email: [email protected]MAY 2004 Tel. (02) 9559 7022 Fax: (02) 9559 7033 Web: www.tovema.com.au THE GREEK AUSTRALIAN VEMA The oldest circulating Greek newspaper outside Greece PAGE 13/31 HEALTH Childhood immunization 75th Anniversary for Church of St George, QLD In this issue... Our Primate’s View ‘Boundaries’ and ‘Signposts’ PAGE 5/23 VOLUNTEERS RECRUITMENT PROGRAMME ENDS SUCCESSFULLY UNIQUE RECORD TRAVEL Footpaths of Andros PAGE 16/34 PAGE 15/33 ÁÍÏÉ×ÔÁ 5 ÇÌÅÑÅÓ ÔÅÔÁÑÔÇ - ÐÁÑÁÓÊÅÕÇ: Ãåýìá TETAÑÔÇ - ÓÁÂÂÁÔÏ: Äåßðíï ÔÅÔÁÑÔÇ-ÐÅÌÐÔÇ-ÐÁÑÁÓÊÅÕÇ & ÊÕÑÉÁÊÇ Ãéá Ãåýìá - Äåßðíï Ôá ÓÜââáôá êáé ôéò ÊõñéáêÝò áíáëáìâÜíïõìå êïéíùíéêÝò åêäçëþóåéò - äåîéþóåéò, ãÜìïõò, âáðôßóåéò, áññáâþíåò ê.ë.ð. 12 Merriman Street, Kyle Bay NSW 2221 Phone: (02) 9547 0804 KYLE BAY BOWLING CLUB 18002 ON THE BAY Having set a unique record in Olympic history, the ATHOC volunteer invitation period and submission of volunteer applications ended aerlier this month, with Athens organisers (ATHOC) placing a public notice in newspapers to thank all who rallied in support of this endeavour. More than 60,000 applications were sub- mitted, compared with 75,665 for Sydney and 78,000 for Atlanta. Over the past two years, ATHOC has left no stone unturned in its invitation to people in Greece and abroad to volunteer for the Athens Olympic and the Paralympic Games. This mobilisation has produced some revealing results: Of the candidate volunteers, 55 percent are women and 45 per- cent men. Of the applications, 60 percent were sent via Internet (for the first time in Olympic history) and 40 percent were sent in writing. Of the candidates, 78 percent are less than 35 years old. In The candidates' level of education is also noteworthy: 41 percent have completed a course of higher education, university education, or postgraduate education. In detail: r 59 percent have completed primary and secondary education r 29 percent have completed a university education or a course in higher education r 12 percent have a postgraduate degree One in three claim previous volunteer experience (33.6 per- cent), while as many as one in four claim previous experience with people with a disability (25.6). Asked how long they want to serve as volunteers, 69.5 percent reply 'for more than two weeks'. From applications received it would seem that the most popu- lar work sectors for volunteers are Sports, Ceremonies, Public & International Relations, Spectators Services & Accommodation, and Information Technology. Now that the volunteer recruitment stage is complete, ATHOC will proceed to the next stage of the Volunteers Programme - the selection and incorporation of volunteers in specific positions. This stage began last autumn. As part of the volunteer selection procedure, there have been over 88,000 personal interviews so far. Finalising of volunteer selection and offers of positions for volunteer work began in December 2003 with an official written proposal by ATHOC. More than 30,000 volunteers have locked in their final positions and the procedure is continuing intensively. Volunteers accepting proposals by ATHOC will be asked to participate in training programmes designed for the Games, but also providing, for the great majority of volunteers, a broader base of knowledge and experience likely to bear fruit in the post- Olympic period. This training stage is still in progress. Sectors with special needs or employing large numbers of vol- unteer staff have already started a graded programme of training and information sessions for their volunteers. A significant number of ATHOC volunteers have already been tried out and trained at the 38 Sport Events organised so far. The volunteers who served at the Sport Events - 5,081 of them over- all - took part in the full procedures of training, accreditation, management, and recognition, in an Olympic environment, and they are already an experienced and well-bonded team.
âáðôßóåéò, áññáâþíåò ê.ë.ð.12 Merriman Street, Kyle Bay NSW 2221
Phone: (02) 9547 0804KYLE BAY BOWLING CLUB
1800
2
ON THE BAY
Having set a unique record in Olympic history, theATHOC volunteer invitation period and submission ofvolunteer applications ended aerlier this month, withAthens organisers (ATHOC) placing a public notice innewspapers to thank all who rallied in support of thisendeavour. More than 60,000 applications were sub-mitted, compared with 75,665 for Sydney and 78,000for Atlanta.
Over the past two years, ATHOC has left no stone unturned inits invitation to people in Greece and abroad to volunteer for theAthens Olympic and the Paralympic Games. This mobilisationhas produced some revealing results:
Of the candidate volunteers, 55 percent are women and 45 per-cent men. Of the applications, 60 percent were sent via Internet(for the first time in Olympic history) and 40 percent were sentin writing. Of the candidates, 78 percent are less than 35 yearsold. In The candidates' level of education is also noteworthy: 41percent have completed a course of higher education, universityeducation, or postgraduate education. In detail:r 59 percent have completed primary and secondary educationr 29 percent have completed a university education or a coursein higher educationr 12 percent have a postgraduate degree
One in three claim previous volunteer experience (33.6 per-cent), while as many as one in four claim previous experiencewith people with a disability (25.6).
Asked how long they want to serve as volunteers, 69.5 percentreply 'for more than two weeks'.
From applications received it would seem that the most popu-lar work sectors for volunteers are Sports, Ceremonies, Public &International Relations, Spectators Services & Accommodation,and Information Technology.
Now that the volunteer recruitment stage is complete, ATHOCwill proceed to the next stage of the Volunteers Programme - theselection and incorporation of volunteers in specific positions.This stage began last autumn.
As part of the volunteer selection procedure, there have beenover 88,000 personal interviews so far. Finalising of volunteerselection and offers of positions for volunteer work began inDecember 2003 with an official written proposal by ATHOC.More than 30,000 volunteers have locked in their final positionsand the procedure is continuing intensively.
Volunteers accepting proposals by ATHOC will be asked toparticipate in training programmes designed for the Games, butalso providing, for the great majority of volunteers, a broaderbase of knowledge and experience likely to bear fruit in the post-Olympic period. This training stage is still in progress.
Sectors with special needs or employing large numbers of vol-unteer staff have already started a graded programme of trainingand information sessions for their volunteers.
A significant number of ATHOC volunteers have already beentried out and trained at the 38 Sport Events organised so far. Thevolunteers who served at the Sport Events - 5,081 of them over-all - took part in the full procedures of training, accreditation,management, and recognition, in an Olympic environment, andthey are already an experienced and well-bonded team.
MAY 2004The Greek Australian VEMATO BHMA2/20
Christopher Columbus diesMay 20, 1506
On May 20, 1506, the great Italian explorerChristopher Columbus dies in Valladolid,Spain. Columbus was the first European to
explore the Americas since the Vikings set upcolonies in Greenland and Newfoundland in
the 10th century. He explored the West Indies,South America, and Central America, but dieda disappointed man, feeling he had been mis-
treated by his patron, King Ferdinand of Spain.
Men reach Everest SummitMay 29, 1953
At 11:30 a.m. on May 29, 1953, EdmundHillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, aSherpa of Nepal, become the first explorers toreach the summit of Mount Everest, which at 29,035 feet above sea level is the highest point on earth. The two, part of a British expedition, made their final assault on the summit after spending a fitful night at 27,900 feet. News of their achieve-ment broke around the world on June 2, the day of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation, and Britons hailed it as a good omen for their country's future.
Coronation of Queen Elizabeth IIJune 2, 1953
On June 2, 1953, Queen Elizabeth II is formal-ly crowned monarch of the United Kingdom ina lavish ceremony steeped in traditions thatdate back a millennium. A thousand dignitariesand guests attended the coronation at London'sWestminster Abbey, and hundreds of millionslistened on radio and for the first time watchedthe proceedings on live television. After theceremony, millions of rain-drenched spectators
cheered the 27-year-old queen and her hus- band, the 30-year-old duke of Edinburgh, as they passed along a five-mile proces-
sion route in a gilded horse-drawn carriage.
Mandela writes from prisonJune 10, 1980
In South Africa, the African NationalCongress (ANC) makes public a state-ment by Nelson Mandela, the longimprisoned leader of the anti-apartheidmovement. The message, smuggledout of Robben Island prison undergreat risk, read, "UNITE! MOBILISE!FIGHT ON! BETWEEN THEANVIL OF UNITED MASSACTION AND THE HAMMER OFTHE ARMED STRUGGLE WESHALL CRUSH APARTHEID!"
Tens of thousands of GreekCypriots feted their entry intothe European Union on May1st, but celebratory fireworkscould not conceal the bittertaste left by the accession of adivided island.
Despite more than eight hoursof music and dance that cli-maxed with a concert by one ofthe Greek-speaking world’s bestloved pop divas, Anna Vissi, theatmosphere in Eleftheria (Free-dom) Square on the GreekCypriot side of the divided capi-tal remained sombre.
In a televised address to thenation at the stroke of midnight,President Tassos Papadopoulos,who led his community inrejecting a UN plan to reunifythe island in time for EU acces-sion, insisted he remained opento reconciliation with TurkishCypriots and would not blockEU efforts to bring them in fromthe cold.“We don’t want to celebrate the
joys and fortunes of EU acces-sion on our own, we want toshare it with the TurkishCypriots,” Papadopoulos said.“As legal citizens of the Cyprus
Republic they have every rightto this joy and prosperity. Wewait for them. Their place iswith us.”
Just a week before the island’saccession, Greek Cypriots votedby three to one against a UNplan to end Cyprus’s three-decade-old division, killing thescheme even though TurkishCypriots on the other side of theUN-manned demarcation linevoted two to one in favour.The no vote brought strong crit-
icism from EU officials ofPapadopoulos, who campaignedfor rejection, and measures byEuropean ministers to aid theTurkish Cypriots denied thebenefits of joining the bloc.
“Our aim and our ambition isnot to become a troublesome
member of the EU but to provea constructive and creative part-ner,” Papadopoulos said.
“We will fulfil our obligationsresponsibly.”
Papadopoulos, who opposedthe UN plan on the grounds thatit was unbalanced, also pledgedto fight on for a Cyprus settle-ment.
“Rejection of this plan espe-cially is not the end of ourefforts. This will only come witha settlement, a correct settle-ment, one that guarantees lastingpeace for all Cypriots.”
Before he rose to speak, theEU’s new head of delegationAdriaan van der Meer wel-comed Cyprus aboard, but hedid not conceal his disappoint-ment that one third of the islandwas effectively being left out.“I would like very much to con-
gratulate the citizens of Cyprus,”he said adding: “Our message tothe Turkish Cypriot community- we will use every means in ourpower to bring them in.”
Many of the estimated 30,000people who gathered inEleftheria Square shared the bit-ter-sweet feelings about the bigday.
“I feel very happy because wewere waiting for a long time andwe hope the EU will help notonly with our economy but alsowith our political problems,”said Panayiota Ioannou, a 35-year-old mother of two, whosefamily was displaced by the1974 Turkish occupation of theisland’s northern third.
“Joining the EU is not such abig deal,” said Nick Ioannou, a42-year-old mechanical engi-neer selling airhorns to thecrowds.
“The big deal is to solve theproblem of Cyprus ... It would abig celebration if the wholeisland was joining the EU.”
He also worried the GreekCypriot economy would suffer.“A lot of people say that. We
saw what happened in Greece -they had a lot of problems (onEU accession).”
The central bank has stronglyrejected fears that the removal ofexchange controls will spark arun on the Cyprus pound, butdid little to dispel them with asurprise announcement earlier inthe day of a one percentagepoint increase in interest rates totackle what it dubbed “ground-less rumours”.
In a symbolic gesture, threeTurkish Cypriot acts were on thebill for the evening’s entertain-ment despite the rejection ofreunification in the twin referen-dums in April.Banners celebrating the island’s
accession adorned the Venetian
walls that ring the city’s historicheart in Turkish as well as Greekand English.But within minutes of the fire-
works and the EU anthem Odeto Joy ending, the crowd haddispersed, half an hour beforethe EU officially admitted its 10new members.
Across the divided capital,Turkish Cypriots were left toconsole themselves with theplaudits of the internationalcommunity on their yes vote inthe recent referendum andpledges of hundreds of millionsof dollars of aid from theEuropean Union and the UnitedStates.
AFP
Greek Cypriots party, but still bitter taste on EU membership
Two Greek Cypriot girls celebrate their entry into the European Union on May 1st
MAY 2004 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 3/21
We had an enormous fig tree at the backof our cafe when I was a child.
When the figs ripened, I’d be filled withanticipation as my little thumbs pulledapart the fruit, checking for spiders.
Before I started on each fig, I couldalready imagine the beautiful sight of theflower that would unfold as the flesh wastorn open, and I could imagine the taste.There was nothing to ever match thiscombination. Not even the grapes wegrew.
Both my brother and I looked forward,each year, to the grapes being harvested,but my father could never convince me toget up the stepladder to help him cut thebunches off the trellis. I knew full wellthat if I survived the shaking ladder, therewere zillions of green spiders and cater-pillars just waiting for me amongst thevines. No, such a task was better left up toa man.Men, I thought, could do just about any-
thing. I’d read enough comics to knowthat men could fly - well, at leastSuperman did. And if a man could, somight I. I tried jumping up off the ground,
but that didn’t work. If only I could startfrom a higher spot, I knew I’d take off andcontinue skyward. No doubt, this ideahad been fueled by some half-bakedinformation my older brother had givenme.
We had the perfect launch pad: the firstlanding of the stairs leading up to our res-idence above the café. For some reasonmy brother decided that I should be thefirst to experience flight (he wasn’t silly).Standing there, being egged on by mybrother and a few of his mates, I decidedagainst it.
If I did manage to take off, how wouldI know where I was going to eventuallyland? It could mean a long, long walkhome.
Of course, the boys had no such fearsand their imaginations took flight, even iftheir young bodies didn’t, as they jumpedoff the landing over and over again.
My brother and I weren’t the only fam-ily members interested in flying. A flyinginstructor moved to our town and some ofthe local men, my father included, bandedtogether to support his new flying school.
They established an aero club and in oneof the hangars, as a sort of museum dis-play, they hoisted the mangled remains ofa cropduster’s plane that had lost a battlewith some overhead telegraph wires. Butthe constant site of the wreckage didn’tdampen their enthusiasm for flying.
Like the boys who ‘flew’ off the land-ing, these young pilots-in-training werespurred on by their imagination. By beingable to envisage what they one day hopedto achieve, to pilot their own plane, theycould cast aside any fears or doubts, andgo after their dream.
Talking Point
by Ann Coward
EditorialShelved
"These children also had mothers whomourned,” an old man says. He is talkingabout the three Albanian youths who weremurdered in northern Greece about 10years ago. The victims were “illegal immi-grants.” They did jobs which no longer suitour European air.
They had no papers, hence they wereexpendable and effaceable. If your exis-tence is not confirmed by identity cards,passports and stamps, no one will look foryou. An idle civil servant will add yourname to the missing persons list and yourcase will be shelved - along with the tearsand the pleas of an anxious mother whowill have traveled from Albania, Bulgariaor Moldova.
Even if this turns out to be another gangof hit men, even if it is not proved thatthose suspected of having assassinated thethree Albanians are involved in the disap-pearance of foreign women, theThessaloniki killings remind us of the“other” Greece which we are, in vain, try-ing to repress, overlook or ignore.
