OPA! Magazine - Issue 10 by Steve Agi

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25-26 February 2012 Celebrate ‘apokries’, Melbourne’s Greek carnivalé.

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> A SELECTION OF THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS PUBLISHER & MANAGING EDITOR

Steve Agi

CHRIS BINOS Chris is a valued member of the OPA! DREAM TEAM with his editorial input

editor@opamagazine.com.au

CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

crucial in determining the direction and content of this publication. He is

Chris Binos

the newly appointed CIO, whose role is to maintain a high level of qual-

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ity articles and content on the OPA! Magazine website and across all the developing online and mobile platforms. His analytical skills and continued pursuit of excellence ensure that the final product will be second to none.

SUB EDITOR

Charles Meyer CO PUBLISHER + FASHION EDITOR

Dean Georgio

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NICOLE CONDOS A Melbourne born singer, Nicole also runs her own consultancy, Material Girl PR. From Lisa Marie Presley to Paris Hilton, Nicole Condos has

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been a part of PR campaigns that most professionals can only dream about. Whether she’s onstage performing or online working, she still has the time to say OPA! contributing with lifestyle, opinion and feature pieces.

DEAN GEORGIO With a strong background in marketing and a passion for fashion, Dean knows what it takes to create those special relationships with clients. “I am an individual who is driven by passion, I like to inspire and to be inspired, I joined OPA! to be part of something that is rewarding where I can re-connect with my heritage and to re-indentify myself. I believe OPA! Magazine offers usthe chance to document the past and influence the future.

PHOTOGRAPHY Alexander Brunacci Nick Ghionis Raymond Korn Rania Margari Vicky Papas Woodrow Wilson Paul Zarogiannis Chris Binos

CONTRIBUTORS Chris Binos, Nasia Bossinakis, Nikita Chronis, Nicole Condos, Martha Coros, Judy Fetter, Dean Georgio, Nick Ghionis, Nik Halik, Dean Kalymniou, DJ Krazy Kon, Father Kyril, Chris Macheras, Rania Margari, Malchus Nevets, Marinis Pirpiris, Jaqui Preketes, James Razos, Tony Tsourdalakis, Vicki Yianoulatos, John Pandazopulos, Emma Papaemmanouel and John Tripidakis

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rently living in Switzerland. Her work is published in newspapers, magazines and online sites. What she loves most in this life is travelling and sharing her experiences with others through writing. You can contact her at info@raniamargari.com

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THE LORD MAYOR’S CHARITABLE FOUNDATION IS AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AND ONE OF MELBOURNE’S LONGEST SERVING CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS. THE FOUNDATION WAS ESTABLISHED BY LORD MAYOR OF THE DAY, SIR JOHN SWANSON, IN 1923.

a loved one or create an environment of philanthropic giving within a family. There is an annual 1% administration fee. Charitable trust holders can nominate their preferred charities or the Lord Mayors Charitable Foundation Income is generated from trusts and can distribute the income on their behalf . bequests, annual appeals and campaigns, and special events. Donations from indi- As the publisher of OPA! Magazine I personviduals and the business sector are also ally feel that the creation of this charitable trust an important part of their fundraising. account will allow us not only to support the community better, but will also allow us to engage, communicate and educate those who THE OPA! CHARITABLE TRUST need it most. It is a way of saying thank you The Foundation has a highly experienced After finding out about the orgnanisation and and of being able to represent this vibrant and social policy team that works closely with the being approached by them, it was decided to dynamic community group as a mainstream organization that is both credible and reputable. charitable, philanthropic research and govern- establish the OPA! Charitable Trust. ment sectors to identify the areas of greatest need. From this collaboration, programs and A Charitable Trust Account is a perpetual form I urge you to embrace and support the OPA! initiatives are created that will address long term of giving, administered by the Foundation. Charitable Trust and work with us to connect social disadvantage. This is critical to ensure It’s a tax-deductible special way to remember with and in turn support those organisations he Foundation’s special focus is Homelessness, Youth and Ageing, but they also grant in the areas of Family, Life Care, Health, Environment, and Arts, Sports and Education. In 2010, they distributed $8 million to over 450 health and welfare agencies across Melbourne and Victoria, making a significant difference to improving the health and welfare of our community. The Foundation has a robust granting process and all grant applications are rigorously assessed by expert grant advisory panels.

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T’S HARD TO BELIEVE that we’re almost 1 year young, but what a year it has been. Thinking back there has been so much to celebrate, so many memories, so much that I hope has laid the foundation for the future, not only of OPA! Magazine, but for future generations of Hellenes and philhellenes across the nation and around the globe.

through our new portal, Hellenic Media Services that really defines Hellenic Media as a powerful and dynamic sector that can and will work together.

We have entered into agreements with Zougla.gr, ANTENNA TV and GreekReporter.com to name a few and I was even nominated as the Global Greek of the Year amongst so much distinguished I thank you once again for inviting us into company – mind-blowing! Such is the your home and hope you enjoy the new im- power of OPA! provements we have made over the break In this issue we feature our EXCLUSIVE A new 8-page Greek language supple- cover story on Greek/Australian ment that you asked for, so we delivered. fashion icon, Napoleon Perdis as well More exclusive travel stories, more recipes, as a first ever exclusive interview with more celebrities, more, more, more – that’s Greek/American director Christine what we’re here for – to give you more! Crokos. We travel to Zagoria, speak with ERT’s Nikos Megrelis and jump We are working hard to launch our iPad in the kouzina with kalofagas.com. app early this year- it will change the way OPA! is read around the world, we are We join the Pancretans to celebrate their also very happy that we have been able 40th year anniversary and introduce you to open up the door for more people to to International cricket sensation Spiros engage with and re-connect with their Goustis while rounding things off with Greek roots, across a number of platforms. an introduction to your wellness solution and all round good guy, Con Lazos of We feel privileged to have inspired and Fusion MA Fitness. be working with the ERT team here in Melbourne to produce the much loved We look forward to a big year ahead, global phenomenon, from Australia with feeling both excited and anxious that we LOVE which screens once a week to over can not only replicate the successes of a million viewers around the world. We 2011, but go one step better and really get love working with all the Hellenic Media the whole world saying OPA! outlets nationally and continue to do so

Everybody say OPA! STEVE AGI - PUBLISHER

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Napoleon Perdis

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PROFILE: Con Lazos is FUSION

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PROFILE: Christine Crokos

FEATURE: Antenna TV

KOUZINA: Recipes from

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PROFILE: Nikos Megrelis

32 96

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DOLLARS & SENSE: B.O.C.A

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FEATURE: Lonsdale St Glendi 2012

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IN THEIR OWN IMAGE GREEK AUSTRALIANS

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INTERVIEW BY STEVE AGI WORDS BY MARTHA COROS

elements, with Australian women being his ultimate muse. “Australian women allow me to express a natural beauty with European glamour that is the soul to my Greek heritage, and that translates to the world. Australian women are great templates that are natural and glamorous and, together with my European heritage, will stay very This Greek boy from Parramatta battled against what he calls ‘the dear to me. I will always hold my Australian woman at the centre of Establishment’ to forge his path as the world renowned makeup gravity for the brand’s DNA.” artist he quickly became. And the industry has sat right up and taken notice. Beauty Bible; Elle USA, awarded him the Genius Award and When we spoke with Napoleon he immediately shone (and he was the only makeup artist ever to receive the Insider Award twice. surprised) with his passion and appreciation of Greek culture. His He also received the International Achievement Award from Fashion upbringing was clearly one of total immersion in literature, theatre Group International for being a leader in his field. It all started for and the Classics. “My father was the Secretary General for PASOK Napoleon in 1995 when he launched his namesake brand,which here in Australia. I am not a socialist but my father was very actively within a short ten years broke into the Manhattan market at Sacks involved. I had a very cultured upbringing and the left movement is Fifth Avenue. Napoleon Perdis cosmetics now officially holds 17.5 very cultural. I used to go to poetry recitals, I used to go to demonper cent of the Australian cosmetics market share and is a global strations, I used to go to the theatre. I used to go to see artists like Maria Farandouli. I didn’t see Greek just in terms of the bouzouki sensation, with over 4500 stores worldwide. Napoleon’s creative success connects Australian and European in music, I saw Greek in terms of enlightenment and culture and I’m APOLEON PERDIS IS more than an Australian household name, and bigger than cosmetics. His constant, creative innovation parallels a razor sharp business acumen that has him soaring to international success.

“perseverance, ambition and truth always shine

very grateful to my father for giving me that background.”

about what I was doing. Ignorance doesn’t allow people to be open.”

His early life was set to take a different path,one that his father helped mould. He studied Political Science, majoring in Business Law and Theories of Democracy and was only a few steps from becoming a practising lawyer when he decided to follow his creative passion. “My father was veryhighly educated for his generation, so he really wanted me to finish a career in law, medicine or pharmacy and he helped me to try and get there. I think my father struggled to understand how I was going to establish something successful - or not successful - but a lifeline with money. I was not following an occupation that he knew would keep me safe, so we had major differences for about two or three years. But my father is very proud of me now and we spend Summers together in Greece. He sees now that what was a fear for him actually has become a strength.”

Since then Napoleon has built his reputation as “MakeUp Artist to the Stars” all over the globe, including Greece. He explains the reception he received from Greeks of the diaspora in his quest to reach the highest levels of his artistry: “The Greek community is very proud of what I have done in Australia. They are very proud of what I do internationally with Anna Vissi and Elena Paparizou. They’re proud now but I think it was a shock at first for cousins, aunties and uncles; but perseverance, ambition and truth always shine through. And if you have those three things, you always will shine.”

Napoleon’s about - face from academia into the creative realm took immense courage and he had to wear criticism from those around him. “It was very challenging; it was not like today, and the brand is almost seventeen years old. Seventeen years ago Australia was a very different place for a Greek boy to come and say ‘I want to be a successful makeup artist’. They looked at me in a different way because they were fearful

Napoleon’s primary residence is in Beverly Hills with his wife SoulaMarie and their four daughters. His other love is Australia, where he also has a home to which he returns often. Each year he spends his Summer in Greece working out of his home while holidaying and teaching his young family the lessons of cultural appreciation he learnt in his youth. Both he and his wife are steadfast in passing down the history, culture and language of their heritage. The girls receive private tutoring in Greek and each June for five hours every day they have a teacher who holds classes around areas of Athens where they can truly appreciate Greek culture, the Greek way of living, Greek lifestyle and the people. “My

itself into an incredibly active part of his psyche. On his way to Nashville, Tennessee he had his crew detour to a replica of the Parthenon, where he learned that the place was considered the ‘Athens of the South,’ largely due to the abundance of universities. They wanted to recreate the Parthenon in homage to the enlightenment period of Greece. Telling this story, his appreciation took over: “When you go around the world and see the classical architecture that is Greek; when you see that the Roman Empire, for all its glory, only ever extended and copied the Greek traditions - in Gods and architecture- it’s difficult not to be proud of the global influence. So for me, teaching [my daughters] Greek culture is not just about teaching them the food and dance, it’s about teaching them the genuine parts of the country - and that’s not just about running off to Mykonos or one island a year but seeing all the diversity in the country.” Napoleon has a profound appreciation of his heritage, yet is deeply inspired by Australia. It is significant that the three people he looks to most for inspiration have one thing in common - they all succeeded in Australia by building from the ground up. He introduces them, almost gushing: “From a makeup perspective I admire Helena Rubinstein. She was a Polish Jew who came to Victoria and set up a cosmetics company that was number one in the world for fifteen years. On a business level I am inspired by Rupert Murdoch. To take a business out of Adelaide and fight the Establishment - as I have very much had to do - and to then take it globally and achieve that amount of influence, power and money, is inspirational. My mother also inspired me. She used to wear makeup a lot more than other Greeks of her generation and she was very glamorous for her time. She was amazing:she allowed me to be free to put makeup on her.”

girls live a very privileged life in the Hollywood Hills. They go to an elite school with a diversity of people but they think the world is Beverly Hills, and it’s not. I didn’t grow up like that and Greece is definitely not like that. Everyone talks about diversity in terms of sexuality, in terms of race, in terms of acceptance, but no one really talks about diversity in terms of money. Just because people can’t afford to have manicures weekly as they do in Beverly Hills or have people who take care of them, they are still real loving people in Greece even though they are poorer. It was important to teach them that when men and women have dirty nails from working hard, they still have value in their life.” It is clear that Napoleon’s passion for Classical Greece has manifested

At forty-one years of age and with a global cosmetics empire under his belt, he has this advice for those looking for their own elusive recipe to succeed in their chosen passion. “Learn to love and love everyone, because having love in your life keeps you abundant. Persevere with ambition and be proud of your ambition and then from there, be consistent. Write down a plan and keep it consistent - keep it going, Don’t allow anyone to get in your way and be ruthless about your ambition and your love. You have to love in order to keep ambition toned and textured and because it makes everything much more beautiful, but you must be ruthless about your ambition and you must be consistent.” A mighty expansion lies ahead for Napoleon, now looking to enter into South America, Asia and the Middle East as well as continuing in the US and Australian markets. He shows no signs of slowing down and resting on the company’s laurels. For all the pride in his history, his inspiration remains Australia - bound as he explains: “Australia is still an enormously inspirational country simply because there is a purity, there is a glamour and there is a hard-work, can-do attitude. Australia is my home, Australia is my birth country, it is the country that gave me the ability to appreciate the world and it is the country I come back to for comfort. But Greece is my soul and that’s something you carry with you everywhere.”

