15/07/2023
O Kosmos / Greek - Australian Newspaper: MORE THAN AN END TO AN ERA (1982-2023)
With great sadness, I heard the news of "O Kosmos" newspaper was publishing its last edition yesterday; as I was away, I rang my local newsagency to reserve a copy...
Unlike the other two older Greek newspapers, O Kosmos newspaper was the Greek newspaper my generation of Australian-born Generation X'ers, of Greek parentage, grew up with.
Thanks to the progressive initiative of including an English supplement (with a socio-cultural focus) in its editions- edited by the gracious late Joan Messaris- I began buying O Kosmos newspaper. Me, Australian-born, buying a local Greek paper! Whatever was going on in Sydney's Greek community, it was there... in English...
It was in 1993 that I walked into O Kosmos newspaper's offices in Canterbury and submitted a poem, in Greek, and hoped it would be published in the Letters to the Editor page... and it was!!! Whenever I see Paul Theodorakopoulos, who may have been the Advertising Manager at the time, he often reminds me of that day.
Enboldened by this poem's publication, I submitted a few more poems (sooo cringey) for publication. And while I was active in the Hellenic Council of NSW, there was a flurry of feature articles of Greece's national issues I submitted. And there was even a feature article on Greece's disorientated youth and the rise of Greek rock music too!!!
What made O Kosmos different was the editorial team was always approachable, if one had an idea for an item to be published... Such contribitions from a diverse range of people, enriched the publication's content.
I was fortunate to work on the O Kosmos supplement on Pan Hellenic/Sydney Olympic's 50th Anniversary with Editor at the time, George Tserdanis, and Anna Arsenis (2006). My last contribution with O Kosmos newspaper was a number of years ago with the release of my book "Beyond the Shop Windows and Counters" where many vignettes from the book were included... working with Editor Yiannis Dramitinos, and Anna Arsenis.
What I appreciate from O Kosmos newspaper is it was always there whenever I did something- whether a photo exhibition or book launch. And their interviews were free!!!
To highlight O Kosmos' incredible support, its editor Yiannis Dramitinos turned up at Estonia House, Surry Hills (2015), for the book launch of my second volume of Estonian migrant/refugee stories... remembering Yianni among the Estonian crowd always brings a smile to me!!!
So, I sincerely thank O Kosmos newspapers respective editorial teams over the years- not for their support for my personal journey only, but their enormous contribution to the Greek community itself. I ALWAYS found O Kosmos newspaper sobberingly objective in its media coverage within the respective Greek and broader Australian communities.
End of an era? O Kosmos newspaper's final edition goes far beyond its closure. What we, as a community, will miss most is that alternative voice O Kosmos stood for. What subsequently comes from O Kosmos newspaper's closure is a narrowing perspective of the what and who (and why) is presented in the media... and this reality should make us appreciate and recognise O Kosmos newspaper's contribution even more.
Wishing Owner Spiro Haralambous, Chief Editor Yianni Dramitinos and everyone at O Kosmos all the very best, and thank you once again...