The picture looks bright, but black blood,a lot of it, flows underneath. Along withlies and hypocrisy.
This is the real life. Before we dehuman-ize the situation enough to explain awaythe murder of two people, we must first beconvinced that since the victims wereAlbanian, then that somehow makes itmore tolerable than otherwise.
We must also be convinced that somepeople in our social environment willremain silent - out of fear or neglect -
while others will recover their memory andsensitivity with a 10-year delay. I am notclaiming that the killings were driven byracist motives. However, it is obviousthat the “inferior” race of the victims facil-itated their “disappearance,” allowingsociety and police to shelve their case.Even if they too had mothers whomourned.
Intense opposition? PASOK’s leadership is obliged - in view
of next month’s European elections - toshow the public that it has got over the ini-tial shock of its March election defeat andto demonstrate a certain dynamism inopposition.Moreover, PASOK’s leader has already
become the target of negative criticismfrom several cadres who are convincedthat, due to his irresolution, the “majordemocratic faction” has lost its momen-tum.So, with the June 13 European Parliament
elections looming and with polls predict-ing PASOK at eight percentage pointsbehind New Democracy, GeorgePapandreou has been forced to display an“aggressive” attitude toward the govern-ment and to promise yet another “newbeginning” to PASOK’s (disappointed)grass roots.
Although there is not much time left untilthe European elections, and althoughPapandreou’s party may not be ready toface an electoral showdown with the aimof “correcting” the impressions created bythe unfavorable outcome of the March
general elections, Costas Simitis’s succes-sor now has no choice but to exerciseintense opposition. And he must also reas-sure front-line and middle-ranking partycadres who believe that, unless thingschange, PASOK’s prospects are dim.
What Papandreou will probably aim foris to survive the elections without anymajor losses and to create a situationwhere he is entirely in control of the partyahead of a scheduled convention inNovember....
Fruitful visit The visit by Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Greece was apositive development as it helped consoli-date a feeling of mutual trust -also amongthe public - a feeling that is reinforced bythe excellent personal ties between the pre-miers of the two countries.
It is worth noting that the most spectacu-lar steps in improving the political climateon the two sides of the Aegean were takenin Thrace, thereby rewarding the Greekprime minister’s political insight.
Conservative leader Costas Karamanlisdid not once hesitate to give the green lightto Erdogan’s formal visit to northernGreece, despite criticism and warmonger-ing remarks, mostly from oppositioncadres.
“No one told you to abandon yourTurkish identity, but do not forget that youare Greek citizens,” Erdogan said whileaddressing the part of the Muslim minoritywho are ethnic Turks.
“You are Greek citizens and citizens of
the European Union... A strong Greece willprovide you with greater benefits,” theTurkish prime minister added.
Erdogan’s weighty remarks dealt a seri-ous blow to the hardline patriots within theminority.
Deputy Foreign Minister EvripidisStylianidis was right to point out that “it isclear that the stand and the remarks madeby the prime ministers of Greece andTurkey serve as a warning to nationalistand extremist voices of the past and takesthe wind out of their sails. The two sidesare abandoning past insecurities and mis-givings and sending a strong message ofunderstanding and cooperation on allsides.”
The controversy-filled and complexproblems between Greece and Turkey nodoubt still exist. A solution is neither close,nor easy. Nevertheless, the two premiersagreed that although they will both aim towork for a settlement, no deadline shouldbe set for resolving these disputes.
Parallel to their low-level discussions,the efforts of the two premiers center onthe cultivation of a climate of trust, build-ing a better environment in which futuretalks can be held. Debate on Turkey’s EUfuture in the coming months should helpreinforce this climate as the Greek govern-ment never tires of stressing its uncondi-tional support for Turkey’s demand for anEU talks date.
The strengthening of economic tiesbetween Greece and Turkey is also expect-ed to fuel the momentum of rapproche-ment between the two countries.
KATHIMERINI (11-5-2004)
A sprinkling of fairy dust:
the gift of imagination
114737
MAY 2004The Greek Australian VEMATO BHMA4/22
Greek community spirit will rise to the heav-ens with the crafting of a 30,000-piece mosaicVirgin Mary.
Greek grandmothers were moving overdrivelast month in preparation for a communityproject set to encompass all members of thecommunity.
St Gerasimos priest Father Leslie Kostoglouhas called for as many helpers as possible tocomplete a 1.5 metre-high panel of the VirginMary to adorn the exterior façade of the Leich-hardt church.
The 12th Century Byzantium Virgin Mary,currently residing in the Basilica di San Marcoin Venice, will be reproduced by a team ofcommunity-minded people led by Nola Dia-mantopoulos of Mosaic Madness in Rozelle,using smalti – the original hand made glassmosaic material used at the famous church.
“We are hoping to create a great sense ofinvolvement among the people of the commu-nity,” Ms Diamantopoulos said.
“Not because it’s a religious art work, butmore so that people will gain a sense of thepast and understood the value of being togeth-
er with the people in your neighbourhood.Whatever you can bring, whether you cook onthe day, lay a tile, or come by with some wordsof encouragement – just coming together iswhat’s important.”
The first work session was held in early Maywhere the multi-coloured tiles were laid onmesh, following a model of the original.
Ms Diamantopoulos said she hoped to com-plete the three-stage project, which will alsosee the emergence of a reproduction of Jesusand St Gerasimos by Easter next year.
“Can you imagine that a five year old willcome to the studio next month and place a tinypiece of smalti on this work, and in 30yearstime he’ll show his five- year-old- also and beable to point out that the tiles next to his werelaid by his grandmother.”
Nola Diamantopoulos can be contacted atMosaic Madness on (02) 9818 7471 or visitwww.mosaicmadness.com.au
Inner Western Courier(22-3-2004)Report Nicole Azzopardi
Spirited remake
The first work session was held in early May where the multi-coloured tiles were laid on mesh, following a model of the original.
STOP PRESSSBS Radio has just completed its broad-
cast in two parts (8-5-04 and 15-5-04) of aninterview with PASOK MP and formerMinister Mr T. Pangalos, taken by journalistMr Themis Kallos.
Without commenting on Mr Pangalos’well-known audacity with regard to institu-tions and persons, it was striking that hecould not recall the names of people aboutwhom he was speaking, not even that of theArchbishop of Australia (characterizing himas a ‘poet’ in order to assist his interviewerMr Kallos).
With unashamed falsity, he exaggeratedthe one-off incident concerning BishopEzekiel and the exclusion of former ConsulGeneral Mr Veis from a particular Churchevent, as if it applied generally to all of ourChurches and to His Eminence!
The greatest falsehood was his claim thathe has never met the Archbishop of Aus-tralia because the latter “placed certain con-ditions for a meeting to occur, as if we wereboth Heads of State”. Yet the only conditionthat His Eminence placed prior to agreeingto a meeting, was that Mr Pangalos would
be prepared to listen to the criticism that wasin store for him on account of all that he hadsaid and done to the detriment of theChurch.
As members of the Diplomatic Corpsrecall, Mr Pangalos accepted this singlecondition when requesting the meeting in2000. Yet, when he eventually did not cometo the Sydney Olympics due to his disagree-ment about his role next to the President ofATHENS 2004 Mrs Angelopoulou-Daskalaki, he hastened to send a gift of areplica of a statue of Hera to the Archbishopthrough the Consulate in Sydney. While thegesture of the gift honours him, his lie aboutrejecting to meet with the Archbishop undercertain conditions does not.
Also noteworthy are the unacceptablyselective and scandal-mongering questionsof Mr Kallos, who did not disclose the factthat he is concurrently the President of oneof the Parish-Communities of the CanonicalArchdiocese of Australia! While this mayhave been part of his attempt to maintain‘objectivity’, he must surely realize that hislisteners are not as naïve as he assumes.
Too much TV, too little exercise can shorten your life, health experts warn
By Penny Bouloutza - Kathimerini
Obesity and adult-onset diabetes are twin epi-demics, say the experts, who are predicting thatthese ailments will acquire the dimensions of apandemic in coming decades. Yet both can tolarge extent be prevented by adopting a health-ier lifestyle. Unfortunately, the contemporaryGreek lifestyle involves long hours watchingtelevision and the consumption of fast food andsnacks.
A study of 253 patients conducted by theObesity-Diet-Metabolism-Endocrinology lab-oratory at the Hygeia Hospital showed that onein four people who are obese watch televisionmore than 21 hours a week, while those in thesample watched 16 hours a week on average.Department director Giorgos Panotopoulospresented the results to the press last month,prior to the Third Postgraduate Seminar onDiabetes and Sugar Diabetes Type 2 in Athens.
The more television the participants watchedthe more abdominal fat they had. The majorityof cases (67 percent) ate snacks (crisps and bis-cuits) while watching television. Experts saythat a large packet of crisps contains 1,000calories, the same as 3 kilos of fillet steak.
More than half those questioned said they didnot exercise, and only 18 percent said theyexercised for three hours a week. According to
international studies, an increase of two hours aday in television watching by a population isaccompanied by an increase of 23 percent inthe incidence of obesity and a 14 percentincrease in the incidence of non-insulin depen-dent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), or adult-onsetdiabetes, every year.
Christos Zoupas of the Diabetes Centerexplained that most cases (80 percent) of adult-onset diabetes are related to obesity, but mod-erate, steady weight loss can reduce the inci-dence of the disease to about 50 percent. Morethan 1 million people in Greece are estimated tosuffer from adult-onset diabetes, with 30,000new cases recorded every year. NIDDM dia-betes is the fastest-growing chronic disease inthe world. Its causes include limited sportsactivities at schools, the decreasing number ofplaygrounds, rising consumption of fast food,and stress.
A fine a day keeps peddlers awayIt’s a beautiful Sunday morning. Sipping a
coffee in the Greek sunlight with theParthenon as a backdrop has always been oneof the main reasons tourists still come to thiscountry, and many even decide to stay. Butnow this serenity is disrupted every four min-utes by a passing peddler shoving illegal CDsin your face in efforts to sell.
And sell they do. One in every two CDssold in Greece is illegal. This is costing thegovernment approximately 3.8 million eurosa year and the local music industry 25 percentof its sales, making Greece the country withthe highest extent of CD piracy in the EU.
But the cheap CD that people buy at around5 euros - and let's face it, if there wasn't
demand there would be no supply - is alsocosting the local music industry jobs. Some350 people got the pink slip in the last twoyears, two record companies called it quits,one shut down its warehousing and distribu-tion units in a cost-cutting effort, 150 musicretail shops went bankrupt and now thebiggest company in Greece, Minos-EMI, isslashing jobs left and right. The industry is pointing the finger at theNigerian community, claiming they'vebecome an independent, highly-organisedmafia, equipped with hi-tech CD-writers thatcan produce hundreds of pirated CDs in amatter of minutes.
ATHENS NEWS , 07/05/2004
MAY 2004 Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 5/23
Our Primate’s ViewYou shall not remove your neigh-
bour’s boundaries, which the fathers of old timehave set in your inheritance.
Deuteronomy (19:14)
Friends of this column shouldview the present article as a natur-al continuation of our April edi-tion. That means that here also weshall deal with issues that are notsimply commentaries on ‘current’affairs, as presented by the media.We have here the ‘existential cry’of an Orthodox Shepherd and The-ologian on those issues which are‘foremost’ and ‘crucial’! Issueswhich the entire people of Godshould remember, and respect andreflect upon. Otherwise they can-not be deemed a ‘chosen people’,that is, the people ‘belonging’ toGod. They would be merely an‘Assembly’ (of a Clergy that ‘doesnot fear God’ and of a People whoare ‘unstable’).
The ‘boundaries’, therefore,about which we shall speak are notjust conventional demarcations,as we understand ‘national bor-ders’ of countries that are deter-mined by the oscillations of histo-ry and international treaties. Nei-ther are they territorial ‘proper-ties’ of individuals that aredefined by a Lands Registry or‘fixed’ by legally and identifiableboundaries or ‘fences’.
Here we shall speak about the‘boundaries’ set by the Fatherswho are the defining ‘roots’ of acertain lineage and people. Onlythese ‘roots’ and these ‘bound-aries’ gather a people into an indi-visible family of similar lineage,an omogeneia that is permeated bythe same ideals and inspired bythe same values.
If the Church, as claimed, is themost representative Tradition aswell as the most authentic Body ofthe Incarnate God, then it followsthat the ‘boundaries’ set by theFathers, that is the Doctrineswhich they determined throughthe Holy Spirit (in EcumenicalCouncils), drawing upon theteachings and the general Revela-tion of God as it was given to us“at various times” and “in variousways” (Heb. 1.1), then no one hasthe right to ‘change’ or to ‘ampu-tate’ this common inheritancewhich concerns the whole humanrace. And for this reason, precise-ly, the Church is confessed in theCreed as ‘ONE, HOLY,CATHOLIC and APOSTOLIC’.
We shall better understand the
significance of these ‘bounda-ries’ in the spiritual inheritanceof the Church if we state that theyconstitute the ‘pre-existing bound-ary marks’. In other words the‘fences’ which ‘define’ up to whatpoint one may proceed andadvance in security. Beyond these‘boundaries’ we find ourselvesautomatically ‘out of bounds’,that is in ‘exile’. And when onefinds oneself outside one’s protec-tive ‘boundaries’, one has no tho-rax (= chest) with which tocounter and resist. One has no‘chest-plate’, no ‘armored’ vehi-cles. One is completely ‘unshield-ed’! This is the reason why thedogmatic decisions taken by theSynods of the Church are called‘Definitions’ because they‘define’ the Faith, while the deci-sions that determine the praxis(action) of the Church are called
‘Canons’ because they ‘regulate’the appropriate ‘mode’ of the rela-tions and functions of her life incommunion.
It must immediately be said,however, that both the ‘Defini-tions’ and the ‘Canons’ that formthe clear boundaries as to how farwe can move on stable ground, infreedom and security, do notunder any circumstances consti-tute blind ‘impediments’. Theydo not ‘tangle around our feet’ inorder to set back the course of lifeand thought. This means that theboundaries passed on to us, that isthe tradition of the Forefathers(both men and women), is not aforce that binds us in a static man-ner. On the contrary, it is a seriesof protective and, at the sametime, directional ‘arrows’ thatguide and steer us with thedynamism of accurate pointers.Therefore, the ‘Definitions’ and‘Canons’ of the Church do notdemarcate only ‘how far’ butabove all ‘towards where’ we canmove. This is precisely why theboundaries are, at the same time,reliable signposts.
However, for the correct andhealthy Church (Orthodoxy), the
boundaries and signposts withwhich the Fathers have endowedus forever, thereby securing ourstable pathway - so long as weremain faithful, of course, to allthat has been passed on to usthrough ‘obedience to their words’(ôïéò êåßíùí ñÞìáóé ðåéèüìåíïé) -are not, strictly speaking, just theDoctrines (the Faith) and theCanons (the ‘action’). Thereexists a third element that express-es more fully the two previouselements together, referring themlike ‘a scent of spiritual fragrance’to God who is glorified in HisTrinity. We speak here aboutsacred worship. This third ele-ment, which has as its dominanttone the doxology on behalf of allrational spirits, through the ‘offer-ing’ of all things created to theuncreated Creator of all, encapsu-lates the whole ethos of the
Orthodox. Not only inside butalso outside the Church building.For this reason we confess in wor-ship that God is ‘He, Who at alltimes and at every hour, both inheaven and on earth, is wor-shipped and glorified…’ (SmallCompline).
