The company behind popular Sunshine Coast venue Solbar has entered liquidation, with debts exceeding $200,000.
Corporate filings show 147 574 310 Pty Ltd, which operated the Maroochydore venue, appointed a liquidator in a voluntary winding up after shutting its doors in February.
Co-owner Dimitris Limnatitis and director Alexander Johns said at the time that the closure came “with incredibly heavy hearts,” adding: “The decision has not been made lightly, nor quickly; we’ve fought hard right up to the point that this has become the only available option.”
Photo: Instagram.
“For over two decades, Solbar has been a Sunny Coast institution. It’s been a home, a community, a place where lifelong friendships were formed, where first gigs turned into careers, and where thousands of unforgettable nights unfolded.”
Documents reveal the venue owes $112,064 to landlord QIC Properties, $92,783 in legal costs related to a “PL claim”, and smaller disputed debts, including $1,533 to Coates Hire. A further $29,599 is owed in a separate legal matter.
The filings also show director Alexander Johns is owed $13,692 in annual leave, while $27,375 is owed to the company by a shareholder.
Financial adviser Aristotle Papapavlou has been permanently banned from providing financial services after the corporate regulator found he engaged in dishonest, misleading and unprofessional conduct linked to the collapsed Shield and First Guardian funds.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) said Mr Papapavlou demonstrated a lack of competence and judgement while working at Venture Egg Financial Services between late 2021 and mid-2023, a firm central to the scandal in which nearly 12,000 investors lost around $1 billion in superannuation savings.
ASIC found he was not a “fit and proper person”, was not adequately trained or competent, and was likely to contravene financial services laws in future.
It also alleged he was involved in advice processes where unlicensed third-party referrers completed fact finds, leading clients to be directed into Shield and First Guardian superannuation products.
The regulator said Mr Papapavlou was aware statements of advice were being issued in his name for clients he had not met.
ASIC also found he allegedly acted “dishonestly and deceptively” in the credit industry by completing an assignment for another person and falsifying a reference.
His banning follows other industry sanctions connected to the same collapsed funds, as regulators and government move to tighten consumer protections around superannuation switching and financial advice practices.
A Queensland child safety inquiry has revealed hundreds of children are being placed in unlicensed residential care homes with limited regulatory oversight, raising concerns about potential gaps in monitoring and accountability.
Inquiry Commissioner Paul Anastassiou KC said oversight of unlicensed providers could not provide reliable assurance about service quality, describing the system as “random and… unreliable as the basis for reasonable confidence in the service delivery by unlicensed providers.”
The inquiry heard Queensland’s Child Safety Department is responsible for more than 100 unlicensed providers caring for children statewide, with internal documents citing “considerable workload demands” affecting the consistency of visits and inspections.
The proportion of unlicensed providers has grown sharply, rising from 59 per cent in 2023 to 71 per cent currently. Most operate under Individualised Placement Services (IPS) contracts, which do not require licensing or formal inspections.
Department official Natalie Wilson told the inquiry that child safety officers regularly visit children in IPS placements, though she said licensed providers undergo more formal compliance inspections.
However, Commissioner Mr Anastassiou said such visits were focused on the child rather than facility conditions, meaning serious issues could go unnoticed unless directly observed and reported.
Ms Wilson acknowledged risks but said providers are still expected to comply with child safety standards and legislation.
The inquiry also heard reforms are underway to transition providers onto Outsourced Service Delivery (OSD) contracts, though licensing can take up to 21 months, and up to three years for IPS providers seeking accreditation.
Auckland FC edged out South Melbourne FC in a highly entertaining top of the table clash on match day two of Round 5 in Ba.
Domestic commitments meant that the Australian side were missing a number of first choice players, including captain Marco Jankovic and dangerous forward Yuki Uchida.
Early impressions suggested the much-changed squad would struggle, when Auckland FC took the lead after just 22 seconds. Jason Robinson feeding Emiliano Tade from the left-hand side, who laid off for Liam Gillion to finish confidently past Ilia Shalamanov-Trenkova.
