Georgie Prespakis’ rise in the AFLW continues with the midfielder claiming her first Geelong Cats AFLW Best and Fairest award.
The 20-year-old enjoyed a career-best season averaging 24.2 disposals, 7.2 tackles and 6.6 clearances a game.
Prespakis continued to stamp her influence on the AFLW, with her commitment to the contest and will to drive the Cats forward into attack out of stoppage.
Ranking equal-third in the competition for average clearances (6.6), Prespakis also ranked sixth for contested possessions (13.7) and equal-seventh for ground ball gets (9).
Polling 188 votes to win the award, Prespakis finished ahead of fellow midfielders Nina Morrison with 163 votes and Amy McDonald with 82 votes.
In other awards on the night, Prespakis also claimed her second-consecutive Fan MVP award, proudly supported by Geelong Dairy.
Liberal Holsworthy MP Tina Ayyad has “unequivocally” apologised to the Cyprus Community of New South Wales after she attended a 40th celebration and commemoration anniversary for the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
Cyprus remains divided by a UN-demilitarised buffer zone after the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974. There remains a strong Turkish military presence on the northern part of the island, which calls itself the TRNC.
Australia recognises the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus but not of the TRNC.
Ms Ayyad wrote it was “a privilege” to attend the event and said “it was a day of celebration and commemoration, with family‑friendly activities for everyone to enjoy including a jumping castle and face painting!”
Tina Ayaad (right) attending the event. Photo: Australian North Cyprus Friendship Association/Facebook
At the time, the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus, Antonis Sammoutis, and the President of the Cyprus Community of NSW, Andrew Costa, wrote to Ms Ayyad to demand an explanation.
Mr Costa also wrote to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, NSW Premier Chris Minns and NSW Liberal Leader, Mark Speakman.
On Monday, Ms Ayyad sent an official response to Mr Costa apologising for any offence she caused to the Cyprus Community of NSW.
“I understand the sensitivity surrounding the issue as a Parliamentarian and will be more mindful of this in the future,” Ms Ayyad wrote in her apology.
“My attendance at the event should not be construed as acting contrary to Australian foreign policy. My views are in line with those of the Commonwealth government of Australia.”
Mr Costa “welcomed” this apology by the Member for Holsworthy and said Ms Ayyad wants to speak with him to be further acquainted with the true history of Cyprus.
The Board of Football Victoria (FV) has announced the appointment of Chris Pehlivanis as the organisation’s new CEO, effective 22 January 2024.
Pehlivanis is highly respected in the football community and will join following a successful four-year term as Western United FC CEO.
Under his guidance, the club established itself in Australia’s elite sporting landscape, attained an A-League Women’s license, won an A-League Men’s Championship and launched the WUFC Academy.
Pehlivanis expressed his excitement at the opportunity.
“I am honoured to be appointed CEO of Football Victoria. My vision to empower clubs, grow pathways, invest in infrastructure, establish a more connected football pyramid, and take the next steps in achieving 50:50 equity strongly aligns with the goals of the FV Board of Directors,” he said.
“Participation and interest in football has never been higher. It’s crucial for our organisation to evolve and find innovative ways to sustain the momentum in 2024 and beyond.”
Prior to his role with Western United FC, Pehlivanis built a reputation as a strategic and commercial leader in the sports industry – first with Football Australia then AFL club Essendon, where he worked as Chief Financial Officer.
Antonella Care. Photo: Football Victoria
Football Victoria President Antonella Caré welcomed Pehlivanis to the organisation.
“We are thrilled to welcome Chris to Football Victoria. His leadership, strategic vision and deep understanding of our game make him the ideal CEO to take our organisation forward,” she said.
“Chris has built an outstanding reputation for his professionalism and people-centric approach. He is a visionary who shares our core values and is passionate about building an inclusive, equitable and strong football ecosystem in Victoria.”