In any event, because worshipcombines and concurrently acti-vates, through the participation ofthe whole Body of the Church, allthat is prescribed by both the dog-matic Definitions and the sacredCanons – indeed sanctifying,through the Holy Sacraments, thewhole life of the Church militantin the world – in our next issue,with a specific and more completearticle, we shall expound theimportance of steadfast Orthodoxworship. In this way we shall havethe opportunity to underline spe-cific examples of some recent andentirely unacceptable ‘innova-tions’ in the sphere of public wor-ship initiated through lack ofjudgement by ArchbishopChristodoulos of Athens, whichwe are readily entitled to charac-terize not only as imprudent butalso as completely blasphemous,as our next article will demon-strate.
By ArchbishopStylianos
of Australia
‘BOUNDARIES’and
‘SIGNPOSTS’
MAY 2004The Greek Australian VEMATO BHMA6/24DID YOU KNOW? Caligula of Rome had hisfather, mother and two brothers killed tobecome emperor. Nero had his mother andfirst wife killed. Both were hated so much bythe people that all references to them weredeleted from official Roman documentation.
Planning and research are two activities thatmost companies should place more emphasison, however when it comes to the day to dayrunning of a business, planning and researchare the two activities that tend to be neglected
when the pressures of staff, operations or cashflow take over. This month Mia Saris one ofour new committee members gives us someinsight into Planning and research through herinvolvement in a leading manufacturing com-pany that competes in the tough market offood manufacturing.
With less than 100 days to go to the open-ing ceremony of the Olympics, all the world’s
eyes are now turning to Athens, Mia gives usa personal account of the current Media fren-zy that seems to be enveloping the games andhow we as proud Hellenes should demon-strate our unity in supporting the ideals of theOlympic Games. Finally we ask Kalle Ama-natides to provide some insight from the eyesof a marketer in a law firm Remember to giveus your feedback at www.hacci.com.au
Getting of Wisdom Kalle Amanatides is a Business Development Advi-sor for Freehills law firm in Melbourne.What I know about: MarketingAs a services marketer with a law firm, I'd say thatmarketing is about recognizing the needs of yourmarket and delivering a level of service that meets theexpectations of that market. Its all about exchangeand matching individual and organizational objec-tives. Sounds simple, but getting it right is the realchallenge!
Organizing an eventThe secret behind a smooth running event is detail!Everybody remembers those events where things gowrong... in fact at most events some things will cer-tainly go wrong. An event organizer will just hope itssomething they can quickly solve. The way aroundthis is detailed planning, contingencies, a dose ofgood luck and the good will of those aroundyou!Also, a sense of humor never goes astray!
Keeping Clients HappyIn our competitive age, keeping the customer happyhas come to mean exceeding expectations - as theyard stick continues to move, there's a higher demandfor quality and value. If you know what your cus-tomers expect, that's half way to meeting their needsand making sure they are happy.
Fashion Hmm… tricky question. Whilst I enjoy admiringfashion I have to say my ideas are pretty simple -stick with what you're comfortable in and what suitsyour mood. As someone with many interests andmany moods, fashion for me is a reflection of myactivities - whether its suiting up for work, loungingin jeans on the weekend, running around in sweatsand sneakers - when you're comfortable in your 'skin'then the rest falls into place.
SportsProvides the balance in life! Sports offer so much -from spectating and admiring other people's excel-lence, to participating and stretching yourself physicaland mentally. It can offer a refreshing release andgives you the energy and skills to tackle other chal-lenges in life!
OlympicsWell, like most Greeks, the Olympics hold a specialplace in my heart, especially as Athens hosts thisyear's games. Whilst there has been much cynicismsurrounding Greece's ability to host these games, andthey have been predicted to be a 'comedy of errors',the Greek's have an ability to perform magic. Theremay be hitches along the way and certainly plenty ofdrama, but the 2004 games will also be filled with lifeand passion - would the Greek's have it any otherway?
Greek communityLiving in Melbourne and being part of HACCI givesme the opportunity to be involved with the Greekcommunity of which I am very proud. We have somany talented individuals, in so many different fields,with so many achievements that go unnoticed andunrewarded. HACCI and other community organisa-tions strive to recognise our notable achievers andshare this with the Greek and wider community
TWO SIDES TO THE STORY - The Olympic DreamMia SarisBrand Manager: Black Swan DipsPoseidon Tarama Pty. Ltd.
With less than 100 days to go to the opening Ceremony in Athens,there is considerable pressure on Greece and the local governmentto ensure the safety of athletes and completion of the buildingworks.
The media and local government are exacerbating the situationby fueling the media frenzy that has enveloped. As a Young Australian Greek, I feel we have to support host coun-
tries like Greece and the Olympic movement by not allowing themedia to sensationalise stories that are part of the organisationsuch a large and complex global event.
Every time someone condemns Greece, we as a community needto find a way to generate some good publicity. After all we haveso much to be proud of. The security budget is three times larger than the one in Sydney,
Greece has no occupation army in Iraq and as far as I'm concerned,unfortunately Australia is more of a target of terrorism than Greeceis.
A 60 minutes program recently ran a segment titled 'AthensOlympics 2004: The Big Greek Tragedy.'
Additionally, after the bombs went off in Athens last week a number of television news and radio stations further suggested thatGreece is not prepared from a security point of view.
In defense, The Herald Sun, ran a piece that reassured Aus-tralians about the safety of our athletes.
This is commendable and the Greek community should formal-ly thank the Herald Sun for this. In the troubled times we live inwe should ensure that we concentrate on the facts.
Greece is spending over one billion dollars on the security of thegames and the Greek army will be on stand by throughout thegames. Greece has utilized the expertise of American, British andAustralian security tactics in order to adequately prepare.
On May the 12th after three days of productive meetings inAthens, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) CoordinationCommission confirmed its renewed confidence that the remainingvenues to be completed for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games willbe ready on time, and that Athens will host successful Games from13 to 29 August.
EventsFor further details about the below events contact the relevant
authorities.Sydney, Friday 4th June and Melbourne, Saturday 5th June,ATHENS 2004 International Olympic Torch Relay. Visit our web-site at www.hacci.com.au for further information and eventdetails.
Planning and Research:
The scariest words in business
Mia SarisBrand Manager: Black Swan DipsPoseidon Tarama Pty. Ltd.
In many small to medium sized work-places the terms "planning" and"research" are all but forbidden. Execu-tives and Managing Directors lose sleep atthe thought of large quantities of financial,human and technological resources beingused without a direct impact to the bottomline.
Many companies choose to develop tac-tical strategies, working day by day, mak-ing short term assumptions and effective-ly doing business in the dark.
The potential consequences? Productand brand failure or even worse marketchanges. It may sound dire you say?There are rooms full of text books thathighlight many failures of businesses thatchose a direction, close the shutters andcontinue to work without any thought forthe external environment or internal direc-tion.
Through practical experience and myinvolvement in small business I hope todemonstrate the some benefits of planningand research and make some suggestionshow it can be done quickly without a hugedrain on resources.
The first mistake people make is believ-ing that planning is the action of creatinga long term direction through a large doc-ument that involves many people andmonths of work. A plan can be a shortstatement for a defined period of timewith select actions. Some business plans I
have seen have been a couple paragraphswith one or two actions and a clear mea-sure for the end results.
Many people use template planningdocuments that have many detail head-ings no one understands no one will everread and end up collecting dust on theManaging Directors bookshelf.
Any planning documentation should besim-ple, easily understood, have clear actionsand ways to measure the impacts of theactions.
Planning should involve a cross sectionof the company that is representative ofthe various groups within the organiza-tion. Everyone's opinion matters in a plan-ning session and no one person's opinionshould carry more weight than the other.The production supervisor for examplewill have an intimate knowledge of theproduction process, this however doesn'tmake the supervisor the expert. Peoplestanding outside of the production processmay have ideas that may provide solu-tions and efficiencies. Microsoft wasknown to invite musicians to planningsessions to provide an alternate view.
A plan is not forever, you should bewilling to change the plan based feedback,changes in the internal environment orchanges to the external competitive envi-ronment.
Agood plan will have an action list witha set of measures by which the actions canbe measured. In this way when youreview what you have set out to do themeasure help rate how the organisationhas performed in relation to the goals youestablished.
This type of planning, often termedeffective planning allows the company toestablish a clear direction and purposeunderstood by all in the organisation. It
further coordinates and provides a struc-ture that allows everyone in the companyto work towards a purpose and preparesyou for those inevitable nasty surprises.
Planning sessions can cost very little.You set aside 3 hours one afternoon,everyone attends, one laptop, one plate ofsandwiches and you are ready to go.
Research often poses even more prob-lems than planning. Research can takemany forms from market research to com-petitor intelligence to target marketingand sampling. Some organisations relyheavily on external market research anddata to help with the decision making.Although this form of research can behelpful to companies, it can come with agreat cost and can sometimes be outdatedor too general.
Much of your research can come fromyour internal data. Many companies fail toextract the most of their internal systemsor ignore the signals that their internaldata presents them. It can be said that theyneglect their own capabilities forgettinghow to think for themselves. This is almost as fatal as those companies
who avoid research all together believingthat they have the expertise to predictwhat the external market wants.
I have a personal example of a 50 yearGreek born, MD who believes he under-stands the taste preferences of a 35 yearold Australian woman with young chil-dren. I would argue although this personhas an intimate understanding of the prod-uct, being able to understand the wants ofthe various consumer segments wouldrequire some form or trial and research. Abalance therefore needs to be struckbetween using some business intuitionand thinking for yourselves and admittingthat you are not mind readers and invest-ing in some useful research.
MAY 2004 Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 7/25
Facts & StatsDID YOU KNOW? Electric cars were introduced in 1896and by the end of the century almost50% of motorcars worldwide wereelectric.
The world had learnt important lessons fromthe outbreak of severe acute respiratory syn-drome (SARS) and was better prepared to dealwith further epidemics, World Health Organi-sation (WHO) director general Dr Lee Jong-wook said recently.
Speaking in Melbourne ahead of the 18thWorld Conference on Health Promotion, DrLee said WHO had been prepared for newcases of SARS, detected in China in recentdays.
Four possible cases of SARS, including onedeath, have been reported in the past week inChina.
They are the first reported cases since lastyear.
"One of the reasons why SARS created sucha panic last year was that it was unknown whatwas the cause of SARS," Dr Lee said.
"Now we know not only the virus, but weknow the DNA sequence of the virus.
"We know how to deal with SARS."We are ready now and much better pre-
pared than last year."He said WHO officers in China were work-
ing very closely with Chinese authorities."The biggest lesson we all learned (from the
last major outbreak) including China, was it isvery important to share information and itdoesn't help to be hiding things."Dr Lee said there was a delay of up to fourmonths from when the disease first emerged inNovember 2002 until February 2003 whenauthorities were notified.
"Clearly it was a mistake initially when therewas information on the outbreak of somestrange disease sitting on this for severalmonths," Dr Lee said.
"It caused a lot of problems for many, thatwas a big lesson we learned.
"That's why at the initial hint of somethinggoing on (recently) the Chinese decided to
share something."He said in dealing with disease outbreaks the
principle was the same regardless of whetherthe cause was known.
"Clearly we need to isolate, quarantine and at the same time we need to find out what iscausing the problem."
The most recent cases have been linked to aBeijing research lab that handled the SARSvirus.
Dr Lee said there were no plans yet to issuetravel warnings or quarantine areas of Chinawhere the latest outbreaks had been detected.
"Of course we'll watch and we will make ajudgement later but as of today there is no needto issue any travel guidelines which we did lastyear," Dr Lee said.
SARS first emerged in southern China'sGuangdong province in November 2002 andhas killed 774 people worldwide since.
AAP
World better placed for further SARS outbreaks: WHO
No unversity students have receivedpromised scholarships
No university student in NSW has receivedan equity scholarship promised by the federalgovernment.
The scholarships, worth up to $4,000 a year,were to be in place for the beginning of theuniversity year in February, The Sydney Morn-ing Herald reported.
The scholarships are part of a program intro-duced by the government last year to helppoorer students with rising tuition and livingcosts.
According to information obtained by theHerald from papers prepared by the Depart-ment of Education, Science and Training, thenation's 38 publicly-funded universities didnot receive the final guidelines or the first pay-ments until the end of February or the begin-ning of March.
The Herald said NSW's 11 universities hadstruggled to implement the program thissemester.
AAP
The service commenced on Monday 29th March 2004and operates Monday to Friday from 9.00 am to 5.00 p.m.
Wonderland Sydney closes its gates
Staff shed tears and long-time visitors paidtheir final respects as last rides were called atAustralia's largest theme park WonderlandSydney last month.
Operators of the western Sydney fun parkannounced in February it would close after 18years because of consistent losses, difficultmarket conditions and skyrocketing insurancepremiums.
The 58-hectare site will be turned into a busi-ness park by a joint venture between INGIndustrial Fund (IIF) and developer PacLibGroup.
Employee of three years, Brendan Fox, 21,said it was a magical, but emotional day.
"I've seen a few tears shed. I think more willcome after tonight," he told AAP.
Mr Fox, who left Wonderland six weeks agoafter hearing it would shut down, said he owedthe theme park a lot.
"I actually started my career in magic here,"the now freelance magician said.
But he was unable to pull out a trick to keepthe park from closing, he joked.
"I had a couple of tricks up my sleeve, butnot enough," he said.
Mr Fox said Wonderland's 400 staff wouldattend a farewell function at the park aftergates closed at 5pm (AEST).
Sheree Masters and Kara Gorey, both aged15, said they had visited the fun park annuallysince they were kids.
"I've got a picture of me at the entrance whenI was in a pram," Ms Gorey, a St Marys resi-
dent, said."We have been coming here since we were
babies. It's just so sad. We wish they didn'tclose it."
Asked where they would go, now Wonder-land had closed, she said: "Nowhere".
"Luna Park's too far away. The movies ... Isuppose," the teenager said.
For the Webster-William family, of Black-town, who held Wonderland passes for thepast three years, it was the end of an era.
"Where do we take our kids? It's the onlything that's close enough to take your kids to,"mother of two, Kim Webster-Williams, said.
She said the family, including five-year-oldSamuel and Chloe, 6, had visited Wonderlandat least ten times since January.
But she said the atmosphere had been the "best ever."
"The staff were talking and happy. The snake bloke started crying," she said.
Wonderland said the majority of its employ-ees had found new jobs. Homes had also beenfound for 85 per cent of the animals from thecomplex's wildlife park.
Hunt for Atlantis leads US researcher to Cyprus
A US researcher who is convinced thefabled city of Atlantis is lurking in the waterydeep off Cyprus will launch an exploratorymission in the northern summer, he saidrecently.
"We believe our discovery will put Cyprusat the centre of the world stage forever,"Robert Sarmast told Reuters.
Sarmast said the east Mediterranean islandis actually the pinnacle of the long-lost cityand the rest of it is about 1.6 km below sealevel.
Using deep sea maps and clues found inPlato, Sarmast said he has discovered asunken rectangular land mass stretchingnortheast from Cyprus towards Syria.
"We are going to sail 70 miles (113 km)offshore Cyprus, directly over the spot
where we believe Atlantis City lays sub-merged and waiting to be discovered," hesaid.
The mystery of Atlantis - both whether itexisted and why it disappeared - has fired theimagination of explorers for centuries.
Many believe the ancient civilisation wasdestroyed in the biblical flood and was thesite of the Garden of Eden.
Greek mythology says Atlantis was a pow-erful nation whose residents were so cor-rupted by greed and power Zeus destroyedit.
Some say it is in the Aegean, others in theAzores or the Celtic Ridge of Britain, andothers put it even farther afield in the SouthChina Sea.