Those fears were assuaged in short order however, as Sinisha Cohadzic’s side responded well.
A Jack Painter-Andrews long throw was flicked on in defence, finding Andrew Mesourouni at the back post, who took one touch to steady himself, before firing past Oscar Mason to equalise after just ten minutes.
It would get even better less than fifteen minutes later for South Melbourne when they took a deserved lead.
Jordan Swibel held the ball up excellently, pirouetting away from his marker and prodding the ball to the on-rushing Charlie Leech, who fired low past Mason to complete the turnaround.
Much like their encounter earlier in the season, it was a physically challenging match. Leech joining Painter-Andrews and Jack Pope in picking up first-half bookings.
Auckland FC were much improved in the second period and again started on the front foot. Veteran forward Emiliano Tade with an early chance, catching a volley well but directing it narrowly wide of the far post.
Mesourouni went close with a similar effort at the other end, dragging his shot past Mason’s right-hand post.
The New Zealand side, perhaps unsurprisingly, were the stronger of the two in the closing stages, taking advantage of their opponents lack of options off the bench.
Matt Ellis was the man to find the equaliser. Driving at the South Melbourne defence from the right-hand side and smashing a stunning effort past Shalamanov-Trenkova and into the top corner.
It was thoroughly deserved for Luke Casserly’s side, who then went about searching for a late winner.
That search became a little more straight forward when Charlie Leech picked up his second booking. The midfielder receiving his marching orders after a cynical attempt to stop an Auckland FC counter-attack.
They then duly took advantage just over five minutes later. Robinson with a neat clipped pass over the top of the defence found Michael Den Heijer, before the big defender selflessly squared to his fellow substitute Ronan Wynne who rolled into an empty net.
The league leaders were able to hold on comfortably and consolidate their position on top, as South Melbourne FC start to look behind at the group of teams hot on their heels.
Metlen is expanding its asset rotation strategy into Spain and Australia following the successful sale of its photovoltaic portfolio in Chile, signalling a growing focus on hybrid solar and storage projects in key international markets.
The company confirmed the plans during its 2025 results presentation, noting that similar divestments are expected in countries where it already maintains a strong operational footprint — including Australia, where it is active both through its own developments and partnerships with third parties.
The Chile transaction, completed in December 2025, involved four photovoltaic projects with a combined capacity of 588MW and 1,610MWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS), reaching a total value of $865 million — one of the largest asset rotation deals in the company’s renewable energy portfolio.
Building on this model, Metlen is now preparing to replicate similar moves in Australia and Spain, leveraging its existing project pipeline and market presence. In Australia, the strategy is expected to align with the country’s accelerating transition toward renewable energy and storage integration, where demand for grid stability and long-term energy security continues to grow.
The group views the hybrid model — combining solar generation with battery storage — as a critical solution to the structural limitations of solar energy. By integrating storage, projects can deliver improved margins, more stable and competitive power purchase agreements (PPAs), and greater overall profitability.
At the same time, the asset rotation strategy allows Metlen to recycle capital from mature projects into new developments, strengthening liquidity and enabling continued expansion in high-growth markets such as Australia.
Energy remains the group’s dominant segment, accounting for 79% of total revenue, with turnover rising 23% year-on-year to €5.633 billion. Overall group revenue reached €7.107 billion, up 25%.
The company’s renewable energy portfolio has now reached 11.9GW, with 1.3GW currently in operation, while total renewable energy production stood at 1.4TWh in 2025.
Metlen has also continued to expand its energy storage pipeline across Europe, including a joint venture with Public Power Corporation to develop up to 1,500MW/3,000MWh of BESS projects across Romania, Bulgaria and Italy.
In Greece, retail energy supplier Protergia increased its electricity market share to 21.4%, up from 18.2% in 2024, with a medium-term target of 30%.
While the company reported losses in its M-Power Projects division that weighed on EBITDA, management indicated that underlying performance remains strong, noting that results would have exceeded €1 billion without one-off costs. More than 90% of current projects are expected to be completed by 2026.
