During a visit to Crete, Mr Reece visited the town of Sfakia, which is known for its importance to Australian armed forces during the second World War.
(L-R) Felicity Pantelidis, Nicholas Reece, Kostas Bakogiannis and Bill Papastergiadis in Greece earlier this year.
A memorial now stands at Sfakia to honour the thousands of ANZACs who were captured by the Germans on the Greek island.
The Herald Sun reported that after visiting the memorial, Mr Reece spotted a tattered Australian flag and on his return to Australia, he called on Federal Veterans Affairs Minister Matt Keogh to address the situation.
Mr Reece told The Herald Sun: “I have now been informed that new flags are now flying in this special place.”
One of the oldest members of Melbourne’s Greek community, Evangelia Katris, passed away on Sunday at the age of 104.
Ms Katris was born in Heraklion, Crete and migrated to Australia in 1954, where she grew up in Alexandria, Sydney with her mum and sister.
She was known for dedicating her time to serve her local Greek community.
Ms Katris was also the mother of Nicholas Katris, the former president of Pronia, a not-for-profit Greek Australian community organisation in Melbourne.
In a post on Facebook, Pronia posted that Ms Katris was a beloved member of the organisation for decades, and her death left many hurt and heartbroken.
The post revealed that Ms Katris would receive services from Pronia which allowed her to live independently in her own house after turning 100, despite having severe vision problems.
“We offer our condolences to Nicholas Katris and the extended Katris family including Lana Laios her granddaughter who is a current PRONIA board member,” the Facebook post read.
Greek Foreign Affairs Minister George Gerapetritis revealed on Monday that Greece has “absolutely no plan or intention” to welcome Palestinians facing expulsion from Palestine.
Amna.gr reported that Mr Gerapetritis was responding to a query from Spartiates MP Alexandros Zervas during a plenary session, where he addressed his concerns about the government’s migration policy.
Zervas further mentioned the US Ambassador to Greece George Tsunis and his recent remarks at the Circle Of Ideas conference which took place in Athens, where he claimed that Tsunis had discussed granting Greek nationality to migrants after a five-year residency.
Mr Gerapetritis shared that granting Greek citizenship is regulated by law in accordance to the Greek Constitution.
“It is not determined by anything else, it is not influenced by any statement of any foreign factor, nor the [US] ambassador in Athens,” he said.
FM G.Gerapetritis @ #EU#FAC: In Gaza, there is an urgent need for at least a 5-day humanitarian pause to open a sustainable humanitarian corridor that will allow the channeling of essential supplies (food, water, medical services) & the restoration of critical infrastructure pic.twitter.com/ZyFdLenx0Y
“There is no such thing as a ‘directed colonization’,” the Minister added, pointing out that it is “precisely the border guarding policy that this government has introduced which has reduced the illegal flow of migrants by 90% over the last 4.5 years.”
Another question by Plefsi Eleftherias MP Alexandros Kazamias regarding concerns of the Greek government’s stance on the humanitarian crisis in Palestine was raised.
Mr Gerapetritis said that he is in contact with both sides and will be participating in a video conference of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on the situation in the Middle East with “hope that there will be an immediate humanitarian pause so that the phenomenon of the suppression of the rights of civilians will stop.”
In response, Mr Kazamias said the Greek government is not and should keep its distance from the government of Israel regarding this matter.
The official ceremony was held at the Cyprus Community Club in the presence of a number of official guests including the Deputy Head of Mission at the Cyprus High Commission, Stavros Nicolaou; Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia; the First Secretary for Public Diplomacy at the Consulate of Greece in Sydney, Anastasia Christofilopoulou; the President of the Cypriot Community of NSW, Andrew Costa; and the President of the Federation of Cypriot Communities of Australia, Michael Christodoulou.
A number of speeches were given on the night by Bishop Christodoulos, Mr Costa and Mr Nicolaou.
In his speech, the Bishop wished the Cyprus Community good luck for the festival. Mr Costa spoke next and thanked the NSW Government for providing a $15,000 grant to support the event.
“The festival has been held for more than 50 years and every year we aim to make it better than ever and bring more people,” Mr Costa said, before explaining the importance of traditional Cypriot food and wine and why it needs to be recognised in Australia.
Mr Nicolaou gave a resounding address in Greek on the night, stressing that the Cyprus Community needs to put aside its differences and be united for the benefit of Cyprus and the local diaspora. Events such as the Cyprus Food and Wine festival are pivotal to this unity, he said.
