VEMA [email protected] JUNE 2004 Tel

THE GREEK AUSTRALIAN The oldest circulating Greek newspaper outside Greece email: VEMA [email protected] JUNE 2004 Tel. (02) 9559 7022 Fax: (02) 9559 7033

In this issue... Our Primate’s View THE SALVIFIC AND BINDING CHARACTER OF ORTHODOX WORSHIP

PAGE 5/23 THE OLYMPIC FLAME

Olympic launch IGNITES AUSTRALIA for Rio - Antirrio bridge with unforgettable Torch Relay

PAGE 13/31 Broad participation by Church with its Millennium Choirs and Greek Orthodox Colleges

TRAVEL The beauty of Skopelos

PAGE 16/34

Commencing its inspirational journey around the world, the first destination of the ‘Athens 2004’ Olympic Torch Relay outside Greece was Sydney, the host city of the previous Olympic Games in 2000. (Photo above from the celebrations at Sydney’s Opera House) FULL REPORT ON PAGE 20/38 Is Greece

Premier Carr urges Olympic Australians to support the Athens Games winner? PAGE 11/ PAGE 11/29 29 JUNE 2004 2/20 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA

Girls from the Senior School dressed in ancient dresses St John’s Greek Orthodox College celebrates U.S. DECLARES INDEPENDENCE arrival of the Olympic Flame to Melbourne July 4, 1776 In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Events commenced on Friday, 4th June of the Olympic Stadiums, to how each per- Continental Congress adopts the 2004, the day before the Olympic Flame son would have created a better movie of Declaration of Independence, which arrived in Melbourne, as students from St "Troy" if they were the director. proclaims the independence of the John's College Junior School attended a live The celebrations began at 9.00 am with United States of America from Great broadcast by Radio 3XY from Victoria large crowds gathering and filling the streets. Britain and its king. The declaration Market. Dressed in traditional Greek cos- The Junior School students were also in came 442 days after the first volleys of tumes they performed dances from various attendance with their traditional costumes the American Revolution were fired at parts of Greece. cheering the flame as it made its way down Lexington and Concord in Massa- To the students' credit, some as young as 8, the street. chusetts and marked an ideological and to their teachers, even after their presen- Various dignitaries paid tribute to the expansion of the conflict that would tation had ended, they continued dancing to Olympic Spirit and to Greek Culture from eventually encourage France's inter- the Radio 3XY music, getting into the mood the stage then students from the Senior vention on behalf of the Patriots. of the Olympic spirit. School dressed in traditional Greek cos- On Saturday 5th June Melbourne launched tumes performed dances, much to the the official celebrations of the Olympic crowd's delight. CSS ALABAMA SUNK OFF FRANCE Torch Relay as the Flame was carried by Following this, a tribute to the flame-light- June 19, 1864 Torchbearers around the city. ing ceremony was led by music teacher, Mr St John's College participated in the Stelios Tsiolas, with various dancers dressed Off the coast of Cherbourg, France, the Lonsdale Street community celebration, in in Grecian costumes. Confederate raider CSS Alabama loses a ship- the heart of the Greek Precinct, famous for Dancing teacher, Mr Chris Konstan- to-ship duel with the USS Kearsarge and sinks its confectionary shops and bookstores dinides, paid tribute to the famous scene in The Olympic Flame lit from the original to the floor of the Atlantic, ending an illustri- where endless discussions over coffee about 'Zorba the Greek', with a clever segment on flame in Olympia, Greece ous career that saw some 68 Union merchant all manner of subject take place - from con- 'teaching the newly-arrived young man how vessels destroyed or captured. have been associated with the events hon- spiracy theories regarding the construction to dance'. St John's College was proud to ouring the 'Athens 2004' Torch Relay. LOUIS BECOMES CHAMP June 22, 1937

In Chicago's Comiskey Park, Joe Louis wins the world heavyweight boxing title when he defeats American Jim Braddock in an eighth- round knockout. Louis was the first Afri- can American heavyweight champ since Jack Johnson, who lost the title in 1915. During his subsequent reign, the longest in the history of the heavyweight division, Louis successfully defended his title 25 times, scoring 21 knockouts.

SPANISH RETREAT FROM AZTEC CAPITAL June 30, 1520 TOP: Boys and Girls from the Junior School dance at Victoria Market. BELOW: The music teacher, Stelios Tsiolas, with Faced with an Aztec revolt against their rule, his ceremony to the Flame forces under the Spanish conquistador Hernýn Cortýs fight their way out of Tenochtitlýn at heavy cost. Known to the Spanish as La Noche Triste, or "the Night of Sadness," many soldiers drowned in Lake Texcoco when the ves- sel carrying them and Aztec treasures hoarded by Cortýs sank. Montezuma II, the Aztec emperor who had become merely a subject of Cortýs in the previous year, was also killed during the struggle; JUNE 2004 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 3/21 Editorial Why let one of Greece's important resources go to waste? MARK DRAGOUMIS What Greece must do is to attract her already trained, national accountancy standards to become educated, multi-skilled and multilingual sons and daughters from all fully operational at a glance or for the bank- Excited about the Olympics? I thought not. ing system to be modernised overnight, there However, here is a piece of good news that over the world and allow them to volunteer not just for one summer, is no need for the archaic Greek educational has gone under-reported. It has to do with the not just for the Games but for good system to be changed at short notice so as to volunteers. start producing immediately the right gradu- When the scheme was first disclosed years acquired a foreign nationality should be when other countries are on the move. Take ates for the country to take off. A study of 203 ago, the Athenian chattering classes went into exempt from military service. India, for instance. How on earth did this small and medium-sized firms in Thessaly overdrive. "Greeks do not volunteer," they This columnist knows the case of Nicos P, country manage from being a synonym for conducted by Spyros Vliamos, professor of opined. "They work for money or not at all. born in Leonidion in Arcadia in 1963, who massive poverty to become a fast developing economics at the University of Thessaly, that The whole scheme will flop." There followed became an Australian and would now like to brainy country? When the American colum- was made public on March 13 this year, the usual refrain: "You can't get anything return to his hometown and start a business nist Thomas L Friedman visited Global Edge revealed that of those who started a business done in this country. All the best projects there. This he can't do because the Greek state - a software design firm in Bangalore - the in Thessaly only 25.7 percent were university wobble, stumble and crumble." Well, this one wants this man of over 40 to serve his stint in marketing manager Rajesh Rao told him that graduates. The good professor promised that didn't. An impressive total of over 160,000 the armed forces. There is worse. Greeks born he had just made a cold call to the vice-presi- the University of Thessaly would soon intro- people - of which close to 10 percent are abroad and therefore nationals of foreign dent of an engineering US company trying to duce business courses for students. Fine. In mainly young diaspora Greeks - did apply, countries can only stay in Greece for six drum up business. No sooner had Rao intro- the meantime, what Greece must do is to while for the Sydney Games the applications months in a calendar year. If they prolong duced himself as calling from an Indian soft- attract her already trained, educated, multi- were only 75,665. Out of this large pool, the their stay they will have to be drafted to serve ware firm, than the US executive said to him skilled and multilingual sons and daughters Athens 2004 organisers - who were aiming at for six months (either consecutively or for "Namaste", a common Hindi greeting. The from all over the world and allow them to 130,000-150,000 applications - will be able to two months a year for three years, or three word sounds exactly like "here we are" in col- volunteer not just for one summer, not just for pick out the 60,000 they need to make the months a year for two years). One really won- loquial Greek. The secret of India's success, the Games but for good. Olympics a success. ders what contribution these foreign-born, Friedman says, is to take the best global inno- Instead of protecting artificially obsolete There is more wealth in these numbers than half-trained soldiers could make to a sophisti- vations, styles and practices and weld them jobs to match existing skills (especially in meets the eye. Once the Games are over, cated 'knowledge-based' modern army. Isn't with the country's own culture. He calls the agriculture), Greece should import new skills Greece will have access to tens of thousands time for the minister of defence to relieve process 'glocalisation'. So, "Namaste" in to create new jobs and thus fight unemploy- of CVs of high-calibre youngsters, potential- them of this burden, at virtually no cost to Greece, ready for glocalisation or not quite ment through the market rather than through ly interested in working in Greece. These are Greece's fighting capability, and allow them yet? government fiat. valuable for a country with negligible natural to pay their way out of this conundrum? This The exciting thing is that Greece can glo- Budding entrepreneurs and talented execu- resources and considerable, if dormant, would make it easy for Greeks born in foreign calise without a deep, wide and thorough tives all over the world send Greece their human resources abroad. It is encouraging to lands to come to Greece, if they so choose, overhaul of all its institutions in order to message in Greek: "Namaste." Will Greece see that the Greek ministry of defence knows and stay as long as they want, rediscover their shake off her laggard status in the ambitious welcome them with open arms like a mother that young Greeks should not be barred for roots, work, invest, perchance marry and use Lisbon Programme of the 2000 summit (this, her long lost children or will she direct them long from their country and has recently their skills to the best of their ability and to the if you remember, was the one that pledged to to a sullen recruiting officer standing behind taken steps to allow draft-dodgers to come to benefit of their country. turn the EU into the world's most dynamic her? They would like to know before they Greece for the Olympics. This is fine but it The truth is Greece has a lot of catching up and competitive economy by 2010). As hap- book their tickets... does not go far enough. Greeks who have to do in order to become competitive at a time pened in India, there is no need for the inter- ATHENS NEWS , 21/05/2004

stumbled across his visual language, Thomas Hotels is the major while searching for a means to give chil- Talking dren who could not speak (for whatever sponsor of the Hellenic reason) a means of communicating. Australian Tennis Championships Point Without contacting Mr Bliss, he set about by Ann Coward creating boards containing a number of symbols (these were pre-personal com- puter days). Communicating: not How? The children, some with their hands, but What? some with pointers attached to their heads, learnt to converse and express When you’re at, say, an airport, have themselves by pointing to a series of the you ever stopped to wonder who designed symbols. The behaviour of some of the the symbols on the signs? Some interna- children, before and after being given a tional symbols we now take for granted voice, was documented on film, and made were the brainchild of a man called Mr for very emotional viewing. Bliss, who came to live in Australia fol- Mr Bliss was taken across the sea, to the lowing the Second World War. Americas, to meet the children and to see I only became aware of Mr Bliss after how his symbolic language had changed, viewing a short documentary film on his not only the children’s lives, but also their life and work. Later I had the privilege of families’. Was he satisfied? To a certain visiting him in his house in Sydney’s extent. But he still dreamed of more. Eastern Suburbs. A very kind, energetic Is there any evidence to suggest that a and enthusiastic man, it was hard to imag- shared language might lead to greater ine when in his presence, that his life’s empathy and compassion amongst people work had grown out of an idea that took of the world? Enthusiasts subscribed to form in his mind while imprisoned, his course on Bliss Symbols and bought because he was Jewish, in a concentration his books, but his visual language has camp during the war. never become a main stream option, Mr George Thomas from Thomas Hotels and Mr John Giavis, President of the Hellenic Tennis Mr Bliss believed that language was the although some symbols have been lifted Association key to civilised behaviour. If everyone and used in public shopping malls, air- could speak the same tongue, he rea- ports and so on. Sydney’s Hellenic community celebrated the General for Greece in Sydney, Father Steven soned, they would never think to treat a What drives a man, who has suffered at torch relay last Friday, 4th June 2004 by attend- Scoutas representing His Eminence Archbi- fellow human as anything less than that. the hands of others in wartime, to devote ing the Celebration Lunch at the Novotel Hotel shop Stylianos, and many prominent members So, once settled in a peaceful land far his entire life to creating a system where- in Brighton to raise funds for the Australian of the Hellenic business community. removed from the European battlefields, by he hopes peace will become a reality? Olympic Team Athens Appeal. The auctioning of the Special Edition Athens he set about developing a language of The answer must lie in his ability to never The luncheon was a tremendous success and 2004 vehicle number plates designed by the symbols, called Bliss Symbols. lose sight of each person’s humanity. was attended by dignitaries and members of the RTA proved to be very popular. Years passed and his attempts at pro- Especially of those who were his captors Hellenic community. In attendance were His The first number plate was keenly contested moting the Bliss Symbols met with only and tormentors. Even though they had Excellency Fotios-Jean Xydas the Ambassador and George Thomas from Thomas Hotels was slight success. That is, until a person themselves. for Greece, Mr Ioannis Raptakis the Consul the lucky recipient bidding $55,000. JUNE 2004 4/22 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA

Ordination of Fr Emmanuel Stamatiou On Saturday, 22nd May 2004, the faithful of Theoklitos Tsahuridis, who supported and Perth witnessed the Ordination of Deacon prepared him for the Priesthood leading to his Emmanuel Stamatiou to the Priesthood at the Ordination as a Deacon on 25th May 1996. Church of the Annunciation of Our Lady As a deacon Father Emmanuel assisted the 'Evangelismos' in West Perth. Church in catechizing young people and The Ordination was conducted by His Grace adults into the faith and officiated in the ser- Bishop Ezekiel of Dervis who expressed great vices of the Church initially at the Church of joy at being able to officiate at the Service the Annunciation and later at Saints Constan- since he recalled Deacon Emmanuel's calling tine and Helena in Northbridge, Perth. to the Church from the time when he was both Under the direction of Father Theoklitos, a priest then Bishop in Perth between 1975 Father Emmanuel has become involved in and 1979. guiding young people towards God. He has In his Episcopal address Bishop Ezekiel conducted weekly Bible instruction to young warm-heartedly recalled his involvement in people and is actively involved in the Arch- without whose help his calling may have not as well as a small memento of this important the spiritual development of Father diocesan 'Central Youth Committee', 'The been realized at this time. day in his life. Emmanuel. Forty Holy Martyrs', in Western Australia The service of Ordination was unique in that The new Priest has the support of the Greek The newly-ordained Father Emmanuel, As Priest, he brings significant life skills and for the first time an Australian-born Greek community which acknowledges his devotion through His Grace, thanked His Eminence experience, especially in the fields of coun- was ordained in Western Australia. Father to his calling by giving up a senior position of Archbishop Stylianos for his love, patience selling and drug and alcohol rehabilitation. In Emmanuel's family has been involved in the employment with the West Australian public and kindness in allowing him to continue as a 2000 Father Emmanuel took leave from the building of the church where he was ordained. service to assume the responsibilities of the Deacon whilst remaining in full time employ- Health Department of W.A, to lead and devel- There were some 800 faithful present to wit- priesthood. ment. He also acknowledged with gratitude op the Archdiocesan strategic plan for alcohol ness his Ordination and it was uplifting to hear He is much appreciated by the youth, the the disappointment expressed by His Emi- and drug services in the Church's ProviCare all the voices in unison shout 'Axios' (Wor- elderly and those seeking comfort, and is a nence at not being able to attend his Ordina- Foundation. thy)! welcome addition to the clergy of the Arch- tion personally due to ill health. As a family man himself he paid special trib- Following the service Father Emmanuel's diocese in Western Australia. May he always During his address Father Emmanuel paid ute to the support and sacrifice of his wife family presented refreshments for the people be worthy! special tribute to his spiritual father, Father (diakonissa) and family to his new ministry Dr Diona Damian’s skin cancer research attracts international attention Dr Diona Damian is an outstanding medical scientist, dermatologist and member of the Greek community. She is renowned for her groundbreaking research work which is giving many new insights into the effectiveness of sunscreens in the prevention of skin cancer. Her work has attracted considerable international attention and she has been asked to speak on her research at no less than fifteen skin cancer conferences both here and overseas. Australia has the world’s highest incidence of skin cancer. More than 50% of all Australians will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime, and this figure is projected to rise even further as ozone levels fall and the intensity of our sunlight increases. Australia also has the highest incidence of melanoma, with the lifetime risk of melanoma estimated to be one in 30 in New South Wales, and as high as one in 16 in north Queensland. Dr Diona Damian The skin’s immune system is an important defence against skin cancers, but exposure to and research. even low-dose ultraviolet radiation suppresses Her continuing research aims to determine skin immunity. the effects of different ultraviolet wavelengths Studying the effect of UV radiation on the on the skin’s immune system, so that we can skin, Dr Damian has developed methodology better understand how skin cancers develop, for measuring sunscreen immune protection how we can better protect ourselves from the factors in human subjects. sun and how to facilitate development of sun- Using this technique, sunscreens were found screens offering better protection against to provide only half as much protection against immunosuppression and skin cancer. immunosuppression as they did against sun- Funding from Cure Cancer Australia Foun- burn. dation in 2003 enabled Dr Damian to start this Dr Damian is a medical graduate of Sydney four-year project, which has now received University. After three years of general med- funding from the National Health and Medical ical residency at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Research Council for the next three years. she undertook her doctorate at Sydney Univer- Next time you go to the beach, your sun- sity’s Department of Dermatology, where she screen may well not give you the best protec- investigated the effects of sunlight and sun- tion from skin cancer, so take Dr Damian’s screens on the skin’s immune responses. advice: “avoiding the sun and wearing the Dr Damian then completed specialist derma- appropriate clothing are the best means of pro- tology training and returned to Sydney Univer- tection, although sunscreens do have an impor- sity in 2002 as Senior Lecturer in Dermatol- tant role to play particularly for areas where 114731 ogy, combining clinical work with teaching covering up is not practical”. JUNE 2004 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 5/23 Our Primate’s View