For Australia, Metlen’s planned expansion underscores the country’s growing strategic importance in the global renewable energy landscape, particularly as hybrid solar and storage projects become central to both commercial returns and long-term energy resilience.
In a year overshadowed by escalating conflict in the Middle East, the arrival of the Holy Light in Cyprus took on an even deeper meaning, serving as a powerful symbol of faith, continuity and community.
Former Deputy High Commissioner of Cyprus to Australia in Canberra, Stavros Nicolaou, now Deputy Head of Mission in Israel, played an important role in ensuring the sacred flame made its way from Jerusalem to Cyprus, despite the serious challenges posed by instability across the region.
The Holy Light, received each year from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, is central to Orthodox Easter traditions and is shared among the faithful as a sign of hope, renewal and the triumph of light over darkness.
This year’s journey unfolded against a backdrop of genuine danger.
According to reports from Politis, shrapnel from intercepted missile activity struck the apartment building housing the Cypriot embassy in Tel Aviv, causing material damage. Importantly, no injuries were reported, as staff were not present at the time, and the embassy itself was not believed to have been directly targeted.
The incident nevertheless underscored the very real risks faced by diplomats and officials on the ground, and the fragile conditions under which this year’s mission to retrieve the Holy Light took place.
Despite these circumstances, the mission went ahead.
Damage from the strike.
Many in Cyprus and abroad expressed concern that, given the escalating tensions, the Holy Light may not reach Cyprus this year – raising fears for a tradition that carries deep spiritual significance and offers hope to people on the island during particularly challenging times.
The effort also highlighted strong cooperation between Cyprus and Greece. Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos publicly thanked the Greek Government and Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their role in transporting the Holy Light from Jerusalem.
Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Ioannis Loverdos was present, while the Greek Government facilitated an aircraft through Aegean Airlines to ensure the flame could be carried safely to Cyprus.
Michael Kyriacou, Honorary President of the Cyprus Community of NSW, said members of the NSW community had been closely following developments and had reached out to explore whether any support could be offered during the process.
“We have been in contact with Australians of Cypriot descent both in Cyprus and Israel, and we conveyed these concerns – particularly to Stavros, who is well known in Australia and has done much to strengthen Cyprus’ profile in the region,” Mr Kyriacou said.
He also noted that, in a period of heightened uncertainty, communication between the diaspora and those on the ground remained important, particularly for Australians of Cypriot descent navigating conditions in the region during Holy Week.
“There has been a strong sense of concern for those in the region, and a willingness within the community here to support where possible, even in small but meaningful ways,” Mr Kyriacou said.
He highlighted Stavros’ broader contribution to diplomacy and community engagement.
“He has played an important role in reinforcing our links with the region, including cultural and educational connections between Cyprus and the diaspora in recent times,” Mr Kyriacou said.
He added that the successful transfer of the Holy Light reflected leadership, cooperation and careful diplomacy under pressure.
“That the Cypriot mission in Israel succeeded is a testament to leadership, the risks taken by those on the ground, and the support of Greece, including the use of its good offices with Israeli and Palestinian authorities to facilitate this outcome,” Mr Kyriacou said.
He added that the moment also demonstrated the quiet strength and engagement of the global Cypriot community during critical times.
“In a time of uncertainty and real threat, the arrival of the Holy Light in Cyprus brings hope to the island and reassurance to families in Australia watching events unfold,” he said.
For Cypriots at home and across the diaspora, the significance of this moment extends far beyond ceremony.
“The Holy Light is not just a tradition. It is a living connection between our people, our faith and our history. Even in times of conflict, it reminds us that our community remains strong, united and hopeful,” Mr Kyriacou said.
Tens of thousands of Greek Australians gathered at churches across the country on Saturday night, marking Orthodox Easter with the deeply symbolic celebration of the Resurrection and the sharing of the Holy Light.
With solemn reverence and visible emotion, the faithful assembled in church forecourts and surrounding streets from Sydney and Melbourne to Adelaide, Darwin, Brisbane and Perth, united in a moment where faith, tradition and community converge.