“To remain united is the key to protecting all of Cyprus,” Mr Nicolaou added.
Attendees were then entertained for the remainder of the night with music by Mario Evripidou and Mr Michalis, as well as dancing performances by the Cyprus Community of NSW dancers.
Cypriot culture on full display:
On Sunday, the Festival continued outdoors with dozens of Cypriot food stalls, from fresh BBQ octopus to Cypriot koupes. The passion for wine also echoed across the Festival, with wine barrels open for the public to serve themselves and enjoy.
Festival-goers visited stalls selling icons, jewellery, pottery and information about the Cypriot language and island.
Formal proceedings on the day included speeches by the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis; Mr Nicolaou; Mr Costa and archaeologist Craig Barker. Michael Kyriakou read out official letters sent by the NSW Governor Margaret Beazley and the NSW Liberal Leader, Mark Speakman.
There were also a number of vibrant dancing performances by dancing groups such as the Cyprus Community of NSW dancers, the Kalymnian Association of NSW dancers, Sydney Greek Dancing School, and Pontoxeniteas NSW.
There was one event that was highly regarded in the ‘Golden Age’ of Thessaloniki in the 14th century. It was the “Dimitria” – a religious and commercial festival that was held to celebrate their patron saint Dimitrios.
The Dimitria Festival was first staged in Adelaide, South Australia in 1979 and it was the first time the multicultural event had been organised in a city outside of Greece.
Over the weekend, the two-day event was again held at the headquarters of the Pan Macedonian Federation of South Australia.
The six associations that make up the Pan Macedonian Federation are: Brotherhood Alexander the Great, Halkideon Society Aristotle, Kastorian Society of SA, Brotherhood of SA Pavlos Melas, Pierikos Society of SA and Vergina Women’s Association.
The current President of the Pan Macedonian Association, Georgia Koronis, spoke to The Greek Herald about the significance of the Dimitria Festival to the local community.
“I particularly want to acknowledge and thank the six associations that make up the Pan Macedonian Federation of SA,” she said.
“The Dimitria Festival recognises and promotes the invaluable contribution made by Greek people, especially those from the region of Macedonia in Northern Greece.
“It openly reflects and promotes the benefits of our multicultural society where all people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds live and participate harmoniously as one nation.
“We wish to showcase the rich traditions, folklore and customs, to our diverse community, in a family atmosphere.”
Special guests who attended this year’s festival included the Consul General of Greece in Adelaide, George Psiachas; the SA Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism, Jing Lee MLC; Mayor of the City of West Torrens, Michael Coxon; Father Peter Photakis; the President of the Inter-communities Council of SA, Dr Vladimir Devrelis; and the President of the Greek Orthodox Community of SA, Peter Gardiakos.
Mrs Koronis praised the huge team of volunteers, made up of various ages, who worked hard behind the scenes to ensure attendees enjoyed the food and entertainment on the day.
“Without the work of the volunteers and members of the associations these events simply do not happen,” she said.
“The South Australian Government was proud to support this year’s Dimitria Festival.
“One of the wonderful elements of this festival is seeing the generations of families attending.
“We often see young adults back in the early days who are now bringing their grandchildren to this festival.”
The two-day event included dance performances and Greek music by local band – Floga.
The Vergina Greek Women’s Society spent several months making their famous cheese, spanakopita and leek ‘pittes’ that were frozen to be freshly baked on the day. Other foods on offer included: yiros, souvlakia, loukanika and many popular sweets.
In 2019, the Dimitria Festival was awarded the Best Community Event by the City of West Torrens. The state government also provided $20,000 of funding to the Pan Macedonian Federation.
The SA Multicultural Minister Zoe Bettison said the Dimitria Festival is a “vibrant display of culture, food and dance.”
Greek communities in New South Wales and Victoria gathered at events over the weekend to mark the 50th anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic Uprising.
New South Wales:
The Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW), the Polytechnic Commemoration Committee and the Combined Universities Greek Association (CUGA) held a commemoration event at the Greek Community Club in Lakemba, Sydney on Sunday, November 19.
All photos copyright The Greek Herald.
The event was attended by a number of officials guests including the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis; Georges River Councillor Nick Katris; the President of the GOCNSW, Harry Danalis; and the newly appointed Multicultural NSW Advisory Board Member, George Vardas; as well as other representatives of Greek communities across Sydney and many university students.
