OPA! Magazine - Issue 9 by Steve Agi

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W W W. B A R D O T. C O M . A U

> 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 crucial in determining the direction and content of this publication. He is the newly appointed CIO, whose role is to maintain a high level of quality 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.

editor@opamagazine.com.au

CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

Chris Binos

chris@opamagazine.com.au

SUB EDITOR

Charles Meyer FASHION EDITOR

Dean Georgio

dean@opamagazine.com.au

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

DESIGN + PRODUCTION

Mediacode

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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 sales 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 us the 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, Nicole Condos, Judy Fetter, Areti Fronis, Dean Georgio, Nick Ghionis, Nik Halik, Dean Kalymniou, Martha Karatsioris, Ange Kenos, DJ Krazy Kon, Father Kyril, Pette Liacopoulos, Chris Macheras, Rania Margari, Malchus Nevets, Marinis Pirpiris, Jaqui Preketes, Dean Psaros, James Razos, Lenita Vangellis, Jorge Sotirios, Tony Tsourdalakis, Phil Vassiliadis, Nikita Chronis, Vicki Yianoulatos, John Pandazopulos, Emma Papaemmanouel and John Tripidakis

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MARTHA KARATSIORIS For many seasons and reasons Martha advocated for marginalised people

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within mental health and Greek aged care by professionally publicising the

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Contributor, she lives by the motto; a good story means never having to say ‘you had to be there’.

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RANIA MARGARI Rania Margari is a freelance travel and lifestyle writer currently living in Greece.

ARTICLES

All articles submitted for publication become the property of the publisher. The Editor reserves the right to adjust any article to conform with the magazine format.

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 .

This publication has been printed on FSC mixed source certified fibre using vegetable based inks. Manufactured under ISO14001 Environmental Certification.

Opa! Magazine is owned and published by ‘thepublisher’ . All material in OPA! Magazine is copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without written permission of thepublisher. The Editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right to accept or reject any material. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, thepublisher will not accept any responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published. The opinions expressed in OPA! Magazine are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by thepublisher unless otherwise stated.

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.

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. The Foundation has a highly experienced social policy team that works closely with the charitable, philanthropic research and government sectors to identify the areas of greatest need. From this collaboration, programs and initiatives are created that will address long term social disadvantage. This is critical to ensure that funds are granted where they will achieve positive and far-reach-

ing societal, economic, environmental and cultural outcomes in efforts to reduce social disadvantage. Income is generated from trusts and bequests, annual appeals and campaigns, and special events. Donations from individuals and the business sector are also an important part of their fundraising.

trust holders can nominate their preferred charities or the Lord Mayors Charitable Foundation can distribute the income on their behalf .

THE OPA! CHARITABLE TRUST

As the publisher of OPA! Magazine I personally feel that the creation of this charitable trust account will allow us not only to support the community better, but will also allow us to engage, communicate and

After finding out about the orgnanisation and being approached by them, it was decided to establish the OPA! Charitable Trust.

educate those who need it most. It is a way of saying thank you and of being able to represent this vibrant and dynamic community group as a mainstream organization that is both credible and reputable.

A Charitable Trust Account is a perpetual form of giving, administered by the Foundation. It’s a tax-deductible special way to remember a loved one or create an environment of philanthropic giving within a family. There is an annual 1% administration fee. Charitable

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THANK YOU!

here do I begin? Where do I end? What can I say? Those who know me, know that it’s not often that I am lost for words, but after the maelstrom of 2011 and the amount of love shown to me by

the Greek Community, I can honestly say that I have never been prouder of my Hellenic roots and am very excited about the passion and love that you have all shown for YOUR publication – OPA! I thank you all for joining us on this journey, nay, this odyssey, for that is what it is. We are all on this trip together and it excites me as I write this final note for 2011, that on December 14th 2011 OPA! Magazine was recognised by the Victorian Government and awarded the Multicultural Media Award for Excellence by the Governor of Victoria and the Victorian Multicultural Commission. What an honour, what a privilege, what an endorsement of the vision and the mission of this humble publication that in its 8 short months has taken the world by storm. So, congratulations and be proud, this is the first time that Hellenic Media has been recognised in such a mainstream way and in a public forum, truly we are breaking down walls and writing history each and every day! While I write this we are about to launch the first ever mainstream fundraising campaign under the auspices of the OPA! charitable Trust, the Forty Day Fast and encourage each and everyone of you to get involved, participate, support and make this work. It is all about educating, growing and giving back – to those who need it most. For more details and to register keep an eye out online at www.opamagazine.com.au (make sure you register to receive our updates – it’s FREE) or ‘like’ us on FACEBOOK or ‘follow’ us on twitter. On another note, I was personally very excited and honoured to feature the one and only Alex Perry on our cover – OPA! Not only is he a proud Greek and passionate supporter of the Greek cause, but he is an amazing person and it was incredible for me to be able to connect with such a beautiful person. Thank you Aleko! We are proud to announce in OPA! that ERT world are working closely with our team to present to the world a new show out of Melbourne, ERT World Australia. It is an exciting time and a real honour to work with the ERT team, Aleko and Emma we sincerely wish you all the best – kales doulies kai se anotera! A big and heartfelt THANK YOU to the GOCMV and specifically president Bill Papastergiadis, HACCI and president Nicholas Mylonas and to the crew at the Greek Media Group and specifically General Manager Ross Alatsas for all their support and help; truly it has been an honour! 2012 promises to be bigger and better and we have many surprises planned for you all. iPad apps, kindle fire access and something in our mother tongue for one and all, but you’ll have to be patient – I promise you all that it will be incredible – we have only just begun. I’d like to thank my MEDIACODE team who have made this all possible, they are an amazing group of individuals who as a team are second to none and last but not least my family, THANK YOU! Without your support and love, none of the successes of 2011 and the dreams for 2012 and beyond would mean anything.

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Everybody say OPA! STEVE AGI - PUBLISHER

COMMUNITY: OPA!

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SPECIAL FEATURE: ERT WORLD Australian Greeks

EDITORS LETTER

TAXIDI: OPA! travels to Ioannina

PRAGMATA: Xmas Giveaways!

ODIGOS: Maserati GranTurismo

FEATURE: Educational PC Game

IN THE CLUB:

FEATURE: C’est La Vie

COVER STORY / FASHION:

Spicemarket Shots

IT’S ALL GREEK TO ME: Odds & Ends

Project OPA! with Alex Perry

FASHION: Cuban Princess

Collection by Alex Perry

OMORPHI: Vergara Makes Over the Beautiful Sotiria

MUSIC: DJ Krazy Kon Talks Hits

MATERIAL GIRL: Here Today... Gone Tomorrow

PROFILE: Maria Vamvakinou

PROFILE: Greeks & the City

PROFILE: Zoukla.gr

RECIPES: Kalofagas Xmas Treats

FEATURE: Retsina

PROFILE: Alekos Fassianos

PROFILE: Patricia Kara

MYTHOLOGIA: All your Greek

God Questions Answered

EKLISIA: Fasting

ISTORIA: Pearling’s Greek Contribution

LEGAL EAGLE: Military Obligations

DOLLARS & SENSE: B.O.C.A Raises 55k for Camp Quality!

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FEATURE EDUCATIONAL

λληνικό εκπαιδευτικό παιχνίδι για υπολογιστές φτιαγμένο στη Μελβούρνη. Αστέρι στη Γεωγραφία – Ελλάδα & Κύπρος, is the first computer game (for Windows-PC) designed by Grafos, a Melbourne based company that specializes in educational software for the Greek community. Through 12 colorful and entertaining levels, everyone can become familiar with the geography, famous monuments and cultural elements of Greece and Cyprus, while learning Greek at the same time. Modern language learning methodologies focus on content and the importance of implicitly learning through natural communication and activities. The new generation of Australian - Greek children needs more exposure to the Greek language. Greek school once a week is not nearly enough on its own. Parents are usually busy, or do not know Greek well enough to help. Children protest, they do not understand why they should learn a language that is only heard at Greek schools once a week. So, learning Greek becomes this daunting uphill battle for the whole family. use their computers and surf the net in English, they use their mobile phones in English. This Children in Greece do not struggle with constant exposure to the second language English, as much as children in Australia is then further empowered by their English struggle with Greek. However, more often than lessons at the day school and the “frontistirio” not, their parents do not speak English at all! in the afternoon, several days of the week. What is the key difference here? The answer “I hate Greek school!” is such a common phrase is simple: content and exposure. Children among this generation of Greek – Australian in Greece are constantly exposed to English children. It is heart breaking, as it is underthrough content that captivates them. They standable. Our children mainly, sometimes watch English speaking shows and movies even solely, experience Greek through “boring (with subtitles, dubbing is not very popular in work” and the very conventional teaching Greece), they play video games in English, they methodologies the majority of Greek schools

employ. How do we expect them to embrace their heritage? Why would they, when it becomes synonymous to “enforced boredom” throughout their childhood? Consider the countless hours children spend watching TV. Consider the countless hours they play video games. Would it not be amazing if just a small portion of this time could be claimed by their Greek education? Grafos was created to fit this exact purpose. Grafos’s educational games are the easy way to introduce Greek in our children’s daily routine

in a non-forceful, enjoyable manner. The company’s first game, Αστέρι στη Γεωγραφία is a breakthrough product for the Greek community. The production values are extremely high, with more than two years of development time, original ideas, amazing graphics and catchy music. This is not a geography lesson disguised as a game; a concept very common among educational games. There are no maps. There are no huge texts to study and memorize. Instead, there are different avatars and player points and timers and high score tables, all those traditional game mechanics the children are accustomed to. With Αστέρι στη Γεωγραφία, the learning process takes place unconsciously, while playing. The children do not play with the purpose of learning; they play with the purpose of having fun. The more fun they have, the more they learn however! It is kind of like Greek dancing. Our children have been far more successful in Greek dancing than learning Greek. Because dancing is fun! Well, it is about time to make learning Greek fun as well! Even those students who struggle at Greek school, have been achieving remarkable progress with Αστέρι στη Γεωγραφία, despite

the fact that it is by no means an easy game. Some of the questions can be really advanced, even for a Greek teacher, it does not just teach basic geography. And the time given to answer is very limited and constantly ticking. But children enjoy the challenge. If a game does not challenge them, they easily lose interest. They are constantly motivated to “have one

more go”, the very unique rewards system the game employs. Advanced knowledge can be acquired just as easy as basic knowledge, with a game like this. That is why Αστέρι στη Γεωγραφία has been rapidly becoming popular not only among children, but among parents and teachers too. The option to use English text means that anybody, regardless of their fluency in Greek, can enjoy the game. The voice is always in Greek, so the exposure to the language is still there. It was about time we started creating our own materials for our children. We cannot rely on children’s games and activities imported from Greece any more. Those are created with children who are native Greek speakers in mind, hence they can often discourage instead of empower. They are also imported at premium prices, sometimes at double the retail price in Greece. “Why geography?” many wondered. “Why not more popular subjects like the alphabet or mythology? Geography is boring”. Learning about the geography of Greece, the land and its customs, is fundamental to further explore the language, the history and culture of the place. The game does not just stick to narrow geographic knowledge. There are levels dedicated to monuments, landmarks, customs and even famous products of each area. Also, the fact that geography has the “boring” stigma made it a perfect candidate for the first game. It is a testament to Grafos’s educational games concept that a subject that is so difficult to teach, a subject that is traditionally unpopular, can be so much fun! More importantly though, subconsciously the player is not just learning Greek geography and culture, the player is learning the Greek language. The key is exposure and visualization, to be surrounded by the language. No wonder many Greek schools have adopted the game into their curriculum and many more are planning to next year. Since its original enthusiastic reception at the 2010 MGTAV

More info: http://www.grafosgames.com/e n.ht

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(Modern Greek Teachers Association of Victoria) conference, Grafos has been invited by most Greek schools around Melbourne to present Αστέρι στη Γεωγραφία to their teachers and students. The response has been overwhelming. What really amazes is how the game is able to captivate students as young as year 2 and as mature as year 12 at the same time! At the 2011 MGTAV conference, along Αστέρι στη Γεωγραφία Grafos’s new game, Αστεράκι στα Ελληνικά - Τα γράμματα got its first public showing through a sneak preview. It is an action (but cute at the same time) shoot-em-up for beginners that, as its title implies, teaches the letters with emphasis on the phonetics. The game is currently at the final stages of its development cycle (beta testing) and should be ready for a December launch. Grafos wants to keep the prices of its products as low as possible, as it wants its games to be affordable to every Greek family in Australia. Aστέρι στη Γεωγραφία is available now for a RRP of just $30. It runs through a CD-Rom on most modern Windows PC computers (XP/ Vista/7). Next time you visit Greece, if you are flying over the Greek islands, do not be alarmed if your children point and shout “Santorini”. They recognised the island, because they have been playing the third level of Αστέρι στη Γεωγραφία.

FEATURE BIBLIO

n 2008 during her Stanford Commencement Address, Oprah Winfrey, said “If things go wrong, you hit a dead end—as you will—it’s just life’s way of saying time to change course. So, ask every failure—this is what I do with every failure, every crisis, every difficult time—I say, what is this here to teach me? And as soon as you get the lesson, you get to move on.”This quote truly supports the message of this new book which will stimulate, move and inspire many readers. A book about one’s discovery into the elusive workings of the Universe, “C’est La Vie” sends a powerful message to the hearts and minds of those who seek wisdom. This interesting and sometimes very humorous semi autobiographical story, written by Alexandra Voulgari, brings readers to a journey of a lifetime which takes a glimpse at the transcendent knowledge behind every trivial or seemingly-insignificant aspect of one’s life. It holds the higher awakening about how one can unlock the true meaning of one’s existence, for without the necessary adversities and redirections, there will be no spiritual growth. Voulgari knows this too well as she shares this inspiring and core-shaking story in “C’est La Vie”. As she navigated her own journey through life, she has experienced setbacks that were initially very quizzical and bewildering. However, as she ventured forward she has not only found the important fragments of her life’s puzzle but also she has managed to see the bigger picture of things.