Photography By:

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FEATURE CON LAZOS STORY: STEVE AGI

F U S I O N

CON LAZOS IS A FULL TIME MARTIAL ARTIST, FITNESS TRAINER, HUSBAND AND FATHER TO THREE BOYS. CON HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT CONaTRIBUTIONS TO PEOPLE’S LIVES IN MELBOURNE BY MOTIVATING AND INSPIRING THEM TO FOCUS ON THEIR HEALTH AND WELL BEING AND UNDERSTANDING ABOUT BALANCE AND WELLNESS IN LIFE.

Con was born in Brighton, Melbourne in 1973. His parents decided to return to Greece, where all of the Lazos’ extended family lived, when his younger brother Christian was born in 1978. They remained in Halkida, Evia as Con completed his primary school years.

The fitness training began when Con joined the Halkida Swimming School one summer. Seeing his swimming coach race the best swimmers in the school inspired him. This amazing coach did the individual medley, racing against four fresh swimmers. The coach narrowly lost the race, but Con’s eyes saw success. He saw that it’s ok to not always win, as long as you are always pushing your students and your own limits. This It was when he was just five years old that he found his true swimming coach set the standard for Con and his schools in the future. calling in life. There was only one way to lead and that was from the top. Success comes Con decided to pursue a life of martial arts after watching old school from the top and leading by example was the only way to get the best out Kung Fu films in an outdoor cinema that seemed dedicated to them. The of people. Con made it into national level competition for swimming, real turning point came when the Kung Fu film showed a man protect- and later for a new craze, now known as wakeboarding. ing his family and calmly taking out a load of attackers. Con straight away felt the need to be the protector of all those around him, especially In 1985 life turned full circle again. The Lazos family decided those he loved the most. to return to Australia. This proved to be a decision that would

impact on Con’s life in a big way.

Con decided to seek out a martial arts instructor. This was the second turning point. His dad (an ex paratrooper Commando) said no to all Moving to Melton, Victoria as it had an Olympic size swimming pool for the schools. But It was not going to stop Con. The opportunity came by a swimming career, Con was focused and determined; he knew what he looking for it. wanted and he was determined to do whatever it took to get there He befriended a student at his primary school whose dad was a Kung In 1986, as a thirteen year old Con took up GoJu Ruy Karate Fu instructor. The secret training began without his parents’ knowledge. under Ragnar Purjee, who was Con’s school teacher. In 1988 he To top it off, he befriended another student who was a Greco-Roman took up Kyu Shin Do Kai Karate to get more martial arts training. wrestler. His mixed martial arts career began all in secrecy! At the same time and for the first time during the Seoul Olympics, Tae Con never wanted to disappoint his parents, but the calling he felt Kwon Do became a demonstration sport, so in 1989 he took up Tae Kwon Do with Jack Shearer. “ I wanted to have a chance to be there for was too strong to deny. 34 OPAMAGAZINE.COM.AU

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was when he was just 5 years old that he found his true calling in life.â&#x20AC;?

rgialis

George Pe

Self sufficiency rather than trainer dependency has become the core of Con’s teachings. Working as a Physical Education teacher in various state schools in Melbourne, his commitment to martial arts and personal training was too strong to deny. After missing out on the 2000 Olympics, Con was also to lose his original clients,whom he considered virtual family. In fact looking back, giving so much of himself to them was a key factor in his not making it as far as he could have in Tae Kwon Do. By committing himself and training others to help them fulfill their dreams he was never able to reach his own potential level. Disappointed, he swore to himself that this would never happen again. In 2001 Con found a space to dedicate to a “full time centre” for his own training and the new clients he would have. Yarraville had just that spot. “Not too big, not too small, it was just right!”

“Fusion was born, well sort of,” Con explains Everybody Say OPA!

the 2000 Olympics,” explains Con. One thing he didn’t realize till way too late was that he belonged to the wrong organization, which didn’t provide an opportunity for its clients to qualify for the Olympic team.

In 1990 Con stopped state level swimming competition after getting glandular fever - probably from pushing his body to extremes.

It took a couple of years, but in 2003 Con opened his club - Fusion Martial Arts and Fitness. It was called Fusion because he had a variety of training styles to offer his clients. Mixing different styles of martial arts with the scientifically proven fitness training learned in his university courses, the business was born by default. Clients just kept on coming from all over Melbourne. They saw the magic in teaching kids to be confident in themselves and adults releasing the fears they had built over years in a world which seemed to be ruled by TV.

Since 1989 Con has competed in Karate and Tae Kwon Do and later in Brazilian Jiu JItsu at State, National and International levels and still In 2008 Fusion,the Ultimate Wellness Solution,was opened in South Melbourne, catering for personal trainers to learn their job as well as continues to do so, over twenty years later. looking after international A-list guests coming through Melbourne. As well as being a focused and motivated athlete, Con tried to keep sport as a hobby by enrolling for a university degree in Food Technology. His It quickly became ‘the’ place to train and be trained. dream at the time was to create a new superfood for athletes. He had a sponsorship from one of the diet supplement companies to work on this Con still actively competes in martial arts competitions at the age of thirty project, so he saw a future in that field for athletes. The course proved not eight and all the while running two businesses, being a loving husband to deliver on its promise and so this dream vanished. to Adriana and a fond father to his three sons Alexander, Marcus and Nikolas, and being the middle man for many of his clients, for whom he While in the first year of university, Con was handed the reins of the Tae is there to discuss problems and needs. Kwon Do club he was training under. As an eighteen year old Con had his first clients, the ‘magnificent seven black belts’ who came out of the Careers to date include swim teaching, surf lifesaving, martial arts innext seven years of teaching. His students would go into competitions struction, school teaching, bass guitarist in bands, bodyguard, nightclub virtually unbeaten for years. security, professional athlete and coach, motivational speaker, corporate self defence instructor, personal trainer, trainer to the trainers. Now Con is to begin a segment in a national lifestyle magazine* ! Success came from change. Con wanted to become the best instructor possible. He stopped the Fusion Martial Arts and Fitness continues to grow from strength to science degree with only a year to go and transferred to the University of strength, and the key is in the continuous growth of its team. Con has stuck to the original model he learned in Greece as a primary school Ballarat to follow his true calling. pupil watching his swimming teacher. Lead by example and educate He enrolled in a Bachelor of Education, with a major in Physical those around you. Truly there is nothing Education and Mathematics. The next four years were to pave the way for con-fusing about that! his future and how he would deal with life’s calling with future clients It was all about educating them to be successful rather than just delivering *OPA! Magazine is proud to introduce Con Lazos to our readers and to a service. This was what he could guarantee; this is what makes him so welcome him to the editorial team as our in-house fitness and wellness unique as a fitness instructor: it was all about the future successes with educator. Look out for Con’s monthly contribution in OPA! and let him help you to help yourself – OPA! the clients he would have, whether he was there for them or not. 36 OPAMAGAZINE.COM.AU

S W E N C I S MU MUSIC

DJ KRAZY KON

O DJ KRAZY K

MIHALELLI KOKKINOU Ta Genethlia Mou

NIKOS IKONOMOPOULOS Tha Ime Edo

The stunning and talented Elli Kokkinou returns with a new album through Spicy Music. The new CD features 15 tracks written and produced by the one and only Fivos. Hit songs include “genethlia”, “eroteftika”. “apisteftos” and a collaboration with Vasilis Karras called ”den ti palevo”. As a bonus it also includes dj club remixes of some of these tracks. A must cd for all Kokkinou fans.

This young Greek superstar releases his 5th studio album, a 14 track masterpiece. The new album is signed off to top songwriters Siganos, Fivos, Sambanis & Hrisovergis to name a few. Stand out tracks include my favourite track at the moment “ exartimenos” plus others like “tha ime edo” and mad zembekiko “boutana stin psihi”. Out through Minos –Emi, Nikos has definitely got another hit album on his hands and he is touring Australia in March. OPA!

1. EXARTIMENOS Nikos Ikonomopoulos 2. EROTOHTIPIMENOS Sakis Arseniou 3. ETSI M’ARESI Christina Koletsa 4. MIA ZOGRAFIA Midenistis Feat.Demy 5. STOU TERMA TOU DROMO Nigma 6. DEN IPARHIS PIA Elli Kokkinou

GREECE 2012 CD IS COMING! The eagerly awaited 10 Year Anniversary Edition will be out late February. Track listing and CD cover out soon. Its bangin’ baby!

KIAMOS & IKONOMOPOULOS TOURING DOWN UNDER

2 of the hottest Laiko singers in Greece today are touring our shores in February and March with shows in Sydney & Melbourne. It will be awesome – OPA!

7. ESENA SE THIMAME Christina Salti

LIKE’ me on Facebook - www.facebook.com/djkrazykonofficial Follow me on Twitter – www.twitter.com/djkrazykon1 Check out my official website – www.djkrazykon.com

8. BOUTANA STIN PSIHI Nikos Ikonomopoulos 9. THA FANI Fani Drakopoulou www.djkrazykon.com

38 OPAMAGAZINE.COM.AU

MYKONOS BAR SYDNEY is the latest Greek themed hotspot recently opened by world renowned entreprenuer DJ Krazy Kon & Chrisia Saffioti. Mykonos Bar Sydney offers the best in dinner, dance and entertainment. Your complete Greek night out experience! This new venue has been designed &Â builtÂ by a leading European architect to showcase everything that is essential in a stylish nightclub of today. Over the next few months Mykonos Bar Sydney will feature celebrities, international acts, interstate acts and the best local talent in the business. Check it out if you get the chance and, of course, say OPA!