The commemoration began with emcee Dimitri Kallos calling for a minute silence followed by the national anthems of Greece and Australia. A wreath laying ceremony was then held at a special cenotaph set up at the front of the stage.
Afterwards, a video titled ‘One week diary of the Polytechnic – by Yiannis Ritsos’ was displayed and this was followed by two speeches from the Consul General and Mr Danalis.
Mr Danalis gave a brief history of the Athens Polytechnic Uprising in his speech. The Consul General said that even though he wasn’t around to witness the uprising, it was important for future generations to be aware of it as it marked an important time in the history of Greece.
Throughout the event, there were also a number of poem recitals by students from the afternoon and Saturday schools of the GOCNSW at Clemton Park, as well as UTS Hellenic.
Victoria:
The Commemorative Committee for the Polytechnic Uprising organised a wreath laying ceremony at the Australian Hellenic Memorial in Melbourne, Victoria to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the uprising and those who lost their lives.
Present at the event were a number of officials, including the President of the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM), Bill Papastergiadis.
On Sunday, the Polytechnic Memory Committee also organised a commemoration event at the Victorian Trades Hall in Carlton. The event attracted numerous Greeks of all ages, including the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Emmanuel Kakavelakis.
A highlight of the event was a performance by the Alphington Grammar School’s Youth Orchestra, who sang songs by Mikis Theodorakis.
As the festive season approaches, The Greek Herald newspaper wants YOU to participate in its annual Christmas competition.
The competition aims to encourage youth participation from schools around Australia to showcase their artistic skills and creativity, as well as providing them with a platform to express their festive spirit through drawings.
The artwork chosen as the top prize winner will be published as the cover image of The Greek Herald’s special Christmas print edition. The top prize winner will also receive a $200 Westfield voucher.
The top 10 finalists will be featured in a dedicated section of The Greek Herald‘s annual Christmas print edition.
The Greek Herald’s Christmas covers from past years.
Competition details:
Theme: Christmas in Greece OR a Greek Christmas.
Submission requirements: Children are required to create an original drawing depicting the nominated themes. The artwork should reflect the unique cultural elements and traditions associated with Greek Christmas festivities.
Specifications: Artwork must be provided in portrait A4 or A3.
To participate, interested children or schools must submit their drawings via email to info@foreignlanguage.com.au by Friday, December 8 at 5pm with the subject line: Christmas Cover Competition. Please ensure that each submission includes the child’s name, age, school and year grade.
Melbourne Town Hall was ablaze with the most influential and promising figures of Melbourne’s Greek community as the 2023 Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI) Excellence Awards unfolded on Friday, November 17.
When Melbourne’s Greeks gather to honour their best, it’s not a local affair – it’s a nationwide showcase. HACCI representatives from Western Australia and South Australia attended as a show of support. Dr Elena Limnios, HACCI WA President, highlighted the significance when speaking to The Greek Herald.
Dr Thanasis Gaitatzis and Dr Elena Limnios, the Vice President and President of HACCI in WA. Photo copyright The Greek Herald / Mary Sinanidis.Networking, congratulations and plenty of photo ops following the official awards ceremony. Photo copyright The Greek Herald / Mary Sinanidis.Godmother, god-daughter and mother celebrated at the HACCI Awards. Photo copyright The Greek Herald / Mary Sinanidis.
“Our presence here signifies the strengthening and solidification of the National HACCI Federation, a pivotal step towards giving Greek Australians a united voice for the first time,” she said, looking forward to what 2024 would bring.
In many ways, HACCI is the diaspora’s cavalry call of the powerful from around the nation. Donned in tuxedos and ballgowns, they join forces to fight for ongoing projects, such as “liaising with the Greek government on critical issues like the new voting legislation, exploring remote workforce collaboration between Australia and Greece, and focusing on bilateral trade with an emphasis on intellectual property” and an ongoing list outlined by Dr Limnios.
Fotini Kypraios, HACCI Chair, spoke of the “power of a united front” to get things done. And who better to do this than the community’s most successful professionals, passionate Greeks who want to give back to honour their parents and leave a legacy for their kids.
2023 HACCI Excellence Award Winners and Board members.
Ms Kypraios in September met with political representatives during her holiday to Greece to campaign for a Double Taxation Agreement, barrack for bilateral trade between family time and beach hopping.
“We are also continuing our campaign for the re-establishment of a direct flight between Melbourne and Athens, engaging with stakeholders and talking to politicians at higher levels,” she said.