Complementing his professional experience is a lifelong passion for the world game. Starting as a junior player with East Bentleigh FC, Pehlivanis went on to referee for more than a decade before moving into sports administration.
Nicholas Vamvakas. Photo: Football Victoria.
Football Victoria Director Nick Vamvakas, who spearheaded the recruitment campaign, said Pehlivanis was appointed following a rigorous and intensive recruitment process. A total of 111 submissions were received with FV targeting candidates from a broad range of professional backgrounds.
“The Football Victoria Board of Directors appointed SRI Executive, an independent talent consulting firm to lead the recruitment process,” Vamvakas said.
“We spoke with more than 70 candidates directly and conducted multiple rounds of interviews. Ultimately, Chris was appointed based on his incredible track record as a sports administrator, his thorough understanding of the football landscape and his genuine desire to champion Football Victoria’s core values.”
Applicants were put through a series of interviews with alternate directors ensuring integrity was maintained throughout each recruitment phase.
The announcement was formally made at FV’s Annual General Meeting on Monday, 11 December.
The Board of Football Victoria also thanked Karen Pearce OAM, who led the organisation admirably as Interim CEO during this transitional period. Following Pehlivanis’ appointment, Pearce will continue her role as Executive Manager Equity, Growth and Inclusion.
Adelaide pharmacy owner Peter Angelos has been left devastated by a recent SA Government plan to open three 24/7 pharmacies.
According to The Advertiser, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas confirmed last week that two Chemist Warehouse facilities and one National Pharmacies outlet will start to provide after-hours services from next year.
Peter Malinauskas said the 24/7 pharmacies will “reduce pressure” on hospital emergency departments. Photo: Douglas Smith.
Mr Angelos told The Advertiserhe was worried the plan would put a strain on his business, Midnight Pharmacy.
“It’ll kill my business… and we’ve been here for the last 30 years,” he said.
“It will impact all the single owner pharmacies.
“We’ve attempted a couple of times to stay open (24/7), and after about midnight there’s hardly anyone around. I just don’t think we’ve got the population to support it.”
Nicholas Sianis has been granted a life sentence in jail after he was found guilty of murdering Jason De Ieso in South Australia.
According to ABC News, Mr Sianis was sentenced to life with a non-parole period of at least 30 years.
Dino De Leso, Jason’s brother spoke upon those found guilty of murdering Jason. Photo: ABC News, Stephen Opie.
Seven men were found guilty in October of the murder of De Leso, including brothers Husain, Mohamed and Musa Alzuain and Daniel Mark Jalleh, Ross William Montgomery, Kyle Lloyd Pryde and Mr Sianis.
The jury could not reach a verdict on an eighth man, Seywan Moradi, and he faces a re-trial.
All seven men found guilty of Mr De Ieso’s murder have lodged appeals against their convictions.
Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos’ film Poor Things, starring award-winning actress Emma Stone, has received several nominations for the 2024 Golden Globe awards.
According to ABC News, the film was nominated in six different categories.
The film was nominated in the category of ‘Best Picture – Musical/Comedy,’ ‘Best Screenplay- Motion Picture’ and ‘Best Original Score.’
Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos’ film Poor Things, starring award-winning actress Emma Stone, has received several nominations for the 2024 Golden Globe awards.
Lanthimos was also nominated from ‘Best Director – Motion Picture,’ while Stone was nominated for ‘Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Musical/Comedy,’ and Mark Ruffalo and Willem Dafoe were nominated for ‘Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture.’
Poor Things, the darkly comedic and provocatively charged film directed by Greece’s Lanthimos, was released in the United States on December 8.
The new leader of Greece’s main opposition party Stefanos Kasselakis has announced he will be visiting Australia within the next few weeks.
According toIefimirida, the SYRIZA leader aims to visit the Greek diaspora in four different parts of the world, including the United States, South Africa, Europe and Australia.
Stefanos Kasselakis was recently elected as SYRIZA’s new leader. Photo: Ekathimerini.
