Ta Matia Dec 02 - Wellington Olympic AFC

G.O.Y.A.N.Z.
Greek Orthodox Youth Association of New Zealand
www.goyanz.org.nz
Issue No. 16 Christmas 2002
GOYANZ Childrens Christmas Party
IN THIS ISSUE
Sunday 15th December 2002, Odysseus Hall, Miramar
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way. Oh what fun it is to
go to a GOYANZ parta..y! Hey!
This was the overwhelming response from the party attendants
at the first GOYANZ Christmas party. It was held on Sunday,
15 December at the Odysseus Hall and was attended by
approximately 120 kids and even more adults! For those of
you who missed out (with no good excuse) - Tough!! You lost
out, because it was a great party. Tricky the Clown entertained
the kids for 35 minutes with magic tricks, balloon sculptures,
jokes, etc. (don’t know if he’ll ever be the same again or
whether he’ll ever be back. He was last seen leaving the
premises very fast!)
After Tricky, the children and adults were fed to their hearts
content! Chips, squid rings, chicken nuggets, cherios, etc were
eaten by the kg (though I suspect the adults dipped into the
children’s food section!). The adults were treated to a little more adult food (taramosalata, little savouries, etc.).
And then of course, Vice-President John Serepisos, presented the ‘Brick in the Wall’ campaign which I’m sure each
and every one of you who were at the Christmas party will support (remember, we know who you are!). How better
to show your appreciation of what GOYANZ does and will do in the future.
Santa was a couple of minutes late because he must have hit a red light, but when he finally arrived, Santa was worth
the wait as our GOYANZ Santa is as close as you’ll ever get to the real Santa. Lollies went flying and kids’ faces lit up
(what’s he got for us this time?!). The presents were a big hit with the kids, especially the Bey Blades (someone’s
making a lot of money out of glorified spinning tops) and the Rebel Sports vouchers. I should hope that all the
children were pleased with their presents. If any child didn’t get quite what they really wanted we’re sorry but
Santa’s little helpers (Chris and V) did the best they could! It’s not easy shopping for 145 children.
One little girl however, had her dream come true and also her belief in Father Christmas cemented forever. Little
Alexcea Apostolakis wrote a little letter to Father Christmas requesting a Barbie doll, and lo and behold, the GOYANZ
Santa granted her wish. Her little face lit up, she took a gasp of air, put her hand to her chest and said “Look, he got
it for me!” Now doesn’t that just about sum up what Christmas means to kids?
It was good to see such a great turnout. Out of 142 registered children, the majority turned up. Only 10 gifts were
left uncollected. Some were collected by relatives who were able to provide good excuses as to why the children
couldn’t collect in person (chicken pox was a good excuse!) On the whole it was great to see parents and caregivers
making the effort to attend.
We’d also like to take this opportunity to thank those non GOYANZ committee members who helped the GOYANZ
committee put on such a successful party. Thanks to Peter Halikias and George Makris, who as usual managed the
kitchen and got us all fed on time! To all who stayed after the party was over and helped clean up, thank you so
much!! A huge thank you to Mediterranean Foods for donating all that beautiful tarama (no one makes it like
Martha!!) and those big fat juicy Kalamata olives. And a very Merry Xmas thank you to Theo and Karen Doucas
(Elements Cafe) for adding variety and sophistication to the lunch. Also special thanks to George Kotrotsos who
always helps with food at our functions.
Hopefully, next year’s GOYANZ Christmas party will be even better and bigger than this one. We’re already thinking
about it!
GOYANZ Xmas Float
Page 3 - Athens 2004
Page 5 - Music
Page 10 -28th October
Page 15 - Nikos Kazantzakis
Page 16 - Big Fat Greek Wedding
Page 19 - U19s
Sunday 24 November 2002
Page 20 - Buy a Brick
More pictures on page 9
www.goyanz.org.nz
Makara Bus Timetable
Information compiled by George Karantze
Every month Stagecoach puts on a special bus service for
those wanting to visit Makara Cemetery.
Welcome to all readers of our final issue for 2002. Some news since
our last issue, has been the successful participation of GOYANZ in
the Wellington Xmas parade. The theme this year was Helen of Troy.
This event provides great exposure for our organisation and I would
like to congratulate Chrisanthi, Helen and Vera for their efforts in
organising the GOYANZ float. Also a big thank you to all those that
helped or participated on the day of the parade. The GOYANZ Xmas
party was also held last weekend at the Odysseus Hall, where over
200 people attended including 120 children. This was a great day
enjoyed by young and old alike. I’m still trying to work out how Vera
& Chrisanthi got hold of all those Bey Blades. Thank you also to the
Odysseus Brotherhood for providing the venue. The clubroom project
is under way and if all goes well it should be completed by late March
2003. Please get involved! We need your help/support. There have
been a few negative comments floating around the community about
this project and our role in the community - but I guess you can’t
please everyone. All I can say is that we should all be striving for the
same goals - especially focussing on our youth. We need to provide
our children with the opportunity to preserve and develop the Greek
language, culture and Hellenic civilisation for the benefit of wider
New Zealand. We need to act now before it’s too late.
Details are:
Bus Departs From Courtenay Place
Departure Time:
1:30pm
Cost:
$10 - return trip
Dates for 2003 are:
15th January
19th February
19th March
16th April
21st May
18th June
16th July
20th August
17th September
15th October
19th November
The Olympic first team has also been reinstated into the Premier
League for 2003, due to Wairarapa United pulling out - this is good
news.
17th December
Check us out on-line at:
We have big list of events planned for next year - check out the calendar
in this issue. Along with these events there will be an updated website
rolled out in the second quarter of 2003, courtesy of TBD. The website
will reflect the whole of GOYANZ with more general GOYANZ content
added. All the soccer information will still be available, just reorganised.
www.goyanz.org.nz or www.olympicafc.org.nz
GOYANZ Youth
Radio Program
Finally I would like to wish you and your families a safe, joyful holiday
season, and a prosperous and successful New Year.
29th December 2002
Kostandina
ΚΑΛΑ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥΓΕΝΝΑ
5th January 2003
Dana + Stelios
12th January 2003
Peppy
19th January 2003
Voula + Chrisanthi
26th January 2003
Kostadina
02 February 2003
Peppy
09 February 2003
Steve Samaras
16th February 2003
Kostandina
23rd February 2003
Peppy
Paul Kotrotsos
Committees 2002
GOYANZ:
Paul Kotrotsos (Pres.), John Serepisos (V. Pres.), John Yiappos (Treas.),
Chrisanthi Kamberogiannis (Sec.), Stelios Manousakis, , Louiza
Papageorgiou, Helen Neonakis, Penelope Makris, Theo Doucas, Vera
Georgiou
Olympic:
John Serepisos (Pres.), Tasos Babarousos, Peter Zivadinovic, George
Neonakis, John Servos.
Netball:
Chrisanthi Kamberogiannis, Vera Georgiou, Voula Halikias
If anyone is interested in doing a radio show, or if you have a
dedication or request, please call Paul Kotrotsos on 387-1110
Junior Soccer:
John Serepisos (co-ordinator), George Kotrotosos, Andrew
Antonopoulos, Stathi Apostolakis, George Serepisos, Nick Efstratiou
Tune in and listen to the latest Greek music.
Every Sunday at 3.00pm - 4.00pm
on Access Radio, 783 AM
Ta Matia tou Kosmou:
John Serepisos (Editor), Voula Kosmadakis, Stelios Manousakis, Paul
Kotrotsos, Demetrius Christoforou, Meropi Kafakis, Christina Daglas,
Irene Manousakis, Gina & Angela Gouvatsos, Ritsa Magiannis
Youth Radio:
Τα Ματια Του Κοσµου
Paul Kotrotsos, Chrisanthi Kamberogiannis,Peppy Tziakis,
Konstandina Karasavas, Gina & Angela Gouvatsos, Christina Daglas,
Meropi Kafakis
is produced Bi-monthly by GOYANZ
PO Box 6257 Wellington
Layout and design TBD www.tbd.co.nz
Printing Ultracopy www.ultracopy.co.nz
GOYANZ/Olympic Website:
John Serepisos (johns@tbd.co.nz)
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Preparing for Olympics, Athens Really Digs In
summoned. Excavations are undertaken by archaeologists from 25
districts throughout Greece. The Central Archeological Council assesses
the value of discovered artifacts and makes recommendations about
how to deal with them. The Hellenic Ministry of Culture ultimately
calls the shots.