In our previous article we (horizontally) but also amongst those ‘in that this mistaken impression is support- analysed the dual function which the heaven’ (descendingly). ed by the fact that they see the unin- Doctrines and the Canons of the Only in this context can the formed crowds following them ‘mes- Church have for the entire People of unity of the Church be viewed as being merized’ and ‘weeping’. And one asks: God since they both oblige and guide beyond time and beyond the world, Do not the thronging multitudes react in towards Faith and Action. We had also whilst lived as an unfading continuity. exactly the same manner, ‘as sheep stressed that sacred Worship, as a third And it is well known that even the without a Shepherd’, when viewing protective factor, summarizes and ener- Protestants in the World Council of movies or theatrical performances that gizes the Doctrines and Canons, sancti- Churches, strongly influenced by the have been chanced from time to time, fying them through prayer and the Holy expositions of authentic Orthodox the- especially in the West, out of clearly Sacraments. ologians with whom they have collabo- profiteering motives by the show busi- As a result, the ‘offering’of rated for whole decades, have been con- ness merchants of everything sacred and divine Worship ‘for all things and in all vinced to speak about the unity of the holy? things’, precisely because of this gener- Church as ‘catholicity in space’ and Let us recall the recent film ality and catholicity, becomes the most ‘catholicity in time’. ‘The Passion of Christ’ by the Australian active, the direct and continuously expe- Following the above, it is producer Mel Gibson which of course rienced unassailable ‘protection’ of the incomprehensible how the Church of did not provoke only the Jewish people. faithful. Greece, especially in recent years, has Even more so, for different reasons, it By Archbishop Consequently, as heretical and risked blatant and most impious innova- raised the objections of many pious Stylianos forbidden as it would be for one to tions in the sphere of Worship which are Christians. of Australia ‘improvise’ in the sphere of the Doc- in stark contradiction to the meaning of For the Orthodox especially, the trines and the Holy Canons, in absentia unity and continuity of the Orthodox ‘Engomia’ hymns chanted each year by of the formal opinion of the Church, it is equally heretical and indeed sacrile- gious to experiment without theological soundness and reverence in the area THE SALVIFIC of sacred Worship. This, after all, is the reason why the main body of the Divine AND BINDING CHARACTER Liturgy and the Services of the Holy Sacraments was constituted very early. OF ORTHODOX WORSHIP Furthermore, the ‘format’, the Schema, of public prayer in the Church was con- solidated with regard not only to the through the ages. the prayerful congregations of the faith- language and the texts, but also to the By this of course we do not ful during the ‘Burial Lamentations’ melody as well as the Order of Ser- refer merely to the vestments and the are absolutely didactic within the purely vices and the mode of movements and opulence of the Clergy in general, espe- ecclesiastical climate and programme of gestures (typikon), into sacerdotal cially that of the Hierarchs, during the divine Worship. forms enriched by antiquity. Divine Liturgy! More specifically we In other words, it is not just the Here we should recall of course refer to the tasteless and altogether theological ‘singularity’ of the Sacrifice that all these external and ‘material’ ele- needless addition of supposed ‘Cere- on the Cross which prohibits whatsoev- ments of Worship, though visible – yet monies’ and ‘Services’ which in no way er ‘re-enactment’ or ‘imitation’. Equal- transmitting to us invisible grace – are express but rather radically offend the ly it is prohibited by the express ‘aston- not, however, ‘magical’ means directing holiness and sanctifying power of ishment’, even of the angels, as to how us to some idolatrous ceremonialism. Orthodox Worship. ‘the Life was laid in the tomb’. Despite this, the very manner in which A very recent and most charac- Of course these worshipful and they have been structured so ‘prudent- teristic example is the ‘ceremony’ per- hymnological ‘coordinates’ of the ly and orderly’, that they might express formed on the hill next to the Holy Church express the characteristically in a God-pleasing way the genuine Monastery of Penteli in Athens and wit- Orthodox faith and teaching that the all- phronema of the prayerful ‘Eucharistic nessed by Greeks everywhere on televi- holy Body of the God-Man Christ did Community’, does not allow for any sion. not experience ‘corruption’ during His change or addition that might do an Three large Crosses, with three experience of death. injustice to the spirit and the sacredness large Crucified Bodies. And the Prelate In closing with much anguish of Worship. of the Church of Greece surrounded by the above dutiful denouncements – The fact that for many centuries other Clergy, ‘taking down’ the Cruci- whose deeper injurious effect on the lay the whole body of the Church through- fied Christ – as if in Worship – and in masses should not have preoccupied out the universe unceasingly wor- continuation literally ‘parading’ Him only the courageously theologizing Pro- shipped ‘the God of our Fathers’ with western ‘brass bands’ playing fessor Christos Yiannaras, although not through the same ‘forms’ with homolo- mournful worldly marches and ‘fan- part of a Theological Faculty (!), - we gous and identical phrasal means, was fare’, as if conducting the funeral of a call upon the Theological Schools of not simply a matter of external disci- mere mortal! Greece, at least, to assume their respon- pline or of superficially mimical unifor- And of course we cannot rule sibilities at last with relevant ‘resolu- mity. It was and remains primarily an out that these theologically-deficient tions’ pertaining to the above. By God’s issue of the deepest conviction and fun- Clergymen participating in such a ‘the- grace we are not lacking in distinguished damental faithfulness to the uniqueness atrical’ undertaking are under the naïve scholars of Liturgics, not the least of of the Church. And this uniqueness is misapprehension that in this way they whom is the prominent, recently retired understood as ‘unison’ and ‘consensus’, are rendering the Holy Passion of Christ and internationally recognized Mr Ioan- not only amongst its earthly members ‘more alive’! It also cannot be ruled out nis Fountoulis. JUNE 2004 6/24 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA

DID YOU KNOW? In 1955 the richest woman in the world was Mrs Hetty Green Wilks, who left an estate of $95 million in a will that was found in a tin box with four pieces of soap.

organisers and above all else the security aspects of successful business people and Comment by Sam Saltis aspects. One can only imagine how the organ- successful teams. Reading through his [email protected] ising committee is dealing with the scale and thoughts, they may seem obvious but how HACCI complexity of hosting the Olympics and the many of us actually follow these simple Standing in the crowd on Saturday, watch- pressure to ensure the 17 days in August are a ideas? ing the flame being carried around the streets success. Finally we ask Con Saris to provide some of Melbourne was a moving experience. It’s As business owners we deal with similar insight from the eyes of the Managing Direc- Business amazing how I find myself being carried away pressures obviously not to the scale as the tor of a leading Food manufacturing compa- by the significance of the flame and the Olympic committee does in our everyday ny. Olympic games. As the days to the Olympics business. This month I have asked Nick Remember to give us your feedback at Bulletin draw closer, there is considerable media inter- Ikonomou, a business coach with Action www.hacci.com.au est in Athens, the games, the readiness of the International to give us some insights into 10 Reasons Why People in Business are Successful Getting of Wisdom Con Saris is the Managing Director of Black Nick Ikonomou CPA poppy syndrome, you need to do your ber, why engage in other people’s situa- Swan/Poseidon Dips Business Coach homework and ask people about their suc- tions when yours is different. You have Action International cess. They are more than willing to tell different expectations, experiences, finan- What I know about: [email protected] you because if they initiated the conversa- cial and personal needs. Why live it tion, that might have been construed as through other people’s lives? Dips 1. They are willing to learn. The greatest gloating. Look for a business coach and/or 7. They follow their dream. It’s one That they are the best option for entertaining espe- learners become the best teachers. Never a mentor. thing to have a dream, but to stick to it is cially when served with a good glass of wine. If they ending improvement, as the Kaizen prin- 4. They are great networkers. Success- the most important part of achieving the taste great, use only fresh ingredients without preser- ciple insists, should be an individual’s pri- ful people go out of their way and meet as dream. It is said that the journey is far vatives. They too have a chance at market leadership. mary goal in life. The only failure in life is many people as they can because they more exciting than the final achievement, Good Food the failure to participate. There are no know that the more people they know, the so, choose to have an exciting life. From my weight you can tell I’m an expert! Price is right or wrong ways of doing things, each more opportunities come their way. Stay- 8. They are great communicators. The not always indicative of quality and we need not look providing a result that can be assessed and ing in your business or at home most of best tool to master is to have great com- further than Melbourne for excellent dining choices. worked on from the learning that the out- the time produces little results. munication skills. Honest, straight for- Peoples Taste come provides. This perfectly fits in with 5. They have a dream. These people are ward communication totally outweighs The trend is smaller servings, better quality and fewer the following success factor. the greatest dreamers. They have strong fancy use of the language which also can calories. Tell that to my mum please. 2. They take action. I have never seen beliefs that one day they will achieve what have another name for it. Study personal- TV Commercials anyone being successful by doing noth- seems impossible to most. The law of ity profiles and the way people process If you haven’t got a big budget and want to be ing. By default, doing something has to be attraction means that you shall receive information and the results of improved noticed, then humour and a little controversy is the a move forward. Doing a lot means that what you crave for if the craving feeds communication will reap you many key. However. be prepared for ‘Black Thong’ type the law of averages will ensure that suc- itself with all the other attributes of suc- rewards over and over with a win/win out- comments wherever you go. cess falls your way. 95% of the population cess. come in most cases. Children “can’t be bothered”. To jump into the 5% 6. They don’t allow dream takers inter- 9. They are willing to share their They are the best thing that has happened to me but of the population who are successful isn’t fere with their dreams. The most dan- knowledge. The best way to remember please don’t ask for additional details as I’m having hard. It’s just a genuine decision to do gerous people in your life can also be the the best parts of your success are to ver- an argument with both of them today. something and persevere. Successful peo- people you hold most dear to yourself. balise them or write them down. Share it Soccer ple work on improving their time man- These can be some family members, with those who ask. It is the most entertaining sport in the world with the agement by learning how time works and friends, neighbours and business col- 10. They have a balanced life. Working highest number of supporters. It is very professional- what it means to you. leagues. Respect the opinions of those too hard in any one area creates imbal- ly run worldwide with the exception of Soccer Aus- 3. They mix with the right people. You who are successful in their own right. ance. Work out what you like the most tralia and some Greek operated clubs. can mix with the right people and you can Otherwise, you will receive pretty much and bring them into your life as you go. Greek community mix with wrong people. The choice is the same as what those dream takers are There are many tools available to assess Hardworking, generous and compassionate. Howev- yours. You either fall into those groups or experiencing. Most of all, respect your the “perfect you”. er many of us are stuck in the 1960’s and it’s up to the you seek them. Because successful people own intuition. Most of the time it’s the youth to bring us into the present. don’t gloat because of the Australian tall right decision for you anyway. Remem-

2. Common Goal 4. Action Plan Six Keys to Building Teams need to understand what their common goal is and it Another key element for a winning team is a strong Action needs to supersede all individual goals. Sports teams often pro- plan. While the common goal identifies what they want to do, Winning Teams vide an excellent example of this concept. If the team under- the Action plan identifies how they will do it. A good Action 1. Strong Leadership stands that their common goal is to win a championship, then it plan will assign ownership of tasks, identify what resources are One of the important goals of strong leadership is to maximise will be easier for all team members to focus and concentrate on required, when tasks should be completed and detail the current the “discretionary effort” that team members provide to meet the team goal. If one or more team members are focused on status of the task. team or company goals. This is the extra effort people can pro- individual goals, such as winning the scoring title, the perfor- 5. Support Risk Taking vide, if they want to. We often see employees and team mem- mance of the entire team can be affected. Business is all about risk and reward. In order to grow as a team bers who will do just what they have to in order to get by. On Business is similar in this respect. If the salesperson is just and therefore grow as a business, a leader must be willing to the other hand we have all seen (or been) those team members focused on bringing in orders, regardless of the cost to produce support prudent risk taking by the team. The team’s responsi- who will go to extraordinary ends to get the job done. and ship that order, because that is what drives their commis- bility is to analyse and clearly identify the risk/reward relation- In his best selling business book, Good to Great, author Jim sion, the common goal of maximising profit will be at risk. ship, along with a plan to mitigate the risk wherever possible. Collins identified that top performing organisations have com- As people do what they are recognised and rewarded for, it is If the risk/reward relationship is viable, the leader’s role is to mon leadership elements that allow them to tap into this wealth critical that the recognition and reward structure for teams are ensure the team’s analysis and assumptions are valid, and do of discretionary effort. consistent with the common goal they are working towards. whatever possible to make sure they have the time and The first, and perhaps most important, is that the organisations 3. Rules of the Game resources to succeed. all benefited from what Jim calls “Level 5 leadership”. While Teams also need to understand the rules that govern the way these leaders have the ability to engage and motivate their you conduct business. This would include defining company 6. 100% Involvement & Inclusion teams to pursue a clear and compelling vision and generate culture and values as well as ensuring that individual roles and Most likely we have all participated on either work or sports higher performance, they also demonstrate a unique blend of responsibilities are defined. At Action we have 14 Points of teams where the whole team was not involved or included. It personal humility and professional will. While Level 5 leaders Culture that define our rules of the game, and when a new may have been that certain members gave less than a 100% have significant ambition, their ambition is first and foremost coach joins the organisation they can get up to speed very effort or the talents of all team members were not utilised for their teams and organisation rather than for their own per- quickly in terms of how they need to interact and conduct them- appropriately. This handicaps a team’s performance and makes sonal goals. selves, both externally with clients and internally with fellow it difficult, if not impossible to truly create a winning team. These top leaders also utilised “the window and the mirror” coaches and management. A winning team is dependent upon all members understand- concept to both protect and energise their teams. When things It is important to ensure not only that you have the right peo- ing their goal, their role and performing it to the best of their were going well, the Level 5 leader would look out the “win- ple on the team, but that you also have them in the right roles. ability within the rules of the game. It is also dependent upon dow” and credit their team for the success, while when things As Jim Collins observed in his book “Good to Great” the right the leader’s ability to tap into the wealth of discretionary effort were going poorly they would look in the “mirror” and take the people will be more self-motivated by their inner drive to pro- that is available as well as providing the support and the responsibility for poor performance. duce the best results and to be part of creating something great. resources the team needs to succeed. JUNE 2004 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 7/25