After Christmas, where he will be in New York, Kasselakis will travel to Melbourne, Victoria to be close to the Greek community in Australia.
He aims to show the significance of the diaspora around the world, as he begins to campaign ahead of the European Parliament elections next year.
For the first time ever, Greek diaspora will be able to vote in the elections via postal vote.
Super League matches in Greece will take place over the next two months without any spectators, according to AMNA.gr.
The announcement was made by Greece’s government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis on Monday during a press briefing.
It follows the recent incident of sport violence from last week where a 31-year-old police officer was seriously injured during a Olympiakos volleyball game.
Μαρινάκης: Όσο ψηλά και αν βρίσκονται αυτοί που υποκινούν ή έστω ανέχονται την οπαδική βία, εμείς θα συνεχίσουμε την προσπάθεια και τον αγώνα για να νικήσουμε σε αυτήν την μάχη. pic.twitter.com/X7YWJ82a11
The spectator ban will commence from now until February 12, 2024.
Marinakis shared that the ban also extends to the Greek Cup games and friendly matches of Super League 1 teams, as well teams playing in Super League 2.
He said that the ban “for obvious security reasons be extended to the Olympiacos FC match next Thursday for the Europa League.”
Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, faith leaders from diverse backgrounds gathered in Melbourne on December 9.
Amidst the sombre beauty of Ray Bramham, they united in prayer, mantras, chants and hymns for world peace and remembrance of victims of genocide.
Faith leaders at the Memorial for Victims of the Crime of Genocide and All Other Atrocity Crimes, the only of its kind in the world. All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Mary Sinanidis.
With nature reflecting the sadness of genocide, rain fell on the Monument for All Victims of Genocide and Other Atrocity Crimes – the only of its kind in the world.
Fr Vasilios Kourtessis told The Greek Herald that suffering is universal.
“Victims of genocide aren’t just Orthodox or one faith or a specific race,” he said. “Everyone suffers.”
Father Vasilios Kourtessis.
Bawani, a member of the Sri Lankan Tamil Christian Community, sang a heartfelt ‘Make me a channel of your peace,’ her voice resonating with the pain. Tears poured down her cheeks as she remembered the Tamil mothers who mourned children they lost in a sea of dead bodies.
Bawani from the Sri Lankan Tamil Christian group remembered mothers who mourned their children.
Dot Haynes OAM, representing the Jewish community, said, “War is a monster that consumes everything in its path.”
She called for good governance and added “we are all brothers and sisters in one race, the human race.”
Dot Haynes OAM lights a candle of hope.
Echoing her calls for good leadership, Imam Sheikh Furqan Jabbar from Craigieburn Mosque said, “Grant wisdom to those in positions of power that they may work towards justice and peace and equity, and towards the preservation of life.”
The Imam of Craigieburn mosque prayed or peace and love to replace hatred.
He implored that hatred be replaced with love, “ignorance with knowledge and cruelty with compassion.”
Hidayet Ceylan, a member of the Alevi Community Council of Australia, shared his personal journey of discovery. Born and raised in Turkey, he told The Greek Herald he only learnt of the Armenian Genocide after immigrating to Australia 26 years ago. He spoke of the Alevi community’s unique blend of beliefs, drawing strength from diverse spiritual traditions.
Hidayet Ceylan from the Alevi Community Council of Australia
Nikanth Raval from the Hindu community reminded everyone that the responsibility for preventing genocide rests with humanity as a whole.
“If we don’t solve this,” he said, “we will come back next year, with even more victims to remember.”
Sofia Kotanidis, chairperson of Return to Anatolia and member of Darebin Ethnic Communities Council, told The Greek Herald she only found out about her own dark family history by accident. Since then, she has researched genocide and has been a strong advocate for victims.
Sofia Kotanidis from Return to Anatolia with Hidayet Ceylan from the Alevi Community Council of Australia.
“Both my grandparents were genocide survivors, and though I knew we were Pontian nobody talked about the Pontian Genocide. My family did not want to burden me,” she said.
