Greek/Australian – GREEK WORLD MEDIA

Vasilis Vasilas’ interview with Harry Hondros whose family owns Enfield Produce and Pets

Vasilis has recently interviewed Harry Hondros whose family owns Enfield Produce and Pets… Yes, a Greek pet shop in Sydney! Jam-packed with products and pets!

Vasilis believes Harry is one of the most colourful Greeks he has ever met, ‘When Harry was working in Tumut NSW (1960s), at the Excelsior Café, he became so much part of the local community that he played rugby league for the Wynyard Pub’s team, Wynyard Wobblers, became a bull-jumper at the local rodeo club, which competed in rodeos all over NSW (and even Queensland) and even trained in Ju-jitsu… which is simply amazing for any Greek migrant at the time.’

On a serious side, Vasilis greatly admires Harry and his family’s determination and love for their work. ‘Having to compete with the megastores such as Bunnings and Petbarn does not daunt them in any way; they provide the customer service and good quality products customers want and this is why they have such a thriving business,’ Vasilis explains.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/SYNDESMOS-CONNECTING-PEOPLE-FROM-LESVOS-393246219501/

Vasilis Vasilas’ interview with Miltiade Miltiadou Milton’s in business in Tailoring in Belmore, Sydney

Vasilis recently interviewed Miltiade Miltiadou who is from Spathariko, Ammohosto, Cyprus, about the story behind his business, Milton’s Tailoring, which is in Belmore, Sydney.

As Vasilis points out about his motivation to do this interview, ‘Tailoring is unfortunately a dying trade and Miltiade would be one of the last Cypriot or Greek tailors in Sydney; it was just an opportunity to get his story and his views about the changing fortunes of tailoring…’

Source: https://www.facebook.com/SYNDESMOS-CONNECTING-PEOPLE-FROM-LESVOS-393246219501/

A lecture entitled “The Letters of Chion and Themistocles” will be presented this Thursday 11 May 2017 by John Penwill

PRESS RELEASE

9/5/2017

Greek History and Culture Seminars:

The Letters of Chion and Themistocles

A lecture entitled “The Letters of Chion and Themistocles” will be presented this Thursday 11 May 2017 by John Penwill from LaTrobe University, as a part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars, offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.

This lecture will take a close look at two collections of letters, neither of which is highly regarded by the academic community: The Letters of Chion (hereafter LC) purport to be a set of letters home by a young man on his way to Athens to study in Plato’s Academy and the effect his time there has on his political judgement when it comes to deciding what to do about the dictatorship in his native city, Heraclea, following a successful coup d’état during his absence.

The Letters of Themistocles (hereafter LT) likewise focus on an individual protagonist prominent in Athenian politics about a century earlier, and like the LC purport to be a set of letters written to a selection of friends and enemies in his home city and elsewhere following his ostracism in 471 BCE.

Both texts use the epistolary form to explore the character and motivation of their protagonist, but do so in very different ways: all letters bar one of the LC are addressed to Chion’s father Matris, whereas in the LT the recipients come from a range of individuals and locations.

But in both cases what we are clearly dealing with is a carefully constructed and thought-provoking text, and one that is at least one grade of sophistication above the essays on such topics which students were required to compose in the schools of rhetoric that abounded in the first and second centuries CE.

John Penwill grew up in Tasmania and studied first at the University of Tasmania and subsequently at Downing College, Cambridge . He has a first class honours degree in Classics and a Diploma in Education. He taught at Monash University from 1972-1977 and at the University of Tasmania from 1978-1981 before being appointed to La Trobe University’s Bendigo campus.

John’s general research interest is in the field of Greek and Roman literature. He has for the past 40 years been Associate Editor of the international refereed journal Ramus: Critical Studies in Greek and Roman Literature, to which he has himself contributed a number of articles. His particular interest is in Roman literature of the late republic and early empire, and his focus within that is the interface between literature and philosophy.