HACCI Chair Fotini Kypraios addresses the guests. Photo copyright The Greek Herald / Mary Sinanidis.
Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) President Bill Papastergiadis may not be on the HACCI board, but he is very much on board. He, too, has been working as an advocate for the community. As the night unfolded, it became clear that the Greek community, amidst dancing and building successful careers, was achieving excellence collectively.
GCM Members lended their support to the awards. Photo: The Greek Herald / Mary Sinanidis.Quite a gathering of people. Photo copyright: The Greek Herald / Mary Sinanidis.
It’s not just Greeks joining forces from around Australia, but intergenerational cooperation. The awards highlighted this with recipients ranging from millennial Dean Kotsianis, the recipient of the Chris Saristavros Young Achiever Award, to baby boomers Dina and Kyriakos Amanatides who received the Spiro Stamoulis Lifetime Achievement Award for their consistent contributions to the community.
Dina and Kyriakos Amanatides.Dean Kotsianis.Dina Petrakis
Ms Kypraios said she was “proud to be part of a multicultural community of exceptional achievers,” a sentiment echoed by Lee Tarlamis MP.
“The individual and collective achievements of the award winners were inspiring and a highlight of the significant Hellenic contribution to our successful and vibrant multiculturalism,” he told The Greek Herald.
Dorothy Hatzopoulos and Lee Tarlamis. Photo copyright The Greek Herald / Mary Sinanidis.
But most of the recipients weren’t sure why such honour should be bestowed upon them. Pelagia Markogiannakis, Woman of Influence Award recipient, told The Greek Herald, “I don’t think I’ve done anything unusual. I’ve just lived my life with passion.”
Pelagia added her parents had done the same before her.
Chris Foods.Pelagia MarkogiannakisAdrian Sapountzis Spencer.
“It’s really important that we do what we want to do so that our kids see us as role models and say, ‘I can do that too’,” she said.
Former HACCI Professional Excellence Award Recipient for 2020, Dr Con Giannellis wasn’t exactly sure why he had received the honour during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Con Giannellis, a former recipient of the HACCI Awards for Excellence. Photo copyright The Greek Herald / Mary Sinanidis.
“We were looking after the sickest of the sick at the time, but I didn’t do anything different,” he said. “I guess it was just a recognition of my hard work and dedication to my profession.”
This year’s Professional Excellence Award went to Christos Tsiolkas, who addressed the crowd via a video. It was a spinetingling moment for a Greek community that has made leaps in its acceptance of diversity thanks to role models like this award-winning author.
Christos Tsiolkas.
It’s obvious the community has also come a long way in taste with the night opening with a poignant tribute to Vangelis Papathanasiou performed by pianist Adam Rudegeair on the Melbourne Town Hall’s Grand Organ. Later Zoy Frangos, a Greek Aboriginal musical theatre and opera star, flexed his vocal range before Anagennisi enticed everyone to the dance floor.
Everyone had fun, but some had more fun than others. Photo copyright The Greek Herald / Mary Sinanidis.
Speed artist Brad Blaze whipped up two paintings auctioned off to raise funds for Victoria University to support Professor Vasso Apostolopoulos’ ground-breaking research on pancreatic cancer and the rollout of the breast cancer vaccination. Though HACCI is by its nature a chamber of commerce, it is also about giving back.
Speed artist Brad Blaze created Greek-inspired paintings of the goddess Athena and Maria Callas which were auctioned off. Photo copyright The Greek Herald / Mary Sinanidis.
Tina Douvos-Stathopoulos, PRONIA CEO, pointed to the philanthropic nature of the evening and told The Greek Herald that the Greek Australian welfare organisation has been supporting the awards for seven years.
“It is important for us to acknowledge those people who contributed to the community in very positive ways to make a difference to people’s lives,” she said.
The 2023 HACCI Excellence Award Winners:
Spiro Stamoulis Lifetime Achievement Award: Dina and Kyriakos Amanatides.
Bank of Sydney Business Excellence Award: Chris’ Foods.
Professional Excellence Award, presented by BDO Australia: Christos Tsiolkas.
Innovation Award, presented by Directed Group: Adrian Sapountzis Spencer.
Woman of Influence Award, presented by SalaryMasters: Pelagia Markogiannakis.
Community Service Award, presented by PRONIA: Dina Petrakis.
Sport Award, presented by Heidelberg United FC: Chris Nikou.
Chris Saristavros Young Achiever Award: Dean Kotsianis.
