Her incredible performance saw international coach Jason Derulo turn his chair first, followed by Jessica Mauboy, Rita Ora and Guy Sebastian. Each of them looked baffled as they realised a young girl was singing.
After finishing on a high note and consulting with her parents, Gezel ultimately opted to choose Team Rita as she progresses to the next round of The Voice Australia.
“To sound like that at 12, I’ve literally never seen anything like it,” Rita said after Gezel chose her.
Gezel is the youngest artist on this year’s competition.
Greece’s Defence Minister Nikos Dendias met with Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday in Israel.
In a statement on social media after the meeting, Dendias said the two leaders “highlighted the excellent level of cooperation between our countries’ Armed Forces.”
“We also agreed to enhance our mutually beneficial cooperation in the area of defence research and technology with the involvement of the defence industry, research institutions, and other innovation bodies,” he added.
In today's meeting with the Israeli Minister of Defence, Mr. @yoavgallant, we discussed the important achievements of our Strategic Defence Relationship and expressed our wish to further broaden it.
Dendias and Gallant also discussed regional collaboration issues and security, and stability challenges in the greater region of the East Mediterranean.
For his part, Gallant said Israel would aid Greece during its current wildfire crisis just as the Greek government assisted Israel in the past.
Australia’s Matildas are through to the FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinals after recording a 2-0 victory over Denmark at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
Caitlin Foord scored on the half-hour mark to settle Australia’s nerves after a bright start from Denmark, led principally by Pernille Harder.
Hayley Raso made sure of the victory with a powerful finish mid-way through the second half.
In another huge boost for the Matildas, Sam Kerr also returned to playing action from a calf injury, coming off the bench at the end of the match to the delight of the capacity crowd of 75,784.
The Matildas have now set up a quarterfinal clash with either Morocco or France in Brisbane, Queensland on Saturday.
The Greek Australian Cultural League (GACL) officially launched its 13th annual group art exhibition Antipodean Palette on August 5 at the Steps Gallery in Melbourne.
The work of 12 artists of Greek descent and links to the Greek community are currently being showcased in the exhibition titled After the Isolation.
Artists at the Antipodean Palette. All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Marianna Alepidis.The works of the late Stella Tsirka.
In the last three years, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the exhibition was held online and via outdoor venues and the return to the gallery has been much to the joy of GACL President, Cathy Alexopoulos.
“After the Isolation means that we are able to open up again in the gallery that we used to exhibit in. This is the 13th year that we are doing this,” she said.
“We opened it up to anyone to give their own interpretation. It didn’t have to be restricted to the theme because a lot of artists work on their pieces for a very long time. You can’t restrict them, so it’s a variety of different works that we see here.”
Basil of the Perth based Masonik art collective.Binding Threads by Effy Alexakis.Works of Christine Denny.
Self-taught artist Konstantinia Gogou is a returning artist, who had previously created a piece during her pregnancy. One year on, her new canvas celebrates the body.
“It’s a continuation of my last entry that was in 2021. When I was pregnant, I did a self-portrait and the concept was metamorphosis. This year, the concept is “After the Isolation,” which is a double lesson for me because aside from the COVID isolation that we all went through, it was a metaphorical isolation of the first year of motherhood,” Ms Gogou explained.
“I came out of that a different person physically and mentally. So that is the concept so that painting is a celebration of the body and a celebration of life.”
Konstantinia Gogou with her canvas.Konstantinia Gogou’ canvas (right).
Ms Gogou has a special connection with the GACL and, in the last couple of years, with the Antipodean Palette exhibition. She is grateful to the organisation for platforming her work.
“It [the exhibition] is very close to my heart. The first artistic event I ever attended in Melbourne was a GACL-run drawing session and being involved for six years, it feels surreal,” she said.
“I really admire their work and I feel I am in the new generation of what they do. I really want to continue to be a part of it because I want to leave something behind for my kids.”
Opening of the art exhibition.