Once she became aware of the history, things started making sense. She understood her grandmother’s deep sadness.
Sofia Kotanidis and Fr Vasilios Kourtessis.
“My grandmother spoke of a golden locked, rosy-cheeked daughter she lost during the Genocide, a child they couldn’t even bury and had just left behind, covered under some metal sheets,” she said.
Merribek Councillor Lambros Tapinos acknowledged the monument’s inclusivity, recognising the massacres of Indigenous Australians alongside other genocides.
Deputy Mayor Lambros Tapinos scatters white flowers for the innocent victims.
He highlighted the symbolic significance of Merribek council’s name change, moving away from Moreland, named after a Jamaican slavery plantation, towards a future of understanding and respect.
As the ceremony concluded, a sense of shared humanity and determination permeated the air. The faith leaders, united in their diversity, offered a powerful message of hope: that through remembrance, compassion, and collective action, we can strive towards a world free from the scourge of genocide.
*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Mary Sinanidis.
For many kids and families around Australia, the festive season can be a tough time.
They might not get to enjoy the luxury of eating festive feasts, opening gifts from Santa and spending quality family time together on Christmas.
This year, The Greek Heraldhas decided to put together a list of how you can help those in need have a very merry Christmas, by supporting local charities, Greek Orthodox parishes and organisations.
Christmas Toy Drive by the Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of Kogarah
After already gathering more than 1,000 toys to go towards hospitals, including the Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick, shelters and schools with students with special needs, the Kogarah parish is now expanding where its toys will be delivered.
An announcement made on The Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of Kogarah’s Facebook page shared that they will be assisting Con Theocharides’ charity ‘A Touch of Kindness’ with their Christmas drive on Monday, December 18, and ‘Pantry4ThePeople’ under Rachael Smith.
If you’re interested in helping support these initiatives, the Kogarah parish asks that you contact Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia or Father Athanasios Giatsios. The parish number is: 9587 5945.
Annual Toy Drive by the Cretan Association of Sydney and NSW
The Cretan Association of Sydney and NSW is back for another year of collecting toys for their annual Toy Drive for sick and disadvantaged children this Christmas.
They ask for anyone interested in donating to purchase new and unwrapped children’s toys and drop them off at the Cretan Association’s Christmas Party at Ashbury Senior Citizen’s Centre on Friday, December 15.
The toys will then be distributed to children in various hospitals around Sydney.
Christmas hampers for refugees by the Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of Saint Nectarios in Burwood
The Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of Saint Nectarios in Burwood, Sydney is back for its sixth year in a row supporting Youth In Action as they donate 120 Christmas hampers to refugee families through Metro Assist.
If you’re interested in supporting the cause, St Nectarios invites you to come along to The Cottage at the church in Burwood on Wednesday, December 13 from 7 pm to 9pm, to help pack hampers. Alternatively, you can make donations via this link.
Christmas Food Hamper and Toy Appeal of the Greek Welfare Centre of Victoria
The Greek Welfare Centre of Victoria is also playing its part in giving back this Christmas by organising food hampers and toys to donate to those in need.
In a joint effort between Victoria’s Greek Orthodox parishes and the Greek Welfare Centre, the 2023 Christmas Food Hamper and Toy Appeal invites people to donate non-perishable food items that are in-date and tightly sealed (for the hampers) and unopened toys or as-new toys (for the Toy Appeal).
The donations can be dropped off at all Greek Orthodox churches in Victoria until Sunday, December 17. Alternatively, they can be dropped off at the Greek Welfare Centre at the Holy Monastery of Axion Esti at 7 Hartington Street, Northcote until Thursday, December 21.
For more information, contact the Greek Welfare Centre Victoria on (03) 9486 6588 to speak with Mr Yiannis Pilalidis.
*Do you know of another charitable cause that should be included in this article? Reach out to The Greek Herald via info@foreignlanguage.com.au and let us know.
