The fourth issue of Opa Magazine is in circulation at all leading news agencies across Melbourne.
The Greek cultural magazine is published in English and has a diversity of topics.You can also read the issue above in digital form.

Beirut Hellenic Bank launched with a new logo, new signage across all its branches, new stationery and collateral and a new website. Beirut Hellenic Bank is also implementing a new advanced, user friendly and business orientated internet banking platform for all customers, which will be available from mid this year.

The transaction and new brand has been approved by the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA), the Central Bank of Cyprus and the Central Bank of Lebanon.

Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, James Wakim, who was appointed to the role in February 2011, has led the new brand implementation. “We are proud of the new brand we have developed to represent the dawn of a new age for the bank and our customers. The re-brand provides the bank with the opportunity to become a specialist in areas where Hellenics and Lebanese alike excel, such as in small business including food services, transport and in the property investment and development sector, just to name a few. Our Overseas Relations Service will continue to support the community and act as a bridge connecting our Hellenic and Lebanese customers with their country of origin.”

The partnership of Bank of Beirut and Laiki Bank under the leadership of James Wakim has led to significant achievements over the last month including:
• Maintaining the most competitive term deposit of any Australian bank at 6.70% p.a. for
12 months
• Growing the capital of the bank by 80%
• Increasing loans and deposits to the highest they have been in the last three years;
• Establishing a correspondent banking and international trade department to handle customers’ import and export trade requirements. This will be headed by Allan Harvey, one of the most experienced international bankers in Australia;
• Recruiting at least 20% additional staff;
• Committing to open five additional branches over and above the ten existing branches before the end of 2011, with the first branch to be open in Parramatta by early July;

James Wakim continues; “The banks values are rooted in the importance of family and our customers will be able to expect more from us. Our community and staff have already shown great support in this exciting time of change. Beirut Hellenic Bank represents our commitment to provide simple, trusted and fast banking services to all our customers and continues the service we are known for with our staff truly understanding our customers’ needs and aspirations. This phase is the next step on our journey to become the premier multicultural bank in Australia. We extend a warm invitation to welcome all our customers past and present to come into their nearest branch to experience the new brand.”

Australia’s internationally acclaimed Greek DJ/Producer presents the 9th installment in his iconic ‘GREECE’ CD Series. Now almost a decade on, the concept continues to break records and boundaries in the modern Greek dance music scene, both in Australia and overseas with distribution now into the USA & NZ.

DJ Krazy Kon is a living legend in the world of Greek music.  As a DJ and producer, his work is known around Australia and overseas, having headlined Greek festivals, club events and shows both nationally and internationally.  His name is synonymous with playing, producing and promoting Greek Music and events and has been at the forefront of the Greek entertainment industry in this country for 15 years.  He is recognized by many today as the most successful & influential Greek-Australian music artist of our time.

From his ideology and creation has spanned an iconic ‘GREECE’ CD series which consists of an annual must have CD.  He has now become a global name through his vision and raw talent and has revolutionised the art form of Greek Djing. He is signed with Somy Music Australia. In 2010, the DJ Krazy Kon brand hit the global stage with an overseas tour of the USA and sold out shows in Boston, New York, Chicago & Hollywood in Los Angeles.



“I started off by mapping my own family and then with encouragement extended it to research the Kastellorizian Diaspora. There are now 19,300 persons and 6,600 families listed on the site, together with over 1,700 media items. The several generations of Kastellorizians in Australia have embraced the genealogical mapping of the island, and the genealogical site is expanding at a rapid pace. I am constantly uncovering new information and updating the site,” said Mr Cresswell.

Allan Cresswell was in Melbourne this weekend to run a second series of seminars at the Kastellorizian Association of Victoria’s clubrooms, to help Kastellorizian descendents in Victoria to navigate and add to the site. His visit is funded through a grant from the Multicultural Commission of Victoria.

