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MP Kat Theophanous suspended after Cyprus speech causes party friction

The Greek Herald
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MP Kat Theophanous suspended after Cyprus speech causes party friction

Northcote MP Kat Theophanous has been suspended from a sub-faction of the Victorian Labor Party after giving a speech in Victorian Parliament on the Turkish invasion of Cyprus that has triggered conflict within the party.

According to The Herald Sun, the MP was suspended from a sub faction of the party’s Right, the Cons faction, after sparking anger with the speech.

There had been a push to expel her but an indefinite suspension was negotiated instead.

As reported in The Greek Herald earlier this month, Ms Theophanous spoke in Parliament seeking support for a just solution to the Cyprus issue after the 1974 Turkish invasion.

“It has been 49 years since Turkey invaded Cyprus, illegally seizing and violently occupying 36 per cent of the island, displacing hundreds of thousands of people,” she said.

“I am proudly Cypriot Australian, and this year, along with eight other Hellenic Australian parliamentarians, we passed a resolution at the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association’s general assembly.”

“Together we condemned the illegal occupation of Northern Cyprus by Turkey, which contravenes international law and UN resolutions, and we called for the right of return for Cypriot refugees to their ancestral homelands. The resolution appeals to all parliaments, including this one, to fully support the UN-led efforts for a peaceful, just and viable Cyprus settlement.”

Ms Theophanous explained that her mother’s village, Asha, remained under Turkish control.

“It is occupied by Turkish military, who rounded up the Greek civilians, executed them and dumped their bodies into mass graves,” she said.

“The international community has repeatedly called for the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Cyprus and a peaceful resolution – a chillingly similar scenario to Ukraine now. I stand in solidarity with them.”

The comments made during the address infuriated Senior minister Natalie Suleyman and sparked rage among the ALP’s large Turkish base.

Natalie Suleyman MP.

A motion to suspend Ms Theophanous was moved by minister Melissa Horne.

“It’s pretty extraordinary she’s been penalised internally for a position that is held by many countries.

“It’s akin to moving on a First Nations person who raises concerns about the history of their people.” a source said.

Members of the faction have downplayed the suspension.

The suspension has also prompted fears of broader implications for the party including calling on the Victorian branch to formally recognise Greek and Armenian genocides.

AEK is through to the Champions League final play-offs

The Greek Herald
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AEK is through to the Champions League final play-offs

AEK Athens stunned Croatian counterparts Dinamo Zagreb with two late goals to secure place in the Champions League final play-off qualifying round.

By the 92nd minute of the match against Dinamo at the OPAP Arena, AEK were down 2-0, and it looked as though AEK’s European journey would end. But Sergio Araujo struck two minutes into added time to level matters, only for Domagoj Vida to score the winner 10 minutes later – in the 102nd minute – to put the Greek side into the play-offs.

The game finished 2-2 on Saturday, but AEK Athens progressed 4-3 on aggregate.

AEK will face Belgium’s Royal Antwerp in the final play-off round for a spot in the 2023/24 group stages.

Turkish Cypriot protesters clash with UN peacekeepers over road work in divided Cyprus’ buffer zone

The Greek Herald
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Turkish Cypriot protesters clash with UN peacekeepers over road work in divided Cyprus’ buffer zone

In a recent incident, Turkish Cypriot protesters engaged in a physical attack on international peacekeepers who had intervened to halt road construction activities encroaching upon a U.N.-administered buffer zone within ethnically divided Cyprus.

The United Nations reported on Friday that irate Turkish Cypriot individuals confronted a contingent of international peacekeepers who were preventing construction crews from working on a road intended to connect the village of Arsos, situated in the breakaway Turkish Cypriot northern region, to the mixed Greek Cypriot-Turkish Cypriot village of Pyla. This village lies within the buffer zone, adjacent to the Greek Cypriot southern region, where the internationally recognized government of the island is headquartered.

Video footage reviewed by The Associated Press depicted numerous Turkish Cypriot demonstrators confronting a smaller group of U.N. soldiers from Slovakia and the United Kingdom. These peacekeepers were attempting to restrain the protesters from initiating construction activities within the buffer zone. During this interaction, a few peacekeepers sustained facial injuries as they formed a human barrier to prevent the advancing Turkish Cypriot individuals. The U.N. reported that three soldiers required minor medical attention due to these altercations.

Turkish Cypriot protesters engaged in a physical attack on international peacekeepers.

This incident marks a significant escalation of tensions, representing a level of unrest not witnessed on the island in years.

The proposed road project is intended to provide Turkish Cypriots with a direct route to Pyla, bypassing a checkpoint located on the northern periphery of a British military base. These bases were retained by the United Kingdom after Cyprus attained independence from British colonial governance in 1960. Greek Cypriots perceive this road construction as having potential military implications due to its sensitive location within the 180-kilometer (120-mile) buffer zone.

UNFICYP, the United Nations peacekeeping force responsible for the region, released a statement condemning the incident and declaring that threats to the safety of peacekeepers and damage to U.N. property are unacceptable and constitute serious violations of international law.

