GREEK WORLD MEDIA

Sophie Mirabella nets submarine board job

Source: abc.net.au

Sophie Mirabella

Member for Indi from 2001 to 2013, Sophie Mirabella. (News Images – ABC News)

A Monash University politics lecturer says Sophie Mirabella’s appointment to the board of the Australian Submarine Corporation is not surprising.

Former Member for Indi, Sophie Mirabella, has been appointed as a board member of the Australian Submarine Corporation (ASC).

The ASC builds and maintains ships and submarines for the Royal Australian Navy in South Australia and Western Australia.

Ms Mirabella was appointed to the board by the Minister for Industry, Mathias Cormann, for a three year term alongside senior executives Peter Iancov and Paul Rizzo.

Mr Mathias said Ms Mirabella’s legal background and experience working with the manufacturing industry would make a valuable contribution to the board.

When in federal opposition, Ms Mirabella was the Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry and Science.

Monash University politics lecturer, Nick Economou, said Ms Mirabella’s appointment to the board was not surprising.

“Let’s not forget that politicians do have some skills that could be of some use in an exercise like that,” he said.

“I think we saw many instances of loyalty towards (Mirabella) from the Liberal Party and presumably this is reciprocated.”

Etihad works its new Greek connections in SYD, MEL and PER

Source: crikey.com.au

Aegean Airlines A321, Wikipedia Commons photo

Australia’s Greek air connections have been in a state of neglect for many years, and are something Etihad clearly intends to address with its newly announced codeshare with Greece’s largest airline, Aegean, from 30 March.

The key element isn’t the four times weekly Aegean A320 service between Abu Dhabi and Athens on which Etihad will codeshare, as it already flies that route daily.

What matters is that Etihad gains integrated booking and selling right across the Greek market by placing its booking code on beyond Athens connections flown by Aegean to 16 destinations in Greece and its islands, as well as ten cities elsewhere in Europe.

In its statement Etihad emphasises the benefits this will offer Australians flying to the cities on Aegean network via Abu Dhabi. It would also increase Virgin Australia’s selling opportunities to travellers flying to Greece or elsewhere in Europe.

Orianthi Nominated for Best Rock Guitarist

Source: greekreporter.com

Ireland will participate in Greek rescue program

Source: tovima.gr

Irish Central Bank will return its 126 million euros of investment profits from Greek bonds to Greece

Ireland will participate in Greek rescue program

According to the Irish Examiner, Ireland is rumored to have agreed to pay 126 million euros Greece over the next few years, as part of the agreement of the midterm financial strategy plan.

Now that Ireland has officially exited its rescue program and become a “normal” Eurozone member, the Irish Central Bank must comply with the agreement to return any profits from Greek bonds to Greece, as part of the Greek rescue package.

The funds will gradually be transferred from the Irish bank to the Greek central bank from next year, with the full 126 million euros expected to be handed over by 2025.

This agreement only relates to Greek bonds, rather than any other member states currently in a rescue program and will not affect the Irish Finance Ministry’s efforts.

Greek Patriarch Bartholomew gets honorary doctorate

Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Fener Greek Bartholomew receives his award by Boğaziçi University. DAILY NEWS photo, Emrah GÜREL

Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew has been awarded with an honorary doctorate by Istanbul’s Boğaziçi University for his efforts in environmentalism.

Bartholomew was presented the honorary degree, the first that he has ever received in Turkey, at a ceremony that was held at the university campus yesterday. Boğaziçi University sought to bestow Bartholomew with honor “for his pioneering role in several environmental issues, including the protection of ecological balance and biodiversity in the world, providing clean tap water to wider populations across the world, and [raising awareness of] climate change.”

First doctorate from a university in Turkey

Prof. Gülay Barbarosoğlu, rector of Boğaziçi University, said they had realized that the Patriarch had never received an honorary doctorate award from a Turkish university, despite receiving such doctorates from many universities abroad.

Dr. İsmail Beşikçi become the second prominent figure who was bestowed with the honor, with his works on the Kurdish issue.

According to the university, Beşikçi was awarded “for his extraordinary contributions to the improvements in social sciences in Turkey and abroad.”

Kitchen Superstars: Michael Psilakis’ quest to make Greek go mainstream

Source: Foxnews.com

Acclaimed chef Michael Psilakis, known for his Greek comfort food, is as natural in the kitchen as he is on the small screen.

Best known as the 2012 winner of the BBC’s cooking adventure show “No Kitchen Required” — he’s also the program’s co-executive producer — he’s got many cooking awards to his name, including a Michelin star for his now-closed New York City restaurant Anthos and “Chef of the Year” by Esquire Magazine.

So it may be surprising to hear that his initial career path was headed in a very different direction.

“…when you are sitting at home and thinking to yourself, what should I eat tonight? The choices are pretty much American or Italian or Asian or Chinese or Japanese. Greek food doesn’t really fit into that equation yet.”

– Chef Michael Psilakis

“Becoming a chef chose me,” he said. “It wasn’t really something I thought about. I went to school for accounting; I was getting ready to go to law school. I started waiting on tables and fell in love with the restaurant industry.”