First Anastasi service in Darwin, the Northern Territory. Photo copyright: Georgia Politis Photography.
At the stroke of midnight, anticipation gave way to jubilation as clergy emerged to proclaim “Christ is Risen” — a declaration met with the unified response, “Truly He is Risen,” as candles flickered to life across the crowds. The Holy Light was passed from person to person, illuminating the night in a powerful expression of hope, renewal and continuity.
Families of all ages took part in the sacred ritual. Young children stood alongside parents and grandparents, many of whom carried memories of Easter in Greece, while younger generations embraced the traditions that continue to shape their cultural identity in Australia.
Among those attending were community leaders and dignitaries, reflecting the enduring presence and contribution of the Greek Orthodox community within Australia’s multicultural landscape.
In Melbourne, Victorian Deputy Premier Ben Carroll joined celebrations alongside Greek Community of Melbourne President Bill Papastergiadis, while in Sydney, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia led the Resurrection service at Kogarah Greek Orthodox Church, declaring the risen Christ to thousands gathered.
Archbishop Makarios at Kogarah. Photo copyright The Greek Herald / Peter Oglos.Politicians were present at the Anastasi service.Thousands in attendance.
His Eminence’s Paschal message was read aloud in churches across Australia, offering a moment of reflection amid the celebrations. Addressing ongoing conflict in the Middle East and discussion surrounding the transfer of the Holy Light, Archbishop Makarios reminded the faithful that the essence of the Resurrection transcends geography.
“For us, certainly, here in distant Australia, Pascha is celebrated with splendour, even though we do not have the possibility of receiving the Holy Light from Jerusalem,” he said.
He emphasised that while the miracle of the Holy Light takes place at the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, “the light of Christ is poured out upon every human person and transcends both time and space — and this is the great miracle.”
In a message centred on inner faith, the Archbishop urged believers to embody the light of Christ in their daily lives, describing it as a presence that radiates from within and brings peace, humility and quiet strength.
“I call upon all of you to live the greatest and most beautiful experience that a human being can encounter upon this earth: the experience of the Light… the experience of the Resurrection,” he said.
The passing of the Holy Light from hand to hand became a symbolic chain of faith and unity — from heart to heart — as smiles, embraces and even tears captured the emotional weight of the moment. For many, it is not only a religious observance but a reaffirmation of identity, linking the diaspora to centuries-old traditions and to the homeland of their forebears.
Carefully shielding their candles from the night air, families carried the flame home, where it would be used to light vigil lamps and bless their households — a ritual observed for generations. In that act, the Resurrection extends beyond the church, entering the domestic sphere as a living tradition that bridges past and present.
On Easter Sunday, celebrations continue in homes and community spaces across Australia. Backyards fill with the aroma of lamb roasting on the spit, while tables are laid with traditional dishes and red-dyed eggs. Families and friends gather to share meals, music and dancing, bringing to life the joyous culmination of Holy Week.
For Australia’s Greek diaspora, Orthodox Easter remains one of the most profound expressions of faith and cultural continuity. The light of the Resurrection is more than a ritual – it is a living symbol that faith, memory and heritage endure, passed from one generation to the next, illuminating the future of Hellenism in Australia.
In his Paschal Encyclical for 2026, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia delivers a message of hope, reflection and spiritual clarity to the faithful across the nation, urging Greek Orthodox Christians to look beyond the physical presence of the Holy Light and embrace its deeper, eternal meaning.
Addressing the challenges of a world marked by conflict and uncertainty, he reminds the diaspora that the true light of the Resurrection transcends geography and circumstance, calling on all to embody its presence through faith, humility and love.
Full Message in English:
MAKARIOS
by the mercy of God, Archbishop of the Most Holy Archdiocese of Australia, Primate and Exarch of All Oceania, to the God-loving Chorespiskopi and Bishops, the gracious clergy and monastic communities, to the Presidents of the honourable Ecclesiastical Committees and Philoptochos Associations, to the teachers and students in the Schools, to those who work in the philanthropic institutions and to all the Christ-loving plenitude of the Orthodox Church in Australia, grace be unto you and peace from our gloriously Risen Saviour Christ.
