Federal Minister for the Arts Tony Burke has announced a $4.5 million funding commitment to the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW) to support the creation of a Hellenic Cultural and History Centre in Sydney.
This major pre-election pledge was made during the an official event ‘Leonard Cohen’s life and music on Hydra’ hosted as part of the Greek Festival of Sydney on Thursday, April 10, at the Marrickville Library Pavilion.
The evening began with opening remarks from Deputy Mayor of the Inner West, Councillor Matt Howard, who welcomed attendees to what the council has officially designated as “Little Greece.”
“We know that here in the Inner West — the birthplace of Australian multiculturalism — the Greek community has made perhaps the biggest contribution to building a strong, diverse, and harmonious community,” he said, before introducing Minister Burke.
Deputy Mayor of the Inner West, Councillor Matt Howard, welcomed attendees.
Taking the podium, Minister Burke announced two major funding measures from the GOCNSW:
$4.5 million to support the development of a new Greek cultural and history centre
$143,000 for security upgrades at the Greek Orthodox Community’s facilities
In a speech, the Minister said his vision for the Greek cultural and history centre was inspired by Melbourne’s Hellenic Museum and stressed the importance of preserving and celebrating the stories of Greek Australians.
“I want there to be a home where you have gallery space, museum-style space, as well as performance and meeting areas. That’s what this investment is all about,” he said.
Minister Burke clarified that while plans submitted by GOCNSW to the South Sydney Planning Panel propose a redevelopment at its Lakemba site to build a multimillion-dollar five-storey centre, the funding is not dependent on that location.
“There are designs and everything that have been put to us with respect to it being at Lakemba, yeah, but it’s not conditional on that, no,” the Minister told The Greek Herald.
Federal Minister for the Arts Tony Burke has announced a $4.5 million funding commitment to the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW).
Harry Danalis, President of the GOCNSW, thanked Minister Burke for the announcement during his address at the event.
“It’s good to see that the government’s commitment to multiculturalism bears fruit not just in words, but in action,” Mr Danalis said.
“This goes a long way to establishing a multicultural space for the Greek community.”
Speaking to The Greek Herald after the event, Mr Danalis said the federal funding would be a major boost to the community’s long-term vision.
“We are now able to extend our existing premises to look, finally, like a true cultural centre,” he said. “We need an auditorium, we need areas to display artefacts and historical records dating back to 1898, and we need a space for our members to gather and hold functions.”
President of GOCNSW Harry Danalis (left) with Minister Burke.
Mr Danalis added that the entire project is estimated to cost more than double the government’s contribution, meaning additional support will still be required.
As previously reported by The Greek Herald, the GOCNSW has submitted a $22 million redevelopment proposal for its Lakemba site, which would include gallery spaces, function rooms, meeting areas, and offices across five storeys.
Also in attendance at the event were NSW Minister for Industrial Relations Sophie Cotsis MP, and the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis, who arrived later for the festival event.
The GOCNSW is now one step closer to realising its long-held vision for a cultural and historical centre that will preserve and celebrate Hellenism for generations to come.
Greek Australians preparing for their long-awaited trips to Greece are being forced to adjust their holiday budgets after a weakening in the Australian dollar against the euro, triggered by United States President Donald Trump’s recent tariff announcement.
The AUD/EUR exchange rate has dropped to 0.56, down from pre-announcement levels, compounding the already rising costs of travel in Europe.
Despite the weakened dollar and growing economic uncertainty, a Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) survey shows that 14% of Australians still plan to travel overseas from March to May — almost double the 8% from the same time last year.
TTF CEO Margy Osmond explains: “It might alter how long they stay and how much they spend, but we’re now seeing evidence that people’s behaviours have changed. Travel has become a non-negotiable.”
Greek Australians preparing for their long-awaited trips to Greece are being forced to adjust their holiday budgets.
Finder data suggests that Australians can expect to pay $416 more on average for a trip to Europe compared to just a fortnight ago. The average overseas holiday cost is already $6,675, meaning a nearly 6% increase for destinations like Greece, Italy and Spain.
Yet for many in the Greek Australian community, travel to the “motherland” remains a priority — even if it requires budget adjustments.
For Chris Spyrou, a Sydney-based Greek Australian, the exchange rate was enough to make him skip a multi-country itinerary and focus solely on Greece this year.