DID YOU KNOW? During a total solar eclipse the tem- perature can drop by 6 degrees Cel- Facts & Stats sius (about 20 degrees Fahrenheit). Aust consumer expectations of inflation ease in May Consumer expectations of inflation in the quarter CPI outcome, the annual inflation rate Justin Smirk said. in the housing market, as well as the ongoing coming year eased in May after a surpris- has been falling in recent quarters.” “The May result is consistent with the slight- effects of the sharp rise in the value of the Aus- ingly large rise in April, a new survey has Australia’s consumer price index (CPI) rose ly higher consumer sentiment result and robust tralian dollar in 2003, are presently alleviating shown. 0.9 per cent in the March quarter, the Aus- consumer demand.” pressure for a further tightening in monetary However high oil and other commodity tralian Bureau of Statistics said. Consumer sentiment rose by a modest 0.3 policy,” the Melbourne Institute said. prices and the eventual unwinding of the A separate Westpac-Melbourne Institute per cent this month. “However, risks to inflation beyond the effects of the Australian dollar’s rapid appreci- report released recently also showed con- Meanwhile, the inflationary expectations short term remain, notably from high oil and ation last year posed a risk to inflation beyond sumers were this month at their most opti- survey showed the proportion of respondents other commodity prices and the eventual the short term, the Melbourne Institute said. mistic in 15 years about employment who believed prices would actually fall or stay unwinding of the effects of currency apprecia- Its latest survey found consumer inflation- prospects. the same fell this month and was lower than at tion; the fall in the value of the Australian dol- ary expectations fell slightly to 4.4 per cent in Unemployment expectations fell by 7.4 per any time in the past year. lar since its mid-February peak highlights May, following a sharp increase to 4.6 per cent cent in May following a 0.6 per cent drop in It also found 26 per cent of respondents this.” in April. April, the most optimistic report since Decem- expected annual inflation to fall within the The survey found the mean expected annu- “The easing in inflationary expectations in ber 1999. Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) target al hourly wage change for all occupations fell May follows a surprisingly large increase in “The index is 18.3 per cent below its level band of two to three per cent, more than two by a significant 1.0 percentage point to 3.0 per April, and in this sense is not unexpected,” the of a year ago and is consistent with the solid percentage points higher than the average of cent in May, following a rise of the same mag- Melbourne Institute said. improvement we have seen in full-time the previous six months. nitude in April. “Despite the higher than expected March employment,” Westpac senior economist “Evidence of a slowing in credit growth and AAP Consumers still happily Australian average wage rises buying new cars: economists 5.3 per cent in year to February The average annual wage has risen 5.3 per home $37,423 a year, or $720 a week. Australian consumers were still happy to on, it has just been a very strong sector,” Mr cent in the past year to top $49,000, new fig- The figures also show wages are easily be spending money on new cars, economists Walters said. ures show. The Australian Bureau of Statis- outpacing inflation, with prices of consumer said last month, despite a fall off in sales in “Consumers are still confident... consumer tics said average weekly earnings, excluding goods rising just two per cent over the same April. confidence numbers are still pretty close to 10- overtime and bonuses, rose 1.2 per cent to period. And they confirm the salary gap The Australian Bureau of Statistics report- year highs. $949 in the three months to February, $49 between male and female workers. Full-time ed new motor vehicle sales fell 1.9 per cent, “I think households have never really had it more than the same time last year. female workers earned $152 less than their seasonally adjusted, to 77,699 units in April, so good, with house prices up, job market This translates to annual earnings of male colleagues, at $850 a week compared from an downwardly revised 79,213 units in strong, and interest rates low.” $49,348, from $46,815 last year. Full-time to $1,002. March. Mr Walters said despite the fall in April, the total earnings, including overtime and In the past year, earnings for employees in However, over the year to March a record vehicle sales figures met expectations and bonuses, rose 5.7 per cent over the year to finance and insurance increased by 9.1 per number of cars have been sold, CommSec were still very strong. $996.20 a week, or $51,800 a year. The cent while cultural and recreational services chief equities economist Craig James said. “Vehicle sales have had a very good run increases take total earnings to just $200 fell 0.1 per cent. Private sector workers over- JP Morgan Australia economist Stephen over the previous six months,” he said. below the cut-off point for the second high- took their public sector colleagues in terms Walters said consumers had been very happy “It is pretty clear it has been a fairly strong est tax rate, which jumps from 30 cents in of wage rises, with ordinary time earnings to buy new cars, despite the fall in April, sector of the economy (and) today’s fall does- the dollar to 42 cents at $52,001. rising 1.3 per cent in the quarter and 5.4 per thanks to low interest rates, very strong jobs n’t really change that.” The changes announced in the last Budget cent over the year. The earnings of public growth, and tax cuts. Mr Walters said the only negative impact will lift the threshold to $58,000 next finan- servants rose 0.8 per cent in the quarter and He said consumers were still spending likely to affect consumer spending going for- cial year, in line with the government’s aim 4.8 per cent over the year. But the average money on cars, and while they fell last month, ward was rising oil prices and the depreciation of keeping 80 per cent of workers in the 30 public sector wage of $1,037 a week was it had been a very big run up prior to that. of the Australian dollar. cent tax bracket. still higher than the private sector equivalent “There has been a lot of discounting going AAP After tax, a worker on average wages takes of $923.70. AAP AEU calls for $1.15bln education funding injection The Australian Education Union (AEU) “We think that it’s quite clear that the current urged state and federal governments to federal government doesn’t value public inject more than $1.15 billion into public schools in the way that I think the majority of schools. the electorate thinks it should. The AEU also wants university students to “We are saying partly as a result of this lack be offered incentives to lure them into teaching of funding we are in a situation where there are courses, class sizes to be cut to 20 students, some areas within the public system that need homework centres set up and more TAFE significant amounts of funds injected to ... places. make sure we get some parts of our population The calls came as the AEU launched its not in fact falling behind.” Charter for Public Education to mark Public To address teacher shortages the charter sug- Education Day. gests university students be offered incentives, The charter sets out a blueprint the AEU such as having their HECS fees paid in second says will reverse old policies which have cre- and third year, to entice them into teaching ated a two-tiered, user-pays education system. courses. AEU president Pat Byrne said $430 million According to government statistics, Austra- was needed to provide universal access to lia will face a shortage of up to 30,000 teach- preschools, $222 million for an extra 4,500 ers by 2010. teachers to reduce class sizes and $400 million The charter also calls for an extra 40,000 for TAFE. places for preschools so all young children Another $50 million was needed for disci- have access to a minimum of 10 hours a week pline and student well-being programs and there and $1.2 billion for TAFE over three $50 million to educate teachers about indige- years to cater for the growing demand for nous cultural issues. courses. (02) “Clearly this relates directly to the fact that Ms Byrne said the AEU would be cam- the federal government ... only directs one paigning strongly on public education funding third of its Budget towards public schools,” ahead of the federal election. Ms Byrne told reporters. AAP JUNE 2004 8/26 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA Windows to Orthodoxy THE HUMAN PERSON - CROWN OF GOD’S CREATION

The Christian tradition claims that the human person is the into an image of God. The teaching would be that the eternal spiritual that is first, but the physical, and crown of all creation, created “in the image and according to will of God was that the human race be united to Him and it is then the spiritual. The first man was from the likeness of God” (Gen 1:26)1 to be God’s special creature. for this reason that the incarnation was necessary with or with- the earth, a man of dust; the second man is The human person is more than simply flesh and blood; more out the fall. Even without the fall, human persons, which Scrip- from heaven. As was the man of dust, so are than a compound of complex substances and more than a com- ture calls ‘the body of Christ’ lacked a ‘head’ who is Christ those who are of the dust; and as is the man plex system of obsessions; rather the human person is a special since Christ is the head of the body. Therefore in Christ all of of heaven, so are those are of heaven. Just as creature whom God knows more intimately than human beings humankind is completed. we have borne the image of the man of dust, know themselves (cf Jer 1:5), “created in the image and like- we will also bear the image of the man of ness of God”. Every human person is an icon or epiphany of The Meaning of the Image heaven” (1 Cor 15:45-49). God. As images of God, human persons are called in their own Since the teaching is that the human person is created in the According to the above passage it is very clear that the cre- unique way, to become, by God’s grace, power, will, energies image of Christ and Christ is inexhaustible since He is the Son ation of the world was for no other reason than for the human and love everything that He is by nature. Created in the image of God with the exactly same supraessential divinity as His person to become like Christ – that is to grow from simply and according to the likeness of God means that human nature Father, then it follows that the image of Christ in human beings being an image of Adam and become an image of Christ. It is reflects in a created manner the divine attributes or qualities of is also incomprehensible.6 A question which justifiably arises is this Christlike form, which completes human beings and there- God and as such expresses them in a creaturely way. The deep- what part of the human person is in God’s image. What is actu- fore it is growing and orienting themselves towards Christ that est element of what it means to be a human person is God Him- ally signified by the image of God?7 There are at least three persons find their true existence. self.2 Therefore the human person has been endowed with facets of the human person which relate directly to God’s It was this dynamism and growth which led some fathers in capabilities, such as a mind, will, freedom, and even a body to image and it is to these that we now turn. the early Church to distinguish between image and likeness live, imitate, resemble, within the conditions of creaturely exis- even though it is believed by Biblical scholars that no such dis- tence, a divine life. Relational Beings tinction is intended in the Genesis account. St Irenaeus, who To image God implies to become by God’s grace, everything To be created in the image of God implies, first and foremost was the first to make this distinction wrote that imperfect that God is by nature. And since God is all-wise, compassion- that human persons are relational beings. If God is a relation- beings have the image but not the likeness.8 It came to be ate, affirming, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast mercy and al being then the human person is likewise relational. Human believed that the ‘image’ refereed to God’s gift of His qualities love, kind, desiring union with all creatures, then it follows that beings can only exist to the extent that they relate with others through His will to humankind, while the ‘likeness’ was the the human person is also called to share and live out these qual- in a loving way. The ‘other’ in this case without whom human postulate or goal towards which human beings must strive. ities of God in a creaturely way. In fact the human person is persons cannot find their true self is primarily God but it also Whilst the former is God’s initial endowment to all human called even to share in those qualities of God which include includes other human beings. Therefore we would say that this beings without discretion the latter is the purpose or the goal of incorruptibility and life eternal. It must be said that the way relational dimension of being created in the image of God becoming Christ-like. Regarding this distinction, Origen (d. ca God lives out these qualities cannot be known because God’s implies both vertical and horizontal relationships. It could be 254AD) explicitly stated: essence is beyond comprehension. Yet when God manifests said that to be a human being implies saying: “I need you in “Human beings received the honour of the Himself to us through His activities as they are revealed by His order to become myself.” Descartes, the great philosopher was image at their first creation, but the full per- Son and Holy Spirit we know that He is good, loving etc and partly right when he affirmed, ‘cogito ergo sum’(I know there- fection of God’s likeness will be conferred therefore human persons, created in His image must reflect fore I am); however it is also vital to affirm, ‘amo ergo sum’ (I upon them only at the consummation of all these qualities as well. Whether human persons know it or not, love therefore I am) since this is who God is after whose image things.”9 or even accept it, they are all created in God’s image and the entire human race has been created. Human beings are not Many fathers of the early Church underline this distinction according to His likeness. Therefore the Christian Orthodox called to be individuals competing with one another; rather, by suggesting that the creation of the first human beings prior tradition would claim that the ineffable essence of God is made persons working together with others. The whole purpose of to the fall was indeed very good but not perfect. Like small accessible to human persons by the uncreated energies which life is to develop from this false sense of security in believing children, simple and innocent, they had to grow to perfection. flow from the three persons of the Holy Trinity by the very fact we are fulfilled as individuals to becoming relational loving St Irenaeus for example highlights that Adam: that as relational or personal beings, human persons can relate persons. Human persons are completed to the extent that they “was but small, for he was a child; and it to God on a personal level. It follows therefore that there can love – that is give up their will for the sake of the other. And in was necessary that he should grow and so be no definition of who a person is apart from divine being, for doing this they are not annihilated but are rather initiated into a come to his perfection.”10 the divine is the determining factor in a human person’s life. world entirely different – a world as seen through the eyes of Viewed in this way, Adam and Eve were given the opportu- that other person leading to an enrichment. nity for progress, so that by becoming mature they could Human Beings – in the image of Christ become god-like and ascend to heaven. Such is the implication The Scriptures unveil that the image of God after which all Dynamism and Growth of the distinction between image and likeness in the human per- human persons are created is Jesus Christ. Since God is holy Furthermore, created in the image of God means that human son. The fathers of the Church teach that human persons have and therefore completely different from anything in creation, it persons have the potential for growth and maturity in all continually before them limitless possibilities yet unrealised is only in the light of Jesus Christ, who is the perfect and uncre- aspects of their life – knowledge, feelings etc including growth and even in the life to come they will endlessly grow towards ated image of God that one can learn what it means to be cre- towards Christ-likeness. In his letter to the Corinthians, St Paul unending perfection. Human persons must continue to become ated in the image and likeness of God. According to Christian is very clear on the dynamic character of the human person cre- more aware and more conscious of the world around, through theology Jesus Christ is the uncreated perfect image of God and ated in the image of the Son of God: their powers of reason, introspection, and intuitive insight. therefore bearing the image of God, means that the human per- “Thus it is written, “The first man, Adam, And the more human beings learn to appreciate the beauty of son is to become Christ-like.3 Therefore to image God simply became a living being”; the last Adam the world and how it functions the more this will lead them to means to be like Christ or to imitate4 Christ. This is made clear became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the in St Paul’s letter to the Colossians: “He [Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers – Questions & Answers all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the Would you call a person that does not go to “Till I come, attend to the public reading scripture, to preach- head of the body, the church; he is the Church a non-believer? ing, to teaching” (1 Timothy 4:12-13), that is, to the public beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so Q worship of the Church. that he might come to have first place in A good question! I suppose the way to go about It seems to me, since you asked me my own opinion, that everything. For in him all the fullness of answering your question is to first ask what it means “believers” who never attend Church really don’t show evi- God was pleased to dwell” (Cor 1:15-19) A to be a “believer.” A minimal kind of response would dence of that belief, and in fact, act precisely as do the non- This passage shows the significance of Christ for an under- be that a believer is someone who identifies himself believers. People who claim to be Christians should behave in standing of the human person. That is to say, in order to under- as a Christian, and who would be offended if you ways that witness to their belief. Going to Church regularly is stand what it means to be human one must attain “the measure call him or her a “non-believer.” The “belief” of such a person, one of them. of the full stature of Christ” (Eph 4:13). If Christ is in the however, is certainly very weak, and probably not worth too *** image of God and human persons are in the image of Christ much, though only God can judge that. But we are challenged From the Orthodox Church: 455 Questions and Answers, then it can be said that humanity is in the image of the Image. by the New Testament itself: “You believe that God is one; you by Stanley S. Harakas, published by Light and Life. For this reason some fathers carried this Pauline line of thought do well. Even the demons believe - and shudder” (James 2:19). If you have any questions about the Orthodox faith further in stating that Christ is the direct image of God but that The point is that “faith apart from works is barren” (James which you would like answered in the VEMA, send 5 human beings are in the image. Clearly the human person is 2:20). True faith is when the “love of Christ controls us” (2 them to Vema -Q.&A., christological in structure. Therefore united to Christ, the essen- Corinthians 5:1 5). Thus, when St. Paul wrote to his disciple P.O.Box M59 Marrickville South, tial gulf between humanity and divinity is bridged and it is in Timothy, whom he had ordained to become a Bishop of the NSW 2204 Christ that persons find their true fulfilment and destiny. Unit- Church, he said to him “...set the believers an example in or e-mail them to: ed to Christ human persons become capable of being raised up speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” And he added, [email protected] JUNE 2004 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 9/27 Windows to Orthodoxy

