Andy was born in Rizokarpaso and moved to Australia in 1959. He and his brother Sam were training at a gym where many stars from Australia’s world championship wrestling circuit were training, and one thing led to another until he was invited to meet Hal Morgan, the professional wrestling trainer.
Wrestling was a sport where many would come and go, but for Andy it was destined to be in his blood and the desire would never go away. It was a popular TV sport and Spiros Arion was the top hero for the Greek community.
Andre.
Harpas.
Andy and Sam met Sheik Wadi Ayoub who helped start their journey as a tag team on television and later Andy continued as a single performer. The fans loved Spiros Arion as the number 1 hero, so Andy decided to go in the other direction as the ultimate bad guy as he loved creating the drama and seeing the reaction of the people.
Andy wrestled all the greats from Mario Milano, Abdullah the Butcher and Mark Lewin. It is a long list but the biggest attraction in Australia was when Andy wrestled the 8th wonder of the world, Andre the Giant. He always claimed that family was his first love but wrestling was his love to provide for my family and he thanked Andre.
Back in the 60s and 70s there were many Greek wrestlers that were part of Andy’s life such as John and Con Tolios, Tony and Charlie Kontellis, and George Zorbas.
Big Bad Nick.
Mr-Money.
JJ-Spartan from Sparta.
Vinnie-Vain.
The legacy of Andy will live on through his teachings passed on to the new generation of Greek professional wrestlers at Australian Wrestling Entertainment. They are: Big Bad Nick from Thessaloniki Pondion, Manager Steven ‘Mr Money’ Manganas from Leros, JJ Spartan from Sparta, and Vinnie Vain from Karpassi, Lemnos.
The wrestlers will be in action on March 2 at Petersham RSL in Sydney. Doors open at 7pm. Bell time at 7:30pm. There will be a tribute on the night. Tickets available online www.trybooking.com.au/COMQE or at the door.
In celebration of International Women’s Day 2024, the 42ndGreek Festival of Sydney, in collaboration with The Greek Herald, proudly announces an inspiring event to recognise and celebrate the remarkable achievements of Greek women in Australia and around the world.
Based on the IWD 2024 theme “Inspire Inclusion,” this special occasion will feature a dynamic panel discussion highlighting the diverse contributions of multigenerational Greek women to multicultural communities.
The event will take place on Friday, 8 March 2024, at the Prince Henry Centre, located at 2 Coast Hospital Rd, Little Bay, NSW, 2036, starting at 6:30 pm.
The esteemed panellists for the night are:
Andriana Simos: Panel Moderator & Digital Editor at The Greek Herald
Jenny Zagas: Principal at Lucas Gardens School & Disability Advocate
Anais Menounos: Sydney Lawyer & Co-founder of the St Nicholas Mission Academy in Ghana, Africa
Marika Kontellis: Director at Zakumi Consulting, CEO at Inner Sydney Voice, CEO at Council on the Ageing NSW
Yiana Roumeliotis: Community Engagement Officer at the Addison Road Community Organisation
These accomplished women will share their insights, experiences, and visions for a more inclusive society. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with the panellists and gain valuable perspectives on empowering women across various sectors.
In addition to the panel discussion, the event will also feature the inaugural presentation of The Greek Herald Woman of the Year award. This prestigious award, presented by The Greek Festival of Sydney, aims to recognise the extraordinary contributions of Greek women who have made significant impacts within their communities.
Join us as we come together to celebrate the achievements, resilience, and empowerment of women on International Women’s Day. Together, let us inspire inclusion and pave the way for a brighter, more equitable future.
Doctor John Balafas, who was convicted of assault and intimidation in May of last year, has sold his Dover Heights home for no less than $10 million.
Balafas, who purchased the house for $3.8 million in April 2015, was previously sentenced to an 18-month community correction order following assault charges.
34 Portland St, Dover Heights sold in the $9m-$10m range. Photo: realestate.com.au.
According to realestate.com.au, the three-bedroom property at 34 Portland St was listed for sale for $9 million to $10 million and sold on Wednesday by Biller Property principal Paul Biller and his associate, Ben Torban.
Neither agent was available on Friday night to confirm more information on the sale, but sources confirmed it sold within that price range; the median house price in Dover Heights over the past year is known to be $6.3m.
