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DE-CONSTRUCTING MELAS
A statue of the hero of the Macedonian Struggle Pavlos Melas who died this month in 1904 has recently received criticism. Situated opposite the White Tower in Thessaloniki, the bronze likeness...
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"ANTIPODES" AND ASIA MINOR
I think that the members of the Greek Australian Cultural League of Melbourne would forgive me for expressing the wish that this year’s edition of their literary journal “Antipodes”, being the sixty...
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ΘΕΙΑ ΦΩΤΩ AND HER OXI
“What you have to know, now that you are entering the family,” my great-grandmother told my wife, upon meeting her for the first time, “is that the women of our clan are strong. They are made of...
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ΤΟ ΚΑΠΙ
«Του Κάπι φτεύουμι τς ντμάτις», my grandmother would always say in response to my question as to why for yet another year she would not attend the extended family’s traditional Cup Day barbeque in...
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LOST HOMELANDS
“But I believe above all that I wanted to build the palace of my memory, because my memory is my only homeland.” Anselm Kiefer. In her painting, “New Beginnings – Hope,” Mary Raphael perhaps captures...
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ΠΑΡΑΣΧΟΥ ΜΟΙ
Recently, a Greek organisation in Melbourne received a government grant in the tens of thousands of dollars in order to renovate the facilities of its clubhouse. Unbeknownst to the grantors, those...
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GREEKS IN THE NIGHTS OF PLAGUE
“The little Ottoman island of Mingheria, situated in the Eastern Mediterranean and famous for its marble and roses, has declared independence. For the last nine weeks, the island, whose population of...
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A GREEK-AUSTRALIAN AT THE UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE
When the august Evan (Vangelis) Stamatiou is not posed behind the white screen, expertly performing Karagiozis shadow puppet plays with my insufficiency alongside him, he is helping to save the world....
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KING OF KINGS
Early last Saturday morning, I was startled from my slumber a message from my friend Menios from Mentone which read as follows: “Ela re. Check out this sick quote by the King of Kings.” Accompanying...
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CHRISTMAS AMONG THE RUINS
The first thing I see when I open the door is a pair of gleaming blue eyes, the exact shade of vibrant azure that one comes across off the coast of Latakia. When I mention this to Yousef, to whom...
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THERE YOU GO… ΠΑΙΘΑΚΙ ΜΟΥ….
In the lead up to Christmas, the airline Jetstar caused to be published on Instagram, the following offering: “Can’t get off Yiayia’s plastic covered couch? Refresh yourself with a Post-Chrissie...
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ΚΑΖΑΜΙΑΣ
Every year, just before or just after the advent of the New Year, we would head to Salapatas Μusic and Βookstore to secure for my grandmother, a copy of the latest Kazamias, an almanac containing...
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MY CHRISTOS TSIRKAS
Twenty years ago, when I used to work in the city, I would walk to Medallion Café at lunchtime, sit myself at a footpath table, open up a book and start reading. Not five minutes would elapse before I...
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ON LIONESSES AND CHEESE-GRATERS
«Χρόνια πολλά, and Happy New Year,” my Russian friend, a student of theology, greeted me ebulliently. “I have a question. How would you translate edible underwear into Greek?” I belong to a generation...
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TREVOR IN TIME OF MOURNING
My good friend Trevor (which is short for Aristogeiton) is in mourning. The object of his most ardent affection and veneration is dead. Constantine, the deposed king of Greece has shuffled off this...
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LAKESIDE MARCH
When first learning of the prospect of our National Day March being held at Lakeside Stadium, I was sceptical. After all, a stadium cannot in any way compare to the iconic Shrine of Remembrance, which...
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TOLKIEN AND THE GREEKS
J R R Tolkien’s fantasy world of Middle Earth, populated by Hobbits, Dragons, Dwarves and Elves has been rightfully considered to have been inspired by Old English, Germanic and Norse myths. However,...
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PARALINGUAL
“Why should my daughter learn Modern Greek?” a friend asked. She was reading an article on the subject and began to rattle of the arguments made therein, answering them herself. “Lean Modern Greek for...
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NOT COUNTED AS PEOPLE
It is the year 2030. After annual resurgences of the pandemic, consecutive interest rate rises and mortgage foreclosures, a sky-rocketing of power and food bills and renewed hostility against regional...
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KARAGKIOZIS AT ANTIPODES
“Georgie, come on. We are going to get a souvlaki.” “But I wanna watch the puppets mum.” “Come on. You’ve seen enough. Souvlaki time now.” “But the puppets, mum.” Ordinarily, I find the sound of a...
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