.
“On 20 March 2024, the maximum total pension rate for single pensioners increased by $19.60 to $1,116.30 a fortnight or $29,023.80 a year. The maximum rate for pensioner couples combined increased by $29.40 to $1,682.80 a fortnight or $43,752.80 a year,” the response read.
A range of cost of living relief measures, designed to support the living standards of vulnerable Australians, were also outlined in the response. These included:
Up to $3 billion under the Energy Bill Relief Fund to eligible households, including pensioners and other income support recipients. In Victoria, the total bill relief is $250 per eligible household.
An investment of $5.7 billion over 5 years to strengthen Medicare, including $3.5 billion to triple the bulk billing incentive for the most common General Practitioner consultations including for pensioners, as well as a doubling of the maximum dispensing quantity for over 300 Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicines, which lowers out-of-pocket costs.
According to the letter, pensioners can also receive a range of benefits and concessions that increase their economic security, including:
assistance for people who rent in the private rental market, through Commonwealth Rent Assistance;
the exemption of the principal home from the assets test for homeowners;
subsidised prescription medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme;
subsidised health care and related products;
subsidised aged care; and
concessions provided by state and territory governments, which could include subsidised rates, electricity, gas, water, public transport and vehicle registration fees. Concessions offered vary between states.
The NSW Government has opened a NSW Multicultural Centre for Women’s and Family Safety, in a bid to invest in meaningful action to increase support for victim survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence across the state.
The NSW Government has partnered with Settlement Services International (SSI) and invested $4.4 million to establish the centre. This will increase accessibility to services and safety for migrant and refugee women by having holistic, well-informed and culturally appropriate responses to domestic, family and sexual violence.
The unique needs of migrants and refugees’ domestic, family and sexual violence experiences are overlaid and further compounded by other factors, including social and institutional barriers that inhibit access and present challenges that services and systems must address and overcome.
With thousands of women to be assisted each year, the centre will be based in South Western Sydney but operate statewide, including outreach into regional and rural NSW.
Recognition of the need for specialisation of services is a key element of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-32, with the plan highlighting the need for nuanced and cultural responses informed by the knowledge of and connection to communities.
NSW’s first Multicultural Centre for Women’s and Family Safety has opened.
SSI is a national organisation working with culturally and linguistically diverse people and communities in NSW with subject matter expertise in domestic, family and sexual violence.
This announcement follows the Government’s commitment this week to provide $230 million over four years as part of an emergency package to enhance support for domestic, family and sexual violence victim-survivors and expand programs that reduce the rate of violence against women and children.
The package includes:
$48m to roll out the Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV) program state-wide and to expand the Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Service (IDFVS).
$45 million has been set aside to improve bail laws and justice system responses to domestic violence with measures to be announced in coming weeks.
Nearly $24 million for specialist DV support workers within the justice system.
$2 million over four years to support the Domestic Violence Death Review Team and its work to deliver robust research around risks factors, trends and impact of service delivery.
$2.1 million over two years to improve and continue the Corrective Services program EQUIPS Domestic and Family Violence, delivered to offenders in custody and under supervision in the community to prevent reoffending.
$48 million to secure and increase funding for workers who support children accompanying their mothers to refuges. These specialist workers support them, including with education and mental health measures.
Support of $700,000 for the NSW Domestic Violence Line (DV line).
$38 million for the implementation of NSW’s first dedicated Primary Prevention Strategy. The Pathways to Prevention: NSW Strategy for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence 2024-2027 will develop a range of initiatives to address the drivers of domestic, family and sexual violence.
$8.1 million over four years for the ‘All in’ early childhood pilot, to prevent domestic violence by teaching young children about healthy relationships.
$5m in funding for research into perpetrators and effective interventions.
Deputy Premier of NSW and Minister for Western Sydney Prue Car said, “this announcement is part of how we are coming good on our election commitment to close a service gap by providing a vital statewide service for migrant and refugee women and their children experiencing domestic violence.”
Steve Kamper has weighed in on the centre. Photo: Gaye Gerard.
NSW Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said “the Multicultural Centre for Women’s and Family Safety will help deliver much needed services to our culturally and linguistically diverse communities in a manner that is accessible and respectful of their culture.”
NSW Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison added that “not only are women from multicultural backgrounds more vulnerable to abuse,” but “they are less likely to seek help due to a range of cultural and language barriers.”
“This centre will bring together the state’s best minds in multicultural women’s safety to address immediate risks to women and children and create long term positive change for the whole community,” Ms Harrison said.
Settlement Services International CEO Violet Roumeliotis said the Centre will address a critical need for migrant and refugee women and children.
Settlement Services International CEO Violet Roumeliotis said the Centre will address a critical need for migrant and refugee women and children.
“All communities in Australia experience domestic and family violence. But we don’t have equal access to support,” Ms Roumeliotis said.