In this book she acknowledges the role of the Universe that shakes people to the very core of their foundations and forces them to stop and evaluate the worth of their own lives. An inspiration for those who are in the process of seeking their own light and making sense of the world around them, this story by Alexandra Voulgari will bring optimism and positivity to those experiencing darkness and the chance to laugh with her as she navigates her journey, even though at times those very same life experiences could bring one to the brink of insanity. Through this motivational story, she serves as a catalyst for the soul to finally face life’s most obscured and cruel realities. In this read, she fills in the bits and pieces of her background and where she has progressed on her personal journey so that her readers can understand exactly the type of life experiences and events that had shaped the very person that she is today. She does this in the hopes of somehow inspiring them to evaluate their own nature in relation to the bigger things around them and even though in times of adversity still maintain the ability to see the humorous side of life for once we also lose the ability to laugh at ourselves then we may be truly lost. For more information on this book, go to www.Xlibris.com.au.

About the Author Alexandra Voulgari was born on the island of Samos and migrated to Australia along with her parents and elder brother when Australia opened its doors to welcome Greek immigrants in the 1950’s and 60’s. Although Australia is now her adopted country, she still has a deep affection for the island and country of her birth and ensures that she takes every opportunity to visit often. Greek music, good Greek food and writing are her passions and she eventually hopes to be able to publish a book on Traditional and Modern Greek Sweets to enable her to add one of her own books to the ridiculously large collection of Greek Cookbooks in her own collection. Alexandra lives in Melbourne and owns a cat called Boobee, who incidentally does growl like a dog! You can contact Alexandra via Facebook.

W I T H A L E X P E R R Y

By Dean Georgio

lex Perry is a Greek - Australian fashion designer particularly noted for his designs in womens wear. After graduating from East Sydney Technical College in 1984 Perry worked as a model agent, representing Australian models for international modeling agencies. In 1992 Perry opened his first atelier, creating gowns, corsets and sheaths. Vogue Australia photographed these gowns, and they were to become the Alex Perry trademark signature from this first editorial shoot. Alex was the middle son of three boys - (Lee, Paul and himself ) and came of Greek immigrant parents, who ran a hamburger shop in suburban Sydney. His wife Mary is a former fashion model from Greece. Alex’s brother Lee is a voiceover artist who has performed in many television series and movies, including the Hollywood film Happy Feet. Alex also has five sisters. In 1994 Alex opened his first store in Double Bay, Sydney, where he built up his clientele to include high profile celebrities, social identities and personalities. He was also a designer at the inaugural Mercedes Australian Fashion Week held in May 1995, and has shown collections each year since. Perry’s runway shows have featured models such as Linda Evangelista, Megan Gale, Miranda Kerr and Kate Fischer,. Alex launched his first “ready to wear” collection in 1998. Alex Perry Couture signatures of the ready-to-wear collection are boned corsetry, hand rouching and sexy, feminine silhouettes. In May 2002, Perry launched his Sydney salon at The Strand Arcade. Alex Perry’s debut accessories collection was launched in 2006 and features stilettos, jeweled clutch handbags and bijoux earrings for evening and bridal wear. International models Elle Macpherson, Linda Evangelista and Claudia Schiffer have donned his designer ball gowns and red carpet evening wear. Jennifer Lopez and Nelly Furtado both chose to perform on stage and walked the red carpet in Alex Perry gowns. His designs have also been modeled by Jennifer Hawkins, former Miss Australia and Miss Universe and now television presenter on The Great Outdoors,and by Sonia Kruger on the celebrity reality show Dancing With The Stars.

e has appeared as a fashion commentator or co-host on such television programs as “50 Years of Television – Red Carpet reportage” (Seven Network); “Melbourne Cup Fashions on the Field” (Seven Network); commentary at Prince Charles’ & Camilla’s Royal Wedding; co-host for “Australian Fashion Awards” (Nine Network); co-host of “Ultimate Make Over” (Seven Network). He is also a regular guest on Mornings with Kerri-Anne on the (Nine Network) and other morning television shows.

O: How did you find entering the fashion industry, one as a male and two as a Greek? (Not very traditional career choice)AP: It was like i grew a second head to my traditional Greek one. The only way i could make my mother and father at ease with it, was to liken it to becoming a tailor. Having said that, others’ opinions mean little to me, the only people i owed any kind of explanation to were my parents... Thankfully they love me unconditionally and support me in any choices i make.

Alex is the only judge to appear in all six cycles of the reality television series “Australia’s Next Top Model. ‘ He also appeared as a contestant in Celebrity Master Chef Australia in 2009, and Talkin’ ‘bout your Generation in 2010.

O: Biggest achievements/ highlights? AP: My biggest achievement (workwise) is that i have created an internationally recognised brand name from nothing... It’s a tall order, and i am very proud of that. I’m so fortunate, in the sense that i have many highlights, it’s difficult to pinpoint one, but it’s the ‘firsts’ that always remain special... My first Vogue cover, my first celebrity, my first TV show... You get the idea…

In July 2011, Alex took over as mentor on Season Three of Project Runway Australia. He was kind enough to grant OPA! Magazine this exclusive interview: O: How did you find growing up Greek? Was your upbringing very traditional? AP: My mother was born in Australia of Greek immigrants, and my father emigrated from Greece, so i had a fairly traditional Greek upbringing. Mum and dad are both broad minded and have always been contemporary thinkers, so i like to think that i had a well tempered Greek/Australian upbringing. O: Biggest influence as a child? AP: black and white movies... It was a window into an amazing glamourous world...Captivating and inspiring.

O: Does Greek culture/your heritage play a big part in your family life? AP: My Greek heritage inspires, and defines me. For the longest time (growing up) i wanted to be anything but, it seemed to me to be the root of all bullying, prejudice... It now is my strength. The richness of my heritage, my ancestors, my family, the wealth of culture, and an ongoing, limitless source of inspiration... I named one of my favourite fashions shows ‘Aegean Princess” in honour of where i come from. O: What do you think about all the problems in Greece? How can we help? AP: It is part of the country’s journey... A reality check, to make Greece look at itself, rectify problems, and emerge wiser and greater. Sadly i dont think that there is anything we can do here that would

have a significant effect... The upshot is that when you recover from adversity, you can shine brighter than ever before. O: Favourite Greek saying? AP: I dont have one, but i do like it when people speak in the ‘haitheftiko’:it’s so endearing... I remember an aunt of mine (theia jenny), she was athenian, and gorgeous, she used to call me alekaki, in a purring athenian drawl... Made me feel so loved (and a little weak at the knees)

O: What is it that you cannot live without? AP: My beautiful Mary, my family and my closest friends. They make me feel secure, loved and truly strong... When you’re armed this way, you can achieve anything.

O: Favourite Greek food? AP: Spanakopita that my beautiful wife mary makes... Hands down favourite!

O: Are you a coffee or tea drinker? AP: Both (but i have a soft spot for Nescafe Blend 43)

O: What is your philosophy on life and what code do you live by? AP: Live every day, squeeze as much as you can out of every single minute, someone said to me once that i live every day like it’s my last one... I cram so much into everyday...Because i can! I love it, and i hate hate hate being bored. Avoid boring people, its way more fabulous to be around people that make you laugh.

O: People, artists, movies, books that have influenced you over the course of your life and have shaped your views on life? AP: Valentino; Christian Dior; Now Voyager; To Catch a Thief;A Fine Balance by Rhoniton Mistry.

O: A funny moment in your career that you would like to share? AP: When i first started, i had hardly enough money to get by, couldnt afford new brakes on my laser, and it got so bad that at one pont i would open the door, throw my leg out and help stop the car with my foot in fred flintstone style. (True story!!!!)

O: Were you ever star struck by one of your clients and who? AP: Elle Macpherson, the first time i dressed her... I was speechless, that very rarely happens.

O: Advice to those who wish to follow in your footsteps? Parting words... AP: Work hard...I mean really hard, be your own best critic, dont lose focus, stay true to your signature, and develop a thick skin... You’ll need it. Special mention & credit: Special thanks to Josh Flinn (Alex Perry publicist) for the coordination of the interview and photos.

T H E C U B A N P R I N C E S S S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 1 / 1 2 C O L L E C T I O N B Y

A L E X

P E R R Y

ALEX PERRY Amanda Dress $899.00

ALEX PERRY Isabella Gown $2500.00

ALEX PERRY Arcadia Gown $1799.00

ALEX PERRY Consuela Gown $1699.00

ALEX PERRY Shiquita Dress $1499.00

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THIS IS THE FIRST OF OUR MAKEOVERS TO COME BY VERGARA THAT WILL BE FEATURED IN OPA! MONTHLY. This month VERGARA skilfully sculptured 19Yr old Sotiria into a mesmerising siren. The following products were used to ‘Omorph the gorgeous Sotiria into a Glorious Greek Goddess. Gown & Jewellery by THE FRONT ROOM (03) 9589 0488 Gown: EDENSTAR (Portia Dress) Colour Moth - $375 Jewellery: PHILIPPE AUDIBERT Crystal Drop Earrings $195 Make up: Foundation – MAC Studio Fix $49 Eye Shadow – MAC Base Grain $33 Eye Shadow overlay – MAC Smut $33 Blush – BODYOGRAPHY Bashful $30 Lips – HOURGLASS Imagine (Extreme Sheen) $28 Hair: WHITE SANDS – Firm Hold Styling Lotion $19

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eminiscing about your holiday to Greece usually involves three things; sun, sand and food. While sharing that food with your family and friends, it’s more than likely that there was also a chilled bottle of Mythos at that table. Introduced in 1997, Mythos quickly became Greece’s most recognised and best beer, according to Yiannis Samaras, Export Manager for Mythos. Opa! spoke to Yiannis about Mythos’ moves to global domination of the beer world. “It is time for a Greek beer to have that good reputation and expand that equally good taste all over the world. Spain has San Miguel, Italy has Peroni, and when Greece introduced Mythos, people finally had some high quality options.” Irrespective of the current economic hardships in Greece, demand for the beer has grown. Yiannis quotes the sales statistics: “Although beer sales dropped after many years by 10%, the sales of Mythos are presenting increases in low double digit numbers. This shows that people genuinely appreciate the quality of Mythos and that it has not been affected by the current economic situation.”

“The Mythos brew recipe results from a combination of the expertise of the Greek Master Brewer of Mythos Brewery with the collective know how that the brewery built through years of cooperation with some of the top European Schools of Brewing, like the German, the Irish, the Danish, and the French.”

The success of the beer has been embraced by Greeks of the diaspora and Australians of a beer - loving culture, both as travellers abroad and now locally, with its recent introduction into the Australian market as a boutique beer. Greeks aren’t the only ones singing its praises; in 2011 Mythos won (for the second time) the Superior Taste Award given by the International Taste and Quality Institute, which is the leading independent chef and sommelier- based organisation dedicated to judging, certifying and promoting superior tasting food and drink. Internationally, beer connoisseurs are embracing Mythos, with it exploding into new markets. Demand for the product is increasing, with people recently returned from their Mediterranean vacation searching for the product locally. The brand now exports to over thirty countries, including Australia, the UK and Sweden, and , somewhat amazingly, is gaining momentum in Germany where distribution is strong irrespective of their local production of numerous quality beers. Yiannis is well aware that it is no mean feat and proudly states that “countries like Germany produce their own beer so selling to them is not easy. However, people in those countries are asking for Mythos. The potential is definitely there.”

By Martha Karatsioris

Germans and Britons are amongst the world’s most seasoned beer lovers and their endorsement of the ale means a lot when they have so many others fighting for a spot at their tables. We Australians also hold a place in that group, always looking for the next rising star. Mythos is a lonely Greek success story when so much of the news is negative; however they are not relying on publicity (positive or negative) alone to excel. They are trusting in the belief that beer lovers will embrace the new player as true contender, worthy of a spot at the table or bar.

“JUST AS THE ITALIANS DESIGN RACING MACHINES AND THE FRENCH DESIGN PRICEY FROCKS, IT’S TIME THAT THE GREEKS CREATE A NEW FUTURE FOR THEMSELVES.”

ythos has entered the Australian market and Yiannis is excited at the potential for two main reasons.: “The keys to success in the Australian market is due to the high concentration of Greek-Australians who are already familiar with the product and because there is ample space within the Australian market for new brands to grow. Entering the Australian market was one of the best decisions we have made.” It seems that Australians feel the same way, with Mythos’ popularity increasing as the latest boutique beer to hit our bars and restaurants. The new player has arrived! Greece has very few renowned export products. Metaxas has held the title for generations as the beverage of Greece. Yiannis is looking to contempo-

rise what Greece offers worldwide as a true product of Greece by introducing Mythos into the mix. Just as the Italians design racing machines and the French design pricey frocks, it’s time that the Greeks create a new future for themselves. The future of Mythos is complete integration into the worldwide beer market, building distribution from over 30 to 150 countries as a highly recognisable brand with even higher volume sales. A high hope, or a realistic goal? Yiannis is adamant, “I have high goals because there is high potential in this brand. I see it in the monopolised markets that we are now firmly based within, I see it in people’s reactions and I see it in our sales figures. So why not?”

one faMiLy, their Story A CelebrAtion of DArwinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Greek Community

Forty years

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Launching Soon in MeLbourne 25 COPIES TO GIVE AWAY! SIMPLY REGISTER YOUR DETAILS AT aS part of the fLavourS of greece WWW.OPAMAGAZINE.COM.AU www.parapfinefoods.com

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S W E N C I S MU MUSIC

DJ KRAZY KON

O DJ KRAZY K

MIHALIS HATZIYIANNIS

PANIKOS Giorgos Tsalikis

FIND ME Ahtipitos Mc feat. Alessia

TA GENETHLIA MOU Elli Kokkinou

OLOKERNOURGOS Panos Kiamos

THA FANI Fani Drakopoulou

ANANTIKATASTATOS Paulina Hristodoulou

STO MIALO MOU Stan feat. Nevma

THIS LOVE IS KILLING ME Nicko

I AGAPI INE Neso

10. APO EHO PIOS Thanos Petrelis

YIANNIS PLOUTARHOS

LIVE 2011

I DINAMI TOU EROTA

One of the most popular artists in Greece every year is the super talented singer/songwriter Mihalis Hatziyiannis. For the 3rd time now he brings out another LIVE album featuring his latest music and old classics. The 2011 live version features fourteen tracks with typical crowd favourites such as “to kalokeri mou” , “ then eho hrono”, “an isoun mazi mou”. Another one for Hatziyiannis collection, the new album is out through Universal Music Greece.