TICK-TOCK. TIME. WHERE DOES IT GO? EACH DAY WE ARE BLESSED WITH 24 HOURS TO ACCOMPLISH OUR PRIORITIES - TO WORK, REST AND PLAY. WE ALL HAVE EXACTLY THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME IN OUR DAY, YET SOME MANAGE AND OTHERS MIS-MANAGE ONE OF THE GREATEST PRECIOUS RESOURCES WE HAVE. WORDS NICOLE CONDOS

is more “Time oney. than m valuable re get mo You can u can , but yo money me.” more ti not get n oh ~ Jim R

MATERIAL GIRL BEAUTY

WHILE SOME OF us have enough time for the things ships, work, finances, health and future goals - even we want, more often than not, I am finding that I more of a reason to ensure you spend your time wisely. don’t have enough time to achieve a daily to-do list that is often longer than Gisele Bundchen’s legs. Here are some suggestions to keep you in the driver’s seat of time management: In mid December, I was baffled by the “Christmas rush” that was to blame for maniac drivers, crazy << Say “no” to things and people. This is the perfect platform to create a new focus of priorities. It is shoppers and sky rocketing stress levels, amongst wonderful to support and assist others, but at what other public displays of stupidity. YES, I am an cost to your own schedule and obligations? If you A.F.L fan. NO, I don’t appreciate being hip and don’t have time to do something for someone, it’s shouldered by shoppers armed and dangerous with ok to say no. prams, trollies and severe cases of impatience. I wanted to stand at the car park entrance and give out complimentary 2012 diaries to the Formula << Utilize technology to help you organize your time. A schedule or timetable on your computer or on One driving bargain hunters and say “Here you go, your phone, will keep you on track so you can “see” this will help you get more organized for next year.” what your priorities are and how you have planned to achieve them. Failing to plan is planning to fail! In January, I was puzzled by the attitude and surprised by the lack of effort of some friends for my birthday celebration, just as I was last year, with “the dog ate << Create a priority list. What needs to be addressed today? What can wait until tomorrow or next my homework” types of excuses. Strangely enough, week? Allocate your time to suit what needs to be my birthday is on the same day every year- but hey, done first if you would like to commit to plans that can take place on 364 other days of the year or mismanage your schedule, that’s your prerogative. On the other << Plan the night before. Have your outfit ready to go along with your to do list, so you can start hand, I was spoilt by friends that live nearby, interthe day with focus as opposed to spending time state and even overseas with beautiful wishes and procrastinating and deciding what to wear and do generous gifts, who made the time to make an effort.

Whether it’s a gift that needs to be purchased, a social function to attend, beauty routines, servicing your car, a dentist’s appointment, grocery shopping, paying a list of never ending bills or needing to go to the post office, we need to plan and allocate time to these tasks. Quite simply, we need to spend a little time planning, so day-to-day burdens don’t submerge our freedom to enjoy the things and people we often take for granted. Constantly chasing your tail and playing catch up on errands and commitments, will compromise your peace of mind and ability to focus. Your time management skills will also make an impact on your relation-

Although a Mars Bar may help, finding a balance between work, rest and play is the key. No one wants to be chained to their desk, or do they? You decide what you do with your time, wherever you may find yourself. You have choices available to you. Choose where to be. Choose how to be. Make a choice, to make the time, to live life- doing what you love with those that you love, in the time that you have. FOLLOW THE MATERIAL PR GIRL www.facebook.com/materialgirlpr www.twitter.com/materialgirlpr

FEATURE CROKOS

Christine

Crokos

CHRISTINE CROKOS TALKS EXCLUSIVELY AND FOR THE FIRST TIME TO AUSTRALIAN MAGAZINE OPA! ABOUT LIVING IN LOS ANGELES, HER FILMS AND LIFE IN HOLLYWOOD. The Greek-American film director and screenplay writer grew up in brooklyn, new york and has been living in los angeles for the last 17 years. Among many of her great works, she directed the greek smash hit film “to gamilio party (bang bang wedding)” , starring greek - australian alex dimitriades and her latest, also a smash hit on alpha channel, a rockumentary about the life of anna vissi, named “oso eho foni”.

life or time for yourself. You literally dive into each project and become every character and mood of what story it is you are creating. It’s an extremely difficult process but the outcome is magical. OPA!: How many movies and scripts have you directed or written, or both? I have directed only one film at the moment, written two screenplays and am currently getting ready to do my second film. I have also done a TV series and several music videos so far. I also dabble in live concert shows because there is nothing more thrilling than a live audience. A movie is many years in the making. Most movies that you see in the cinema from great directors like Martin Scorsese or Clint Eastwood take years to develop before they make it onto the screen. This is something many film audiences are unaware of. It is not something that happens overnight.

OPA!: Christine what made you pursue a career in film directing? From the time I was a very young kid, probably age eleven, I was so impressed with cinema although I had no idea what it meant for someone to be a director. It was around age fifteen, when I decided to do my first short film for my art class, that I truly understood how a motion picture worked. Luckily I was the youngest of four and so I used my siblings as the stars of my film. And from the moment I edited the piece together and added music to it, I finally understood the magic. It was OPA!: What is it like living in Los Angeles? an incredible feeling and to this day when I go to the Los Angeles is a very mysterious city. It is a place where everything happens, but also a place you can hide and movies I still get the same feeling in my body. stay underground to develop ideas and write. What’s OPA!: In which school and what sorts of subjects did cool about LA is, it is very spread out - each section of the city can feel like other parts of the world. If you you study? I studied at the University Of Southern California’s go towards the beach you feel like you are in Greece film school. There I studied production and made or Italy. If you live near Hollywood you just end up numerous shorts. It’s a very competitive school but the rubbing shoulders with every producer and actor in the staff was incredible and I had the most inspiring profes- world. You have access to everything you need to make sors, who taught me to watch films like a director. Little a production happen, and it’s a place where you will by little I learned the ropes. At the same time I also meet everyone who will make the impossible happen, took acting classes at UCLA during my summers. I feel plus there are millions of actors here that are at your that every director needs to learn acting as a method to disposal, so your creativity is constantly in motion. be able to communicate with their actors. OPA!: How do you compare it to living in Greece? Greece is probably the most beautiful country in the OPA!: Is the film industry exactly as it seems? The film industry is not as glamorous as it looks. It’s a world, but there is no comparison to LA when it comes very tough industry and you need to grow thick skin to the film industry. I don’t believe that Greece has a to be able to live in it. Production is filled with lonely film industry. It is a country that lacks brilliant writers, days and long hours of work. You have to commit to it and to be honest that’s where it all begins. They also emotionally, physically and spiritually. You make many lack producers and directors. There are only a few solid sacrifices in movie making and you barely have a social directors coming out of Greece, but what Greece does 43

FEATURE CROKOS

parts of the world remain united? I think Greeks around the world are united. I know growing up in Brooklyn, most of the New York Greeks stuck together. Wherever you go in the US the Greeks always find ways to get together and celebrate Easter, Christmas and our heritage, whether it be Greek parades or festivals. We are like the Mafia. Even in LA the Greeks support each other, especially in the film industry. I find that in the diaspora the OPA!: What are you working on now? My current project is a film called “My Darling Greeks stick together more than they do in Greece. Nikki”. It’s a drama, a slice of life film that I wrote. OPA!: Your latest project - the rockumentary on It’s a story about two girls who grow up in the OPA!: Have you ever been to Melbourne? Anna Vissi’s life, is a success in Greece. Is it being ghettos of Philadelphia where life is rough and Yes I have been to Melbourne and I love it. I was they are trying to survive. there last year for a show I did with Anna Vissi. The The only way out is for best part is I have family there and I got to see them one girl to start selling and catch up. I love Australia, it is beautiful as I her best friend into also had the opportunity to travel all over last visit. prostitution in order to A beautiful country, and if it were closer I would save money and better live there. their lives. In the midst of all this, they get into OPA!: What are your plans for the future? trouble with the law and My plan right now is to finish my next film project, some drug dealers who “My Darling Nikki,”which will take a year and a keep them from living half of my life. In the meantime I will start writing a new screenplay. out their dreams. have are brilliant actors and a beautiful country to shoot in. If Greece had directors who were visionaries, it might be one of the great film producing countries in the world. But there is really no market there. Living in Greece I find very difficult - the people are beautiful and our history is extraordinary. Some of the greatest stories come from there. But everything seems to have a ceiling of how far you can reach. Whereas in LA everything is without limits.

shown to the Greek community in LA yet? The Greek community in the US and Canada who have the necessary networks/channels from Greece are able to watch all the episodes. Otherwise they can get online and everyone can watch them. I know that they are airing in Cyprus, Turkey, and probably the Balkan countries.

OPA!: Do you think OPA! Magazine thanks Christine for her time, it’s important that the wishes her all the best and we look forward to Greeks living in different seeing her again in Australia!

44 OPAMAGAZINE.COM.AU

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FEATURE ANTENNA

“CONGRATULATIONS KRISTINA AND PANAGIOTIS”

RISTINA LIRONIS AND PANAGIOTIS KARIDAKIS ARE AUSTRALIA’S WINNERS OF THE DRAWING CONTEST OF 2011, ORGANIZED BY THE ANT1 PAY TV CHANNELS. A CONTEST WHICH GATHERED MORE THAN 5,000 DRAWINGS FROM AROUND THE WORLD! Christmas… a traditional feast which has different connotations for each and every person, awakens feelings, colors and … millions of memories. Christmas is a period of time anticipated impatiently by children, who stay awake, holding their breaths, waiting for Santa to drop down their chimneys and bring them the toys they have dreamt of, to meet his elves

his contest ran from November 8th until December 10th, and was designed exclusively for Greek children abroad. The concept was to approach all Greek youngsters up to 10 years old, and ask them to depict their favorite Christmas image, thus helping us to see Christmas through the eyes of the children around the world. Their most powerful tool was their imagination and the results were undoubtedly amazing.

This year, over 5,000 drawings were received, a fact extremely motivating and reassuring, confirming that such activities give pleasure to children, liberate them, give them the opportunity to unfold their talents. Of course, the children did not solely aim to win, but rather to enjoy a break from their ordinary tasks. For us, everyone is a winner, and though it may sound as a “cliché”, the truth is that each and every drawing managed to take us time - travelling to our childhood memories, to inspire our purest feelings, to engage us to innocence and dazzle us with the most amazing shapes, concepts, ideas, colors and perspectives! We realized that Christmas could be symbolized by Kristina Lironis’ (World’s Best Little Painter – Australia) giraffe in a sunny field with Santa’s hat on,

and pat his reindeers with their big red noses! Of course for the children living in Australia, this concept raises our anticipation since their imagination can exceed every possible expectation! A Santa coming from the sea in his bathing suit and instead of reindeers rides on … dolphins! For the 4th year in a row, ANT1 Pay TV channels (Antenna Satellite, Antenna Pacific, Antenna Europe), organized their traditional Drawing Contest, for Australia, Canada, USA and Europe, together with Mrs. Mari Kyriakou, the presenter of “Me Agapi”, a daily ANT1 program, which highlights various social and charity issues and helps underprivileged children. “The proposition for me to enter and support this contest was made by the ANT1 Pay TV Channel team, and it never crossed my mind

standing in between two large Christmas trees, hiding tons of presents underneath them; or with the more common red cheeked Santa, by Panagiotis Karidakis (Best Little Painter of Australia), who stands in front of a fireplace, reflecting the warmth of family time. The drawings pleasantly, creatively and cheerfully filled our Christmas TV programs in our News Bulletins, in our special Christmas fillers and can furthermore be viewed on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/antenna.pacific. The winners of this contest were six, the two greatest winners and the four best painters. The prize for all winners, was the new Christmas illustrated book “Maik o Fasolakis”, written by Mrs. Kyriakou, whilst the two greatest ones saw their drawings become our company Christmas card. Namely, this year’s World’s Best Little Painters are: Marianna Kliaba (USA) & Kristina Lironis (AUSTRALIA), and the Best Little Painters per country are, Savvas Kozis (Europe), Polixeni Hantzides (Canada), Panagiotis Karidakis (Australia) and Sofia Lago (USA). This contest, which has become a seasonal tradition, fills our world with colors and our hearts with hope. 47

u o y e e S in the a Kouzin

KOUZINA RECIPES

YOU SAID THAT YOU WANTED MORE RECIPES IN OPA! SO FROM THIS ISSUE FORWARD WE ARE GIVING YOU WHAT YOU WANT. THIS MONTHS RECIPES ARE FROM THE WORLD REKNOWNED KALOFAGAS.CA. IF YOU FINISH THESE AND ARE STILL HUNGRY FOR MORE THEN WHY NOT CHECK THEIR SITE FOR SOMETHING NEW?