“The Centre will collaborate with other services to address the diverse needs of migrant and refugee women and their children who are at risk of, or experiencing, domestic, family and sexual violence. It’s about creating equity and ensuring support is accessible to all victim-survivors, no matter their language, culture or visa status.”
The Centre commenced operation in April.
If you or someone you know is affected by domestic, family or sexual violence, please call the toll-free number 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for support on 1800RESPECT or visit 1800respect.org.au.
George Kambosos Jr is under attack from a group of former American boxing stars who have called for the Greek Australian to retire if he is beaten by Vasiliy Lomachenko during their world-title fight in Perth, Western Australia on Sunday.
“When I beat Lomachenko, there’ll be no more road for him to go. This is retirement for him,” Kambosos said.
“The will, the heart I have, the desire to win this fight. I want this bad. I’ve prepared extremely hard for this fight. I’ve left no stone unturned. Sunday, you will see.”
The Greek Australian boxer made the comments at an official press conference on Thursday ahead of this Sunday’s blockbuster IBF lightweight world title showdown at a sold-out RAC Arena in Perth.
The press conference featured arguably the longest face-off in boxing history, with Kambosos and Lomachenko waging an intense stare down that lasted three minutes and 26 seconds.
Even former heavyweight world champion Lucas Browne – also fighting on the card – couldn’t stop their face-off despite trying to muscle his way between the two.
Afterwards, Kambosos joked to Foxtel’s Main Event: “It was cool, man. I’ve got all day! I ain’t got nothing else to do.”
Nick Dinakis has shared his pain almost one year after a deadly bus crash in the Hunter Valley claimed the life of his “best friend and forever love,” Darcy Bulman.
The 30-year-old Melbourne real estate agent and his girlfriend Darcy were on a wedding bus travelling from Wandin Valley Estate to Singleton on June 11 last year when it crashed while overturning on a roundabout in New South Wales.
“Darcy was and always will be my best friend and my forever love,” he said about the girl he met in high school. “I miss her dearly and the thought of a future without her makes me feel sick.”
A commemorative garden along the Yarra River in Warrandyte will soon be created by Manningham Council in honour of Darcy.
Nick Dinakis and Darcy Bulman. Picture: Instagram.
Dinakis said he has a long way to go in terms of recovery and needs intense rehabilitation following his injuries, but added he was relieved to hear the driver of the bus, Andrew Button, had this week pleaded guilty to charges against him.
Button pleaded guilty to 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, nine counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, and 16 related offences of driving furiously and causing bodily harm to survivors.
The court heard 10 charges of manslaughter were withdrawn and dismissed. A further 25 charges of bodily harm by misconduct were also dropped.
“I’m extremely pleased with the result of the guilty plea from the bus driver,” Dinakis said.
“I understand this isn’t a situation that can appease everyone but it allows myself and the other victims to try and move forward with life.”
Germany’s interior ministry issued a “Betätigungsverbot” or ban, against Varoufakis in April because he was set to speak at a controversial “Palestine Congress” event in Berlin.
German authorities labelled the gathering which was organised by the Democracy in Europe Movement 2025 (DiEM25) – a pan-European political movement and political party founded in 2016 by Varoufakis and others – as “anti-Semitic,” banning others alongside Varoufakis who were set to take part.
Yes, I am taking the German state to court. Primarily to defend the right of German citizens to know who accuses them, when, and under what rationale – information that the German state has scandalously denied me on the grounds of… 'national security'! https://t.co/JpY9npcwNo
In a statement on Thursday, the MeRA25 party said Varoufakis is now suing the “German authorities in the German courts and reserves the right to appeal to the European ones, for infringement of basic rights and defamation.”
“The unprecedented decision of the German authorities in April earlier this year to ban Yanis Varoufakis from entering the country, as well as from any kind of political activity, was only the beginning. It was followed by outrageous violations of every principle of the Rule of Law – an ominous development in the face of a Europe that is sliding inexorably towards totalitarianism,” the statement noted.
In Germany, a staunch ally of Israel, the war on Gaza has stirred growing opposition as the Palestinian death toll nears 35,000.
Greece has qualified for the Eurovision 2024 final following a performance of the song ‘Zari’ by 37-year-old Marina Satti.
Satti performed during Thursday night’s second Eurovision semi-final which is taking place in Malmo, Sweden.
The singer impressed the audience with her performance, especially the choreography alongside her backup dancers. The song featured traditional Greek music, as well as Balkan and Arabic sounds.
‘Zari,’ meaning ‘dice’ in English, was composed by Satti along with eight other Greek artists. They include Palmer Jordan Richard, Stolar Jay Lewitt, OGE, Beshkov Konstantin Plamenov, Nick Kodonas, Gino the Ghost, Vlospa and Solmeister.
Satti will next perform in the Eurovision Grand Final on May 11. She will join Cyprus’ 17-year-old and Cypriot Australian Silia Kapsis. Australia missed out this year.
