A family-owned supermarket in Adelaide’s north has officially been crowned the world’s best by its global peers at a recent awards ceremony in Vegas.
According to Adelaide Now, Saints Road Foodland, in Salisbury Plain, was named IGA International Retailer of the Year in Las Vegas, securing the top honour from more than 6,000 stores worldwide.
Saints Foodland in South Australia has been named the IGA International Retailer of the Year. Photo: 9News.
Saints Foodland director, Spero Tsapaliaris, and Foodland chief executive Franklin dos Santos were among those on hand to accept the award, presented by the Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA), which was founded in 1962, and operates in more than 30 countries.
The John Chapley family owns Saints Foodland, which is run by Mr Tsapaliaris, who also serves as the chairman of Foodland Supermarkets.
Last year, Saints won the national prize, along with IGA National Large Store of the Year, allowing them to represent Australia in the global event.
St Basil’s Aegean Village in South Australia has come in as the second lowest rated aged care home in the state for its food, with 13 per cent of those surveyed claiming that they never liked the food, and 47 per cent saying they only liked it sometimes.
Although operated under the auspices of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, St Basil’s Homes (SA) is separately incorporated and independently managed.
St Basil’s Homes (SA) Corporate Services CEO Michelle Church told Adelaide Now that while their other aged care homes performed well in the survey, the Aegean Village’s results were “disappointing.”
St Basil’s Aegean Village in SA.
“We have not met our usual high expectations at one of our sites, something we were aware of at the time of the survey and have already taken positive steps to improve the situation at the Aegean Village,” Ms Church said.
Ms Church added that among the adjustments are frequent resident meal tasting events to get feedback on anticipated menu revisions.
“Our recent internal data is far more positive and I’m confident with these new initiatives that we are on the right track to significantly improve these results in the next formal resident food survey.”
Residents at other Adelaide aged care homes ranked among the worst spend up to $100 a week on Uber Eats because they claim they cannot stomach the food.
From 18 – 24 March, the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) encourages the community to join them through Cultural Diversity Week and celebrate the power, influence, and stories of Victoria’s rich multicultural communities.
This year’s theme “Our Shared Stories – Celebrating Together” goes beyond individual narratives, encouraging people to recognise and celebrate the beautiful intersections that enrich Victoria’s cultural diversity.
Some of the many stories the VMC has uncovered throughout 2023 came from the Multicultural Awards for Excellence and Honour Roll.
Nandita Chakraborty, an advocate for improved policy and programs to support those with non-visible disabilities, especially across multicultural communities, was honoured as the recipient of the Arts Award in 2023. Through her continued work, installations, and film Nandita highlights the challenges faced by women from multicultural backgrounds with non-visible disabilities.
Helen Stamoulis, an Honour Roll Inductee for 2023, played a vital role in establishing the Greek Media Group, which initiated 3XY Radio Hellas and Ta Nea newspaper. Through 3XY Radio Hellas, people enjoy a range of radio programs, which provide a connection to their culture.
Asvin Phorugngam has worked passionately and tirelessly for over 25 years to support multicultural communities in a range of social justice roles. Recognised as an Honour Roll inductee last year, his work has included designing and implementing progressive programs to support LGBTQIA+ people from multicultural communities.
To plan for Cultural Diversity Week, councils, businesses, organisations, government agencies, service providers and community groups are all encouraged to start conversations in their workplaces and communities, and to host events and activities that align with the theme.
At a time when overseas conflicts have had an impact on the wellbeing of local communities, it is even more important to show support and commitment for Victoria’s multicultural society.
Victorian Multicultural Commission Chairperson Vivienne Nguyen AM said “Multicultural Victoria is vibrant, diverse, intergenerational, and inspiring. Cultural Diversity Week is an opportunity to celebrate these shared experiences and their contribution to our state’s identity.”
“Our multicultural communities remain connected and inspired thanks to these and many other often unheralded champions. Cultural Diversity Week gives us the opportunity to recognise and thank the people and organisations whose contributions create significant impacts on the broader society,” Ms Nguyen added.