Mr. Golden voice himself, Yiannis Ploutarhos releases his latest album through his new record label, Heaven Music Greece. The album features twelve new tracks with three big hits already smashing the Greek airwaves, including “24 ores”, “se thelo” and “then tilefonises.” Also check out a mad zembekiko on the album “then thelo allo”. Another top class cd for all the Ploutarhos fans out there.

ARE YOUR READY? GREECE 2012 CD IS COMING! I am about half way through licensing all the tracks for my upcoming album release GREECE 2012 (VOLUME 10). This is a very special release for me, being the 10th instalment in my ‘GREECE’ CD series. Who would have thought ten years ago we would now be promoting a tenth album in a Greek CD series produced locally out of Australia and now distributed overseas and available on iTunes.! We are working hard over summer with my label, Sony Music Australia, and productionwise I believe it’s going to be one of the best CDs in the series; so look out for it in January 2012.

MERRY XMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR! I just would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone and their families a very Merry Xmas and safe and Happy 2012. Thanks for your continued support and everybody say OPA! - DJ KRAZY KON

www.djkrazykon.com

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!

MATERIAL GIRL BEAUTY

Here today...Gone tomorrow

am blessed to have enjoyed life-long connections with my family and friends, sharing personal and mutual milestones, celebrations and commiserations. Among the many facets of the journey that I haven’t been able to quite grasp, one in particular is death. Whilst I am rarely at a loss for words and can speak under water, I have struggled to articulate day to day conversation these last weeks, let alone process one of life’s inevitable happenings - the passing of a loved one - in my case only just having lost my Yia Yia.

In the midst of coping with a loss, the religious customs of the deceased need to be honoured and arranged. I have recently learned much about Greek Orthodox beliefs and custom. With the continuation of our culture somewhat threatened by some people choosing not to pass on Greek traditions, I would like to share, in English, some information about key customs when someone passes away, as many do not understand the complex Greek liturgy. As Greek Orthodox members we believe in eternal life. At death, our physical body goes to the earth from which it was taken and our soul goes to God, who gave it. Our physical body is reunited with our soul at the Last Judgement. Cremation is forbidden as it represents the destruction of the eternal physical body. A priest will hold a prayer service just after the death which is called the Trisagion. It is held again on the night before the funeral at a church, including a viewing of the deceased. It is repeated, either in church or at the grave, on the ninth day, fortieth day, six months and annually after death. The service held on the fortieth day is symbolic because of the belief that Jesus was resurrected after forty days. I have also learned that the tray of kollyva provided at the Sunday service closest to the fortieth day of death represents the soul of the deceased and symbolizes everlasting life. Kollyva is boiled wheat with sugar, almonds and spices, decorated with a cross and the deceased person’s name, using icing sugar and almonds. It is placed on a table at the front of the church, on a tray with candles. Wheat, as an ingredient, represents the life cycle of death and resurrection. Perhaps one of the reasons why most, if not all of us, do not deal well with the death of a loved one is because nothing can fully prepare us for the surge of emotions that hit like a sledgehammer. Sadness, shock, fear, confusion, anger,

guilt and emptiness are felt - often like never before. Then there are the reactions to the emotions that reveal so much about an individual’s character. Some take what I label the “Frosty the Snowman” approach, holding back the sadness and emotion they show before others. More often than not, some of these “frosties” are indeed putting on a brave front to mask their deep sadness. Others struggle with day - to - day routines, their emotions compromising their ability to eat, sleep and concentrate. There is no “normal” way to grieve. Any reaction is a reflection of an individual’s connection to the deceased and their emotional state. The family unit is the core of our Greek ethos. It is our way of life and reason why the loss of a family member evokes such a crushing sadness and sense of emptiness. Beyond the family feasts we share that put Masterchef to shame, our values and characters are shaped by our family. While we have connections with all of our family members, our grandparents in particular are more important to us than we may appreciate. We are resilient warriors, much like our migrant elders- our hearts and front doors open with love, just as we were taught. Because of my own grandparents, I have an appreciation of my family history - where my ancestors have come from and how they carved their mark on the universe. The next time I am freaking out whilst my mobile phone is being repaired, I’ll remember my grandparents, who voyaged to the “Lucky Country” when telegrams were still in and iphones were not. Like our parents, our grandparents are teachers - celebrating and sharing our values, our culture, our language, our pride - the very essence of maintaining our Hellenic identity. Losing a loved one puts everything into perspective, highlighting what really matters. In light of the emotional turmoil the loss brings, life at both its inception and conclusion is a celebration. Take the time today to show your love, appreciate and remember what you have been taught, for tomorrow may not come for you to do so. The present moment really is a gift and not the kind you can refund…

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PROFILE MARIA VAMVAKINOU

BY MARTHA KARATSIORIS

By Martha Karatsioris

aria Vamvakinou can’t mind her own business. It’s a part of who she is. The Federal Member for Calwell is proud of this declaration. It’s what is driving her to succeed in assisting her community. “You can’t mind your own business and do this job, you have to be interested in it, you have to be involved and that’s how I was from a kid.” That kid came to Australia by ship in 1963 with her parents from Lefkada. She was the first Greek-born woman to be elected into the Parliament of Australia and credits her interest and subsequent success in politics to her traditional upbringing, a wonderful politics teacher and a strong network of people who facilitated a long yet unwitting process of helping her achieve a parliamentary seat. “I didn’t know I wanted to be in parliament until it happened. The timing was right for females to enter. There are always moments in time that are beneficial to overcome barriers. When the barriers were challenged everyone agreed on the need to diversify the makeup of the political class at state and federal level.” Vamvakinou acknowledges her traditional upbringing for invoking the values she has today in her personal and professional life. “Our parents lived in a time when they had to adjust to values of a country that were very different to their own. As

their children we may not have liked it because we were trying to adjust but they held us in good stead. We had everything going against us. We had to be our parent’s interpreters. We had to do the heavy lifting because they wanted us to achieve. They didn’t know how to help us, they were not the great educators we are to our children today but in their parenting they were more responsible for their families. They provided the financial support and the schooling and we sank or swam. Most of us swam.” The admiration for her parent’s story stands out. It has built her identity and an appreciation of her “incredible cultural inheritance.” It is an inheritance that would not have been possible without multiculturalism. A word that in recent times has become a dirty one. Maria’s passion on the issue is clear, “we have to be interventionists in multiculturalism. Most people think it describes the nature of Australian society built on migration but it was a bipartisanship policy for the creation of institutions such as SBS. All those things didn’t happen accidentally, it happened because of politicians like Fraser, Whitlam and Grassby who decided that ethnic communities in Australia needed to be facilitated to engage in the Australian political system. The State recognised it needed to provide services to ethnic groups that had a valuable inheritance - cultural and linguistic.”

You have to be involved and that’s how I was from a kid

‘MULTICULTURALISM’ IS NOT A Australians are ahead of their time when it comes to multiculturalism which Maria states is just another term for globalisation - something that has been happening right here for the past fifty years. “Language, culture, breaking down barriers, non-nationtionalism have been happening in this country for a long time. Multiculturalism is not a threat. It doesn’t create ghettos. I haven’t seen this here. Is the Greek community a ghetto? That’s what our youth need to understand, it is what we need to teach them. Not to let them believe what the media says regarding ghettos because that creates prejudice and interferes with the thinking process of people.”

made a conscious decision to come to Australia are far more explicitly attached to our values than people who are born here and never had to make that decision. People who have come to this country have voted with their feet for Australia in a way that those who were born here haven’t.” He stated his change in stance was due to his work with Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy.

Together with Russell Broadbent she relaunched the Federal Parliamentary Friends of Multiculturalism group to fight against the move to abandon the word; multiculturalism. “Politicians were going to obliterate the term altogether and we had to stand up and say ‘hang on a minute, this is wrong!” By reaffirming our belief, it is introducing it to a whole new generation.”

It’s clear that the true meaning of multiculturalism runs deep as she advocates for the continued harmony of all nationalities. Her experience with traditionally conflicting nationalities is one that is very rarely publicised, “the Muslim community didn’t just arrive after September 11, they have been here just like everyone else. In Broadmeadows many Turkish people have told me that the people that helped them were their Greek neighbours. And it doesn’t surprise me, because despite their psycho-political issues they have a lot of things in common. We haven’t had hostilities in this country between those cultures. They were all migrants, they had the same stories and the same issues.”

Vamvakinou states that this work played a role in Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s recent backflip on the issue. At a forum in October he answered an anti-multicultural question by saying, “what I came to understand was that people who have

At times, it’s the personal experience that provides the only truth that can be trusted, and meeting a group of people that are stigmatised through perpetual negativity is the only way a barrier can be torn down. On this premise, Vamvakinou

created a boys soccer team to play against teenage Afghani asylum seekers in a detention centre. The first team included her son as she felt the importance for him and his friends to meet ‘boat people’ and to learn that they were no different to them. Since then she has engaged the community and the Brunswick Zebras in the program with many of the boys being visibly moved by the experience. By engaging youth of all backgrounds in this way they learn how the real world ticks and this is the MP’s aim, “we were helping our parents out of necessity but now we have to do it by design for our children. My son is 18 and I have personally tried to have him understand his responsibility to get involved in things without overwhelming him. To help his neighbour see a local member of parliament if he has a problem because that will help him work out how things are done in the community.” Maria is impassioned by her work and has so many stories to tell. Her last is about

a man named Louis. He is a Christian Iraqi migrant who married a Greek woman and has deliberately settled in Vamvakinou’s electorate which has the highest Muslim constituency in Australia. He is working in a detention centre as a carer for Muslims - the very group that persecuted him in Iraq, forcing him to flee. “I find his story an incredible example of someone that has found the capacity to engage and help people. He understands that culture because he is from it.” According to Vamvakinou these are the stories that should ignite a spark in our youth to act. They have largely been the reasons why she herself has. “We create the times and that’s why I’m involved in politics and that’s why I don’t mind my own business and that’s why I think young people need to do exactly the same thing. Say no! I am going to create the times, I am going to create the circumstances and I am not just going to go with the flow. “

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Level 2, 213-215 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia. www.aisi.edu.au 45

HAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU THROW TWO OF MELBOURNE’S “IT” GIRLS INTO THE 3XY RADIO STUDIOS?

The uber savvy Greeks & The City radio program that is taking the radio industry and Greek Communty by storm only just after a month of being on the airwaves. Produced by Steve Agi and featuring presenters Nicole Condos & Christine Chronis, the drive time program is set out to unite all generations of Greek- Australians, in the name of celebrating all things lifestyle, news, fashion, culture and music.

have managed to successfully capture the dynamics of their friendship on the air waves. “Greeks & The City is an amazing project under my Material Girl PR banner,” says Nicole. “I am proud of my Greek-Australian heritage and what better way to connect to the community than through the show.” Christine is excited about the show’s launch and development in such a short time. “We have already learnt so much in our first few weeks. I look forward to interacting with our audience and reaching out to Greek- Australians to encourage their pride in our beautiful culture,” says Christine.

While 3XY has traditionally offered Greek speaking radio programs, with the occasional English speaking program, Greeks & The City has recently become one of the station’s most popular shows, targeting second and third generation Greek-Australians. Presented mostly in English to capture many listeners that are unfamiliar with the Greek language, but still have a love for Greek culture, the program has also attracted listeners of different cultural backgrounds, in honour of all things Greek in Melbourne.

With access to some of the biggest names nationally and internationally, the girls have already had the likes of Greek icon, Haris Alexiou, local comedian George Kapiniaris and international cricketer Spiros Goustis on the show; testament to their professionalism and appeal. With such a kickstart Greeks & The City is assured a hugely successful run on the supercompetitive timeslot, already giving some of the more mainstream stations a run for their money.

Interstate and international listeners have been tuning in online at www.greekmediagroup.com Both of the presenters are new to radio but

With co-host Yianni the Rock keeping it real and regular segments like KB’s Korner – Sports Report, Greeks & The City is sure to quickly be-

come a big part of Greek-Australian culture with cut through into the mainstream assured given the appeal of the girls and the show. The Greeks & The City playlist is strictly the latest and greatest hits from Greece- ranging from Panos Kiamos, Nikos Vertis, Anna Vissi, Mihalis Hatziyiannis, Despina Vanthi and Sakis Rouvas and of course Kalomira; Nicole has taken on the DJ role of the show as the first Greek-Australian female DJ, launching her career in the new year to ensure Greeks in your city really do say OPA! “I see this as a natural progression off the back of the hugely popular and successful 2011 launch of my OPA! Magazine and with the support and vision of the Greek Media Group, we are finally able to create something that appeals and is relevant to our children, to our future,” explains Agi, publisher of OPA! and producer of the show

“NOW MORE THAN EVER, THIS IS THE VOICE OF A NEW GENERATION – OPA!” Tune in every Monday – Thursday between 4 and 6 on 3XY -1422AM or stream online at; www.greekmediagroup.com www.facebook.com/greeksandthecity

“A more systematic coverage of the Diaspora is in the plans, making global Hellenism one big family.”

n the jungle of Greek life, with great global changes, an electronic newspaper is bringing the future of news coverage to the computer of each economically -and psychologically - overloaded Greek citizen, who longs for an “oasis” of free, independent and continuous information from journalists who are always critical of the state and government decisions, and who can be found by the side of the struggling Greek population. Zougla.gr began its journey three years ago and since then has shaped the online space with the news in Greece and the world. The electronic newspaper has always something new and different to offer the visitor: cultural subjects, sports, technology, lifestyle, travel and cars - these are but some of the subjects that are offered to the visitor to the news site that… has everything. Zougla.gr however is not one motionless motionless electronic newspap: It is the newspaper in which all related mediums come together like nowhere else. Radio, television and text all become one in the eyes of reader-viewer, who for first time in the history of journalism has the possibility of watching all big events live. Zougla web radio brings listeners the future… today. Globally, users of the Internet can watch in real time, at quality levels of television production, the coverage of all events that happen in Greece, with live

“The point of contact of philhellenes across the globe who want to be informed about the homeland.” reportage, under the annotation and signature of leading journalists such as the editor and presenter of one well known television “jungle,” Maki Triantafyllopoyloy and director Nikos Georgiadis attest. Continuous flow of news coverage for the whole day, with themes that cover a broad spectrum of interests and topics… web television is here! The world has embraced and entrusted itself to this new medium. More than 750.000 users (2.500.000 unique visits), from Greece and around the world, trust zougla daily for information, rendering it the first online news gateway and as one of the leaders in web pages visited from Greece. With a purposely interventionist character in the political and social spectrum, zougla.gr is in the vanguard of news reporting. From the moment of its inception, attention has been given to the subject of the Greek Diaspora. Covering all news from everywhere where there are Greeks, zougla.gr is the point of contact of philhellenes across the globe who want to be informed about the homeland. As for Hellenism as a whole, it does not stop there. A more systematic coverage of the Diaspora is in the plans, making global Hellenism one big family.