The Minns government intends to permit buildings up to six floors within 400 yards of Sydney rail stations and town centres, including Bondi, or four storeys between 400 and 800 metres, as part of new planning reforms to alleviate the current housing crisis.
Waverley Council members expressed fears that eight-story apartment complexes might be developed close to single-story houses in the eastern suburbs as part of the state government’s low- and mid-rise housing proposal.
An artist’s impression shows how apartment blocks up to 21 metres high could be built in Bondi Beach under housing reforms proposed by the Minns government. Photo: Waverley Council.An artist’s impression shows how apartment blocks up to 21 metres high could be built in Bondi Beach under housing reforms proposed by the Minns government. Photo: Waverley Council.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Waverley Labor Mayor Paula Masselos voiced particular concerns that the proposed reforms might lead to unplanned development in the eastern suburbs, compromising heritage.
“The use of non-refusal standards is incredibly concerning as it means these rules will overrule local councils’ carefully considered planning rules,” Paula Masselos said.
In his address, Bishop Bartholomew emphasised the significance of unity and mutual collaboration between the State of Greece and the Church, noting that, particularly in Australia, working together has helped to benefit the people.
On behalf of Archbishop Makarios of Australia, Bishop Bartholomew also expressed congratulations regarding Skalidis’ appointment, along with wishing her many years of health and prosperity.
Skalidis, in return, thanked Archbishop Makarios and Bishop Bartholomew, stating that her purpose is to serve the people of Tasmania.
In addition, Bishop Bartholomew gave thanks to Ambassador Papacostas, for his first ever visit to Tasmania. Papacostas followed with his own mutual sentiments of gratitude to the Bishop for his kind words, while reiterating the importance of unity and solidarity.
Greek tennis champion, Maria Sakkari defeated world no. 23, Emma Navarro 6-2, 6-4 in the second round of the Dubai Open, securing a return to the top-10 of world rankings.
According to naftemporiki.gr, Sakkari recorded her first win in the main draw of this tournament and is into the round of 16 for the first time in Dubai.
During his Budget Estimates hearing in New South Wales Parliament on Tuesday, February 20, the Minister for Multiculturalism, Steve Kamper MP, was unable to answer when questioned about the government’s pre-election commitment to offer greater support to independent multicultural media.
In a message seen by The Greek Herald, Minister Kamper also said that $2 million in funding for multicultural media was approved in the budget prior to the election.
Almost one year since being elected to power, the NSW government has broken its promises and independent multicultural media around the state continue to lobby for a fair share in advertising spend and to ensure media dollars actually go towards supporting them.
Kamper stumbles:
In Budget Estimates on Tuesday, the Deputy Opposition Whip in the Legislative Council, Wes Fang MLC, questioned Minister Kamper about what stage the proposed review was at.
The Minister replied that the review into multicultural media had been conducted by the Department of Customer Service (DCS), which falls under the control of Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Jihad Dib MP.
“The Department of Customer Service has undertaken extensive stakeholder engagement so we can get it right,” Minister Kamper said.
When pushed on what the outcome of the review was, Minister Kamper was unable to answer and appeared flustered as he palmed the question off to the CEO of Multicultural NSW, Joseph La Posta.
Steve Kamper MP was unable to answer questions on multicultural media.
Mr La Posta confirmed that Multicultural NSW had been working closely with the DCS “to make sure the voices of our multicultural media agencies is heard and understood.”
“There was a commitment made around reviewing the [advertising] spend to multicultural media and as the Minister [Kamper] said, it was one of the key pillars around trying to boost the investment in that space to ensure the lived experience and blockages that had occurred in communicating with multicultural communities were addressed,” Mr La Posta said.
“The review has since been concluded and Cabinet has made a decision. It is a decision for Minister Dib to announce.”
Mr La Posta then thanked independent multicultural media outlets for taking part in the review and helping the NSW Government form a potential solution.
Members of Independent Multicultural Media Australia (IMMA), including The Greek Herald, have met with representatives from the DCS over the past 18 months, with no significant progress made. Instead, the NSW government continues to neglect multicultural media and refuses to acknowledge multicultural media outlets as suitable platforms for government messaging.