Reuters
MAY 2004The Greek Australian VEMATO BHMA8/26
Windows to OrthodoxyOn God and evil spirits
The teaching of the Christian Orthodox tradition is that Goddid not create evil spirits but rather evil originated in creaturesdue to their disobedience and alienation from God’s lovingpresence.
According to the Orthodox Christian tradition, apart fromthe good spiritual powers that do the will of God, there are theevil spirits which rebelled against God and continue to do evil.The Church claims however, that formerly they too were goodangels, but subsequently fell from God’s presence due to theirhaughtiness and arrogance. The Scriptures claim that these evilspirits broke communion with God out of bitter jealousy andselfish ambition. This then gave way to every manner of eviland the refusal to give thanks and glory to God. This is animportant point, since it affirms the Scriptural truth that every-thing that God created was inherently good. In fact the Scrip-tures claim that God created everything within the world for noother reason than for all creatures to enjoy, reflect and partici-pate in God’s goodness. For this reason evil in general has nosubstantial existence since it is a perversion of goodness. Seenin this way, it must be admitted that the evil spirits were origi-nally and essentially good. Therefore the teaching is that Goddid not create evil spirits but rather evil originated in creatures.
Like angels, these evil spirits are noetic beings or spirits.However, unlike angels they are evil and exist to darken thehuman mind so that it can stray from God. They detest what isgood and their “serpentine wisdom” leads the human person tosin. These evil spirits are neither purely figments of the humanimagination enlisted to act as human scapegoats nor are theypurely psychological or subjective states of the human mindcreated by guilt incurred from human experiences. The Ortho-dox Church would claim that they are real forces which sow theseed of alienation from God within the human mind. Further-more we would also claim that they cannot predict the future orknow the consequences of their sowing; yet by virtue of the factthat they have acted on the human psyche since the beginningof the world’s creation they have learnt to discern certain pat-terns innate with the human being.
Led by their leader Satan these evil spirits believed that theycould attain God-like blissfulness and joy in and of themselveswithout God. Since they strayed from God, they came to becalled devils, because, as the word for devil in Greek (diabo-los) suggests, they divide, slander, separate and destroy bylying. Their leader, Satan is also called Beelzebul1, Beliar2,Eosphoros3, the tempter4 and dragon5. He now stands in oppo-sition to God thereby preventing human beings from attainingcommunion with God as well. St Symeon the New Theologianstated clearly that the devil and the evil spirits in general “con-tinually stand against us, facing us, even if they cannot beseen by us.”6 Everything which causes division therefore is notof God but from the devil since God primarily is love attract-ing the entire world to this love.
In general terms the task of the evil spirits is to go againstthe will of God and to hinder the work of Christ’s salvation hereon earth. They do this by tempting, provoking and occasioninghumanity into spiritually perverted things by lying. In particu-lar the devil as St Paul notes “has blinded the minds of theunbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospelof the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor 4:4)and continuously “prowls around, looking for someone todevour” (1Pt 5:8). In the parable of the Sower, Jesus says thatthe devil “comes and takes away the word from their hearts,so that they may not believe and be saved” (Lk 8:12). More-over the devil, and by extension his evil spirits cause afflictionand suffering in the lives of people – righteous people as well.This is clearly witnessed in the classic story of Job who suf-fered unjustly because he did not want to deny his own integri-ty or the integrity of God. These torments initiated by the evilspirits are carried out for no other reason than to destroy theworld’s relationship with God in whom there is life in all abun-dance.
Why Evil ExistsIn the Christian tradition it is said that God allows this and evenwills evil for at least two reasons. Firstly this can test whetherthe human person really desires a life in God and secondly itcan act as an opportunity chasten or discipline a person. How-ever, what is clear in the Scriptures is that God never acts in thisway to punish the world. The evil spirits incessantly try to
destroy human beings by leading them away from God, notonly “head-on” but also in subtle ways with deceit, hiddenactions and above all lies. Jesus himself describes the devil inthe following way:
“He [the devil] was a murderer from thebeginning and does not stand in the truth,because there is not truth in him. When helies, he speaks according to his own nature,for he is a liar and the father of lies” (Jn 8:44).
From the above words we can see that the chief work of theevil spirits is to fight against the truth of God’s saving actiontowards the world even bringing pain and suffering to peopleso as to test and allure them to do evil. In his message to theChurch of Smyrna, St John the Evangelist writes:
“Do not fear what you are about to suffer.Beware, the devil is about to throw some ofyou into prison so that you may be tested,and for ten days you will have affliction”(Rev 2:10).
To those who are unjust, the devil not only encourages butalso supports them to continue in their evil ways. It must bestated that God gives way or concedes to such trials brought onby the demons so that in being tested human persons may growstronger against sin. In his letter to the Corinthians, St Paulstates this explicitly:
“you are to hand this man over to Satan forthe destruction of the flesh, so that his spiritmay be saved in the day of the Lord” (I Cor5:5).
Being removed from the joy of God’s presence, the humanperson may repent and in the end be saved.
Other times God does not simply give way, but actuallyactively allows and turns people over to the evil spirits. In StPaul’s letter to Timothy we read: “among them are Hume-naeus and Alexander whom I have turned over to Satan, sothat they may learn not to blaspheme.” (I Tim 1:20). On thisdifficult issue St John of Damascus writes:
“Some of the things that are due to provi-dence are by approval, whereas others areby permission… Thus, He often permitseven the just man to meet with misfortunesso that the virtue hidden in him may bemade known to others, as in the case ofJob7. At other times, He permits somethinginiquitous to be done so that through thisapparently iniquitous action some greatand excellent thing may be brought about,as was the salvation of men by the Cross. Instill another way, He permits the devoutman to suffer evil either so that he may notdepart from his right conscience or so thathe may not fall in presumption from the
strength and grace that have been givenhim as in the case of St Paul8.”9
From the above it must be admitted that God does permitsuffering. However it must be made clear that God does notwill evil metaphysically, but does so providentially – that is forthe ultimate salvation of the person concerned.10
As to the second reason why evil exists, it must be said thatGod uses the horror and ugliness of evil for the ultimate gloryand salvation of His creatures. Therefore the victorious onesare those who have overcome evil by good which inevitablymeans suffering and enduring the evils of this world. TheOrthodox teaching is very clear in its teaching that since evilexists, God, anthropomorphically speaking “can do nothingabout it” but use it for good – that is to discipline, cleanse,instruct and even transform evil for the salvation of His people.It can only be for this reason that the Orthodox Church, everyyear sings during Holy Week:
“Bring more evils upon them, Lord, bringmore evils upon the glorious ones of theearth” (Isa 26:15 LXX)11
God uses evil, in this case to the proud, so that He can chas-ten and ultimately save them. The ultimate example where Goduses evil for God is seen in the crucifixion of Christ. It is forthis reason that Hopko rightly stated that
“Jesus’ execution is the most magnificent andcompelling example of God’s use of evil forgood.”12
Jesus endures the scandal and curse of the cross, becomes aninnocent victim for the ultimate salvation of the world.
Fighting Evil with GoodThe Scriptures urge us to be wary: “Discipline yourselves,
be vigilant. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devilprowls around, looking for someone to devour” (1 Pt 5:8).St Paul also states:
“Be strong in the Lord and in the strengthof his power. Put on the whole armour ofGod, so that you may be able to standagainst the wiles of the devil. For our strug-gle is not against enemies of blood andflesh, but against the rulers, against theauthorities, against he cosmic powers ofthis present darkness, against the spiritualforces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Eph6:11-13).
The saints of the Church knew of the great powers of theevil spirits; however they also knew that if they remained withGod and were thus continually filled with the Holy Spirit thenthis would deprive Satan of his power. For this reason they con-tinually urged Christians not only to struggle against the evilspirits but to actively initiative strategies to drive them away bydoing good. St Symeon the New Theologian makes this pointvery clear:
Questions & AnswersI understand why the Orthodox faith does notbury someone within the Church if he or shecommits suicide. What if a person was insaneor experiencing some other psychological dis-comforts at that terrible moment?
In cases of documented illness, there is no problemat all. If the family physician or psychologist treat-ing the person can verify the fact of psychologicalproblems which were the probable source of suicide,a simple letter to that effect will prompt the Bishop
to permit the priest to conduct the funeral according to the ritesof the Church. Your use of the mild term “psychological dis-comfort” indicates why the Church keeps to its basic position.To take one’s own life is quite wrong, because we live as a giftand trust from God. It is not ours to take away, even when wecome to moments of psychological discomfort.Believers, before they ever come to such a point of despera-tion, should have long developed the practice of finding
strength and support in God. This is one reason why the bookthe Psalms is so widely used by Christians as a book of devo-tion - it precisely helps in moments of trial. Just one example:
Though I walk in the midst of trouble’You preserve my life;
You stretch out your hand against the anger ofmy foes, with your right hand you save me.
The Lord will fulfil his purpose for me:Your love, O Lord, endures forever-
Do not abandon the works of your hands.Psalms 138:7-8
Such an attitude toward life and its problems will prevent usfrom ever coming to the point of despondency and despair,which would lead us to such a terrible act as suicide. But youare correct when you raise the question of the difficulty ofdiagnosing whether mental illness was the cause. When thereis the smallest amount of evidence in that direction, the Churchalways acts with compassion, even as it seeks to respect thegift of life from the Creator.
Q
A
MAY 2004 Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 9/27
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Cont. from previous page
“It is one thing to resist andfight one’s enemies andanother thing to completelydefeat and subdue them,putting them to death; for thefirst belongs to athletes andthose brave in ascesis, but thesecond belongs rather to thedispassionate and perfect.”13
The snares of the evil spirits are varied andmanifold where they can even resort to doinggood in order to beguile the human person. Itis for this reason that St Paul warns his readersnot to be swayed from the teaching of Christeven from what appear to be angels since“even Satan disguises himself as an angel oflight” (2 Cor 11:14). Their primary task is todivert the human person from looking towardsGod and this is carried out very discretely. Andif they cannot persuade human persons to fallinto sin then they try to have them pass judge-ment on others. The Patristic tradition is unan-imous in its teaching regarding the importanceof humility in disabling the power of the evilspirits. One should not try to fight them head-on but simply in all humility redirect allthoughts to the direction of good. The fatherswould therefore say that we must try to trans-form any vice directing to a positive effect. Forexample sinful anger can be transformed into‘God-befitting’ anger against all that is evil.
Some concluding remarksThe Scriptures tell us clearly that the power
of Satan will be destroyed at the Second Com-ing and Judgement of Christ14 where thedemons will go to the eternal place of torment.The word for judgement, in Greek krisis,
means separation. In accepting God’s redemp-tion in Christ and living a life in Christ, humanbeings will be saved from the powers of evil.However those who do not repent but contin-ue to do evil and stubbornly refuse God’s lovewill be enslaved to everlasting evil. Christhimself said:
“And this is my judgement,that the light has come intothe world, and the peopleloved darkness rather thanlight because their deedswere evil. For all who do evilhate the light and do notcome to the light, so that theirdeeds may not be exposed.But those who do what is truecome to the light, so that itmay be clearly seen that theirdeeds have been done inGod” (Jn 3:19-21).
However, the Christian Scriptures teach that atthe end in God’s Kingdom evil will not be vic-torious. Rather the presence of God who is “allin all” will be eternal joy and bliss to the right-eous and eternal torment and unhappiness tothe wicked.15 One can also detect a positiveview of demons within the Orthodox Patristictradition. And so some fathers would claimwithout their constant temptation in life, thiswould not have occasioned a conscious anddirect resolve to do good. Therefore Origencould state:
“Let us give thanks for the goodsrevealed to us through tempta-tion.”16
On this issue St Symeon the New Theologianwould go so far as to say:
“Learn to love temptations as if theyare to be the cause of all good inyou.”17
Clearly evil spirits can ultimately be seen asinstruments used by God for the salvation ofthe world, ultimately being the cause of ourvictorious crowns and life in the Kingdom tocome.
Philip KariatlisAcademic Secretary and Associate Lecturer
St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College
1 Math 12:242 2 Cor 6:153 Isa 14:12. Eosphoros literarily means “Bearer ofLight”. It is for this reason that he is described as “O DayStar, son of Dawn” in Isaiah. 4 Matt 4:3, 5 Rev 12:76 St Symeon the New Theologian, Catechsim, 3. 7 Cf. Job 1.12.8 St John of Damascus is here referring to what St Paulis saying in 2 Cor 12:7.9 St John of Damascus, Exact Exposition of the Ortho-
dox Faith, 2.29. 10 See John of Damascus, Exact Exposition of theOrthodox Faith, 2.22-30. Cited in Thomas Hopko, ‘OnGod and Evil’ in Abba, The Tradition of Orthodoxy inthe West (Crestwood, NY: SVS Press, 2003), 182.11 Sung at the beginning of the Holy Week Orthros ser-vice during the singing of the Alleluia. 12 Fr Thomas Hopko, ‘On God and Evil’ in Abba: TheTradition of Orthodoxy in the West, Festschrift for Bish-op Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia, ed. John Behr, AndrewLouth and Dimitri Conomos (Crestwood NY: SVS Press,2003), 187. 13 T.P.G. 1:97.14 1 Cor 15:24. 15 It is not that God will forever punish the wicked butrather that His same presence will bring refreshment onthose that love the Lord and torment to those who persistin evil. It is only in this way that we can reconcile StPaul’s teaching found in 2 Thess 1:9 (“they shall sufferthe punishment of eternal destruction from the presence(or face) of the Lord) with Acts 3:19 (that times ofrefreshing may come from the presence of the Lord). 16 Origen, De. Or., 29:17.17 Cat. 2.
Australia from 9.9c/minUK 4c/min
Windows to Orthodoxy
MAY 2004The Greek Australian VEMATO BHMA10/28
The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 11/29MAY 2004
CURE CANCER AUSTRALIA FOUNDATION
A World Without Cancer, Nothing Less
Cure Cancer Australia Foundationfunds the critical early work of brilliantinvestigators searching for cures for can-cers. Cure Cancer Australia aims to beAustralia’s leading independent founda-tion for cancer research.
The Foundation has a particular inter-est in funding innovative research and thework of young researchers. Scientists likeDr Maria Kavallaris and Dr Diona Dami-an, outstanding members of the Greekcommunity, are former grant recipientsand are now Ambassadors of the Founda-tion.
We offer funding for one-year grantsin the hope that this ‘seed funding’of newideas will allow the researcher to developresults which offer sufficient hope to leadto further, long term, funding from a larg-er granting body. Without these prelimi-nary results and a suitable track record,the researchers are simply unable toobtain funding, and many exciting ideasare lost or forgotten through lack of initialsupport.
This ‘venture capital’approach search-es for breakthroughs in cancer research.
The field is extremely competitive andCure Cancer Australia Foundation is usu-ally only able to fund about 10% of appli-cations received, so the successful pro-jects must, by definition, be very excit-ing.
Cure Cancer Australia funds only onthe basis of excellence. We look at anytype of project, so long as it is directlyconnected with cancer and takes place ina recognised scientific institution. We areindependent of any hospital, researchinstitute, university or government body.Our independence allows us to applywithout favour all funds available; onlythose research and treatment programsthat show merit and sound developmentare considered.
The Foundation does not retain fundsfor investment purposes: we spend all wehave every year to make a maximum dif-ference as soon as possible. We do notprovide support or education services,which are adequately dealt with by otherorganizations. We hope to make theseservices obsolete by helping make the
diseases obsolete.Our long-term goal is a world without
cancer, nothing less.Since foundation in 1967, over $7.9 mil-lion has been distributed to cutting edgeresearch.