KOURABIEDES (ΚΟΥΡΑΜΠΙΈΔΕΣ)

his Greek cookie is an almond shortbread cookie. Christmas time is coming and every home will certainly have Kourabiedes on offer for guests and visitors. These cookies have very simple simple ingredients, not too difficult to make - and I don’t think I’ve met one person who doesn’t like them. What’s not to like about butter, roasted almonds and icing sugar?!

RECIPE (makes about 80)

Peter Minaki

1 lb. unsalted butter, clarified* and at room temperature; 1 cup icing sugar; 2 egg yolks , 3/4 cup vegetable oil , 2 cups of roasted almonds, coarsely chopped . 1 shot of brandy; 2 tsp. vanilla extract; 1 heaping Tbsp. of baking powder; 5 cups of of all purpose flour, sifted; Extra icing sugar for powdering

oronto Chef Peter Minaki is the founder of Kalofagas food blog, which focuses on Greek and Mediterranean foods. Kalofagas is Greek for “gourmet” and the blog began as a means to introduce the depths of Greek cuisine. Known for adding twists to his recipes, Minaki balances his posts between traditional, reworked, and his own recipes by gathering inspiration from his yearly trips to Greece. He endlessly promotes the diversity of Greek cuisine, all the while maintaining a significant interest in various other foods and cultures. Curious to discover more, Minaki refers to himself as “a tourist in my own town” and always welcomes opportunities to try new foods. He is a frequent contributor to Greece’s Free Press gastronomy web portal and his recipes have been featured in Canadian Living Magazine. See www.kalofagas.ca for more...

MELOMAKARONA (ΜΕΛΟΜΑΚΆΡΟΝΑ) 1. Using a mixer and a large bowl, cream your butter, oil and sugar. Add the egg yolks and continue to mix. 2. Add your brandy to a large glass and then add your baking powder and stir it until dissolved. Now pour this mixture, along with the vanilla extract and continue mixing until blended in. 3. Start kneading the mixture by hand and s-l-o-wl-y add the flour to the mixture until all the flour has been absorbed. Add the almonds and knead them into the dough mixture. 4. Using your hand, grab pieces of dough the size of a walnut and form them into the shape of choice (crescents or patties). Place each formed cookie onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Repeat process until all dough has been shaped into cookies. 5. Bake in a pre-heated 350F oven (middle rack) for 25 minutes each batch. Allow the cookies to cool until you are able to handle ((on the tray is fine). 6. Place about 2 cups of icing sugar in a large bowl and place the a cookie in the sugar and cover to coat. Place in your serving platter and repeat with the remaining cookies. Now place some more icing sugar into a sifter and generously dust the Kourabiedes with more icing sugar until well-coated. 7. The cookies can be stored in a sealed container, in a cool, dry place and they willkeep for 3 months. 8. Clarify the butter by melting it over medium heat then remove from heat and allow to cool in the fridge until solid. Now poke a hole into the solid butter and carefully pour out the water that’s underneath. What you have left is clarified butter (you may also use/buy ghee). .

Greeks like to have an array of sweets, cookies and appetizers out for offering to the revolving door guests during the Christmas holidays. I’ve already shown you Kourabiedes and now you get to see the other standard offering, Melomakarona. I’m sure you can read the ingredients list but here are the flavour tags for this simple cookie... orange walnut, honey, clove, cinnamon....a party in the mouth!

RECIPE (Makes About 40) For the syrup • 3 1/2 cups sugar • 4 cups water • 1 cup honey • 1 cinnamon stick • 2 wide strips of orange peel • For the dough • 6 -6 1/2 cups pastry flour • 1 1/2 fine semolina flour • 1 cup olive oil • 1 stick of unsalted butter, room temperature • 1/2 cup brandy (Metaxa) • 2 Tbsp. honey • 1/2 cup sugar • 1 1/2 cups orange juice • zest of 1 orange (1 Tbsp) • 4 tsp. ground cinnamon • 1 tsp. ground clove • 1/2 tsp. baking soda • 3 tsp. baking powder • Ground walnut topping • 1 1/2 cups walnuts (roughly pounded) • 1/3 cup brown sugar 2 tsp. ground cinnamon • 1/2 ground clove • Pre-heated 350F oven 1. You should make your syrup first. To a pot add your sugar, water, honey, orange peel and cinnamon stick and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes and then remove from the heat and allow to cool (success of recipe hinges on cool syrup and hot cookies).

2. Into a large bowl, add the sugar, oil, room temp. and butter, blend with your hand mixer for 5 minutes and then add your cinnamon and clove and mix in as well. Dissolve your baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, orange zest and orange juice and honey into your brandy and pour into the bowl. 3. Now add the baking powder and semolina flour into the bowl and mix with your hands. Add the pastry flour in, one cup at a time and knead in with your hands until you’ve achieved a soft, pliable dough that’s not sticky. Allow the dough to rest covered for 30 minutes. 4. Using your hands, roll the dough into small balls (about the size of walnuts), then form them into oval/quenelle - shaped shaped cookies. 5. Take your box grater (the side used to zest) and place a cookie on top of it. Press the cookie down a bit to form a grid pattern on the top of the cookie. Repeat this process for all the cookies. 6. Place your cookies on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake in a pre-heated oven (middle rack) for 30 minutes. Using a large slotted spoon or Spider, drop the hot cookies in batches into the cold syrup for 3 minutes to absorb the syrup. Reserve on a cooling rack and repeat until all the cookies are dunked in syrup. 7. For the topping, add the above ingredients in a bowl mix well with a spoon. Brush each cookie with the remaining syrup and then sprinkle each cookie top with the walnut topping. Allow to cool. Store in a cool, dry container for up to a month.

By DEAN KALIMNIOU

hen I was young, my grandfather would lead an annual pilgrimage to Mount Martha on the Mornington Peninsula in avid and singular pursuit of his one thing needful: pine resin. My father would drive him up to the mountain and he would wander through the pines, touching their trunks, appraising them with the eye of a worldly connoisseur choosing which fish would be sacrificed to the demands of his palate in a Chinese restaurant and then move on. Perched high above the breeze-ruffled bay, the air of Mount Martha would invariably be thick with tiny forest flies. My role in the solemn procession was to lunge at them maniacally with my hands in a quixotic attempt to swat them. Up above us, Bunya pines, quite distinct from the Aleppo Pines of my grandfatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s homeland on the island of Samos, would swarm over the bright mountainside, greedy to drink the vaults of milky light above. The task of pine resin extraction is easy enough for a sanguinary pursuit: First, find your tree, then make a small cut in the tree with a double-headed pick, then knock in a collecting tray just beneath the wound. Slowly, inexorably, the pierced tree will bleed its sorrow and its collective memory of all its martyred brethren into said tray in the form of a colourless resin, only to heal within a fortnight. The resin in turn forms sticky white lumps in the warm air, reminiscent of cake icing. Should the perpetrators of this heinous violation require further resin, then they may return three weeks later, making a new cut just above the old one, and repeating the process. After a while, the tree looks like a laddered stocking, but it continues to grow regardless, in silent protest. Retsina, is the by-product of the exquisite marriage of the fundamental essence of the pine tree with white wine. Small pieces of pine resin are added to the grape must during fermentation. The pieces stay mixed with the must, and exude an oily

resin film on the liquid surface. When the wine is then siphoned off the lees it is clarified and the solids and surface film removed. The finished golden gleaming product, in our case, would then be deposited in the vast oak barrels that loomed menacingly in my grandfatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gloomy garage, forming the background and quite often the subject for some of my more vivid childhood nightmares. On the whole, western wine sophisticates are meant to abjure retsina as a dull wine vulgarly adulterated. I, on the other hand, revere it as Olympian nectar. After all, one can sometimes have a surfeit of sophistication, and a tumbler full (for it is heresy to imbibe retsina from a wineglass) of retsina is an unrivalled antidote to the dreary quest after ultra-refined superlatives and contrived nuance. Retsina ventilates the digestive tract, settles the stomach and fumigates the spirits. No other beverage connects us quite as faithfully to dinner with Plutarch, Theophrastus and - who knows - perhaps even wily old Homer himself, parched after an eveningâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s firelit recitation, fighting over a flagon with my taciturn grandfather. Not only is retsina most ancient in provenance, it is, in keeping with its gloriously acrid taste, an untameable, revolutionary wine, the first blow of resistance of a freedom-loving people against the unspeakably unutterable depredations of Western imperialism, the tyranny of domestic bliss or any other type oppression one cares to mention. My grandfather was a case in point. After dinner, my garrulous grandmother having ceased relating sundry snippets of news, he would often remove himself mysteriously from the table, without ever offering a hint as to his imminent destination. One time, I followed him secretly, down the back door steps and through the garden, into the garage. There he took from a drawer a plastic siphon, which

he attached to one of the barrels. Seated upon a stool, he placed the other end of the tube between his lips and began to draw the liquid gold into his mouth with gusto. Though young, I instinctively knew that I had chanced upon a holy mystery of pleasure and that to impinge or otherwise disturb the proceedings would be tantamount to sacrilege, so I made myself scarce, only to return an hour later, worried that my grandfather had failed to emerge from his hermitage. I found him on the floor, tube fallen from his mouth, stool overturned, clutching his head in his hands, weeping. Terrified, I ran back into the house yelling: “Γιαγιά, γιαγιά! Something has happened to παππού. He is sitting on the ground in the garage crying.” “Hmph!” my grandmother snorted. “Don’t fret. There is nothing wrong with him. He’s probably drunk. This is what he always does. He goes down there, starts drinking, and then he remembers his father and his brothers and only God knows what else and he starts bawling his eyes out. It’s nothing. Pay him no mind.” I did not know then what my shy and impenetrable grandfather had seen as a young boy during the Asia Minor catastrophe, nor the gruesome brutality of man that he experienced in the mountains of Northern Epirus during the Second World War. Nonetheless, I don’t believe that I ever loved him more than I did at that moment, when I determined that retsina was the drink that defied the world and memory and would be my preferred beverage of resistance from that day hence.

While scholars agree that retsina has been made continuously for at least two thousand years, opinions differ as to why. Some would have us believe that it originated from the practice of sealing wine amphorae with Aleppo resin in order to render them impermeable and thus not liable to spoil. I would rather render credible the stories that claim that the Roman sots who invaded Greece plundered the people’s wine. The angry Greeks turned to infusing their wine with pine resin as a way of extending their stores and deterring their thirsty conquerors. That the Romans were turned off by such blatant acts of defiance can be evidenced by Columella, who in his work De Re Rustica, described the different types of resin that could be used in wine but recommended that the practice not be used for the best wines, as this created an unpleasant flavour. His contemporary, Pliny the Elder, having lived among the Greeks of Magna Graecia, however, did recommend the addition of resin to fermenting wine most in his work Naturalis Historia. On the whole, westerners did not embrace retsina and their prejudice against the retsina-sipping easterners of Byzantium even took centre stage in the writings of the historian Liutprand of Cremona, who in his Relatio de Legatione Constantinopolitana complained that, when sent in 968 to Constantinople to arrange a marriage between the daughter of Emperor Romanos and the future

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Holy Roman Emperor Otto II, he was treated rudely, because he was served goat and an “undrinkable” wine, mixed with resin and pitch. Yet the final anti-western credentials of the fluid are certainly proved by the fact that an excess of undiluted retsina is said to have proved mortal for the crusading kings Eric I of Denmark and Sigurd I of Norway. A few years ago, I went to visit my grandfather’s brother in law. Hearty and hale and in his nineties, he immediately produced a bottle of retsina and bade me drink. To my everlasting shame, I confessed to him that for some years, whenever any form of alcohol would touch my lips, I would be afflicted with a debilitating migraine and would thus regrettably abstain. He shuddered: “Are you sure?” His brow, furrowed in perplexity, he remained silent for a long while. Then, summoning up his courage, he asked: “Pardon me for saying so, but could this be a psychological problem? It just isn’t natural for you not to drink retsina. Your grandfather drank it, so does your father. Maybe you should seek help. It just doesn’t make sense.”

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What does not make sense is being denied communion in a beverage that constitutes the collective memory of an unbroken succession of all the male members of my grandfather’s family. Nonetheless, completely dry and acerbic, I still relish the whisper of the pine tree in our wine, and cling to the memory of defiant Greeks seeking respite from the bitterness of existence and domination millennia ago, all with the same cooling draught.

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PROFILE

FASSIANOS

ALEKOS FASSIANOS A MODERN MYTH By Emma Papaemmanouel / ERT Australia correspondent

ack in Greece we used to be neighbours and I had the chance to interview Alekos Fassianos on several occasions. This time we met in Melbourne during the official launch of his exhibition at the Hellenic Museum: “Alekos Fassianos: Ancient Myth – Modern Situations.”

Although he has been an active artist for about half a century and has presented his work all over the world, this is the first time he has exhibited in Australia. He arrived in Melbourne in November 2011 and was present at the opening of his exhibition at the Hellenic Museum.

The title of the exhibition couldn’t have been more accurate. Through his extraordinary and modern painting talent Alekos Fassianos unfolds his unique journey, inspired by the ancient Greek myths, into the present every day life.