Cont. from previous page that is fashioned according could be argued that a three-fold division of the human pendent of the parents and is united to the body of the to the image.”17 person’s nature results when the double aspect of a per- newborn according to natural laws of nature. The danger son’s spiritual aspect is further divided into ‘soul’ and spir- of this latter theory was that it lead to determinism there- a sense of fascination, awe and gratitude to Therefore, faithful to the Scriptures the Chris- it’ where the ‘soul’ refers to the natural and vital aspects of by implicating God for the evil in the world. Coupled with their Creator. tian tradition describes the person as a unity of the human person (a person’s psychological world) and this the Scriptures clearly betray God’s direct intervention both soul and body. In fact Niketas Choniates the ‘spirit’ to the higher aspects (a person’s spiritual life). in the creation of the soul of a person (cf Ps 32:15 “he who Freedom (d.1217) went so far as to say that humankind However fashions the hearts of them all”; Zech 12:1 “Thus says the Lastly, the image is to be seen reflected in can only be thought to be a ‘complete species’ 13 Androutsos rightly noted that “the right doctrine of the Lord, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth human person protests on the one hand against Material- and formed the human spirit within” 2 Macc 7:22 “I do not humanity’s possession of free choice. God is when considered together as body and soul. ism…against the over-emphasised stress of certain spiri- know who you came into being in my womb. It was not I free so human beings, made in His image are “The term human being tualising theories which maintain that the body is a kind of who gave you life and breath”). For this reason Androut- free to choose. “Heaven, sun, moon and applied not to the soul alone mere representation and prison of the soul… The body sos rightly argues that “the right view of the origin of the earth have no free will” state the Macarian or to the body alone, but to does not overshadow the soul, nor imprison the spirit.” soul lies rather in a combination of the theories of cre- (Christos Androutsos, Dogmatics, p.130. ationism and traducianism, so that the human person Homilies of the fourth century, “but you are both of them together; and 14 The soul has its origin from God. The Scriptures do not would be a result of both divine and human activity, and in the image and likeness of God; and this so it is with reference to both speak about the pre-existence of the soul as some within God’s creative power be involved and exercised in the means that, just as God is His own master together that God is said to the Church have argued. This particular theory was con- generation of each individual.” (Androutos, Dogmatics, and can do what He wishes and, if He wish- have created the human demned in the 5th Ecumenical Council. Another theory, 136). es, He can send the righteous to hell and sin- person in his image.”18 known as Tradicianismus believed that the soul comes 16 For example Leontius of Byzantium, a sixth century into existence with the body independent of God; that is monk was of this conviction. ners to the Kingdom, but He does not It is this totality of both soul and body that is directly through the parents just like the branches natural- 17 Against the Heresies, V, vi, 1. choose to do this… so, in like manner, you “according to the image”. In fact St Gregory ly come from the trunk of a tree. The third theory regard- 18 Prosopopeia, (PG 150:1361C). also are your own master and, if your Palamas in the thirteenth century went so far ing the generation of the soul was known as Creationis- choose, you can destroy yourself.”11 There- as to argue that the fact that human beings mus which taught that the soul is generated by God inde- fore, humankind’s vocation, as persons made have a body makes them not lower but higher in God’s image is not to become copies of one than the angels. Therefore for the Patristic tra- another, but through their freedom, to become dition, the dual nature of the human person has The Forty Holy Martyrs - Central Youth Committee (CYC) authentically their own unique image. In the greater potentialities than the angelic. The con- of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese (WA) world to come human persons will not be viction of the Orthodox Christian tradition that asked why they were not like Moses or Paul, human persons have been created for a higher but why they were not themselves. For such a purpose than the ‘bodiless powers’ of heaven glorious vocation have human beings been is affirmed in St Paul’s letter to the Philippians: Tour of the Church destined since they have been created in God’s “so that the name of Jesus image and according to His likeness. That is, every knee should bend, in human persons have been “ordered by God” heaven and on earth and (St Basil the Great) to be all that God is in His under the earth, and every for Youth nature, by grace. Human persons have infinite tongue should confess that possibilities since they are the crown and ful- Jesus Christ is Lord, to the The Central Youth Committee in Perth demonstrated by the enthusiastic answering filment of God’s creation. glory of God the Father” recently held a very successful event. On of quiz questions put by Deacon. (Phil 2.10-11). Saturday 8th May 2004 at 5.00pm, Commit- The evening then adjourned to the Church Human Beings as composite beings From the above we see that human persons, in tee members (aged between 16 to 28) greet- hall, where more spot quiz questions were The Eastern Christian tradition claims that communion with Jesus Christ who was a per- ed around 60 intrepid young Orthodox chil- rewarded with great prizes. Pizza was then the human being is dual – that is a unity con- fect human being, are created for a life superi- dren (aged between 6 to 16) for a tour of the served to the young charges who were enter- sisting of both soul12 and body where one ele- or even to angels. This is also reflected to the Evangelismos Church in West Perth. tained by the awesome new DVD release - ment does not overshadow the other13 nor is in person of the virgin Mary, who after Christ, The tour was conducted by Deacon Looney Tunes. opposition to the other. The Christian tradition was the most perfect human being who is Emmanuel Stamatiou. The significance of The evening was delightful and a credit to affirms that the human person is a psychoso- hailed in the Orthodox Church as “more hon- the different icons and other symbols in our Deacon Emmanuel and the Committee matic unity – one where there is a clear inter- ourable than the Cherubim, incomparably Church were explained. Other aspects such members of the CYC. The incredibly posi- dependence of soul14 and body. For this reason more glorious than the Seraphim.” And that as the importance of Communion, and why tive feedback from the parents and their chil- the body should not be undervalued in favour which Mary has accomplished already is the we do the Sign of the Cross with the first dren alike means another of these Church of the spirit since this would be a deviation into calling which the entire human race still three fingers on our right hand were also dis- Tours will be held in the near future. a kind of angelism where the body is dis- awaits. cussed. missed as little more than a hindrance and an The children were enthralled, which was Helene Athanasiou obstruction – something quite irrelevant to the Philip Kariatlis notion of personhood. This was the teaching of Academic Secretary and Associate Lecturer Origen in the third century which the early St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological Church condemned. Origen believed that orig- College inally human beings were purely spiritual enti- ties gathered around God but finally fell into 1 The theme of ‘image’ was not only used in the story of corruption. Therefore God, he claimed, in Genesis to describe the structure of the human person but it can also be found in Greek philosophy such as Plato, wanting to rescue them, gave them bodies so Stoicism and Neoplatonism. 15 as to gather up their fallen souls. 2 The good news of the Christian message is that once we In contrast to this false teaching, many discover this truth and accept it, then this becomes a fore- fathers of the Church taught that the body and taste of paradise right down here on earth since this is the fulfilment that all human beings are thirsting and hunger- soul cannot exist separately but are necessari- ing for. However if we come to know this truth only to ly linked to each other since this is the way that deny it, then this can become our anxious, worry ridden God willed it to be.16 Following the Holy ‘hell’ right down here on earth. And with this usually Scriptures which affirm the sacredness of the comes a loss of freedom since we become entangled in so body, the early Church taught that the body many compulsions or addictions such as food, power, prestige, pleasure, possession, insatiable greed for status, together with the soul constitute a human per- only to name a few. son. The body is “the temple of the Holy 3 It is Christ who is the perfect image of God. Adam was Spirit” (1 Cor 6:19) through which God is glo- simply the “type of the one who was to come”, namely rified (cf 1 Cor 6:20). St Ireneaus is explicitly Jesus Christ (Rom 5:14). 4 In his letter to the Ephesians, St Paul writes “ Therefore clear on this: be imitators of God, as beloved children” (Eph 5:1) “By the hands of the Father, 5 For example Origen wrote that “the firstborn of all cre- that is, by the Son and the ation is the image of God… and human persons were Spirit, the human person made in the image of God.” Against Celsus 6, 63. (PG 11, was created in the likeness 1393). 6 St Gregory of Nyssa stated this in his treatise entitled On of God. The person was so the Creation of the Humankind 11. (PG 44:153D-156B). created, not just a part of 7 In the following analysis I am indebted to Kallistos the person. Now soul and Ware, ‘“In the Image and Likeness”: The Uniqueness of spirit are certainly part of the Human Person’, Personhood: Orthodox Christianity and Connection between Body, Mind and Soul, ed. John T. the person, but they are not Chirban (Westport, Connecticut: Bergin & Garvey, 1996), the person as such. For the 1-13. complete person consists in 8 Against the Heresies, V, vi, 1. the commingling and union 9 On the First Principles, iii, vi, 1. of the soul that receives the 10 The Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching, 12. 11 Homilies 15, 23. spirit [or breath] of the 12 There has been considerable discussion in the Church Father, together with the regarding whether the nature of the human person is made flesh [or physical nature] up of three elements (body, soul, and spirit) or two. It JUNE 2004 10/28 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA JUNE 2004 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 11/29 PREMIER CARR URGES AUSTRALIANS TO SUPPORT THE ATHENS GAMES The Premier of NSW, Mr Bob Carr from Sydney; it would be great for sport, urged all Australians to throw their full great for the athletes; great for the support behind Athens as it prepares for Greeks to whom we owe so much, and the 2004 Olympics and Paralympics. good for international peace. Delivering a Ministerial Statement to Nothing would please me more than to the NSW Parliament, Mr Carr said there see Athens host the finest and safest was no harder peace-time event to organ- Olympic and Paralympic Games. ise than a modern Olympic and Para- For those tempted to gloat at what might lympic Games. seem to be deficiencies in Athens’ prepa- “The 2004 Athens Olympics will be dif- rations ... ferent from our Games,” Mr Carr said. I say remember the controversies with “But the result will be the same, an ticket sales and opening ceremony prepa- event that will bring great credit to its rations; fears over transport capacity; hosts - the people and the Republic of naysayers talking down our preparations Greece.” at every opportunity; Mr Carr said we should leave the peo- We dared not make predictions of suc- ple of Greece, the Athens organisers and cess. I don’t think anybody expected the the 60,000 Olympic volunteers in no Games to go as superbly well as they did. doubt about Australia’s support for the Mr Speaker, there’s no harder peace- Games. time event to organise than a modern “Hosting the Olympics and Para- Olympics. We’re talking about: lympics is a bold and generous act by the r 38 venues and transport infrastructure Greek Government and people,” Mr Carr costing billions; said. r accommodating 16,000 athletes and “As the Premier of the State whose peo- officials, the biggest representation ever Going for gold: Konstantinos Kenteris ple delivered the ‘best ever’ Games noth- at an Olympic Games; ing would please me more than to see r a public safety effort unprecedented in Athens host the finest and safest Olympic major city, encompassing 45,000 securi- Is Greece Olympic winner? and Paralympic Games,” Mr Carr said. ty personnel against a backdrop of glob- The 2004 Athens Olympics Games will al terrorism. Amazing as it may sound, Greece could be the icing on the cake for Games bene- accommodate some 16,000 athletes and And remember: could win 29 medals and see 4.25 fits. Since 2000 Greece has outperformed officials from 202 nations. r Greece is a country with around half Euroland economy at a time when other coun- Already 1.8 million or 74 per cent of all Australia’s population (11m); percent GDP growth, says a leading tries have had poor results. The Olympics have tickets have been sold to the event, which r with about one-third of our GDP. economic advisor contributed to this growth, said Radcliffe. Low begins in 73 days on August 13. So hosting the games is a bold act by interest rates and joining a single currency mar- Mr Carr reminded those tempted to the Greek Government and people. A ELAINE GREEN ket have played their part in creating the growth gloat at what might seem to be deficien- generous act. An ambitious act. It is time environment, she added. Yet there is no doubt cies in Athens preparations to think back the knocking stopped. If Pricewaterhouse predictions are correct, that the Olympics are a huge factor. Greece is four years ago. It is time we - as previous hosts - threw Greece will come seventh place in the forthcom- predicted by PwC to top the growth league again “We dared not make predictions of our our full support behind Athens. ing Olympic Games, clocking up an amazing 29 this year, reaching 4.25 percent. However, a success,” Mr Carr said. Let’s talk up the positives. medals, outdoing even the UK and Italy. The slowdown after the event is inevitable. PwC pre- “In fact very few expected the Sydney Let’s talk about the 10,500 athletes prediction formed the “fun part” of Pricewater- dict growth will ease to a still respectable 3 per- Games to go as superbly well as they did. from 202 nations ... All striving to be part house Coopers’ (PwC) predictions for Greece cent. “The same predications are now being of one of the 301 medal ceremonies. and its Euroland compatriots, presented by PwC Other Euroland players such as Germany, made of Athens. It is time the knocking Let’s talk about the new heroes of the chief economic advisor, Rosemary Radcliffe, in however are still not out of the woods. Ger- stopped,” Mr Carr said. Olympic movement, the volunteers: Athens on June 2. many’s domestic market remains weak, whereas r all 60,000 of them; According to the predictions, Greece will gain France is picking up. Overall, Euroland grew The Statement r many being trained by NSW TAFE. 16 more medals than at Sydney. On what basis only 0. 4 percent in 2003. This is expected to rise Let’s talk about ticket sales exceeding can such a claim be made? PwC has analysed the to 2.25 percent in 2005, but the recovery from Mr Speaker, in 73 days, the Olympic 1.8 million - that’s 74 percent of all avail- results of the Games since 1998 and has been recession is not as fast as in the US, PwC mantle will be handed from Sydney to able tickets already sold. broadly accurate in its predictions but does stress stressed. Athens as the Games return to their spir- Yes, Mr Speaker, the 2004 Athens it is merely a light-hearted look. Its research The construction industry will be one of the itual home. Olympics will be different from our nonetheless shows that there are a number of key biggest losers when the rush to complete Games As the Premier of the State whose peo- Games. factors determining the slice of the Olympic projects is over. Asked by the Athens News if ple delivered the best ever Olympics and But they will bring great credit to the cake. One of the most significant is the host other national projects will compensate, such as Paralympics ... people and the Republic of Greece. nation. Spain and Australia both gained more motorways scheduled until 2006, Radcliffe said ... I want to say loudly and clearly: Noth- Let’s leave them in no doubt about Aus- medals as a result of hosting. Other factors that PwC had already factored this in and that it ing would give me more pleasure than to tralia’s support, because we’ve been include the size of the population, GDP per capi- would not be enough to prevent a slowdown. see Athens take that “best ever” accolade there before and we know what it’s like. ta and the performance in previous games. However, the legacy of the Games is seen as A Hellenic Olympic Committee source said a long-term compensation for the short-term that this estimate exceeds their own expectations economic slowdown. Both Barcelona and Syd- of some 20 medals. The source questioned the ney found that the attractiveness as a business DIVINE LITURGY validity of the calculations, particularly the num- centre and hub of investment increased as a ber of US medals which are normally around result of the Olympics. Changes in infrastructure SERVICES IN ENGLISH - 2004 IN SYDNEY N.S.W. 100. such as transport systems are expected to have a (Saturday Nights, 6.50 - 8.15) Going for gold: Konstantinos Kenteris lands significant long-term impact on growth. June 5, 12, 19, 26 October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 the Sydney Olympics men’s 200m final. Does Church of St Spyridon, Kingsford Church of Archangel Michael, Crows Greece stand to win or lose from the Olympics? Contributing: John Hadoulis July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Nest Yet if the forecast pans out, such a triumph ATHENS NEWS , 04/06/2004 Church of Arch. Michael, Crows Nest November 6, 13, 20, 27 August 7, 21, 28 Church of All Saints, Belmore Church of Resurrection, Kogarah December 4, 11, 18 September 4, 11, 18, 25 Church of St Euphemia, Bankstown Church of St Stylianos, Gymea

Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest in your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Mathew 11:28-30).

Bankstown: 6-12 East Terrace 02 9709-6908 Blacktown: 47-49 Balmoral Street 02 9621-5311 Belmore: Cnr Isabel &Cecilia Street 02 9789-1659 Crows Nest: 49-59 Holterman Street 02 9436-1957 Gymea: 806-808 The Kingsway 02 9526-6577 Kingsford: 72-76 Gardeners Road 02 9663-5147 Kogarah: 16-20 Belgrave Street 02 9529-5049 Redfern: 242 Cleveland Street 02 9698-5066 JUNE 2004 12/30 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA

Where’s the best baklava? Where else but Queensland! By Ann Coward Only 750 copies were printed initially, many (Dimitrakaki) suggested cooking classes of them pre-ordered, and it proved such a suc- should be held in the parish hall’s facilities. In November, 2003, the Greek Orthodox cess that another edition was made available in This was in response to a need expressed by Southside Parish Ladies Auxiliary in Brisbane November of the same year. This second edi- young women wanting to learn traditional reprinted their successful cookbook. The tion was an improvement on the first, with an Greek cooking. Although many of these women, from the Mt Gravatt parish of the index and metric system guide added to the young women were experienced cooks, they Dormition of the Theotokos, first published text, and the staples replaced by spiral binding. lacked confidence in preparing Greek dishes. Traditional and Modern Greek-Australian The cookbook is only part of the story, A number of women (see photo) took part Cuisine in August, 1997. though. In September, 1995, Mrs Voula James in demonstrating for the cooking classes, and a call went out for women to give details of their recipes and to explain how they cooked. Not unexpectedly, many of the instructions included phrases such as “take a handful of this” and NSW “add a little bit of that”. These needed to be converted to standard measures, and many of the recipes had to be translated from Greek into English. Each recipe was then tested in the cooking classes, and when collected together formed the basis of a cookbook. The younger women of the parish were asked to proof read, and using the money raised from holding the class- Single copies of the cookbook may be purchased, or es, plus donations from sponsors, the first edi- multiple copies ordered for fund-raising. tion of Traditional and Modern Greek- actively involved with Voula in teaching the Australian Cuisine was printed. present classes) the skills needed to prepare In 2004 the cooking classes began again. traditional Greek dishes are being passed on to The first course has finished and another 6 future generations.

The original group of women who collected recipes, demonstrated in the cooking classes and tested all the recipes for the cookbook, Traditional and Modern Greek-Australian Cuisine. From l-r Top row: Tina Ganis, Irene Cayas, Betty Comino, Vasiliki Conomos, Voula James, Patra Ganis. Bottom row: Sophia Kynigopoulos (now dec’d), Archie Hatzifotis, Tassia Pappas, Maria J. Koutsoukos, Maria Koutsoukos.

weeks course begun. Those attending this year The cooking classes cost only $12 per les- include teenagers, young married women with son, and take the form of a demonstration with and without children, and several men also. the participants being invited to try their hand. While enthusiasm for learning traditional At the end of each class there is a feast. At the skills has not waned there is, according to Mrs same time as the recipes, so generously given, Irene Cayas (Vice-President of the Ladies’ are being handed down along with the neces- Auxiliary), a noticeable difference in the ques- sary cooking skills, the joys of eating and a tions being asked by the current students. sense of community are being passed on to These questions largely reflect the choices future generations as well. We wish them all available to consumers today. For example, if continued success. a recipe lists rice or salt amongst its ingredi- For further information about cooking class- ents, someone may ask “What type of rice or es, or to purchase single copies of Traditional salt?” Nothing, it appears, is simple today. and Modern Greek-Australian Cuisine, or to However, by continuing on the process order multiple copies for fund-raising, please begun by Mrs Voula James and her group of contact Mrs Irene Cayas (07) 3349 9973 or the enthusiastic helpers (most of whom are still church office, (07) 3343 7304. JUNE 2004 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 13/31

DID YOU KNOW? Stretching 2,252 metres across the Gulf of Corinth, Rio-Antirrio bridge is the cable-stayed bridge with the longest suspended deck in the world. It is also being built at a record maximum depth of 65 metres Olympic launch for Rio-Antirrio bridge The 2.2km bridge spanning the For the Gulf of Corinth will open to the public in August, shortly after the crossing of the Olympic Flame, says the head of the Franco- bibliophiles... Greek consortium building the project. Construction crews have Icon and Devotion: Sacred spaces completed the bridge deck late in Imperial Russia last month. Written by Oleg Tarasov (Reaktion Books)

JOHN HADOULIS A hard-back copy, this expensive book contains many small black and white illustrations with only a few, but Amidst a sea of delayed works for the exquisite, colour images. It is well referenced, has an Athens 2004 Olympics, one major Greek extensive bibliography and index. Unusual for a book project is ready ahead of time, albeit with on Russian iconography, it concentrates on the period a bit of foreign help. following that of Rublev. Woven throughout the text is The monumental 2.2km Rio-Antirrio a history of the Russian Orthodox Church over three bridge on the northern tip of the Pelopon- centuries of Imperial rule. The influence of contact nese is to be effectively inaugurated on with Catholicism and the religious art of the West is August 8, when a torchbearer carrying the clearly demonstrated. Olympic Flame of the 2004 Games will cross en route to Athens’ Olympic Stadi- Sweets: A History of temptation um. Written by Tim Richardson (Bantam Books) Soon afterwards, the bridge will open to the public four months ahead of schedule, the head of the Franco-Greek consortium This little paperback contains a history of sweets and building the project tells the Athens sweet-making, interspersed with information about specific sweets. Although anglocentric, the author has News. An aerial view of the monumental Rio-Antirrio bridge “We will be ready before the end of a fondness for Greek sweets, even devoting one article August,” says Gefyra SA chairman and cold to boot. But I was always sure this to baklava. Of interest to historians as well as anyone managing director Jean-Paul Teyssandier. Gefyra says its own workforce suffered machine would get me through. With the with a sweet tooth, it is very easy to read. “Things went very well, a little bit even only minor injuries during construction. exception of some bouts of pneumonia, it better than we expected, and we saw no “There’s been strains and cuts, things could actually be quite enjoyable. You got Modern Moroccan: Ancient traditions, reason to apply the brake.” that can go wrong even around the all the peace and quiet in the world... and contemporary cooking The last 48 metres over the Gulf of house,” says safety engineer Nikos Kon- a great view for photographs.” Written by Ghillie Basan (Aquamarine) Corinth were bridged by May 25. To stantelias. “The toughest phase was dur- In Nafpaktos, the nearest residential cen- mark the occasion, the mayors of Rio and ing the building of the bridge’s four tre to Antirrio, the reaction to the bridge’s Large format, with beautiful glossy photographs, this Antirrio met halfway on the bridge, on pylons and their bases. But since we completion is mixed. Though pleased at book contains many recipes familiar to Greeks and May 29. moved to the deck... the workload has their forthcoming connection to the Pelo- other Mediterraneans, even though the names of dishes Gefyra’s top management says that good lessened.” ponnese and easier access to hospitals and may differ. Some are variations on familiar themes, for planning at the beginning of the project “From the beginning, we tried every- shopping in Patras, many locals will be example lemon yogurt cake, served with cream and and continuous efforts to improve con- thing we could to have a good safety sad to see “the French” go. fresh passionfruit, or roast leg of lamb coated in date struction through innovation sped up the record on the project,” says Teyssandier. “My neighbour rents out five apartments and almond paste. Delicious. building process. “Safety and quality were the most impor- which will now be empty,” says Kyriakos “For example, we managed to erect the tant factors on the site.” Zissimopoulos, a bicycle shop owner. Rome: Art and architecture bridge deck faster than originally expect- Gefyra employees say their work on the “Half this town lives off the bridge’s Edited by Marco Bussagli (Konemann) ed thanks to a waterborne crane, which bridge provided an unprecedented school- construction,” says George Sakellaris, a ing. we decided to hire about two years ago,” hotel owner. “We’re currently 70 percent Large format, this tome is heavy in weight rather than “Building a block of flats is quite differ- says deputy administrator and project full and expect our occupancy to fall to 25 text. It is the sort of book one buys for the illustrations, manager Asklepios Dimoglou. ent to tackling a project with 80,000 percent. How many extra visitors can the and there are plenty of these. The book is neatly divid- Teyssandier says that the bridge toll will tonnes of steel,” says one engineer. The bridge’s operation possibly bring to match ed into two halves. The first quarter deals with pre- be in the range of 10 euros, but that more worksite experience was also a revelation that?” Christian art, up to the reign of Constantine and the advantageous ‘subscription’ fares are for the French members of the construc- His brother Vassilis has other bridge- Arch of Constantine erected next to the Colosseum in planned for frequent users. More details tion consortium. related concerns. “I’ve got three daugh- 315 AD. The second quarter of the book begins with are to be announced at a press conference “The good thing with Greek manpower, ters. With the bridge, one of them could in July, he said. as we discovered on this project, is that dash off to Amaliada and I would never Early Christian art. For anyone interested in the fres- when you train these people correctly and know.” coes of this period, in particular, this volume provides A Games incentive motivate them, they are excellent,” says Ferry exodus reasonably priced access to these images. Teyssandier. “But you have to give them A.C. The prospect of having the Olympic a framework.” Bridge excitement is at its lowest among Flame cross the Rio-Antirrio bridge on Worksite perks helped build a sense of ferry operators who until now had a August 8 influenced Gefyra’s decision to community among the crew. Gefyra pub- monopoly on the Rio-Antirrio crossing. The Greek Australian speed up construction, as did revenue lished a biannual gazette with project Even with tolls expected to be higher than considerations. information, site news and announce- ferry fares, the time gain is significant - a “Money-wise, since we are a conces- ments of the several marriages that took mere five minutes compared to as much VEMA sion company, the sooner [we opened] the place between employees. It also organ- as 45 minutes on the ferry, depending on better,” says Teyssandier. ised sports tournaments for staff. boarding traffic. Once Gefyra had discussed the Olym- “A project of such credentials will be “Most of the boats will leave Rio-Antirio The oldest pic Flame idea with the Athens 2004 sorely missed,” says veteran crane opera- for other fares such as Salamina,” says organising committee (ATHOC), the task tor Petros Tsakos. “I’ve never seen a more one ferry officer. “Of the 36 vessels that of beating adverse weather became even secure worksite... Just seeing the order currently work here, only about 10 will circulating more imperative. that prevailed made you extra careful. Just remain.” “We do need toll collectors, maybe we “The deck erection is very sensitive to as you don’t get into a shiny car wearing can find some on the ferries,” says bad weather,” says Teyssandier. “We had muddy boots.” Greek Teyssandier. “But we also need techni- a terrible winter in 2002, after which we An electrifying experience cians and civil engineers who are obvi- said that if we have the same winter in ously not to be found there.” 2003, we will not be ready for the Tsakos, who spent many of his days newspaper “I’ve worked on ocean-going ships, so I Olympic Flame. So we accelerated during perched 190 metres above sea level, says can always return there,” says the ferry 2003 to make sure the flame would cross his experience at Rio was fascinating - officer. “But many will have to leave their the bridge.” and sometimes electrifying. “I was on my outside families behind. Who will hire them Despite the accelerated pace, and at a way up once when the crane was struck except ferries in other parts of Greece?” time when over a dozen workers have by lightning,” he says. “I’ve never seen died building the Olympic Village and such winds in my life, sometimes in Greece stadiums for the Athens 2004 Games, excess of 100km an hour, plus rain and ATHENS NEWS , 21/05/2004 JUNE 2004 14/32 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA

Internet and e-Hellenism worldwide The widescale adoption of computers and and overseas-based companies with branches the internet over the past 10 years around in Australia ‘e-HELLENIC WEBSITE COMPETITION’ the world and in Australia has opened infinite opportunities through websites to International Hellenic websites The owners of the beautiful new 'Emperor's Crown' affordable quality accom- access information on Greek Orthodoxy, modation in Perth now join with the Vema to launch an 'e-Hellenic website Greece, Hellenic culture, language, history Greece has been very active in producing competition' for students and Vema readers. The prize is free air travel and one and all the areas of knowledge and creation websites as has been Hellenism throughout the week stay in the 'Emperor's Crown' Perth. The Perth-based owners also have 'The Witch's Hat' in Perth (www.witchs-hat.com) and the award-winning which constitute ancient and modern world. Emails and e-commerce will soon be beachside 'The Surfpoint Resort' in Margaret River (www.surfpoint.com.au ) Greek studies. followed by e-Hellenism as the most accessi- for affordable stays in quality surroundings on your next trip to Western Aus- ble form of information for students, business- tralia.The details of the competition are as follows :· Hellenic websites in Australia people and eventually adults of both overseas and local Greek origin. This is crucial for r Competition: submit Hellenic-associated websites excluding those in Table 1 to The monthly Greek-Australian Vema fea- Greece and the diaspora which are small in the Vema Editor tures the monthly 'HACCI Business Bulletin' world population terms but immense with the r Prize: free air travel and seven days free accommodation for two in the new reports have directed readers to long and broad tradition of Hellenic culture 'Emperor's Crown' in Perth www.hacci.com and www.hacci.org.au the and the preservation of the oldest living Euro- r The names (URL) of websites should be submitted in the same format as in Table national and State websites for the Hellenic pean language. 1 Australian Chamber of Commerce and Indus- The list below of essential websites on try (HACCI) in Australia . doing business and enjoying Greece was com- r Please record the geographical source of each website. For example: Sydney- Websites are the most accessible form of piled from the international magazine Odys- based or Athens-based information for most Australians. More than sey ( March-April 2004 : pages 56 to 61). It r Eligibility : all children of Hellenic origin born after 1 January 1986· 70% of Australia's households have access to has been modified for use by readers of the Period : open to 30 November 2004 internet so websites are key also to advertising Vema. r All submissions will be retained by the sponsors of this competition and Vema.· and learning . The Melbourne-based website Address for competition : Hellenic web The Editor, Vema www.seek.com for example has become in the Websites for students and learning course of just five years the leading national source of job vacancies in Australia eclipsing In Australia over half the students aged 5-18 which open the possibility of learning to read internet may become the most cost- efficient even the advertising by the famous newspa- years who are enrolled in modern Greek stud- and speak Greek. methods of Greek education and teaching the pers in the Fairfax group including The Aus- ies attend the day schools and Greek schools Dr George Balanis and his teacher wife language in the diaspora. tralian Financial Review, The Sydney Morn- managed by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Toula who are based in Los Angeles have For academic or business researchers the ing Herald and The Age. and Greek-Australian communities. spent their professional careers perfecting a systematic use of search engines can retrieve The Melbourne-based Hellenic website Hellenic websites based in Australia and most impressive CD-ROM for teaching information from an infinite number of inter- www.ausgreeknet.com claims more than overseas offer a new, 24 hour-7day a week, Greek (www.anotek.com ). net sources in just minutes or hours. 30,000 Australian and worldwide links to all inexpensive limitless source of information to The Balanises and Con Berbatis from West- e-Hellenism is here to stay! aspects of Hellenism and modern Greek com- not just these students and their but to all other ern Australia proposed in a joint paper to an munity life. It serves also as an advertising Greek-Australians in every part of this country international Hellenic conference that the new Con Berbatis medium for local Greek-Australian companies and all round the world. There are now sites technologies including CD-ROMs and the Email : [email protected] What is Clinical Depression?

Depression is one of the most common mental health problems facing people today. It is a term generally used to describe feelings such as being sad, blue or feeling down. Sadness however is a part of being human and a general reaction to painful events and a person can feel these emotions without being clinically depressed. Clinical depression is a physical and emotional state that is intense, long-lasting and significantly affects daily life. A person with clinical depression finds that there are no logical reasons for these feelings. It is a state that someone just can’t snap out of quickly. Depressed people often experience some or many of the following symptoms/ feelings: Sadness Difficulties sleeping Poor concentration Emptiness Irritability Change in appetite Negative thinking Agitation Guilt Worrying Loss of interest Worthlessness Suicidal thoughts Loss of energy Difficulties in making decisions Loss of pleasure A diagnosis for depression is only given when a number of these symptoms/feelings are present at the same time for at least a period of two weeks and are shown to interfere with a person’s ability to perform his or her day to day activities. Psychologists can help people to identify and work through these problems. They can offer the skills to change thinking patterns and behaviours contributing to depression. They can effectively help to reduce and control thoughts associated with depression and to develop long term coping skills. One aspect of depression is a change in the balance of chemicals in the brain. This can be treated by the use of antidepressant medication which can help to restore the chemical balance. Depression is highly treatable and the chances of complete recovery are excellent through psychological and / or drug treatments. It is important that people with depression get treatment as soon as possible, especially if they are having suicidal thoughts. Call your local psychologist, the Australian Psychological Society (APS) Referral Service on 1800 333497, ask your GP or for more information or refer to Understanding and Man- aging Depression: An APS Tip Sheet.

Mina Candalepas MAPS Psychologist Reg NSW PS0057198 Reference 1. www.psychology.org.au/publication/ tip sheets/12.5 1.asp “Understanding and managing Depres- sion: An APS Tip Sheet” 2. Z.V. Segal, J.M.G. Williams, J. D. Teasdale (2002) Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression. The Guilford Press JUNE 2004 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 15/33

HEALTH PARKINSON’S DISEASE cals , toxins and pesticides; genetic factors and an expressionless face because of stiffness in electrodes which stimulate the brain. a previous history of head trauma. the facial muscles. They may also suffer from People with Parkinson’s Disease should NEWS constipation or difficulty with micturition keep as active as possible. The home may Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease because of stiff muscles in the bowel and blad- need to be modified to provide bath rails, WITH DR. THEO PENKLIS der. chairs with high arms and high seats, and ban- Parkinson’s Disease can affect different peo- Other symptoms may include problems with isters for support on walkways. Parkinson’s Disease is a degenerative, pro- ple in different ways. Symptoms are usually speech and swallowing, difficulty with con- Parkinson’s Disease is a chronic, progres- gressive, neurological disease that affects the mild at first, but may become progressively centration, disturbed sleep and fatigue, and sive illness. No drug prevents the progression control of body movements. Movements more severe over time. Symptoms affect problems with anxiety and depression. As the of the disease. become slower and stiffer and often people movement and everyday tasks may become disease progresses, falls may become a prob- However, it is a manageable condition and with Parkinson’s Disease develop a fine difficult. lem. often a multidiscipline approach is required, tremor. Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease relate to involving doctors, occupational therapists, movement, tremor, muscle stiffness and rigid- Diagnosing Parkinson’s Disease physiotherapists, dieticians and counsellors. How common is Parkinson’s Disease? ity. The outlook for Parkinson’s Disease In Parkinson’s Disease, movements are much The diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease is a Parkinson’s Disease affects about fifty thou- slower, walking can be very slow and the per- clinical diagnosis based on the person’s med- The severity of the disease may vary enor- sand Australians. son may begin to ‘shuffle’ along. The person ical history and clinical examination. There is mously. Many people have a mild problem Approximately one to two people per one may develop difficulty in starting movements no single diagnostic test, but tests may be and may not require dopamine producing thousand are estimated to have Parkinson’s and turning or standing from the sitting posi- needed to rule out other causes of symptoms. drugs. Disease, with the incidence increasing to one tion can be a problem. The disease usually progresses at a slow in one hundred of people over the age of sixty. Small movements that affect every day Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease rate. It is rare that a person gets severely dis- It is slightly more common in men than in functions ,such as writing, tying shoe laces, or abled. Most people who get Parkinson’s Dis- women. doing up buttons, can become a problem. Parkinson’s Disease is initially managed ease over the age of sixty can expect to live out Tremor, especially of the hands and arms, with medication. There is no cure for Parkin- their normal life expectancy. What are the causes with a rubbing together of the thumb and fore- son’s Disease. of Parkinson’s Disease? finger is a feature of Parkinson’s Disease. The The medications include drugs which aim to * The information given in this article is of a gen- tremor is often worse on one side of the body, replace the dopamine in the brain as well as eral nature and readers should seek advice from The cause of Parkinson’s Disease is not and is more noticeable when the person is not other medication which makes these drugs their own medical practitioner before embarking on known. Symptoms result from the progressive moving. The tremor can be more severe as the work more efficiently. The aim of treatment is any treatment. degeneration of nerve cells in part of the brain, disease progresses and can cause more diffi- to achieve higher levels of dopamine in the causing a deficiency in the availability of a culty with activities of daily living, such as brain to relieve the symptoms of stiffness and chemical called dopamine. Dopamine is a holding cutlery, or difficulty showering or poor mobility. Dr. Theo Penklis is a General Practitioner. chemical which nerve cells require so that cleaning teeth. Sometimes the medication used to treat He is the Director of a group practice in Rose Bay in Syd- ney’s Eastern Suburbs. muscle movements can occur smoothly. Muscle stiffness is a common symptom of Parkinson’s Disease can cause adverse effects He studied Science at the University of Sydney and then It is not known what causes the deficiency of Parkinson’s Disease and causes rigidity of such as nausea or a dry mouth. Medicine at the University of New South Wales. He did his dopamine in the brain. It has been suggested limbs, leading to a reduction in the movement Less commonly, people undergo surgery on hospital training at The Prince of Wales Hospital and The that poor circulation may contribute to the of the limbs and may manifest as a reduction the brain. Surgery cannot cure Parkinson’s Prince of Wales Childrens’ Hospital (now known as The deficiency of dopamine. Sydney Childrens’ Hospital) in arm swinging when walking, usually on one Disease. He is a second generation Greek Australian. His grand- Researchers around the world are currently side of the body. It may improve symptoms for severely parents originated from the island of Kastellorizo in the investigating many causes , including chemi- People with Parkinson’s Disease often have affected people. It usually involves implanting Dodecanese. He is married with 2 young children. ANOTHER YEAR TO BE THANKFUL On Monday evening, 10 May 2004, the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annuncia- tion in Redfern, NSW, hosted the fifteenth annual Thanksgiving Service for graduates of St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College. The service marked the culmination of a number of challenging years of theological education and training for a small number of dedicated students from around Aus- tralia. The evening’s proceedings began with a short doxological service chanted by College students, past and present. The Dean, His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos of Australia, as he has done since the first Thanksgiving Service back in 1990, conferred the graduates with the College’s Ecclesiastical Degree, read a benediction over them, and addressed the congregation of faculty, distinguished guests and members of the general public. Honouring this important occasion with The Dean of St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College, His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos of Australia, His Grace Bishop Seraphim of Apol- their presence were Mr Ioannis Raptakis, lonias, with four of the five graduates of the College: Stavros Ivanos (Queanbeyan), Peter Karalis (Perth), Eustathios Peroulis (Sydney) and Kosmas Consul General for Greece in Sydney, and Zisis (Melbourne). The fifth graduate, George Lambropoulos (Melbourne), received his degree in absentia Mrs Raptakis; Dr Raymond Nobbs, Dean of the Sydney College of Divinity (SCD) St Andrew’s was particularly honoured to (Perth), Eustathios Peroulis (Sydney) and The latest group of graduates brought to accompanied by his wife, Assoc. Prof Alanna have many faithful from the Church of St Kosmas Zisis (Melbourne) with George seventy-three the total of Theological College Nobbs, Lecturer in Ancient History at Mac- Demetrios in Queanbeyan who came to pay Lambropoulos (Melbourne), receiving his alumni since the College opened in 1986. quarie University; Assoc. Prof Michael Hors- tribute to their parish graduate. degree in absentia. All of these graduates Twenty-two graduates currently serve as borough, Chair of the Academic Board of the After the service the congregation was in- were also present at the Sydney College of priests (10 NSW; 4 VIC; 2 SA; 5 QLD; 1 Sydney College of Divinity; and Major Rod- vited to a light supper in the Main Hall of the Divinity Graduation Ceremony on Saturday GREECE) and two as deacons (2 NSW). Up ney Ainsworth, representing the Salvation Theological College where staff, students and 8 May 2003. There they had been presented to the present, graduates have assumed a vari- Army College of Further Education. There guests had the opportunity to intermingle in a their Bachelor of Theology degree in the ety of roles within the various institutions of were also representatives from the various friendly atmosphere. Great Hall of Sydney University by the Vice the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese including committees of the Theological College and The five students who successfully com- President of the Sydney College of Divinity administrative posts, teaching positions, wel- the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. This year pleted their course of theological studies were Council, Rev. Dr Gerard Gleeson. The tradi- fare, and chaplaincies to prison inmates, Stavros Ivanos (Queanbeyan), Peter Karalis tional luncheon followed at Wesley College. police personnel and university students. JUNE 2004 16/34 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA

DID YOU KNOW? World traffic volume will increase by more than 70 trillion km by 2050. Travel by car will drop, while high-speed transport will increase to more than 40%. The air will be filled with double-decker airplanes Travel such as the Airbus A380 The beauty of Skopelos

Skopelos, the second largest of the Spo- rades islands after Skyros, lies east of Pelion between Skiathos and Alon- nisos, 60 nautical miles from Volos.