Most honourable Brother fellow bishops and my beloved children,
On account of the military conflicts in the Middle East, much discussion has arisen concerning the transfer of the Holy Light, particularly to Greece, as has become customary in recent years. For us, certainly, here in distant Australia, Pascha is celebrated with splendour, even though we do not have the possibility of receiving the Holy Light from Jerusalem—just as is the case in many other parts of the world, and as it was for many centuries in our motherland, Greece. The miracle of the Holy Light is an event that takes place in the Holy Land, and more specifically at the life-giving and all-holy Tomb of Christ. Yet we must not forget that the light of Christ is poured out upon every human person and transcends both time and space—and this is the great miracle.
We observe that there are certain people who are filled with light, and whose very presence illumines those around them. They possess such light that even on days when their own soul is darkened and struggles with the failures of daily life, they continue to radiate light to everything around them. This is an inner light, not dependent upon outward appearance or upon what we say. It is the light of the heart, which nothing can dim, precisely because it proceeds from within, from the inner person. We, as Orthodox Christians, receive this light from the noetic Sun that never sets. And when someone bears the light of Christ, that person is calm and peaceful. They become a quiet strength and do not strive to prove anything about themselves. They do not seek to influence others or to distinguish themselves. They do not give, in order to receive. They illumine without effort and love without expecting anything in return.
I call upon all of you to live the greatest and most beautiful experience that a human being can encounter upon this earth: the experience of the Light, that never sets, the experience of the Resurrection.
Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!
In Sydney, on Holy and Great Pascha, 12th of April 2026, The Archbishop,
† Makarios of Australia Primate and Exarch of all Oceania
Greece defeated Spain 15-13 on penalties (11-11) in men’s water polo to close the World Cup qualifying tournament in Alexandroupolis.
Goalkeeper Panagiotis Tzortzatos was decisive, saving two penalties, while Stelios Argyropoulos scored four goals and Vangelis Pouros added three.
Greece recovered from an early 3-0 deficit, with Argyropoulos leading the comeback before a tightly contested match ended level in regular time.
Kakaris forced penalties with a late goal, where Greece converted all attempts and Tzortzatos’ saves secured victory.
Despite the loss, Spain finished first in Group 3, while Greece, already qualified for the World Cup finals in Sydney (July 20–26), awaits final standings.
Death is the pinnacle of the perfection of the cycle of human life. The cycle of the changes of species. It is the point from which we begin impartially and objectively to evaluate the course of a particular person, his contribution, the importance of his presence in this ephemeral life.
All people are born with specific gifts, virtues and values. All people are exclusive, each with their own special characteristics, in their own way of speaking, walking, writing, thinking and appreciating the world around them. All people have their own value; from the simple family man who, with a myriad of sufferings, raises his children with prudence and morality, in partnership with his wife, to the one who preferred to live alone, participating in a choir, or blowing out candles in a remote church. Everyone has their value, including the unjust, the impious and the lawbreakers.
However, it is certain that some people in the diachronic history of man have stood out, distinguished themselves and with their dynamic presence, contributed to the improvement of human life. These individuals are pillars of human history, strongholds and perhaps sources of reference in the evolution of societies. Some people pledged to serve the innovative, the authentic, the genuine, in order to contribute to the change of our lives. Some took care to serve the interests of the people, to evolve into ministers of the people, they offered to the commons, they strengthened their society morally and financially, in order to lighten human toil, so that there would be a society with morals and humanity.
Some, on the other hand, were endowed with gifts that had all of the above. These were high towers to be imitated or to be frequently mentioned and constantly praised. They were honored by the society they lived in and for which they worked. They are rightly recognised by human history, which is constantly evolving and evaluating. This category includes people who acted as businessmen and benefactors, as fair judges and evaluators, people who respected wealth, but never worshipped and served it. For them, wealth should serve the idea, and not the idea the wealth. Wealth was not an end in itself for them, but the means, the tool to offer quality of life to all those who worked and suffered next to them, and of course to their immediate family environment.