Shortly before the doors opened to the public, we met in private. He gave me a personal tour through the first floor of the Hellenic Museum where his art is exhibited, and an interview I will always treasure. Talking to him is like having a conversation with a contemporary philosopher, true to his values and the myths his life was sculptured with. It’s not a secret he likes to think of himself as a modern Ulysses, who travels the world on the wings of his art.

As the elements of nature are deified in his work, they create in those myths a strong form of ideal inspiration like the air that waves the hair in every character he creates - whether it is Alexander the Great or an ordinary man just holding his bicycle. Alekos Fassianos was born in 1935. He studied violin at the Athens Conservatory and painting at the Athens School of Fine Arts from 1956-1960 as a student of the famous Yanni Morali. In 1962–1964 he moved to Paris on a French State scholarship, where he studied along with Clairin and Caroline Chariot-Dayez. Until 1974 he lived and worked solely in Paris and since then he divides his time between Paris and Athens. Since his first exhibition in Athens in 1959 he has presented his work all over the world in cities like Paris, Milan, New York, London, Tokyo, Beirut, Hamburg, Munich and now Melbourne. Apart from painting he has worked on poster creation, book illustration and various publications in Greece and abroad. He has also collaborated in many theatrical projects with the National Theatre of Greece. As an artist and also as a philosopher of life he has written many poems and essays. Fassianos’ personal style has been shaped by the 60s. He draws his subjects from Greek myths, Fayum portraits, Byzantine icons and the shadow theatre. His paintings are also characterised by motion, emphasised by hair or clothes waving in the breeze. In his artistic maturity his figures are known for their voluptuousness and the luminosity of the colour he uses to highlight the sensuality and the immense pleasure of everyday life.

A.F: “For me it’s not odd to travel. Art is transmitted all over the world. An artist just follows his art. It’s an Odyssey, as Ulysses travelled and saw other worlds and as he infiltrated other people’s minds. When you only stay in one place and never get to go anywhere you might think you are great, the best, because you never get acquainted with anyone else. But when you do travel you become more humble, you get to know how others think and create, you gain knowledge from their knowledge and that’s how you become truly rich in experience”. OPA! : You mentioned Ulysses. Mythology seems to inspire you greatly… Do you actually feel the need to maintain a myth? A.F : “I believe that life is not possible without myths. Even the Americans with such a short history felt the need to create their own unique myths. Their heroes… like Batman and Superman. The Ancient Greeks deified everything around them... water, air, fire, earth. These Greek myths are totally inspiring, although my intention is not to copy them, but to create new myths, based on today’s reality and how it bonds with the past.

e all still breathe the same air, swim in the same waters, live under the same sun and travel in the same mountains. The old myths continue into the present. These myths - that you even see alive here in Australia – were brought from Greece along with the stories of the grandparents, and now are infused into the next generations. These myths, the memories, the culture, the language, the religion, is what keeps the Greek community together, no matter where in the world”. OPA! : Although you divide your life between Greece and Paris you seem to have kept this Hellenic spirit very close to your heart and always apparent in your art… A.F: “It seems that the further you live from Greece, the more you appreciate the Hellenic spirit. When I first went to Paris, that’s when I started admiring the Hellenic architecture, our temples, the air, the sun, the sea. When you are inside this reality you seem to get lost and never notice it. Many Greeks for instance never get to visit the Acropolis and the Parthenon”. OPA! : Does the current Greek crisis affect culture too? “This crisis was built over the past twenty years. In my opinion the politicians are mainly to blame. They could have stopped the economy from bursting. Now we need new politicians with vision and fantasy to pull us through, philosophers to rule, like in Plato’s “Politeia”. Also, the over-consumption models of modern times have played a great part in causing the crisis and spoiling everyone. In the 50s we lived poorly, we spent the minimum, because we did not have money to spare. Later on when we started making fortunes, we began spending everything on consumption... cars, houses, clothes… In my mind we should all live on less and invest our earnings creatively. Miden

Agan, that means use no more than needed, or Pan Metron Ariston, which says that balance is good, are some of the great Greek philosophies we must all treasure. The current situation burdens cultural arts of course. When people cannot afford art, they will stop buying. This will decrease the creation of art too. OPA! : How long do you need to create a piece of art? From the moment you conceive the idea, until the final touch? A.F: “In the beginning, as you said, is the idea. Ideas exist, like in Plato’s philosophy before us. We don’t create them, they exist somewhere in space and we conceive them. They are intangible. Ideal. Then in order to formulate them we need material elements... colours, wood, rock, fabrics, anything available in nature. While the idea is conceived like lightning, the final formation into a piece of art might take two to three days, maybe six months.” OPA! : Through all your life’s work, and the colours and the techniques you so devotedly use, what is the message or point that you would like to leave in the history of art? A.F : “What I do, I had to struggle too much to achieve. First I had to discover myself, to learn who I am and then stay true to those revelations. Not to stray, not to imitate. In Paris the other artists used many techniques, but I never got carried away, I insisted on my personal style, because I could understand it. So if I have to give a message, it would be “Always be true to your self and always be authentic.” What great words of advice for all. Alekos Fassianos will always be a multitalented artist who gains admiration and who spreads inspiration around the globe. This interview, originally given in Greek and translated into English for OPA! Magazine, will also be broadcasted worldwide, on the ERT WORLD AUSTRALIA television program.

A Slice of Greece in the Middle of Melbourne Founded in 2007 by Spiros Stamoulis, the Hellenic Museum strives to provide our diverse community with programs that promote the understanding and appreciation for the rich cultural traditions of ancient and contemporary Greece. Working in close collaboration with the Hellenic Foundation for Culture (Greece), the Hellenic Museum is able to provide a range of exhibitions rarely seen in Australia.

OPENING HOURS: MONDAY TO FRIDAY: 10:00AM TO 4:00PM

280 Williams Street, Melbourne 3000 Ph: 03 8615 9016 Email: info@hellenic.org.au www.hellenic.org.au

PROFILE PATRICIA KARA

PATRICIA KARA Secrets to her success. By Steve Agi

career in the entertainment industry requires strength, determination, knowledge, timing, and hard work. With the amount of competition and the level of skill necessary to separate and continually achieve success, Patricia Kara has spent the past 23 years rising to the challenge. Having starred as one of the beautiful spokes models on the prime time and daytime versions of NBC’s Deal or No Deal, Patricia has been afforded the notoriety and popularity that comes with being on two hit television shows. Her selection, along with her co-stars, as one of People Magazine’s “100 Most Beautiful People” and her starring role in Trace Adkins’ hit country music video “Marry for Money”, have only helped to increase visibility. Patricia has worked as a special correspondent on Extra, Fox Movie Channel and Celebrity. Some of her other appearances include: the TV Guide Channel, hosting the Red Carpet at the Catherine Zeta-Jones Benefit for the Motion Picture and Television Fund, E! Entertainment’s Wild On: Kentucky Derby, and the U.S. Surf Open. 5 Factor and Ab Coaster also utilized Patricia’s hosting skills in their nationally televised advertisements. She was recently selected to be a Beauty Correspondent for the Greek beauty line “Korres.”

Theatrically, Patricia appeared in the short film Two-Eleven, which, since its release, has been in several prestigious film festivals. She has guest - starred in hit shows such as Days of Our Lives, NBC’s Las Vegas, All of Us, Passions, Mad TV, and The Young and the Restless. Commercially, Patricia has appeared in commercials for companies like Coors Light, Old Navy, Bally’s Fitness, Kohl’s, Ericsson Mobile and V8. Patricia’s portfolio includes print ads for: AT&T, Suave, Swiffer, Venus Swimwear, 24-Hr Fitness, Mitsubishi, Lexus, Disney, Reebok, and Snickers. Her images have adorned the covers and pages of Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Redbook, Shape, Fitness Magazine, Forbes, Sports Illustrated, Day Spa, Women’s Fitness, Muscle and Fitness, Fitness RX, Let’s Live, Stuff, Maxim, and the book Sculpting Her Body Perfect. Charitably, Patricia has been involved with Trinity Children’s Foundation, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, the Make a Wish Foundation, the Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric AIDS Foundation, the Salvation Army, the American Heart Association, Read Across America, Women for Women International, and the Tiger Woods Foundation.

PROFILE PATRICIA KARA

orn and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Patricia’s attraction to the entertainment industry began when she was a teenager. Since then, her career has allowed her to live and travel all over the world. Besides visiting family and her native Greece, Patricia uses her time away from work and charity to expand her horizons. The performing arts, outdoor action sports, travel, photography, and exercise are just a few of the additional interests that round out this free-spirited beauty.

OPA! How did being Greek affect your career? PK: When I first started outin the entertainment business as a model in Chicago, it was a hindrance back then because everybody said I looked too ethnic. They wanted an all American blonde hair, blue eyed, girl next door. Years later when I moved to New York and LA, I worked so much more because the ethnic look was in and still is.

After receiving numerous inquiries from young women throughout the world on how to get started in the business, Patricia recently developed a series of workshops and private consultation seminars for young models, actresses, and young business women called the “Secrets to a Successful You.” By expressing and outlining her wisdom, fortitude, and commitment to the entertainment industry her hope is that she can help jump start the next generation of talent for many years to come.

OPA! Does your Greek background play a big part in your life? PK: Yes, I am extremely proud of my heritage and it is something I always try to stay true to in my life. My favorite food is still my mom’s pastitsio, yiovarelakia and spanakopita!

IN HER OWN WORDS...

OPA! Do you think Greek Culture is still relevant in the diaspora? PK: I would like to think so. I know it was important to me when I was growing up, and I would hope that it is able to propagate through, no matter what the generation.

OPA! Tell us a bit about your background, specifically your Greek roots…… PK: Both my parents are from Greece, as are my sisters. I am a first generation

OPA! What is the best advice you can offer those who want to follow in your footsteps?

Greek/American, born and raised in Chicago. My sisters are from Peristeri, Athens and my parents are from Peloponisso…my mother is from Paleohori and father is from Ayio Vassili. ...Very traditional roots in fact.

PK: You have to pave your own way and there is no substitute or way around hard work in the entertainment business. Never give up. Persistence and dedication are key. Enjoy the process and keep learning along the way.

OPA! How did you find it growing up Greek in the US? PK: I sincerely appreciate my heritage and I have grown to understand how proud the Greek community is of its place here in the States. Even when I go back to Greece, everyone wants to talk about the stars in America who have roots in the Greek community. It is uplifting to be a part of that in some small way and to be able to, even slightly, inspire someone to work for success in this business. In life, I think it is always important to know where you came from - and I am undeniably Greek! Speaking the language, knowing the traditions, the dances, the history of our country and so much more of the Greek culture gives me strength to know where I came from and what it truly means to be where I am today.

OPA! Greeks are famous for their sayings. Do you have a favorite Greek saying? PK: “Perasmena ksehasmena” - I always say that phrase to friends and family who are stuck in a certain place in their life and they just can’t get past it. It’s a reminder to just keep moving forward no matter what. Leave the past behind. Don’t let it weigh you down. Feel what you’re going to feel in the moment something is happening and then try your best to let it go. OPA! Thank you for your time Patricia, it was great to get a bit of an insight. Any parting words? PK: Follow your dreams, they will always be yours and you just have to be willing to do what it takes in order to achieve them.

MYTHOLOGIA MYTHOLOGY

EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE GREEK GODS BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK G

reek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks which concern their gods and the very nature of the world itself. A major part of Greek mythology are the myths of the Olympian Gods - the Dodekatheon. Each month OPA! re-introduces us to these immortal old-timers, whose ancient antics continue to define Greece’s identity in the modern world. And what better way to kick things off than with the ruler of the Gods, the mighty Zeus. The Twelve Olympians, also known as the Dodekatheon (Δωδεκάθεον) were the principal Gods of the Greek Pantheon (temple). These Gods, who lived at the summit of Mount Olympus, were the major deities in Ancient Greece. After overthrowing their ancestors , the Titans, the Olympian Gods became the rulers of the Cosmos. Their leader was Zeus. The Gods were born and grew like human beings but they were immortal. They lived inside human-like bodies with an ethereal fluid called ichor running through their veins. They had passions and human weaknesses and were often at fault, but were always obliged to take full responsibility for their actions. The Twelve Olympians gained their supremacy after Zeus led his siblings to victory in war with the Titans. The first ancient reference to religious ceremonies and the Gods is found in the Homeric Hymn to Hermes. The Ancient Greek belief of the Twelve Olympian Gods can be traced to Athens in the 6th Century BC. The Gods were: Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Athena, Dionysus, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, Hephaestus and Hermes. Greek myths refer to these twelve Gods of Mount Olympus, but in total there were usually more. However, there were never more than twelve at one time. The four alternative gods were Hestia, Hades, Dionysus and Demeter, depending on the version of the tale, with various explanations as to the differences in the composition of the twelve, such as the story that when Dionysus was offered a seat among the Olympians, the total number became thirteen. Believing this would create a fight amongst the gods, Hestia stepped down. The tales of the Gods have exerted a profound influence on the culture, arts, and literature of Western civilization and remain part of modern culture. Artists from ancient

times to the present have been inspired by the mythology and have discovered contemporary significance and relevance in the stories.

FAMILY Zeus was the last child of the Titans Cronus and Rhea and had five older brothers and sisters. Zeus’ older siblings had been swallowed up by their jealous father; however, Zeus managed to escape. Later he would have revenge upon his father and set his siblings free. Zeus married his own sister, Hera, the goddess of marriage and monogamy, but gave her plenty of reasons to be jealous, since Zeus was renowned for his numerous love affairs. As a result, Zeus was the father of many children.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Zeus had his golden throne on the highest summit of Mount Olympus and was respected by all Gods and mortals. He was the “Lord of Justice,” punishing those who lied or broke an oath, but he was fair and always striving to keep a balance in all things. Zeus was responsible for the weather, shaping it according to his temper and disposition. When in high spirits, Zeus blessed the world with fine weather; in case of a bad mood, however, he would throw down rain, winds, lightning and thunderbolts to cause disaster to the mortals. But even Zeus’ powers had their limits, for however powerful he was, he had neither the right nor the ability to intervene in the decisions of the Fates.