December 1, 2002
ATHENS — At the edge of a muddy construction
site sits a rectangular, weather-proof box, the size
of a trailer. The box, surrounded by a chain-link
fence, remains undisturbed as nearby bulldozers
push mounds of red clay and debris, but it will be
opened like a giant present when the Summer
Olympic Games get underway in August 2004.
Plans are often changed. Delays of months are not uncommon. The
builder — not the archaeologist — is responsible for picking up the
tab. Nobody is expected to complain.
“It’s a very strict law,” said Panos Protopsaltis, the organizing
committee’s transportation general manager. “Whenever you discover
something, you don’t just improvise, you call the archaeologists and
they come and impose their own rules. We may not like their pace,
but we respect their mission. This is inevitable.”
The contents of the box will become the centerpiece of the Olympic
Village. Inside is a portion of the Roman Emperor Hadrian’s aqueduct
that dates from about 100 A.D. When the Games begin, 10,000 athletes
will greet something that is 1,900 years old.
Throughout Athens, the birthplace of the Games, government and
Olympic officials are rushing to finish some three dozen construction
projects. The partially built venues, highways and railways are intended
to bring Athens soaring into the new millennium — preferably in time
for the Summer Games. But even as officials strain to meet deadlines,
they must tiptoe around delicate remnants of the ancient past, tangible
pieces of history that tend to turn up in Greece whenever a shovel
strikes earth.
In the case of the equestrian site, some 10 miles southeast of Athens,
government officials demanded that plans be revised before a single
scoop of earth had been moved to avoid apparent sites of antiquities.
Even so, archaeologists found the temple, houses, tombs and various
items of interest that warranted the commencement of 20 digs.
Olympic construction eventually resumed — but only where the
archaeologists weren’t working.
At the rowing and sailing site 25 miles outside of Athens, building
continued only after the Greek government agreed to dismantle and
move the remnants of the Neolithic homes 50 yards, a laborious and
expensive process. Archaeologists, environmentalists and government
officials debated the necessity of moving the artifacts, which the Culture
Minister Evangelos Venizelos had at first deemed of little value. Not
surprisingly, the voice of the preservationists won out.
At the equestrian site in Marcopoulo, archeologists found a number
of ancient dwellings and tombs, including remains of what is believed
to be a 2,500-year-old temple to the love goddess Aphrodite — and
which may also have served as a brothel. At the rowing and sailing site
at Schinias Beach, the site of the Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C., the
foundations of three 4,500-year-old homes were discovered.
“Not only will the Olympic Games be held in places where the Olympics
were born in antiquity, but in areas where antiquity is there,” said
Nicoletta Valakou, the directorate of prehistoric and classical antiquities
at the Hellenic Ministry of Culture. “We have the modern and antiquity
together in a very good combination.”
The portion of Hadrian’s aqueduct found at the Olympic Village was
unearthed by archaeologists before construction had begun. It was
enclosed in a protective trailer, where it will remain until the building
is complete. Then it will be displayed, incorporated as a central
component of the design of the village square.
After the beautiful and smooth-running Sydney Games in 2000, many
wondered how Athens, then mired in pollution and endless blueprints,
could present a Games that did not look flawed by comparison. Greek
sports deputy minister Giorgos Lianis, when asked to name Athens’s
greatest challenge, replied with one word: “Sydney.” Athens officials
would greatly have preferred to follow the oft-criticized ’96 Games in
Atlanta, marred by a bomb and rampant commercialism.
Officials say it is impossible to put a price tag on the archaeological
work, which has been absorbed into the overall construction costs. All
told, the government and organizing committee have budgeted more
than $6 billion to prepare for and stage the Games.
Despite all of the delays, Athens officials say the venues are on schedule.
(Other venues, such as those slated for the old airport grounds at
Helliniko, are further behind.) The International Olympic Committee,
which two years ago threatened to move the Games if Athens did not
speed up its glacier-paced Olympic construction, has accepted the
antiquity-related challenges with little grumbling.
But Athens officials are more optimistic these days. They say they will
do what no other Olympic host can: present Athens’s extensive history
— actual pieces of it — with care and grace. Not only will television
cameras pan the Acropolis, the Roman Agora, Hadrian’s Arch and the
other well-known monuments of Athens, but just about every
significant artifact discovered while digging or bulldozing will be
displayed near the site of its excavation.
“You can’t really turn around and say, ‘Keep the bulldozer going and
don’t tell anybody,’ “ said IOC marketing director Michael Payne. The
finds “will be part of the beauty of these Games. You will see an
incredibly beautiful city in 2004.”
“We are very fortunate to have this unique heritage,” said Gianna
Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, the president of the Athens Organizing
Committee for the 2004 Games. “We are the ones, even if it causes
some delays, who have found a way to expose these findings. We are
very proud of all of this.”
It was in Athens that the first Olympics were staged in about 776 B.C.,
and it was here that the modern Games resumed in 1896. When the
IOC awarded the Olympics to Athens in 1997, members admitted
they did so largely as an apology for not having given Athens the
centennial Olympics. Had the ’96 bid been better organized, Athens
likely would have won the Games then.
Construction projects throughout Greece, no matter how maddeningly
behind schedule or egregiously over budget or internationally important
— all of which generally have applied in the case of the Olympics —
are required by federal law to proceed with a rigid adherence to
archaeological guidelines rather than modern deadlines. Work snakes
around ancient finds, but never over or through them. When an
instrument strikes an artifact, construction stops. Authorities are
“The 3,000-year heritage is unique,” Payne said. “The visual
presentation [of the city] to what the athletes will experience in walking
in the footsteps of their predecessors three millennia ago is an incredibly
powerful cocktail.”
continued on page 14
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The Nativity of our Lord and God
and saviour Jesus Christ
By Vivienne Varouhas
COMING UP FEAST DAY
On this day we celebrate the birth in flesh of our Lord and God and
Saviour Jesus Christ. Seeing that the human race was tormented by
the devil, our most benevolent God felt compassion and sending his
angel Gabriel He told Mary Theotokos through him: “Hail, thou that
art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee”. And she said: “Behold the
handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” and the
Son and Word of God and Lord of ours Jesus Christ was immediately
conceived in her pure and virgin womb.
Nine months after the conception, Caesar Augustus ordered a census
around the whole world. Proconsul Kyrenios was sent to Jerusalem to
conduct it. So, that is when Joseph, the guardian of Theotokos, went
to Bethlehem together with her to be registered. Because Theotokos
was about to give birth and could not find a house to stay due to the
many people who were gathered there and had been in Bethlehem
early enough to occupy all the houses, she entered a shabby cave and
there she gave birth without corruption to our Lord Jesus Christ and
there she swaddled as a baby the Creator of all. She placed Him on the
crib of the animals which have no reason, because he was to free us
from acting without reason. The Nativity of our Lord is celebrated on
December 25th.
Office Hours for the Priest: Father George Serras Monday to Friday
4.00 - 6.00pm, Evangelismos Church, Hania St
Priest’s Phone Number: Home: (04) 802 5456 ;
Mobile: (025) 248 9524 Church Telephone: (04) 385 1076
We prepare ourselves to receive Holy Communion with fasting and
confession. One can find The Nativity of our lord in the gospels of
Matthew and Luke. Please refer to Matthew 1: 18-25, and Luke 2: 17 for a great read.
EVANGELISIMOS CHURCH - Hania Street
ST. ANDREWS CHURCH - 365 Broadway, Miramar
ST. NECTARIOS CHURCH - 23 Bay Street, Petone
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST - 30 Rochester Street, Palmerston North
Information is from Saint of the day Calendar, Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese of North and South America.
2004 tickets for most
pockets
of the total 5.3 million tickets will cost up to 30 euros - of which over
half will be priced under 20 euros. The public can apply for tickets as
of May 12, 2003, and, when demand exceeds supply, allocation will
be determined by lottery.
01 December 2002
Tickets for the Athens 2004 Olympics will range
from 10 to 950 euros, organizers announced
yesterday, while most people will be able to
attend events at a maximum cost of 30 euros.
Armed forces to contribute in the
security of the Athens 2004
December 13, 2002
And in their bid to raise some 183 million euros
from ticket sales, Athens 2004 officials will not
be issuing a single free invitation. Even should
certain events have low attendance, nobody will be let in without paying
- as was the case with the 1997 World Athletics Championships in
Athens.