Committee member Frixo Ioannides began the launch event proceedings, talking about the rich culture cultivated by the GACL before handing over to Ms Alexopoulos.
The GACL President went on to give her thanks to the community for their continued support, including the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne Emmanuel Kakavelakis, who was in attendance on the day.
Frixo Ioannides.Cathy Alexopoulos.
Ms Alexopoulos then introduced self-proclaimed “Australian-Greek” artist Michael Winters.
Mr Winters’ relationship with Greece began in October 1965. When many Greek migrants were setting sail for a new life in Australia on the Patris, he took one of the return trips back to Piraeus, fresh out of art school.
After a chance encounter on the ship, a fellow passenger invited him to the Greek island of Leros, where he spent a considerable amount of time.
“On a very wet rainy day in November 1965, I set foot on Leros at one o’clock in the morning, freezing cold. That led to a long relationship with the island and being made an Honorary Citizen of Leros in 1995 was a personal, deep honour,” he said during his speech.
Michael Winters.
Mr Winters also created the first ever artwork for the GACL’s Antipodes periodical 50 years ago.
“The sheer pleasure of something I did wholeheartedly, enthusiastically that night had lived on and lived on and on… is more than touching,” he said.
“To be able to be here today to see all these beautiful faces looking at me, back in my hometown that I left all those years ago when I threw my fate to the wind, and looking at this work on the wall is beyond an honour.”
The exhibition will be available to view until 13 August at the Steps Gallery.
Tracey Yannopoulos with her work Liberty.
Exhibition Details:
Steps Gallery, 62 Lygon Street, Carlton.
August 3 – August 13.
Viewing times: Weekdays: 10 am – 4 pm (closed on Monday), Weekends: 11 am – 3 pm.
*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Marianna Alepidis.
The GOAA placed Father Leslie on “ecclesiastical suspension” in May this year. At the time, the Archdiocese said the ecclesiastical suspension would be reviewed once Father Leslie “returns to the treasury of the Parish of St Gerasimos in Sydney, the money he has embezzled or there is a relevant settlement with the Board of Directors of the Parish.”
In the recent statement, Father Leslie apologised “to the President, the members of the Board of Directors, and all the faithful parishioners of the parish of Saint Gerasimos, for my behaviour which culminated in the scandal that I caused to our Church.”
Father Leslie also acknowledged “the financial discrepancies and damage for which I am responsible, as demonstrated by two independent audits.”
For their part, the Parish thanked Father Leslie for his service over 20 years and said the appointment of new priest Father Panteleimon is an opportunity for a “new beginning.”
Allegations Father Leslie misappropriated funds first came afterThe Greek Herald reported that the Parish committee were considering a proposal earlier this year to move Father Leslie to St Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church at St Marys.
Parishioners at St Gerasimos launched a petition at the time, calling on the committee “to reconsider” their proposal to move Father Leslie.
Following the latest statement, the GOAA have not made a public announcement about the issue and are yet to confirm whether the ecclesiastical suspension of Father Leslie has been lifted. According to a Facebook post by St Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church at St Marys, Father Leslie conducted a Divine Liturgy at the parish on Sunday, August 6.
Full Communique:
The joint statement by Father Leslie Kostoglou and the St Gerasimos Greek Orthodox Parish in Leichhardt, Sydney.
The Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia (GOCSA) and Ridleyton Greek Home for the Aged, have encouraged the community to recognise those who care for older Australians and say “thanks for caring” this Aged Care Employee Day on Monday, August 7.
“Thank you for the love and support you give to those within our care; the compassion and dedication you bring, and the dignity and respect you show to the elders of our Greek and the wider community. We are proud of the care and support you, and aged care employees across Australia, deliver daily,” GOCSA President Peter Gardiakos said.
Ridleyton Greek Home for the Aged staff. Photo: Supplied by the GOCSA.
“To our nurses, our carers, our allied health, our lifestyle staff, our administration staff and our maintenance staff – we say thank you for being the magic that makes the Ridleyton Greek Home for the Aged family so special.”