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ste SuTmam er!

KOUZINA RECIPES

ste SuTmam er! FOR THE SYRUP

HOW TO

2 cups of water

To make the syrup, first add the water, sugar, cinnamon, cloves and lemon peel in to a small pot and bring to a boil. Then lower to a simmer and boil for another 6 minutes. Take off the heat and add the honey and allow to cool. Remove rind, cinnamon and cloves.

1 cup sugar 2-3 strips of lemon or orange peel 1 cinnamon stick 4-5 whole cloves 1/2 cup honey SANGRIA MIX 1-750 ml bottle of red wine 1/2 cup Metaxa brandy 1 ripe peach, sliced 1 orange, sliced 2 cans of ginger ale (or 7-UP/Sprite)

Add your wine, sliced fruit, ginger ale and brandy and stir. Add the syrup in increments, stir and make as sweet as you wish. Cover and place in the fridge overnight. To serve, place some ice in each glass and pour the sangria.

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KOUZINA RECIPES

D A AL GS

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RA W E I V GRA

INGREDIENTS (Σαλάτα Ρόκα με Σύκα και Γραβιερα) (serves 4-6) approx. 5 handfuls of rocket (arugula) 1 small clove of garlic, minced 1 tsp. of Dijon style mustard 1 Tbsp. of honey 3 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar 9-10 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil fine sea salt and fresh ground pepper 12 fresh (ripe) figs, quartered 1 cup walnuts, roughly chopped grated Graviera cheese

HOW TO Pick and tear-off any brown or wilted parts of the salad and wash in cold water. Dry your greens in a towel or use a salad spinner then reserve. In a large bowl, add your honey, mustard, balsamic, vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper and whisk into a paste. Continue whisking while pouring a slow stream of olive oil until your desired consistency is achieved and the dressing has emulsified. Taste dressing and adjust seasoning. Add your salad greens and figs and gently toss until well coated. Top with chopped walnuts and grated Graviera cheese and serve. Recipe courtesy of: www.kalofagas.ca

KOUZINA RECIPES

INGREDIENTS ( setves 4)

Y G N TA LE MAP TARD MUS

B M A

2 racks of lamb loin or approx. 1 1/2 kg. of loin or shoulder chops 1/4 cup of olive oil 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary 2 cloves of minced garlic 1 tsp. black pepper 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 1/4 cup of Maple syrup 1 tsp. orange zest 1 tsp. sea salt

HOW TO Pre-heated oven, set to broil Rinse and pat-dry your lamb. If using racks of lamb, turn them to their underside and using a knife, scrape some of the silver skin to loosen enough of it to be held by your fingers. Tear if off the racks and discard it. In a bowl, add all the ingredients together, mix with a spoon and reserve about 1/3 cup for coating the lamb when it’s cooked. Spread the marinade all over your racks of lamb or lamb chops. Marinate at room temperature for an hour or better yet (recommended), overnight in the fridge. If cooking indoors, pre-heat your broiler and place your oven rack to the position closest to the broiler. Season your lamb racks with some coarse salt and fresh ground pepper. Set your racks of lamb face up (bone side down) on the tray and place under the broiler for 5 minutes a side for medium-rare. Brush reserved warm marinade over the top of the racks of lamb. If using gas or charcoal grill, pre-heat your grill to a high heat. Brush the grill surface with a grill brush and just before grilling, wipe the grill surface with a towel dampened with some vegetable. Grill for 3 minutes a side for medium rare, 4 minutes for medium. Allow your lamb to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Present on a platter with sprigs of rosemary and wedges of lemon. Serve with rice pilaf, grilled vegetables and pair with this Cypriot white from Paphos, a Kamanterena Xynisteri.

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FEATURE PAN CRETAN

THE PANCRETAN ASSOCIATION OF MELBOURNE – AUSTRALIA WAS CREATED FROM THE UNIFICATION OF THE TWO HISTORICAL ORGANISATIONS FROM MELBOURNE, NAMELY THE RETHIMNIAN ASSOCIATION OF MELBOURNE – AUSTRALIA “ ARKADI “ ESTABLISHED IN 1972, AND THE PANCRETAN BROTHERHOOD OF MELBOURNE & VICTORIA ESTABLISHED IN 1977.

THE PANCRETAN ASSOCIATION of Melbourne – Australia was created from the unification of the two historical organisations from Melbourne, namely the Rethimnian Association of Melbourne – Australia “ ARKADI “ established in 1972, and the Pancretan Brotherhood of Melbourne & Victoria established in 1977.

The aims and objectives of the united associations since their inception almost 40 years ago were to unite under one umbrella the Hellenes of Cretan descent who had arrived as migrants, and to assist them in their settlement period. Their mandate included promoting , educating and enhancing the second and subsequent generations in the Cretan values and ideals and traditions - this to be achieved by organising educational, philanthropic, recreational, social and cultural activities.

tions have excelled in all areas that they were established for, especially in the philanthropic domain. In 1976 they assisted the Hospital of Rethymnon by donating more than ten surgical beds and all the apparatus that goes with them,to the value of fifteen thousand dollars.In 1978 they donated monies toward the Hellenic Navy of the Hellenic Defence Forces, to the value of five thousand dollars. Over fifty thousand dollars was raised and sent to the Archdiocese of Crete toward the building of several churches on the Island of Crete, including Timios Stavros on Mount Psiloritis and Agia Triada in the prefecture of Iraklion, as well as the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Crete.

Thousands of dollars were donated toward the erection of the Australian Hellenic Memorials in Canberra and in Melbourne as well as the erection of the Statue of Eleftherios Venizelos in East Brunswick - not forgetting the founding They can very proudly boast that both associa- of Eleftherios Venizelos in Chania.

In Australia the Association’s philanthropy is even larger. In 1997 thirty two thousand dollars was donated toward the Austin Research Centre - more specifically the research being conducted by Dr. Vaso Apostolopoulou. Monies were also donated toward the establishment of the Greek Nursing Home “ FRONDITHA “ in Templestowe, totalling some $2500. The largest donation, however, has been given to the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, dating back to 2006 with the amount of seventy thousand dollars, and in 2007 increasing this to eighty thousand dollars. In 2009 the amount raised for the Good Friday Appeal was ninety three thousand dollars, making in total in excess of a quarter of a million dollars.. The Association did not stop there. In 2009 it also raised $13,000 towards the “ AGAPI “ Care Centres, the organisations that care for Greek children with disabilities. In addition $2000 has been donated to the Australian Greek Welfare Society. 57

FEATURE PAN CRETAN

n March 1981 a large piece of land was purchased in Cathie’s lane in Wantirna South, where the members of the Association donated their services and money to help build a temporary function area that would house 300 people. This is where the Association staged its inaugural events. In October 1983, just over two years later, the foundations were laid for the building of the Cretan Villag,which included a Reception Centre seating just over 800 people, a car parking facility for over 200 vehicles, a children’s playground, three tennis courts, and a Members Pavilion that seats 150 people.

The Associations headquarters are situated at the Cretan Village, which includes offices, a boardroom, youth area and a Cretan Library / Archive Centre. Currently a feasibility study is being completed for the construction of the Minoan Childcare & Educational Centre. It is true to say that the Cretan Village became and remains the focal point for the Cretan activities of the Australian Community. Annual Charity Balls have been hosted for the “ MISS CRETE “ pageant every year from 1981 to 1984 in Melbourne, where young ladies 58 OPAMAGAZINE.COM.AU

competed to raise the most money for the Association and therefore take the crown for that particular year. Over the years the ladies who took part were : Koula Antonaki, Sophie Velgakis, Sophie Kalimnakis, Kate Koukouvitakis, Maria Leontakis, Anna Lilikakis, Effie Lygidakis, Christina Metaxakis, Margaret Mefsout, Katerina Nikolioudakis, Effie Nikolakakis, Kelly Paterakis, Harikleia Salahas, Maria Sarris, Angela Stavroulakis and Hariklia Tzanoudakis. On a cultural level the Pancretan Association has been the instigator and leader in inviting Cretan music groups from Crete to visit Australia, giving the opportunity to the migrant population to be entertained by favourite traditional tunes from their motherland. Since 1972 it has invited over one hundred Cretan musicians, some of whom are Crete’s biggest names in the industry, including : Kostas Mountakis, Athanasios Skordalos, Antonis Apostolakis, Spiros Sifogiorgakis, Giannis Markogiannakis, Giorgis Papadakis, Manolis Kaklis, , Tasos Bagourakis, Manolis Hahlakis, Manolis Hamogiorgakis, Elias Horeftakis, Nikos Vroulakis, Vasilis Nikoloudakis and Manolis Kaklis just to name a few.

Its rich cultural history has a lot more to showcase. Hundreds of children have grown up within the Association and been taught traditional dances from Crete, and general Cretan traditions. The Association has three dance group levels - Junior, Intermediate and Senior levels. The Junior and Intermediate Levels are directed by Ms. Mary Vasilakis and the Senior Levels by Mr. Harry Binakis. Major highlights for the Pancretan Dance Group over the years include the First Prize it was awarded in 1984 at the Cretan Dance Competition hosted by the Cretan Federation of Australia in Canberra. In 1986 it also received Third Prize Prize in the Hellenic Dance Competition hosted at Dallas Brooks Hall. The Junior Dance Groups were also awarded Second Prize at the AHEPA Dance Competitions in 1994. Other major highlights include a tour of Crete in Greece in August 2003 as the result of an invitation by the Prefects of Rethymnon , Chania and Iraklion. The dance teachers who have come through the ranks include : Stelios Klapsinakis, Dimitris Sarris, Anna Tsourdalaki, Irene Tsourdalaki , Marios Volitakis, Freda Daskalomarkakis, Allister & Mary Sarris, Andrew Klapsinakis, Theo Paterakis, Anna Frantzeskakis, Stella Votzourakis, Nikos & Kate Koukouvitakis, Giorgos

Åßìáóôå ÊáôáóêåõáóôÝò êáé Åéóáãùãåßò ôùí ðñïúüíôùí ìáò. • Ðñïìçèåýïõìå êïõæéíÜäåò, ìáñáãêïýò êáé êáôáóêåõáóôÝò åðßðëùí ìå üôé õëéêÜ ×ñåéÜæïíôáé. • Ç ïéêïãÝíåéá ôïõ Íßêïõ ÍéêïëáêÜêç, ôï Ýìðåéñï ðñïóùðéêü ôïõò êáé ïé áíôéðñüóùðïß ôïõò åßíáé ðñüèõìïé íá óáò åîõðçñåôÞóïõí. êáé Åéóáãùãåßò ôùí ðñïúüíôùí ìáò. Åßìáóôå ÊáôáóêåõáóôÝò

• Ðñïìçèåýïõìå êïõæéíÜäåò, ìáñáãêïýò êáé êáôáóêåõáóôÝò åðßðëùí ìå üôé õëéêÜ ×ñåéÜæïíôáé. • Ç ïéêïãÝíåéá ôïõ Íßêïõ ÍéêïëáêÜêç, ôï Ýìðåéñï ðñïóùðéêü ôïõò êáé ïé áíôéðñüóùðïß ôïõò åßíáé ðñüèõìïé íá óáò åîõðçñåôÞóïõí.