Cultural Diversity Week activities will run across regional and metropolitan Victoria, with many led by local councils and promoted in an events calendar on VMConnect; the VMC’s online community platform.
Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham and the Matildas-laden Arsenal will join Newcastle United in Melbourne this year for exhibition matches at the MCG and Docklands.
According to ABC News, Tottenham will take on Newcastle United in a midweek friendly at the MCG on May 22.
Postecoglu sent a message ahead of the matches, sharing his excitement for returning to his hometown, Melbourne, to manage Spurs during the exciting period.
The matches will be played during the AFL season, with the MCG hosting Aussie Rules games on May 19 and 25, while Docklands hosts games on May 23 and 25.
The A-League Men’s grand final is set to be played on May 25 or 26.
NSW Finance Minister Courtney Houssos says future state budgets will include a performance and wellbeing framework that aims to drive “positive social outcomes” and improve transparency.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the NSW government will revise the state budget to include people’s well-being in addition to standard economic measures like growth, employment, and deficit.
Other countries that have adopted wellbeing frameworks to assess results not entirely represented by economic statistics include the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and Germany.
Targets for vital services such as health, education, transport and housing will be scrutinised. Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP. PHOTOS
Mrs Houssos said measuring improvements in schooling standards was an example of how the framework would help.
“Addressing the big challenges facing the state will take time, and we want to show how we are progressing on the solutions,” Houssos said.
“We will consider what other countries around the world are doing and where we can learn from them.”
The performance and wellness framework in the NSW budget will replace the former Coalition government’s outcomes statement, which comprised over 250 objectives and 700 performance metrics.
Melbourne lawyer, author and journalist Dean Kalimniou will be delivering the Con Castan Memorial lecture at the behest of the Solomos Society in Brisbane, Queensland on Wednesday, March 20, at the Greek Centre from 7pm.
The topic will be the ‘Great Ionia: The Chinese Connection,’ looking at the remarkable Greek kingdom that existed in ancient times, on the fringes of China.
Dean Kalimniou will be presenting a special lecture on Wednesday, March 20. Photo: Solomos Society.
Though the memory of these outlying Greeks was lost to their compatriots, through a close reading of the Chinese historical sources, Kalimniou will examine this fascinating facet of lost Greek history.
Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave a speech to Turkish military troops on Monday, declaring his support for the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, while also stating that if Turkish forces had advanced further south in 1974, Cyprus would be fully Turkish now.
“Half a century ago, the Turkish Cypriots came back from the brink of genocide. In the Peace Operation of 1974, 498 of our soldiers from all corners of the country, officers, non-commissioned officers and civilians, were martyred”, President Erdogan said.
Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaking on the Cyprus issue.
“…Despite all the pressures, if it were not for Turkey’s intervention, neither the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus nor the Turkish Cypriots would exist today. In fact, perhaps if we had pushed south, and I say this as a child of the present, there would be no more south and north and Cyprus would be completely ours.”
Greeks around the country celebrated the Clean Monday holiday in traditional fashion, with outdoor activities including kite-flying and picnics, traditional Lenten foods, music, and dancing.
While many people left the city to spend the long weekend in the countryside, municipalities in Attica hosted festivities for those who remained, providing free food, entertainment, and, in some cases, free kites and kite workshops for children.
Filopappou Hill in downtown Athens was once again a popular destination for Athenians, with Athens Mayor Haris Doukas paying a visit earlier in the day.
Athenians dance and listen to live music as they attend the Clean Monday festivities organized by the Municipality of Athens on March 18. Photo: Dimitris Mitsakos/Intime News.
According to Ekathimerini, nearly all the municipalities offered some outdoor musical event starting at 11 a.m. or noon, mostly of traditional or popular Greek music, as well as traditional dancing.
Athenians gather at the park of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Kallithea in southern Athens to picnic and fly kites. Photo: Nikos Panagiotopoulos/Intime News.
