To celebrate the Australia Day long weekend, four Greek heritage football clubs will come together for the first Hellenic Cup 2024 tournament.
Teams including Olympic FC, Sydney Olympic FC, Darwin Olympic SC and Heidelberg United FC will face off in the first Hellenic Cup match for the pre-season.
Taking place at Goodwin Park in Brisbane, spectators will have the chance to witness football talent from across Australia and experience a taste of Greek culture.
The cup will kick off on Friday, January 26 – Gates open at 3pm, with the main games scheduled from 5pm.
The Ellinikes Fones choir will also make an appearance, to sing the Greek and Australian National Anthems.
On Saturday, January 27 – Gates open at 12pm, with the main games scheduled at 4pm and 6pm. After Saturday night’s games, from 8pm and onwards, an after party will be held.
On Sunday, January 28 – Gates open from 11am, with the main games scheduled at 1pm and 3pm.
Members of the Greek community of Australia were honoured during a celebratory dinner for the name day of Archbishop Makarios of Australia on Friday January 19 at Le Montage Reception Centre in Sydney.
The event commenced with the Choir of the Greek Orthodox Christian Society presenting the national anthems of Greece and Australia, followed by their rendition of traditional Greek songs.
Choir of the Greek Orthodox Christian Society presented the national anthems of Greece and Australia.
This was followed by an address from the Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, who underlined the crucial contribution of Hellenism to the progress Australia.
During the Dinner, traditional Greek dances were performed by the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney, a short audio-visual tribute was shown on the history of the Orthodox Church in Australia and important celebrations were announced that would take place across Australia for the centenary year of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. Emphasis was placed on the upcoming visit of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in October.
L to R: The Hon. Courtney Houssos, Archbishop Makarios of Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC and Mark Speakman, Leader of the Opposition NSW.
The evening concluded with the awarding of the Order of Christ-Loving to persons distinguished for their selfless contribution to the Church and to wider society. This distinction is deemed to be the highest honour bestowed by the Archdiocese of Australia.
Honoured were Ms. Eleni Neophytou, from Redfern, Mr. Bill Kritikos and Mr. Eleftherios Diasinos from Kogarah, Mr. Philippos Makras from Rookwood, Mr. Peter Deriasni from Newcastle, Mr. Elias Economou and Mr. John Georgopoulos from Kingsford, Mr. Emmanuel Carpis from Mascot, Mr. Stavros Stavrea from Queanbeyan, Mr. Chris Constanti from Belmore, Mr. Constantinos Bahoumbis, Mr. Constantinos Contos and Ms. Fotini Londou from Parramatta, Ms Evangelia Menelaou from Mangrove, Mr Barry Cotter, Mr Stavros Salvartzis, Mr Kyprianos Vatiliotis and Mr Konstantinos Ziogos from Leichhardt, Ms Betty Lee from Newcastle and Mr. Sarantos Zaloumes from Bankstown.
Traditional Greek dances were performed by the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney.
The proceeds raised on the evening will be allocated to the needs of the renovation of the Holy Cathedral of the Annunciation of Our Lady in Redfern.
Dignitaries in attendance included NSW Finance Minister, The Hon. Courtney Houssos, MLC, representing The Hon. Chris Minns, Premier of NSW; Leader of the Opposition in the NSW, Mark Speakman; NSW Shadow Minister for Finance and Sport, Eleni Petinos; Ambassador of Greece to Australia, Georges Papacostas; High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus, Antonios Sammoutis; Ambassador of Georgia, Beka Dvali; Ambassador of Romania, Radu Gabriel Safta; Ambassador of Ukraine, Vasyl Myroshnychenko; Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Yannis Mallikourtis; Deputy High Commissioner of Cyprus, Stavros Nikolaou; Consul General of Serbia in Sydney, Jasmina Pekmezovic and Consul General of Turkey in Sydney, Ali Sevim.