“The original plan was to visit a few other countries in Europe before heading to Greece, but with the exchange rate being so bad and the prices in those countries already quite high… it made more sense to just stick to Greece,” Chris told The Greek Herald.
For many in the Greek Australian community, travel to the “motherland” remains a priority — even if it requires budget adjustments.
To keep costs down, Chris plans to visit lesser-known islands and time his family stays with his monthly pay cycle to help with budgeting. And while the financial hit is real, he’s taking it in stride.
“With the conversion rate now closer to 0.50… it is so much easier to do the calculations in my head — so that’s a perk, no?” he said.
Chris is among a growing number of travellers using travel money cards like Revolut to manage currency fluctuations more efficiently.
“It shows you the exchange rate in real time and you can strategically transfer when it’s better… it does make you feel better when you exchange money at a better rate,” he said.
For Melbourne woman Marianna Alepidis, who’s heading to Greece in August to finalise wedding plans, the lower dollar has slightly inflated her expenses but hasn’t derailed her goals.
Marianna Alepidis is heading to Greece in August to finalise wedding plans.
“The exchange rate hasn’t been ideal this year, I’ve been keeping an eye on it every other day to see when it might be best to exchange some money,” she said.
“I don’t think we’ve had to cut back too much on anything because we’ve had a pre-planned budget, but I think we’re looking at about a 10% increase overall.
“Accommodation thankfully isn’t too big of a fuss as yiayia still lives over there, but overall, even over the last couple of years, we’ve seen the prices go up and our money doesn’t stretch as far as it used to 10 years ago.”
Marianna has opted to budget and exchange money beforehand to avoid rate shocks abroad and relies on her international bank card for ease and favourable exchange rates.
She added that while the low dollar might influence the length of future trips, it likely won’t change the desire among Greek Australians to return to Greece.
“I think Greece will always be popular with the Greek Australian population, but it might be more of a case of how long people stay rather than how often they go,” she said.
Marianna is also happy considering travelling to places closer to home.
Still, Marianna acknowledges the increasing appeal of destinations closer to home: “Even travel cost-wise, I think Asia might be next on the travel list given it’s closer and tends to feel pretty steady on the exchange board.”
As the dollar continues to fluctuate, travel experts are urging Australians to book early, set strict daily budgets, and monitor exchange rates closely to get the most out of their overseas holidays.
While the weaker Aussie dollar may make European travel more expensive, the desire to connect with heritage and loved ones abroad remains stronger than ever.
The Pontian dialect, the music, the songs of Diogenis Ainatzis are not just a field of creation for him. It is his personal battle with time, a way of proving that tradition does not belong to museums, but to those who have the power to carry it into the future.
Atimeton, his book published in 2023, was one such act. Now, in 2025, his work has been translated into English and is becoming a bridge with the rest of the world. It is not just a translation. It is an opening. A bet that even in an era of homogenisation, languages like Pontic can find new interlocutors.
He says he does it out of responsibility. Responsibility towards the ancestors who spoke this language, towards those who love it, but also towards those who have never had the opportunity to know it.
It is no coincidence that Australia becomes the first major stop of his trip to promote the book. The Greek community of Australia is not just a community of expatriates. It is a place where Greekness is constantly recreated, in an environment that challenges it to adapt, to endure and to evolve.
There, where the distance from Greece is measured in miles but not in hearts, Diogenis has found a second home. He has returned seven times, and now, on his eighth tour, he is preparing to present a work that aspires to be a point of reference for the rescue of the Pontian dialect, to unite through words, music and rhythm, all those who want to feel the vibration of a civilisation that has survived the storms of history.
The Greeks of Australia, many of whom were born thousands of miles away from Pontus, hold something of that world within them, and Diogenis returns it to them through his lyrics and melodies.
In the interview with The Greek Herald that follows, he talks about the past and the future, about language and music, about his challenges and hopes. Above all, it reminds us that no cultural heritage can be saved on its own. It needs voices that raise it, hands that carry it, and people who refuse to let it go.
Atimeton was published in 2023 and takes a big step in 2025, since it has now been translated into English. What prompted you to proceed with the publication of the book in an international language, such as English?
The biggest motivation for the English edition was the same one that pushed me from the beginning to write the Greek edition of the book. The burden of informal responsibility towards delivery. Those of us who have the ability to contribute to the preservation, dissemination and perpetuation of our intangible cultural heritage in any way we can, must do so.