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It would be remiss not to mention that in November 2006 the Association established the first official Cretan Music School, where students can learn the lyre, the lute, the guitar, the mandolin etc. The School Director is the Cretan Lyricist, Ioannis Pollakis, who is assisted by Patrick Montgomery on Lute and Mandolin. Another Cultural area supported bythe Association is its Theatrical Group. The Pancretan Theatrical Group has over the years put on the following theatrical performances : Kalinixta Margarita, the Battle of Crete, Anthipolohagos Zisis and many others. At the same time it has participated in other theatrical performances that have a Cretan story, like Patouhas, Erotokritos, Zorbas - as well as the traditional Cretan Wedding in 1982. In 2011 it hosted the Theatriki Skini Irakliou; a twelve person group came to Melbourne and performed the theatre play “ Zorba, teach me how to Dance. “ On a sporting front one would say that the Association is probably one of the,if not the, leader of all the other Hellenic organisations, simply because it has two soccer grounds, one basketball court and three tennis courts. Its soccer team, “ KPHTH ,“ was established in 1986 to give to youth from the area and especially young members of the Association, the opportunity to showcase their talent. That interest has grown over time, so that over its rich sixteen-year history the Pancretan Soccer Team has won numerous State and Provisional League Championships. The highlight, one might say, has been reaching the highest level, which is ‘A’ Grade State League, just one level away from the difficult Victorian Premier League. Soccer however isn’t the only front, because over the years the Association has produced many great tennis players who went on to become professionals in the sport. At the moment the Pancretan Tennis Club is registering new members and has appointed two full time coaches and is forming competing teams in the Eastern Tennis Region. Over the years the Pancretan Association has had the initiative to produce two newspaper publications, namely Kritikoi Antilaloi and Foni tou Rethymnou , plus several annual magazines. In 2008 it published a book titled “ The Cretans of Oceania from the 19th Century “ which is the first of its kind in the entire Oceanic Region. The author is one of the co – founders, Mr. Socrates Tsourdalakis. Since then and beginning in 2011 it has began publishing the quarterly magazine ‘ Pagritika Nea. ‘

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FEATURE PAN CRETAN

he Association’s success can be widely attributed to the ongoing support of its young members. The Pancretan Youth Club has organised hundreds of social, cultural, educational, charitable, sporting and fund - raising events over the years since its inception. Amongst the many events, some that stand out are the four trips to Crete it has organised in 1984, 1985, 1986 and 2008. The current Pancretan Youth Club Committee consists of : Panagiota Xanthos (President), Paula Sagiadellis (Vice President), Katheryne Rerakis (Secretary), Harrison Hambros (Treasurer), Harry Binakis and Calley Kirkimbolakis (Public Relations Officers) and Committee Members Yolanda Katsanevakis, Harry Pantelios, Despina Levoyiannis, Bianca Rissakis and Tori Dontsios. Since 1972 sixteen presidents have served the Pancretan Association over the 40 years that have elapsed. They are : Georgios Tsourdalakis, Dimitris Gryllakis, Giorgis Pyrovolakis, Giorgis Paterakis, Nikos Andrigiannakis, Giorgos Kozonakis, Manolis Leontakis, Andreas Sarimanolis, Evangelos Leontakis, Pantelis

60 OPAMAGAZINE.COM.AU

Kalimnakis, Dimitris Papadimitrakis, Nikos National Executive, namely : John Nikolakakis Koukouvitakis, Manolis Kastrinakis, Ioannis (President), Vasilis Lizardos (Secretary) and Nikolakakis and the current President Antonis Michael Karamitos (Treasurer). Tsourdalakis. The Pancretan Association has two members It would be remiss if we did not mention that who sit on the World Council of Cretans part of the Pancretan Family is a very committed (Παγκόσμιο Συμβούλιο Κρητών) Executive Women’s Auxiliary that is always the backbone Committee - Tony Tsourdalakis (President) of the Association that assists the Executive and Manuel Starakis (Secretary). Committees with fundraising Activities. The current Committee of the Women’s Auxiliary The association also has a very busy and includes : Mrs. Kalliopi Leontakis (President), successful website, with over 20,000 hits per Kasiani Kontoudakis (Vice President), Zina month, at www.pancretan.com.au, a profesAxarlis (Secretary), Eleni Paterakis (Treasurer), sional Facebook page run by the Pancretan and members include, Mary Dacakis, Niki Youth Club , and the recently established http://www. Paterakis, Filio Lizardos, Vasiliki Koukouvi- Pancretan Youtube Channel takis, Anna Kouridakis, Eleni Giannetakis, youtube.com/user/ThePancretanAssociat/ Effie Paterakis and Polimnia Nikolakakis. videos, with a wide variety of videos from the Association’s events. The Pancretan Association’s name is well known around the world through its networking The Pancretan membership at this time is quite over the years, but more so its affiliation with strong, boasting just over 1000 members on the national body - the Cretan Federation of its books, with well over 70% having paid up: Australia and New Zealand - as a founding this figure is growing rapidly since the local member from 1980, and currently three of the Australian Hellenic Community can see the Association members sit on the C.F.A.N.Z. value in joining the Association.

FEATURE PAN CRETAN

THE CURRENT PANCRETAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF:

AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS INCLUDING:

• Tony Tsourdalakis (President) • Michael Karamitos (A’ Vice President) • Jim Paterakis (B’ Vice President) • Mary Rissakis (Secretary) • Aggie Mihelakis (Assistant Secretary) • Michael Dalakis (Treasurer) • John Nikolakakis (Assistant Treasurer) • Anna Psarakis (Public Relations Officer) • John Kontekakis (Public Relations Officer) • Con Starakis (Public Relations Officer)

• John Rerakis • Manuel Binakis • Manuel Starakis • Mary Vasilakis • Nick Mihelakis • Manolis Leontakis • Vagellis Badogiannis • John Pollakis • Joe Stavroulakis • Menelaos Paterakis

Nick Koukouvitakis Michael Karamitos Lot 1 Maygar Boulevard Broadmeadows, Vic 3047 Australia

62 OPAMAGAZINE.COM.AU

Phone: +61 (03) 9359 5744 Fax: +61 (03) 9359 5933 Email: nickk@lvfurniture.com.au Website: www.lvfurniture.com.au

PROFILE MEGRELIS

“Stories about journalists and media workers who died trying to do their jobs.”

NIKOS MEGRELIS - SHOOTING VS SHOOTING DURING THE EIGHTEENTH GREEK FILM FESTIVAL IN MELBOURNE WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF VIEWING A RARE, AWARD - WINNING DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF THE MEDIA WHILE WORKING IN WAR ZONES. “Shooting vs Shooting,” created by the well-known Greek journalist amazing documentary that sheds light onto the darkest spots with Nikos Megrelis, gained warm applause and interest from a large crowd impunity and fearlessly demands basic respect for human rights. of viewers. “Shooting vs Shooting” is an artistically advanced documenNikos, who is currently also the general manager of ERT World, was tary, grasping audience attention from the very early moments as it invited to Melbourne by the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne smoothly passes from one story to the other, with strong visuals and and Victoria and attended the screening of his award - winning docu- an incredible music score composed by Oscar winner Nicola Piovani. mentary, answered questions and was greeted with great respect. During his stay in Melbourne, Nikos Megrelis was invited to the “Shooting vs Shooting” is a ground - breaking documentary feature film, State Parliament by Greek-Australian politicians Maria Vamvakinou in the sense that for the first time real stories are captured, usually hidden and John Pandazopoulos. He also met with the Consul General, Ms. behind newspaper front pages - stories about journalists and media Eleni Liannidou, and executive members of the Greek communities of workers who died trying to do their jobs. The documentary examines Melbourne and Victoria, including President Bill Papastergiadis. deliberate or accidental attacks against media personnel during the war in Iraq right up to the present, from all sides, both military and terrorist Megrelis admired the Australian lifestyle and the strong bonds between groups alike,” explains Megrelis about his mind - blowing documentary. the Greeks that “form another Greece, outside of Greece.” Seeing A number of distinguished journalists and authors from all over the with his own eyes the achievements of Greeks in Australia, he agreed world, amongst them Peter Arnett, John Pilger, Michael Massing, to wholeheartedly support the show ERT WORLD: “From Australia Anthony Shadid, Chris Cramer and Kevin Sites, appear on screen and with love…,” created by the ERT correspondents Aleko Markello and compare today’s events with recent history. They describe the com- Emma Papaemmanouel, which is now already broadcasting worldwide. plexities of modern propaganda, and the way they use the media as their The much - awarded journalist left Melbourne with the best of impresweapon to win or lose the support of public opinion. sions and expressed the hope that he will be amongst the Greek– More than three years of research, seventy interviews and filming Australians again very soon. in Iraq and in ten other countries has been distilled to create this

FEATURE MILK BAR

THE SHAKES THAT ROCKED THE WORLD: THE GREEK-AUSTRALIAN MILK BAR BY LEONARD JANISZEWSKI & EFFY ALEXAKIS MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY, SYDNEY

arly in November 1932, Joachim Tavlaridis, an enterprising Greek migrant-settler who adopted the name Mick Adams, introduced Australians to a new, essentially American influenced, food-catering idea: the ‘milk bar’. Adams opened Australia’s first modern ‘American-style’ milk bar, the Black & White 4d. Milk Bar, at 24 Martin Place in Sydney. The name Black & White was a sarcastic reference to a brand of whisky – Adams is said to have been personally opposed to what he considered to be an over-consumption of alcohol by the Australian population; a view that reflected temperance attitudes of the period. The 4d. in the title was designed to emphasise the very affordable low price – fourpence – set by Adams for the purchase of a milkshake, per glass.

ogy imported from the United States. Like soda drinks, American-style ice cream and confectionery were also proving commercially popular in Australia by the 1910s and Sklavos, like other Greek food caterers, seems to have clearly capitalized on the circumstance. Significantly, the means of mass producing milkshakes – the electric milkshake maker – was not in broad commercial use as yet: an invention of the Hamilton Beach Company in the United States, application to patent the devise had only been undertaken in 1911. Furthermore, a 1936 Confectioner’s Union publication in England, Service for Soda Fountains, Ice-cream Parlours and Milk Bars, states that ‘the milk bar, so named, started in Sydney, N.S.W., and from that city spread rapidly to all parts of the Australian Commonwealth’ – Sklavos’ business was located in Queensland’s capital.

Adams’ status as the creator of the first ‘milk bar’ in Australia is firmly supported in the November 1932 issue of the Australasian Confectioner and the April-June 1935 issue of The Milk Messenger. Yet, there have been claims that have attempted to challenge Adams’ pre-eminent position. George Sklavos is said to have opened the ‘American Milk Bar’ in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, as early as 1912. However, original sources identify the business as a pastry, confectionery and ice cream parlour. Moreover, its business name was advertised as ‘Sklavos & Co, American Bar, Ice Cream Parlour’. The term ‘American Bar’ was utilized by a notable number of Greek-run food catering establishments in Australia at the time (particularly in eastern states) to declare that their business operated a front-service soda fountain; a refreshment-beverage technol-

It has also often been accepted that Clarence and Norman Burt were operating a milk bar in Pitt Street, Sydney, two years before Adams. However, according to a mid-1930s issue of Glass (the Australian Glass Manufacturer’s [AGM] journal), Burt’s Milk Bar did not open until 1934. It was located at 76 Pitt Street and utilized much glass and stainless steel construction in its Art deco outfitting. In physical layout and service emphasis, the business appears to have mimicked Adams’ Black & White. Evidence of a pre-existing Burt’s enterprise located further south at 265 Pitt Street identifies it only as one of Sydney’s many ‘refreshments’ businesses (soda ‘parlors’ – American spelling was widely preferred by many operators), not uniquely, as a ‘milk bar’.