PERSONALITY Zeus was carefree and loved to laugh out loud. He possessed perfect knowledge and was just, merciful and prudent. However, he was rather unpredictable, since no one could guess the decisions he would make and his mental condition at any one time.

APPEARANCE AND SACRED SYMBOLS Zeus was strong and imposing and is often portrayed with long, curly hair. The main symbol of Zeus was the thunderbolt, which was a gift from the Cyclopes because he liberated them. His sacred animal was the eagle. The Roman name for Zeus is Jupiter.

EKLISIA RELIGION

ith Christmas only weeks away, it seems like an appropriate time to look at an often forgotten but oh so important part of the up coming feast – the preparatory fast. Why do Orthodox Christians fast? Fasting is an essential aspect of practising the Orthodox life. Unfortunately, many in the Church today do not participate in this grace-bestowing and life-giving ascetic practice. They do this to the loss of their own spiritual and bodily health. What is meant by fasting (in Greek: Nisteia)? On the surface, fasting involves the physical abstinence from food and drink. Yet the rules about fasting must never be treated as an end in themselves because fasting has always had a deeper and more spiritual meaning.

Fasting, as traditionally practised in the Church, has always been difficult and has always involved hardship. Many today are willing to fast for reasons of health or beauty, in order to lose weight, to look better and more attractive to the opposite sex, to get ahead in the world… Can’t we do as much for the sake of the heavenly Kingdom of God? Why should the self-denial gladly accepted by previous generations of Orthodox prove such an intolerable burden to their successors today? Once St Seraphim of Sarov was asked why the miracles of grace, so abundantly manifest in the past, were no longer apparent in his own day, and to this he replied: ‘Only one thing is lacking - a firm resolve’. The main purpose of fasting is to gain mastery over oneself and to conquer the passions of the flesh. It is to liberate yourself from dependence on the things of this world in order to concentrate on the things of the Kingdom of God. It is to

give power to the soul so that it will not yield to temptation and sin. Even if the fast proves debilitating at first, afterwards we find that it enables us to sleep less, to think more clearly, and to work more decisively. As many doctors acknowledge, periodical fasts contribute to bodily hygiene. While involving genuine self-denial, fasting does not seek to do violence to our body but rather to restore it to health and equilibrium. Most of us in the Western world habitually eat more than we need. Fasting liberates our body from the burden of excessive weight and makes it a willing partner in the task of prayer. We all need to develop the habit of saying no to our carnal passions and desires. What we need is self-discipline and self-control. These are acquired only through regular spiritual exercise — namely through fasting. Fasting is not just about diet. It is moral as well as physical. True fasting is to be converted in heart and will; it is to return to God, to come home like the Prodigal to our Father’s house. In the words of St John Chrysostom, it means ‘abstinence not only from food but from sins. The fast should be kept not by the mouth alone but also by the eye, the ear, the feet, the hands and all the members of the body’: the eye must abstain from impure sights, the ear from malicious gossip, the hands from acts of injustice. St Basil the Great says that it is useless to fast from food, and yet to indulge in cruel criticism and slander: ‘You do not eat meat, but you devour your brother.’ The inner significance of fasting is best summed up with: prayer, fasting, almsgiving. Divorced from prayer and from the reception of the holy sacraments, unaccompanied by acts of compassion, our fasting becomes pharisaical. It leads, not to contrition and joyfulness, but to pride, inward tension and irritability.

Fasting, then, is useless or even harmful when not combined with prayer. In the Gospels the devil is cast out, not by fasting alone, but by ‘prayer and fasting’ (Matt 17: 21; Mark 9: 29); and of the early Christians it is said not simply that they fasted but that they ‘fasted and prayed (Acts 13: 3; compare 14: 23) .‘In both the Old and the New Testament fasting is seen, not as an end in itself, but as an aid to more intense and living prayer, as a preparation for decisive action or for direct encounter with God. Christ’s forty-day fast in the wilderness was the immediate preparation for His public ministry (Matt 4: 1-11). When Moses fasted on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34: 28) and Elijah on Mount Horeb (3 [1] Kings 19: 8-12), the fast was in both cases linked with a theophany. Prayer and fasting should in their turn be accompanied by almsgiving - by love for others expressed in practical form, by works of compassion and forgiveness. Eight days before the opening of the Lenten fast, on the Sunday of the Last Judgment, the appointed Gospel is the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matt. 25’: 31-46), reminding us that the criterion in the coming judgment will not be the strictness of our fasting but the amount of help that we have given to those in need. A Hymn from the Triodion (the Service Book used in Church during Great Lent) describes it this way: • • • • • •

Knowing the commandments of the Lord, let this be our way of life: Let us feed the hungry, let us give the thirsty drink, Let us clothe the naked, let us welcome strangers, Let us visit those in prison and the sick. Then the Judge of all the earth will say even to us: ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you.’

It is no coincidence that on the very threshold of the Great Fast, at Vespers on the Sunday of Forgiveness, there is a special ceremony of mutual reconciliation: for without love towards others there can be no genuine fast. And this love for others should not be limited to formal gestures or to sentimental feelings, but should issue in specific acts of almsgiving. Such was the firm conviction of the early Church. The second-century book Shepherd of Hermas insists that the money saved through fasting is to be given to the widow, the orphan and the poor. But almsgiving means more than this. It is to give not only our money but our time, not only what we have but what we are; it is to give a part of ourselves. When we hear the Triodion speak of almsgiving, the word should almost always be taken in this deeper sense. For the mere giving of money can often be a substitute and an evasion, a way of protecting ourselves from closer personal involvement with those in distress. On the other hand, to do nothing more than offer reassuring words of advice to someone crushed by urgent material anxieties is equally an evasion of our responsibilities. Bearing in mind the unity already emphasized between body and soul, we seek to offer help on both the material and the spiritual levels at once. Fasting is not at all an act of mortification for mortification’s sake. It is not a “little suffering” which is somehow pleasing to God. It is not a punishment which is to be sorrowfully endured in payment for sins. On the contrary, fasting for a Christian should be a joyful experience, because fasting is a self-discipline which we voluntarily impose upon ourselves in order to become better persons and better Christians.

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ISTORIA HISTORY

White Gold, Deep Blue: Australian Pearling’s Greek Contribution

reeks have been involved in Australian pearling since at least the late 1880s – initially in the pearl shell industry and then in pearl cultivation. As Macquarie University historian Leonard Janiszewski and documentary photographer Effy Alexakis point out, the strength of the Greek contribution far outweighs their actual numbers. Pearling in Australia commenced as early as the 1850s, apparently around Shark Bay in Western Australia. Gradually the activity progressed further north along the continent’s north-western coastline. Initially, the pearl shells were gathered only from shallow water, but gradually the activity burgeoned into more highly organised and commercial deep-sea pearling. Pearl oysters were not only sought for their pearls, but more importantly, the real commercial undertaking of the pearlers was to supply local and overseas markets with oyster shell. The shell was highly valued for its iridescent lining – mother-of-pearl – which was utilised in the manufacture of buttons, a variety of ornaments such as pearl cameos, belts, fan and knife handles, jewellery boxes, and inlays on clocks. Early Australian pearling ports included Nickol Bay, Onslow, Cossack and Port Hedland. By the 1890s, Broome, located on the northern point of Roebuck Bay in Western Australia, had become Australia’s chief pearling port. At the same time Darwin in the Northern Territory had begun to play a small part in pearling operations. East of Darwin across the Gulf of Carpentaria, regular pearling had begun north of Thursday Island. By 1904 there were 403 pearl luggers in Western Australia, the majority in Broome, 378 at Thursday Island, located just north-west of Cape York, and approximately 50 in Darwin. During its heyday Thursday Island was reputedly the largest pearling port that ever existed. These Australian pearling ports attracted adventurers, seafarers and migrants – an intoxicating mixture of potential danger and the romance of the sea, infused with an offer of income that proved too persuasive for many. Some were engaged in assisting with the provision of land-based goods and services required by the luggers and their crews, while others opted to live precariously close to the razor’s edge and dive for the white gold in the deep blue. Evidenced amongst the conglomerate of international faces drawn together by the enticing lure of these pearling ports were, perhaps not surprisingly, those of Greeks.

One of the earliest Greeks known to have become involved in the Australian pearling industry was Athanasios Avgoustis (Arthur Auguste), who is said to have arrived in Broome around 1888. He is reported to have ‘worked at the pearling grounds... for some time’, before departing for Fremantle. Interestingly, Antonio Julian, who arrived with three other Greeks in Albany, Western Australia early in 1870, appears to have journeyed north to Cossack, where he undertook work as a pearl diver – how soon after his arrival though is unknown . He died in Cossack in 1887. Another early Greek pioneer pearler was Theodosis Michael Paspalis, who arrived with his family in Port Hedland in 1919. A tobacco merchant from Kastellorizo who had sailed his own trading vessel around the islands of the Aegean, Theodosis purchased a share in a pearling lugger whilst also establishing a grocery store business. Regrettably Paspalis died after only a few years in Australia but his interest in the local pearling industry was later taken up by his sons, Michael and Nicholas, and a daughter, Mary. Georgios Marinos and Georgios Thomas were also early Greek pearlers working out of Port Hedland. Both had commenced pearling before Paspalis’ arrival, as had Jack Kootsookis, who operated out of Broome. A little later, Broome became home port for Greek pearl diver Michael Canaris. Another Greek pearler of the period, John Theoharris, based on Thursday Island, was affectionately dubbed by the local Aboriginals, ‘King John’. Apparently a number of other Greeks (overwhelmingly from Kastellorizo) also succeeded in undertaking work in Australia’s pearling ports before the early 1920s – primarily as divers, crewmen, carpenters or pearl shellers. Some, like Georgios Thomas, obtained several pearling permits, and although these were threatened with suspension during World War One, he and other such enterprising Greeks benefited from the boom times that followed the War. Broome for example, in 1925, boasted 400 pearling luggers, produced 80 per cent of the world’s motherof-pearl market and had acquired a population of some 5,000 inhabitants. From the late 1920s, global economic depression forced a decline in the motherof-pearl industry and although it survived, the former dynamism and vitality that had previously characterised Australian pearling, could not be resuscitated.

ISTORIA HISTORY

With the entry of the Japanese into World War Two, the industry dramatically collapsed. In Broome alone, some 500 Japanese were employed by pearling companies, and all were to be rounded up and interned as enemy aliens. Many luggers were set ablaze on the beaches for fear that they would fall into enemy hands, while others were commandeered and sailed to the relative safety of Perth. With the barring of Japanese divers and crews from the Australian pearling fields following the War a major chapter of Greek involvement with the industry opened. Replacements had to be found if Australian pearling was to be revived. The Kalymnian Brotherhood in Sydney (formally constituted in 1951), suggested that replacement crews should be sought from amongst the unemployed sponge divers on Kalymnos, one of the Dodecanese islands; a synthetic cellulose sponge had been developed and demand for the natural product had slowly begun a downwards slide which, after 1958, would be accelerated by the large scale European production of a high quality synthetic sponge. The suggestion was taken very seriously, particularly given the highly successful use of Kalymnian divers at Tarpon Springs in Florida, USA, from the 1890s onwards. A government report was prepared by an Australian Immigration Department official, Eugene Gorman, on the feasibility of bringing out the Kalymnians . When he visited Kalymnos in late 1951, Gorman found numerous potential recruits all elated by the possibility of migrating to Australia. Charmian Clift’s and George Johnston’s collaborative novel, The Sponge Divers, written during their nine month sojourn on Kalymnos from December 1954 to August 1955, suggests the emotional effervescence ignited by the potential of migration to Australia: ‘All Kalymnos is unsettled, restless, drunk with these ridiculous hopes and expectations... [to] be able to go to Australia... There’ll be plenty of work for everyone, good money, nobody will go hungry.’ With the acceptance of the idea amongst both Greek and non-Greek lugger operators in Broome and Darwin, which included the Haritos brothers (who were of Greek background), A. E. and W. T. Duffield, the Bowden Pearling Company, Michael Paspalis, Nicholas Paspaley (Michael’s brother had anglicised his surname) and H. O. and R. N. Hockings, the project was given the official go ahead. As George Haritos, who managed the Haritos’ pearling enterprise, recalled: ‘We were

asked if anyone wanted Greek divers – Paspaley, Gonzales, Billy Sing, Curly Bell and ourselves; these were the luggers [lugger owners] at the time. I volunteered to give them [the Kalymnian divers] a try.’ Two Kalymnian diving crews were brought to Australia at government expense, the first in 1954, and the second in 1955, – the Inter-Governmental Committee for European Migration (I.C.E.M.) arranged for their passage. Both crews totalled twelve men. While the first crew was based in Darwin, the second crew was dispatched to Broome. Unfortunately the diving experience and skill of the Kalymnians were negated, principally by two factors. The diving system used by the Australian pearl luggers was different to that with which the Kalymnians were familiar – ‘half’ deep sea diving suits were employed rather than ‘full’ suits – and the huge tides and murky tropical waters off the north-west Australian coast were a stark contrast to the calm clarity of the Mediterranean where tidal changes are often imperceptible. According to Nomikos Pasterikos, who was ‘capitanos’ amongst the 1954 Kalymnian contingent, ‘when you bent to pick up the shell, the water came up over your head – we couldn’t wear the “half” suits’. Both Pasterikos and Tony Papadonakis (a line tender) firmly indicate that the conditions were dangerously unfamiliar. One diver, Theo Halkitis, recalls that diving was undertaken ‘with quite antiquated methods and equipment’. Halkitis was injured when his air supply line became caught in the lugger’s propeller shaft – no protective guards had been installed. Whilst Halkitis was lucky to escape with his life, tragically on 24 May 1956, Hristos Kontoyiannis was not. The Coroner’s inquest found that the death of the chief diver of the Kalymnian crewed lugger, Postboy, was the result of: ‘asphyxia… when the propeller cut the air-line... The accident was caused when the lugger… was forced backwards by three heavy and unexpected waves, thus fouling the air-line which was in its normal position over… the stern.’