Also, for the English version, my relationship with the Australian community was also a springboard, which developed after my successive tours on this continent. They have given me, and continue to give me, the opportunities to interact with the Greeks and to listen to their concerns and needs both on a teaching and personal level. Finally, for the English edition, I would like to thank my good friend Kostas Pataridis, for his selfless and willing contribution.
You have developed strong ties with the Greek community of Australia. What has impressed you most from your previous contacts with the Greek diaspora here?
I have the blessing through my artistic career, to have made (and continue to do) many trips in my life, to many countries of the world. With the Australian community, however, I believe that I have developed a very special relationship of mutual love, respect and appreciation. It is no coincidence that in my seven tours so far, I have visited four different cities in Australia, making a total of 153 appearances in all kinds of cultural events, dances, nightclubs, etc.
Next May-June, it will be my eighth music and writing tour. But what impresses me most about the Australian community is the excess of love for Greece and everything Greek. And you know, this is particularly difficult to achieve by young people who were neither born, nor lived, nor live in Greece. In my opinion, it demonstrates the principles by which Greeks in Australia raise their children and this is particularly encouraging for the survival and preservation of the Greek element in this distant continent.
Your Atimetontour in Australia will include presentations and concerts. What can our readers expect?
This tour, as its name suggests, includes several interactive seminars, lectures and presentations of the book, through which one can be initiated into the unique paths of the Pontic dialect, gain a lot of knowledge about its historical origin and course, admire its direct connection with the ancient Ionian dialect, as well as reflect on its future and its survival. Also, to gain a lot of important knowledge about Pontian music, as well as even more about our intangible cultural heritage as a whole.
As for the concerts, those who can stand a lot of dancing and fun until dawn, all they have to do is join us for one of the upcoming lives. The evenings we spend in Australia are unique and each one is a special experience, which everyone must live, regardless of whether they are of Pontian origin or not.
Do you think that the Pontian dialect can gain a new audience in the diaspora and why not in Australia, even among people with no direct connection to Pontus?
It would be rather utopian to believe that in the times of linguistic homogenisation in which we live that this would be easy. Initiation into a dialect that is not used as a means of everyday communication is something particularly difficult and requires effort and a lot of dedication from those interested, especially when experiential learning of it no longer exists. However, I do not cease to hope and try with all the means at my disposal to attract people to the history, music and tradition of Pontus as a whole.
I imagine that you have concerns about the survival of the Pontic dialect, hence the publication of a book that can act as a guardian of its perpetuation. How can the diaspora, and especially the Greek Australian community, contribute substantially to its preservation and development?
Clearly, I have many concerns, which I have developed, to a very large extent, in the book. Anyone who reads it will understand exactly what I am saying and my arguments. The Greek diaspora in Australia, as well as in any other country, can contribute by supporting such efforts with all the means at its disposal, material and otherwise. More specifically, the organised Pontic and Greek community in general, can contribute with its resources and connections to such projects, which, as you mentioned, are the guardians of the perpetuation of tradition. The point is that those in charge in key positions have the will to do so.
You are also a master of the Pontian lyre. How did your involvement with this traditional instrument begin, and what does it mean for you personally?
I’ve been playing the lyre all my life! My involvement began at the tender age of 10 years and has never stopped since! The trigger was my love since childhood for tradition in its entirety. For me, the lyre is the extension of my hand. After almost 30 years with the lyre in my hands, I can’t imagine my life without it. For me, it is a living organism, another member of my family. The one that understands me 100% in every phase of my life, positive or negative.
What are your future plans in the field of music and writing? Are there any new creations or collaborations you’d like to share with our audience?
The effort never stops! As long as my hands and my mind hold, I will continue to create. To write lyrics, books, music, etc. My life is shared, half in the real world and half in the studio. This is how I work, this is how I proceed and this is how I express myself better. So, expect more news soon… Stay tuned !
And a message to our community in view of your tour in May
I want to thank you for the interview, through which I am given another podium to get in touch with the Australian community that I love so much. I want to wish everyone health, happiness and a social environment full of honest people. With those who we didn’t get to know on my previous tours, I’m waiting for you in my upcoming shows in Melbourne and Sydney, to get to know each other and see each other privately.
Diogenis will be playing at Pontoxeniteas NSW’s highly anticipated Winter Wonderland Gala 2025 on Saturday, May 31, at 6.30pm at The Grand Roxy in Brighton-Le-Sands, Sydney.