The Greek Herald spoke to media representatives that participated in the review and found it focused primarily on workflow and the message to DCS of their concerns had become diluted and the narrative lost. This has now left members unsettled that a final decision has been reached by Minister Dib, considering IMMA members did not engage in direct consultations with him.
Comparing state government strategy towards multicultural media:
Questions around which independent multicultural media outlets took part in the review were also put to Minister Kamper. Again, no answer was provided with the Minister asking Mr La Posta to respond.
The CEO of Multicultural NSW replied that about 15 – 20 media publications took part in the review, including the Chinese Herald and Chinese Daily. He also stressed that strong representations had been made to the NSW Government around policies implemented by the Victorian government on multicultural media spend.
In July 2023, the Victorian government announced that departments and agencies must spend at least 15 per cent of their campaign media spend on multicultural media. In December 2023, the Victorian government also announced it would support culturally and linguistically diverse media outlets across the state with grants of up to $25,000 through the 2023-24 Multicultural Media Grants Program.
Minister Kamper ended the debate by saying he was aware of concerns by independent multicultural media.
“Their concerns are around dealing with content they had to introduce to communities but they weren’t getting paid for it,” the Minister said.
“They called for a greater percentage of spend to multicultural media groups. They wanted 15 per cent of overall media spend going to multicultural media groups.”
A critical time for multicultural media in NSW:
IMMA Secretary Fotis Kapetopoulos said Minister Kamper characterising the 15 per cent advertising spend as the association’s primary request is inaccurate. IMMA did not make such a request; instead, it cited recent changes in the Victorian government’s position as a model where advertising spend was increased to 15 per cent, excluding translation services and expenditure with the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS).
“IMMA presented Victoria to the NSW government only as an example of what can be done to support multicultural media,” Mr Kapetopoulos said in a statement.
“We sought support across a range of areas including the increase of advertising. The sort of support that regional and mainstream media have received.
“Mr La Posta was better versed on the details of IMMA conversations with DCS than Minister Kamper. After two round table meetings with DCS, which were initiated by IMMA’s and Multicultural NSW’s advocacy, there was consultation by DCS, yet it did not include any official approach to IMMA.
“IMMA is keen to see independent multicultural media take a more prominent position and have more advocacy from the Minister for Multiculturalism.”
“This is an incredibly critical time for multicultural media and all media in Australia. It is a reality that soon many of these titles that work with communities and have served them will be taken away due to a lack of attention and follow through from NSW Government, particularly when compared to Victoria,” Ms Skalkos said.
The NSW government recognised the role that multicultural media played during the COVID-19 pandemic and were quick to realise their approach to this sector needed to be improved.
NSW Premier Chris Minns himself said recently in a public statement that multicultural media “work for free” and offer a vital public service.
Now, with record immigration this year, both NSW and Victoria are faced with an unexpected wave of new members of multicultural communities. Victoria is taking steps to deal with this through supporting multicultural media outlets, but NSW continues to hide behind committees and fails to provide adequate updates.
“NSW risks having an information desert within multicultural communities as mainstream media will not extensively cover community-specific topics of interest in a culturally nuanced manner,” Ms Skalkos said.
Ms Skalkos, alongside IMMA members, are calling on the NSW Government to stop breaking their pre-election promises and show they remain committed to supporting vital multicultural media outlets.
“Independent multicultural media is essential public interest journalism, and it should be supported on a bipartisan level. IMMA members are the voice of and for NSW multicultural communities,” Mr Kapetopoulos said.
Thousands of farmers from throughout Greece, including over 200 tractors, have gathered in Syntagma Square to protest rising energy costs, foreign competition, and recent floods.
Police estimated that roughly 6,000 people gathered at Syntagma just before the commencement of the protest gathering, which began outside the University of Athens building on Panepistimiou Street and later progressed to Syntagma.
According toEkathimerini, leading members of main opposition SYRIZA, including its leader Stefanos Kasselakis, shared their compassion for farmers and consumers alike.
“Farmers are struggling to survive. Consumers are struggling to survive”, Kasselakis said.
In the heart of Sydney’s cultural calendar every year stands the Greek Fest at Darling Harbour, a vibrant celebration of Greek culture that has been enchanting audiences for two decades.