On the day of Orthodox Easter, on Sunday morning, while in some parts of Australia the faithful were returning to their homes with the Light of the Resurrection and blessing their homes, the venerable husband, family man, businessman and philanthropist, Nikolaos Thyssen (Theodosiadis) OAM, who is known throughout the continent of Oceania as “Mr. Patra Orange”, abandoned this life at the age of 91.
Nick Thyssen overjoyed during an award ceremony for his industrial unit, with Sales Manager Allan Marion and his daughter Becky Thyssen
The late Nikolaos leaves behind a rich legacy of achievements and innovations that have improved the quality of life of people worldwide. Nick Thyssen was one of the most inventive figures of the Greek diaspora, a figure of a genuinely genius entrepreneur with pioneering ideas and innovative concepts that radically and profoundly changed specific aspects of the global food industry. A farm boy from Valimitika, Aigialeia with twenty pounds of pocket money from his brother, with his wife, Maureen, by his side, caused a global revolution in the production of natural juices, fresh fruit salads and soups, when until then the global food industry relied on cooked fruit compotes and tin cans with concentrated and dried juice powder with plenty of preservatives.
The most important thing about Nick Thyssen’s action and triumphant development is that this businessman did not achieve greatness by copying others, he was not led to the triumph of success, having imitated the success of others. Most importantly, he never walked on the footsteps and paths that some thought of or others tried first and succeeded. Nick Thyssen is the one, the only one, the innovator, the inventive, the man who thought, orchestrated and implemented his own ideas, his own machines, his own inventions and reached success with struggles, often with great financial losses.
The next impressive thing about Nick Thyssen is that money, profit were not an end in themselves for him, that is, he did not just work to win. He worked for the success of his ideas, he toiled to taste the joy of daring the new, and he succeeded. He himself often confessed that he lost a lot of money with his bold and innovative ideas, with his improvisations. The great thing is that Nick Thyssen never felt sorry for the money he lost. But he was sad and hurt because his goal did not succeed. That’s why he always advised: “don’t stop, don’t be afraid, when you lose. You have to be courageous again, get back up, feel strong even when you lose.”
Nick Thyssen will go down in the history of the Australian juice and food industry because he founded, organized, developed and spread both in Australia and the rest of the world, for the first time, the industrialization of natural citrus juice. He was also the man who invented and enriched the markets with fresh fruit salad and soup varieties in special cardboard boxes that ensured longevity. The products of the companies he created from the famous and historic Patra Orange Juice, Original Juice Company, Ready Cut Company, Easy Cheff, Procal and at least twenty other companies through which he attempted his innovative program, yesterday and today are in the showcases of supermarkets, meet the needs of hospitals, army and sports infrastructure.
The huge but unseen contribution of Nick Thyssen is that with his innovative ideas he improved the daily life of the citizen, gave the opportunity to thousands of citizens every day to enjoy a natural juice and not a canned food during a break from work, talking to their colleagues, or to enjoy a fresh fruit salad for their lunch, or to resort to a soup for their dinner, not canned soup, but freshly cooked soup in hospitals and barracks and of course in their households.
For me and my wife, as well as for many other people, Nikolaos Thyssen, with the support of his wife, Maureen, has been a brother and friend, a valuable ally and supporter. He entrusted me with his biography, he spoke to me from the heart, with courage and a weight of responsibility, as he did with his children and his closest associates. In recent years, our lives have been inseparable and mutually bound and I owe him a lot.
Together with the late Zisis Dardalis OAM, and Nikolaos Thyssen, OAM were the two most authentic, most genuine and dynamic people who threw our community into orphanhood with their deaths. Father and his unjustly lost son, Adam, share the same sacred memory from today and the same resting place, one next to the other, because the dead die only when we forget them. His fraternal wife, Maureen, his daughters, Eleni and Rebecca, his sons-in-law and grandchildren, will continue to serve a legacy that is a point of reference for all of us.