Event Details:
WHAT: Pontoxeniteas NSW Winter Wonderland Gala Fundraiser
WHEN: Saturday 31 May 2025, 6.30pm
WHERE: The Grand Roxy, 128 The Grand Parade, Brighton-Le-Sands NSW 2216
DRESS CODE: Cocktail
TICKETS: $140 for adults, $100 for youth (17 years and under)
How does a person’s migrant background affect who they become? How do their parents and mentors shape their destiny?
Who were the Greek pirates sent to Australia as convicts and what became of them?
How do women trapped by tradition break out? What happens when you come out to Greek parents? What is dopamine and how does it control us? Who was the humble priest feeding Sydney’s poor and hungry? Why are retellings of ancient Greek mythology still trending? How did Hellenism manifest on The Silk Road?
These are just some of the themes to be explored at the Greek Australian Writers’ Festival 2025 – a much anticipated event of the 43rd Greek Festival of Sydney.
The Greek Australian Writers’ Festival returns on April 27, 2025 for a 4th year, and is bigger than ever with parallel sessions throughout the day featuring fiction, memoir, essays, non-fiction and photography exploring concepts of identity, migration, culture, history, and the complexity of interconnecting yet disparate cultures.
The Festival will officially host the launch of “Patrimonies: Essays on Generational Thinking” by UNSW Professor George Kouvaros, a deeply personal and profound examination of how those who came before us have left their mark on us.
Also featuring another Greek Australian intellectual Professor Nikos Papastergiadis and his memoir “John Berger and Me” – a reflection on his family, his father and their peasant roots, as well as the influence of his mentor, the esteemed British writer and critic John Berger.
Shelley Dark and her husband John had no idea that he was descended from one of the first Greek convicts sent to the colonies but once she found out she headed to “Hydra in Winter” to tell the story of this Hydriot pirate.
The festival will also focus on women with Koraly Dimitriadis’ short story collection “The Mother Must Die” and Emily Tsokos Purtill’s “Matia”, a matrilineal novel of love in four generations.
Will Kostakis will discuss his award-winning Young Adult Fiction book “We Could Be Something,” a story of a young man coming out to his Greek parents.
We will examine the neurotransmitter of pleasure, dopamine with Dr Anastasia Hronis, delve into the insatiable genre of Greek Mythology and showcase the best of photography books.
“We are so pleased to showcase the Australian literary community engaging in Greek ideas” Dr Helen Vatsikopoulos, Founder and Director of the Greek-Australian Writers’ Festival, said.
“This is an opportunity for people to come to Sydney to connect and reflect upon the stories that continue to shape our shared community.”
“Secure your ticket early and enjoy a day of books and ideas by the coast and of course a ticket ensures that you get authentic Greek food prepared in the kitchen of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW in Lakemba.”
The festival will be held at the Prince Henry Centre at Little Bay, New South Wales. Books will be on sale and authors available for signings.
Presented by the Greek Festival of Sydney, the event celebrated one of the lesser-known yet influential genres of Hellenic music.
Taking a departure from their usual tributes to individual artists, IHO NYX showcased a wide selection of songs spanning from the 1970s to today.
The concert featured music by iconic bands such as Trypes, Xylina Spathia, Ypogeia Revmata, Pyx Lax, and artists including Papakonstantinou, Sidiropoulos, Yiokarinis and Tzimis Panousis. Guest performer Carly Yelayiotis also joined the band on stage.
The two-hour performance delivered familiar favourites and lesser-known gems.
The sold-out event was met with an enthusiastic response, highlighting the enduring appeal and cultural richness of Greek Rock in Australia.
Local Labor member for Cooper, Ged Kearney today announced that a re-elected Albanese Labor Government will support the upgrades of both the Northcote and Reservoir senior citizens centres, providing in total $20,000 in funding.
The centres are predominantly used by the Greek Ex-Servicemen’s Elderly Citizens Club of Darebin and Districts.
The first $10,000 election commitment will support the refurbishment of the kitchen in the Northcote Senior Citizens Centre and update to the sound system, allowing for local multicultural community groups to use the space for events and functions.
The second $10,000 election commitment for the Reservoir Senior Citizens Centre will support upgrades to the facilities. This will include new tables and chairs, a reverse cycle air conditioner and a new notice board helping to make the centre more welcoming for all communities to enjoy.
