The Greek Australian VEMA

THE GREEK AUSTRALIAN The oldest circulating Greek newspaper outside Greece email: VEMA [email protected] JANUARY 2008 Tel. (02) 9559 7022 Fax: (02) 9559 7033 In this issue... Our Primate’s View “ ‘TIS THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH, THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR ” PAGE 5/23 Dangerous 2007: A year addictions of frustration in Greece The Sydney Morning Herald says the letter, of the law, and should be rejected by PAGES 14/32 - 16/34 government needs to reduce its addiction state and city authorities. If necessary, the to tax dollars from pokies, asking if it is regulations should be tightened”, wrote the listening to vested interests instead of Sydney Morning Herald. voters. Star City, which is owned by Tabcorp, “It was only a matter of time before the enjoys exclusive rights to operate a casino in loophole in last year’s state legislation NSW. In return, it owes a duty of care to the banning smoking indoors at licensed pre- significant proportion of its patrons who are mises was exposed.” problem gamblers. The Iemma Government A room with as little as 25 per cent of its also needs to do more to reduce its addiction floor area and 10 per cent of its ceiling ex- to tax revenue generated from pokies, now posed to the open can be classed as open more than $1 billion a year. If it does not, the space. Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, who has The Sydney Morning Herald wrote it was expressed concerns about problem gamb- only a matter of time before the loophole in ling and the states’ reliance on revenue from last year’s state legislation banning smoking it, should act to achieve tighter and more indoors at licensed premises was exposed. uniform national standards. NSW clubs and hotels have spent about The Sydney Morning Herald added that $800 million redesigning venues to create “the recent election to the Senate of a South so-called outdoor areas where people can Australian independent, Nick Xenophon, on HEALTH NEWS both consume alcohol and smoke. Under the an anti-pokies platform suggests a growing new laws, a room with as little as 25 per cent constituency for reform. Senator-elect Smoking: Consider of its floor area - and 10 per cent of the by alcohol, many gamble more than they Xenophon and the chief executive of World ceiling and walls - exposed can be classed as can afford. By banning smoking in pubs, the Vision Australia, Tim Costello, will meet Mr your options! an outdoor area. Now, the Star City Casino State Government provided a valuable Rudd next month to discuss a way forward. IT’S TIME TO QUIT! at Pyrmont is seeking approval from City of circuit breaker, forcing patrons to walk away If the struggling South Sydney Rugby Sydney Council to develop the largest such from the pokies to indulge their nicotine League Club can provide leadership by outdoor area in the state, at a cost of $3.9 habit outside. Initial evidence suggests the adopting a no-pokies business plan, it is PAGE 13/31 million, and install 130 poker machines laws have had a beneficial effect. Star City difficult to see why larger businesses and there. says its revenues have dropped by up to 10 elected politicians cannot; unless vested “Everyone knows the hypnotic effect poker per cent since the ban was introduced. Its interests speak louder than voters”. machines have on some patrons. Mes- plan to move poker machines outdoors Read also, “States need to rething merised by the tumbling dials and lubricated represents a challenge to the intent, if not the pokies addiction”, page 7/25 Australia Day: A day for the Zorba composer wants Chooky Dancers in Greece people PAGE 2/20 PAGE 4/22 JANUARY 2008 2/20 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA Zorba composer wants Chooky Dancers in Greece January 20, 1981 Iran Hostage Crisis ends A group of Aboriginal dancers could be heading to Greece later this year after the Minutes after Ronald Reagan's inaugu- spectacular success of their dance routine ration as the 40th president of the Zorba the Greek Yolngu Style. United States, the 52 U.S. captives held at the U.S. embassy in Teheran, Iran, The Chooky Dancers, from Elcho Island, are released, ending the 444-day Iran became instant celebrities when their manag- Hostage Crisis. er Frank Djirrimbilpilwuy posted a video of them dancing to music from Zorba the Greek January 25, 1905 on internet site YouTube. World's largest diamond found Almost 500,000 people have viewed the video since it was posted in October. On January 25, 1905, at the Premier Now the group looks to be headed to Mine in Pretoria, South Africa, a 3,106- Greece where the dance has made them an carat diamond is discovered during a overnight sensation. routine inspection by the mine's super- Mr Djirrimbilpilwuy said Zorba the Greek intendent. Weighing 1.33 pounds, and composer