Psilakis was determined to take that love to the next level. He owned his first restaurant at 23. With a background in business, his main goal wasn’t churning out the dishes his restaurant served, until his chef didn’t show up for work one day. “I ran into the kitchen to do the best I could,” he says, “and really found the place that was home for me.”

Now he hopes his patrons feel as “at home” in his restaurants as he does. “I hope that I can show someone that you can use food as a vehicle to create an environment where you, your family, the people that you love will come together and create a memory that hopefully later on as you grow will bloom into more memories for your children,” he says.

But Psilakis says it took a life-altering experience to get to this place, and that his early days were more about the art of cooking. “I was really one-dimensional. Worked 18 hours a day in the kitchen. I didn’t know what was going on in the world. I didn’t know if it was raining or sunny, or the day of the week. I had no clue. And I achieved a tremendous amount of critical success from that period.

“But when my father passed away, all of that just didn’t mean as much. It wasn’t important anymore, and what I realized was that the memories that I had with him revolved around food in a way that I never used it before.”

That was the motivation that propelled him to the next level of his career. Psilakis teamed up with restaurateur and The Food Network’s Iron Chef America judge Donatella Arpaia to open a series of successful restaurants. Though the two have parted ways, they remain co-owners of New York’s Upper West Side staple, Kefi, which just reopened after a water main break flooded it.

“She became somebody who started to take interest in food. I became somebody who had an interest in restaurants. So we sort of went on our own way, but I think that the relationship that we had allowed us to develop the platform that was necessary for us to grow. And that growth allowed us both to achieve our own individual growth, which is the most important part of it.”

Right now Psilakis is interested in making Greek food a staple for American diners, beyond the five restaurants he currently owns.

“I am trying my best to take Greek food out of the genre it’s sat in for a long time and bring it into the mainstream. People here in New York – and maybe in the U.S. – look at Italian food as American food today. Like when you are sitting at home and thinking to yourself, what should I eat tonight? The choices are pretty much American or Italian or Asian or Chinese or Japanese. Greek food doesn’t really fit into that equation yet.”

He hopes his newest un-named venture, under construction in Brooklyn, will do just that. He believes the simplicity, accessibility and familiarity of Mediterranean ingredients are what surprise most people about the cuisine. And more importantly, back to his roots, the idea of sitting around a table, enjoying a meal, and making it an experience — an experience that’s even surprised him.

“Who would have thought 15 years ago that I would be cooking food, owning a restaurant in Manhattan, as many restaurants that I have owned, traveled the world, cooked for unbelievable people, presidents, kings? It’s just been a magic carpet ride. You never really sit down and think OK, this is what I want to do with my life and it’s going to end up like this. For me, it was just taking it as it comes, and fortunately, it’s worked out pretty well.”

Minister awards 2013 HSC in Modern Greek

The ceremony saw students receive a Certificate for Excellence from the Minister in front of their families and senior representatives from across the education sectors.

2013 highlights include:

Modern Greek Beginners
Rhonda Douroukis – Georges River College Oatley Senior Campus

Modern Greek Continuers
Fotini Kapsabelis – St Spyridon College (Maroubra)

Modern Greek Extension
Dionisia Kolevris – Open High School (RANDWICK)

Classical Greek Continuers
Kim Zhang – Pymble Ladies’ College

Over 70,000 students will have access to their HSC results from 6.00am tomorrow (Wednesday 18 December).

Results are available online and by SMS using a secure system requiring a Student Number and HSC PIN. For more information on HSC results go to studentsonline.bos.nsw.edu.au

The Board of Studies HSC Results Inquiry Centre 1300 13 83 23 will be open from 9 am for students with questions about their HSC results.

Minister awards 2013 HSC first in course recipients

Source: det.nsw.edu.au

l
Media release

The Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli today presented 2013 HSC students with First in Course Awards at an event at Australian Technology Park.

“Any student who receives their HSC has worked hard, and I congratulate all students who have completed their exams this year,” Mr Piccoli said.

“HSC courses are demanding and the assessment and examination process is designed to challenge students.

“To claim the First in Course spot is a great honour for these students, and they, their teachers and their families should be very proud.

“The First in Course Awards acknowledge the highest achieving student in each HSC course, where the result is in the highest possible band for that course.

“The HSC is a world-class credential and coming first demonstrates and extremely high level of achievement on an international level.

“Completing the HSC requires immense dedication from students, and support from both teachers and parents,” Mr Piccoli said.

The ceremony saw students receive a Certificate for Excellence from the Minister in front of their families and senior representatives from across the education sectors.

2013 highlights include:

Awards made to 121 students in 112 courses

Equal first place in nine courses

Three students receiving a First in Course Award for more than one course

83 of the 121 recipients are young women, and 38 are young men

12 students live in regions outside of Sydney, including students from: Inverell, Grafton, Hermidale, Coonamble, Griffith, Wagga Wagga, and two students from Cooma.

This year marked the first examination of the Financial Services course. This course is designed to provide students with skills and knowledge to seek a job straight from school or as a sound foundation for higher level education or university studies.

Over 70,000 students will have access to their HSC results from 6.00am tomorrow (Wednesday 18 December).