An honorary Board of Directorsadministers the Foundation and theDirectors are advised by a committee ofleading specialists in the field of malig-nant disease - our Medical Grants Advi-sory Committee.
All funds raised in each financial yearare distributed as grants in the followingyear. The stringent selection of approvedgrants ensures that each dollar raised isspent soundly and goes towards our long-term goal: a future without cancer. The Foundation is a front-line source ofmoney for researchers in the field ofmalignant disease.
Our research projects are carried outin the leading research laboratories inNSW, including Children’s Cancer Insti-tute Australia, Garvan Institute, West-mead Institute for Cancer Research,Kolling Institute, Kanematsu Laborato-ries, and the Universities of Sydney, NewSouth Wales and Newcastle. In 2004 weare moving towards national funding,starting with our Young Researcher of theYear Award which will be offered in Mayand available to any scientists in Aus-tralia.You can help by
* Organising your own fundraiser* Sending a donation; any amount isappreciated* Sponsoring a research project* Leaving us a bequest. A gift to the CureCancer Australia Foundation in your Willcan help the foundation continue its valu-able research work. It is such a preciousgift you can give to future generations. Contact Us
Cure Cancer Australia FoundationTel (02) 9251 6188Fax (02) 9251 6199
DIVINE LITURGYSERVICES IN ENGLISH - 2004 IN SYDNEY N.S.W.
(Saturday Nights, 6.50 - 8.15)
Bankstown: 6-12 East Terrace 02 9709-6908Blacktown: 47-49 Balmoral Street 02 9621-5311Belmore: Cnr Isabel &Cecilia Street 02 9789-1659Crows Nest: 49-59 Holterman Street 02 9436-1957Gymea: 806-808 The Kingsway 02 9526-6577Kingsford: 72-76 Gardeners Road 02 9663-5147Kogarah: 16-20 Belgrave Street 02 9529-5049Redfern: 242 Cleveland Street 02 9698-5066
May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29Church of St Euphemia, BankstownJune 5, 12, 19, 26Church of St Spyridon, KingsfordJuly 3, 10, 17, 24, 31Church of Archangel Michael, CrowsNestAugust 7, 21, 28Church of Resurrection, Kogarah
September 4, 11, 18, 25Church of St Stylianos, GymeaOctober 2, 9, 16, 23, 30Church of Archangel Michael, CrowsNestNovember 6, 13, 20, 27Church of All Saints, BelmoreDecember 4, 11, 18Church of St Euphemia, Bankstown
Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I willgive you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle andhumble in heart, and you will find rest in your souls. For my yoke is easy and myburden is light.
(Mathew 11:28-30).
for N.S.W.
MAY 2004Greek Australian VEMATO BHMA12/30GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AUSTRALIA
ST. ANDREW’S GREEK ORTHODOX THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE
Have you ever asked yourself … how well can I explain and defend the authentic teaching ofthe Orthodox Church to my children, grandchildren, pupils, neighbours, acquaintances orworkmates when questioned, or even to the ‘preacher’ who knocks at my door?
Do you feel that perhaps the time has come to set about some more focussed and serious studyof the Orthodox Christian Faith whether for professional reasons or for your own spiritualdevelopment?
Yes? Well then don’t delay any further but contact St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox TheologicalCollege which is currently offering an exciting range of courses for people from all walks oflife.
The Theological College is currently offering the following five day vacation schools (inten-sive courses) in four foundational subject areas designed for the general public:
Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics 5-9 July 2004Byzantine History 12-16 July 2004Introducing Theology 10-14 January 2005The Liturgy and the Church Year 17-21 January 2005
You can take just one, two or three of these intensive courses in any order. Alternatively, attendall four and obtain a St Andrew’s Theological College Testamur (no assessment is involved).
If you hold a three year undergraduate degree or equivalent, you may enrol for a governmentaccredited Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies awarded through the Sydney Collegeof Divinity. This Graduate Certificate will require participation in the four vacation schoolsplus the completion of relevant assignments. Additional course units can also be taken in orderto obtain a Graduate Diploma of Arts in Theological Studies or a Master of Arts in TheologicalStudies.
· Who can apply?Men or women who hold a three-year tertiary qualification in a non-theological discipline canformally enrol in the graduate level program.
· Can I still study if I do not hold a three-year tertiary qualification?Yes. Places are provided in the graduate level course units for those who do not have formalentry qualifications but who still wish to participate as auditors. Auditors are not required tosubmit written assignments for assessment and will receive a St Andrew’s Theological CollegeTestamur once they have satisfactorily participated in the four vacation schools.
· How much time is a student given to complete their theological studies?The full Master of Arts program normally extends for one-and-a-half years (full-time) and nomore than three years (part-time). Students enrolling in the graduate program who intend toexit at the Graduate Diploma of Arts or Master of Arts level should plan, if at all possible, tocomplete the four foundational course units within one year. The Theological College requiresthat all students and auditors must complete the four foundational course units within twoyears of enrolling.
· Where will the classes be conducted?All classes are conducted on campus at 242 Cleveland Street [near corner of Cleveland andRegent Streets), Redfern NSW. The Theological College is located on the same premises asthe Central Office of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and the Cathedral of the Annunciation.
· Is parking available?Yes. Limited parking is available on site.
· How do I get to the Theological College?ARRIVING BY CAR, access via two gates located on Cleveland Street side of the premises.ARRIVING BY PLANE, Taxi (approx. $20) from Sydney Airport, or Train from Sydney
Airport terminal to Central Station and 15 min walk either through Prince Alfred Park or viaRegent Street, or Shuttle bus from Sydney Airport terminal to Central Station and 15 minwalk through Prince Alfred Park.ARRIVING BY TRAIN, Disembark at Central Station for a 15 min walk either through PrinceAlfred Park or via Regent Street. Disembark at Redfern Station for a 10 min walk downRegent Street.
· What might the program for a typical vacation school day look like?
· Will the Theological College provide accommodation during the vacationschool week/s?
No. Students will need to arrange their own accommodation. University of Sydney ResidentialColleges offer accommodation facilities which are within walking distance of the TheologicalCollege. Contact Darlington House (02 9351 3322), International House (02 9950 9800), orWesley College (02 9565 3377), for further details. Bookings should be made as early as prac-ticable.
· Will meals be provided during the vacation school week?Refreshments and lunch will be provided each day (included in the base cost).
· Are there any fees involved?Yes. Each course unit/vacation school has a base cost of $300 for the 2004 academic year.Students formally enrolled in the graduate program are also required to pay Sydney Collegeof Divinity fees: $52 entry fee (once only); $52 enrolment fee (per semester); $47 administra-tion fee (per course unit); $77 graduation fee (upon completion). All fees are subject to revi-sion in 2005. Students simply participating as auditors will receive the St Andrew’sTheological College Testamur upon completion of the four vacation schools and no addition-al fees beyond the base cost are required.
· How do I apply?You can request an application form from the Registrar via telephone or email, or you candownload a form directly from the College’s website at www.sagotc.orthodox.nsw.edu.au.Completed applications must be received by no later than Monday 24 May 2004. Applicantswill be informed of offers for enrolment by Monday 31 May 2004. Acceptance of offers andconfirmation of registration must reach the College Registrar by Friday 4 June 2004.Payment for July vacation schools must be made by Friday 2 July 2004.
· Need more information?Contact the Registrar. Tel. (02) 93196145 Fax. (02) 93194281 Email. [email protected]
Whilst every effort is made to avoid changes to this information, published details may bealtered, without notice, at any time. The Theological College reserves the right to withdraw oramend any part of its program without prior notice.
THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC 2004/2005
MAY 2004 Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 13/31DID YOU KNOW? On 5th October 1974,four years, three months and sixteen daysafter Dave Kunste set out from Minneso-ta, he became the first man to walkaround the world, having taken morethan 20 million steps.
For the bibliophiles...
A History of Women in the West: fromAncient Goddesses to Christian SaintsEdited by G. Duby & M.Perrot (Belknap Press)
The first in a 5 volume series of the history of women,with information drawn from many sources - from let-ters written by secular and religious women to tracesleft behind through material objects. Under the sectionon Feminine Models of the Ancient World we find anessay on the sexual philosophies of Plato and Aristotle,and under Traditional Rituals Women Share we findessays on marriage in Ancient Greece, religious ritualsin Grecian cities and the rituals of Early Christianwomen.
Art and the Roman Viewer: the Transformation of Art from the Pagan World to Christianity
By Jas Elsner (Cambridge University Press)
This book aims to show that Christian art, meant to beused in mystic contemplation, developed out of estab-lished art practices and ways in which art was viewed.Unless the reader is comfortable with books on art the-ory it may prove a bit heavy going. There are, howev-er, interesting sections for the general reader of histo-ries, such as the discussion on Pausanius. There areextensive notes and a comprehensive bibliography.
Australian Architecture NowBy Davida Jackson and Chris Johnson
(Thames & Hudson)
This is a pricey, large format book showing “some twohundred of the most significant buildings and places”completed between 1994 and 2000. The introductiondescribes Melbourne as a city that overshadows Syd-ney by its “design exuberance” and this enthusiasticlanguage carries throughout the text. The photos aregreat, and the buildings spectacular (with clever use oflighting to make even the ugly ones look interesting insome notable cases). Of the many architects featured,several are Greek-Australians.
Church of Saint George celebrates 75 years of solid spiritual service
to the Greek Community of BrisbaneEditorial by Mr Leo Tsimpikas, Vice-President of the Greek OrthodoxParish-Community of St George, Brisbane
Over 500 people gathered at The GreekClub & Convention Centre to celebratethe 75th Anniversary of the consecrationof the Greek Orthodox Church of SaintGeorge in Brisbane.
To celebrate this significant milestone inthe history of the Parish-Community of StGeorge, the President Mr EmanuelKallinicos, welcomed distinguishedguests, which included Her Excellency,the Governor of Queensland, Ms QuentinBryce AC, His Grace, Bishop Seraphim,representing His Eminence, ArchbishopStylianos, the Premier of Queensland, theHon. Peter Beattie MP, the Chief Justiceof Queensland, the Hon. Paul de JerseyAC, the Rt. Hon, The Lord Mayor of Bris-bane, Cr. Campbell Newman, the Minis-ter for Education and the Arts, the Hon.Anna Bligh MP, their Graces ArchbishopsDr Phillip Aspinall and John Bathersbyfrom the Anglican and Roman CatholicChurches, the Honorary Consul-Generalof Greece in Queensland, Mr Alex Free-leagus AO and the newly appointed Hon-orary Consul of Greece in Queensland,Mr Jim Raptis OBE. Also present wereother members of the State and LocalGovernment.
It was a night of reflection, as a multi-media presentation of the history of theChurch was shown depicting from thehumble beginnings to the vast range offacilities and services offered today. Thisportrayed the vision of the early migrants'our fore-fathers' as they struggled andovercame many obstacles, but never los-ing sight of what might be in the future asthey laid the foundations and inscribed theblue print for the betterment of their com-munity.
With strong faith, conviction and enthu-siasm, the main ingredients, they pavedthe way for the generations that were tofollow. The unselfish commitment ofthose volunteers was still present to thisvery day when Mr Kallinicos, togetherwith the long serving priest, the Very Rev-erend Father Gregory Sakellariou MBE,presented Life Memberships to ordinarypeople who have displayed extraordinaryenergy and application to the church andcommunity. They were appropriatelyacknowledged at this milestone of thechurch for their great contributions overmany, many years.
Bishop Seraphim, Premier Beattie andLord Mayor Newman all spoke about thevaluable contribution made by the GreekCommunity in enriching the wider com-munity in Brisbane and Queensland bymaintaining culture, heritage and familyvalues, and noting that from humblebeginnings, Greeks today were to befound in all the professions, in politics,education and in private enterprise. Theformer Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Mr TimQuinn, a Philhellene, also presented LifeMemberships to the worthy recipients onthe night.
The Recipients of Life Memberships
were: Mr Dimitrios Costi, Mr MichaelPapadopoulos, Mr Basilios Hatzinikitas,Mr Theodoros Grespos, Mr Perry Panos,Mr Peter Karydis, Mr Zaphiris Zaphi-ropoulos, Mrs Mary Cocolas, MrsKatherine Parascos, Mr Lucas Avraam,Mr Emmanuel Kassos and Mr SavvasPsagrellis.
Also on the evening the InauguralGEORGE PIPPOS AWARD was present-ed to a member of the Greek Communitywho has displayed characteristics ofLeadership and Meritorious service with-in the Greek Community and in the widerCommunity. The Honorary Secretary ofour Community, Ms Esta Thiris, togetherwith Mrs Engeline Pippos, mother of thelate George Pippos OAM, presented thiscoveted award to the Honorary Consul-General of Greece in Queensland, MrAlex Freeleagus. Mr Freeleagus acceptedthis award with great humility and out-lined briefly his long association with thecommunity and his friend, the LateGeorge Pippos. He was deeply movedand honoured to receive this award inGeorge's memory.The Ladies Auxiliary of St George were
recognised and thanked for their hardwork in assisting in the organisation of theevent. In addition, they were thanked for
their untiring efforts in again raising muchneeded funds for the Welfare Trust Fund.
It was a memorable occasion for all, andthe Council of the Greek OrthodoxParish-Community of St George, sincere-ly thank their forefathers for all theirefforts and directions over the years sothat the betterment of the Community cancontinue and trust that in turn the sameenthusiasm and goodwill will be instilledand entrusted with pride into the next gen-eration who will be the Leaders of Tomor-row.
Official Party: L to R Standing: Mrs Toni Kallinicos, Mr Emanuel Kallinicos, MrAlex Freeleangus AO, Mr Micheal Bryce, Mrs Kay De Jersey. Seated: Hon Paul DeJersey, Mrs Heather Beattie, Hon. Peter Beattie MP, His Grace Bishop Seraphim,Her Excellency Mrs Quentin Bryce AC, Cr Campbell Newman, Mrs Lisa Newman.
Mr Vic Feros, Mrs Helen Raptis, Mr Jim Raptis OBE, Honorary Consul of Greece inQueensland, Cr Campbell Newman, Lard Mayor of Brisbane, Mrs Lisa Newman and
Mrs Marion Feros
Hon. Jim Fouras MP and Hon. PeterBeattie MP
ÌÁÕ 2004The Greek Australian VEMATO BHMA14/32
Blessing of Peita’s ‘Garden of Remembrance’
The untimely death of Peita Petrides, a 15 year oldstudent of St. Spyridon College in Sydney, who wasstruck by a car during the school holidays in Janu-ary, plunged her family, her friends and the commu-nity into mourning. The premature departure fromthis world of such a beautiful young girl, distressedeveryone who knew her. It was to be expected thenthat the students and teachers of St Spyridon Collegewould be deeply affected by the tragedy of her sud-den passing.
His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos, who officiat-ed at Peita’s funeral, wept openly with the packedcongregation at St. Spyridon Church along with allthe clergy. Her class-mates in Year11 as well as theteachers who had kept watch at her bed-side withher mother, Mrs Maria Xenos and her father, MrChris Petrides and the family until the end, wereespecially affected by Peita’s death.