Steering this cultural extravaganza since 2003 is Nia Karteris, a woman whose dedication and passion have been instrumental in shaping the legacy of the Greek Fest.
Ms Karteris is Chair of the Greek Festival of Sydney – a 15-week-long initiative featuring over 30 cultural events supported by the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW).
Reflecting on her role as Festival Chair, Ms Karteris speaks with a blend of humility and pride.
“The role is a huge responsibility,” she tells The Greek Herald, acknowledging the intricate dance of managing funding, sponsorship and at times, unrealistic expectations. “Yet, the organising committee is extremely supportive, and we all work together to ensure we produce the best program year in and year out.”
She adds that despite the challenges of her role, the rewards at the end of the Festival outweigh everything.
“The feeling of being part of such a huge project and seeing it come to fruition, you can’t describe it. And seeing the smiles on people’s faces and the thanks you receive after an event makes it all worth it,” Ms Karteris says.
Nia Karteris (right) with the President of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW, Harry Danalis. Photo copyright: The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
Staying relevant:
As the Greek Fest marks its 20th anniversary at Darling Harbour this year, Ms Karteris explains how far it’s come since its beginnings at Campbell Oval in the 90s and later Bay Street at Brighton-Le-Sands for five years before its current destination at Tumbalong Park.
“In my opinion, when the Greek Fest moved to Darling Harbour, it was a cultural shock to mainstream festivals. Here come a group of Greeks and turn everything upside down, and now we’re the largest multicultural festival at Darling Harbour,” she says.
“We once again led the way as a Greek community and enriched the heart of Sydney.”
Despite this, all Festivals have to evolve and Ms Karteris acknowledges the challenges of staying relevant in a dynamic cultural landscape.
“The Greek Fest has definitely grown over the years and it’s challenging to ensure you keep up with the times and produce a program that will embrace all ages and all communities,” she reflects.
“There are so many more challenges today than there were 20 years ago, so people today have choices and you need to be on top of your game.”
Navigating occasional missteps, Ms Karteris places great value on the cohesion of the organising committee.
“Every day I learn from my mistakes. I have made my share, but the GOCNSW works as a team and supports everyone, and I have always had their support and they have had mine,” she says.
Focus on the next generation:
Looking forward to this year’s Greek Fest, Ms Karteris envisions an experience filled with “fun, entertainment, dancing, laughter, and a focus on youth and our children for the future survival of our culture and language.”
The Festival, in her eyes, is not merely an event but a conduit for passing down cultural heritage to the next generation.
Tumbalong Park, the picturesque venue for the celebrations at Darling Harbour, will come alive with numerous dance performances by traditional and modern Greek and Cypriot dancers, multiple children entertainment options like magic shows, colouring and face painting, the 1st Rap Competition in Greek, and a plethora of international and local performers.
Greek Fest Darling Harbour celebrates 20 years. Photo: Concrete Playground.
An array of Greek delicacies will also be served by food vendors during the weekend celebrations. From classic to modern twists on Greek snacks and sweets, attendees can savour the flavours of souvlakia, haloumi, loukoumades, and more.
Beyond the festivities, Ms Karteris’ commitment extends to a deeper purpose – the preservation of Greek heritage in a multicultural society.
“I want to be a proud Greek, living in a multicultural society. I [think of] my parents and everyone… who worked to build a community for everyone to be proud of and to ensure the Greek language, culture and religion was not lost…” she says.
“With my small contribution to the community, I hope I can impact the young generation of today to continue their legacy into the next legacy and beyond. What they sacrificed for us to be here today, we can never repay them.”
With the future of the Greek Fest looking bright, Ms Karteris envisions continued success.
“The future is healthy, and the Greek Fest will be here for decades to come. My heart and passion lie in the 30-plus cultural events that excite me. Allowing the Greek Australian artists to express themselves through the arts genre is what the Greek Festival of Sydney is all about,” she concluded.
As the community gathers to celebrate two decades of cultural vibrancy, Ms Karteris stands as a beacon, guiding the Greek Festival of Sydney into a future enriched with promise and cultural richness. In her leadership, the Greek Fest not only commemorates its past, but also embraces a future where Greek culture continues to flourish on the diverse canvas of Sydney’s cultural mosaic.
