Author: Wan Kerr

Why wait for Paniyiri?

You can enjoy Greek food in West End 365 days of the year. Here’s the editor’s top ten

Eros Cafe
76 Boundary Street
Greek sweets, pastries and meals

Delta Continental Foods
49 Vulture Street
Wholesale delicatessen

Cafe Meze
56 Mollison Street
Traditional Greek Taverna

Lefkas Taverna
170 Hardgrave Road
Traditional Greek food

Little Greek Taverna
1 Browning Street
Authentic Greek Cuisine

Ouzeri Greek Restaurant
120 Boundary Street
A West End favourite

Char Char Yiros
56 Russell Street
Slow cooked kebabs and yiros

Hellene Food Brokers
17 Duncan Street
Wholesale Delicatessen

Odyssey Taverna and Bar
The Greek Club, 29 Edmonstone Street
Authentic Greek Cuisine

Hellenic House
32 Russell Street
Traditional Greek Cuisine

In the heart of West End is a shopping village that is home to many interesting shops, boutiques, galleries, cafes and bars, the likes of which you won’t find anywhere else in Brisbane. Within these local businesses you will find gifts that will delight, inspire, intrigue, entertain and even bedazzle your Mum.

To make shopping in West End even more rewarding, you could win for Mum (or maybe for yourself!) a shopping adventure worth more than $1500.

From now until 5.00pm on Mother’s Day Sunday, 11th May when you make a purchase at participating shops you can enter the competition to win a Shopping Adventure in West End.

Participating shops:

Andrew Tanos Pharmacy, Avid Reader Bookshop & Cafe, Coolshirts.com.au, Dandelyon Gifts, Green  Grocer, Hullabaloo Bazaar,  Charlie & Liz’s Fruit Store, Framer Gallery, Happy Cabin, Kazuyo’s Collection, Lock’n’Load Bistro, Perfect Potion, PJ’s Steaks, Terry White Chemists, Nook, West End Coffee Club, Spaghetti House and Shay’s Shoes.

The winning entry will be drawn on Monday 12th May outside Shay’s Shoes, 126 Boundary Street, West End.

For more information about the Win a Shopping Adventure in West End promotion please contact Fiona Stager Fiona@avidreader.com.au or 07 3846 3422.

‘Don’t let concern become regret – make the call to DVConnect’: That’s the message from Communities Minister Tracy Davis in the lead up to Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month 2014.

Ms Davis said the month, which was held each May, raised awareness of domestic and family violence and aligned with the Queensland Government’s election promise to revitalise frontline services.

“The aim is for every Queenslander to stay safe from domestic and family violence, which can include non-physical abuse as well as physical violence,” Ms Davis said.

“We want people to recognise the warning signs of domestic and family violence if it is happening to someone they know, and to call the DVConnect statewide hotline for advice if they suspect abuse is occurring.”

Ms Davis said non-physical forms of domestic violence could include intimidation and threats, monitoring someone’s movements or stalking and it was important people sought professional support before violence escalated — possibly to serious assault or homicide.

“To help get this message across, this year we’re saying ‘Don’t let concern become regret – make the call to DVConnect’,” she said.

“As a community, we need to realise that non-physical abuse is serious and can escalate to physical abuse, and that domestic and family violence will not be tolerated.

“This is the second year of the Newman Government’s Make the Call campaign, which unlike previous social marketing campaigns, has generated real and positive community-wide action,” she said.

Ms Davis said many organisations, including community groups, sporting clubs, media outlets, businesses and local councils, would hold awareness raising events and activities throughout May.

“For example, in Cunnamulla, the Paroo Shire Council and the Police and Citizens Youth Club recognise that educating young people is critical to breaking the violence cycle so have partnered to run awareness raising workshops with young men and women,” she said.

“Other events include art workshops with young people to promote healthy, respectful relationships and to educate them about non-physical forms of abuse; and a film and discussion night to challenge attitudes towards domestic and family violence and to empower the community to be proactive about preventing it.”

For information on how to identify domestic and family violence, and for a full list of community events, visit www.qld.gov.au/makethecall

To get help for yourself or someone you know, make the call to DVConnect Womensline on 1800 811 811 or Mensline on 1800 600 636.

Cool Man-The excitement is building as preparations are made for the annual JUMP UP Party to be held in West End on 31st May 2014. In it’s fourth year at the South Leagues Club, Davies Park, and the Jump Up Party means only one thing – big party time, Caribbean style.

Trinidadian entertainer Alvin Rostant has banded together with his fellow countrymen to give the Caribbean community of Queensland a chance to celebrate and share all things Caribbean with Australia…The culture, The food, The music, The costumes, The liming, The chippin’ and The roti and rum.

It’s amazing to think 1000’s of little islands tucked away in the Caribbean Sea have had such a profound influence on the world. Think calypso and reggae music, cajun food and jerk chicken, white and brown rum, feathers and sexy costumes, the limbo dance , and the ultimate party CARNIVAL. Sporting hero’s come to mind, Sir Viv Richards and Usain Bolt, and trail blazing merry makers Harry Belefonte, Bob Marley and Rhianna.