Free kites and kite workshops take place for children. Photo: Ekathimerini.
The Flour-throwing custom (Alevropolemos), takes place on Clean Monday and is unique to Galaxidi. Photo: Ekathimerini.
The revelry, dancing, and flour-throwing continue until late in the evening. Photo: Ekathimerini.
The highlight of Clean Monday is the famed Flour-throwing custom (Alevromoutzouromata, literally meaning “flour smearings”), which takes place on the day, and is unique to Galaxidi, when carnival-goers paint their faces with soot and colors and engage in flour-throwing battles.
The custom is thought to have originated in the Byzantine era, but others believe that Greek sailors discovered it on the shores of Sicily and brought it back to Galaxidi.
The Prince Henry Centre in Little Bay, Sydney, was abuzz with excitement on Saturday, March 16, as it hosted the book launch for Ekato, Volume One of the 100-year history of the Kytherian Association of Australia (KAA).
Authored by social historian Vasilis Vasilas, Ekato delves into the first 50 years of the KAA’s centenary journey from 1922 to 2022.
(L-R): Rene Panagiotelis and Vasilis Vasilas.(L-R) Andrew Malanos, Vasilis Vasilas, Barbara Zantiotis, Theodora Gianniotis.
With 140 attendees gracing the occasion, the event was a testament to the enduring legacy of the KAA.
Barbara Zantiotis, President of the KAA and the first female to hold the position, kicked off the afternoon by extending warm welcomes to dignitaries, including the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Yiannis Mallikourtis, Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, and Mayor of Waverly Council, Paula Masselos. The gathering also witnessed the presence of notable figures featured in the book, such as former presidents, descendants of founding members, and past board members.
Barbara Zantiotis kicked off the official proceedings.
Among the esteemed guests were former presidents Emmanuel Sklavos, John Prineas, George Vardas, Peter Vanges, Emmanuel Varipatis, Victor Kepreotis, and Emmanuel Alfieris. Their families graced the occasion, representing a living connection to the rich history of the KAA. Also present were descendants of founding members, including Emmanuel Cassimatis, son of one of the KAA’s founders and first President Cosmas Cassimatis; Angela Cominos, daughter of Basil Feros, first secretary of the founding committee and also second president; Vicky Haniotis, daughter of Peter Haniotis, the ninth president; Matina Aroney (nee Coroneos) and her sister Olga, two of the very first females on the board of directors in 1961; and Jim Cassimatis, son of Nicholas Cassimatis who served as the eleventh president.
Past Presidents with the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Yiannis Mallikourtis (centre).Official guests.
In a speech, Bishop Iakovos conveyed his heartfelt congratulations to the Association, followed by the Consul General’s commendation of the KAA’s rich history and its ability to blend traditions while embracing new ones in the Australian context. He also praised the Association’s philanthropic endeavours that supported various causes in Greece including earthquake relief support for his place of origin Kefalonia.
Consul GeneralBishop Iakovos
Ms Zantiotis then presented copies of the book to both the Consul General and Bishop Iakovos before introducing a panel discussion moderated by Theodora Gianniotis and featuring author Mr Vasilas and contributor Rene Panagiotelis.
Panel discussion.
Mr Vasilas shed light on the extensive research process, spanning two years of meticulously examining KAA meeting minutes, handwritten in Greek, to unveil the Association’s evolving priorities and personalities. Former librarian and fact-checker for the book, Ms Panagiotelis discussed the exhaustive process of corroborating facts and matching photographs to specific time periods, drawing from both public archives and private collections.
She recounted one occasion when she sought to match a photograph of Paddington Town Hall before its renovation in the “Art Deco” style. It entailed meticulously reviewing over 150 pages of council heritage documents before successfully identifying the image of the building.
The panellists emphasised the invaluable role of historical newspapers, particularly The Greek Herald (formerly Hellenic Herald), in providing insights into the social fabric surrounding the KAA and filling in gaps that were not detailed in the Association’s meeting minutes. They also highlighted the KAA’s significant contributions to media, faith, and philanthropy, notably its instrumental role in establishing the first Greek Orthodox Church in NSW, the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox church (Aghia Triada) in Surry Hills.