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dams had previously been running a confectionery and soda fountain business on George Street in Sydney’s Haymarket, and while on a trip to the United States, ‘he […] got the idea about the milk bar’. Although it has been declared that ‘at that time milk bars existed [...] in America’, this claim is contentious. Research has been unable to uncover any evidence of businesses known as ‘milk bars’ in the United States before 1940 and it has been pointed out that Americans have tended to associate the word ‘bar’ with alcoholic beverages, not light liquid refreshments. The ‘milk bar’ appears to have been initially created by Adams based essentially upon his observations of early 1930s American drugstore soda ‘parlors’. In Australia, the Greek-run oyster saloon and soda/sundae parlour had placed prime importance on sit-down trade for meals, drinks and desserts. American drugstore soda ‘parlors’ seem to have emphasized quick stand-up and bar-stool bar trade (soda drinks, milkshakes and sundaes) over sit-down meal trade. Adams firmly took up the American soda ‘parlor’ catering emphasis and highlighted the milkshake. As Adams’ youngest daughter, Lilian Keldoulis (nee Adams), points out in regard to her father’s trip to the United States: ‘Yes, there were milkshakes [...] there were restaurants with milk bars. But he wanted to build his own milk bar where he only sold milkshakes’. The galactopoleion – a traditional Greek shop specializing in the sale of milk products with which Adam’s would have been familiar – may have also played a part in his thinking towards the milk bar’s genesis. A rapid stand-up trade in milkshakes became the successful commer-

cial foundation of Adams’ original Black & White 4d. Milk Bar. Seating capacity in the premises was restricted to just six small two-seater cubicles along one wall, the main feature being a long hotel-style bar with soda fountain pumps and numerous milkshake makers (manufactured by the Hamilton Beach Company, in Racine, Wisconsin, United States). No cooked meals were provided, only flavoured milkshakes, pure fruit juices and soda drinks; tea and coffee were introduced later. The milkshake is purported to have appeared in Australia well before Adams’ milk bar and Greek involvement is again evidenced. Dimitris Lalas, who is said to have had an open-air bench stall in Sydney’s Market Street just before 1910, was selling a liquid refreshment under the title of ‘milk shake’. The drink consisted of cold milk diluted with water and flavoured with vanilla powder. The ingredients were vigorously shaken in a sealed tin before being presented to the customer for consumption. An earlier claim is that an Italian, Guiseppe Portovino, was offering in his emporium located on King Street, Newtown (an inner western suburb of Sydney), ‘one pint milkshakes that were a popular rival to the threepenny shandy gaffs offered by pubs shortly after the turn of the century’. During the very early 1930s milkshakes were selling for ninepence per glass, which Adams solidly undercut by fivepence. Just how long before the establishment of Adams’ business the milkshake had been introduced to Australia, is open to conjecture, but his ‘American-style’ milk bar succeeded in leading the way to dramatically popularising the refreshment.

FEATURE MILK BAR

urprisingly, given its contemporary association with the milkshake as a key ingredient, ice cream was not part of the drink’s original make-up, even during Adams’ time. It was a component which was later acquired – the milkshake in the form with which we are familiar today, is really a drink of the 1950s. However, milkshakes did include a variety of ingredients other than milk and basic flavoured essences depending on the strength of taste and texture required: ‘varieties of fruit (mostly fresh, some dried), cream, butter, eggs, chocolate, honey, caramel, malt, and yeast’. Of the flavoured milkshakes that were on offer, two became quite popular: the banana milk cocktail, and ‘bootlegger punch’, the latter of which contained a dash of rum essence.

Home, presided over the occasion. Acting as serving staff (referred to as ‘soda jerks’ – another American adoption) were well-known celebrities of radio and stage of the day, including Cyril Ritchard and Madge Elliot. It was reported that displayed in the front window of the business was ‘a large black and white mechanical cow, complete with milkmaid […] who is inducing a continuous flow of milk from the cow to an apparently bottomless pail’. The ceremony and the window attraction halted traffic in a then non-pedestrian Martin Place – police were called in repeatedly throughout the day in an effort to get traffic and onlookers to ‘move on’. From then on, Adams never missed an opportunity to secure publicity. At each of his milk bars around the country, opening anniversaries were celebrated every year without fail, a day’s takings was often donated to charitable/philanthropic organizations (such as the Dalwood Children’s Health Home, the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia, Australian Imperial Force Widows and Children’s Holiday Fund, and the Boy Scouts), and well-designed, highly colourful and decorative floats were created to advertise the milk bars along city streets and during celebratory parades.

On the first day of opening 5000 customers are reported to have crowded into Adams’ milk bar, and as many as 27000 per week then began to patronize the establishment. With this number of customers, Adams was ‘obliged to secure a two-hour delivery of milk’ and to quickly extend the bar to 50ft (15.24m) in length – the refurbishment was undertaken without too much disruption to business. Adams soon succeeded in establishing other Black & White milk bars in Brisbane (1933), Melbourne (1933), Adelaide (1934) and Wollongong (1937). Both Sydney and Ad- Given Adams’ impressive flair for publicity, the inexpensive fourpenny cost to the customer of purchasing a milkshake, and the heavy promoelaide later acquired second Black & White milk bars. tion of milk as a health food by both the New South Wales Board of Under Adams’ guidance, the official launch of each milk bar became a Health and the state’s Milk Board, other food caterers quickly adopted highly theatrical affair – an entertainment element of overblow pomp the idea. Not surprisingly, given their numerical strength in food-caterand ceremony (designed to draw maximum attention to his new coming occupations within Australia at the time, many of these other food mercial enterprises) that he may have also picked up from his time in caterers were of Greek background. Adams believed ‘that the Depression the United States. At the opening of the first Black & White for example, gave a fillip’ to milk bars ‘as the public very quickly realised the value the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Alderman S. Walder, assisted by MLA Briga- of milk as a tonic food […] and the price […] considerably eased the dier-General Loyd, and A. E. Dalwood of the Dalwood Children’s Health financial position’. 66 OPAMAGAZINE.COM.AU

ithin five years of the opening of Adams’ original Black & White Milk Bar in 1932, some 4000 milk bars were operating in Australia. While the first milk bars in Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide were all established by Adams through extended family and/or friends, Perth’s first ‘American-style’ milk bar was opened by two Greek brothers, Stavros and John Coufos, originally from the island of Kastellorizo. It was called, The Golden Star. The enterprise was located at what is now Gledden Arcade on the corner of Hay and William streets in Perth’s central business district. It operated for approximately eighteen months in 1935-36. The concept had been brought over by the Coufos’ from the eastern states, the interior layout reflecting that of the original Black & White Milk Bar in Sydney. Later, Greek-run fruit shops in Western Australia incorporated milk bars as part of their food retail-

ing service, rather than milk bars being ‘stand alone’, commercial entities. In 1936, George Haros opened what has been claimed to be the first milk bar in Tasmania – the Green Gate Milk Bar in Hobart. Haros, who later served as Honorary Vice-Consul for Greece in Tasmania’s capital, stated that he had seen milk bars while on a visit to Sydney in 1935. Initially, he employed a ‘Mr Comino’ to manage the new business. In 1939 George was able to devote more of his own time in running the enterprise, together with developing what was to become an Australian milk bar and café icon – the Haros Boiler; used in the production of hot beverages such as tea and coffee. George retired from the Green Gate in 1968, leaving the business to one of his sons.

FEATURE MILK BAR

ilk bars are said to have developed in the Northern Territory just before World War II. Darwin’s Greek-run milk bars, such as the Star Milk Bar, the Rendezvous Milk Bar, and the Continental Milk Bar, all attempted to express a sophisticated style in their design, furnishings, staff uniforms and customer service that copied milk bars in Australia’s major urban centres – they tried to offer ‘a bit of Hollywood glamour’ in a what was then a frontier town. But despite appearances, Darwin’s early milk bars could not provide their customers with the milkshake’s key ingredient: fresh milk. Powdered milk was used, and its supply was solely reliant upon shipments from interstate. During the 1930s, it was observed that most milk bar patrons in Australia — between 70 per cent and 95 per cent — were men. No doubt attracted, in part, by the bootlegger punch and its very affordable cost — the latter being particularly important during the Depression years.

Indeed, not long after the opening of Adams’ Black & White Milk Bar in Sydney, the Australasian Confectioner declared that ‘there is probably some truth in the rumour that nearby hotels are losing their beer trade to milk!’. However, only more research could show if the traditional male-oriented Australian pub was affected by the milk bar’s incursion into its client numbers. The emergence of milk bars in Britain followed their development in Australia. There is even a local suggestion that Adams directly influenced the establishment of milk bars in England: ‘Mick gave a friend the idea [the milk bar], the recipes, the advice, and the friend went to London and opened the first milk bar in England’. Britain’s first milk bar opened in London’s Fleet Street in August 1935. Like Adams’ original, it was called the Black & White 4d. Milk Bar. An expatriate Australian businessman, Hugh Donald McIntosh – nicknamed ‘Hugh Deal’ – one

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of Australia’s most audacious early entrepreneurs, had been responsible for its establishment. McIntosh had left Sydney for England in the early 1930s, following bankruptcy proceedings. He had seen Adams’ original Black & White in Sydney and had declared, ‘I’m going back to England to start one of those’. Within a year of the launch of McIntosh’s Fleet Street milk bar, there were 420 milk bars throughout Britain and by 1937 the number had climbed to one thousand. Moreover, the British Milk Board had quickly thrown its support behind milk bars and with such immediate burgeoning success, McIntosh himself, again like Adams, attempted to develop a chain of Black & White milk bars. Regrettably, his eventual chain of twenty milk bars wilted against the fierce competition generated by the escalating number of rival milk bars. Macintosh had ‘dreamed of milk bars proliferating through England and even on the Continent’. Adams’ direct personal involvement with McIntosh cannot currently be clearly validated.

n 1934, while on a return trip from Greece, two Greek brothers who had been living in New Zealand, Anastasios and Dimitrios Pagonis, visited Melbourne for the city’s centenary celebrations. They then went on to Sydney, where ‘they visited a friend who ran a milk bar business in Martin Place’. The brothers ‘saw great potential for the same business in New Zealand’. On 19 December 1935 the brothers applied to Wellington City Council for a permit to refit 64 Willis Street in the city to establish a milk bar. In mid-June 1936 New Zealand’s first milk bar opened. The Mayor of Wellington presided at the official launch with

the Wellington City Council Band providing musical entertainment. The milk bar was called the Black & White. The business boomed and the Pagonis’ soon opened a second Black & White Milk Bar on Cuba Street in Wellington. They ran both simultaneously. As had occurred in Australia and Britain, milk bars in New Zealand proved exceptionally popular and rapidly increased in number – particularly those with a ‘cafeteria’ section that offered meals. Again, as in Australia, Greek food caterers readily embraced the milk bar. Peter Bares was one of those Greeks. In the late 1930s he opened the Golden Gate and Popular milk bars in Wellington’s central business district and later, the Arizona Milk Bar in Kilbirnie, one of the New Zealand capital’s suburbs. New Zealand’s milk bars, together with those in Great Britain, were part of a knock-on effect of Americanization from Australia – Mick Adams’ ‘American-style’ milk bar had selectively embraced elements of American drugstore soda ‘parlors’, particularly in regard to emphasizing rapid bar trade and product focus. In the mid-1930s social commentator, W. Robert Moore, had recognized that ‘American institutions […] milk bars’ had become popular and that their origins were reflected in names such as ‘The California’, and ‘The Monterey’. New Zealand also followed this practice with milk bar names: Astoria, Golden Gate, Arizona, Manhattan, Florida, American and Montana. Great Britain and New Zealand were not the only countries in which milk bars emerged along the lines of Mick Adams’ original ‘Americanstyle’ Black & White Milk Bar. Milk bars in Fiji – providing milkshakes, 69

FEATURE MILK BAR

fruit juices and ice cream – emerged in the 1950s; some locals claim an earlier starting date. The concept is said to have been brought over by Australians and/or New Zealanders. Just how far the idea reached into the South Pacific, is still to be uncovered. Moreover, the presence of milk bars in South Africa, the Middle East and central Europe suggests an even broader global expansion of the Australian concept, as does the limited appearance of the term ‘milk bar’ in the United States after 1940. By the 1970s, milk bars in Australia were struggling to survive. A great-

70 OPAMAGAZINE.COM.AU

er diversity of competing food outlets, the introduction of bottled flavoured milk and aerated drinks, the advent of fast food corporations, and changing social habits (particularly of young Australians), facilitated the milk bar’s commercial demise, though not its place in popular memory or its status as a unique, global, Australian export. (Endnotes) A ‘tiddley’ was cockney slang for an alcoholic refreshment.

