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Little Legs Foundation sets monopoly World Record in memory of Alegra Vasiliou

Andriana Simos
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Little Legs Foundation sets monopoly World Record in memory of Alegra Vasiliou

In a heartwarming and record-breaking event held on Sunday, March 30, the Little Legs Foundation officially set a new Guinness World Record for the most people playing Monopoly in a single venue.

The event took place at The Venue in Alexandria, where 918 participants gathered — well above the previous record of 733 — to play a game close to their hearts: Alegra’s Army, a custom Monopoly edition created in honour of six-year-old Alegra Vasiliou.

The foundation, established in memory of Alegra, who tragically passed away in 2017 after a ten-month battle with brain cancer, has since raised $2.83 million for research into childhood brain cancer.

Alegra’s legacy continues to inspire, and Sunday’s event was a shining testament to her impact on the community.

Participants played using Alegra’s Army, an officially licensed Monopoly edition by Hasbro, specially designed to commemorate Alegra’s courageous spirit. The energy in the room was electric, with players of all ages uniting for a cause greater than the game itself.

little legs foundation alegra vasiliou
little legs foundation alegra vasiliou
The event was enjoyed by all.
little legs foundation alegra vasiliou

The event was hosted by Rob Shehadie and Tahir, with Guinness World Record adjudicator Brian Sobel present to confirm the achievement. NSW Minister for Finance, the Hon Courtney Houssos served as an official witness on the day.

The Little Legs Foundation continues to honour Alegra’s memory with initiatives that inspire action, raise awareness, and support vital medical research — carrying forward the brilliance and determination of a little girl who left a lasting legacy.

Hellenic Medical Society of Australia’s Careers Day returns to inspire students

The Greek Herald
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Hellenic Medical Society of Australia’s Careers Day returns to inspire students

The Hellenic Medical Society of Australia (HMSA), in collaboration with the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM), invite all year 9-12 students to attend the HMSA ‘Pathways to Success’ Careers Day.

The HMSA Careers Day will be held on Saturday, May 3, 1:30-5pm, at the Greek Centre, Melbourne. The event will have over 30 leading Greek Australian professionals in attendance representing over 20 industries. There will be current University students also present, ready to answer any questions.

This will be an opportunity for students to meet and connect with leading Greek Australian professionals, discuss subject selection, university courses and careers pathways. There will also be a focus this year on ‘wellbeing’ whereby, strategies to manage stressful situations and competing priorities, e.g. exams, will be discussed.

A/Prof Marinis Pirpiris, President of HMSA and a strong proponent of the importance of this form of intergenerational connection, stated that: “This event will help shape a student’s future and career by connecting their career aspirations with personal values and community identity, ensuring that their success is both meaningful and authentic to them.”

“The day will be more than just career advice, it will be an opportunity for students to dream boldly, connect deeply and shape a future of purpose and success. By building networks, discovering possibilities and embracing their identity, students will take a further step towards a future filled with achievement and pride,” A/Prof Pirpiris added.

HMSA Careers day

The Inaugural HMSA Careers Day was held last year, with requests for more. Student feedback included “loved the opportunity to meet Greek Australian professionals who I have read about,” “it helped confirm my career direction,” “I gathered a couple of business cards, so that I have some contacts in the industry.”

The day will include a panel discussion, breakout rooms as well as a networking session, in order for students to meet as many professionals as possible.

There is an excellent line up of distinguished professionals attending including (and not limited to):

  • A/Prof Marinis Pirpiris – Orthopaedic Surgeon, President of HMSA, Treasurer of GCM
  • The Honourable Associate Justice Ierodiaconou – Principal Associate Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria
  • Prof Vasso Apostolopoulos – Distinguished Professor, Professor of Immunology, Head of the Healthy Lifespan and Chronic Diseases Program, RMIT
  • Maria Mavrikos – Managing Director Structural Challenge, Founder & CEO of Steel Chicks
  • Helen Mantzis – Board Member of The Australian Ballet and the Hellenic Museum, Founder of KHGM Consulting & startup app Loopels
  • Bill Petridis – Head of Technology at St Kilda Football Club
  • Mary Sinanidis – Journalist at The Greek Herald

To find out more information on all the speakers and to register please visit: www.hmsacareersday.com This is a free event, however there are limited places, so please register early in order to avoid disappointment.