On Saturday 20 January, the Food For Thought Network in Melbourne came together for a picnic and cutting of the vasilopita.
Those who attended were given insight to the organization and were informed about the Inaugural Global Women and Hellenism event in Ioannina, Greece, which will take place from September 2- 6 later this year.
The founder and Chair of the Network Varvara Athanasiou-IoannouPhoto: Varvara Athanasiou-Ioannou.The vasilopita. Photo: Varvara Athanasiou-Ioannou.
The event was full of delicious food, great company and positive vibes where attendees were able to connect with one another and gain valuable insight and information about the Network’s future plans and projects.
In a post on Facebook, the Founder and Chair of the Network Varvara Athanasiou-Ioannou shared she was thankful for all who attended and contributed to the picnic.
There was plenty of food and smiley faces at the event last weekend. Photo: Varvara Athanasiou-Ioannou.
“Thanks to my wonderful voluntary FFTN Board for organising this. Special acknowledgement to Maria Makris and Maria Maikousis for co-ordinating this,” Ms Athanasiou-Ioannou said.
“Our appreciation to all that attended and brought food but above all their positive spirit and willingness to engage with all.”
Ms Athanasiou-Ioannou said she was also lucky enough to receive the coin in the vasilopita, which was donated by a member and friend of the Food For Thought Network.
“Hopefully it will be a stellar year for Food For Thought Network given our ambitious project the Inaugural Global Conference in Ioannina Greece,” she added.
A new exhibition in Limassol, Cyprus is on display to explore the myths about the creation of the Aboriginal world.
The exhibition, “From a Continent to an Island“, in Exhibit8 gallery has been organised by the artistic association CATHRINE and curated by Nadine Betrhelier and Eudes Ajot from Paris.
Supported by the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Culture of Cyprus, it has also been put on display as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Cyprus.
High Commissioner of Australia in Cyprus, Fiona McKergow conducted the Exhibit8 gallery’s opening ceremony.
Fiona Mckergow. Photo: Exhibit8, FB.
It showcases an exceptional and significant collection of paintings using bark, which have been created by Indigenous Australians from Arnhem Land in Northern Australia.
The exhibition allows visitors of the gallery to connect with the art of the Aboriginal people and their scattered mythological universe, which they display on eucalyptus.
The exhibition will be on display until February 3. Photo: Exhibit8, Facebook.
The curator of the exhibition, Nadine Betrhelier explained that the exhibition offers people who see it, a rare opportunity to familiarise themselves with the universe of the Indigenous people of Arnhem Land and that it serves as a form of “initiation” to some extent.
“From a Continent to an Island” will be on display until February 3.
Steve Georganas MP attended a meeting with the Board of Directors of the World Hellenic Inter-parliamentary Association (PADEE – WHIA) on Saturday January 20 in Crete during his visit to Greece.
The Board of Directors, led by President Leonidas Raptakis (USA), Rhode Island State Senator, visited the Regional Governor of Crete Stavros Arnaoutakis.
Members of the Board of Directors participated in a working meeting in which the Mayor of Heraklion, Alexis Kalokairinos, the President of the Heraklion Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBEH) Manolis Alifierakis, elected representatives of the Region of Crete, the Municipality of Heraklion and officials also took part.
Mr Georganas, who is also 2nd Vice-President of PADEE – WHIA, pointed out that “Crete is a very important part of Greece that has history, culture has many people from the island who have immigrated to Australia and the other countries we represent. We want to create a bond with Heraklion and Crete and it is a great honor that we are here today in a place that has highlighted important personalities”.
Members of the Board of Directors of PADEE – WHIA participated in a working meeting. Photo: Region of Crete.