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MICHAEL PANOPOULOS BY NIKITA CHRONIS

orn in Melbourne, Michael Panopoulos was, and still is, a very important football figure in Australia, Greece and even in the UK. Currently the coach of Altona City SC U13s, head coach at Wesley College and the Victorian State team, Michael has shown and inspired many people into becoming great footballers, and has given an experience that many will never forget.

I had the privilege of interviewing Michael, where I truly was given such interesting information on his life, growing up, football and his Hellenic background and experiences .

In his own words…….

OPA!: How was your life growing up? M.P. “Football, football and football. That is practically the summary of my life growing up. I had an older brother, (Matthew), who also played football at an early age as well, which in turn gave me a competitive edge. Being the younger brother, I always looked up to him with regards to my playing and life in general”.

Michael was born in1976 with parents coming from the village of Kratero in the city of Florina, Greece. During his youth, he joined major NSL club Heidelberg FC. Later he was offered a legitimate deal with Greek-giants Aris Thessaloniki, in which he gladly accepted at such a young age. Years later he joined the Greek national football OPA!: How did your Greek heritage impact on team, and was also transferred to English side your life? Portsmouth FC for 1 million Euros. Recently M.P. “I was very fortunate to have my Greek 72 OPAMAGAZINE.COM.AU

heritage since it enabled me to get a Greek passport, which gave me the ability to play professionally overseas. Also note that to get an EU passport was quite difficult back then if you were not a citizen of an EU nation”. OPA!: At what age did you start playing football? M.P. “Pretty much since I was born! Even probably whilst I was in my mother’s stomach! (Laughs). Ever since I was very young I began to follow my passion, which was playing the game of the round ball”. OPA!: Who would you say has inspired you throughout the beginning of your career? M.P. “My father has always pushed me to become better at what I do, and I dearly thank him for that. He has helped me to learn and also grow

FEATURE PANOPOULOS

as a player, along with my brother of course. Yes, they have helped me along the way, and truly inspired me, but I believe that ever since I was young I have always had my own drive”. OPA!: What would you say were some of your in-game attributes whilst playing on the pitch? M.P. “As a player I was quite quick off the mark, I had a solid first touch and I had the ability to get forward and score goals”.

feet, knowing where your players are on the pitch, what positioning should you be in at different and specific times during the match etc. Also being physically fast is a necessity as well as having a good first touch on the ball”.

OPA!: How has the game impacted on your life? M.P. “As I said, I have always loved playing football since I was very little. As I became older, matured and excelled in the sport, opportunities arose. I started earning money OPA!: What abilities do you value in a player? for the thing that I loved to do most, playing M.P. “Modern-day football is currently being football. To me this was the most incredible played at an extremely fast pace, so there are impact on my life; I was earning a living doing many different and unique attributes that something I loved. It’s a dream come true”. players must have and solidly maintain. I believe that players have to have the ability OPA!: Personally, what has been your most of quick-thinking. This means knowing memorable moment whilst playing football? what to do before the ball comes to your M.P. “My best moment has to be scoring

three goals against Blackburn in England. The buzz that I felt and received from the crowd after that was indescribable”. OPA!: Throughout your career, who would you say has been the toughest player you have come up against? M.P. “I have had many good players come up against me during games, but the hardest would have to be Gianfranco Zola. He played as a midfielder, same as me, and I found he was always one step ahead in the match. Zola was fast, skilful and strong; all of this made it very difficult to keep up with a player of his calibre”. OPA!: In Greece, two main rivals of the league were that of Aris Thessaloniki, and P.A.O.K. Thessaloniki. How do you explain what it was like to play in one of those highly intense match-ups? 73

FEATURE PANOPOULOS

M.P. “Let me tell you this – nothing can compare to an Aris vs P.A.O.K. rivalry. It’s a match in which the whole city stops to watch, families and friends become enemies. Thousands and thousands of people turn up to watch this specific game. The crowd chants and roars for their favourite team, flares become released into the crowd. Sometimes, as a player the atmosphere can become a little overwhelming and scary at times, but mostly it’s an adrenalin rush.

Australia? M.P. “Having a Greek passport allowed me to play professionally over in Thessaloniki at the age of 16, though I didn’t break it into the first team until the age of 19. As time went on, I received a call up from the ethniki, and not Australia, so I accepted the Greeks’ offer. Fortunate/ Un-fortunate, you can call it what you want, but after that the FIFA law has always said that players couldn’t go back and play for any other national team after they had already represented another country, in my case being OPA!: We now know that you have played for Greece”. many major clubs overseas throughout your time as a player, though why did you eventually OPA!: Once your playing career subsided over represent the Greek national football and not time, what made you want to coach a current 74 OPAMAGAZINE.COM.AU

under 13s Altona City SC? M.P. “The main reason I wanted to coach Altona SC under 13s (voluntarily) was my nephew James who was already playing for the club. It also gave me an opportunity to give back to a great community and to youngsters who love the game of football. Coaching is the least that I could do. I also coach the Victorian State Team. OPA!: Last question of this interview - any chances of coaching an A League or Australian national team sometime? M.P. “Haha (laughs), time will tell... Who knows?!?!”

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Glendi Lonsdale St.

25-26 February 2012 Celebrate ‘apokries’, Melbourne’s Greek carnivalé.

antipodesfestival.com.au

2012 Lonsdale Street Glendi Celebrate Apokries; Melbourne’s Greek Carvinalé Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 February, 2012 2pm-11.30pm & 1.30pm - 11.30pm Corner Lonsdale & Russell Street Melbourne

HE LONSDALE STREET GLENDI, a highlight of the Antipodes Festival, will once again celebrate apokries – the tradition of carnivalé, in what promises to be two days of frivolity, food and free entertainment for the whole family. This free street party staged along Melbourne’s Lonsdale Street, brings together local and international performers, cooking demonstrations, children’s activities and food, for a weekend of fun and feasting. Antipodes is the Greek Community of Melbourne’s year-long cultural program that includes exhibitions, book launches, theatre, music and film. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Antipodes, and this milestone will be celebrated with newly added events

including the Antipodes Writers Festival (15-17 June) along with favourites such as Flavours of Greece (August-September) and the Greek Film Festival (17 Oct-4 Nov).

and Eternity and a Day. The accident occurred while he was working on his latest film The Other Sea, which he’d hoped would be finished in time for this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

THEO ANGELOPOULOS RETROSPECTIVE

After accepting an invitation from the Greek Communities of Melbourne & Sydney, Theo Angelopoulos was due to visit Australia in June this year to present a retrospective of his films in both Melbourne and Sydney as part of their respective Festival Programs for 2012.

Theo Angelopoulos, award-winning director, often characterized as an epic poet of cinema, tragically died in January this year, when he was struck by a motorcycle during the shooting of his new movie. A majestic auteur that captured with his dreamlike images the emotional journeys of our travelling souls had a distin- The Antipodes Festival will honour this great guished filmmaking career that spanned over 40 filmmaker by bringing a selection of his films years. Theo Angelopoulos was one of the great to Melbourne, for all to experience. Greek filmmakers who enjoyed art house and festival success, with films such as Ulysses’ Gaze

FEATURE ANTIPODES

PHILIP VAKOS

Glendi Lonsdale St.

ry 2012 25-26 Februa e’s kries’, Melbourn Celebrate ‘apo

é. Greek carnival

al.com.au antipodesfestiv AM 9/02/2012 10:34:22

Untitled-1 1

KIDS SPACE – PRESENTED BY DELLA ROSA FINE FOODS RUNS ALL WEEKEND

ZORBA ‘TILL YOU DROP DANCING COMPETITION SUNDAY 26 FEBRUARY, 1.30PM MAIN STAGE

CULTURAL PLATEIA – SHOWCASING REGIONS FROM GREECE RUNS ALL WEEKEND

You might need the endurance of Nadal or Djokovic to make it to the end of this dancing competition. The last person dancing will be rewarded with a return flight to Greece courtesy of Touchdown Tours. Entry forms available from www.antipodesfestival.com.au or at the event.

Melbourne’s Greek community is supported Children will love what’s on offer in the kids by a number of cultural associations which space. Greek dancing demonstrations, lessons, encourage the preservation of traditions, music storytelling, games, mask and kite making. and dances. Regions include Cyprus, Crete, Peloponnese, Epirus, Macedonia, Thrace and Pontos and these areas and their carnivalé traditions will be represented in the ‘Plateia’ (or square) by the various cultural associations.

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GREEK KITCHEN – PRESENTED BY CHOBANI GREEK YOGURT – RUNS ALL WEEKEND SEE SOME OF MELBOURNE FINEST GREEK CHEFS, COOKING INSTRUCTORS AND HOME COOKS AT WORK IN THE CHOBANI GREEK KITCHEN AT THE LONSDALE ST GLENDI. From traditional pites to innovative Modern Greek food, we showcase the

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diversity of Greek cuisine during two days of cooking demonstrations. Travis McAuley, head chef Hellenic Republic, arguably Melbourne’s hottest Greek taverna, will present popular dishes from the award-winning restaurant’s menu. Chefs Phil Vakos and Vas Donoudis will demonstrate their flair at creating contemporary Greek dishes. Vicki Peppos from The Sweet Greek cooking school joins forces with Mary Valle, author of My Greek Kitchen, to present Greek sweets, while cooking instructor Angela Nicolettou draws on her Cypriot roots and shows how Greek cooking can be quick and healthy.

LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL INTERSTATE INTERSTATE INTERSTATE INTERSTATE INTERSTATE INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL www.sphtrans.com.au www.sphtrans.com.au www.sphtrans.com.au www.sphtrans.com.au www.sphtrans.com.au www.sphtrans.com.au

FEATURE ANTIPODES

Glendi Lonsdale St.

25-26 February 2012 Celebrate ‘apokries’, Melbourne’s Greek carnivalé.

PANTELIS THALASSINOS FREE CONCERT AT THE LONSDALE STREET GLENDI SATURDAY 25 FEBRUARY, 8.30PM MAIN STAGE Pantelis Thalassinos is one of Greece’s most iconic singers and songwriters, and since he began performing in 1977, has gained a reputation as one of the greatest male voices in contemporary Greek music. He has released six albums and collaborated with other great artists including Melina Kana, Giorgos Dalaras and Babis Stokas, Best known for his songs Ta Smirneika Tragoudia, Anathema Se and Karavia Chiotika, he is set to wow Melbourne during his one and only free show at the Lonsdale Street Glendi. 80 OPAMAGAZINE.COM.AU

antipodesfestival.com.au

melbourne

sydney

brisbane

darwin

usa

w w w. x s i g h t . c o m . a u | p h 1 3 0 0 9 7 4 4 4 8 | i n f o @ x s i g h t . c o m . a u

Glendi Glendi Lonsdale St.

The 2012 Lonsdale Street Glendi is presented by  Lonsdale St.

25-26 February 2012 ‘apokries’ Major Festival Partners  25-26 February 2012 Celebrate

, Melbourne’s Greek carnivalé.

Celebrate ‘apokries’, Melbourne’s Greek carnivalé.