Melbourne man charged for impersonating police officer and assaulting families

The Greek Herald
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Melbourne man charged for impersonating police officer and assaulting families

Franesko Vamvakaris, a citizen journalist, appeared in Ringwood Magistrates Court on Monday, March 31, facing charges of impersonating a police officer and unlawful assault.

The charges stem from two separate incidents where he allegedly pretended to be a police officer and attempted to perform citizen’s arrests on people he believed were on drugs.

In the first incident, Vamvakaris approached a young family with an 18-month-old child at Jells Park in Wheelers Hill, telling the father he was an off-duty officer and demanding his name and address.

When the father refused, Vamvakaris allegedly shoved him twice.

Jells Park.

Later that day, he confronted a teenage couple at The Glen shopping centre, claiming to be an undercover cop and asking a 16-year-old boy to come with him for a drug search. The incident was caught on CCTV.

During his court appearance, Vamvakaris, who has since moved to Thailand, claimed he was performing a citizen’s arrest due to the family and teenagers allegedly being under the influence of drugs, a claim denied by the prosecution.

Vamvakaris indicated he would contest the charges and is scheduled for a contested hearing on August 11.

Source: Herald Sun.

Antonopoulos’ Le Sands temporarily closes amid dispute with Bayside Council

The Greek Herald
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Antonopoulos’ Le Sands temporarily closes amid dispute with Bayside Council

The iconic Le Sands Restaurant in Brighton-Le-Sands, owned by Paul and Elizabeth Antonopoulos, has temporarily closed its doors after Bayside Council terminated its lease.

According to The Greek Herald sources, the closure follows alleged non-payment of rent by the business due to an ongoing dispute with the Council.

In a statement on March 7, the Antonopoulos family said they are working with legal advisors to resolve the issue and promised to contact customers who had pre-existing bookings.

“Rest assured that our team will contact all customers with bookings to begin the refund process for any functions booked with deposits paid. We thank you for your patience and understanding during this difficult time,” the statement read.

A further letter posted on the restaurant’s door on March 1 thanked loyal patrons for their support over the past 44 years.

“Our family has invested a minimum of $8 million in this building and created a landmark asset that basically belongs to Bayside Council/NSW Government, and we pay rent close to $800,000 per year for this building,” the letter read.

“Council does not make any contribution to any outgoings or maintenance of this building. We look forward to seeing you in the very near future, and hopefully, we will be able to give everyone an explanation of what has happened.”

While bookings on the restaurant’s website are currently only available from May 1, the future of the venue remains uncertain.

The Greek Herald reached out to Bayside Council for comment, and a spokesperson responded that, as the matter is subject to legal proceedings, they are unable to make a public statement at this time.

Canberra teen Aiden Stuart ‘lucky to be alive’ after hit-and-run incident

The Greek Herald
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Canberra teen Aiden Stuart ‘lucky to be alive’ after hit-and-run incident

Aiden Stuart, a 15-year-old Greek Australian student from St Edmund’s College in Canberra, remains in critical condition after being struck by an allegedly stolen car on Friday, March 28.

Aiden was one of two teenage boys who were hit by the allegedly stolen car on Friday morning outside St Edmund’s College.

Aiden’s aunt, Tracey Stuart, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to support his long recovery, stating he is “extremely lucky to be alive” but has sustained significant, life-altering injuries.

Tracey said Aiden’s injuries, including the loss of function in his left arm, will affect him for life. He was a passionate basketball player, and the loss of his dominant hand will be particularly difficult for him, she added.

The driver of the green station wagon allegedly did not stop after hitting the boys, and continued down the road before crashing outside St Christopher’s Cathedral in Manuka. Photo: ABC News / Emily Anderson.

Tracey described Aiden as a determined young man, having previously helped run the Kaleen Recycle Kids initiative and saved money from a job at McDonald’s to buy his first car.

“At the time of the accident, he had just 10 days left until he could get his L’s,” Tracey said.

The fundraiser, which has already raised over $90,000, will help cover Aiden’s medical bills and rehabilitation costs.

Tracey shared the emotional toll on Aiden’s family, noting the impact of the accident on Aiden’s two brothers (he is a triplet).