The contribution of the country’s armed forces in the security of the
Athens 2004 Olympic Games will be extensive and decisive. Seven
thousand men will assist the police in their task of securing safe Games.
The relevant presidential decrees will be issued for the carrying out of
the missions.
The total cost of the armed forces’ activity within the framework of its
involvement in the security of the Olympic Games is estimated to
amount to 99 million euros (NZD200m). The security of the Olympic
Games belongs to the Greek Police. The relevant branch of the Armed
Forces General Staff is in contact with the U.S., Italian and Australian
armed forces to acquire experience from their involvement in similar
events.
Officials said the average ticket price would be 34 percent cheaper
than during the 2000 Games in Sydney.
´There was a conscious decision to have cheap tickets so that all Greeks
can enjoy the Olympics,ª Athens 2004 Executive Committee member
Marton Simitsek told a press conference. But he conceded later, ´We
did not say that all Greeks can attend all the events.ª Some 68 percent
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GREEK MUSIC - NEW RELEASES
Katy Garbi - Mia Kardia
(CD Single) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Natassa Theodoridou
Tosi Agapi Pos Na Hathi
Pashalis Terzis - Fotia stis nihtes
kai 5 Tragoudia gia to Ximeroma
Peggy Zina
Vres Ena Tropo HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Triandafillos
Gia Mena Eisai Esi
Sotis Volanis
Omonimo Sotis
Antonis Remos
Kardia Mou Remixes (CD Single)
Anna Vissi
X
Its been a long time coming, but finally you can get your hands on the latest
Greek music. We have new suppliers in Greece and Australia, and more
variety than ever before. If you wish to order any of the featured music or
want more details, send an e-mail to:
greekmusic@paradise.net.nz or call Stelio on 021 393 035.
Orders are placed on the 20th of each month. PRICE LIST:
CD Singles: $15 - $20
Full CD: $40
Giorgos Mazonakis - Koita Me & Beat
(Double CD) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Doubles: $55 - $60
Oswald was questioned about the marked difference in tone with
statements made earlier this week, before his arrival, to The Associated
Press. He attributed this change to the briefing he had since been
given by ministers and officials from Athens 2004, the Games
organizers. “It is not a case of double language,” he said. Even a usually
grumpy member of the Commission agreed that presentations had
gone smoothly. “The only issue that we really debated at length was
whether to give (organizers) until April to decide what to do with the
Calatrava project,” he told Kathimerini.
IOC praises Athens 2004
preparations
November 10, 2002
“Athens is really taking up an Olympic shape,”
Denis Oswald, chairman of the International
Olympic
Committee’s
Coordination
Commission, told reporters yesterday at the end
of a three-day inspection tour of preparations for
the 2004 Games. Oswald had offered words of
encouragement before; this, however, was the
first time his praise was so effusive and the positive points clearly
outnumbered the areas of concern.
He was referring to the design of two steel-and-glass arches covering
the Olympic stadium and the nearby cycling track, by Spanish architect
Santiago Calatrava. The project has been delayed due to a legal challenge
by a losing bidder.
“We are much more confident (about the success of the Athens
Olympics) than we were some time ago,” Oswald said.
Other areas of concern are the delay in the construction of a basketball
arena at Hellenikon, the former Athens airport, and the current lack of
an appropriate venue in Athens to stage soccer matches, both qualifiers
and the final.
The Commission chief cited road building, public transport and venue
construction as “areas of special satisfaction” for the Commission.
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Greek Community Playgroup
by Vera Georgiou
so many parents and grandparents attending as well. I know that
there will be a lot more junior members attending the playgroup,
judging from the number of babies and pregnant women in the
community at the moment! At least we know (and hope) that this
will ensure the future of the playgroup and that it will not diminish!
These children are our future and link to our Greek culture, which we
want to see preserved in them. We’re starting at the best time, from a
very young age and hopefully following through from Greek playgroup
to Greek School.
Well another year is drawing to a close which means Christmas is just
around the corner!!
As for every end of term, the Greek Community Playgroup held its
end of term party and the end of this term was no exception. Of
course, the end of Term 4 is an extra special party as it was the Playgroup
Christmas party. This year it was held on Friday, 20 December at the
Miramar Community Centre where the Playgroup currently runs its
weekly Friday sessions.
Did you know that we have 60 children on our role!! 1/3 attend
Playgroup regularly, 1/3 are regular casuals and 1/3 comprise of babies
and children that attend Playgroup once in a while or are still too
young and cannot quite enjoy the benefits the Playgroup has to offer
them. According to the Education Childcare Development Unit, who
provides us with funding, the ratio of children to parents and attendance
of the playgroup is above average for a playgroup. We are also one of
very, very few ethnic playgroups and according to ECDU, the most
successful. So congratulations guys, we’ve done really well. Let’s just
ensure that we keep that record.
It honestly brings tears to my eyes to see the children and the
enthusiasm that is generated every Friday at the playgroup sessions.
The roster system that was introduced during my absence in Greece is
a tribute to you all. It is so wonderful to see it working so well and to
see everyone pulling together and communicating when it comes to
their rostered day to set up.
Unfortunately we are unable to give you an actual report on how it
went or provide you with photos because this article had to be
submitted just prior to the Xmas party! So this has been written in
anticipation that a fun morning for the children, with kiddy rides, air
castles and a carousel/merry-go-round was had. There was a sausage
sizzle, chips and refreshments for the kids and some sweet snacks for
the parents, grandparents and caregivers to accompany the coffees.
The introduction of crafts, paints, etc. on Fridays is obviously a favourite
with the children and a well thought out and organized session.
Congratulations committee and parents for putting all that together!
The key is not to let it flag and keep the system going into next year
and onwards because it obviously works very well. We can (just!!) see
some Picasso’s and Rembrandts developing there! Some of the kids
even made Christmas decorations at the last session. And some of the
playdough masterpieces are out of this world!! Temuka could be in
for some competition!
As most primary schools would have finished for the year already, this
invitation was also open to them. Of course, Father Christmas paid a
visit too and dished out Christmas presents to the children. A fun day
was had by all and the attendance was great with lots of yiayias, papous,
mum’s dads, friends, etc. in attendance. What a great, great day! And
the weather was made to order with the Playgroup being granted a
beautiful summer’s day (this was my prediction as I could obviously
see into the future!!).
I know a major issue at the moment is the playgroup cupboard. I’m
working on this with Angela who is the co-ordinator for the centre
and hopefully we’ll be able to sort out the cupboard situation soon.
Since the playgroup relocated, at the end of every term we put on a
special end of term function. In the past we have had an end of Term
at Lollipop Land, a Follyfoot Farm visit with farm animals, Zappo the
Magician, BJ Bear, Fancy dress parties, etc. and the attendance has
always been satisfying to see. These special end of term parties are
held as a thank you to the children, grandparents and parents who
support the playgroup both with their attendance, loyalty and help
during the sessions. The Greek Community Playgroup is recognised
by many different names by the children, e.g. Petalouda School, Chaff
Choof School, Koukouva School, Kouloularkia School etc. These are
all names associated with songs they sing and hear at Playgroup, which
means that the children are getting what they want out of the sessions!
Many of the children who have graduated from Greek Playgroup still
know where it’s located as I’ve heard many drive-by or walk-by stories
where the kids point out our location and what goes on there! My
Demetri thinks it sold which is why he doesn’t go anymore!!
Another bit of good news is that WCC has agreed to build a new
playground at the back of the community centre. Part of the playground
will be a junior playground and I’ve suggested that it be built close to
the rear of the community centre so that we can utilise it more and
On another matter, it is so refreshing and exciting to see so many new
members attending the Greek Community Playgroup. The crowds
that congregate every Friday are amazing and it’s so wonderful to see
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GOYANZ EVENTS CALENDAR 2003
keep a closer eye on the children with the intention of being able to
set up temporary fencing around the playground perimeter when the
children are out there playing.
As you may all know, I will be retiring as Chairperson of the Greek
Community Playgroup at the end of this year. My youngest Demetri
is now at school and so I don’t qualify anymore to attend the playgroup
as I have no more babies! (and not likely to have any more!). You
have no idea how much I have honestly enjoyed the playgroup as
have all my children (Demetri still misses his “Petaloutha School”).