While the Coroner uncovered no evidence of negligence on the part of the crew members, public gossip ridiculed the unfortunate seamen with suggestions that such a mishap would not have occurred with a Japanese crew. For some of the Kalymnians, such talk underlined what they sensed to be a strong desire by a number of lugger operators to regain the use of cheap Japanese labour. Claims that Kontoyiannis’ untimely death was a result of ‘sabotage’ also arose. In 1976, the dead diver’s son arrived from Greece to both retrieve his father’s bones and

to uncover the ‘real story’ surrounding the tragedy. He returned to Greece unconvinced by the Coroner’s report. Disheartened by the unfamiliar conditions and equipment, members of each Kalymnian crew broke their contracts and sought land-based employment in Darwin. The project’s dismal failure was an embarrassment for the Australian Government, but not for too long, as a crash occurred in the pearl shell market at the close of the 1950s – plastics were superseding mother-of-pearl in the production of buttons and other shell-related goods. Most lugger operators quickly abandoned the industry, though faint echoes remained until the early 1970s. The Kalymnian crews primarily immersed themselves into Darwin’s booming, post-war building industry.

When the pearl shell market plummeted in the very late 1950s, Mary was unable to sell her original lugger, Swallow and it was left to rot on the beach amongst those vessels abandoned by other lugger operators – the sands were a graveyard for the last vestiges of a passing era. Mary died in 1985, aged seventy-six, and was buried at Perth’s Karrakatta Cemetery. A Dakas Street in Broome commemorates this unique Greek-Australian pioneer pearler who has been described as ‘a fascinating lady… [of ] very strong character… [because] to take over the running of her luggers as she did... was against all the conventions of a very class conscious Broome of the 40s and 50s’.

Despite the failure of the Kalymnian experiment during the 1950s, the period did witness the successful establishment of an unusual Greek pearler within the industry – Mary Dakas (nee Paspalis, the sister of Michael and Nicholas), who went into pearling in her own right in 1949 and has been acknowledged as ‘most probably Australia’s only Greek female pearl lugger operator’.

One of Mary’s younger brothers, Nicholas Paspaley, also succeeded in making quite a name for himself in pearling. Nicholas acquired his first lugger during the early 1930s. After World War Two he purchased four luggers from the Navy and became the ‘first man back into pearling out of Darwin’. His fleet ‘prospered as well as pearling could’ until the crash of the pearl shell market in the late 1950s. Yet this was not the end of Paspaley’s romance with the sea - rather a new beginning. As Nicholas’ wife, Vivienne, points out: ‘When the price fell [for pearl shell], we went solely into pearl culture.’

Left with boats and a marine workshop in Fremantle after the accidental electrocution of her second husband, Christopher Dakas, in 1948, Mary quickly resolved to enter into the staunchly male domain of pearling. Her father’s experiences in the industry during the late 1910s and the early 1920s, coupled with the pearling activities of her brothers and the potential commercial resurgence of the sea-based enterprise, possibly tempered her decision after the war. Moving to Broome, she was soon operating luggers out of both Broome and Port Hedland. As Mary explained: ‘I had four boats pearling. I started with the Swallow in 1949. My son Manuel built the Kestrel on the beach at Broome, and we added the Jedda and one other to the fleet. We did well while the price of shell held up.’

Nicholas Paspaley was now set on becoming a master pearler in commercial pearl cultivation. The pearl would replace the pearl shell as the central focus of his activities, though the shell would be retained as a by-product for the inlay market. Cultured pearl farming had arrived in northern Australia in a very big way with the establishment in 1956 of a joint Australian and Japanese cultured pearl farm at Kuri Bay, some 420 km north of Broome. Under the guidance of Japanese businessman, Tokuichi Kuribayashi (after whom Kuri Bay is named), the venture developed into ‘the largest pearl culture farm in the world’. Nicholas was inspired. In 1963, the Paspaley Pearling Company entered into a working arrangement with a Japanese firm, Arafura Pearling Company, and commenced culture pearl opera-

ISTORIA HISTORY

7 tions at Port Essington, part of the Cobourg Peninsula east of Darwin. Initially Paspaley’s arrangement with the Japanese was unsuccessful, but they later reached an agreement. While the Japanese would contribute the technical knowledge and skill, Nicholas’ company would provide the necessary vessels, the farm, much of the equipment, and the living pearl shell. From then on, Paspaley never looked back – during the early 1980s his Port Essington pearling farm was using up to 70,000 shells per year in its production. Nicholas died in 1984 in his late 60s but the company continued to prosper under his son Nicholas Paspaley junior, who managed the enterprise with his sisters Roslynne and Marilynne. By the early 1990s the Paspaley Pearling Company was said to control some 60% of Australia’s cultured pearl industry. During the late 1970s, another Greek of Kastellorizian background became interested in Australia’s cultured pearl industry: Western Australia’s prawn-fishing magnate, Michael G. Kailis. Kailis’ Broome Pearls was the first company to train Australian pearl technicians and it established Broome’s first successful pearl farm. Michael and his wife, Dr Patricia Kailis, were often described as a ‘formidable team’, and following her husband’s death in 1999, Patricia has continued to be involved in pearl cultivation. Despite Paspaley’s and Kailis’ achievements in the commercial development of pearl cultivation in Australia they were both preceded in their area of interest by another Greek: Con Denis George (Georgiades), who preferred to be addressed as Denis George. Born in Constantinople (Istanbul), Denis migrated from Athens to Sydney in 1948. As a youth, he had acquired a deep familiarity with the sea and in 1949, whilst reading for leisure in Sydney’s libraries, he became fascinated by Australia’s pearl shell. The thought of possibly cultivating a south seas pearl for commercial distribution germinated, nourished by the fact that the large Australian pearl oyster would provide a cultured pearl much bigger than the small Japanese

-- PHOTO CREDIT S-01) Funeral of Hirstos Kontoyiannis, Kalymnian pearl-shell diver, with Mary Dakas (nee Paspalis), most probably Australia’s only Greek female pearl lugger operator, standing at the centre of the group Broome Cemetery, WA, c. 1956 The Kalymnian crew of the pearl lugger, Postboy, pay their last respects to their chief diver, tragically killed when his air hose became entangled whilst diving for pearl shell. Experienced in diving for sponges in the calm, clear waters of the Mediterranean, the murky waters and enormous tides off the northern Australian coast proved a dangerous foe. Photo courtesy Papadonakis family, from the In Their Own Image: Greek-Australians National Project Archives 02) Kalymnian pearl lugger crew aboard the Postboy Waters off Broome, WA, 1956 Photo courtesy Papadonakis family, from the In Their Own Image: Greek-Australians National Project Archives 03) Denis George, pearl cultivator, with his life’s work Cairns, Qld, 1987 Denis’ work has been one of the pivotal contributions to the pioneering of Australian pearl cultivation. Photo by Effy Alexakis, from the In Their Own Image: Greek-Australians National Project Archives 04) Kalymnian Stephanos Makrillos (seated on right) and crew Waters off the north-western Australian coast, c. 1955 Photo courtesy S. Makrillos, from the In Their Own Image: Greek-Australians National Project Archives 05) Ilias Fountis and his wife Anna (nee Lambou) Pothea, Kalymnos, 1990 Ilias was a member of the first Kalymnian crew brought to Australia in 1954. He returned to Kalymnos during the 1980s. Photo by Effy Alexakis, from the In Their Own Image: Greek-Australians National Project Archives 06) Ilias Fountis’ Australian immigration papers Department of Immigration, Australia, 1954 Papers courtesy of I. Fountis, from the In Their Own Image: Greek-Australians National Project Archives (07) Kalymnian men dancing Fanny Bay, Darwin, NT, 1955 Ilias Fountis (standing second from left) became a carpenter, building houses, following the failure of the Kalymnian crews to successfully adapt to Australian waters. Photo courtesy of I. Fountis, from the In Their Own Image: Greek-Australians National Project Archives 08) Theo Halkitis, retired Kalymnian diver Panormos, Kalymnos, 1990 Amongst the first group of Kalymnian divers brought out to Australia in 1954, Theo was injured during one diving session when his air hose became entangled in the pearl lugger’s propeller shaft. In retirement, he regularly journeyed back and forth between Darwin and Kalymnos. Photo by Effy Alexakis, from the In Their Own Image: Greek-Australians National Project Archives

oysters. Pearl cultivation techniques had popularly been associated with the Japanese, but Denis discovered that during the late 1880s and early 1890s an Australian naturalist, William Savelle-Kent, had successfully experimented with south seas pearl oysters and a cultured pearl had resulted. Between 1952 and 1966, Denis experimented with oysters around Stradbroke Island, Cairns, Fitzroy Island, Thursday Island and nearby Packe Island. At the same time, he attempted to attract Government and private backing to commercialise his technical achievements. Denis wanted to set up a solely Australian - owned pearl cultivation enterprise, arguing that ‘the Japanese have a $50 million a year pearl industry. Why shouldn’t we?’ Disillusioned by the failure of his efforts to commercialise his work and believing that this had occurred because official Australian support was unashamedly being directed towards Japanese-led ventures, Denis George left Australia for Papua New Guinea. He spent the next sixteen years on Pear Island in Milne Bay, where he continued his work in pearl cultivation. After returning to Australia, Denis concentrated on documenting and publishing his technical knowledge and experience. He died in 2001 still dreaming of a profitable, wholly Australian - owned pearl cultivation industry stretching from Shark Bay, Western Australia, right across the continent’s northern coastline to Brisbane’s Moreton Bay. Denis’ work has been recognised as one of the pivotal contributions to the pioneering of Australian pearl cultivation. Throughout the greater part of the development of the Australian pearling industry, Greek involvement became increasingly conspicuous. Yet, many earlier historical insights into the industry have failed to recognise their consistent and at times, influential, contribution.

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LEGAL EAGLE GREEK LAWYER

By John Tripidakis LL.B.(Athens), LL.M. (London) Australian - registered foreign (Greek) lawyer, entitled to practise foreign (Greek) law only www.greeklawyers.com.au

he acquisition of the Greek/European Passport by Australia born Greeks can be motivated for moral, social or economic reasons. It gives the holder the unique privilege of free movement, establishment, labour and enjoyment of social benefits in twenty six different countries and a 480.000.000 - people market. Notwithstanding the benefits, all males from eighteen through 45 years of age acquiring the Greek Passport, could create military obligations for themselves. Let us examine these in detail.

According to articles Six and Seven of L. 3421/2005, the duration of military service in Greece is nine months. Some categories of citizens, including permanent foreign residents, are entitled to a reduced military service of six months. Who is considered to be a permanent foreign resident according to Greek Law? According to By - Law 3421/2005: 1. Anyone who has his primary and permanent residence abroad for at least eleven consecutive years in one or more countries and 2. Anyone whose centre of business activity and residency is abroad for at least seven consecutive years in one or more countries. In fact, article Six of Law 3421/2005 states that those who belong to the first category of permanent foreign residents may be discharged from the Armed Forces by completing three months military service, i.e. after half the time. The

only condition is that the said citizen is born and raised abroad. Therefore, a Greek Australian who was born in Australia and has grown up here, is bound to threemonths military service. However, the beginning of the military service is postponed for as long as foreign residents retain their residence abroad. In practice, this means that as long as a Greek Australian lives abroad (e.g. in Australia), his obligation is continuously postponed, until the time that he reaches the 45th year of age, at which time he is lawfully and permanently dismissed. The loss of the said foreign residency status occurs either by deportation to Greece, or by exceeding the period of six months residency in Greece during the same year. This naturally implies the obligation for enlisting in the army. It is noteworthy however that if a foreign resident wants to come to study in Greece, the years of studying are calculated as time spent abroad. In case of non-completion of studies, the foreign resident is able to stay in Greece until he becomes 28 years old. If he remains in Greece for longer than six months after his 28th birthday, then he must enlist in the Army. Anyone can voluntarily disrupt the postponement of enlisting in order to fulfill his military duties in case he wants to come and live in Greece. Finally, it should be noted that the above are general legal provisions. For every specific case prior legal advice should be sought.

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SPECIAL FEATURE ERT WORLD

GREEKS IN AUSTRALIA SOON PRESENTED WORLDWIDE Emma Papaemmanouel

Alekos Markellos

“Greeks have been writing history throughout the centuries, it is time for all Greeks in Australia to broadcast yours!”

he achievements and lifestyles of hundreds of thousands of Greeks in Australia are now to be broadcast worldwide in a brand new show on ERT World. Behind the show’s concept are the recently - positioned correspondents of ERT in Australia, Alekos Markellos and Emma Papaemmanouel. A couple both in life and profession, they share the same passion for journalism and now the same admiration for the passionate Greek heart, that beats right here in Australia. Their experience, fresh view and ideas guarantee the TV show will be a smash hit across the globe… Alekos Markellos has been a journalist since 1986. He was born in Australia and raised in Greece. He has worked and collaborated with almost all major TV and radio stations in Greece, plus many newspapers and magazines, as well as several international media organisations. Since 2001 he has been working for the News Division of ERT, the Greek National Television. Emma Papaemmanouel has worked for ERT ever since 1993 as a reporter and news presenter. She has

participated in several TV shows on ERT and almost all major events like the Olympics, Paralympics, Eurovision and UNICEF television marathons. She has hosted her own radio show, as well as writing in many magazines and newspapers over the years. Since early 2011 they have been permanently settled in Melbourne as official correspondents for ERT in Australia and South East Asia, following approval of their proposal from the managing board of ERT SA. Having spent a few months here, they realised the complete absence of a TV show exclusively about Greeks in Australia and decided to take matters into their own hands. OPA! Magazine met with Alekos and Emma and asked them what made them come to this decision. What is their vision around the new show? “We wanted to build bridges of better communication between metropolitan Greece and Australia, to bring closer via television, radio and internet, friends and relatives who live and create in two countries

so distant from each other. Our goal is to inform the Greek audience all over the world about the progress and achievements of the remarkable Greek community throughout Australia. Also, we want to contribute towards a better exchange of information and understanding about what is really happening in Greece, especially at this time when Greece –a positive front line in world history for thousands of years- is tested hard by an aggressive economic crisis. Our job is all about information and communication. Nearly all of the Greeks in Australia (first, second and third generation) have a receiver for the satellite program of ERT WORLD (the program is available at no extra cost to those who have the receiver). So we studied in detail the possibilities and we are at the final stage of preparing and broadcasting a program for ERT WORLD, focusing on the activities of the Greeks in Oceania. And surely there are many subjects to cover .