Mr Gardiakos said that “it’s been an unprecedented time for aged care workers in residential and home care services leaving many families and friends unable to visit loved ones in care for weeks on end.”
Ridleyton Greek Home for the Aged staff. Photo: Supplied by the GOCSA.
“For the last few years, it often fell to the carers, the nurses and other staff to make up for that loss of family contact and become that crucial connection for frail and vulnerable older Australians,” he said.
“So… we encourage our community to think of the nurses, personal care workers, chefs, cleaners, gardeners, laundry staff, activities coordinators and administration staff when they next visit a loved one in aged care.”
Ridleyton Greek Home for the Aged staff. Photo: Supplied by the GOCSA.
Director of Clinical Services at Ridleyton Greek Home for the Aged, Thuy Phan, also thanked the staff for their commitment.
“To all our staff, thank you for your incredible ongoing love and dedication. Such a difference when you go above and beyond to put a smile on our residents’ faces,” Ms Phan said.
Greece’s Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias has issued a warning about a high risk of wildfires across the country during the coming week.
According to AMNA.gr, Minister Kikilias emphasised that most wildfires are caused by human activities and urged individuals and local authorities to exercise caution.
“From Monday, we will have a lot of wind, the well-known ‘meltemia’ that according to the National Meteorological Service will reach seven, eight or even nine Beaufort in many parts of Greece,” the minister warned.
📌 Συνέντευξη Υπ. Κλιματικής Κρίσης & Πολιτικής Προστασίας @Vkikilias στην τηλεόραση του OPEN
💬 Έρχεται μια δύσκολη εβδομάδα με ισχυρούς ανέμους, τα γνωστά μελτέμια, σε πολλές περιοχές της Ελλάδας. Χρειάζεται ιδιαίτερη προσοχή από όλους
“We are living in an era of climate crisis and we see this on Corfu, where last week we had a great wildfire in the north section of the island and yesterday we had extreme weather phenomena with strong rain and hail.”
The Greek minister also noted that the “the state gives funds in good time each year for the clearing and fire protection of public spaces,” and urged local authorities to “use every last euro of these funds.”
“There must be timely clearing and also better and more effective checking,” he said.
With yet another excellent performance, Stefanos Tsitsipas prevailed in the Los Cabos final with 6-3, 6-4 over Alex De Minaur, winning the Mifel Tennis Open title.
The top Greek tennis player won his first title for this year, reaching ten titles overall in his career.
Shamishi is a Cypriot pastry filled with a semolina custard. The vegan dessert can be eaten all year round.
Niki Louca from My Greek Kitchen shares her favourite recipe with The Greek Herald. You can follow her on Instagram @mygreekkitchen for more!
Note: The following recipe makes about 100 shamishi – will vary depending on the size.
Ingredients and Method:
Dough:
5 cups strong bread flour.
2 2/3 – 3 cups water.
½ cup vegetable oil.
Extra oil for frying – can use veg oil or light olive oil.
Prepare dough the day before. Mix all ingredients adding water last. Add 2 cups of water and slowly add the last 2/3 – 1 cup. You should end up with a very soft dough that doesn’t stick to your hands. You may use a stand mixer to do this. Knead for a minimum of 7-8 minutes if using a mixer or about 10 minutes if doing by hand. Put in an oiled bowl and drizzle some olive oil on top of dough to stop dough from drying out. Set aside in a cook place over night.
Custard:
2 cups fine semolina.
2 cups granulated sugar.
5 cups water.
1 – 1 ½ tbsp rose water.
In a heavy saucepan add your water and sugar. Stir with a whisk and slowly add the semolina in a constant flow. Keep stirring. This may take some time and May look like nothing is happening. Then very quickly it will start to thicken and it can catch at the bottom of the saucepan. It is crucial to not walk away from the saucepan and to keep stirring and whole time. You will know it ready when the custard no longer flows in a stream when you lift the whisk. Once done, pour into a shallow dish and allow to cool completely. This can also be done the day before and refrigerated.