Although I originally became Chairperson with the sole purpose of
relocating the playgroup to it’s current location; the position became
one of enjoyment and fulfillment at seeing the playgroup grow to the
talked-about success that it is today. I will dearly miss being part of it
and attending the Friday sessions. But don’t worry, you haven’t seen
the last of me yet!! I’ll still be popping in on the odd Friday just to
check up on all of you and see how it’s going. Plus, I do so enjoy my
coffee at the playgroup so that will be a #1 draw card for me visiting
you all.
As I wipe the tears from my eyes, I will finish publishing my last
newsletter for the playgroup with the wish that you keep supporting
and growing the playgroup. Never let it waiver as everyone has put so
much effort into it. It is something that we should all be proud of,
because without any of us, this playgroup wouldn’t have been possible.
I would also like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of
you a Very Merry Christmas and an even Happier New Year!!!!!
19 January
Cypriot Community Picnic: Otaihanga Domain Waikanae
01 February
Hutt Valley Greek Community Hellenic Festival:
Petone Settlers Museum
02 February
Hutt Valley Greek Community Picnic: Maidstone Park Upper Hutt
02 February
Wanganui/Palmerston North Greek Community Picnic:
Horse Shoe Bend - Tokomaru (just north of Shannon)
16 February
Cretans Picnic: Maidstone Park
23 February
GOYANZ Picnic: Williams Park Days Bay - Southern End
February
Baraki Night
02 March
Pan Macedonian Picnic: Williams Park Days Bay - Nth End
08 March
Olympic Pre-Season Function
15-25 March
Greek Week Festivities
25 March
Greek Independance Day
April
2002 Football Season Kicks-off for all divisions
01 May
Greek Labour Day
27 April
Greek Easter - Commemorating the resurrection of Christ
01 June
Miss GOYANZ Annual Dance
29 June
St. John The Baptist Church nameday - Palmerston North
15 August
Assumption Day - Commemorating the bodily ascent of
the Virgin Mary (Panayia) into Heaven
10 August
St. Soterios Church nameday - Masterton
September
Olympic Prizegiving
11-12 Oct
U 19 Upper Hutt Soccer Tournament - Upper Hutt
25-27 Oct
U19 National Soccer Tournament in Napier
28 October
Greek National Holiday (OXI)
9 November
St. Nectarios Church nameday - Petone
November
Wellington Xmas Parade
30 November
St. Andrews Church nameday - Broadway Miramar
December
GOYANZ Xmas Party
THIS SPACE FOR SALE
I hope 2003 starts well for everyone and especially the playgroup. If
you ever need me (probably only to put the things away in the
cupboard!!), you know where to find me!! Good luck and God Bless!
ADVERTISE TO OVER 375 MEMBERS OF GOYANZ
AND HELP YOUR COMMUNITY AT THE SAME TIME.
Don’t forget: The Greek Community Playgroup will hold its first session
on 31 January, 2003 - same place and same time. We look forward to
seeing you all back then. And remember, that any new members are
always welcome so if you have a young child or children under 5 then
you automatically qualify. So come down next year and join our merry
little group .
AD SIZE: 90X90mm
In the meantime, we’ve provided some photos so that you can see our
little family at work!
27 Chelsea Street
RATES CARD:
colour
black & white
1 ISSUE:
$50
$30
3 ISSUES
$120
$70
6 ISSUES
$200
$120
- Advert/Artwork creation inclusive of price.
Miramar, WELLINGTON
CONTACT: JOHN SEREPISOS 384-4679 (wk) or
380-8003 (hm) or email: johns@tbd.co.nz
Phone: 388 1944 (Friday 9.30am-11.30am)
Phone: 388 6851 (after hours)
Ta Matia is published 6 times a year. All funds raised will be used for the
GOYANZ clubroom re-development. (prices are not inclusive of gst)
7
www.goyanz.org.nz
Phone: (04) 473-7775/6,
5-7 Willeston Street
Fax: (04) 473-7441
10th Floor, PO Box 24-066. Wellington
EMBASSY OF GREECE WELLINGTON
INFORMATION FOR A PERSON WHO IS UNDER
MILITARY SERVICE OBLIGATIONS IN GREECE
INFORMATION REGARDING ISSUING
OF GREEK PASSPORT
It is required under Greek law that the person subject to Military Service
For the issue of a Greek passport for an adult, the following
in order to be exempted from service in the Greek Army, must submit
documents are required:
to the Military Office in Greece (Στρατολογικο Γραφειο), a certificate
issued by the Greek Consular Officer certifying that he resides
1. Personal appearance of the applicant at the Consular Office.
permanently overseas (that is New Zealand).
2. The application form is provided by the Consular Office.
In order to enable the Greek Consular Office to issue such a certificate
3. Two (2) recent passport size photographs-coloured.
the following documents are required for Military Service up to 45
years old:
4. Recently issued certificate from the Municipality or the
A. For the conscript (stratefsimos)
Community to prove that you are registered in the Municipal
Records in Greece, as Greek citizen - Greek nationality.
1. All old and present passports - Greek and New Zealand.
5. Discharge certificate from the Greek Army that you have fulfilled
2. Certificates from all schools, universities, polytechnics etc. attended;
your military obligations or a certificate from the Military
or certificates of employment from employers covering the periods
Selective-Type B - that you are legally exempted for military
after the first of January in the year the person reached eleven (11)
years of age, and up to the present date.
service. This certificate is required for males up to the ages of 45
years old.
3. If you have attended schools in Greece, it is required to produce
evidence, viz certificates from all schools for all the years you studied
6. The old Greek passport.
in Greece.
7. For consular fees in issuing a passport, an enclosed cheque of
B. For the parents of the conscript it is required to produce:
NZ$108.00 payable to Embassy of Greece.
1. Certificates from the Employers, or Accountant or Solicitor certifying
8. In case the passport is needed to be returned to you by mail,
that the parents were residing in New Zealand.
make sure you provide us with a prepaid signature required
2. All their passports old and present - Greek and New Zealand.
courier envelope (trackpack), for security reasons.
For Further information regarding any of the above please contact the Greek Embassy.
Do you want to be an Athens
2004 Volunteer?
Welcome to the “ATHENS 2004 Olympic
News” electronic newsletter. The official bimonthly ATHENS 2004 newsletter, second
issue,
is
available
at:
http://
www.athens2004.com/page/
default.asp?la=2&id=7833
We hereby want to inform you of this
electronic service available to you. If you wish
to continue receiving the electronic newsletter,
we kindly ask to fill out the form at: https://
www.athens.olympic.org/page/
default.asp?id=5336&la=2
We hope that the “ATHENS 2004 Olympic News” electronic
newsletter will become a useful tool, allowing you to access
information on ATHENS 2004 progress and activities in the areas of
your interest.
If you want to be an Athens 2004 Volunteer you can get this
form from the Greek Embassy or contact any member of
GOYANZ.
8
www.goyanz.org.nz
WELLINGTON CHRISTMAS PARADE
Sunday 21 November 2002
9
www.goyanz.org.nz
Demetri Camberis
Angelo Pantelakis
Georgia Kalantzis
Athanasia Efstratiou
Jonathan Kotrotsos, Petros Camberogiannis, Thomas Serepisos
Vikki Georgiou
Aphrodite Bouras
Maria Cordalis, Alexia Koullapis
Soteri Katsougiannis
Ziko Georgiou, Evangelina Telfar, Andreas Liolis, Demetri Viatos
Benjamin Hilder
Konstandina Kosmadakis
Ismene Economou, Toula Matsis
Peter - George Barbarouses
Demetre Kotrotsos
10
Effie Christoforou, Christina Panagiotelis, Jasmine Serepisos,
Georgia Panagiotelis
www.goyanz.org.nz
On Sunday 27 October 2002, a service commemorating the Greek
National Day of October 28th was held at the church of
Evangelismos. This special day celebrates the adamant “OXI” that
Ioannis Metaxas, Prime Minister of Greece at the time, said to the
Italians in 1940, when they expressed the desire to invade Greece under
the pretext of using the country as a gateway for the transportation of
their troops towards the Middle East.
The Church service was also attended by the Greek School pupils. On
the following Sunday the children gathered at Greek School, dressed
in traditional costumes or in the Greek national colours of blue and
white, and presented poems, sketches and songs on the subject of
“OXI”. Proud parents, grandparents and other members of the
community were there to support them.