Results are available online and by SMS using a secure system requiring a Student Number and HSC PIN. For more information on HSC results go to studentsonline.bos.nsw.edu.au

The Board of Studies HSC Results Inquiry Centre 1300 13 83 23 will be open from 9 am for students with questions about their HSC results.

List of students who won awards
http://www.dec.nsw.gov.au/documents/15060385/15385042/351Q2704.PDF

Hunter students top HSC courses

HUNTER and Central Coast students have outperformed tens of thousands of their peers to top traditional and vocational courses in the Higher School Certificate.

Lambton High School student Claire Brooks has come first in the state for Earth and Environmental Science, St Philip’s Christian College, Waratah, student Daniel Lee holds the state’s top spot in Construction and TAFE Hunter Institute student Ashlie Fisher came first in the Entertainment Industry exam.

St Joseph’s Catholic College East Gosford student Maddie Doorn has topped the Studies of Religion I exam.

The four students were honoured at a First In Course awards ceremony in Sydney on Tuesday.

Awards were given to 121 students- including 83 young women and 38 young men- in 112 courses.

Daniel, 18, of Maryland said he chose to study Construction to further his plans to work with an aid agency in poverty relief.

”I just always wanted to do it: I did a few mission trips with Aboriginal communities when I was younger and I’ve got a heart for it,” he said.

“I’ve just got back from Vanuatu where I went instead of schoolies to build a playground for a school.”

Daniel said he studied most for Construction because it wasn’t his strongest subject.

“I laughed when I heard I came first, I wasn’t feeling confident about it so I was shocked.”

He has been offered a scholarship to study for a Bachelor of Arts majoring in International Poverty and Development Studies at Avondale College at Cooranbong next year.

Aspiring film director Ashlie Fisher, 18, of Belmont North travelled every Tuesday afternoon from Warners Bay High to TAFE Hunter Institute at Tighes Hill to study Entertainment Industry, in which she now holds a Certificate III qualification.

She volunteered at Starstruck and Newcastle Writer’s Festival as part of her work placement and has applied what she learned to her part time job at Hoyts Charlestown.

“I’ve always loved Steven Spielberg films, so he is a big inspiration,” she said.

“I went well in trials so was pretty confident when I walked into the exam and pretty happy when I came out, but I didn’t expect this, this is amazing.”

She said the award was “the icing on the cake” after being accepted to study at the Australian Film Television and Radio school from next year.

Claire Brooks, 18, of Elemore Vale had to double check there hadn’t been a mistake when told of her achievement.

“I’ve always done pretty well but it was a shock to be first,” she said.

Claire said she had been fascinated by volcanoes, earthquakes and plate tectonics since she was a child.

She used mind maps to remember course content, which she hopes she will continue to build on with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Earth and Environmental Science and geology at the University of Newcastle.

Claire’s father Anthony, also a science enthusiast, passed away this year.

“I know he would be really happy, my mum and sister are proud of me and amazed I did so well.”

Claire was also awarded this year the Reuben F Scarf Award for Commitment to studies and the Ashley Sands Memorial Award for achieving first place in her grade in Earth and Environmental Science.

“I’m a little bit nervous about the results coming out on Wednesday, but excited too.”

Maddie Doorn, 17, of Bateau Bay said she had enjoyed learning about the history of religion, including how it developed and was expressed.

“But I actually put more effort into other subjects, so this was a nice surprise.”

The NSW Institute of Sport scholarship holder divided her time this year between studying and representing her state in basketball, having also been selected to the under 19 Australian squad.

She hopes to study physiotherapy next year at the University of Sydney or the Australian Catholic University.

NSW Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli said HSC courses were demanding and the assessment and examination process was designed to challenge students.

“The HSC is a world- class credential and coming first demonstrates an extremely high level of achievement on an international level.”

Ice cream hits the spot at CanTeen

Source: Sunshinecoast

THE daily stresses of living with cancer were washed away with a scoop of ice cream by the beach for a group young people visiting the Sunshine Coast.

Wendy’s Ice Cream brought a sweet treat to 65 children and teenagers having a break at Dicky Beach as part of the annual CanTeen Summer Program yesterday.

Smooth and creamy ice cream was taken from the freezer, across the sand to the group in a surprise delivery.

The children spent the warm summer’s day at the Caloundra beach playing games and swimming on the second last day of the camp.

CanTeen is an organisation which supports, develops and empowers young people living with cancer.

The organisation runs the five-day overnight programs to provide much-needed relief for these young Australians.

An extra 23,000 young people every year have to face the challenge of dealing with cancer – whether they’ve been diagnosed themselves or a parent, brother or sister has the disease.

“A cancer diagnosis threatens the security of a young person’s world, leaving them feeling vulnerable, frightened and confused,” CanTeen programs officer Jaimie Trotter said.

“Attending a CanTeen program gives our members the chance to meet other young people who truly understand what they’re going through while also having some fun.

“The programs are free to attend and that’s why we’re so grateful for every donation we receive from the community and our corporate supporters such as Wendy’s.

“The programs wouldn’t be possible without them.”