John has also published articles on Plato’s Symposium, the Letters of Themistocles, the literature and philosophy of the Flavian period, Virgil’s Aeneid and Georgics, Epicurean theology, Lactantius’ De Ira Dei, the battle narratives in Homer’s Iliad, Livy’s representation of Numa (the second king of Rome), Tacitus’ Dialogue on Orators, Terence’s Hecyra, Seneca’s Trojan Women, the Letters of Chion and epic poetry of the Flavian period.

He is a Vice-President of the Classical Association of Victoria, and was editor of the CAV’s journal Iris from 1996 to 2012.

When: 11/5/2017 @ 7:00pm

Where: Greek Centre, Mezzanine, 168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

Entry: FREE

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More information: 9662 272

Level 3, 168 Lonsdale St., Melbourne, Vic. 3000

Phone: +61 3 9662 2722, Email: info@greekcommunity.com.au, Website: greekcommunity.com.au

Vasilis Vasilas’ interview with Arthur Gerakas of Speedy Shoe Repairs in Ashfield

Vasilis continues on his merry way; this time he interviewed Arthur Gerakas of Speedy Shoe Repairs in Ashfield. It was Arthur’s brother-in-law, Elias Stavrou, who opened the shoe repair business in the late 1960s, and Arthur took over the shop in 1972, and Arthur’s son, Jim, has run the shop since the mid 1990s. Arthur continues working in the shop for a few hours a day, helping out Jim.

The Gerakas family has seen a lot of changes to Ashfield over forty years; they are now the last Greek-run shop, of the post War generation, left in Ashfiled, as the Greek delicatessen shut shop about seven months ago.

As Vasilis explains, ‘I call Arthur and Jim the dynamic duo; they are are great team..I also love the way the trade has passed down from one generation to the next; in this case, it is passing from Arthur to Jim’s hands, and the trade (and shop) survives to service the community.’

Source: https://www.facebook.com/SYNDESMOS-CONNECTING-PEOPLE-FROM-LESVOS-393246219501/

Vasilis Vasilas’ interview with Giorgos Koulouris’ tailoring shop in Dulwich Hill closed after 37 years of operation

When a shop closes…

It is such a sad experience when a shop closes for the last time, especially after many years of operation.

This is the case of Giorgos Koulouris’ tailoring shop in Dulwich Hill, which recently closed after thirty-seven years of operation!

Vasilis was fortunate enough to interview Giorgos on the second last day before the final close.

It was an emotional experience, as so many of Giorgos’ customers and friends continually dropped into the shop to farewell Giorgos…

As Vasilis points out, ‘Giorgos’ shop was much more than a shop; over the years, it became a small community, as the shop was a place for the local Greeks to come and meet, and exchange views on all sorts of issues.

As these customers came to say their goodbyes to Giorgos, you could see that both Giorgos and the customers were saddened by the closure of the shop. The customers were part of Giorgo’s life but Giorgos was part of their lives too.

Giorgos and his wonderful character, zest, and humour will be sadly missed…

Source: https://www.facebook.com/SYNDESMOS-CONNECTING-PEOPLE-FROM-LESVOS-393246219501/

Vasilis Vasilas’ interview with Michael Konitsas about the history of his shop, Botany Timber and Hardware

Vasilis recently interviewed Michael Konitsas, who is from Agia Paraskevi, Lesvos, about the history of his shop, Botany Timber and Hardware. In an age of hardware megastores, some things incredibly do not change, like this gem of a shop; Michael’s determination, care and love to keep his shop open and keep servicing the local area are must be admired…

In the photograph is Michael Konitsas sharing a humorous moment with a customer…

Source: https://www.facebook.com/SYNDESMOS-CONNECTING-PEOPLE-FROM-LESVOS-393246219501/

Greek Community of Melbourne student wins the Premier’s VCE AWARD for Modern Greek

PRESS RELEASE 

28/4/2017

GCM student wins the Premier’s VCE AWARD for Modern Greek

The “Premier’s VCE Award” for her outstanding performance at last year’s Modern Greek VCE exams was awarded to Theofano Tsentikopoulos, a student of the School of Language and Culture of the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM).

The awards were presented by the State Minister for Education Mr James Merlino, on Thursday 27 April 2017, in a special event at the Palladium Crown, at Southbank.