Matthew Kalantzis
Cassandra Botros, Ashley Karsanidis
As always, celebrating this day gave the children the opportunity to
learn more about their Hellenic heritage and the importance of taking
pride in that legacy. October 28th also serves as a reminder of how
valuable it is for us to preserve our Hellenic spirit, despite the difficulties
we - as Greeks living away from Greece - often face in our attempts to
do so. That’s what “OXI” is all about!
Sophie Lloyd
Stratos Vaxevanis
Chrsitina Panagiotelis
Back Row (L-R): Effie Christoforou, Evangelina Telfar, Stavros Rekatsinas, Angelo
Pantelakis, Melpo Toulis, Constantinos Kalliabetsos, Georgia Panagiotelis, Jasmine
Serepisos, Christina Panagiotelis
Front Row (L-R): Tyler Brandon, Demetri Camberis, Demetri Viatos, Christina
Cunningham, Ashley Karsanidis, Aidan Economou, Cassandra Botros
(L-R): Nicki Botes, Konstandina Kosmadakis, Maria Botes, Elitsa Kapatos
11
John Hilder
Stavros Rekatsinas
Paraskevas Botes
Mihali Katsougiannis
www.goyanz.org.nz
GOYANZ Childrens Christmas party
Sunday 15 December 2002
12
www.goyanz.org.nz
Note: These predictions were devised in good humour. Ta matia
tou kosmou does not take any responsibility for any fears, false
hopes, offence or financial losses incurred in reliance upon them.
dear_thea@hotmail.com
Our poll has shown us that YES in fact the yerondakia
gossip more than the neolea. The other night I was
out for dinner with a range of people. Thea was
astounded to hear the gossip coming out of the
yerondakia. They were feeding the young ones the
information! Many people, from all ages, are closet
gossips. This only shows that gossip does not stop
or begin at any particular age. In fact, it is out there
alive and kicking!
by Planiti & Asterakia
Κριος
Παρθενος
Dear Theano, Send them to the movies to watch
My Big Fat Greek Wedding. They can become
inspired and, just like Waverly off Shortland
Street, design their own wedding book. This will
keep them entertained for hours and you can all
find new ways to increase the prika together! Thea
Ζυγος
Ιχθυες
Υδροχοος
• Dear Thea, Can you start a lonely-hearts column?
Rea
Dear Rea. When the Apollon club opens for all
youth and so on next year, you can become a
regular. I am sure that you will find another
lonely heart that you can hook into and be a
lonely heart no more! Thea
• Dear Thea, Last time I read your star signs, it told
me to hang around the clubs. I did this and my
dream woman did not show! Anasti
Dear Anasti, The stars also told you to button
your shirt, hide the medallion and loose the
moustaki! Did you do that? I think not. Try again
and let me know how it goes. You must follow
the stars EXACTLY as they are written. Kali sou
tihi! Thea
Dear Costa, Get back with your ex! Thea
Dear Reno, Keep her at an arm’s length.....keep
telling her that her mother makes the best
spanakopita and that you still enjoy her
company. Buy her a kotetsi for Christmas, and
you will see the friendship blossom! Thea
Aquarius Christmas is a busy time of year for the social butterflies amongst
you Aquarians. With juggling your work, social and doulies sto spiti, you are
finding there is not enough time in the day to get everything done. Rest
assured the stars predict that a woman of authority (possibly your mama) will
intervene and organise your social calendar.. however, be careful, as this
reorganisation may not be for the better!
Taurus Christmas is a time for you to sit back with your shot sized cup of
Elliniko kafe and to reflect on the year that has passed .... that controversial
outfit you wore at Easter, your parents reaction when you bought home that
‘friend’ and the many ‘debates’ that followed. Next year you can expect to go
through a new celestial cycle that is sure to bring its challenges.
Gemini You have worked hard all year, missed out on all the Greek functions,
∆ιδυµοι
saved every last tip you received at your uncles kafenio and even went as far as
investing the money you got from the Vasilopita last year! Now, you are all
set to book that ticket to the mother country to observe the Olympic venue
progress in person. The only challenge remaining is to tell your parents.
GOOD LUCK!
Καρκινος
Cancer Although your efforts to start up a rock bouzouki band were
unsuccessful, do not give up hope and do not be disheartened by the lack of
interest amongst the neolea! Once they hear your demo tape on the Youth
Radio Show (Sundays 3pm - 4pm; 783 Access AM) which will showcase your
impressive voice and your father’s impressive clarino playing, your popularity
will rise quicker than you can say tsamiko!
Sagittarius You have been dreaming of the Coyote Ugly movie in recent
Τοξοτης
weeks, and are contemplating opening your own version of this amazing club
in Wellington. All I will say is check out Sports Cafe on a Saturday Night... u
will see that this bartop dancing is already taking place,... and you may be
suprised at some of the ‘clientele’ this popular nightspots attracting. This
may be a good opportunity to bond with your father!
Capricorn The ketchup song has you shaking your bootie nearly every single
Αιγοκερος
• Dear Thea, Your advise is soooo good. I have
followed your column religiously for a while now
and find that if I put myself into the situations of
your writers, I have developed well. Where did you
gain all your wonderful knowledge from? Irene
Dear Irene, They don’t call me Thea for nothing!
At my age (40+) you have a world of knowledge
behind you! I tend to look at my children and try
to guide them in the opposite direction that I was.
I am pleased that you have enjoyed my column
and find the replies helpful. Kala Hristouyena and
don’t forget to wrap the donkey for your father
with a big, bright, red bow. This way, you can
claim it for your prika and boost your chances of
finding a NICE GREEK BOY! Thea.
Pisces The unusually cold summer has not deterred you from organising ‘the
parea’ for a meeting at the basin to perv on the cricketers (or if you’re a guy from watching the cricket) - rest assured the weather is set to improve and
you won’t look too out of place with your bikini/open shirt & medallions!
Ταυρος
• Dear Thea, I want a katsiki for Hristouyena. Love
Costa
• Dear Thea, How do I remain friends with my ex?
Christmas time is so hard without her! Reno
Virgo The stars are signalling a new romance on the horizon. The constant
beeping on your mobile is raising suspicions amongst your family. Best you
keep your phone on discreet and keep things to yourself as you know too well
how kotsobolio gets around.
Libra Recent outings with your ‘friend’ nearly made you the topic of the
latest kotsobolio. Now is the perfect time to reassess your security procedures
and escape plans.
Thank you to all those people who wrote in with
their comments regarding this topic in the last issue
of Ta Matia. Feel free to comment further.
• Dear Thea, My children have now finished school
for the year. They have already started to drive me
crazy. I don’t understand why they don’t want to
stay at ??????? and ????? the whole holidays. They
learnt how to do kandema last time! How much
more fun can kids want! Theano
Aries Baraki night fever has taken over your senses. The postponement of
the last one nearly caused an incident in your household, but that’s better
put behind you. Rest assured, the stars point to the baraki night early next
year resolving all family rifts.
night in the various Wellington night spots. You are so into this craze that
you are thinking of setting up a ‘Ketchup Dance Studio’ .... Just remember
that the Macarena was once just as popular, and now we cringe at home
videos where everyone seems to be dancing it! The stars signal a more classical
dance studio will be more viable... perhaps something along the lines of ‘Zorba’
and ‘Pentozali’ dance studios are more the way to go!
Scorpio The GOYANZ kids Christmas Party has made you clucky, there is no
Σκορπιος
Λεων
doubt about that! The stars signal a fertile celestial year for Scorpios. Rest
assured within the year a baby boom amongst your sort will result in an
abnormal amount of multiple births amongst the Greek community. All I
can say is make sure you start booking the Greek School from now! (as a note
of caution, please ensure your big fat Greek wedding comes along before wee
little Georgaki!
Leo 2003 is set to be your year. Love, wealth and health are all coming your
way. Apart from a brief patch of bad luck in February you are destined for
good things. A Lotto win in early March will change your future for good. Be
sure to see that nice Greek boy at the bank for some helpful investment
advice. The romance that will follow is also just the beginning of what promises
to be a year full of suprises.
13
www.goyanz.org.nz
Greek School Christmas
Party
The Greek School end-of-year celebration took place on Sunday the
1st of December, at the school hall on Hania St. Once again the children
recited their “poihmata” and performed sketches and songs, the main
themes being Christmas and the end of the school year. They did a
great job, even though they had less time than usual to practice at
school, as this “yiorti” was on just a few weeks after the National Day
celebration.