In order to ease the pain and to honour their friend,therefore, the Year 11 students created a garden inPeita’s memory at the Senior School campus, under-taking all the fundraising, landscaping, planting,upkeep and care. Roses, jasmine, and violets arenow blooming around a blue urn in a wonderfullylandscaped setting with sandstone edgings. Responding to the students’ request, on Friday 14th
May 2004, His Eminence Archbishop Stylianosofficiated at the solemn Blessing and Memorial Ser-vice for Peita’s ‘Garden of Remembrance’, assistedby Father Steven Scoutas, Father Agathagelos Mas-teas and Archdeacon Sofronios Konidaris. Peitas’mother Maria, as well as her father and fam-
ily, friends and parents of College joined the stu-dents of Years 7 to 12 for this highly emotional cer-emony together with Mr. Con Pavlou, President ofSt. Spyridon Parish, Mr. James Phillips, Chairmanof the school’s Board of Governors, and CommitteeMembers Mr. Steve Coudounaris and Mr. PeterSouleles.
Following the Service, His Eminence ArchbishopStylianos in a moving address, spoke of the devasta-tion that Peita’s mother, in particular, felt at the trag-ic loss of this angelic young girl, this spirited per-sonality who was so full of life. He spoke of theunbearable pain shared by him personally, by theclergy and by all her friends and teachers.
His Eminence said that Peita’s mother, her friendsand all who loved her can draw strength from thethree blessings and powers that come from above -faith, love and hope. He commended the year 11 stu-dents for the love of their friend and praised theirgesture in establishing the garden. He wished allstudents well in their studies, and reminded them tobe careful, to be vigilant so that they might resist thetemptations that come their way, and to keep them-selves safe.
The Archbishop was visibly touched by the out-pouring of love from the students prior to and duringthe ceremony. He comforted each student separatelyand inspired them with his fatherly love. It was evi-dent that there is an inexpressible, a mystic bondbetween St Spyridon students, their Church and theircommunity that sustains and strengthens them, evenin the most troubled times.
On Sunday the 25th April, the Parish-Community of St Anna, Gold Coastwas visited by His Grace BishopSeraphim who represented His Emi-nence Archbishop Stylianos. His Grace celebrated the Divine Li-
turgy in the morning followed by theofficial opening of St Anna’s educationcentre with an Agiasmo service andthe unveiling of a plaque.
His Grace was assisted in the unveil-ing (photo) by Ms Anna Bligh MP,Minister for Education and Arts inQueensland and the Nikiforides familywho are major benefactors of the edu-
cation centre.It is note worthy to mention that the
building housing the education centrewas originally owned by Mr & MrsPeter Vaggelas, whose dream it was toeventually develop this as a school. The education centre is being used to
teach Sunday school, Greek school,Byzantine music and also houses StAnna’s youth groups. There is somescope for expansion of the centre as StAnna has recently experienced anincrease of parishioners to the GoldCoast.
Education Centre Opening on Gold Coast
Ôå÷íïëïãéêþí Óðïõäþí
MAY 2004 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 15/33
Health News with Dr. Theo Penklis
Immunisation is a simple, safe and effectiveway of protecting children against harmfuldisease, before they come into contact withthem in the community.
Immunisation means to receive a vaccine andfor the body to mount an immune response to thevaccine. That is, when a person is injected withor swallows a vaccine, their body responds in thesame it would following natural exposure to thedisease, but without getting the disease. There-fore, if the person comes in contact with the dis-ease in the future, the body is prepared and ableto respond to that disease quickly enough to pre-vent the person getting sick.
WHAT IS A VACCINE?The dictionary definition of a vaccine is a sus-
pension of dead, attenuated, or otherwise modi-fied micro organisms for inoculation to produceimmunity to a disease by stimulating the produc-tion of antibodies.
Vaccines vary in their make up. Some vaccinescontain a small amount of the virus which isweakened. Some vaccines contain a smallamount of killed bacteria and some a smallamount of modified toxin which is produced bythe bacteria. The vaccines have other additives.Some contain small amounts of preservatives orantibiotics to preserve the vaccine and some con-tain an aluminium salt which helps enhance theimmune response.
The terms vaccination and immunisation areoften confused. Vaccination is the term used forgiving the vaccine and immunisation is theprocess for mounting the immune response.
HOW LONG DO IMMUNISATIONSTAKE TO WORK?
Immunisation does not immediately protect theperson from the disease. The normal immuneresponse may take several weeks after vaccina-tion and so it may be several weeks before pro-tection occurs.
To build long-lasting protection, a child needs to be given a course of the vaccine and thetime of subsequent doses is different for differentvaccines. A child who has not completed thecourse for a particular vaccine is not fully pro-tected and the course can vary depending on theage at which the child starts. For example, a childis normally given Pedvax Hib vaccine at twomonths, four months and twelve moths. Forsome reason if the child has not received thisvaccine at the appropriate time according to theRecommended Immunisation Schedule and wasbeing immunised for the first time at the age ofthree years with Pedvax Hib, then this wouldonly require one dose of the vaccine.
DOES IMMUNISATION ALWAYSWORK?
Even when a course has been completed,immunisation may not give complete protection.Measles,Mumps,Rubella,Tetanus, Polio andHaemophilus Influenzae Hib vaccines protectmore than 95% of children who have completedthe course.
However, if vaccines don’t give complete pro-tection, they will certainly reduce the severity ofthe disease. Three doses of the Whooping Coughor Pertussis Vaccine will protect about eightyfive percent of children who have been immu-nised. The remaining fifteen percent of childrenwho are immunised, if they do contract the dis-ease, should receive a less severe dose of the dis-ease.
The effect of immunisation is not always life-long and so for some vaccines a booster dose isrequired.
DISEASES WE IMMUNISE AGAINSTThe diseases we immunise against are :
DIPHTHERIADiphtheria is caused by bacteria which are
found in the mouth, throat and nose of an infect-ed person. Diphtheria can cause a membrane togrow inside the throat which can lead to difficul-ty swallowing and shortness of breath. A toxincan be produced by the bacteria which can causeparalysis and heart failure. About 7% of peoplewho contract diphtheria can die from it. Fortu-nately, because of successful immunisation pro-grammes, diphtheria is now rarely seen.TETANUS
Tetanus is an often fatal disease cause by a bac-teria which releases a toxin which attacks thenervous system causing muscle spasm usuallyfirst felt in the neck and jaw muscles causing‘lockjaw’. It can cause breathing difficulties,convulsions and cardiac arrhythmias. Tetanus ispresent in soil and manure and enters the bodyfrom a wound in the skin which may be the sizeof a pin prick. Tetanus is rare in children todaybecause of immunisation, but it still occurs inpreviously unimmunised adults.WHOOPING COUGH / PERTUSSIS
Whooping Cough also known as Pertussis is ahighly contagious bacterial disease. It is spreadby coughing or sneezing. Pertussis attacks theairways and causes breathing difficulties. Thechild has severe coughing spasms and will gaspfor breath between spasms. This gasping causesthe characteristic ‘whooping’ sound. Complica-tions of Whooping Cough can include convul-sions, pneumonia, inflammation of the brain andpermanent brain and lung damage.POLIO
Polio is a severe viral infection of the nervoussystem. It causes paralysis of parts of the body.Since the introduction of polio vaccines, there asbeen a dramatic reduction in polio infection.There has not been a case of polio reported inAustralia since 1986.HEPATITIS B
This is a serious disease cause by a virus thataffects the liver. The Hepatitis B virus is trans-mitted in infected body fluids including blood,saliva and semen. Babies whose mothers haveHepatitis B are at high risk of being infected atbirth. When a person gets the disease, they mayonly have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all,but many will go on to carry the virus for manyyears. Twenty five percent of the people whocarry this virus will go on to develop cirrhosis ofthe liver or liver cancer in later life.MEASLES
Measles is a serious, highly contagious viralillness which causes fever, rash, runny nose,cough and conjunctivitis. Complications ofmeasles include pneumonia and encephalitis. Avery serious but rare illness called Subacute Scle-rosing Panencephalitis (SSPE) can occur in chil-dren several years after measles infection. SSPEis a disease which rapidly destroys the brain andalways results in death.MUMPS
This is viral disease which causes inflamma-tion of the salivary glands. It can cause meningi-tis and encephalitis. Mumps can cause perma-nent deafness and in adolescent and adult malesit can cause infertility.RUBELLA
Rubella , also known as German Measles, isa mild disease of childhood. It is highly conta-gious. Congenital rubella infection is a seriousproblem. This is where infection during the firsttwenty weeks of pregnancy can result in seriousdefects in the newborn including deafness, blind-ness, congenital heart disease and mental retar-dation.HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE TYPE B (Hib)
This is a bacterial infection which can cause
life-threatening illnesses in children under fiveyears of age. In addition to causing pneumoniaand joint infection, Haemophilus InfluenzaeType B can cause swelling in the throat of theepiglottis (epiglottitis) which can obstruct breath-ing and can also cause meningitis. In children,both these conditions can develop quickly and ifnot treated, will cause death.MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE
This is a serious disease cause by the bacteriameningococcus. It is spread by droplet infection.There is a vaccine for the C strain of the disease.Meningococcal disease is an uncommon butpotentially life threatening infection that causesmeningitis and septicaemia.PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE
This is a serious disease cause by the bacteriapneumococcus. It can cause diseases such as earinfections (otitis media) or more serious diseasesuch as pneumonia, septicaemia and meningitis.VARICELLA / CHICKEN POX
This is a mild but highly contagious viral dis-ease. The virus responsible for Chicken Pox isknown as Varicella Zoster. Chicken Pox usuallycauses a mild illness in children with completerecovery. More serious complications of Chick-en Pox include encephalitis and pneumonia.
THE IMMUNISATION SCHEDULEThe Australian Vaccination Schedule as
recommended by the National Health and Med-ical Research Council of Australia is shown inthe attached table, The National ImmunisationProgramme 2004, and represents the schedule ofvaccines and the ages at which they are given forchildren born after January 1st , 2004.
The vaccines used in this schedule are provid-ed free. The National Immunisation Programmedoes not provide free vaccines for Varicella(Chicken Pox) or Pneumococcal disease.Although some children may be eligible forpneumococcal vaccine under the National Child-hood Pneumococcal Vaccination Programme.Parents can purchase the vaccines for ChickenPox or Pneumococcal disease from any chemistonce they have been prescribed by their doctor.
The Immunisation Schedule forChildren born from 1 January 2004
The National Immunisation Programme 2004
Age Disease immunised againstBirth Hepatitis B2 months Diphtheria, tetanus
and pertussisHepatitis BHibPolio
4 months Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussisHepatitis BHibPolio
6 months Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussisHepatitis B – or at 12 monthsPolio
12 months Measles, mumps and rubellaHepatitis B – or at 6 monthsHibMeningococcal C
4 years Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussisPolioMeasles, mumps and rubella
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS OF IMMUNISATION
Many children may experience minor sideeffects after immunisation. These side effectsmay include low grade fever, being unsettled,grizzly, generally unhappy, soreness or rednessor swelling at the injection site. Oral Polio vacci-nation can cause diarrhoea. Measles, Mumps,Rubella vaccination may cause a head cold ,runny nose, faint rash, fever or joint pains andswelling of the facial glands.These symptoms may be concerning and cause
the child discomfort, but the minor adverseeffects of these immunisations by far outweighthe risks of the disease.
Generally speaking, if these symptoms dooccur, it is important to give the child extra fluidsto drink, not to overdress the child, and to giveparacetamol to lower the fever.Other side effects may occur and if you are con-
cerned you should discuss these with your doctorat the time of immunisation.
WHAT YOUR DOCTOR NEEDS TO KNOW BEFORE YOUR CHILD
IS IMMUNISEDThe doctor needs to know if your child is
unwell or has had a severe reaction to a previousvaccine, or has severe allergies.
If your child has had a live vaccine within theprevious month (such as Tuberculosis, MMR,oral poliomyelitis or yellow fever vaccine) or aninjection of immunoglobulin or a transfusionwith whole blood, the vaccination may need tobe delayed.
The doctor should be advised if the child has adisease which lowers immunity or is havingtreatment which lowers immunity such as steroidmedicine such as cortisone or prednisone, radio-therapy or chemotherapy. Certain medical condi-tions affecting the brain or spinal cord may meanthe immunisation may be given a different way.
A child who is living with someone who is notimmunised for polio may put that person at riskof developing polio. Therefore your doctorshould be advised if someone lives with some-one who is not immune or has a disease whichlowers immunity.
THE BENEFITS OF IMMUNISATIONImmunisation does not only provide a safe and
effective way of giving protection against dis-ease. It also provides the advantage that ifenough people in the community are immunised,the infection can no longer spread from person toperson and the disease dies out altogether.
This is how Small Pox was eradicated from theworld and why Polio has disappeared from manycountries including Australia. Australia at thepresent time is in the process of certifying that itis free of polio as part of a global campaign toeradicate Polio. It is however still important tohave children immunised against Polio.
Immunisation is there to protect your child.Talk to your doctor today about the benefits ofimmunisation.
* The information given in this article is of a generalnature and readers should seek advice from their ownmedical practitioner before embarking on any treatment.
Dr. Theo Penklis is a General Practitioner. He is theDirector of a group practice in Rose Bay in Sydney’sEastern Suburbs. He studied Science at the Universityof Sydney and then Medicine at the University of NewSouth Wales. He did his hospital training at The Princeof Wales Hospital and The Prince of Wales Childrens’Hospital (now known as The Sydney Childrens’Hospi-tal) He is a second generation Greek Australian. Hisgrandparents originated from the island of Kastellori-zo in the Dodecanese. He is married with 2 young chil-dren.
Childhood Immunisation
ÌÁÕ 2004The Greek Australian VEMATO BHMA16/34
Travel DID YOU KNOW? Elvis favourite collectibles were officialbadges. He collected police badges in almostevery city he performed in.
Footpaths of Andros
Taking a trek around the Island ofAndros, with its eye-catching archi-tecture, terracing and walls erectedby years of hard grafting, often situ-ated on inhospitable mountainsidesswept by the meltemia northernwinds, can be an exhilarating experi-ence.
Scenic challenges
The second largest of the Cycladic Islands,Andros, differs from the usually dry, barrenislands that make up the rest of the group. Thenumerous beaches, museums and endlesshorizons are but some of many things to enjoyin Andros, only two hours boat-ride awayfrom Rafina port.
The island is measured at 380 kilometressquared and its highest mountain, Petalo,peaks at 997m.
There is an abundance of fresh water bub-bling up from springs, especially on the east-ern slopes, where one sees carved gorges andvalleys overflowing with lush vegetation.Indeed, one of the ancient names of Andros isHydroussa (the watery one) on account of this.
It is true that only few people, other than thelocals, know of the extensive natural beautythe island has to offer: waterfalls, mountains,churches and chapels, water- and windmills,whitewashed dovecots, archaeological sitesand small rivers.
To get to know them, there are many walksof varying degrees of difficulty on the island.Six of these are clearly marked. Much of thesewalks are on cobblestone foot paths borderedby walls built in the original Andriot styleusing schist slate rocks piled on top of oneanother with vertical ones placed at two-meterintervals. Following is a list of walks.
Chora, Ypsilou, Mesothouri, Lamira,Menites, Messaria and back to Chora
This is a relatively gentle walk, which tra-verses through the beautiful countryside of thevillages surrounding the capital, Chora.
Apart from the stunning greenery of hillsidesand valleys there are also several points ofinterest along the way.
At Mesothouri there is the historic church ofTheotokos (Mary Virgin), Lamira boasts a folkmuseum while at Menites, amidst cool greengroves, is the church Panaghia of Koumoulou,
famed for the five springs at its base. The cobblestone path that leads from Chora
to Ypsilou is the widest and best-kept on theisland. Distance: 9km. Duration: 3 hours.Height: 0-300m. Drinkable sping water. Signposting: 1
Chora, Apoikia, Stenies, Gialia and back to Chora
This is another walk that, for its ease, is veryrewarding.