These centres play an important role in providing meeting spaces for several multicultural community organisations in Cooper and this will ensure that these meeting spaces are a vibrant and inviting place to gather.
Consistent with past practice, election commitments will be delivered in line with Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles.
Ms Kearney said, “These upgrades will help multicultural communities in Cooper have a warm and welcoming space to hold their meetings and events.”
“I have heard from the local community about the need for these upgrades, and this commitment will ensure that multicultural groups in Cooper have the facilities they deserve,” Ms Kearney added.
The Board of Directors of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW) met with David Coleman, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and Federal Member for Banks, at the Headquarters of the Community at Lakemba on 9 April 2025 and discussed the operations and funding of the Greek Festival of Sydney.
Mr Coleman acknowledged the significant contribution of the Greek Festival of Sydney to the Arts and culture and the promotion of local as well as international artists to the Australian public.
Mr Coleman congratulated GOCNSW President Harry Danalis, the Chair of the Greek Festival of Sydney Nia Karteris, the Board of Directors, and the volunteers who make the festival a highly anticipated annual event.
In recognition of the financial burden to the Community, Mr Coleman pledged a contribution of $159,000 to meet the security cost and other expenses of the Festival, if the Coalition of the Liberal and National Parties win the next federal elections in May.
Mr Danalis thanked Mr Coleman for his pledge and highlighted the fact that this is the first time a Federal politician is making a pledge to assist with a financial contribution the Greek Festival of Sydney.
Such a contribution will make the Festival stronger and it will bring high quality cultural events to the Australian public at large.
Sydney Olympic FC celebrated their qualification to the 5th preliminary round of the Australia Cup on Wednesday night after a 5-2 victory over St George FC in the 4th preliminary round of the competition in the NSW group.
This victory had the signature of all the Sydney Olympic players, who put on a masterclass in the second half at Valentine Sports Park.
Photo: Anthony Sindoni.
Sydney Olympic found themselves trailing 1-0 at halftime with a rather average performance. In the second half, the Sydney Olympic came out transformed with relentless pressing and began to fire at the “Saints.”
In the 47th minute, S. Clark equalised to make it 1-1, and three minutes later, C. Dehmie headed the ball into the net to give them a 2-1 lead. In the 58th minute, S. Clark scored his second goal to make it 3-1, and in the 64th minute.
Dehmie increased the lead to 4-1. In the 82nd minute, the “Saints” pulled one back to make it 4-2, but in the 90th minute, D. Ruiz-Diaz sealed the victory with a thunderous shot from 30 meters, making it 5-2.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has acknowledged growing speculation about his future, admitting that many believe he could be sacked even if Spurs win the Europa League.
Speaking ahead of Thursday’s quarterfinal first leg against Eintracht Frankfurt, the Australian said he is aware of the narrative surrounding his job but remains undeterred in his mission.
“Someone wrote that even if we win it, I’m gone anyway,” Postecoglou told reporters.
“That’s just the general sentiment. If you’re trying to use that as a motivation [to win], you’re not going to win anyway.”
Postecoglou, who joined Spurs with a mandate to overhaul the squad and style of play, said his ambition and focus remain unchanged despite mounting pressure following an underwhelming Premier League campaign.
Photo: Getty Images.
“This is just another struggle, but never through this struggle have I lost the will to fight for what I think is the right thing to do,” he said.
He also pointed to what he sees as a persistent “glass-half-empty rhetoric” around Tottenham, referencing criticism after Mathys Tel took a stoppage-time penalty in the club’s recent win over Southampton instead of Brennan Johnson, who was on a hat-trick.
“The one slight against this club is that it hasn’t been a winner,” Postecoglou said.
“We scored and, somehow, in this alternate universe, everything Tottenham does is negative.”
Spurs will be without Dejan Kulusevski (foot injury) for the match, but nearly the entire squad is otherwise fit for the high-stakes encounter with the Bundesliga’s third-placed side.
Dauren Kurugliev’s performance at the European Wrestling Championships was excellent, where he won the gold medal after the final against Osman Nurmagomedov.
Kurugliev defeated his opponent 5-4 and thus reached the top, through his excellent performance, winning the gold medal.
It is worth noting that he is crowned European champion for the third time in a row. After the match, Kurugliev celebrated his victory with the Greek flag.
Kurugliev had undergone surgery six weeks ago for a meniscus problem. However, this problem did not stand in the way of the distinction.