Principal Sponsor

Major Sponsors

Media Partners

The Hellenic Perspective

antipodesfestival.com.au antipodesfestival.com.au

TAXIDI TRAVEL

ZAGOROCHORIA THE STONE VILLAGES

TAXIDI TRAVEL

“LET’S GET A TASTE OF THIS LEGENDARY SCENERY.”

he name “Zagori” derives from the Slavic phrase “za-gora” which means the place behind the mountains; also known as Zagorochoria, this is a complex system of 46 villages right in the heart of Pindos Mountains, in Epirus, with unique natural, historical and cultural characteristics.

after the end of the civil war. However, Zagori nowadays has become an attractive and popular destination among local and international travelers, with many traditional guesthouses popping up and lots of opportunities for activities such as climbing, mountain biking and rafting.

Ano Pedina Surrounded by impressive gorges, crystal-clear rivers and dense This is a tranquil village set at 960m, where many traditional guest forests, these stone-villages which are connected with numerous houses have lately appeared, spread along its uphill street. The monastery stone bridges can be the ideal destination for those who love nature. of Evagelistria (1647) and Agia Paraskevi (16th century) as well as the church of Agios Dimitrios (1793) and the school building are well worth With a history lost in centuries, Zagorochoria flourished during the your visit here. Turkish Occupation as they managed to gain privileges from the Sultan in 1430, a favorable period which lasted until 1868. Many of the In the taverns of the main square, such as “Soudena, Sotiria Tsigara”, you mansions (arhontika) which have been preserved come from this era, as will taste simple but delicious and value-for-money food and wine; pies well as schools, roads and bridges. From the beginning of the twentieth are a specialty of the region so don’t omit to taste some of them. Walking century a decline begins, ending in a massive immigration especially uphill, you will find “Dizaki,” where a young couple has combined the 85

TAXIDI TRAVEL

local, traditional element with a modern twist, offering to its visitors a Kipoi – Koukouli – Kapesovo – Vradeto (Beloi) – Tsepelovo memorable experience: dine outside in the yard if here in summer, below Kipoi is named after the many yards (kipoi) which are cultivated on the shores of Bagia river. At 800m altitude, Kipoi seems to have flourished the stars, or taste tsipouro in the grand sala. around 1431, while even today the place draws many visitors. Among its STAY AT: Monopatia Mountain Resort (www.monopatiaresort.gr), worthy sightseeing features are some of the finest bridges in the country Pirrion hotel (www.pirrion.gr), Primoula Guesthouse (www.primoula. like Kontodimos Bridge, Kokorou or Noutsou Bridge and Kalogeriko/ gr), Porfyron Hotel (www.porfyron.com), Amaryllis Luxury Guest Plakida Bridge. Also worth your attention is the Folklore Museum House (www.amaryllishouse.gr), Oresti’s Guesthouse (www.oresti- of Agapios Tolis, a life-achievement of a man who brought together numerous objects showcasing the rich heritage of the region. shouse.gr)

Ano Pedina is the perfect place to select as a starting point to visit many neighboring villages such as …

86 OPAMAGAZINE.COM.AU

STAY AT: Kipi Suites (www.kipisuiteszagori.gr), Machalas (www. machalas.gr), Mpagia (www.mpagia.gr), Rodia (www.rodia.gr), Kipi Aggelon (www.aggelon-kipi.gr), Arxontiko Kipon (www.arxontikokipon.gr), Melina Hotel (www.melinahotel.gr)

TAXIDI TRAVEL

A little bit further, Koukouli is considered to be one of the most beautiful and traditional villages of Zagori. Built amphitheatrically at an altitude of 900m., its central church dedicated to the “Assumption of Mary” (“Koimisi Tis Theotokou”) is said to be among the finest of the region. Here you will also find many places to stay and local shops and taverns to taste the local products. Stroll along the stone alleyways, ‘kalnterimia’ as the locals call them, and breathe in the smell of wood and stone which underline the essence of this place.

STAY AT: Thoukididis Guesthouse (www.thoukididis.gr), Mousafir Ontas Guesthouse (www.mousafirontas.gr) Vradeto is also called “Zagori’s balcony” and there is no wonder why: it is the highest village at 1.340m, offering an amazing view all around. Here you can follow the well-known stone-built, snake-shaped path “Vradeto stairs” (I Skala tou Vradeto) which was the only access to the village until 1973 (almost an hour and a half to ascend) or follow the path to “Beloi” area which starts just outside of the village (about 30 minutes walking); it’s the best spot to marvel at Viko’s Gorge.

STAY AT: Tritokso Guesthouse (www.tritoxo.gr), Nikola’s Guesthouse Tsepelovo awaits you at an altitude of 1080m.: it is one of the biggest (http://koukouli.com) and liveliest villages of Zagori with many guesthouses, taverns, cafes and shops selling folk art objects. There is no better ending to such a full Kapesovo has climbed even higher at 1.100m, with panoramic views towards Vikos Gorge which is listed as the deepest gorge in the world in day than to enjoy your meal or drink under the cool shadow of its huge, picturesque square, or sitting next to a fireplace. The church of Agios the Guinness Book of Records. At the centre of the village, Paschalios Nikolaos is a must-visit before you begin to climb for the legendary School (Sxoli), founded in 1861, was the most important educational Drakolimni and the peak of Gamila… institute of the region. Stop by the“Sterna” shop, where the Papageorgiou family has created a unique place with local products and tastes STAY AT: Drakolimni Hotel (www.drakolimni.com), Zagorisio Guestand try a spoon-sweets. It’s one of the places you savor in your travel house (www.zagorisio.net). memory for ever…

88 OPAMAGAZINE.COM.AU

488 High Street, Northcote VIC 3070 Tel 03 9482 5215 Fax 03 9482 5216 Toll Free 1800 657 441 travel@touchdowntours.com.au www.touchdowntours.com.au

ODIGOS AUTOMOBILES

LOTUS EVORA GTE

BY CHRIS BINOS

he Lotus Evora GTE is quite simply, the most powerful Lo- forged alloy wheels with center-lock hubs shod with Pirelli P-Zero tus road car ever built. Yet contrary to its extreme roots, Corsa tires. the Evora GTE road car also delivers a comfortable and refined element to its high performance driving characteristics. Group Lotus can now announce that production will be expanded on the Evora GTE road car to meet demand and reach further markets. Originally created as a special limited edition for the Asian market and designed to celebrate Lotusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; successful entry to the new Lotus Lightweight DNA: Clever use of carbon fibre has global motorsport GTE category, the hand built Evora GTE road car been integrated extensively throughout the exterior and interior of the car, this is one major contributors to the has all the attributes youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d expect of an endurance racer. 105kg weight reduction versus the base Evora. Carbon fiThe Lotus Evora GTE is powered by a 3.5l V6 engine, equipped with bre has been used for all the bodywork modifications includDual-Variable Timing and a supercharger, which outputs 438BHP ing the front and rear bumpers, the rear wing and the doors. at 7000RPM and 420NM of torque at 4500RPM. Complimenting the striking exterior is a stunning, modern raceThis high-strung Evora with its race-developed engine, is fed themed interior providing both occupants with the race car thrill through a sequential AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) rac- without compromising on comfort. Leather and carbon fibre ing gearbox and put to the pavement through ultra-lightweight dominate the cabin and lightweight Recaro carbon fibre seats

ODIGOS AUTOMOBILES

cosset both the passenger and driver giving a sense of security and comfort that mean that any driver of the Evora GTE can really go the distance as they take command of this extraordinary car. Commenting on the Evora GTE road car, Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar said: “The response to this model in China has been so incredible, within days we had sold out with 114 orders. In response we decided that the only logical step from a business perspective was to increase production and widen our reach.

“WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THIS CAR, IS NOT JUST THAT IT’S A SERIOUS RACE CAR – IT’S A SERIOUS CAR. PEOPLE GET SO EXCITED WHEN THEY SEE AND ESPECIALLY HEAR IT FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT’S A VERY SPECIAL CAR AND WILL APPEAL TO A VERY SPECIAL TYPE OF DRIVER – AND THEY WON’T BE DISAPPOINTED!”

Nick Theodossi Prestige Cars “Everybody should own a prestige car once in a lifetime”

W W W. N I C K T H E O D O S S I . C O M . A U

ODIGOS ZEREFOS

AARON ZEREFOS

RACE! ZEREFOS READY TO TAKE ON LOWNDES IN BATHURST 12 HOUR Sydney socialite Aaron Zerefos will race in the Armor All Bathurst 12 hour at the 6.2km Mount Panorama Bathurst circuit on Sunday, February 26. The young businessman, who is regarded as Sydney’s leading dairy supplier & Fiji Water distributor, will pilot the #91 Ford Falcon XR8.

“I am treating Australia’s favorite mountain with a lot of respect. The plan is to finish, it’s a long race and we don’t want to go for the whip too early. We need to be patient and let the race unfold. Our V8 is well suited to Class E (Production Performance) and I think we can be competitive.

The Porsche racer is delighted to participate in the prestigious Australian endurance race, where he will be competing against Craig Lowndes.

I am motivated to get back in a race car and bring some fans to the sport and it is important to get more track time to further my career. I have some offers on the table for 2012 including Porsche Carrera Cup and GT Championship, so I will be keen to do a good job at Bathurst.”

“The Bathurst 12 Hour has always appealed to me and has been on my to-do list for a long time, so when the drive was available it was an easy decision make,” he said. “The Bathurst 12 hour is the motor-racing equivalent of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race and attracts world-class drivers and teams including Audi, Mercedes & Ferrari as well as Formula One drivers.

Aaron tested the Falcon XR8 at Queensland Raceway last week, and was immediately on the pace. Aaron has also been working on fitness, attending several boot camps and also surfing. The Bathurst 12 Hour is held over the weekend of February 24-26. Spectator and ticketing details can be found www.bathurst12hour.com.au, the

final 90 minutes of the event will be televised live on Speed Australia at approximately 4:45pm on Sunday, February 26. Follow Aaron on Twitter @1AZ_FijiWater and like the Aaron Zerefos Facebook Page.

AARON IS PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY: • • • • • • • • • • • •

www.aaronzerefos.biz www.tomwaterhouse.com Fiji Water. Lavazza Coffee Aston Martin Sydney Cranchi Boats Henri Lloyd Bulla Dairy Foods Simotas Food Distributors Beach Haus Kings Cross Porsche Car Club NSW Bondi Pizza

PHOTOGRAPHS BY: • GARY SANTOS PHOTOGRAPHY • LISA LAW PHOTOGRAPHY • MATTHEW WREN PHOTOGRAPHY

PROVERB OF THE MONTH Απ’ έξω κούκλα κι από μέσα πανούκλα.”

Translation: “Outside a doll, inside the plague.” Meaning: Duality. Used to describe a beautiful woman with a terrible character...

IT’S (ALL) GREEK TO ME: An expression that is incomprehensible due to complexity or imprecision, generally with respect to verbal expressions with excessive jargon of dialect, mathematics, or science.

PARDON ME, YOUR GREEK ROOTS ARE SHOWING: THOUSANDS OF ENGLISH WORDS COME FROM THE GREEK LANGUAGE, SOMETIMES VIA THE ROMAN ADAPTATION INTO LATIN AND THEN TO ENGLISH. COMMON ENGLISH WORDS FROM GREEK INCLUDE “ACADEMY,” “APOLOGY,” “MARATHON,” “SIREN,” “ALPHABET,” AND “TYPHOON

WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS The Ancient Greeks were the first people to systematically examine the world to attempt to discover why it worked the way it appeared to. Their ideas were so influential that, for two millennia, Western science was influenced almost entirely by Greek ideas. The later Romans, Arabs, and medieval Europeans did little more than enlarge on Greek ideas...

The ancient Greeks are often called the inventors of mathematics because they were the first to make it a theoretical discipline. The work of Greek mathematicians such as Pythagoras, Euclid, Archimedes, and Apollonius lies at the basis of modern mathematics

George Perlegos „Mr Flash“ invented EEPROM technology - the basic technology for flash memory, in 1962 in the USA, President and Chief Executive Officer of ATMEL said: “Why George goes home at lunchtimes could be because he was born Greek and retains Greek nationality and values”.

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