Theofano and her parents were thrilled with the award. “My award by the Premier of Victoria for my performance at the Modern Greek VCE exams was a unique honour for me,” said Theophano. “By meeting today other students who excelled in more than one lesson, it made me decide to intensify my efforts this year to excell in other subjects too. My warmest congratulations to all the students who were awarded today. ”

Her parents, Nikos and Xenia Tsentikopoulos, expressed their joy for Theophano’s performance, and their gratitude to the staff and the management of the GCM schools: “It is a thrill for a parent to see their child be rewarded for their performance by the Goverment. The award ceremony highlights the efforts and struggles of the students, the teachers and the parents who support them and guide them on the road to excellence.

The parents congratulated the teaching and managing staff of the GCM schools for the high standard education they offer. “Also congratulations to all students who were awarded, and our wishes for every success in their lives,” they said.

Both parents they also said: “We would like to thank the GCM and especially the school principal Mr. Manos Tzimpragos, who organizes every year the Greek Student Film aiming not only to cultivate the Greek language of the students but also their imagination, team spirit and versatile talents.

“Also, wee cannot find the words to thank the school coordinator Mrs. Maria Bakalidou, the teacher Irene Kontoudaki and all the teaching staff for their solid support and constant encouragement. We wish them to continue to motivate the students to excel, but also to express themselves and their thoughts creatively and to share their feelings.»

It must be noted that Theophano’s outstanding performance is not limited to Modern Greek. Recently, she won an award for “original musical composition” at the 7th International Short Film Student Competition in Greece for the song “Αναμνήσεις παλιές”, which she initially composed for the Greek student short film “From the Morning to the Evening”.

GCM’s Greek school principal Mr Manos Tzimpragos expressed his satisfaction for Theofano’s achievements: “I feel very excited and proud of our student Theofano, who was awarded for her outstanding performance at the VCE 2016 Modern Greek language exam.

“Her excellent performance was the result of hard work and dedication to her goal. It is also a proof of the excellent work being done in our schools. We wish her a wholeheartedly good career!”

Information: +61 9662-2722 |

email: info@greekcommunity.com.au

Level 3, 168 Lonsdale St., Melbourne, Vic. 3000

Phone: +61 3 9662 2722,

Email: info@greekcommunity.com.au,

Website: greekcommunity.com.au

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PRESS RELEASE

28/4/2017

Βραβεία σε μαθήτρια των Σχολείων Γλώσσας και Πολιτισμού της Κοινότητας

To πρώτο βραβείο για την εξαιρετική επίδοσή της στο μάθημα των Νέων Ελληνικών στις εξετάσεις του VCE (Premier’s VCE Award) απονεμήθηκε στη μαθήτρια των Σχολείων Γλώσσας και Πολιτισμού της Ελληνικής Κοινότητας Μελβούρνης, Θεοφανώ Τσεντικοπούλου.

Τα βραβεία απονεμήθηκαν από τον υπουργό Παιδείας της Βικτώριας κ. Τζέημς Μερλίνο την Πέμπτη 27 Απριλίου 2017, σε ειδική εκδήλωση στο Palladium Crown, στο Southbank.

Τη χαρά και συγκίνησή τους για τη βράβευσή της εξέφρασαν τόσο η Θεοφανώ όσο και οι γονείς της.

«Η βράβευσή μου από τον πρωθυπουργό της Βικτώρια για την βαθμολογία μου στα Ελληνικά στις εξετάσεις του VCE, ήταν μοναδική τιμή για εμένα,» δήλωσε η Θεοφανώ συγκινημένη. «Συναντώντας και μαθητές που διακρίθηκαν σε περισσότερα από ένα μαθήματα, θα συνεχίσω και θα εντείνω τις προσπάθειές μου φέτος, ώστε να έχω ένα καλό αποτέλεσμα και στα υπόλοιπα μαθήματα. Τα θερμά μου συγχαρητήρια σε όλους τους μαθητές που διακρίθηκαν».