The panel emphasised the pivotal role of women in organising large-scale social events, attracting 700 to 1,000 attendees in a time before the internet and social media times. They highlighted how these gatherings, marked as significant dates in the wider Greek community’s calendars, showcased the women of the KAA’s essential contributions.
The event concluded with Mr Vasilas, Despina Dimopoulos, designer of the centenary logo, and Nathan Vagias, Vice President of the Kytherian Youth Association who named the book Ekato, being honoured with commemorative centenary medallions. Rene and Theodora also received flowers and gifts.
Mr Vasilas and Ms Panagiotelis ceremoniously cut a cake adorned with the book cover design, marking the memorable afternoon at the seaside venue.
Attendees were offered afternoon tea as they reflected on the rich tapestry of Kytherian heritage.
The book launch of Ekato not only commemorated the centenary milestone of the KAA, but also served as a testament to the enduring legacy of a community bound by tradition, resilience, and a shared commitment to preserving its cultural heritage for generations to come.
It was a preseason friendly but with friends in every sense of the word. That was my experience last Friday, March 15, on a warm balmy night in Melbourne’s west. Westvale Olympic FC, proudly Hellenic but with a distinct multicultural flavour, was hosting Malvern FC in a pre-season friendly match.
I first visited this ground in Melbourne’s west last year. It was for football but not for the immediate reason one might think. Westvale Olympic was not playing that day nor was my son (Lee) involved in a match, albeit that was the reason for my visit the other night. But more on that shortly.
My visit last year to this great club was to present a trophy as a Commissioner of the Victorian Multicultural Commission to the winner of the Nepalese football tournament. Living in the east of Melbourne, it was somewhat of a discovery journey for me.
On arrival last year I met Westvale president, George Loulakis. George was pale and looked tired. The reason for this as I later found out was because only weeks earlier he had suffered a major heart attack. Nevertheless George was at the Club that day working tirelessly as he was hosting this tournament. He had opened the doors of the club at no cost to support other communities. The Nepalese loved George. He was generous and avoided the limelight. He was genuinely interested in assisting this community as well as many others as he understood the significance of how sport unites us and provides a safe home.
Westvale Olympic team. Photo: Facebook.
Covid has been tough on Westvale Olympic. It had lost a lot of players and teams but George was ambitious to rebuild it. Its social club proudly displayed its Hellenic history along with its trophies and many achievements.
Last week my son (who is undertaking VCE) played for Malvern FC’s reserves in a friendly match against Westvale Olympic.
As I entered the Cub last week I could smell the Greek food and I could hear the Greek language spoken in different pockets of the ground by various elderly gentlemen. As I walked to the sidelines of the pitch I heard a gentleman say to me “Ela Vasili welcome back.” I didn’t recognise him. The gentleman continued and said to me “it’s me, George.”
I looked at him and said “President, is that you? You are a different person. You look amazingly fit and well. You’ve had a great recovery from last year.”
And so we restarted our conversation from last year. George spoke about the 50 year celebrations for the Club. George proudly pointed to the trophies and to the fact that this Club was one large family. He said “we look after one another and I have a board of 14 hardworking people helping me.”
I said to George “you have some great players particularly some of the African lads.”
George replied “they are all local people and they feel at home here. And for the first time I have a women’s team. We are happy with what we have and I am confident about our success.”
George then introduced me to Spiros who said to me “my son too plays at Westvale Olympic but for the wheelchairs team.” I was unaware of that. I thought South Melbourne Hellas had the only wheelchair team in Victoria. Spiros said to me with pride, “I hope my son plays for Australia. He scored a great goal for Westvale the other day.”
My son’s game ended in a draw. We finished equals with Westvale Olympic which ironically was the message inherent in George’s ethos about the Club. We are all equals with the Hellenic spirit of filoxenia ever present.