Victorian man Tayler Hazell, 31, who allegedly didn’t stop after hitting the boys, is facing 10 charges over the incident and remains in custody.

Source: ABC.

Canterbury resident Peter Katholos pays to mow overgrown lawn amid government inaction

The Greek Herald
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Canterbury resident Peter Katholos pays to mow overgrown lawn amid government inaction

Homeowners in Canterbury-Bankstown are taking action against overgrown grass along public roads, as they struggle to get local and state governments to address the issue.

Some residents have resorted to mowing verges themselves after repeated requests for maintenance went unanswered.

Peter Katholos, a resident in Canterbury, has started paying gardeners to mow the state-controlled land outside his home.

Katholos described the overgrown grass as “unsightly” and a safety hazard for both pedestrians and drivers.

“The streets are a joke, they’re not being maintained and no one seems to want to take responsibility for it,” he said.

“I started paying a gardener to mow the grass and the cost is $50 each time – having to do that every six weeks is really adding up.”

Harry Stavrinos.

Local councillor Harry Stavrinos echoed frustrations, noting confusion over which level of government is responsible for road maintenance.

The council is tasked with mowing roads in certain areas, but 16 state-controlled roads, including major routes like King Georges Rd, fall under Transport for NSW.

Stavrinos pointed out that this confusion has left residents mowing verges on busy roads, which is unsafe.

“We’ve now got a situation where residents are going out on main roads and cutting the grass right next to 40,000 cars a day – it’s unacceptable,” he said.

Transport for NSW has stated that its road network maintenance is a priority, with mowing conducted cyclically, weather permitting.

However, community concerns continue to rise, with the Canterbury-Bankstown Council urging the state government to allocate more resources to address the issue.

Source: The Daily Telegraph.

Double-header delight: St George Saints march away with two straight wins

The Greek Herald
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Double-header delight: St George Saints march away with two straight wins

By Dion Stergiopoulos

After a disappointing loss in Round 1, St George Saints Men’s White were out for redemption in round 2 of the Basketball NSW Men’s Waratah League.

The first game of last weekend’s doubleheader saw the Saints Men’s White face off in an interclub derby against rivals St George Men’s Red.

The return of star player Jayden Tanevski was a welcome sight for the Saints Men’s White after missing their opening round clash with Wagga Wagga due to sickness.

St George Red came out strong from the opening tip, maintaining an early with their strong interior defence in a fast-paced opening half.

Down eight points at half-time the tide quickly switched in St George White’s favour, utilising their quickness and strong perimeter shooting to snatch a late victory.

st george basketball

In the end, the youthfulness of St George White prevailed, pulling off a miracle comeback during the late stages of the 4th quarter to secure the 92-84 victory.

St George White head coach George Aliferis praised his team for never giving up hope in a game that went down to the wire.

“I was very proud of the boys especially during the 4th quarter,” he said. “They came together as one and outplayed the Red team to help us secure a much-needed win.”

Tanevski top scored for St George White with 34 points, 3 rebounds, and 7 assists including a crucial offensive rebound with 16 seconds left which led to his game clinching free-throws.

Yianni Trikilis continued from where he left off last week finishing with 28 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists including two clutch 3-pointers late in the 4th quarter to help secure the victory.

Ross Aliferis was a major defensive presence finishing with 8 rebounds along with 3 points and 2 assists.

st george basketball

With momentum on their side, St George White went into their second game of their double-header against Inner West Bulls brimming with confidence.

The Saints controlled the game from the opening tip to the final buzzer cruising to an 85-70 victory to cap off an amazing weekend. Star players Tanevski and Trikilis led from the front to inspire the team to back-to-back victories.

Tanevski top scored yet again with 37 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists with Trikilis finishing with 28 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists.

“I was very proud of my team yet again,” Head Coach Mr Aliferis said. “There are a lot of positive signs for the season ahead especially after playing in such a difficult game last night.”

St George Men’s White head to the Central Coast to take on the Central Coast Waves on Saturday, April 5 for their first road trip of the season.