Throughout its rich and varied history Kastellorizo has had many conquerors and rulers but maintained its Greek identity. Its population peaked in 1910 at 9,000. The island was devastatingly bombed in World War II, and finally came under Greek rule in 1948, by which time most of its inhabitants had migrated to other countries, and its population had dwindled to about 250. Its current permanent population hovers around 200 but increases dramatically in the tourist season.

The island of Kastellorizo, the most eastern port of the European Union, located close to Kas, on the Turkish mainland, is now experiencing a renaissance, with many descendants in Australia restoring and/or rebuilding family homes, or new homes, on the island, and regularly visiting.

The Kastellorizian Association of Victoria last year celebrated its 85th Anniversary, and has an active membership with several events planned for this year.

Nenad Vekic (left photo) is a 21-year-old goalkeeper that played last season for Bonnyrigg White Eagles and also played for Sydney FC youth.  He gladly accepted the position offered to him by Peter Sekenis to play for Sydney Olympic. Nenad is a talented goalkeeper and the coaching staff believes he can become one of the best keepers in the competition. Nenad could not hide his appreciation to the coaching staff and promised to do his best to meet their expectations.

Alex Smith (right photo) is a 25-year-old attacking midfielder that played last season for Fraser Park. Alex has dual English-American nationality and played in the U.S. for FC Dallas with a career highlight at a game between Dallas FC and Tigers of Mexico in front of 25,000 people. Alex was extremely happy to sign for Sydney Olympic and said: “I’m glad to be part of this historic Club and I am looking forward to playing at Belmore Sports Ground in front of our fans. I am sure this will be a great season for me personally and the Club too. I will do my best as I want to succeed and win trophies.”

The Board of the Club would like to wish the two players all the best with Sydney Olympic in the 2011 season.

In his response to the Liberal Member for Flinders (Victoria), Mr Garrett re-stated his government’s commitment to “language education in Australian schools”, declaring that “Greek is one of Australia’s major community languages, a reflection of the significant contributions the Greek-Australian community has made to the cultural and social development of Australia”.

The AHC (NSW) thanks Mr Hunt for his representations on behalf of the Australian Hellenic community, and calls upon all parliamentarians to follow the example of the Member for Flinders.

Languages education is one of the most important issues for the community. The AHC (NSW) awaits the release by ACARA of the ‘shaping paper’ for languages as well as confirmation of the inclusion of the Hellenic language in the new national education system being developed.

Byzantine Icon of "Madonna & Child"

A Greek-Australian woman has posted an icon titled, The Madonna and Child, on her local eBay Classifieds section for the asking price of $245,000AUD. The woman who wishes to remain anonymous claims she was given the icon along with another two of similar origin when she was born.

The icon is believed to have belonged to her family for many generations, and was guarded closely throughout the Ottoman invasion and occupation of Constantinople in 1453. It was eventually smuggled out of Constantinople in the 1800s by her grandfather, who at the age of 6 was dressed as a girl to escape the Turkish in Constantinople.

Her grandfather eventually took it with him to Egypt where he was to become a well known and respected Alexandrian Greek eventually coming to live in Australia with his family. The woman says the icon has been placed under lock and key in a secret location to prevent anyone from taking it without consent.

She also claims that the icon may be specially blessed because her late mother had noted many years ago that sitting amongst other icons in the family home, it was the only icon to be perpetually dust free. The owner said her mother would note that there was never a spec of dust on the icon, even though the others would be dusty. The woman also stated that the icon would never have spider webs near it or on it, even though the others did at times.

She also stated that she had originally thought nothing of her mother’s assertions regarding the special nature of the icon, until she noticed it herself, and could hardly believe it was possible.

The icon has been placed in the Classifieds section of Australian eBay for 14 days. When asked if she was open to receiving offers of a lesser value she stated she would be happy to consider all offers of a genuine nature but she wants the new owner to value and protect icon immensely ensuring it never comes to any harm.