To reach Apoikia, again one walks up thewide stone footpath to Ypsilou and over thebarren hills, littered with shrubs and thistlesand frequented by grazing goats.
However, as one reaches the old stone bridge crossing into the village of Apoikia, thescenery changes dramatically offering lushgreenery.
A small detour: a few steps above the vil-lage square is one of the most famous mineralsprings in Greece, Sariza.
Back on the path towards the beautifullywell-kept village of Stenies, a leisurely hikedown a fertile valley, one comes across thetower of Pisti-Mouvela, a relic from the 14thcentury with its equally old chapel, AghiosYeorgios. Then on, down to Gialia beach, for aswim and bite at the fish taverna.
Back on the unmarked path, at the top of thehill one experiences the breathtaking view ofChora, with its Venetian fort, lighthouse andelegant houses. Distance: 7km. Duration: 3hrs.Height: 0-300m. Drinkable water fromApoikia onwards. Sign posting: 2
Chora, Livadia, Panchrantos, Steichiomeni, Messaria return to Chora
This hike is more challenging than the pre-vious two. Apart from abundant vegetation,one crosses three old stone bridges borderedwith columns of cypress and plain trees.
As the height increases, the vegetationbecomes sparser until one reaches Panchran-tos, the 10th century monastery built into theside of the mountain.
Of old, the monks were renowned for serv-ing up large portions of very tasty spaghetti tothe weary traveler.
From there, one follows the path down to thebridge at Steichiomeni (or Haunted) and backto Chora through the village of Messaria. Dis-tance: 11km. Duration: 5hrs. Height: 0-500.Drinkable water only at monastery
Ano Aprovatou, Paleopoli, Melida, Ano Pitrofos, Stapouries
After arriving at Ano Aprovatou, by eitherbus or taxi, the trek begins in the villagesquare. Passing the fig trees, vines and olivetrees on the terracing, the path meanderstowards the lovely waterfalls of Paleopolioffering a stunning view at the sunken harbourof the island’s ancient capital. Moving towardsthe village, through greenery, one comesacross more waterfalls.
Having taken in more astounding mountainviews, the path starts descending towards AnoPitrofos and vegetation becomes more agricul-tural again. Chora comes into view again asone moves down into Stapouries. Distance:10km. Duration: 5hrs. Height: 200-600m.Water drinkable from Paleopolis on. No signposting
Vourkoti, Agios Nikolas, Achla, Agia Nikolas
Once reaching Vourkoti, by bus or taxi, oneembarks on a difficult trek down a broken upstone paved footpath. Suddenly a medievalstone bridge crossing the river appears, leadingtowards the old monastery of Aghios Nikolas.From there a track leads, past the chapel ofAghios Ioannis, to the beach Achla, one of themost beautiful beaches of Andros, with the
lighthouse at Grias crowning the cove. The sea is ice-cold and there are springs
trickling out of caves as well as a river, themouth of which opens into the cove. Fromthere, starts the uphill hike back to themonastery, which is difficult but rewards withrefreshing views in the gorge. Distance: 11km.Duration: 6hrs. Height: 0-600m. Water drink-able at Vourkoti, Aghios Nikolas and the beachcaves
Chora - Sineti - Dipotamata - Kochilou -Korthi
This is one of the best treks on Andros. It isdifficult, however, and being accompanied bya guide is advisable. Walking past Sineti,perched opposite the looming mountain ofKourvoulo, one ascends up the gorge wherewatermills stand unused for nearly a century.
The ancient bridges that cross the river areeye catching. Once out of the gorge the foot-path leads southeast winding past the ruinedVenetian castle (Faneromenou) down toKochilou and then Korthi. Distance: 9km.Duration: 5hrs. Height: 0-400m. Water drink-able from Sineti on. Sign posting: 3 ** On most of the walks it is best to take a guidealong, such as local sailing instructor/ trekkingguide Cosmas Hatzigrigoriou. Cosmas can bereached at [email protected].
Source: www.greece.gr
Agios Antonios in Rachi Pigeon house in Kapparia Pigeon house in Korthi
Fruits of the vineEssential ingredients for the kitchen: part 2
Cairnbrae MarlboroughUnoaked Chardonnay, 2002
Produced in oneof New Zealand’sfinest wine mak-ing regions, thiswine has a verypale yellowcolour and aro-mas of citrus witha hint of apricots.Lean, clean andfruity, this winehas a slightly bit-ter sweet flavour,reminiscent intaste of honeydew melons witha hint of tangerineand apple likeacidity. Smooth,with a lingeringfinish, this wine provides an opportunityto taste the flavours of Chardonnay, with-out the vanillin, nut and occasionallysmokey tastes prominent in oakedChardonnay. Serve slightly chilled withgrilled fish.
Cost: under $20
Bailey’s of GlenrowanFounder Liqueur Muscat
This wine is produced in North EasternVictoria (the home of some of Australia’sfinest fortified wines) from Muscatgrapes, ripened on the vine to the raisinstate. It has a deep, reddish brown colourand heady aromas of raisins and caramelwith a hint of rose petal jam. Flavours ofcaramel, dried grapes, oak and a hint ofspice are complimented by vanilla beanand orange peel nuances. The finish islong and warming with a spirit kick. Serveat room temperature with chocolate orcoffee as an after-dinner treat.
Cost: under $25
Wine ReviewBy Imogen Coward
MAY 2004 Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 17/35
Food & Wine DID YOU KNOW? King Louis XIV of France established inhis court the position of "Royal ChocolateMaker to the King."
(02)
By Imogen Coward
The Mediterranean: part 2
Grapes are a central element of Mediter-ranean cuisine, not just table grapes but otherpreserved or semi-preserved grape products.Where would Portugal be without port, Spainwithout sherry, France and Italy without wine? Setting aside liquor though, there are manyother grape products used in Mediterraneancuisine.
VinegarAwit once defined vinegar as “wine from the
Egar region of Hungary”. Rather, ‘vinegar’ lit-erally means ‘sour wine’ (from the French vinaigre), even though not all vinegar is winebased (e.g. apple cider vinegar).Vinegar is produced through a process known
as acetification. Acetobacter microorganismsproduce vinegar by oxidizing ethyl alcohol*(the alcohol present in wine, cider, beer andother liquors) to form acetic acid. This processoccurs naturally with any un-fortified wine(i.e. table wine) left exposed to the air for aweek or two. The top of the wine will form ascum (unless it is agitated during acetification)and the wine will taste sour and unpleasant. Incommercially made vinegar the acetificationprocess is given a helping hand by inoculatingthe alcoholic base material (wine, cider etc.)with the acetobacter cells and ensuring that thesolution is well aerated.
A huge variety of vinegars are made fromgrapes, each with its own unique character. Some are good for salad dressings,others for marinating meat, while a few can
even be used as a sauce for ice cream!Sitting at 6% acidity, white wine and red
wine vinegar belong in the general purposecategory. They’re generally used to add a littleflavour and acidic ‘bite’ to dishes. White winevinegar is also used in making pavlovas.
Sherry vinegar, especially those that havebeen aged for 25yrs or more, is more flavour-some and refined than wine vinegar. Whilequite acidic (around 8%) sherry vinegar oftenhas a hint of dried fruit and is the preferredchoice in Spain for making Gazpacho soup.
Balsamic vinegar is a favourite of chefs suchas Jamie Oliver. Synonymous with the Mode-na region of Italy, balsamic vinegar is obtainedby the acetification of cooked, concentratedgrape and wine vinegar which is then stored inoak casks, sometimes for more than 100yrs, tomature and develop its aroma and flavour. Bal-samic vinegar has around 6% acidity and acharacteristic sweet-and-sour taste. Theyounger vinegars are quite sharp, suited todrizzling over veggies or chips. Those thathave been aged for 20yrs or more aresmoother, slightly sweeter and can add anextra dimension of flavour when drizzled overfresh figs (believe it or not). The really maturevinegars (50yrs +) have the richest, sweetest,most complex taste and the very finest of thesecan be drizzled over ice cream.
Grape MustMade in a similar manner to balsamic vine-
gar, the acetification process is halted at 4%acidity, after which fresh grape juice may beadded to increase the sweetness. Thick andsyrupy, it tastes primarily of black grapes and sugar with an extra something and a touch of
vinegar acidity. It is great for marinating steaksand adds interest to braised pork flavouredwith prunes, orange rind and cinnamon. It mayalso be drizzled over baked fresh fruit such asapricots, peaches and figs prior to cooking.
VerjuiceVerjuice is the acidic juice obtained by press-ing unripe grapes. Usually made from greengrapes, verjuice has a wonderfully fruityaroma (imagine sweet white table grapes,mixed with a fine dry Riesling and a hint ofsultanas) and it is very tempting to try drinkingit. It’s undrinkable though as it also has a fairdose of tart apple like acidity. Verjuice goeswell in cooking fresh fish (especially the vari-eties with firm, white flesh), some chickendishes and is good for sauces and de-glazing**pans.
Things to try, places to buy:
Sherry vinegar: For a full flavoured vinegar,try José Páez Morillas’ Vinagre de Jerez , pro-duced in Frontera, Spain and matured for25yrs. Available from some delicatessens (it’snot an easy one to find though, especially asthe label is entirely in Spanish).Balsamic vinegar: For an ordinary everydaysort, try Mazzetti’s Balsamic vinegar of Mod-ena (with the red ribbon and 1 leaf) and forslightly more refined taste try Mazzetti’sorganic Balsamic Vinegar of Modena (with the silver ribbon and two leaves). Both are sold insupermarkets. A more refined balsamic,matured in wooden casks for around 20yrs, isRossini’s Aceto Balsamico di Modena, pro-duced by Modenaceti in Vignola (Modena),
Italy. This one can be found in some good del-icatessens.Grape Must: Produced in Italy, De Nigris’LaSaba, Mosto D’uva Cotto is perfect for mari-nades, braising meats and de-glazing pans. Itcan be found in some good delicatessens.Verjuice: Try Maggie Beer’s Verjuice. Itcomes in two varieties, white and pink, andhas a fresh, fruity flavour. Sold in good deli-catessens.
Some extra tips:Vinegar, like olive oil, should be stored in a
cool, dry, dark place. Grape Must and Verjuicecan be stored likewise, though after openingthey’ll need to be kept in the fridge. A word ofwarning about verjuice.
Verjuice can occasionally undergo fermenta-tion inside an unopened bottle. Although fer-mented verjuice is perfectly okay to use, whenyou first open the bottle the cork is liable toexplode out with the force of a small bomb,spraying verjuice over anything in the proxim-ity (rather like a bottle of champagne that hasbeen thoroughly shaken!).
Although fermentation is not a commonproblem, it’s worth placing a tea-towel overthe neck end of the bottle and holding on to itas you reach the last stage of removing thecork.
Hopefully, the cork won’t fly out and hit any-thing and the tea-towel will stop the verjuicefrom spreading too far.
* Ethyl alcohol is also known as ethanol.** De-glazing refers to the process of adding liquid (but-ter, wine, cream etc.) to a pan that has been used to cookmeat or fish and cooking gently to make a sauce.
MAY 200418/36 Greek Australian VEMATO BHMA
Towards Athens 2004Athens media planning surpasses
Sydney’s: media officials While construction work onvenues for this year’s AthensOlympics continues at break-neck speed, there is alreadyone area where the Greeks aresurpassing Sydney - lookingafter the media.
The assessment of Internation-al Olympic Committee (IOC)heavyweight Kevan Gosper isthat planning for the journalistsand television workers who willbe in Athens is better than theefforts of his own country Aus-tralia when it was host four yearsago.
“The briefing of the mediathrough four World Press Brief-ings has been better conductedand more informative than any-thing else I have seen in the past,and certainly Sydney,” said MrGosper, the IOC vice presidentand chairman of its Press Com-mission.
“The Greeks have been willingto bare everything to the mediain the past few years... their com-munication to the media hasbeen very honest, very forth-right.”
“They deserve more credit forwhat they’ve done than the criti-cism they’re getting for what stillremains to be done.”
Mr Gosper’s comments were
supported by Richard Sleeman,a key media official during theSydney Games in his role ascommunications director of theSydney Media Centre (SMC) in2000.
Mr Sleeman said the MainPress Centre (MPC) and Interna-tional Broadcast Centre (IBC)were among only three of thecity’s fully completed non-sportsvenues.
He has just returned from atwo-week visit to Athens toadvise officials preparing thecity’s equivalent of the SMC, theZappeion Press Centre 2004.
Zappeion was already estab-lished as a media facility, hostingthe European Summit duringGreece’s EU presidency lastyear, and is now ready to open itsdoors, he said.
“I think they’re way ahead ofSydney in terms of organisingtheir media facilities,” Mr Slee-man said.
He said the finishing toucheswere being put on facilities foraccredited journalists, the MPCand IBC, while the already fin-ished Zappeion will be for otherjournalists not accredited tocover the sporting events.
“In Sydney they (the mediavenues) weren’t open until acouple of weeks before the
Olympics,” he said.“And you’ve got Zappeion
which is just a magnificentbuilding, proven as a media cen-tre, ready to cater to the world’smedia accredited or otherwise.”
Mr Gosper declined to directlycomment on the Zappeion facili-ty, saying it was outside his juris-diction, but confirmed his opin-ion that the Athens’ media facili-ties were “first class”.Mr Sleeman said about 6,000
journalists registered at the SMCand between them made about50,000 visits to the facility inDarling Harbour.It’s estimated there were 18,000
media visitors to Australia forthe Sydney Games but that willgrow to more than 21,500 inGreece for the Athens Olympics.
Mr Sleeman said he expected,with Greece’s higher accessibili-ty and the growth in media num-bers, there would be at least10,000 registrations at Zappeion.
The success of the SMC wasunderlined by visits from peoplelike Nelson Mandela, Bill Gatesand even prominent Olympianslike Michael Johnson, MarionJones and Maurice Green.
But for Zappeion to match thatsuccess, he said all partiesinvolved in organising theAthens Games needed to change
and take a unified approach.“One of the problems in Athens
is that they discovered democra-cy and that means everyone hastheir own say. There are far toomany cooks at present, far toomany chiefs,” Mr Sleeman said.
Strict security has forced theGreek Government to set a regis-tration deadline of June 30 forthe world’s media if they want tomake use of the Zappeion facili-ty. More information is availableat www.mediainfo2004.gr
AAP
Australia will field a full five-strong white-water canoeing team at the Athens Olympicsafter impressive qualifying performances atthe Games venue.
The national squad went into the AthensWorld Cup round, which doubled asOlympic qualifying, assured of spots in onlyone of the four Games classes - the men’sC1.
But head coach Richard Fox came awayjubilant today as his paddlers also securedspots in the men’s K1 and C2 and women’sK1.Victorian Warwick Draper produced a per-
sonal best international placing of 14th onthe final day to beat Sydney Olympian JohnWilkie (23rd) and secure his Olympic berth.Louise Natoli from NSW also produced aPB with a 12th place and earned a Gamesstart in the women’s K1.Earlier in the meeting WA’s Robin Bell
claimed the Australian C1 berth by finishingfourth to narrowly edge out Kynan Maleywho was seventh.However the men’s C2 spots remain unde-
cided after Duncan Proust and Ben Hankin-son steamed ahead to finish 22nd and twoplaces ahead of Mark Bellofiore and Lach-lan Milne, the higher placed crew in theselection event earlier in the year.Those two crews will now race-off at next
month’s World Cup round in Spain to decidewho goes to the Olympics.