Οι γονείς της, Νίκος και Ξένια Τσεντικοπούλου, δήλωσαν χαρούμενοι για τις επιδόσεις της Θεοφανώς, εκφράζοντας ταυτόχρονα τις ευχαριστίες τους στο προσωπικό και τη διεύθυνση των σχολείων της Κοινότητας: «Είναι ιδιαίτερη η συγκίνηση κάθε γονέα να βλέπει το παιδί του να βραβεύεται για τις επιδόσεις του από την επίσημη πολιτεία. Η τελετή βράβευσης των μαθητών που αρίστευσαν στις εξετάσεις του VCE από τον πρωθυπουργό της Βικτώρια, επισφραγίζει τις προσπάθειες και τον αγώνα των μαθητών, των εκπαιδευτικών και των γονέων που τους στηρίζουν και τους καθοδηγούν στον δρόμο του «αιέν αριστεύειν». Είναι αξιέπαινοι οι καθηγητές και οι διευθυντές των σχολείων της Ελληνικής Κοινότητας για την υψηλού επιπέδου «παιδεία» που προσφέρουν στους υποψηφίους. Αξίζουν θερμά συγχαρητήρια σε όλους τους μαθητές, καλή πρόοδο και κάθε επιτυχία στη ζωή τους.

»Ευχαριστούμε πολύ την Ελληνική Κοινότητα και ιδιαίτερα τον διευθυντή των ελληνικών σχολείων κ. Μάνο Τζιμπραγό που διοργανώνει με ιδιαίτερο μεράκι και καλλιτεχνική ευαισθησία κάθε χρόνο αυτόν τον πρωτότυπο διαγωνισμό, που στοχεύει όχι μόνο να καλλιεργήσει τον νεοελληνικό λόγο των μαθητών, αλλά και τη φαντασία, το ομαδικό πνεύμα και τα πολύπλευρα ταλέντα τους.

»Επίσης, δεν βρίσκουμε λόγια να ευχαριστήσουμε και τη συντονίστρια του σχολείου κυρία Μαρία Μπακαλίδου, την καθηγήτρια κυρία Ειρήνη Κοντουδάκη και όλους τους καθηγητές για την αμέριστη συμπαράσταση και τη διαρκή ενθάρρυνσή τους. Ευχόμαστε καλή δύναμη σε όλους, να συνεχίσουν να δίνουν κίνητρα στους μαθητές, ώστε να στοχεύουν ψηλά, αλλά και να εκφράζονται δημιουργικά, να εξωτερικεύουν σκέψεις και να μοιράζονται συναισθήματα. »

Και βραβείο μουσικής σύνθεσης

Οι εξαιρετικές επιδόσεις της Θεοφανώς δεν σταματούν μόνο στα Ελληνικά, καθώς πρόσφατα κέρδισε βραβείο πρωτότυπης μουσικής σύνθεσης στον 7ο Διεθνή Διαγωνισμό Μαθητικών Ταινιών Μικρού Μήκους στην Ελλάδα, για το τραγούδι «Αναμνήσεις παλιές» που συνέθεσε για τη μαθητική ταινία με θέμα «Από το πρωϊ ως το βράδυ», που συμμετείχε στο Ελληνικό Μαθητικό Φεστιβάλ Κινηματογράφου Μελβούρνης.

«Το τραγούδι «Αναμνήσεις παλιές» το συνέθεσα όταν πρωτοήρθα για μόνιμη εγκατάσταση στην Αυστραλία,» λέει. «Ακούγοντας την καθηγήτριά μας Ειρήνη Κοντουδάκη να μας ενημερώνει για τον διαγωνισμό του Φεστιβάλ Μαθητικής Ταινίας, σκεφτήκαμε με τους συμμαθητές μου και επιλέξαμε ένα θέμα που αντανακλά τις πρόσφατες κοινές εμπειρίες της μετακίνησής μας στην νέα μας πατρίδα. Έτσι, πρότεινα στους συμμαθητές μου το τραγούδι μου και χάρηκα που έγινε αποδεκτό από όλους. Στη συνέχεια, δουλέψαμε ομαδικά για το σενάριο και για τα γυρίσματα χρειάστηκε να ταξιδέψουμε μέχρι το αεροδρόμιο! Περιττό να πω ότι η χαρά όλων μας για την πρώτη θέση της ταινίας μας στον διαγωνισμό της Ελληνικής Κοινότητας ήταν απερίγραπτη. Κατά δεύτερο λόγο, η επικείμενη βράβευση του τραγουδιού στην Ελλάδα, στην κατηγορία της πρωτότυπης μουσικής σύνθεσης, μας συγκίνησε για άλλη μια φορά. Για μια ακόμα φορά, ευχαριστούμε πολύ όλους τους καθηγητές μας από τα σχολεία της Ελληνικής Κοινότητας και τους διευθυντές που μας ενθάρρυναν να πάρουμε μέρος.»