This story was first submitted by Annoula on You.GreekReporter.com

In the best ever result by South Australian women in the history of the prestigious Awards that recognize the achievements of outstanding business women Kris Lloyd, manager and head cheesemaker of Woodside Cheese Wrights and a director of SA’s annual industry CheeseFest event, won the Nokia Business Innovation Award.

Telstra Chief Marketing Officer and Telstra Business Women’s Awards Ambassador Kate McKenzie said the business nous, leadership capabilities and career achievements of the three SA women made them outstanding winners of the Awards.

“They are inspirational role models for other business women to reach and exceed their goals and examples of the extraordinary talent that the Awards program has recognised since its inception sixteen years ago,” she said.

Kris Lloyd took over Woodside Cheese Wrights in 1999 focusing first on the business fundamentals before turning her hand to learning the craft. She has produced numerous award-winning cheeses and pioneered a range of seasonal cheeses.

Ms Lloyd, who says “cheesemaking has no boundaries and allows an individual to experiment and be creative,” formed Cheese SA, a peak body that raises awareness for her industry and established a cheesemaking training course through TAFE.

Judges said innovation was central to Ms Lloyd’s business success in product development, packaging and marketing.

Tracy Postill, Nokia’s Communication Manager said it was an honour and a privilege to be involved with these awards for the third year running.

“Over the years we have met some remarkable women who have shown true grit and determination to succeed in their chosen field and Kris Lloyd is no exception. We hope that Kris’s story and accomplishments will spur others to follow in her footsteps and fulfill their dreams,” she said.

Winners of the Telstra Business Women’s Awards will receive a share of $200,000 in cash and prizes and become part of an exclusive national business alumni. For further information on the Telstra Business Women’s Awards: www.telstrabusinesswomensawards.com

The trials will be held at Peter Moore (access from street)on the times designated below:

Tuesday, 26th of October 2010:

Reserve Grade – 6.00pm Registration – Trial 6.30pm

1st Grade – 6.00pm Registration – Trial 6.30pm

Thursday, 28th of October 2010:

Reserve Grade – 6.00pm Registration – Trial 6.30pm

1st Grade – 6.00pm Registration – Trial 6.30pm

Monday, 1st of November 2010:

Under 12’s (born 1999) – 5.00pm Registration – Trial 5.30pm

Under 14’s (born 1997) – 5.00pm Registration – Trial 5.30pm

Under 16’s (born 1995) – 5.00pm Registration – Trial 5.30pm

Tuesday, 2nd of November 2010:

Reserve Grade – 6.00pm Registration – Trial 6.30pm

1st Grade – 6.00pm Registration – Trial 6.30pm

Wednesday, 3rd of November 2010:

Under 12’s (born 1999) – 5.00pm Registration – Trial 5.30pm

Under 14’s (born 1997) – 5.00pm Registration – Trial 5.30pm

Under 16’s (born 1995) – 5.00pm Registration – Trial 5.30pm

All players must arrive 30 minutes before their scheduled trial start time and fill out a trial registration form; please ensure we have your details prior to commencing your trial.

Any players that do not arrive in the designated time slot for their age group will NOT be allowed to trial.  They will be asked to come back and trial on the next day of trials that the Club will be holding for the specific age group trialing for.

Please bring: boots, shin pads, goalkeeper gloves and a drink bottle. You do not have to bring your own ball!

All players are welcome to trial for Sydney Olympic FC.

You can pre register to trial with Sydney Olympic FC by printing the form that can be found on: the Olympic website and bring it with you to be processed on the day, or by faxing it to 02 9787 7960 or via email at: admin@sydneyolympicfc.com

Furthermore, her knowledge of Greek traditions, language, culture and religion will be a critical part of her term as President as this will be one of the main areas of focus to ensure that the Kastellorizian Association preserves and records its culture and heritage.

Yvonne succeeds Michael Spartels who has been a long-term supporter of the Association and hands the club over in very good shape.