Despite the altercation that transpired on Friday, UNFICYP spokesperson Aleem Siddique affirmed that the United Nations remains steadfast in its commitment to obstructing or hindering the road construction through nonviolent means. He emphasized that the construction of the road would run counter to the mandate of UNFICYP, which is tasked with preserving the existing status quo within the buffer zone.

The Colossus of Rhodes: The seventh wonder of the ancient world

The Greek Herald
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The Colossus of Rhodes: The seventh wonder of the ancient world

Prior to the island of Rhodes being recognised for its beautiful beaches and stunning landscapes, the island was known for its rich history and advanced civilisation.

Most recognisable was the Colossus of Rhodes, a huge bronze statue portraying the god of the sun Helios.

The location where the Colossus of Rhodes would have been. Photo: Visit Rhodes

Built between 292 to 280 BC, the monument was a symbol of freedom and local triumph with many believing that he stood on either side of the Rhodes harbor to greet visitors to the island.

Unfortunately, this seventh wonder of the ancient world was only briefly standing, with an earthquake in 226 BCE leading to the statue crashing down and causing considerable damage to the city and the harbour.

Source: The Collector

Greek island of Tilos is throwing away the concept of waste

The Greek Herald
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Greek island of Tilos is throwing away the concept of waste

On the island of Tilos, the Greek owned company Polygreen has begun implementing a zero-waste project to help combat wastage.

The project’s aim is to show households and businesses on the island how to sort their waste into recyclables, organic waste and non-recyclables.

Men working for Polygreen. Photo:The World Economic Forum.

Over the course of the past year, 745 residents on the Aegean Island have reduced their waste by 40%, with many of the islanders benefiting from free compost from organic waste and receiving fuel for cement kilns taken from non-recyclable materials.  

According to Athanasios Polychronopoulos, the founder of Polygreen, the aim is to attempt to change people’s perspectives on waste, and in turn, help the environment.

Source: Reuters

Prominent Greek-Cypriot doctor Jack Kerry dies aged 87

The Greek Herald
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Prominent Greek-Cypriot doctor Jack Kerry dies aged 87

Prominent Greek-Cypriot doctor from Adelaide, Jack Kerry, dies just three years after the coronial inquest into the overdose of his daughter and her friend.

Dr Kerry passed away on August 4, aged 87, after working as a doctor in Adelaide for more than 60 years.

The respected medical professional’s life changed when he found his daughter, Athena Kyriacou, and her friend, Luke Pike, had overdosed on heroin inside his CBD medical practice in 2016.

While the doctor’s daughter survived – after he provided her with CPR – Mr Pike was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dr Jack Kerry arrives to give evidence in the Coroners inquest into the death of Lucas Adam Pike at the Coroners Court in Adelaide in 2019. Picture: AAP/Kelly Barnes

Dr Kerry was called to give evidence during a coronial inquest in 2019. He defended his actions as “paternal instinct”.

“I went straight to my daughter,” he said.

“I didn’t know whether she was going to come out of it and I didn’t know whether Luke Pike would come out of it.”

He told the coroner he found Mr Pike and his daughter, Athena, unconscious and instinctively began CPR on her.

He agreed Mr Pike was in a far worse state than his daughter but said the man had “gone past the point of no return”.

“One look at him, I thought he’d had a cardiac arrest, thought he was dead,” he said.

State Coroner Mark Johns made no criticism of Dr Kerry for reviving his daughter.

Dr Kerry found his daughter Athena Kyriacou overdosed on heroin inside his CBD medical practice in 2016.

Dr Kerry had suffered the loss of his only son, Jack, to a drug overdose eight years before the incident.

In his death notice, Dr Kerry was remembered as a “loving father” to his children Jack, Athena and Christopher.

“So sadly missed by his loved ones and the wider community for which he cared for,” it read.

“In Loving Memory of his life’s work as a Doctor in Adelaide over 60 years.”

Source: The Advertiser

Impressive National Theatre of Rhodes to be restored

The Greek Herald
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Impressive National Theatre of Rhodes to be restored

The long-neglected National Theatre of Rhodes will finally be restored in a joint project by the South Aegean Regional Authority and the municipality of Rhodes.

With a budget of 16.8 million euros, the restoration project aims to benefit the island of Rhodes by growing its cultural infrastructure. Upon its completion, the theatre will host music and opera performances in cooperation with the Greek National Opera in Athens.

The National Theatre of Rhodes. Photo: Ekathimerini

Built in 1937 by Italian architect Armando Bernabiti, the national theatre was one of several impressive buildings left from the Italian occupation.

According to Rhodes Mayor Antonis Kampoutakis, the restoration project will provide a cultural center with the hope of boosting cooperation with art organisations and companies abroad.  

Source: Ekathimerini

Dr Panayiotis Diamadis to present ‘From Hydra to Parramatta’ in NSW

The Greek Herald
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Dr Panayiotis Diamadis to present ‘From Hydra to Parramatta’ in NSW

Dr Panayiotis Diamadis will speak on the topic “From Hydra to Parramatta” for the August 2023 monthly meeting at the Parramatta and District Historical Society in NSW.