At the end of the presentation the children received their certificates
for the end of year and then refreshments, light snacks and a lunch of
fish and chips were served. The highlight of the celebration was
undoubtedly the much-anticipated entrance of Father Christmas,
although some children whispered that they knew “he wasn’t the real
one”. Anyhow, real or not, Santa had lots of presents for everyone
(whether they had been naughty or nice during the year!) and these
were gratefully received.
Many thanks to the School Committee and the teachers for their efforts
throughout the year, and also to the new Greek Community Committee
for their assistance in this event. The parents and grandparents of the
pupils deserve special mention for making Greek School a priority,
despite the children’s hectic schedule of various extracurricular activities.
By encouraging attendance of Greek School we are increasing the
chances that these children will sustain our community once they are
adults.
IS IT CHIC TO BE GREEK?
The answer to this question has changed over time.
Many Greek migrants would claim that when first
arriving in New Zealand and other countries it was
not chic to be Greek. On the contrary many felt
embarrassed to admit eating feta in their sandwiches
or speaking Greek to others. But now in the 21st
century tables have turned.
Contributing factors to this change in attitude have
mainly been linked to the prestige Greeks and Greece
in general have received through various domains.
For example we have gained much publicity over the
last year through the arts (My Big Fat Greek Wedding
and Captain Corelli’s Mandolin) and the Olympic
games, which will be held in Athens in the year 2004.
As a result people of other cultures are able to
appreciate various aspects of our ‘greekness’ and this
is predominantly viewed through our ‘chic’ cuisine
as Greek dishes, that we enjoy at home, can be found
on the menu of prestigious restaurants around the
world. A primary example of how ‘to fagito mas’ has
gained global appreciation is the fact that our famous
gyro can be found not only in the western world but
has also landed in Seoul, the capital of Korea.
So if you happen to turn your nose up at the Greek
food prepared in your home for Christmas just think
that perhaps there is someone in Seoul that is enjoying
our cuisine.
continued from page 3
The laborious process of tilling the earth for antiquities is far from unique to Olympic
preparations. At various stops on the gleaming, meticulously clean Athens metro, which
opened in early 2000 and is being extended for the Summer Games, archaeological
exhibits greet riders. Artifacts up to 3,000 years old, which were discovered in the very
earth through which the metro trains speed, are displayed in glass-enclosed cases.
Such museum-like displays, or roped-off areas for larger artifacts, are likely to welcome
Olympic visitors in 2004.
“We do feel pride because a lot of things were there, and the archaeological service had
no opportunity and funds to do its job,” said George Kazantzopoulos, the Games’
environment chief. “The problem with Greece is there are so many archaeological
findings; they don’t have the funds required to protect and reveal everything. This is a
very good opportunity for them.
“Thank God they were there. The end result has made us all proud.”
If you are interested in the upcoming Athens Games then visit the following
site: http://www.athens2004.com
You can also register on the Official Athens 2004 Olympic website to
electronically receive their bi-monthly newsletter and keep upto date with
News and Information. Simply fill out the form at: https://
www.athens.olympic.org/page/default.asp?id=5336&la=2
Newsletter can be found at: http://www.athens2004.com/page/
default.asp?la=2&id=7833
We hope that the “ATHENS 2004 Olympic News” electronic newsletter will
become a useful tool, allowing you to access information on ATHENS 2004
progress and activities in the areas of your interest.
14
www.goyanz.org.nz
Nikos Kazantzakis Seminar
November 22nd, Greek Community Centre
NIKOS KAZANTZAKIS AND ZORBA
Over 50 people turned up to listen to Mr George Stassinakis give a
lecture on legendary Greek Writer Nikos Kazantzakis. Mr Stassinakis is
the founder and president of the International Society of friends of
Nikos Kazantzakis. The Hellenic New Zealand Congress was responsible
for bringing Mr Stassinakis from Europe and for arranging the seminar.
“Very few people, living or dead, have
aided my struggle. If, however, I wished to
designate which people left their traces
embedded most deeply in my soul, I would
perhaps designate Homer, Buddha,
Nietzsche, Bergson, and Zorba... If it had been
a question in my lifetime of choosing a
spiritual guide, a guru as the Hindus say, a
father as say the monks at Mount Athos,
surely I would have chosen Zorba. For he had just what a quill-driver
needs for deliverance: the primordial glance which siezes its nourishment
arrow-like from on high; the creative artlessness, renewed each morning,
which enabled him to see all things constantly as though for the first
time, and to bequeath virginity to the eternal quotidian elements of
air, ocean, fire, woman, and bread; the sureness of hand, freshness of
heart, the gallant daring to tease his own soul; finally the savage
bubbling laugh from a deep, deep wellspring, deeper than the bowels
of man, a laugh which at critical moments spurted redemptively from
Zorbas elderly breast, spurted and was able to demolish (did demolish)
all the barriers - morality, religion, homeland - which that wretched
poltroon, man, has erected around him in order to hobble with full
security through his miserable smidgen of life.”
The evening began with a video outlining Kazantzakis life which was
followed by the lecture. Mr Stassinakis was ably assisted by Tolis
Papazoglou who translated all of his Greek recitals into English.
The evening ended with food and a Cretan dance exhibition.
Nikos Kazantzakis is the writer known internationally for the modern classic
novel “Zorba the Greek” adapted by Michalis Kokoyianns and starring
Alan Bates and Anthony Quinn.
This is a quotation, among many others, from Report to Greco,
that expresses Kazantzakis’ admiration for and friendship with Zorba.
Mr Stassinakis & Tolis Papazoglou
Athens to host WCIT in 2004
Greeks get a passion for planes
NOVEMBER 07, 2002
By Sally Pook
(Filed: 14/12/2002)
GREECE will host the World Congress of Information Technology
(WCIT), the largest biennial global gathering of information and
telecommunications technology experts, three months before the
Athens 2004 Olympic Games, Greek organisers said.
A year ago, the Greeks didn’t believe that people spent their spare
time plane-spotting.
They were so baffled to find a group of Britons jotting down numbers
at an airbase in Kalamata that they thought they must be spies and
arrested them.
Known as the ‘IT Olympics’, the event is scheduled to include keynote
speakers from the European Commission, the US government and
business leaders ranging from Microsoft to rising giants in Asia.
Today, the Greek authorities appear to have accepted that people do
such things for pleasure and an exhibition is being held at Athens
International Airport entitled Plane-spotting Passion.
“The reasons Greece was awarded the conference are related to its
strategic location between Eastern and Western Europe, the
forthcoming hosting of the Olympic Games, and due to its ties with
the development of information science from ancient times to the
present,” said Dimos Vatikiotis, the head of the conference.
The irony has not been lost on the British plane-spotters, who were
acquitted on appeal last month, a year after they were first arrested.
But Peter Norris, from Uxbridge, west London, who had been sentenced
to three years for espionage, said he would not be returning for the
exhibition. “I have no desire to rush back,” he said.
Spokesman Added Yannis Rizopoulos said: “The WCIT is the biggest
event in the world in the area of information technology, and this is
the first time it will be held in South-eastern Europe. It is equivalent in
importance to the Davos World Forum summit in Switzerland or is
like an Olympic Games in its own field.”
The exhibition consists of photographs of aircraft taken at the airport
by three Greeks “showing their enthusiasm for aircraft through the
plane-spotting passion”.
The previous host city was Adelaide in Australia, seen by many as an
indirect result of the hosting of the 2000 Olympic Games by Sydney.
15
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My Big Fat Greek Success
Nia Vardalos is busy touring the globe
promoting her successful foray into the
world of the silver screen. My Big Fat
Greek Wedding has exceeded all
expectations and achieved worldwide
success from an idea that almost
remained on the drawing board.
SHE’S loud, she’s proud and she is the
hot new star of Hollywood. But Nia Nia with the film’s producer Gary
Vardalos, star of the new hit movie My Goetzman to her left, and the
Big Fat Greek Wedding didn’t get there chairman of Roadshow film
the easy way. Instead she had to fight distributors Ian Sands.
and stay determined throughout her
career as directors and casting agents came to grips with her ‘Greek’ look.
In fact, a former agent once told Nia she would never make it as an actor in Hollywood
because she wasn’t pretty enough to be a star or fat enough for character roles.
Nia Vardalos recalls growing up in Winnipeg, Canada (population 600,000), as the only Greek
girl in her class. When her schoolmates were playing basketball, Nia was attending Greek
language school or attending Greek dancing lessons.
Her childhood is full of memories of holidays in Greece, big family feasts and listening to
stories from her ‘yiayia’ and her mum.