Την ικανοποίησή του για τη βράβευση της Θεοφανώς εξέφρασε και ο διευθυντής των Σχολείων της Κοινότητας κ. Τζιμπραγός: «Νιώθω ιδιαίτερα συγκινημένος και υπερήφανος για τη μαθήτριά μας Θεoφανώ Τσεντικοπούλου η οποία βραβεύτηκε για την εξαιρετική της επίδοση στο μάθημα των Νέων Ελληνικών στις εξετάσεις VCE 2016,” δήλωσε ο διευθυντής των σχολείων της Κοινότητας κ. Μάνος Τζιμπραγός.

«Η διάκριση της μαθήτριας ήταν αποτέλεσμα της σκληρής δουλειάς και της αφοσίωσής της στον στόχο της. Αποτελεί επίσης απόδειξη του εξαιρετικού έργου που συντελείται στα σχολεία μας. Της ευχόμαστε ολόψυχα καλή σταδιοδρομία!»

Πληροφορίες: +61 9662-2722 |

Εμέιλ: info@greekcommunity.com.au

Level 3, 168 Lonsdale St., Melbourne, Vic. 3000

Phone: +61 3 9662 2722,

Email: info@greekcommunity.com.au,

Website: greekcommunity.com.au

Enterprise and Diversity: Greek-Australian Occupational Pursuits, 1810s to Present

PRESS RELEASE

24/3/2017

Enterprise and Diversity: Greek-Australian Occupational Pursuits, 1810s to Present

Documentary photographer, Effy Alexakis, and historian, Leonard Janiszewski will present a lecture entitled “Enterprise and Diversity: Greek-Australian Occupational Pursuits, 1810s to Present”, on Thursday 27 April, at the Greek Centre, as a part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars, offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.

From the late nineteen century until the closing decades of the twentieth century, Greeks played a large part in Australia’s food catering industry.

They continued, nevertheless, to enter a wide variety of diverse occupations. These included: agricultural and pastoral activities, mining, sea-related industries, itinerant work, secondary industries, public life, professional fields, and artistic and sporting avenues.

Moreover, their contribution in some activities proved significant. This lecture reveals, acknowledges and celebrates their complex and broad involvement in Australia’s mainstream development over the last two hundred years.

Documentary photographer, Effy Alexakis, and historian, Leonard Janiszewski, have been researching the Greek-Australian historical and contemporary presence in both Australia and Greece since 1982.

Their project and archives, In Their Own Image: Greek-Australians, encompasses visual, oral and literary material and is based at Macquarie University, Sydney. Their archive is one of the most significant collections in the country on Greek-Australians.

Various national and international touring exhibitions, three major books, over 200 book chapters, articles, conference papers, and three film documentaries have been produced. Of their exhibitions, the most pronounced have been ‘In Their Own Image: Greek-Australians’ and ‘Selling and American Dream: Australia’s Greek Café’. The former was created in partnership with the State Library of NSW and toured throughout Australia as well as Athens and Thessaloniki in Greece; in Athens it was part of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Cultural Festival, ‘Reaching the World’ and in Thessaloniki it was invited as the Australian component of the City’s ‘Cultural Capital of Europe 1997’ program. The latter opened at the National Museum of Australia, Canberra, in 2008, and is still touring.

