More than 50 Greek Australians have put their hand up to serve in NSW’s local councils with the aim of contributing to their various communities in a direct and impactful manner.
A number of Hellenic background candidates will have their name on the ballot across NSW’s 128 local councils this coming Saturday (14 September) as the whole state prepares to elect its mayors and councillors for the next term.
One major development heading into the elections was the failure of the NSW Liberal Party to submit a large number of candidate nominations to the NSW Electoral Commission by midday on 14 August.
The error has led to the party forfeiting numerous council spots and has caused the party’s federal executive to launch an intervention into the NSW division.
Neos Kosmos spoke to several candidates ahead of the coming elections, and all were unanimous in their belief that local government serves an important role in that it responds to citizens in a direct way.
They all shared their desire to contribute to the governance of their respective communities, catering for and working towards helping serve their interests as elected representatives.
Paula (Πολυξένη) Masselos, the sitting Mayor of Waverley Council, described local government as the “purest form of democracy” we have, and expressed her desire to continue serving in the interests of the wider public she represents.
“We have to ensure we behave in the highest possible way, that we are beyond reproach and so set good examples. We are also there to represent our community through motions, to get resolutions up and to work for the betterment and good of the broader community,” Masselos told Neos Kosmos.
The Greek Australian Mayor elaborated on her pleasure in leading a “progressive team” during her five years in the role, stressing she would like to continue the work if re-elected.
The Labor politician identified finishing the upper area of Bondi Junction Mall as just one of her targets.
“I want to activate that into a big street and development night time economy which makes it a lot more vibrant for families…It also then improves community safety and, in particular, women’s safety because the place is well-lit and there lots of people around,” she said.
“We have started a lot and I really want to be able to continue the agenda of reform and innovation so we can actually finish it.”
Bayside Council is set to be a hotly contested area by Greek-background citizens with seven having put their name down.
Among them is Liberal candidate Fiona Douskou, who is keen to give back to her community that has been her home for 23 years.
Douskou has been involved with many local community organisations, such as the ‘Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of Kogarah’, and has served as a Rotary Club president, wherein she led fundraisers and initiatives like raising money for Bayside Women’s Shelter.
“I am running to ensure that our local area has strong representation on issues that matter to residents, like managing the growing rates, getting better roads and community amenities,” Douskou said to Neos Kosmos.
“I am a strong advocate for safer community amenities for families, the elderly, and women, campaigning to make Carlton, Kogarah, and Rockdale train stations safer by introducing more lighting and CCTV cameras,” Douskou said.
If elected, Douskou said she will fight to help deliver better housing strategies that preserve Bayside’s natural and built heritage while helping to deliver the necessary housing options.
Another area that will feature heavy Hellenic representation on the ballot paper is Canterbury-Bankstown where Aliki Xanthakos, a Law and Communications (Social and Political Science) student is running as well as, Con Vaitsas, medical legal expert and regular contributor to Neos Kosmos..
Xanthakos, who is running as an Independent, said she is concerned about the “inherently undemocratic nature of the forced merging of Canterbury and Bankstown” in 2016 and recognises the consequential negative impacts of it on her community.
“I am motivated to serve alongside Barbara Coorey in Council as she aims to restore the democratically formed Canterbury Council,” she told Neos Kosmos.
“The merger has caused a decline of services which the Council provides. While councils are meant to maintain roads, rates, and rubbish, these services are currently neglected.”
She expressed that her running is also motivated by her desire to see young ethnic councillors serve in Canterbury-Bankstown.
Vaitsas said that one of his key concerns is overdevelopment” which he said “has gotten out of control” in his area.
Vaitsas is also keen to “reduce costs and red tape.”
“We need to get back to basics of ensuring our councils listen to their residents.”
Vaitsas said that large sections of his diverse council have been forgotten – especially older Greek residents.
“We need to bring back the Earlwood festival that was a feature for the Greek residents until about 10 years ago as Earlwood has the largest number of Greeks in NSW.
“Those of us of Greek origin have every reason to celebrate our heritage in a public space.
He is also focused on supporting the Greek language and said: “As a former president of a local Greek afternoon school I am a big supporter of after school language classes.”
Liberal pair Kyriakos Panayi and Haris Strangas are running as a joint ticket for the Sutherland Shire Council, with the duo keen to give back to their local community.
“We want to ensure that future generations enjoy the same vibrant, supportive environment, with a focus on lowering rates, improving services, and supporting small businesses,” the pair told Neos Kosmos.
They expressed that, if elected, they are keen to help deliver key infrastructure projects relevant to the C Ward, such as the revitalisation of Oyster Bay, upgrades to the Gwawley Bay Oval and Sylvania Waters Athletics Track, and the Jannali Town Centre upgrade.