The Jump Up Party is all about authenticity. Caribbean people are very fussy about their food so celebrity caterers “JA Joint” of Jamaican descent and Bluesfest fame, will be manning the stoves for the hungry crowd.

The best of Caribbean rums will be available at the bar, especially shipped in for the evening. The live band, direct from Caribbean concentrates on an all inclusive repertoire, all genres for all generations with top DJ’s spinning the latest Carnival beatz.

The authenticity doesn’t end there- The Rivercity Steelband will be in attendance to delight the audience with their competition pieces, having won third place at Australia’s inaugural Steel Drum Festival 2013. Its a beautiful experience to see and hear the whole steel band play under the huge, brightly lit Fig tree. The steel drums are so unique.

The crowd can dress up or down, it’s a very relaxed affair. Authentic vintage costumes worn at Trinidad’s Carnival some 30 years ago will be on display to inspire. Carnival headpieces and feather boas are advised, but not compulsory! The Caribbean community, though small in numbers really know how to dance. Historically the dance floor is full from the very first song and more West Enders and Aussies are joining their ranks as they hear about The Jump Up Party. There’s plenty of room for chippin’ and wineing Carnival style.

Tickets include complimentary rum punch on arrival and a fork dinner. Tables can be booked. Tickets may be purchased through Moshtix.com.au or The Caribbean Arts and Entertainment Company (07) 5548 7843. On the night tickets will be available at the door (cash or EFTPOS). Free parking and easy public transport are available. Places are limited so its advisable to book early. Children are welcome in the company of an adult.

Dust off your shoes, its Carnival vibes all round…HOT HOT HOT!

On Sunday 4th May, staff and supporters of Community Plus (the organization that manages West End Community House, Annerley Community Centre and Yeronga Community Centre) will be taking part in the Great Brisbane Bike Ride to raise much needed funds for their ongoing activities.

Brought to you by Bicycle Queensland, the ride caters for all levels with distances ranging from 30 to 110 kilometres. Cyclists will ride over the Gate-way Bridge and along the Inner City Bypass before separating into those who will complete the challenge of the grueling Mt Coot-tha circuit and those who will ride the more gentle River loop, all finally crossing the finish line at West End.

JOIN THE PEDAL!

Want to take part?

1) Register via www.everydayhero.com.au set up a personal fundraising page, and join the Community Plus Pedal Power Team.

2) Register for the ride via www.coot-tha.bq.org.au

3) Contact Carolyn Peterken via carolyn-peterken@yahoo.com.au and let her know you are interested. Carolyn can send you guidance on how to sign up for both Everyday Hero and the bike ride

Not your thing? Simple!

Support a cyclist representing Community Plus at the Great Brisbane Bike Ride via their personalised Everyday Hero fundraising page.

Go to https://give.everydayhero.com/au/community-plus-pedal-power and click on “give now” to support one of the team members.

Jesus’ crucifixion was God’s great act of solidarity with all who suffer – including asylum-seekers – according to Dr Philip Freier, Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne.

Jesus suffered a horrific death which seemed to mark a crushing and humiliating end to the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of love, compassion and justice that Jesus had come to proclaim and that his life was a shining witness to.

The dreadful violence and suffering that he endured was apparently the opposite of everything that he represented. The power of evil, it seemed, had triumphed. Here, indeed, was a sense of complete abandonment by God, expressed so poignantly in Jesus’ last words, quoting psalm 22: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Yet, paradoxically, this moment of apparent utter dejection, despair and failure was the very moment God’s love for us was seen most clearly for what it is. Here, in Jesus’ total self-surrender and self-emptying, was the supreme manifestation of God’s love for humankind. As St John puts it, “this is how God showed his love among us.”

Just as Christians believe that all people are made in the image of God, so we believe that the face of Jesus can be seen in all those on the margins of society – including the poor, the prisoner and the asylum-seeker. Jesus told us that whenever we do something for the least of people, we also do it for him.

The crucifixion was God’s great act of solidarity with all those who suffer, and He continues to share the suffering and pain of millions today who suffer through poverty, persecution, violence and cruelty, including the millions of displaced people in the world, Syrian refugees and asylum-seekers in offshore detention. The list goes on.

When we fail to respond to the cries of need among our brothers and sisters of whatever race, creed or background we fall short of our full humanity to which Christ bore witness and to which God calls us.

Good Friday was not to be the end of Christian hope – violence, suffering and death were not to have the last word. Jesus was to live again; and the Gospel accounts of the resurrection, as well as the lives of the apostles after Jesus’ resurrection appearances, are a powerful testimony to this.

Jesus lives still – a profound, life-transforming reality each one of us can experience if only we are prepared to open up our hearts and minds to His presence within and among us.

Christians believe this truth lies at the heart of reality, and millions of followers over the last 2000 years have born witness to it, and have been inspired by it to live out the Christian ideal of love, compassion and selfless service.

I invite you to make a pilgrimage to the heart this year, and to experience the love of the risen Jesus that dwells within, a love that embraces all.

Archbishop Freier will preach at the 10am Service on Easter Day in St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne.

See his Easter message on YouTube at: http://www.melbourneanglican.org.au/Easter