The three children of Nikos and Maureen Thyssen, Eleni, Rebecca and Adam with their first three grandchildren
I close this note with his own narrative which I included in his biography, to remind the children who were born or came accompanied by their parents, why their pioneering parents are worthy of respect, honour and eternal memory.
“I was not five years old when I started working in the fields, next to my mother. We collected the raisins in baskets, like the hen with the chicks. We dipped the grapes in lye (boiled ash water) so that the berries shrink and cut off from their bunches and spread them on the threshing floor of our vineyard, to dry under the sun. Corinthian currants were universally popular. Our mother sold our raisins to merchants in the area, who had their warehouses in the village. This was followed by its packaging in wooden crates, with care and diligence, before being transported to the trains to Germany. Then came the raisin crisis. We planted vineyards for table grapes. We also had the large vegetable garden in front of our house, which was protected by a wire fence supported by olive branches. Orange and lemon trees followed in our home orchard. My mother and I planted 37 lemon trees. We had apple and pear trees. On Saturdays we would go with my mother to the farmers’ market in Aigio and sell our fruits and vegetables, green beans, artichokes, beets. The bazaar was my first commercial experience.
We had to deal with two horrible things, poverty and War. People had no money. In 1932, my father lost all the money he had brought from Alexandria. Unemployment everywhere. Many immigrants from the central Peloponnese wandered around asking for work for a plate of food. We lacked bread, wheat and oil. Hunger began. Life was made by exchanging products, eggs, raisins, milk, cheese and vegetables. What every household had. The Italians came first. They did not do anything hostile. Most of them felt both guilt and shame for what they experienced from the Greeks in Pindos. We had no money for the necessities, nor for the oil for our lighting. The schools were closed until 1944. The only generator of our village was owned by a certain Theodosiadis. He also ran out of money and oil. That Sunday, after the bombing, my mother dressed us in our festive clothes and took us to Santa Claus. Papa-Spilios and about five stooped chanters officiated, led by our chief cantor, always on the right psalter, Vassilis Anastasopoulos. Suddenly the lights went out. The generator no longer had oil. In the dim light the candles and shadows of the faithful emerged. With the war, everything darkened. The faces of all the grown-ups are gloomy, painful and hungry. That’s how I remember them. People could not pay for the oil, they borrowed without repaying. I remember my poor mother coming home from the nearest forest loaded with wood to keep us warm. To bake the trahanas, which he had made almost two years ago, in the fireplace. To fatten our hunger. When our mother was in the orchards, my older sister, Anna, took care of the house and took care of our younger sister, Panagiota.
The war marked my childhood life. I saw the fierce face of war at the age of seven. Our village was a supply center for the guerrillas. Often the guerrillas came down from Helmos and took supplies. They had Korovotas as their link. In the summer of 1942 my sisters and I had taken refuge in our father’s house, in the settlement “Pera meria”, which was built next to Valimi, to rest our mother. Our settlement was separated by a small gorge that separated our borders. One morning we saw a lot of activity in our village. Germans had come on horseback and surrounded our small square. After first setting fire to and burning down the school, they arrested Korovatas for interrogation. He was kept imprisoned in the community office. He was a young, tall and broad-breasted patriot and a good householder. In the afternoon, two soldiers dragged him out of the slum and laid him under the tree. It was a wreck. Folded and beaten mercilessly. They were preparing him for a gallows in our square. He had refused to reveal the positions of our guerrillas. He had been betrayed by one of our own kiotes to the Germans. They hung him in the square in front of our eyes, as an example.”
Nikolaos Thyssen left the earthly life. His legacy remained to remind and advise. In the business world he was the teacher, the mentor, the lord of the innovative activitiy. A rare figure of a dynamic, indomitable, generous and honest man. An immigrant who broke the established order and emerged as a pioneer and authentic businessman. A citizen who honored the trust of the State and the society in which he lived. A friend who charmed with his pleasant personality, winning their respect. A family man who lived through constant giving and self-sacrifice. We will remember him and we will respect him as an eternal light.