“By expanding the council’s capital works program, we aim to create spaces that serve the community and enhance the overall liveability of the Shire,” they said.
The below list denotes all the possible candidates Neos Kosmos identified from the NSW Electoral Commission as being of Hellenic background.
List of Hellenic background candidates:
Armidale, Melanie Anne Fillios, Independent
Bathurst, Luisa Anne Simeonidis, Independent
Bayside (Ward 1), Maria Poulos
Bayside (Ward 1), Sarah Jane Monahas, Independent
Bayside (Ward 2), Olympia Hollink, Independent
Bayside (Ward 3), Andrew Tsounis, Independent
Bayside (Ward 4), Fiona Dousou, Liberal
Bayside (Ward 5), Amelia Marie Raptis, Labor
Bayside (Ward 5), Vicki Poulos, Liberal
Brewarrina, Angelo George Pippos
Byron. Patricia Gizas Barker, Independent
Camden (South Ward), Constantinos Demetrios Diomis, Independent
Campbelltown, Stephen Macris, Sustainable Australia Party – Stop Overdevelopment/Corruption
Canterbury-Bankstown (Canterbury Ward), Aliki Xanthakos, Independent
Canterbury-Bankstown (Canterbury Ward), Con Vaitsas, Labor
Canterbury-Bankstown (Revesby Ward), George Trousas, Libertarian Party (formerly Liberal Democrats)
Canterbury-Bankstown (Roselands Ward), Harry Stavrinos, Our Local Community
Central Coast (Gosford West Ward), Alan Conway Pappas, Liberal
Cumberland (Granville Ward), Steve Christou, Our Local Community
Georges River (Blakehurst Ward), Mary Cassimatis, Georges River Residents and Ratepayers Party
Georges River (Blakehurst Ward), Anastasia Polites, Labor
Georges River (Kogarah Bay Ward), Christopher Tofalakis, Georges River Residents and Ratepayers Party
Georges River (Kogarah Bay Ward), Vasiliki Nicodemou, Libertarian Party (formerly Liberal Democrats)
Georges River (Kogarah Bay Ward), Sophia Constantine, Libertarian Party (formerly Liberal Democrats)
Georges River (Kogarah Bay Ward), Sam Stratikopoulos, Liberal
Georges River (Mortdale Ward), Christine Petrakis Jamieson, Georges River Residents and Ratepayers Party
Inner West (Ashfield – Djarrawunang (Magpie) Ward), Izabella Angelyn Antoniou, The Greens
Inner West (Balmain – Baludarri (Leather Jacket) Ward), Dorothy Bassil
Inner West (Balmain – Baludarri (Leather Jacket) Ward), John Stamolis, Independent
Inner West (Marrickville – Midjuburi (Lillypilly) Ward), Arthur Alepidis, Independent
Lake Macquarie (East Ward), Patricia Athena Philippou, The Greens
Lithgow, Tommy Evangelidis, Independent
Mid-Coast, Phillip John Costa, Labor
Mid-Western, Alex Karavas, Independent
North Sydney (Cammeraygal Ward), Travis Clarence Velingos, Labor
Oberon, Anthony Alevras, Independent
Parramatta (North Rocks Ward), Nicholas Nikolaidis, Labor
Parramatta (Parramatta Ward), Peter John Romanos, Liberal
Randwick (West Ward), Alexandra (nee Procopiadis) Luxford, Labor
Randwick (West Ward), Yanni Gordon Luxford, Labor
Ryde (Central Ward), Tina Kordrostami, The Greens
Ryde (East Ward), Efi Krimizis, Independent
Shoalhaven (Ward 2), Benjamin Peter Krikstolaitis, Labor
Strathfield, Andreas Nicholas Soulos, Independents
Strathfield, Helen Apostle, Independents
Sutherland (C Ward), Theoharis Strangas, Liberal
Sutherland (C Ward), Kyriakos Panayi, Liberal
Sutherland (D Ward), Peter Arthur Tsambalas, Labor
Sydney, Panayiota Patrice Pandeleos, Liberal
Tweed, Paul Archie Pouloudis, Independent
Upper Lachlan, Terry Yallouris, Independent
Waverley (Lawson Ward), Paula Lexine Masselos, Labor
Willoughby (Middle Harbour Ward), Angelo Arthur Rozos, Independent
Willoughby (Middle Harbour Ward), Megan Louise Rozos, Independent
Wollondilly (North Ward), Fotios Davlouros, Independent
Woollahra (Vaucluse Ward), Tresna Annette Karras, Residents First Woollahra Independents
*Please note that candidates’ ethnicity has been mostly identified from surnames and may not be 100% accurate, with other Greek Australians also potentially included in the elections.
If there are candidates who believe should be included in this list, or ones that should be removed please contact dimitrik@neoskosmos.com.au