Most of the successful Australian paddlersshowed the benefits of relocating to train onthe Sydney Games venue at Penrith whichprovides a similar course to that in Athens.“We have come away with some excep-
tional results,” said Fox.“Firstly, we achieved our objective of qual-ifying a boat in all classes...our athletesshould be proud of this fantastic effort.”
In brief… *** Main opposition PASOK leaderGeorge Papandreou this week announcedthe names of those comprising the work-group charged with monitoring Olympicpreparations, after the meeting withATHOC chief Angelopoulos-Daskalakithis week. Papandreou emphasised that aworkgroup is being created, not to servepetty partisan goals, but to support a nation-al cause -- the Olympic Games. He reiterat-ed that the Olympic Games concerned allGreeks and expressed confidence that theGames will be safe and successful.
He also referred to the importance ofdeveloping the idea of the Olympic Truceand the Cultural Olympiad, while statingthat the Olympic Games can serve as a dri-ving force, provided careful plans regard-ing post-Olympic use of projects and infra-structure are implemented.
*** Former US President George Bush willattend the Athens Olympics in August,according to a letter he sent to Athens chiefAngelopoulos-Daskalaki.
''Barbara and I cannot wait for theOlympic Games and I am very excited thatI will be there. I am 100% certain that yourgreat country, you personally and theOrganising Committee are doing animpressive job. The Olympic Gamesbelong to Greece and Greece will do every-thing for the Olympic Games,'' Bushstressed in his letter.
Americans concerned aboutsteroids and terrorists
An overwhelming majority of Americans believe the use of steroidsby Olympic athletes is a problem, while many also worry about thethreat of a terrorist attack in Athens.
Nine out of 10 people in an Associated Press poll of 1000 adults citedsteroids and other performance-enhancing drugs as a problem, with 43per cent of those surveyed calling it a major problem.
“It’s just plain cheating,” said C.J. Harmon, an 82-year-old retireefrom Flora, Indiana.
More than half, meanwhile, say they think the August games will bedisrupted by a terrorist attack, and four out of 10 believe Americanathletes are more likely to be the targets of such an attack than athletesfrom other countries.
The poll conducted for the AP by Ipsos-Public Affairs also containedsome good news for keepers of the Olympic flame. A majority ofAmericans say they are interested in the Olympics, and 76 per centthink the Olympics have contributed to building a peaceful and betterworld through sports.
The status of the Olympics as the world’s premier sporting event alsoremains intact among those polled, with two-thirds saying they arevery interested or somewhat interested in what happens in Athens.Still, 43 per cent said steroids were a major problem, while 49 per centsaid steroids were a minor problem. Only six per cent said steroidswere not a problem at all.The AP-Ipsos poll of 1,000 adults was conducted April 16-18 and has
a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.The poll was taken when the issue of steroids was getting widespread
attention because of a federal probe in San Francisco, but before anyOlympic stars were named.
Among those surveyed, gymnastics tops the list of sports they willwatch from Athens on television, followed by athletics, swimming,basketball and boxing.On the issue of terrorism, 53 per cent of those responding believed a
terrorist attack of some sort was either very likely or somewhat likelyin Athens. That was unchanged from a previous poll in February.
AP
Athens Olympics spill red ink A Greek minister said budget
overruns of the Athens AugustOlympics reach at least 600 mil-lion euro ($A975.05 million).
Public Works Minister YiorgosSouflias told the country’s parlia-ment his ministry’s total bill forthe Games will reach 2.27 billioneuro ($A3.69 billion) instead ofthe $US1.65 billion euro ($A2.26billion) initially foreseen.
“This is an increase of around37 percent,” Souflias said.Souflias’ ministry covers onlypart of the Games’ overall 4.6 bil-lion euro ($A7.48 billion)- budget- a figure which will now have tobe revised.
It has built the venues for sail-ing, canoe kayak, badminton,baseball, fencing, handball, mod-ern pentathlon, softball, taekwon-do, table tennis and beach volley.Most of them are finished, or arenear completion.
“The previous government gradually revised upwards manyof those contracts,” a ministryofficial told AFP on condition ofanonymity.
Greece’s new conservative government took office on March7.
“The current governmentincreased the ministry’s (Olym-pic) spending by just 7.6 millioneuros,” Souflias said.
In March, Greece’s Culture Ministry, responsible for anotherlarge chunk of Games-relatedconstruction, presented overrunsof around 80 million euro($A130.01 million), but added ithad still no clear picture of howmuch it would finally have to payfor the Games.
“They are still going through thebills, it’s utter chaos down there,”a source close to the ministry said.The Games’ security bill alonereaches at least 650 million euro($A1.06 billion) - an Olympicrecord.
AFP
Australia to field full five-strong canoeing team
International Olympic Committee(IOC) heavyweight Kevan Gosper
Public Works Minister Yiorgos Souflias
MAY 2004 19/37Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA
Towards Athens 2004Australia’s swimmers to take their own guards to Athens
Australia’s Olympic swimmers will taketheir own security guards to Athens to keeptrack of their movements.
Australian Swimming chief executiveGlenn Tasker said the guards, currently pro-tecting the national team at their Gold Coastcamp, had been given the all clear from theAustralian Olympic Committee (AOC) toaccompany the swimmers to the Olympic city.He said he was not sure if the guards would bearmed and he refused to say how many wouldaccompany the team.
“They keep records of which swimmers gowhere, they have all of their mobile phonenumbers, and what they do is they put strate-gies in place so they can track every athlete,”Mr Tasker told ABC radio.
He said when athletes were competing theywere easy to track because they were either atthe pool or resting, but he said AustralianSwimming would have to wait on the AOC’sdecision as to whether athletes who had com-pleted competition had free access aroundAthens.
“Athletes who have finished competition geta little bit more freedom, although that will
depend on what the Australian Olympic Com-mittee decides once they get there,” Mr Taskersaid.
He said the Australian swimming team hadbeen briefed on the security situation in Athensfollowing three pre-dawn bombings yesterdaythat rocked a central police station.Mr Tasker said their initial reaction was con-cern and no one had indicated they wanted towithdraw from the Games.
“The feedback from the meeting was that,no, they weren’t worried per se, they wereconcerned that no one was injured in the bombblasts, which I suppose is a natural humanreaction,” he said.
“I think they’re pretty confident that peopleare looking after their interests.”
But Mr Tasker said if an athlete decided they didn’t want to go to Athens, they couldwithdraw from the team without penalty.
“If that was to happen we would certainlylisten very carefully to what they’ve got to sayand I can guarantee you that Australian Swim-ming would not place any of its athletes in anydanger,” he said.
“And if any athlete believes that it’s not asafe place to be then that athlete can make thatdecision to withdraw completely without
penalty and it would not impinge on theirfuture selection on any of our teams.” (AAP)
Australia’s Olympic swimmers will take their own security guards to Athens
Stars and the Flame
Athens organisers reveal torch plansStar athletes and famous actors will beamong the torch bearers when the Olympicflame for Athens makes its unprecedentedround-the-world journey, organisers saidrecently.
Australia’s 400-metre Olympic championCathy Freeman will carry the torch at the startof the relay in Sydney on June 4.
Later in Brazil - in the flame’s first appear-ance in South America - the torch will be car-ried by soccer stars such as Pele, Ronaldo andZico.
In the United States, the torch will be car-ried by NBA legend Magic Johnson, Olympicgold medallists Gail Devers, Michael Johnson,Carl Lewis and Edwin Moses, as well as byactress Jennifer Aniston, who is of Greekdescent.
The flame was lit in Ancient Olympia onMarch 25 and was brought to Athens’ marblestadium, where the first modern Olympicswere held in 1896.
It will burn at the stadium until June 4, whenit starts a 78,000-kilometre global journeyacross six continents, 27 countries and 33cities with some 11,000 runners.
The 78-day itinerary includes groundbreak-ing African stops in Cairo, Egypt and CapeTown, South Africa, and a first South Ameri-can appearance in Rio de Janeiro.
Other stops include the war-divided islandof Cyprus and Istanbul, Turkey, in the latestoverture by Greece to heal traditional rivalries.
All past Summer Olympic cities are on thelist - and the 2008 host Beijing. In the UnitedStates, it includes Los Angeles, St Louis andAtlanta.
The flame also is scheduled to pass throughNew York, where many expect some com-memoration linked to Ground Zero.
The torch relay returns to Greece on July 9for the second half of its domestic relay.
Hollywood star Angelina Jolie will carry theOlympic torch during one of the final stages ofthe relay. Jolie will run with the torch the daybefore the start of the August 13-29 Olympics.
AP
Athletes warned to watch out for drink spiking Fears of drink spiking have led Australian
Olympic officials to warn athletes to keep aclose eye on their drink bottles in Athens.
Australian athletes have also been urged tostick to wrapped sports bars and other sealedfoods to ensure they avoid consuming conta-minated products.
And with less strict laws in some Europeancountries relating to dietary and protein sup-plements, athletes have been told to checkeverything they put into their mouths.
It’s all about ensuring Australian athletesdon’t inadvertently take a banned substancewhich could result in a positive drug test at theOlympics.
“Athletes need to be educated about takingresponsibility for what they put in theirmouths and certainly, without trying to makethem paranoid, we try and keep them aware of
things like keeping an eye on their drink bottlewhen they’re at training sessions, don’t con-sume things that could have been interferedwith,” Australian Olympic Committee (AOC)sports dietitian Louise Burke said.
“It’s a risky area out there.”She said the Australian team would take a
supply of its own food to Athens but to do sowas not a bad reflection on the quality ofAthens food but would ensure athletes whocouldn’t access food at the athletes’ villagehad a safe alternative.
“The idea is to have wrapped and sealedfood so when the athlete consumes it they canunwrap it themselves and know that it’s asealed food and it hasn’t been tampered withby anybody,” Burke said.
“That’s bordering on paranoid I guess butit’s a reality that people need to be careful.”
Another concern is buying food supplementsand protein powders overseas.
“Particularly from a lot of countries thatdon’t have as much regulation of the industryas we have in Australia, there’s a very real fearthere are contaminants in some of the supple-ments and can cause inadvertent doping,”Burke said.
“What we’re trying to do is to alert athletesto be responsible and to understand the risks ofwhat they’re doing and to find a path that’s amiddle ground towards being overly paranoidand fearful and careful and cautious.”
Walker Nathan Deakes said he was alwaysconscious of keeping an eye on his drinks dur-ing training, while officials took over the jobduring competition.
“We have drink handlers on the tables andthey keep an eye on our bottles,” he said.
SPORTSThe Greek Australian VEMA
Sports writer PeterFrilingos, 59, died sud-denly in Sydney earlierthis month after suffer-ing a heart attack atwork.Mr Frilingos, 59, wasthe chief rugby leaguewriter for The DailyTelegraph. Mr Frilingos- known affectionatelyas Chippy because of his Greekbackground - started on The Daily
Mirror as a copyboy inFebruary 1962.In September he wasinducted into the GreekAustralian Sports Hallof Fame for “Servicesto the Media” spanningfour decades.The Millennium Heri-tage Council of theArchdiocese attended
his funeral in Sydney on Monday10th May 2004.
Athens mayor promises
Olympics of ‘joy and partying’
Just short of 100 days before the startof the Olympic Games, Athens mayorDora Bakoyanni brushed aside securityconcerns and promised a huge partyfor visitors to the Games in August.
Bakoyanni began an international tourhere today to promote the charms of theGreek capital.
With the Games dogged by negativepublicity over building delays and securi-ty concerns, Bakoyanni said Greece hadsuffered from the fallout of the terroristthreat following the events of September11, 2001.
But she stressed that all those concernswould be forgotten after the giant partywhich the inhabitants of the Greek capitalintend to throw for the world when theGames begin on August 13.
“It’s the first major event sinceSeptember 11. The international press aretherefore looking to create worries,”Bakoyanni told AFP.
“They are examining Greece with a critical eye. But looking at what was writ-ten about Sydney before the Games wefeel much better.
“It’s easy to exaggerate the security con-cerns. It’s important to have a good bal-ance between quality of life and security.Athens will be a city of joy and partying.”
Bakoyanni said the controversial roofon the main stadium, designed by Spanish
architect Santiago Calatrava, would beready on time, and that 90 per cent of theOlympic venues had been completed.
“There remains the stadium roof andthe 14-km marathon route which have haddelays but on which we are working. It
will be finished,” insisted Bakoyanni.Enthusing on the charms of the Greek
capital, Bakoyanni said that Athens hadeverything to offer the visitor.
“The quality of life, it’s that of the cityof Athens, that of the sea. We don’t needmuch help to have a very good way oflife.
“Three thousand volunteers will be onhand to welcome visitors, to show themthe town, to make life easier and answerall questions. We’re known in Greece forour hospitality and we’re going to keepthis reputation.”
And Athens will be the most secure cityin the world during the Games, she insist-ed.
“We have spent three times the budgetof Sydney - $US800 million ($A1.1 bil-lion) solely on security. Some 45,000highly trained police and soldiers will bemobilised. We also have the umbrella ofNATO.”
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisationwill provide air and sea surveillance toprotect the Olympics from chemical, bio-logical or radiological attack.
AFP
Athens mayor Dora Bakoyanni
IOC gives Athens all-clear for August Games Olympic officials banished long-standing fears that Athens
would not be ready for August's Games, giving the Greekcapital the green light today.
Denis Oswald, the International Olympic Committee's chiefinspector, had repeatedly warned organisers about delays inbuilding facilities but he said his confidence was now sky-high.
"In the past we had doubts. I am very happy to report thatall these doubts have disappeared," Oswald told reportersafter a final three-day inspection that included talks withGreek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and Athens Gamesofficials.
"We had a lot of yellow or red spots before, indicating someprojects were at risk," Oswald said. "In construction now,nearly all is green.
"No single project is at risk. Everything will be delivered ontime. A full test on a Games scale will be possible," he added."I am very confident."
The Greeks have endured withering criticism about the paceof their preparations for the Games that begin on August 13.Security precautions came under the spotlight last week when
three small bombs exploded without causing casualties nearan Athens police station. Greek police blamed the attack onlocal radicals who have staged similar bombings.
Despite the bombing, Oswald found nothing to criticise ina one-billion dollar security effort that includes the involve-ment of NATO. The amount is nearly four times the amountspent on the 2000 Sydney Games. "It (the bombing) was avery local activity," Oswald said. "It happens from time totime. It did not happen in a secured Olympic area. This canhappen everywhere (in the world)."
"It does not effect our assessment on security."In a sign of their new-found confidence, Athens organisers
admitted during Oswald's visit that they had wasted the firstthree years of preparations, mainly due to political infightingabout the awarding of major projects.
Oswald visit started when builders successfully began slid-ing a huge steel roof over the main Olympic stadium - one ofthe IOC's biggest concerns.
Athens Olympics chief Gianna Angelopoulos said organis-ers had made up for the lost time.
"Athens has won back three years of lost time...it's a fact that
we are completing a seven-year project in four years,"Angelopoulos told Oswald.
"We had promised that Greece was fit for the Games and weare keeping this promise."
More than half the venues, as well as major infrastructureprojects including new train and tram lines, are still weeksfrom completion, unlike previous Games when most prepara-tions were in place months before the opening ceremony.
Builders are still working round the clock and the Athenslandscape changes daily as projects are completed.
The erection of the first arch above the stadium to hold the18,000-tonne steel and carbon panel structure was a dramaticnew addition to the city's skyline.
Over the coming days, the second arch will also be movedinto position at the opposite end of the stadium so the latticedblue translucent roof can cover the 55,000-seat arena.
As well as protecting the stadium from rain, the roof's car-bon panels will provide protection against summer tempera-tures and has broadcasting and surveillance cameras attachedto it.
