Get the appGiorgos Lygouris died on Friday at the age of 104. His daughter, Mary Tsimikli-Economopoulou, announced the news on social media, describing a quiet farewell. Born in Kalamata in 1922, he worked as a policeman in Greece before migrating to Germany and later to Australia in 1967. He and his wife, Athanasia, who died seven and a half years ago, had five children, along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Sydney filmmaker Renee Kypriotis has been selected for the PlayLab Films Creators Lab, a ten-day residency in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, led by Iranian director Asghar Farhadi. Fifty filmmakers take part, each developing and shooting a short film from a shared theme. Kypriotis says the lab costs €7,900 before travel, and she is seeking support to cover it. She previously made the short films Concrete and RAGE, and moved to Athens earlier this year to reconnect with her Greek heritage.
George Mpliokas has announced he will step down as Director and President of Hellenic Village Ltd. He will resign from the Hellenic Village Board effective 30 October, after nine years on the Board, seven of them as President. During his tenure, the Kemps Creek property was sold for $119.5 million. Mpliokas said the decision would help him balance work, community and family commitments. He urged continued support for the Australian Hellenic Future Fund, which was set up to secure the future of Hellenic Village.
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
Get the appPolice officers and members of Melbourne's Greek Australian community gathered at St Basil's Greek Orthodox Church in Brunswick on Sunday to honour Saint Artemios, the patron saint of police. The annual celebration was organised by the Victoria Hellenic Police Association. A Divine Liturgy was held, with an icon of the saint donated by the Hellenic Police. Priest Emmanuel Lykopandis, a spiritual adviser to state and federal police, then led a prayer service. The day ended with a barbecue in the church grounds.
Melbourne jazz clarinettist Nick Polites, who lived in the city until the age of 94, is remembered for his music and his community work. Born in 1927, he played alongside jazz greats including Louis Armstrong. He was a pioneer of Greek welfare services and helped establish PRONIA, an organisation assisting Greek migrants. In 1981, Greece formally recognised his contribution to supporting Greek migrants. The writer recounts a meeting with Panos Katsaitis, whose café first brought Polites into a jazz session.
Mary Zournazi's documentary Acropolis Cats & Other Wondrous Animals returns to Melbourne this weekend as part of the 31st Greek Film Festival. The film won Best Australian Documentary Film at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival. It follows people in Greece who care for abandoned cats, often despite their own hardship. The film screens at Palace Cinemas Balwyn on Saturday 17 October at 2.15pm, before travelling to Sydney, Newcastle and Brisbane. Zournazi will attend screenings for audience Q&A sessions.
Greek Australian performers Jesse Vasiliadis and Jacinda Tsakalos have joined the cast of Monty Python's SPAMALOT. The Tony Award-winning musical heads to Sydney in October, playing at the Sydney Event Centre at The Star Sydney from October 15 to 18, then at the Coliseum Theatre from October 22 to 25. Vasiliadis will play Sir Lancelot, while Tsakalos is making her professional theatre debut in the ensemble. Vasiliadis, a Lower Plenty performer, spoke of resilience, and Tsakalos described her gratitude at landing her first professional role. Stephen Curry leads the Sydney cast as King Arthur.
Georgia Sahinis, a Greek Australian community volunteer, was named a finalist at the 2026 Victorian Volunteering Awards. She received a certificate and lapel pin for her service, presented by Victoria’s Minister for Carers, Young People and Volunteers, Luba Grigorovitch. Sahinis was the only nominee of Hellenic background among more than 450 nominations. The awards recognised her commitment to strengthening and supporting the community in a state with over 3.3 million volunteers.