In attendance were also:
Effie Triantafilopoulos, 1st Vice-President (Canada), Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Ontario
Annie Koutrakis, Treasurer (Canada), Member of the Parliament of Canada & Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency
Stephan Pappas, Board member (USA), Wyoming State Senator
Themis Klarides, Board member (USA), Connecticut State Representative
Vangelis Doules, Board member (Albania), Member of Parliament MP Tirana District
Hryhoriy Nemyria (Ukraine), First Deputy Chairman, Parliament of Ukraine, Foreign Affairs Committee
Vice-Governor of Crete for European and International Affairs, George Alexakis, expressed his joy at the reception of the parliamentary representatives of Greek origin, noting that “the Region of Crete informed the delegation about the island in order to have collaborations in the field of tourism, culture and higher education”.
A parliamentary meeting held on Monday, January 21 has led to an amendment to the proposed postal voting bill.
The amendment will now allow for Greek people living abroad to vote in both national elections in Greece, and European elections.
The postal voting will be an exclusive method to vote in national elections for Greeks living in other countries.
Η υπερψήφιση του νομοσχεδίου και της τροπολογίας, με την ευρύτερη δυνατή συναίνεση, θα αποτελέσει σημαντικό μήνυμα πολιτικού εκσυγχρονισμού, δείγμα πολιτικής ωριμότητας και διάθεσης να πράξουμε το δημοκρατικά αυτονόητο, πέρα και πάνω από κομματικές αντιθέσεις και διαφορές, πέρα…
It was specified that postal voting will only be available to those living outside Greece and they must be registered the special mail-in lists and provide a foreign address.
During the parliamentary debate, the provision to the bill requires a majority of at least 200 votes.
Interior Minister Niki Kerameus attended the parliamentary meeting and introduced the amendment to the postal voting bill.
“The Parliament has the historical and moral responsibility to approve, with the utmost consensus, a legislative proposal that removes any real or practical impediment to the exercise of the voting rights of Greek citizens, regardless of their place of residence or location,” Ms Kerameus said during the amendment’s announcement.
The parliamentary vote for the postal voting bill will take place later this week.
Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni organised the repatriation of three ancient Greek artefacts from Emory University’s Michael Carlos Museum in Atlanta, US, on Monday, January 21.
The artefacts, which according to a statement from the Ministry, originated from Crete, Epirus, and Attica, and were the result of illegal excavations.
Emory University’s Michael Carlos Museum was in possession of three Ancient Greek artefacts. Photo: Culture Ministry.
It was reported that they were trafficked by antiquities smugglers, and unlawfully exported from Greece, before finding their way to the Carlos Museum.
Some of the ancient artefacts include a Minoan clay larnax adorned with fish decorations dating back to the 14th century BC, a 2nd-century BC marble statue portraying a young woman leaning on a tree trunk, and a seated marble male figure from an Attic tomb relief dating to the late 4th century BC.
Theodoros Roussopoulos, a Member of Parliament from New Democracy, has been elected as the president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
Roussopoulos is now the 35th individual to hold the position of PACE president since 1949 and notably the first Greek national to assume this role. Presidents serve a one-year term, with the option for renewal once.
Theodoros Roussopoulos. Photo: Anna.gr.
PACE functions as the parliamentary branch of the Council of Europe, an international organization comprising 46 nations dedicated to upholding human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.
The Assembly is composed of 306 members chosen from the national parliaments of the Council of Europe’s member states, convening four times annually for week-long plenary sessions in Strasbourg.
The works of composer, Mikis Theodorakis and Nobel Prize-winning poet, Odysseas Elytis will be celebrated in Axion Esti on Saturday May 11, 2024 at the City Recital Hall as part of the 42nd Greek Festival of Sydney.
This extraordinary collaboration will showcase the immense talent of international vocalist Dimitris Basis, renowned Greek Australian conductor George Ellis, Chanter Basilios Psilacos, a 30-piece Choir, and narration by Greek Australian actor Tony Nikolakopoulos.
Greek Australian conductor George Ellis. Photo: Supplied.