St George Saints Senior Reps results – 29 March 2025

Youth League Mens

  • Bankstown Bruins 63-70 St George Saints Red
  • Springfield Scorchers 91-89 St George Saints White

Youth League Womens

  • St George Saints 50-64 Central Coast Waves

Waratah League Mens

  • St George Saints Red 84-92 St George Saints White

St George Senior Reps results – 30 March 2025

Waratah League Mens

  • St George Saints White 85-70 Inner West Bulls

Magnis Energy sells US battery factory as chairman Frank Poullas faces legal scrutiny

The Greek Herald
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Magnis Energy sells US battery factory as chairman Frank Poullas faces legal scrutiny

Magnis Energy, once a promising ASX-listed energy company, has sold its flagship American lithium-ion battery factory to Japanese car parts maker Musashi for $US10 million ($16 million), marking the end of its American battery ambitions.

The sale follows significant financial losses, including nearly $95 million from shareholder investments and $100 million lost by lenders backing the New York-based Imperium3 gigafactory.

Magnis, led by chairman Frank Poullas, is facing legal action from the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) for failing to disclose crucial information to shareholders.

ASIC alleges that the company knowingly misled investors about the struggling status of its iM3NY factory, which could not meet production targets and suffered from significant manufacturing defects.

Magnis CEO David Taylor, right, resigned from his role.

Poullas, who declined to comment, is under scrutiny for allowing the continued promotion of the factory’s success despite these issues.

As Magnis seeks readmission to the ASX, it faces further challenges, including the failure to file full-year and half-year accounts, despite repeated assurances.

The company is also in the process of negotiating a $10 million deal for its Tanzanian graphite project, but it must first meet ASX’s strict requirements.

Magnis has been shedding directors and is relying on high-interest loans to stay afloat.

Source: The Australian.

Sydney hairdresser Paris Coudounellis pleads guilty to AVO breach

The Greek Herald
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Sydney hairdresser Paris Coudounellis pleads guilty to AVO breach

A Phillip Bay hairdresser, Paris Coudounellis, pleaded guilty in Waverley Local Court on Monday, March 31, to breaching an apprehended violence order (AVO) and other charges related to her ex-boyfriend, Luke Paterson.

Coudounellis, 20, had previously pleaded guilty to common assault and three counts of damaging property.

Court documents revealed a troubled two-year on-and-off relationship between Coudounellis and Paterson. In June 2024, she cut through Paterson’s bedroom flyscreens and climbed into his bed.

On another occasion, after being offered a ride home by Paterson, Coudounellis confronted him about another woman, assaulted him, and caused $1,400 in damage to his car.

In June 2024, Paris Coudounellis cut through Paterson’s bedroom flyscreens and climbed into his bed.

An AVO was placed on Coudounellis in August 2024, barring her from contacting Paterson. However, on her birthday this past Sunday, after drinking at The Juniors Kingsford, she allowed Paterson to enter her bedroom window at 2.30 am.

He allegedly assaulted her, leading to her report to police. During questioning, Coudounellis admitted to breaching the AVO, claiming she was intoxicated and unaware of the consequences.

Her lawyer argued Coudounellis had no criminal history, was employed as a hairdresser, and had strong community ties. Magistrate George Zdenkowski granted her conditional bail, with her sentencing set for May 7.

Paterson, who was also charged with assault causing actual bodily harm, has not yet entered a plea and will appear in court on April 3.

Source: The Daily Telegraph.

Greece moves to ban surrogacy for same-sex couples with new legislation

The Greek Herald
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Greece moves to ban surrogacy for same-sex couples with new legislation

Greece’s Minister of Justice, Giorgos Floridis, has announced a new legislative provision prohibiting homosexual men and single men from having children through surrogacy.

According to tovima.com.au, the amendment, introduced in an omnibus bill, modifies the Civil Code to prevent male same-sex couples from using surrogacy.

Greece’s Minister of Justice, Giorgos Floridis.

It also clarifies that gender-related inability to carry a pregnancy does not constitute medical infertility, and judicial approval for surrogacy will only take effect after a final court ruling.

While Greek law has long banned surrogacy for same-sex couples, courts had previously issued conflicting rulings.

Floridis justified the amendment, citing concerns about human trafficking related to surrogacy, with foreign women coming to Greece to arrange surrogacy for third parties in exchange for large sums.

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