Born in Sydney, Dr Diamadis studied at The University of Sydney and graduated with his Doctorate in Genocide Studies in 2006.

Dr Panayiotis Diamadis will give a lecture on the beginning of Parramatta’s Hellenic community.  

With a central focus on Australian-Hellenic symbiosis—the Hellenic experiences in Australia as much as the Australian experiences in the Hellenic world—Dr Diamadis will explore the earliest pages of Parramatta’s Hellenic story.

Apart from his work on the Australian-Hellenic symbiosis, Dr Diamadis research is also based on Genocides of the Hellenes, Armenians and Assyrians during and after World War One.

The Brig Ares, by French Painter François Geoffroi Roux – Benaki Museum.

Event description:

It is the northern summer of 1827. The Hellenic War of Independence against the Ottoman Turkish Empire has been raging for more than six years. A Hellenic vessel named the Herakles stopped and boarded a British cargo ship transporting war material to Egypt, then ruled by the Ottoman Turkish Empire.

Hunted down by the Royal Navy in the hot Mediterranean summer, seven young Hellenes were sentenced to transportation to the Sydney colony. They arrived in Sydney Harbour in September 1829.

This is how the story of Parramatta’s Hellenic community began – with convicts cultivating the soil in the service of John Macarthur.

The presentation is free and visitors are welcome.

Details:

The evening commences at 7:30PM, Monday August 21, 2023 at 3 Blackwood Place, Oatlands, Burnside Gardens Community Centre. The presentation will be followed by supper.

For enquiries, contact: Jeff Allen 0414 996 497

NUGAS Victoria to hold annual Gala Ball in Melbourne

The Greek Herald
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NUGAS Victoria to hold annual Gala Ball in Melbourne

Written by Co-Presidents Billy Battista and Marissa Robotis

On Friday, September 1, the National Union of Greek Australian Students Victoria (NUGAS) will hold their annual Gala Ball at the Pullman Albert Park.

This is an opportunity for Greek-Australian youth to come together, put their dancing shoes on and celebrate the biggest night on the university Greek social calendar.

As the only organisation still operating under the renowned NUGAS name, NUGAS Victoria continues to be a proud and established organisation of over 50 years, and remains a strong, active and thriving not-for-profit student social and cultural organisation.

They are one of the most active groups of Greek-Australian and Philhellenic youth that support the Greek community, spread Greek culture and advocate for Greek education in Victoria.

Greek-Australian youth will come together for a night of dancing.

Whilst the event is hosted by NUGAS, it wouldn’t be a night of true Greek hospitality if they didn’t extend the ‘filotimo’ spirit to everyone. They are welcoming all students and friends from all backgrounds, institutions and universities to attend, just as long as they are willing to display their best ‘zeimbekika’ and ‘tsiftitelia’ moves.

NUGAS will continue to maintain the best elements of all their past Balls but they have a few surprises in store, so there is plenty for guests to get excited about.

NUGAS Victoria continues to be a proud and established organisation of over 50 years.

The night will commence in style with drinks on arrival followed by a three-course curated meal, accompanied by beer, wine, champagne and soft drink all night.

The night will continue with live Greek entertainment, led by Con and Thomas Nicolopoulos throughout the night, while after the Ball there will be an exclusive after party for all guests.

Event details:

When: Friday 1 September

Where: Pullman Melbourne Albert Park, 65 Queens Rd, Albert Park VIC 3004

Bookings: via Nugas Gala Ball 2023

Tickets close this Sunday 20 August with 75% already sold out. This is a strictly 18+ event. For further information, contact NUGAS via social media or email nugas@nugasvic.org.au

Sydney Olympic player Hagi Gligor to retire from football at end of 2023 season

The Greek Herald
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Sydney Olympic player Hagi Gligor to retire from football at end of 2023 season

Sydney Olympic player, Hagi Gligor, has announced his retirement at the end of the 2023 season.

Hagi has served the club with distinction since joining in 2016, making 93 appearances and scoring seven goals. He has been an integral part of the club’s on-field success, winning the NSW Championship and Premiership ‘Double’ in 2018 and the Premiership in 2022.

Playing youth football for Penrith Nepean, Sydney United and Marconi, the talented midfielder was signed by Sydney FC in 2012. Impressive performances in their youth team led to his nomination for National Youth League Player of the Year. At the age of just 17 years-old, Hagi made his A-League debut, coming on as a substitute against the Central Coast Mariners. A starting debut against Melbourne Heart soon followed, as well as a call-up to the U-20 Youth World Cup.

Eventually captaining the Young Socceroos, Hagi spent a season with the Perth Glory, scoring his first A-League goal.

“I often get asked about my time in the A-League and the national team,” Gligor said. “But the happiest moments I’ve had were playing at Belmore Sports Ground.”

“A massive thank you to the players, coaches, staff and fans – and a special mention to Damon Hanlin – for being part of the journey.”

Read more: Sydney Olympic player Will Angel to retire from football after 20 years

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