It is a picturesque, well-watered island with abundant greenery and pleasant beaches. Tra- ditionally, its houses were white with roofs of greeny blue slate but, unfortunately, many of these have been replaced with red files. The island is renowned for its pears and plums, and the decorative costumes of its womenfolk. Apart from the capital, Skopelos, the island has three villages: Glossa, N. Klima and Loutraki, its second port. There is also a small port at Agnonta. The Hora in Skopelos is one of the most attractive towns In Aegean. The beauty of its buildings is complemented by a riot of flower- ing vines and potted plants. The town alone boasts more than 100 lovely old churches. Twenty-eight Idlometres of paved road con- nect all the main sites and villages on the Skopelos - view of the town island, beginning with Staphylos Bay on the south coast. From there the road winds round well as along the weatherbeaten northeast were a solid gold scepter, kept in the Volos the service of Byzantine Emperor Michael to the northwest along the coast to Loutraki, coast and to beaches inaccessible by car. Archaeological Museum, and a large gold VIII Palaiologos. It remained Greek until the port of Glossa. on the west facing Skiathos. All that remains, are the famous monasteries sword handle, in the Athens National Archae- 1453, the year Constantinople fell to the Turks Staphylos, so closely linked with the island’s of Skopelos, which boast rare murals, icons, ological Museum. and the Venetians regained control, In 1538, a prehistory, and from there to Agnonta, a shel- and wood reliefs, built high up on the slopes The name Skopelos was acquired during the Turkish Admiral, Barbarossa, plundered the tered, horseshoe shaped harbour. Panormos with incredible views to the sea. Hellenistic era. At the end of the Roman era, island and slaughtered the entire population, the prettiest and largest bay on the island, also the island’s patron saint and first bishop, Real- Skopelos continued to be deserted for many has a concealed, fjordlike cove that provides a HISTORY ness was martyred there. During the Byzantine years, and it was only in the 17th and 18th cen- safe anchorage for yachts in any weather. era, Skopelos was used as a place of exile. In tury that it regained life and social organiza- Milia, considered by many to be the island’s In antiquity, Skopelos had the unusual name 1204, it was taken over by the Venetians and tion. finest beach, actually consists of three- cres- of Peparethos. The Minoans established a was recaptured later by Likarios, a knight in SOURCE: www.greece.gr cent shaped stretches of white sand rimmed colony there, and it is said that its first settler with pine forest. The road then leads to Elios, and ruler was the mythical Staphylos, the son and to Glossa. Loutraki is Glossa’s port, and of Dionysos and Ariadne. A tomb discovered GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AUSTRALIA all ships stop here as well as at Hora. Caiques in 1927 at Staphylos Bay, is thought to have sail from the main port to all those places, as belonged to him. Among the many rich finds GREEK ORTHODOX PARISH AND COMMUNITY OF BANKSTOWN DISTRICTS “ST. EUPHEMIA” 16th ANNUAL BALL 2004 LIST OF DONATIONS

Parent’s & Friends Committee $28,000 Christos Tzidimopoulos Mr & Mrs Taleb (Civic Marble) $1,000 (R.I. Taleb Australia Pty. Ltd) $3,500 Nick and Con Madouris $1,000 Anonymous $3,000 Mr & Mrs Georgoulas $500 Dr Anastasios Nicolaou $2,000 Hellas Marble $500 Mr Yiangou $2,000 Andrew Kapos $500 Nick & Mary Kotsidis $1,400 Christos Koliris $500 Con Ange $1,000 O Kosmos Newspaper $500 Anonymous $1,000 Labor Funerals $500 One of the many churches of Skopelos Michael Katzakis $1,000 Laiki Bank $500 George & Christina Lord $1,000 Mr & Mrs Manetas $500 Mr & Mrs Miladinovic $1,000 Terrie Zafiriou $500 Christos Papachristou $1,000 Michael Chambouras $300 Lakis Polyviou (Kyrenia Travel) $1,000 Lambrini Gourvelos $300 Peggy and Peter Pozoglou $1,000 Mary & Anna-Marie Michael $200 Tim & Amelia Stathis $1,000 Katrina Kotsidis $100 Christine Theophilou $1,000 Dr Milonas $50 Mr & Mrs Tsiailis (The Impressionist Printing) $1,000 TOTAL $58,350

Winners of Raffle Prizes

Prize 1 Trip to Greece (Mr C. Tzidimopoulos) N. 13624 Prize 2 Two Return tickets to Gold Coast (D. Loizos) No. 6983 Prize 3 34cm Colour TV (Zoe Theodore) No. 8605 Prize 4 Microwave Oven (Lambrini Gourvelos) No. 15238 Panormos Beach Prize 5 National CD Player No. 5399 JUNE 2004 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 17/35 Food & Wine Worth its weight in gold Essential ingredients for the kitchen: part 3 By Imogen Coward fron, cloves and cardamom. Although and is used throughout the Middle East for mas often costs at least $5. Medieval Europeans often regarded such both sweet and savoury dishes. Orange water Saffron is highly prized for its ability to dye Recently fusion cooking, where ingredi- flavourings as distinctly Middle Eastern (or, is distilled from orange blossoms and is used foods and textiles (the yellow-orange orange ents and flavours from different cuisines more commonly, Arabic), nearly all have a across the Mediterranean and Middle East in a robes of Buddhist monks are traditionally are blended in the one dish, has been the place in the traditional cooking of the countries range of sweets from the almond pears of dyed in saffron) and for its distinctive and ‘in’ concept in contemporary Australian from the Mediterranean all the way across to Hydra (Greece) to the Syrian pistachio bakla- enticing aroma. It has many culinary uses cuisine. As a result, we have distinctly Asian India, each country having it’s own take on va (baklaw a ‘be’aj’) drenched in orange including adding colour and flavour rice and flavours migrating to European dishes and how the ingredient is to be used. Some ingre- flavoured syrup. Around the world rose water curries, Spanish paella, risottos, French bouil- native Australian foodstuffs such as wattle dients, such as saffron, also made the jump and orange water are perhaps best known as labaisse and some sweets such as Cornish saf- seeds cropping up in ice cream and cheese. into European cooking during the Middle essential ingredients in Loukoumia (Turkish fron cakes from Britain. While some foodies would have us believe Ages when exotic flavourings and heavily delight). To get the colour and flavour out of the saf- fusion cooking is new, it is, rather, probably spiced food were all the rage. Available from many delicatessens and fron stigmas, they need to be soaked in hot one of the oldest phenomena. stores specializing in Middle Eastern ingredi- water or milk for around 10-15 minutes (10 Perhaps the most obvious example of culi- Rose water and orange water ents, rose and orange water are handy ingredi- stigmas will colour around 2 tablespoons of nary fusion involves some of the essential ents to keep in the cupboard. liquid). The stigmas and liquid are then used to ingredients in Middle Eastern cuisine: rose Rose water, with its delicate, sweet floral In addition to its many traditional uses, rose colour and flavour the dish. water, orange water, almonds, pistachios, saf- aroma, is distilled from fragrant rose petals water can make an interesting and delicate Saffron is available in many shops including addition to rice pudding in the place of vanilla supermarkets. However, be wary of cheap saf- and other spices. It’s worth noting that, fron, especially powdered saffron. depending on the brand and quality, rose water Occasionally artificial dyes mixed with a lit- and orange water can be anything from tle saffron are sold as saffron powder and, in extremely mild or very strong, so taste testing some instances, whole saffron stigmas are ‘as you go’ is the only reliable way to know adulterated with other stigmas and dye to look just how much to use. like real saffron. One spice merchant suggested that to test if Saffron saffron stigmas have been adulterated with artificial dyes, soak a few in alcohol. If the saf- Not to be confused with the extremely poi- fron contains only pure saffron stigmas the sonous ‘meadow saffron’ or ‘autumn crocus’ alcohol will not colour since the natural dye in (Colchicum autumnale) grown in Australia as saffron is not soluble in alcohol (only in an ornamental flower, true saffron is made water). from the dried, dark-red coloured stigmas of If the alcohol does colour it indicates that the saffron crocus (Crocus stivus), a member artificial dyes have been added to the saffron. of the lily family. As with most spices, saffron needs to be stored Colloquially speaking, some things are in an airtight container in a cool, dry, dark ‘worth their weight in gold’. In the case of saf- place (don’t store it in the fridge or freezer fron this would be a gross understatement though). where a mere tenth of a gram of saffron stig- Wine Review By Imogen Coward Sirromet Perfect Day highly suc- Chardonnay, 2002 cessful Mak- ing Good Produced in Queens- Wine, first land from fruit grown published in the Granite Belt and in1989. Writ- the South Burnett, this ten as a man- wine exhibits a very ual for profes- pale yellow colour sionals and with a tinge of gold and students in aromas of green apples the wine and honey dew with a industry and hint of strawberries. the keen, Not big on flavour, the amateur wine taste is a curious blend maker this book is also fascinating reading of butter oil, slightly for the wine drinker interested in the ‘nuts under-ripe nectarines, and bolts’ side of modern winemaking. On melons and mixed the production side of things Rankine covers virtually everything from basic viticulture 114722 peel. Very smooth to drink with a lingering flavour and mildly bitter after taste, this wine and the processes the grapes are put through is nice to drink but the flavours are almost from crushing, fermentation, maturation and too subtle to make it a good partner for food. filtering through to bottling. From here he Serve slightly chilled on its own or with a branches out into a discussion of the finer salad. points of wine making including various faults wine can exhibit (and why this can Cost: under $15 happen) - knowledge that’s a must for anyone who wants to know just why it is so Making Good Wine (whether ‘it’ is haze or an unpleasant smell in By Bryce Rankine your wine). Rankine will make you feel quite (Macmillan, 2004) at home with your surroundings on your next tour around a winery. This year saw the publication of a new revised and updated edition of Rankine’s Cost: around $30 JUNE 2004 18/36 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA Towards Athens 2004 Right attitude will get you anywhere In an interview with the Athens News, US Ambassador Thomas Miller addresses his compatriots’ questions about visiting the August Games and says, ‘We’re really looking forward to very safe and successful Olympics’ BY ROBERT BRUCE we’re going to have all kinds of VIPs coming into town. While the Olympics are a great US Ambassador to Greece Thomas J event, my colleagues at the embassy and I Miller has recently been in Washington for will be working to help support the US effort. consultations. His visit coincided with that We are going to have a VIP delegation head- of Public Order Minister George Voulgar- ed by former president Bush. We have been akis, who is the Greek official responsible very involved in the security effort, and that’s for Olympic Games security. not something that stops the day the Games start. It continues throughout. Our day when Miller took time out to talk with the Athens we can let our hair down and rest a little bit is News about what visitors to the Athens at the end of September, because the Olympic Games might expect. Olympics is just the first half of these events. There are the Paralympics in the second half There has been quite a bit written about of September, and those are important as security concerns during the Athens well. Olympic Games, given the war in Iraq, the Middle East situation, the recent flareup in When you talk about American contribu- Bosnia and so forth. Should tourists be tions to the security concerns, what do they concerned about a terrorist threat during consist of? What has the United States the Athens Games? done to support the security efforts of the The world is what it is today. You’ve seen US Ambassador Thomas Miller (left) had fruitful talks with Greece’s Public Order Minister George Voul- Greeks? attacks in Madrid, you’ve seen attacks in garakis following the latter’s meeting with US National Security I don’t want to get into specifics. We’re Istanbul, you’ve seen attacks in Saudi Arabia, Adviser Condoleeza Rice on May 7 in Washington here to assist the Greeks. We’ve provided a Casablanca, Bali, obviously New York and bit of training. We’ve had some exercises Washington (DC). It’s a more dangerous didn’t see when I was first posted here. In the cans, but I think things I would say that would we’ve put on. It’s an ongoing endeavour. world now than it was four years ago when mid-1980s, people smoked, and if they blew pertain to Americans would probably pertain Wherever we can be helpful, we’ll try to be they had the Sydney Games. It’s not Athens- smoke in your face it was no big deal. Now, I to others. They say 80 percent of having a helpful. I’ll have to leave it at that. specific, it’s just the world. think there is a much greater sensitivity. successful vacation is what you do yourself, My sense is that our government is work- Greeks are extremely hospitable people, and and I think a lot of the commonsense things - Anything else you would like to add that ing very closely with the Greek government. they want you to feel comfortable and they be aware of your surroundings, watch out for we haven’t talked about? The Greek government is making a major, want you to have a good time in their country. pickpockets. There will be a lot of people. Just to say that I’ve been focusing very major effort to deal with the terrorism threat. It’s going to be hot. August is always hot. much on the security side, because that’s my They will tell you they’ve put out over three Other than the Games themselves, what Take the necessary precautions in terms of responsibility. Other than being an interested times the amount of money that was spent in would you say are likely to be the best drinking water and watching out for the heat. observer, I haven’t been operationally Sydney. They’ve got over three times the memories visitors take home? I think [ATHOC] is trying to do schedules in involved in venue preparation and hotels and number of people dedicated to security. There I’m the American ambassador, so I don’t do a way where they will avoid the hottest points transportation infrastructure. There have been are no guarantees in this world, but coopera- advertising for the Greek national tourism of the day. Come with a good attitude and a lot of stories written about that, but my tion with us is very good. It’s moving in the organisation, but we (my wife and I) keep you’ll have a good time. sense from having worked in this country for right direction. coming back. This is our third tour, so obvi- eight years is it will all get done. We’re all It comes down to an individual decision: ously there is something in this country that What are your own athletic interests? looking forward to very safe and successful Some people worry about everything. Those we like. It’s a beautiful country. To those who I try to play sports every day. All kinds of Olympics. people can make one decision. For people are coming to Greece for vacation, my one team sports. Baseball is a big, big interest of Ambassador Miller is scheduled to leave who want to get on with their lives, they can piece of advice is that Athens is very nice, but mine. Whenever I’m not playing squash or his Athens post several months after the make another decision. I can tell you there is get out and see the islands and see the great tennis, I run. I weight-lift. I’ve been involved Olympic Games. The White House has a tremendous amount of effort and energy historical sites and things like that. with the Baltimore Orioles and their tremen- announced its nomination of career diplomat and resources being put into trying to prevent Once you scratch a little bit beneath the sur- dous assistance to the Greek national (base- Charles Ries, currently principal deputy a terrorist attack here. face, not only is the country beautiful, but we ball) team. It’s a great story in progress, and I assistant secretary at the US State Depart- have some really terrific friends here. Once think the Greeks will have a very, very good ment’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Most Americans have never been to you get to know Greeks, you couldn’t ask for men’s team and a good women’s softball Affairs. Miller is ‘not at liberty to say’ where Greece. What can they expect? Will lack of better friends anywhere in the world. team. he will next be posted knowledge of the language be a problem? First, you’ve got a million-and-a-half peo- What advice do you have for American or What events do you anticipate attending? ple coming to the Games, and most of those other English-speaking visitors? What will I don’t have a clue. I’ll be here to work, and ATHENS NEWS , 21/05/2004 people do not speak Greek. It’s a much more be the biggest challenges? English-friendly city than when I was first If you are coming to the Olympics, I would posted here 20 years ago. Signs are usually in advise people to prepare to go with the flow, Greek and English. Increasingly, when you to not to be excessively demanding. The go into stores, particularly in tourist areas, Greeks have made a lot of provisions for traf- people speak English. English is taught in all fic flow and all kinds of things that are sup- the schools now and is definitely the second posed to ease movement. There are a dozen language of this country. floating hotels in the port of Piraeus. They are trying to anticipate the needs of visitors, but Many Americans are concerned about as much as you try, I’m sure there will be cer- smoking in public. They have heard hor- tain things that won’t be anticipated. There ror stories about how Greeks all smoke. will be a lot of people here, whatever the final What is your perspective on public smok- ticket sales are. ing? Come with the right attitude and you’ll A lot of Greeks smoke, and they do smoke have a great time. You’re on vacation and in public. For those of us who’ve gotten used here to have a good time, so have a good to not smoking in public buildings and in time. Don’t aggravate yourself in the process. restaurants... They do have restrictions on Look at the big picture and if it’s pretty posi- smoking in some public buildings. What I tive, go with it. The service commenced on Monday 29th March 2004 have found when I go to dinners and so forth, and operates people will often ask me, ‘Do you mind if I Since this interview will run in the ‘Athens Monday to Friday from 9.00 am to 5.00 p.m. light up?’ I usually say ‘No,’ because I’m try- News’, do you have any more general coming to be polite. ments that would apply to visitors other There’s been a great sensitisation that’s gone than Americans? on in this country over the last 10 years that I My charge and my responsibility is Ameri-