“I come from a family of storytellers,” she says.
So it was inevitable that Nia would herself one day become a storyteller. Aged 20 she moved
out of home to study acting in Toronto, then seven years later moved south to Chicago.
Vardalos landed a job with improvisational theatre company Second City, working in the box
office. One day an actress fell ill and had to cancel 15 minutes before show time. The rest is
history. Vardalos convinced the directors to give her a go and she was an instant success. The
next day she was hired full time and her career making people laugh was officially underway.
Vardalos enjoyed a successful six year stint with Second City before moving further south to
Hollywood in search of every actor’s dream.
After years of bit parts and auditioning for roles that were Hispanic or Italian, a frustrated Nia
took things into her own hands.
“I mostly auditioned for parts that were Hispanic, although I believe true Hispanics should be
hired for Hispanic parts. I think it’s insulting to the Hispanic community to have someone
doing that accent. I kept losing these parts to what I call “true ethnics,” and while I believe I’m
ethnic, there was no voice for my people. So, I set out to create something Greek,” Vardalos
says.
She wrote and starred in a one woman stage act based on her family and the many complicated
and funny stories that come with being Greek.
“I called all of my friends, and asked them which were the funniest stories I had told them over
the years about my family. They wrote or faxed back, and I shoved all of the stories together
and hooked them around my wedding, which had happened the year before, and I had a
show,” Vardalos admits.
The show started off at the HBO workspace before moving to the Hudson Theatre where
every session during the six-week running was sold out.
The show grew to become a success and eventually turn into the film, which has been number
one in the US, as well as countries such as Canada, Greece, Australia & New Zealand. The film
has also become the highest-grossing independent film in the world, overtaking The Blair
Witch Project.
Nia was approached by a film company affiliated with Disney who wanted to purchase her
idea but without her in the starring role.
“I was like, yeah, all right! Until they told me I wouldn’t be in it. And I said, ‘I wrote it for me.’
And they said, ‘right, but we want Marisa Tomei.’ And I said, ‘she’s cute and all, but she’s
Italian.’ Long story short, I tell them, very politely, forget it.”
Nia was concerned that selling her idea would mean losing its authenticity, so she decided to
write the screenplay herself, something she had never done before.
“It took about a month and a half to finish the first draft, which I hated. I put it in a drawer, and
didn’t look at it for months,” Vardalos says.The project then took off after Oscar-winning actor
Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, who is Greek-American, saw Vardalos’s stage play in
1998. They liked it so much that Hanks purchased the rights through his production company,
Playtone Co, and agreed to let Vardalos adapt the story and take the starring role.
Wilson said she was “completely floored” by Varadalo’s comic routine and how much of Nia’s
material reminded her of her own upbringing and experiences of marrying a non-Greek.
So Hanks and Wilson with the help of another producer, Gary Goetzman, set about making
the film a reality.
The film has become a huge success. Becoming the highest grossing independent film in the
United States is no small feat, but Vardalos says the film means much more than money.
The money is like, “Yeah, yeah.... That works in the Hollywood system,” she adds. “But this is
the greatest feeling in the world: when women are coming up and saying ‘I’m you.’”
Vardalos, 39, said she had thought the film would cover its costs and maybe turn a small
profit. Vardalos knows the success of the film can be attributed to the hordes of Greek Americans
who have packed the theatres over the past months.
“The Greeks made this movie a big success. All Greeks in America (approximately 6 million)
have seen it and they went back with their non-Greek friends.” Varadalos says.
The success of the film also means more opportunities for Vardalos. As she travels the globe
promoting her film, Vardalos is contemplating a new film or a sit-com for television.
“It’s really all going to depend on scheduling,” she said.
For now though, after all the hard work, Vardalos is happy soaking up her big fat new success.
REVIEW ON MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING
As I walked toward the Embassy on the Greek night showing of My
Big Fat Greek Wedding, it was apparent that this cinema was buzzing
with a different atmosphere to other nights. The difference was that it
was a lively Greek climate that added to everyone’s excitement.
The Embassy was bursting at the seams with Greek spectators trying
to fuel themselves up with edible necessities for this special viewing.
After everyone had found his or her parea and seats, it was time for the
screening of this long awaited movie.
Even though the plot may appear quite simple - girl meets boy, girl
falls in love with boy and in the end they live happily ever after - it is
infused with characteristics of our Greek culture. Of course this is
presented at times to the extreme which adds to the humour. The
aim of the movie was to present elements of our culture which are
often unique and unusual to outsiders; such as mass family gatherings,
multiple use of the same name in the same family and our ability to
make time to get involved in everyone’s life.
In terms of the acting it was very convincing and the actors were
successfully able to present the lifestyle inside a Greek home. As a
result we as Greek viewers often felt that some scenes had been
‘plucked’ from our personal lives, which was proved by the roars of
laughter that often echoed through the Embassy.
All in all this movie provided the perfect opportunity for Greek families
to get together and spend a pleasant night watching a movie which all
generations from grandparents to young children could relate to.
Consequently the gap between Greek migrants and first, second and
even third generation Greeks can slowly merge thanks to the great
efforts of the GOYANZ committee.
Some of the “Greeks”
that turned up to the
GOYANZ premier of “My
Big Fat Greek Wedding”
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He stressed that this was a ‘’historic
day for Europe, as well as for Greece
and Turkey. Europe overcame the
divisions of the past and it is now
unified’’. Foreign Minister George
Papandreou, also present at the
press conference, said that the
dynamic now established creates
the hope that the ‘’walls will come
down in Cyprus’’.
Dropped purse saved Athens mayor
Saturday, 14 December, 2002
Greek police are questioning a former mental patient over a gun attack
on a car carrying the mayor-elect of Athens. The gunman fired several
shots at Mrs Bakoyianni. Dora Bakoyianni narrowly escaped serious
injury when she bent down to pick up her purse as the gunman opened
fire at point-blank range. Mrs Bakoyianni’s driver, Giorgos Liverios,
was wounded in the neck in the attack, about 50 metres (55 yards)
from the mayor’s office, near the Acropolis.
Police say they arrested 35year-old Giorgos Sandalis
as he tried to escape from
the scene. The shooting
raised concerns about
security surrounding Greek
officials and safety in the
capital in the run-up to the
2004 Olympic Games in
Athens. Mrs Bakoyianni, who is due to be sworn into office on 1
January, 2003, was cut by flying glass but otherwise unharmed. Police
say they have not been able to determine a precise motive for the
attack. The suspected gunman had a history of mental problems and
had been treated in hospital in the past, police said. Giorgos Sandalis’
father, Argiris, said his son had “serious problems”.
Greece, Simitis said, achieved two
major targets, the clear-cut
accession of the island republic to
the Union, without terms and
preconditions, as some people
supported and spoke of during the
previous months and secondly Greece achieved in maintaining the
dynamic for the resolution of the Cyprus problem, which began as a
result of the prospect of Cyprus’ accession’’. The premier said that the
text of the Summit’s conclusion states that the implementation of the
acquis communautaire will be suspended as far as the northern part of
the island (under Turkish occupation) is concerned, as long as that
remains outside the European Union, adding, however, that the text
expresses the hope that until Feb. 28, 2003, an agreement for the
resolution of the Cyprus issue will be achieved, in turn achieving the
entry of a reunited Cyprus in the Union.
“I want to apologise to her [Mrs Bakoyianni],” Argiris Sandalis told
Greek television.
Simitis also noted that the Union was promoting measures for the
economic support of the northern part of Cyprus. Referring to a solution
of the Cyprus issue, Simitis stressed that the revised plan of the United
Nations for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem
continues to be the basis for negotiations, adding that it is a realistic
base and capable to contribute to the overturning of the divisive reality
on the island now. Simitis placed the responsibility for the nonresolution of the Cyprus problem on the Turkish Cypriot side, which
he called on to change its stance and aid the efforts to achieve a solution,
while he called on Turkey to realize that by contributing to the solution
of the problem is strengthens its European course.
Mrs Bakoyianni, the daughter of former prime minister Constantine
Mitsotakis, became the first female mayor of Athens after winning
elections in October. Her husband, Pavlos, was killed by the urban
guerrilla group 17 November in 1989. The group has been blamed for
more than 20 killings - including those of several foreign diplomats since 1975. Police arrested several members of the group after a failed
bomb attack last June.