A Greek Australian millionaire has been charged with rape, sexual assault and assault occasioning bodily harm after an incident took place on the Gold Coast last month.
George Koumantatakis, who is known in the hospitality and property industry in Melbourne, was charged with raping and assaulting a Glitter Strip businesswoman at an up-market shopping centre at Marina Mirage at Main Beach.
Courier Mail reported that the 63-year-old man did not appear in Southport Magistrates Court in person last Tuesday, where his charges were first mentioned, but he was represented by his defence lawyer, Callan Lloyd.
Millionaire George Koumantatakis charged with rape of Queensland businesswoman.
Police prosecutor Abby Griffiths called for stricter bail conditions, asking for orders that Mr Koumantatakis surrender his passport and not approach any international departure points “given the gravity of the charges.”
Mr Koumantatakis’ defence lawyer disagreed and said Koumantatakis was “simply not a flight risk” and the bail conditions were “more onerous than necessary.”
He shared that Mr Koumantatakis was an Australian citizen without a criminal history, had been married for 44 years and had residential and commercial real estate properties in Victoria.
Koumantatakis’ case has been adjourned to November 23.
Two Greek football clubs have today been officially confirmed among the eight foundation clubs to take part in Australia’s National Second Tier (NST) competition, set to commence in March / April 2025.
The two Greek clubs are Sydney Olympic FC and South Melbourne FC. They will be joined by APIA Leichhardt FC, Avondale FC, Marconi Stallions FC, Preston Lions FC, Sydney United 58 FC, and Wollongong Wolves FC.
The clubs were announced at a Football Australia press conference today after a rigorous and comprehensive application process.
The following initial foundation clubs were selected based on their strong proposals and readiness to meet the standards set for the NST competition.
James Johnson, CEO of Football Australia, expressed his enthusiasm for this pivotal development.
“Each club demonstrated not only their readiness in terms of operational and commercial elements but also their alignment with the strategic objectives of Australian football,” Mr Johnson said.
James Johnson, CEO of Football Australia (right), spoke at a press conference today. Photo copyright: The Greek Herald.
Looking forward, Mr Johnson highlighted the strategic importance of the NST.
“This is more than just a competition; it’s a cornerstone in our mission to fortify the foundations of our sport. The National Second Tier will be instrumental in nurturing talent, engaging communities, and elevating the overall quality of football across the country,” he said.
While due diligence is ongoing to ensure these clubs align with the Club Participation Agreement (CPA) and Club Licensing requirements, Football Australia is committed to expanding the competition’s horizon.
The NST is set to be a transformative element in Australian football, initially featuring 10 or 12 teams, the inaugural season will incorporate home and away matches culminating in a competitive Finals Series. This initiative is a testament to years of dedicated efforts and advocacy from stakeholders across the football community.
In early 2024, the focus will shift to selecting an additional 2-4 clubs through a refined application process, ensuring a sustainable and diverse composition of clubs for the inaugural NST season.
“Our goal is to ensure that the National Second Tier not only enhances the competitive landscape but also embodies the spirit and aspirations of Australian football at all levels,” Johnson explained.
Two Greek football clubs have today been officially confirmed among the eight foundation clubs to take part in Australia’s National Second Tier (NST) competition. Photo copyright: The Greek Herald.
The decision to commence the NST in 2025 was made to ensure a solid foundation for the competition, accommodating comprehensive planning and development for all stakeholders. Two competition formats are under consideration for the inaugural season, contingent upon the successful selection of additional clubs next year:
A 10-team competition with two rounds plus a Finals Series, totalling 18 regular season matches.
A 12-team competition with two rounds plus a Finals Series, totalling 22 regular season matches.
Furthermore, the NST will be a pivotal feature in the media rights deal from 2025 onwards, showcasing Football Australia’s commitment to the growth and promotion of football in Australia.
For the 2024 season, the eight foundation clubs, alongside prospective new entrants, will continue competing in their respective Member Federation National Premier Leagues’ competitions. Football Australia will work closely with these clubs to ensure a smooth transition to the NST.
The next steps for Football Australia will be the finalisation of the application process for the additional foundation clubs in 2024, with specific details to be announced in the coming months. The establishment and development of the NST competition brand is underway, with an exciting launch event anticipated in early 2024.
“A new era kicks off in 2025,” Johnson said. “Join us as these clubs carve their paths in the annals of Australian football history. Football Australia stands united for the game and ready for the future.”