Mikis Theodorakis had invited the christened the "Cullinan," it was the teenage dancers over to his home country largest diamond ever found. after viewing the clip. “They are talking about getting them over to Greece around the middle of the year,” Mr Djirrimbilpilwuy said. “They showed the clip at the town square and they are very interested.” Mr Djirrimbilpilwuy said the dancers had spent Christmas preparing costumes for the tour. They are now in discussions with the NT Government and members of Darwin’s Greek community about possible funding options. Before they head overseas, the Chooky heads the dance group, said he had been he said. January 26, 1788 Dancers will set off for Melbourne in overwhelmed by the interest shown in the “It just took off.” Australia Day February where they will take part in the Chooky Dancers since he posted the clip on He said the dancers, many who had not Channel 7 TV show Australia’s Got Talent. YouTube. even been to Darwin until recently, were On January 26, 1788, Captain Arthur Mr Djirrimbilpilwuy, whose son Lionel “I had no idea what was going to happen,” excited about the chances of a Greek tour. Phillip guides a fleet of 11 British ships carrying convicts to the colony of New South Wales, effectively founding Australia. After overcoming a period of hardship, the fledgling colony began to celebrate the anniversary of this date with great fanfare. February 6, 1952 Elizabeth becomes queen On this day in 1952, after a long illness, King George VI of Great Britain and Northern Ireland dies in his sleep at the royal estate at Sandringham. Princess Elizabeth, the oldest of the king's two daughters and next in line to succeed him, was in Kenya at the time of her father's death; she was crowned Queen Elizabeth II on June 2, 1953, at age 27. JANUARY 2008 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 3/21 Editorial A country without tant in their own little world. The country needs less of these types and a compass more of those who cannot be bought or sold, who have solid opinions and courage, and By Alexis Papachelas - KATHIMERINI who believe that Greece is not that which is desired by a few dozen people having a great As elitist as it may sound, I have always time and slapping each other on the back, believed that a country should be based on a apparently in celebration of their mediocrity. few fundamental principles and a healthy establishment. The hard core of any serious Time for answers European nation comprises an establishment of intellectuals, politicians, entrepreneurs and to crucial questions academics who can collectively see beyond their noses and personal interests. When the Even if there is no hint of a scandal behind country loses its direction, they are the ones to Christos Zachopoulos’s suicide attempt, light address what needs changing. must be shed on every aspect of the affair and Whatever Greek establishment used to exist a number of crucial questions pertaining to it was wiped out by the dictatorship; it went into must be answered. hiding with the first sign of populism and has Who set up the mechanism of blackmail to since become totally compromised. ensnare the former general secretary of the Everything can be bought and sold. The new Ministry of Culture? What were their political Greek establishment tolerates everything, or unionist affiliations? Which journalists including blackmail, just so it can have its were involved in publicizing the controversial peace. It makes money, sends its children to video footage? Did they do it in order to private school and abroad, while sighing, blackmail someone, to make money, or sim- Australia Day suitable place for settlement and came ashore “Alas, this is Greece,” in order to justify its ply to increase their ratings? Who was the at Sydney Cove on January 26 in what is now own inadequacy and nothingness. journalist who sent the DVD to the prime Among Australian public holidays, Australia the historic Rocks area at the southern end of Naturally there are a few exceptions. In his minister’s office and why? What does he or Day is considered one of the most important today's Sydney Harbour Bridge. first term as prime minister, Costas Simitis she expect to gain from this? as it commemorates the founding of the first Having established Port Jackson, he then drew from an establishment of academics and The only way to put a close to this sordid and white settlement in Australia in 1788. named the settlement Sydney after British others who had a true desire to see the coun- filthy chapter of Greek politics is for the gov- On May 13, 1787, British Captain Arthur Home Secretary Lord Sydney, who was try change, but lost the battle with his own ernment, the justice system and the media to Phillip set sail from Portsmouth, England, to responsible for the colony.

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