Alexakis’ photographs are held in both public and private collections in Australia – most significantly in the Australian National Gallery, Canberra, and the State Library of NSW, Sydney. She currently works as a freelance photographer after completing 25 years service as Senior Photographer with Macquarie University. Alexakis has been ranked in the top ten portrait photographers in Australia. In 2001 Janiszewski was awarded the New South Wales History Fellowship to research a history of the ‘Greek café’.

Both Alexakis and Janiszewski are Research Fellows with the Department of Modern History, Politics and International Relations at Macquarie University. Janiszewski is also Curator with the Macquarie University Art Gallery. Alexakis and Janiszewski have served on numerous history and arts committees.

Sponsors

We’d like to thank the following donors: Kon Tsementis-Floudas, Maria Dikaiou in mem. of George H. Asproftas and Michael H. Asproftas, Chris & Angela Fifis, Konstandina Dounis in mem. of her parents Sophia and Theodoros Dounis.

During the course of the year considerable expenses are incurred in staging the seminars. In order to mitigate these costs individuals or organisations are invited to donate against a lecture of their choice.

You too can donate for one or more seminars and (optionally) let your name or brand be known as a patron of culture to our members, visitors and followers, as well as the broader artistic and cultural community of Melbourne.

When: Thursday, 27 April 2017, 7:00pm

Where: Greek Centre, (Mezzanine, 168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne)

Information: 9662 2722

Level 3, 168 Lonsdale St., Melbourne, Vic. 3000

Phone: +61 3 9662 2722

Email: info@greekcommunity.com.au,

Website: greekcommunity.com.au

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PRESS RELEASE 

26/3/2017

Διάλεξη για τις επαγγελματικές επιδιώξεις Ελληνοαυστραλών από το 1810 ως σήμερα

Η φωτογράφος Εφη Αλεξάκη και ο ιστορικός Leonard Janiszewski θα παρουσιάσουν την Πέμπτη 27 Απριλίου στο Ελληνικό Κέντρο μια διάλεξη με τίτλο «Επιχειρήσεις και Διαφορετικότητα: Ελληνο-Αυστραλιανές επαγγελματικές επιδιώξεις, από το 1810 ως σήμερα», στο πλαίσιο των Σεμιναρίων Ελληνικής Ιστορίας και Πολιτισμού, που προσφέρονται από την Ελληνική Κοινότητα της Μελβούρνης.

Από τα τέλη του δέκατου ένατου αιώνα μέχρι τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες του εικοστού αιώνα, οι Έλληνες διαδραμάτισαν σημαντικό ρόλο στη βιομηχανία τροφίμων της Αυστραλίας.

Συνέχισαν, ωστόσο, να ασχολούνται σε μια ευρεία ποικιλία διαφορετικών επαγγελμάτων. Μεταξύ αυτών περιλαμβάνονται: οι γεωργικές και ποιμαντικές δραστηριότητες, οι μεταλλευτικές βιομηχανίες, οι θαλάσσιες βιομηχανίες, οι πλανόδιες εργασίες, οι δευτερογενείς βιομηχανίες, η δημόσια ζωή, οι επααγλμεατικοί χώροι και οι καλλιτεχνικές ακια αθλητικές δραστηριότητες.

Επιπλέον, η συμβολή τους σε ορισμένες δραστηριότητες αποδείχθηκε σημαντική. Αυτή η διάλεξη αποκαλύπτει, αναγνωρίζει και γιορτάζει την πολύπλοκη και ευρεία συμμετοχή τους στην ανάπτυξη της Αυστραλίας τα τελευταία διακόσια χρόνια.