SPECIAL FEATURE ERT WORLD

A few examples would be... • Festivals and events highlighting Greece, its history and civilization all over Australia. • Creation and emergence of culture which is so successfully served by so many Greeks here. • The admirable work of the Greek communities and the Orthodox Church, which among so many achievements have secured the lasting existence of the Greek language and traditions via their schools and institutions. • The achievements of Greeks of Australia in the field of economy and business. The two countries, thanks to the numerous and highly creative presences of the Greek element and the joint historical battles, have developed very warm ties. Everyone in Australia admits that the Greeks were and are a model community in this multicultural society and a key pillar for decades in its development . We want to contribute so these bonds become even stronger at all levels. From the very beginning of our presence here we felt moved by the warmth and solidarity of the Greek Diaspora. They have embraced us in many ways, offering help and support on every level. Now is the time to join forces and present to the world a show equal to the value of the Greeks in Australia. Up to now we have the significant and valuable support of ERT World, the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria, expatriate media and several Greek oriented sponsors.

We are looking forward to all the Greek communities and Greeks across Australia and New Zealand joining us. We are equally interested in the Greek presence in every corner of this huge continent that’s called Oceania. The choice of Melbourne as our base was logical, considering the number of expatriates who live here. Time will prove that our gaze is directed everywhere with the same passion. Of course it is understandable that we can’t be everywhere. We can’t be “Pantaxou parontes.” Therefore, we invite everyone interested to join with heart and soul this brand new effort. With proposals, press releases, photos, videos (HD if possible), potential sponsors or individuals with fresh ideas... You are all more than welcome to participate and we will do our best to broadcast your vision to the whole world. Just email us at ert.australia @ gmail.com and we will contact you instantly. Greeks have been writing history throughout the centuries, it is time for all Greeks in Australia to broadcast yours!” OPA! Magazine is proud to be one of the first supporters of this team and this show, with so much more to come…watch this space! OPA! will participate in the show as a joint partner on a permanent basis. So, let’s tune in to the new show and say OPA! to the world via ERT WORLD AUSTRALIA!

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TAXIDI TRAVEL

estled away in the heart of Epirus, Ioannina was until recently a remote place set behind the “spine of Greece”, the Pindos mountain range. The construction of the new motorway, Egnatia odos, changed everything as you can now reach the town from Thessaloniki after just two and one half hours of easy driving (in contrast to at least six hours needed beforehand).

a rich tradition in silver arts, a historical centre with fine architectural buildings which has come to life again due to a number of galleries, shops and bar-cafes, as well as patisseries that can easily bend anyone’s resistance, there is plenty to do, see and taste.

So where do you begin? Castle town: The soul of the city… The economic and cultural centre of Epirus has now become a popular destination even for weekenders within Greece, and it is no wonder why: with a vibrant student community spreading its energy across every street, important historical and cultural sites and delicious food, Ioannina promises to keep you busy. A “rough” place which reveals the essence of the country: rugged beauty, a medieval castle town lying on the shore of Pamvotis lake, and all around infinite mountain ranges with endless possibilities for adventure and adrenaline pumps. Ioannina is a place full of history and legends with an enticing modern twist. With

Walking within the castle’s alleys is a marvelous experience to get the feeling of Ioannina’s history... Through the main entrance at Neomartiros Georgiou Square and left at Ioustinianou Street, lie the oldest and perhaps the most picturesque neighborhoods. Walking parallel to the external wall of the castle town you will pass by a pink-coloured hotel (they seem to love colors here!) A little bit further down stands the Jewish Synagogue (1970) from the Israeli community, once an important part of the community. In the old days, the yard of the synagogue came alive with the numerous children playing there…today it seems to be deserted.

TAXIDI TRAVEL

t is a scenery filled with picturesque, cobblestoned alleys with old mansions, many of which have remained as they were during the Turkish occupation. Walking through Filantropinon, Stratigopoulou, Apsaradon streets (all named after eminent families) you end up at Tzounova’s square, as the locals name it (Mrs Tzounova was an old lady living in the castle). Here is the traditional kafenion “Filistron”, located in an old Jewish house, an ideal place to taste some drinking herbs during winter time... The houses are set one right next to the other, as if to stay warm, and stone and wood are the dominant materials, giving an earthy feeling. Here are traditional shops with folklore objects and local silver art; flowers on the balconies; children playing and visitors marveling at the imposing scenery. It feels as though you have stepped into history, whilst in reality you are only five minutes from the centre of the modern, noisy town. Day or night, let your steps get lost in the castle town in order to feel its soul. Its Kale Citadel and Aslan Pasha Mosque – the two acropolises of the castle town Its Kale means “inner citadel” and here is the place of the first settlement, which Ali Pasha (the ruler of the “Pashalik” of Ioannina from 1788-1822) destroyed in order to build his palace. Today the Byzantine Museum lies here, where can be found

exhibits from the Christian until the post-Byzantine period. Right next to it, Fetihe Mosque (1795) was recently opened to the public; in front of the mosque you can see Ali Pasha’s tomb, with its ornate metal railing. Slip in a view of the lake and head to the coffee shop right next to the entrance, which once served as the cuisine, for ouzo and mezedakia. On the other side of the castle, Aslan Pasha Mosque (1618) dominates the skyine: today it houses the Municipal Museum, where various exhibits showcase the harmonious co-existence of the three communities (Christian, Jewish and Muslim) for many years within the castle but also in the whole town of Ioannina.

On board to the island Right outside the castle by the waterfront (molos) the ferry brings you to the island: it takes about ten minutes, while relaxing with the wonderful lakefront view of the castle and surrounding nature, and then you are on the island. This is a small community which flourished during the 13th Century, when the “Dominion of Epirus” was established and four monasteries were erected here. During the 16th-17th Century two more monasteries were erected, whilst the old ones were renovated and further expanded. During the period of Ali Pasha reign there was a decline as the residents abandoned the island, only to come back after his death (1822).

VISIT GREECE

TAXIDI TRAVEL

The settlement has been declared a traditional one due to the fact that it is built according to the traditional architecture of Epirus, which is characterized by roofs made of slate. Shops with folklore and local silver art; traditional flavors such as sweets given free for tasting by the women’s cooperatives; restaurants serving local specialties (eels and legfrogs are the most famous ones); old and modern coffee-shops with shisha (or nargile); a charming square with a church, and traditional houses and yards filled with colorful flowers. Following the signs to St. Panteleimon Monastery, a 17th century building, you can find the Museum of the Pre-revolutionary Period, where Ali Pasha was killed in 1822. Today, visitors will find here lithographs, copper engravings, photographs, traditional costumes and other pre-revolutionary objects from the museum’s collection. A pleasant walk around the island will allow you to discover the plenitude of monasteries like Eleouonastery, Stratigopoulou Monastery (13th century) and St. Nicholas Philanthropinon Monastery, established in 1292 by the Byzantine family of Philanthropinon. Sitting by a kiosk, I am thinking about the similarities of these two communities: they are both next to the centre of the town, and yet you can feel as if miles away...

Tips

1. Stop by one (or more!) of the numerous patisseries spread across the whole city to taste the traditional sweets like “baklava” and “gianniotiko” and many more. 2. Aneksartisias Street: walk along one of the main streets of the historical centre and watch its transformation from daylight to nightfall... 3. Ouzeri: the town is full of places where you can have ouzo and taste various mezedakia in a relaxed atmosphere. Don’t miss it! 4. Panoramic view: go to “Fronztou politeia” for a coffee or drink or for a dinner at its restaurant, with the added value of a panoramic view of the town. (www.frontzoupolitia.gr ). Another place with a great view and nice atmosphere is “Grammatosimo” cafe, fifteen minutes away from the centre by car (Mazia, on the old national road of Ioannina – Metsovo). 5. This is a city where rain can start out of the blue...it would be wise to pack your umbrella as well !

Other places worth visiting:

1. Paul Vrellis Greek History Wax Museum - www.vrellis.org 2. Perama Cave - http://spilaio-perama.gr 3. Dodoni – archeological site 4. Zagoria villages 5. Tzoumerka villages

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

Does my bum look big in this?

xxxx

MASERATI GRANTURISMO MC STRADALE BY CHRIS BINOS

tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s here, the fastest Maserati ever sold in Australia has arrived, but the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale is leaving showrooms as quickly as it appeared and with just a strictly limited number available; securing one means moving almost as quickly as the latest Maserati itself!

The GranTurismo has long been praised for its refinement and while extensive changes have been made to the suspension, which is lower and fitted with larger anti-roll bars; this has been done without sacrificing the GranTurismo Sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highly praised ride quality. With the removal of the rear seats, it is the first two-seat Maserati since the MC12 and has also benefited from new Brembo Powered by a new variant of the Maserati 4.7 litre V8 engine that carbon-ceramic brakes, custom-developed Pirelli tyres, a pumps out 331 kW and 510 Nm of torque, the Maserati GranTurismo unique suspension layout and carbon-fibre, race-inspired seats. MC Stradale demolishes the dash to 100 kmh in 4.6 seconds before hitting, where legally permitted, a top speed of 301 kmh. Yet, at Visually, the GranTurismo MC Stradale has changes made to the the same time, it is 13 per cent more economical than the normal front and rear bumpers, the front guards, the bonnet and the boot Maserati GranTurismo S above which it sits in the Maserati line-up. lid, aimed at boosting down force and aiding engine and brake Changes have been made throughout the Maserati GranTurismo cooling. Inside materials derived from the racing variants, in the S to transform it into the MC Stadale. Its race-bred heritage is shape of carbon fibre and Alcantara, are used extensively. Carbon highlighted by a 110 kg weight reduction from the GranTurismo fibre racing seats are standard and the instrument pack has been S, with its dry weight down to 1670 kg. It mirrors the advantages changed to allow for the changes to the carâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dynamic systems. Maserati has in racing by retaining the optimal 48%/52% weight The result of these changes is to produce a car with three distinct distribution to ensure handling balance and even tyre wear. characters. In race mode, the MC Stradale is poised and ready for track days or the most demanding roads with every response and The Maserati GranTurismo MC Stadale uses advanced electron- element of the car finessed to the highest level for instant response. ics to slash gear-shift times from the upgraded MC Race Shift In Sport mode the epic performance is fully available but delivered electro-actuated transaxle gearbox to just 60 milliseconds. in a more subtle manner, making it suitable for everyday use, with It is also the first Maserati in history to have a dedicated Race the responses of a thoroughbred sports car and the comfort of mode to add to its upgraded Automatic and Sport modes in a a continent-swallowing grand touring car. Auto mode is, to all simplified dash layout. It produces more aerodynamic down extents and purposes, stealth mode, with the performance and force without producing more aerodynamic drag, it produces ability available but hiding behind a veil of relaxed comfort, quietness more power without using more fuel and it is more agile. and refinement.

ODIGOS

AUTOMOBILES

Available in limited numbers, deliveries of the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale have now begun with a recommended retail price of $364,900, excluding statutory charges, on road costs and dealer delivery charges.aserati GranTurismo MC Stradale

pumps out 331 kW and 510 Nm of torque, the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale demolishes the dash to 100 kmh in 4.6 seconds before hitting, where legally permitted, a top speed of 301 kmh. Yet, at the same time, it is 13 per cent more economical than the normal Maserati GranTurismo S above which it sits in the Maserati line-up. Changes have been made throughout the Maserati GranTurismo S to transform it into the MC Stadale. Its race-bred heritage is highlighted by a 110 kg weight reduction from the GranTurismo S, with its dry weight down to 1670 kg. It mirrors the advantages Maserati has in racing by retaining the optimal 48% / 52% weight distribution to ensure handling balance and even tyre wear.

cooling. Inside materials derived from the racing variants, in the shape of carbon fibre and Alcantara, are used extensively. Carbon fibre racing seats are standard and the instrument pack has been changed to allow for the changes to the carâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dynamic systems. The result of these changes is to produce a car with three distinct characters. In race mode, the MC Stradale is poised and ready for track days or the most demanding roads with every response and element of the car finessed to the highest level for instant response. In Sport mode the epic performance is fully available but delivered in a more subtle manner, making it suitable for everyday use, with the responses of a thoroughbred sports car and the comfort of a continent-swallowing grand touring car. Auto mode is, to all The Maserati GranTurismo MC Stadale uses advanced electronics extents and purposes, stealth mode, with the performance and to slash gear-shift times from the upgraded MC Race Shift electro- ability available but hiding behind a veil of relaxed comfort, quietness actuated transaxle gearbox to just 60 milliseconds. It is also the and refinement. first Maserati in history to have a dedicated Race mode to add to its upgraded Automatic and Sport modes in a simplified dash layout. Available in limited numbers, deliveries of the Maserati It produces more aerodynamic down force without producing more GranTurismo MC Stradale have now begun with a recomaerodynamic drag, it produces more power without using more fuel mended retail price of $364,900, excluding statutory charges, on road costs and dealer delivery charges. and it is more agile. 92

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PROVERB OF THE MONTH: “ Θα του βάλει τα δυό πόδια σ’ένα παπούτσι.” Translation: “She will put both his feet in one shoe.” Meaning: to discipline and be in charge.

WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS: 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.

ir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis, CBE, FRS (November 18, 1906–October 2, 1988) was a Greek-British designer of cars, now remembered chiefly for the development of the Mini, launched by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) in 1959

THE GREEK ENGINEER HERO INVENTED A PRIMITIVE STEAM ENGINE IN THE FIRST CENTURY A.D. THE PRINCIPLE BEHIND IT IS STILL USED TODAY IN THE ROTATING LAWN SPRINKLER

lectrical shocks given by torpedo fish were used for medicinal purposes by the ancient Greeks and Romans. From the fifth century B.C. the Greeks applied torpedo fish on the thorax of sick people in order to stimulate their vital reflexes, and the Roman doctor Scribonius Largus mentioned the efficacy of the fish’s shocks in treating chronic diseases

Greece’s currency, the drachma, was 2,650 years old and Europe’s oldest currency. The drachma was replaced by the Euro in 2002...

Some Things Never Change...

The Tradition Continues... Available at all Woolworths, Coles and selected outlets. CKA5140

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