Cyprus enters the European Union
unconditionally
COPENHAGEN 14/12/2002
”The resolution of the Cyprus problem is a target for Greece, equal to
that of the accession and secure enough for the survival of a reunited
Cyprus,’’ Simitis said, calling on all Greeks to move on united without
miserable and partisan attitudes, toward the achievement of this target,
as was done with success in Cyprus’ entry to the EU. Commenting on
Turkey’s stance, Simitis referred to statements by Turkish Prime Minister
Abdullah Gul that the resolution of the Cyprus problem should close
by Feb. 28, 2003, as well as to statements made by Turkish Cypriot
community political party leaders who wish to see the problem resolved.
The European
Union Summit on
Friday evening
decided
the
accession
of
Cyprus to the EU
along with another
nine countries of
the first wave to
the Union’s largest
enlargement since
its conception.Prime Minister Costas Simitis made the announcement
immediately after the conclusion of the second and final day of the
Summit in the Danish capital. Clearly satisfied with the decision arrived
at following the two-day long negotiations, Simitis said that
developments were better than anticipated, when he departed for
Copenhagen.
Speaking of his visits to Cyprus and Turkey as the leader presiding over
the European Union for the next six months, Simitis said that he would
be the first president of the Union to visit the island republic in April
2003 and not only Cyprus, but all 25 EU member-states, adding that
at present there was no plans for a visit to Ankara. The Greek premier
closed his remarks saying that Cyprus and the other nine memberstates will sign the accession agreement on April 16, 2003 in Athens,
while they will become full members of the Union by May 1, 2004.
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www.goyanz.org.nz
Olympiakos feel the heat
Greece and Turkey fail in joint bid to
host 2008 Eurosoccer
20/10/2002)
If Sir Alex Ferguson thinks he has had a rough week as Manchester
United coach he should be grateful he is not a Greek football fan.
Athens, 13/12/2002 (ANA)
Greece and Turkey on Thursday failed in their joint bid to win the
mandate to host the 2008 European soccer championship during voting
held in Nion, Switzerland. Predictions came true at UEFA’s headquarters
in this city and the 2008 European championship was awarded to the
joint candidacy of Switzerland and Austria.
Olympiakos, who host United on Wednesday, have not played a league
game in October after the Greek Football Federation (EPO) called a
month-long shutdown following the collapse of Alpha Digital, the
European satellite broadcaster. The club have no coach and their
president, Socrates Kokkalis, is under investigation following preliminary
charges of espionage against the state.
UEFA followed its steadfast policy and kept the voting process secret,
but according to international press agencies it decided to apply the
elimination system for each candidacy. Commenting on the outcome
of voting, Deputy Sports Minister George Lianis said ‘’I was saddened
because we did not achieve the joint hosting of the EURO 2008, but
we are moving on. We have much greater things to do, such as the
Olympic Games which are 100 times the EURO 2008.’’
On Wednesday, a six-man UEFA delegation arrived in Athens to
scrutinise the county’s application to co-host Euro 2008 with Turkey.
Within 24 hours senior Greece international, Vassilis Tsartas, “did a
Roy Keane” and criticised the EPO for providing poor training facilities.
Iraklis then confirmed they had fined their top scorer, Martin Mieciel,
£12,500 for turning up to training in his slippers.
He further said ‘’the file for our candidacy was excellent and the
government’s effort, which was made discreetly, was also serious’’,
adding that ‘’EPO (the Greek Soccer Federation) moved positively.
Mr. Gagatsis did all that was possible in this case. It does not matter
who voted for Greece and who did not. I am satisfied by the fact that
our performance was dignified and that the Cypriot representative
supported us.’’ Lianis concluded his statement by saying ‘’I believe
that if we had hosted the tournament everything would go well. I have
a feeling that we should have more serious specifications on the
international scene, without this meaning that the people of the Greek
and Turkish Federation did not do their job properly.’’
The previous week’s headlines were no better. Acting AEK Athens
president Makis Psomiadis was released from prison less than seven
days into a 12-year sentence for forging documents to slander a
government minister. During the trial Psomiadis, whose main defence
was that he suffered from advanced tuberculosis, watched AEK play in
his trademark fashion - smoking fat cigars and drinking whisky. The
illness was accepted as grounds for release on bail and, as he left court,
he said: “Justice has been done. Nobody sends AEK to prison, AEK
will not be imprisoned.”
In the last 18 months, two senior EPO officials have been attacked (a
spokesman called this summer’s iron-bar assault on vice-president
Aristeidis Stathopoulos “attempted murder by paid killers”) after
looking into claims of match-fixing. These came about after investigative
broadcaster Makis Triantafyllopoulos recorded conversations from
tapped telephone lines. “The evidence we have so far shows that
corruption in Greek football is enormous,” said Triantafyllopoulos. “It
was organised by a mafia-like group of people who controlled
everything: club directors, referees, match results.”
UEFA CUP Draw
Fourth round:
Malaga v AEK Athens
Anderlecht v Panathinaikos
Lazio v Wisla Krakow
Slavia Prague v Besiktas
Hertha Berlin v Boavista
Celtic v Stuttgart
Porto v Denizlispor
Auxerre v Liverpool
The government recently dismissed the EPO’s demands for
compensation for loss of earnings following the TV collapse - despite a
conflict of interest after it emerged that Kokkalis’ technology firm
Intracom are joint-partners in the lucrative state-run betting monopoly.
There has been no development in the charge that Kokkalis was used
by the Stasi secret police as a go-between to buy technology and
industrial secrets from contacts in Greece and sell them to the Soviet
Union. A German parliamentary report alleged that for two years
“Socrates Kokkalis became a secret informer of the Ministry of State
Security with the code-name Rocco”.
Home & Away Ties to be played February 20 & 27, 2003
Greece edged out at water polo
World Cup
Canada evened its round robin record to 1-1 Wednesday with a 6-4
victory over Greece at the FINA World Cup women’s water polo
tournament. The Canadians, ranked third in the world, lost their
opening match to Russia, 9-7 Tuesday in Perth, Australia.
On the pitch, things are no clearer. Olympiakos are joint top of the
Greek league after four matches and have won the title for the past six
seasons. But they have only once made it past the Champions League
first group stage and the surprise recent sacking of coach Takis Lemonis
has not helped their chances this year.
The Greeks came into the game riding high after holding the World
Champion Italians to an 8-8 draw on Tuesday. In the B pool’s other
match, Italy edged Russia 10-8. The Italians are first in the pool
standings with five points (a win is worth three points, a draw two and
a loss one), followed by Russia and Canada tied for second at four.
Greece sits fourth with three points.
Caretaker manager is former head scout Yiannis Kollias, who will be
without suspended midfielder Ze Elias against United. Three weeks
ago, striker Giovanni was accused of deliberately injuring an opponent
in a cup game against Kallithea. Sound familiar? It is a shame that is
not the only problem Olympiakos have to worry about.
The top team in each pool at the end of the round robin receives a bye
to the semifinals while second and third cross over in quarterfinals.
The top-five at the end of the tournament qualify for the world aquatic
championships in July 2003.
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by John Servos
U19s Napier National Tournament
By John Servos
Park Island, Napier, Labour Weekend 26-28 October 2002
Overall, I was very pleased with making the quarter finals. The standard
of play was excellent. We had a mixture of experienced older boys and
a lot of 14-15 year old younger players. Our future looks extremely
bright with the young talent coming through. Coach Marteen Van
Huttam must take a lot of the praise for the coaching and effort he has
put in over the last 10 weeks. He was very well liked and respected by
the players. I personally learned a lot by working with Marty and look
forward in working with him in the future. The players behaviour both
off and on the field was excellent with only one card in the whole
tournament. A lot of people don’t appreciate the huge organisation
that goes in to running a team in this tournament. A special thanks
must go to Peter Halikias and his wife Voula for all their hard work and
for preparing all the food for the team and management, and to Paul
Kuggeleijn the club’s physio for his long nights working to get players
fit. And to the families of the players that helped in the weekend, it
was hugely appreciated.
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:
A special thanks to the Wellington Olympic Committee and chairman
for their support and funding which enabled me to manage and run
the squad professionally.
Look forward to seeing you next labour weekend.
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www.goyanz.org.nz
HELP GOYANZ AND OLYMPIC HAVE CLUBROOMS OF THEIR OWN!
READ THE ENCLOSED BROCHURE, BUY A BRICK AND SUPPORT GREEK YOUTH.
DO IT TODAY!
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