The focal point of the event is Odysseas Elytis’ landmark work, Axion Esti. Published in 1959, this poem was set to music by Mikis Theodorakis and quickly became a celebrated anthem. Combining suffering, passion, spiritual lessons, and poetic power, Axion Esti is widely regarded as Elytis’ masterpiece and won the National Book Award for Poetry in 1960.
Mikis Theodorakis, the acclaimed composer of the famous Zorba’s Dance, is Greece’s most celebrated composer. With more than 1,000 songs and song-cycles to his name, Theodorakis has become synonymous with the rich musical heritage of Greece. This event pays tribute to his legacy and showcases the timeless beauty of his masterful compositions.
Greek Australian actor Tony Nikolakopoulos.
As part of the Axion Esti concert, the audience will be treated to Theodorakis’ most famous melodies, including Ena To Helidoni (A Solitary Swallow) and Tis Dikeosinis Ilie (Sun of Justice). These captivating performances will be the Australian premiere of this special collaboration between the Sydney-based 30-piece Choir, a symphony orchestra, and an array of musicians performing on traditional Greek instruments.
This magnificent concert is an integral part of the 42nd Greek Festival of Sydney in 2024, which celebrates the enduring presence of Greek culture in Australia.
Event details:
What: Axion Esti (‘It is Worthy’) Presented by the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW and the City Recital Hall
When: Saturday, May 11, 2024, at 8pm
Where: City Recital Hall, 2 Angel Pl, Sydney NSW 2000
Bookings: Call 02 8256 2222 or visit cityrecitalhall.com
The excitement in the 2024 Greek Community Cup continued over the weekend with two games from Group A. The athletes on the field were not just competing for victory; they embodied the spirit of fair play, and respect—a testament to the essence of true sportsmanship.
The first match of the day between Malvern City FC and East Kew FC proved to be a tightly contested affair, ending in a 1-1 draw. The clash turned out to be a rollercoaster of emotions for players and spectators alike. From the opening whistle, both teams exhibited remarkable determination and skill, creating an atmosphere of suspense and excitement throughout the match.
The second clash of the day between Heidelberg United FC and Altona East Phoenix SC, was a spectacular display of prowess with Heidelberg United FC securing a commanding 8-0 victory over Altona East Phoenix SC. The scoreboard started ticking early in the match, as Heidelberg’s forward line showcased their skills.
Photo: 2024 Greek Community Cup.
Michael Karamitos, the GCM Vice President, shared his thoughts following the conclusion of this week’s matches, stating, “We are now entering the crucial phase of what has been an amazing event for our community. The crowds have been fantastic, and the football has consistently displayed a very high standard. Congratulations to all the participating teams, and I extend my best wishes to those heading into the semi-finals. We eagerly anticipate the upcoming weeks and encourage as many people as possible to attend what we believe will be a spectacular conclusion to this wonderful tournament.”
Leonidas Vlahakis, the GCM Cultural Committee Chair, said, “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Heatherton United Soccer Club and our newfound friends from the Bosnian community of Melbourne for hosting the Greek Community Cup. The soccer matches were thrilling, and the atmosphere was truly tremendous! We eagerly anticipate many more events like these, where we can continue to share enjoyable moments with such wonderful people.”
Malvern City FC secured the top position in Group A after the completion of the round-robin games, earning them a spot in the semi-finals. They are set to face the second-placed team from Group B.
Heidelberg finished as the runner-up in Group A, closely behind Malvern City, and has also advanced to the semi-finals. They are scheduled to compete against the top team from Group B.
As the group stage progresses, the tensions rise, and teams are gearing up for the upcoming battles that will determine their fate in the tournament.
Upcoming Group B matches will take place on Wednesday, January 24, as Kingston City FC faces Oakleigh Cannons FC at 07:00pm, followed by South Springvale FC taking on South Melbourne FC at 08:30pm.
For those that missed the action, matches can be viewed on the 2024 Greek Community Cup YouTube channel here.
All other tournament information and team fixtures can be found on www.greekcup.com.au