Event details for the Greek Fest at Darling Harbour:
When: Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 February 2024, 10 am -10 pm
The event commemorated the Battle of Thermopylae. All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Peter Tantalos.
This commemoration not only honoured the memory of the Spartan warriors and their allies who stood against the Persian Empire, but also reflected on the enduring lessons and legacies of their sacrifice.
President of the Karitsa Community, Michael Malavazos, opened the evening stating that theevent “holds particular significance [commemorating] a pivotal movement in Greek and Western history, while celebrating the rich history and enduring spirit of the Laconian community here in South Australia.”
Michael Malavazos.
Mr Malavazos emphasised the importance of connecting this historical legacy with South Australia, where descendants of Spartans proudly reside.
It is for this reason that Adelaide artist Tony Malavazos, celebrated for his Laconian and Karitsa heritage, was commissioned to create a timeless piece of art. Malavazos’ creation – a painting of the great Spartan King Leonidas – now permanently resides within the Pan-Laconian community hall, serving as a timeless beacon of heritage and pride for generations to come.
The President of the Pan-Laconian Society of SA, Dina Houssos, highlighted the crucial role of the organisation in preserving the rich history and traditions of their community, especially within the diaspora.
Dina Houssos.
“Our association recognises the important role that it has to play in our community… as with our language, we must retain and keep our history and traditions alive, wherever our community finds themselves…” Ms Houssos said.
Ms Houssos’ statement underscores the association’s dedication to maintaining their cultural legacy through encouraging active participation in such associations, ensuring that their heritage remains vibrant and enduring across generations.
SA Minister for Transport, Tom Koutsantonis MP, highlighted the relevance of ancient Greek battles in the modern era by proposing the questions: “Why do we care 2,500 years later about the Battle of Thermopylae? Why do we care about the Battle of Marathon? Why do we care about ancient Greece?”
Tom Koutsantonis.
Minister Koutsantonis explained that these historical events were a pivotal moment for Western civilisation. He drew parallels between the defiance of King Leonidas against overwhelming odds and the brave resistance of Prime Minister Metaxas during World War II, illustrating the enduring legacy of Greek defiance.
“…If Xerxes had defeated the Greeks… Western civilisation as we know it wouldn’t exist. Democracy would have been snuffed out, philosophy, politics, mathematics, the arts, as we know it wouldn’t exist… That defiance lives on…” the Minister said.
“These responses, these ‘No’s’ weren’t just 2,500 years ago, they were by Prime Minister Metaxas. The ‘No’ to the Germans was Leonidas’ ‘No’… we are inheritors of this…”
David Rafferty.
Dr David Rafferty, Fellow of the Department of Historical and Classical Studies at the University of Adelaide, graced the event with an engaging history of the significance of the Battle of Thermopylae, emphasising its place within Laconian legend and the broader historical context. He posited the event as an opportunity to explore how such historical events should be remembered, drawing on Herodotus of Halicarnassus, the first historian, as a guide.
In his speech, Dr Rafferty emphasised that despite the ultimate fall of Thermopylae, the Spartan sacrifice served as an empowering symbol of commitment to the common cause, fostering trust and unity among the Greek city-states.
This act of self-sacrifice, he noted, has a timeless relevance, underscoring the importance of actions over words in building trust and solidarity between States facing threats to their sovereignty.
Guests at the anniversary event.
The Battle of Thermopylae, as celebrated by the Pan-Laconian Society and Karitsa Association, serves as a reminder not only of heroic deeds but also of the enduring values and lessons they represent. These are not just events that have occurred in the past but signify a call to action for future generations to honour and continue their cultural heritage and traditions.
Many people attended the event.
Special guests included Tom Koutsantonis MP, SA Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and Minister for Energy and Mining representing Premier Peter Malinauskas MP; Consul General of Greece in Adelaide, George Psiachas; Consul General of Greece in Adelaide and Dean of the Consular Corps of South Australia, His Worship Kris Hanna; Mayor of the City of Marion and Councillor Stephen Finos, representing the Mayor of the City of Unley; and representatives from the various Laconian Societies from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