Aston Villa found themselves 1-0 down within 10 minutes as El Kaabi, who bagged a hat-trick in the first leg, converted from Quini’s clever cross.
That goal came against the run of play, as the Villans had been dominating possession, something they continued to do for the rest of the half but with little reward.
If the English had any hopes of getting back into the game, they were dashed thanks to Constantis Tzolakis. Twice the 22-year-old goalkeeper had to intervene and was effective on both occasions.
In the 78th minute, El Kaabi made it 2-0 and the Greek team began exactly as they had ended: with the Moroccan seeing his goal initially disallowed for offside, but ultimately awarded through VAR.
The Greek team will play Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final on May 30 in Athens, Greece.
Chinese food should be prepared, cooked and presented by Chinese, right? Thai food by Thais. Only Italians can make pizza and pasta. And Greek food must be made by Greeks, of course.
Not necessarily. The Lay family are breaking new ground in Melbourne with their highly successful businesses in Malvern and South Yarra, with a third outlet on the cards for the suburb of Kew within the next 12 months or so.
Originally from Jakarta, Indonesia though of Chinese heritage, the Lay’s – father George, mother Angela and their two offspring, Wilson and Britney – have taken to Hellenic cuisine like Odysseus took to the waters of the Mediterranean. With both George and Angela being trained chefs, their family long experimented with and delighted in the cuisines of other cultures, with Greek food being a family favourite.
When the opportunity arose in the post-pandemic phase, they moved from their Asian cuisine outlet in Balaclava after some 20 years – which was long my favourite source of Oriental sustenance – and took over a pre-existing restaurant within Malvern, ‘Kolonaki: Athenian Street Food’. After a brisk two weeks familiarising themselves under the former Greek owners, they revelled in the challenges of quickly mastering this new cuisine style. And succeeded, quite possibly far beyond expectations.
‘Kolonaki: Athenian Street Food’, 278 Toorak Road, South Yarra – Manageress Britney Liu embracing her new Greek restaurant, with Asian cuisine restaurants on each side.
When I sat down to chat with both Britney and Wilson, while mum and dad busily worked away in the Malvern kitchen, I was reminded of how long I had known this wonderfully warm and enterprising family – now almost 23 years, having only discovered the new Malvern restaurant when I had a sudden craving for Greek food while travelling through that suburb and was surprised and then delighted to discover that this thriving business I had walked into was actually run by old friends. ‘Kolonaki’ was immaculate, expertly run and the food was both gorgeously presented and very authentic.
Britney and Wilson informed me that when it came to the transition from Eastern to Western cuisine, Greek food had its own particular set of demands. Not only does one of the world’s healthiest cuisines require exceptionally fresh ingredients to be at its best, but there is quite a bit of careful pre-preparation required: attention to detail is everything. And the proof is always in the (rice) pudding – many amongst their regular clientele are so pleasantly surprised at how traditional the flavours are that they ask questions like, ‘Were you born in Greece? Do you speak Greek? Who taught you to cook like this?”
‘Kolonaki: Athenian Street Food’, Malvern – The Saturday Dream Team.
I interviewed a couple of these regulars (husband and wife, Hamish Rotstein and Rochelle Gance) and Hamish rather cheekily quipped, “My wife has a wanted poster sign with her face on it up in every restaurant across Australia as the fussiest diner in history. She loves ‘Kolonaki’ and they don’t mind her either.” Being a discerning diner is not only the hallmark of foodie hotspots like Melbourne, but in this multicultural city the distinct health benefits of Greek cuisine are increasingly being realised by peoples of diverse heritage.
When I drove across to the new South Yarra ‘Kolonaki’ outlet, Britney showed me through the pride and joy she manages and pointed out another little irony – while the Malvern flagship restaurant was pre-existing and owned by Greeks, this new outlet was previously an Asian cuisine restaurant and is flanked by an Asian diner on each side. Greek cuisine has replaced Asian cuisine on that lovely dining strip, while now being owned and operated by an Asian family. As Britney’s brother, Wilson, also pointed out to me, the success of this East meets West culinary collaboration has also allowed them to employ at least four Greek-Victorians as kitchen and floor staff.
‘Kolonaki: Athenian Street Food’, South Yarra – Britney Liu and her Saturday afternoon Dream Team.
As generous as the Greeks they admire, the Lay family wouldn’t let me depart before filling several containers with samples of their cooking. And, yet again, it was a treat for the taste buds. Being half-Greek, I’ve had the good fortune to sample some of the best of Hellenic cuisine across Australia, as well as throughout the ‘old country’ and on some of her islands. The Lay’s dining experience comfortably rank amongst the best of them (and that wasn’t written because they’ve pleasantly filled my belly on more than one occasion).
If there was one thing that the Lay family’s successful embrace of Greek cuisine reminded me of, it was the words of Isocrates, the fourth century B.C.E. Athenian thinker: “And if a person should partake of our culture, let him be called Hellene.”