Making the shamishi
Assembly:
The easiest way is to use a pasta machine to roll out the pastry. Start by having the machine on number one setting. That is the thickest setting.
Cut your pastry into smaller pieces and roll out with a rolling pin. Put each piece of pastry through the number one setting.
Once you’ve done that, change the pasta machine setting to number three. Put the pastry again through the number three setting.
Once that is done, change the pasta machine, setting to number five. Repeat again until all the dough is done.
You should now have long strips of thin pastry. Cut each strip to approximately 12 centimetres long.
Put one full tablespoon of the custard in the middle of each square. Bring each corner of the square into the middle, so it covers the custard. Overlap the pastry slightly so it creates a little parcel. You may brush edges with a little oil to seal it. The custard must not be exposed.
Once done, put them in a tray that has a little oil on the base so that they don’t stick.
In the meantime, heat up oil in a large frying pan of approximately 8 to 10 centimetres deep. Fry 4-5 shamishi at a time. Do not overcrowd the frying pan. Make sure your oil is hot and it is on medium to high temperature. Turn the parcels to make sure that they are fried on both sides.
Once cooked, put on a platter and generally sprinkle icing sugar on top. Repeat with remaining pastry until all finished. Any leftover dough may be frozen for future use.
Haroula Tsalpara has been hailed as the modern-day Roza Eskenazi or Rita Abatzi with her in-depth vocal exploration of popular singers from early twentieth-century Greece and Asia Minor.
Now, Haroula is bringing her star power direct from Greece to serenade the Greek community in Melbourne and Sydney. Joining her on stage will be Kostas Papapanagiotou, Jenny Dixon, Niko Papadimitriou and Con Kalamaras.
Haroula Tsalpara has been hailed as the modern-day Roza Eskenazi.
Tell me a bit about your upbringing. Where does your passion for music come from?
I remember my father singing to me and playing guitar. My mother also tells me often that when I was born, she made a unique collection of lullabies, mostly Manos Hatzidakis music. There was a lot of music at home, Hatzidakis, Theodorakis, world music, classical music. I started learning music at the age of four maybe, and music is with me since then. I assume I kept on with music because it was easier for me than other things.
Do you have a favourite genre of music you prefer to perform? Why / Why not?
I think my favourite genre is generally what we call Greek-speaking Eastern Mediterranean music. Also known as “rebetika,” “cafe aman songs,” “laika,” “traditional.” I think I found my cultural, political and musical identity in that repertoire. These genres are my main influence in any of my attempts to make new music.
Haroula is heading to Australia this month.
You’re known for breathing new life into old songs while staying true to the form of rebetika and Smyrneika. Why do you think it’s important to maintain the authenticity of old music genres, but also bring them into the new generation? How do you do this?
I was mesmerised by the sound of the 78 rpm recordings. I found a lost world there, a world much closer to me than the world I lived in. And I think it was not only me that felt like this. I loved the way people sung and spoke back then, the way they actually pronounce the words. Also, I loved their way of playing together, loyal to the power of the team, and not to one person. I loved the way those people were at peace with imperfection. I also loved their way of playing, which might seem kind of “unorthodox” to our ears. So I try not to mimic their music, but to understand their way of thinking. I believe we can still learn a lot from them.
Haroula performing at the Syros Accordion Festival.
What can people expect from your Australian tour?
If they are Greek, they should expect to listen to songs familiar to them, and some others I would like to introduce to them. If not Greek, I will be glad to introduce them to Greek music and spirit!
Is there anything else you’d like to say?
I’m so excited to come to Australia in order to do what I still love most in my life: Play music! I’m also very happy to play with Kostas Papapanagiotou, I’ve heard so much of him, and of course dear Con Kalamaras, whom I already know from Greece, Jenny Dixon and Niko Papadimitriou! Australia, here I come!
You can purchase tickets to Haroula’s Melbourne show here and the Sydney show here.