JUNE 2004 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 19/37 Towards Athens 2004

ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games and IOC chief Rogge sees problem-free the Greek flag fly on Mount Everest countdown to 2004 Games Visiting IOC president Jacques Rogge recently departed from a meeting with prime minister Costas Karamanlis with the certainty of a problem-free countdown to the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, with preparations at a peak. Rogge held a half-four meeting with the prime minis- er, who has also retained the culture ministry portfolio to stress his government's priority on the Olympic Games. The meeting was also attended by alternate culture minister Fani Palli-Petralia, and Athens 2004 Organising Committee (ATHOC) president Gianna As from last month Greek time the of the Greek Mountaineering Feder- Angelopoulos-Daskalaki. According to sources, Rogge and Karamanlis exam- flag of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic ation) to step on the peak. ined the course of Games preparations, with the IOC Games, along with the Greek flag, Ten minutes later the rest of the IOC president Jacques Rogge fly on the top of Mount Everest. team (Panagiotis Kotronaros - head , chief expressing absolute satisfaction with the devel- and officials from the construction companies that After nine-and-a-half hours of Pavlos Tsiantos, Michalis Styllas, opment f the projects. After the meeting, Rogge, accompanied by have undertaken the projects. climbing on the highest route of the Antonis Antonopoulos) stepped on Angelopoulos and Petralia, went to the Main Olympic The sources said Rogge and the other members of Himalaya, the Greek team carrying the peak. Apart from the flags they Stadium, where they were joined by former IOC pres- his inspection team expressed satisfaction with the the two flags, which began the also carried the photo of Greek ident Juan Antonio Samaranch, for an on-the-spot progress. Expedition on 16 March, reached Mountaineer Christos Barouchas inspection of the work being done, including the Velo- Rogge, accompanied by Angelopoulos, was also due the top of Mount Everest successful- who lost his life in Autumn 2003, drome and the Calatrava roof, and a briefing on the to meet later in the day with main opposition PASOK ly. Giorgos Voutyropoulos was the when he was preparing his summit projects by Games secretary general Spyros Capralos leader George Papandreou. first of the five Greeks (all members on Everest.

2004 and the company Efsimon Sylloges, Greek troops train were presented recently at a central Athens In brief… hotel. The collection includes six series of for chemical weapons Olympic coins and one series of torch relay Australia's National Olympic Committee those coming to Greece for the Olympic coins. Each series has a gold coin related to attack in Greece this week reiterated that it completely sup- Games, during a press conference organised by the significant monuments associated with ports Athens and that in no way did it the Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourism the course of the Olympics, such as Knossos attempt to belittle the upcoming Olympic Agents (HATTA). Neiadas emphasised that the Palace, Ancient Olympia and the Pana- Games, according to a spokesman for the lack of sufficient accommodation is a "myth" thenaic Stadium. The silver coins depict var- organisation during a press conference in and that there is a wide range of hotels and hotel ious modern and ancient sports events. Sydney. rates available. As for prices, he said that the Spokesman Mike Tancred also denied any rumors about prohibitive rates and ridiculous World shooting champion Michael Diamond attempt at trying to demonstrate that Syd- increases are unfounded, both in Athens as well will represent Australia at the 2004 Athens ney organized better Games than the as in the rest of the country. He added that it is a Games, despite Nathan Castles' request to take upcoming ones in Athens, stressing that common phenomenon in cities hosting the his place. Castles based his court argument on Australian officials are confident of the Olympic Games for the price of services to charges against Diamond for abusing his ex- Greek capital’s success. increase, but stressed that the increase should be girlfriend, which resulted in Diamond missing within reasonable limits. two important competitions and being tem- Athens 2004 General Manager for Games porarily deprived of his weapon. Diamond was Support Vassilis Neiadas asserted that hotel The entire collection of Olympic commem- found innocent. In Athens , Diamond will try to accommodations in Athens will be sufficient for orative coins, which were created by Athens win his third, consecutive gold medal. Greek army specialists arrived in the Czech Republic recently to learn how to deal with the deadly nerve agent sarin and other toxic mate- ‘Cost of Olympic Games rials if they were used in attacks at the summer Olympic Games in Athens. The 24 soldiers were the first of two groups of Greek chemical and medical specialists far greater than expected’ who will attend a week-long course here. A further 24 troops were due to arrive on July 7. The cost of hosting the Olympic Games was Alogoskoufis was the second minister in a The soldiers will work directly with toxic higher than expected and the rewards less than week to question the cost and rewards of host- materials such as sarin, soman, VX or mustard Greece had hoped for, Greece's new finance ing the Olympic Games. gas and learn how to detect, identify and minister said in an interview published recent- Public Works Minister Giorgos Souflias decontaminate dangerous substances. ly. questioned whether Athens should have been Their commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Giorgos Alogoskoufis blamed the higher awarded the Olympics because of the amount Nasos Konstantinov, told journalists that pro- costs on delays incurred by the Socialist gov- of work needed to host them. tection of the Olympic Games would be the ernment that successfully bid for the games in "I question if our country should have taken priority for his unit, made up of chemical and 1997, and was defeated by his own conserva- over the organisation of the games, to get medical specialists from the Greek naval, air tive party in March elections. involved," Souflias told a parliamentary com- and ground forces. "The Olympic Games are costing us a lot mittee on the Olympics. Only the Czech Republic and the United more than we expected, because issues were After Greece won the bidding rights in 1997, States have equipment enabling other coun- left for the last minute," Alogoskoufis told the it failed to begin any serious work on venues, tries' soldiers to train in chemical protection, Athens daily Eleftherotypia. highways and other infrastructure projects Konstantinov said. He said the cost of the August 13-29 Olympics until 2000, when the International Olympic The Olympic Games may also be protected had gone up by at least 1 billion euro ($A1.7 Committee warned that the games were in from terrorist attack by the NATO battalion for billion) and that the delays - mostly in con- danger. biochemical warfare, the bulk of which are struction - had failed to project a positive Souflias said he was not worried about the Czech chemical experts. image for Greece. success of the games, just of their cost to Negotiations between NATO and Greece on The games were to have cost $US5.5 billion Greece. the issue are ongoing. ($A7.7 billion), but the security budget alone Mr Giorgos Alogoskoufis "I am not concerned about not succeeding, Greece is spending 1 billion euro ($A1.7 bil- has doubled to more than $US1.2 billion but allow some people to be troubled about lion) on security for the August 13-29 games, ($A1.7 billion). Cost overruns because of years." whether the games should have happened. I with 70,000 officers protecting 16,000 athletes delays also inflated costs. He said if Greece, one of the smallest coun- am working night and day for them to suc- and officials and thousands of volunteers, Alogoskoufis said: "The second most tries to host the Olympics, was to bid for the ceed," Souflias said. journalists and spectators. important thing is that we missed the chance to games today, "I don't think that we would be AFP positively exploit the games abroad all these as excited." AP

Olympic committee president defends cost of Games Athens Olympic supremo Gianna nomic growth in recent years as well Angelopoulos-Daskalaki defended the as helped promote the country world- Games' economic impact on Greece wide. saying that the country stood only to "Greece has gained a new place on gain from organising the four-yearly the world map," she said. event. According to government estimates, Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said the the Olympics' bill could exceed 4.6 SPORTS Olympics had allowed Greece to billion euro ($A8.2 billion), nearly develop its infrastructure, notably double the original budget of 2.5 bil- The Greek Australian VEMA roads "which would have otherwise lion euro ($A4.45 billion). never been built", and prompted eco- AFP THE OLYMPIC FLAME IGNITES AUSTRALIA WITH UNFORGETTABLE TORCH RELAY Commencing its inspirational journey Hospital where winter Olympian and World around the world, the first destination of Broad participation by Church Aerial skier, Lydia Ierodiaconou, was the the ‘Athens 2004’ Olympic Torch Relay first to light the Athens 2004 Olympic Torch outside Greece was Sydney, the host city with its Millennium Choirs in Melbourne. of the previous Olympic Games in 2000. The Relay then traveled to the Greek Arriving on Australian soil in the early precinct of Lonsdale Street where thousands hours of Friday, 4th June, the Flame of and Greek Orthodox Colleges lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the Olympia was officially welcomed in a low- Olympic Flame. The large stage made for key ceremony by the Acting Prime Minister large celebrations and St John’s College of of Australia, Mr John Anderson, represent- our Archdiocese was on hand to present ing the Prime Minister, Mr John Howard. dances in Grecian dress as well as a ceremo- On the tarmac at Sydney International ny re-enacting the lighting of the Flame at Airport the specially-designed silver lantern Olympia. ‘housing’ the Flame was proudly saluted by On its journey the Torch Relay weaved its four students of the Greek Orthodox way to Victoria Markets where St John’s Archdiocesan schools, St Spyridon College, College juniors also went live on Radio 3XY St Euphemia College and All Saints before a major community celebration at Grammar, bearing the flags of Australia, Albert Park. Greece, the Olympic Games and ‘Athens There, the Sts Anargyroi College singers 2004’. Its arrival ignited the irrepressible of the Archdiocese presented three songs in Olympic spirit in Sydney as the Torch Relay Greek: ‘Macedonia’, ‘Arnysi’ and ‘Athena’ commenced its global journey visiting the before the Torch moved on to the Melbourne five continents for the first time. Cricket Ground where four-time Olympic The festivities in Sydney commenced at gold medalist and Australian legend Betty the Opera House, the landmark of the city Cuthbert brought the flame into the ground with its white sail-like design on a very crisp at half time in the Hawthorn and Essendon morning splashed with perfectly blue skies, a Australian Rules football match. The large full white moon in the ethereal distance and crowd roared as the flame made an honorary in the presence of thousands of Sydney- lap of the stadium, home to the 1956 siders who woke up very early for the occa- Olympic Gold Medalist and last Torchbearer ald the arrival of the Olympic Flame. Olympics. sion. The atmosphere was electrified with of the Sydney Games, lit her torch from the The Relay concluded at Olympic Park, After its MCG visit, the flame reached its anticipation and a re-kindled Olympic fever. silver lantern as the first Torchbearer of the Homebush Bay, where Australia’s cricketing final destination at Federation Square where Present were the Hon Bob Carr, Premier of ‘Athens 2004’ Relay in Australia. So began captain and legend, Steve Waugh, lit the large crowds had gathered since early after- New South Wales, His Excellency the the unforgettable Torch Relay throughout original cauldron of the Sydney Games as noon to welcome the flame. The Greek com- Ambassador for Greece in Australia Mr Sydney with hundreds of thousands of resi- our Greek Orthodox Colleges formed a munity put on a spectacular show to honour Photios Xydas, His Grace Bishop Seraphim dents enjoying the buzz of the occasion. ‘guard of honour’. The huge flame inspired the occasion while Andrew Gaze ran the last of Apollonia representing the Primate of the At Brighton le Sands - a seaside suburb a Greek glendi that included the Millennium leg of the relay through the crowd to light the Greek Orthodox Church in Australia His reminiscent of Paleo Faliro in Athens and Choir of the Archdiocese once again, the cauldron. Eminence Archbishop Stylianos, the Consul hub of Sydney’s Greek Australian communi- Sophia Haskas Dancing School, and talented After completing its 60 kilometre journey General for Greece in Sydney Mr Ioannis ty - a huge crowd celebrated the arrival of the soloists Sandy Constantopedos and Maria across Melbourne, with the participation of Raptakis, as well as representatives of the Flame and were treated to a rousing commu- Yiakouli. 11 Greek Australian Torchbearers, the Australian Olympic Committee and the nity celebration organized by Rockdale City The Olympic Park surrounds gave the Olympic Flame departed from Melbourne ‘Athens 2004’ Organizing Committee. Council. Greek community and thousands of Sydney- on the morning of Sunday 6th June on its In a symbolic gesture by the Australian The beachside festivities commenced with siders the opportunity to revisit the way to Tokyo. authorities, the 100-strong ‘Millennium the Olympic Anthem sung by Maria Discobolus Olympic Tribute erected through Outside Greece it will visit all five conti- Choir’ of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Yiakouli, the National Anthems of Australia the fund-raising efforts of AHEPAin the lead nents and all previous summer Olympic of Australia that performed at the ‘Sydney and Greece presented by The Millennium up to the Sydney Games. Games host cities around the globe. The 2000’ Games commenced proceedings with Children’s Choir of the Archdiocese com- All Torchbearers, including 18 Austra- ‘Athens 2004’ Torch Relay will cover ‘Tis Dikaiosynis Ilie Noite’(‘The Intelligible prising students from St Spyridon College, lians of Greek descent, agreed that carrying 78,000km over 35 days, visiting 33 cities in Sun of Justice’ by Theodorakis-Elytis) and St Euphemia College and All Saints the Flame was an indescribable and moving 26 countries with more than 3,600 the Olympic Anthem, under the baton of dis- Grammar, and ‘The Aegean’ sung by experience that truly inspires. Torchbearers. tinguished Conductor Mr George Ellis. teenage sensation Sophia Constantopedos, Next morning the Olympic Flame depart- As Australia bade farewell to the Olympic The ‘Garrabarra’Aboriginal dancing group star of the theatrical production ‘Oliver’ and ed for Melbourne, the most populous Greek Flame the question remained. Will we see accompanied by singer Emma Donovan, student of St Spyridon College. city outside Greece, where festivities contin- the Olympic Flame in Australia again? The together with six elegantly-poised girls from Following a modern Greek Dancing dis- ued in much the same vein with people International Olympic Committee wants to St Spyridon College dressed as Grecian play the celebration closed with ‘See you in warming to the spirit of the next Olympic abolish the global Relay. What a pity! For ‘priestesses’, and choreographed by cultural Athens!’ sung by local Afternoon and Games that promise to be simply magical. such a small flame, it certainly spreads a luminary Mrs Sophia Haskas, performed a Saturday Greek School students. It was Saturday 5th June and Melbourne’s huge message of friendship, sportsmanship, mixture of each Nation’s traditional dancing More than 10,000 people attended the fes- Greeks took to the streets to welcome the peace and truce wherever it goes. It well and to symbolize the unity of Greece and tival. Most of them also visited the Church’s Athens Olympic flame, flooding the city in a truly ignited Australia’s Olympic spirit. Australia. Eycalyptus and olive branches Greek Australian Sports Hall of Fame which sea of Australian and Greek flags. Well done Australia. See you in Athens for further enhanced the symbolism. was officially opened by His Eminence Thousands joined in on the celebrations the most ‘magical’ Games as they return to Cathy Freeman, Australia’s indigenous Archbishop Stylianos the day before to her- that commenced at the Royal Children’s the land of their origin!