Η φωτογράφος Effy Alexakis και ο ιστορικός Leonard Janiszewski ερευνούν την ελληνο-αυστραλιανή ιστορική και σύγχρονη παρουσία τόσο στην Αυστραλία όσο και στην Ελλάδα από το 1982. Το έργο και τα αρχεία τους, ‘In Their Own Image: Greek-Australians’, περιλαμβάνει οπτικό, προφορικό και λογοτεχνικό υλικό και εδρεύει στο Πανεπιστήμιο Macquarie του Σίδνεϊ. Το αρχείο τους είναι μία από τις σημαντικότερες συλλογές στη χώρα για τους Έλληνο-Αυστραλούς. Πραγματοποιήθηκαν διάφορες εθνικές και διεθνείς περιοδεύουσες εκθέσεις, τρία μεγάλα βιβλία, πάνω από 200 κεφάλαια βιβλίων, άρθρα, άρθρα συνεδρίων και τρία ντοκιμαντέρ. Τόσο η Αλεξάκη όσο και ο Janiszewski είναι ερευνητές στο Τμήμα Σύγχρονης Ιστορίας, Πολιτικής και Διεθνών Σχέσεων του Πανεπιστημίου Macquarie. Ο Janiszewski είναι επίσης επιμελητής της γκαλερί τέχνης του Πανεπιστημίου Macquarie. Η Αλεξάκη και ο Janiszewski έχουν υπηρετήσει σε πολυάριθμες επιτροπές ιστορίας και τέχνης.

Πότε: Πέμπτη, 27 Απριλίου 2017, 7:00μμ

Πού: Ελληνικό Κέντρο, (Mezzanine, 168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne)

Πληροφορίες: 9662 2722

Level 3, 168 Lonsdale St., Melbourne, Vic. 3000

Phone: +61 3 9662 2722

Email: info@greekcommunity.com.au,

Website: greekcommunity.com.au

The popular Lukumades food truck gets a permanent home in West Melbourne

Greek Doughnuts, Souped Up

When you walk through the orange doors of the tiny Lukumades Greek-doughnut shop opposite Queen Victoria Market, you’ll smell deep-fried dough, melted chocolate and freshly brewed coffee.

“How would you like your balls today?” a member of the crew asks – it’s a drill fans of the Lukumades food truck are familiar with.

The truck’s loyal following (it launched in June last year) is the reason owner Exarhos Sourligas decided to open this West Melbourne storefront.

“Our customers wanted to buy our doughnuts any time, not just at festivals and events. They kept asking us to open a shop and eventually the time was right,” he says.

The colour palate and fit-out of the compact space (designed by Sydney-based Infinite Design) is the first hint Sourligas isn’t a traditionalist.

“My brief to the designer was Greek, but not too Greek,” he says. You won’t see any Santorini blues, or Grecian-inspired art. Similarly, the Greek doughnuts, known as loukoumades, aren’t typical of the version you’ll get in Greece, where they’re served with walnuts and honey syrup.

Sourligas spent two years perfecting his loukoumades recipe, trying out various flavours and toppings, and experimenting with different types of dough to get the right consistency and crunch.

Except for drinks, this is a doughnut-only menu. The Twix Fix comes with melted milk chocolate, crushed Twix, salted caramel and vanilla gelato. Let’s Jam is topped with peanut butter and jam. Oreo Balls come smothered in white chocolate, crushed Oreos and a generous scoop of cookies-and-cream gelato. And Grandma’s Pick is served with sour cherries and vanilla gelato.

You can enjoy your loukoumades inside the shop on a comfy, cushioned bench, or take your tray of golden dumplings to the seats outside in the cobblestone laneway.
Lukumades

83 Peel Street, West Melbourne
Hours:

Mon to Fri 10am–10pm

Sat & Sun 10am10pm
lukumades.com.au

Vasilis Vasilas’ interview with Kostas Anagnostou about his Handmade Shoes at Hurlstone Park

Another Gem of a Shop

Vasilis recently interviewed Kostas Anagnostou about his business, Con’s Handmade Shoes.

As Vasilis explains, ‘Kosta has an amazing skill, which is so rare today, for making shoes. No task or job scares Kosta! At one point, he was making boots for Movie World so he was making Wonder Woman’s boots! When Kosta told me of his incredible works, I was simply gobsmacked!’

Vasilis also loved being corrected by Kosta when he complimented Kosta as being one of the last shoe repairers. Kosta politely replied, ‘No, Vasili, I am not a shoe repairer; I am a shoe maker…’

Does this make Kosta the last shoe maker in Sydney?

Source: https://www.facebook.com/SYNDESMOS-CONNECTING-PEOPLE-FROM-LESVOS-393246219501/