Greek-Australian author Christos Tsiolkas' award-winning novel, “The Slap”, is to be turned into an eight-part series for ABC television. Production on the drama is due to begin in Melbourne in 2010.Tsiolkas' work explores what happens when a man slaps a child who does not belong to him at a suburban barbeque.

Over 300 students took part recently in a conference organised by the Hellenic Studies Program of Notre Dame University in Freemantle, Western Australia, in cooperation with the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) Oceania and the Far East and the Greek Consul’s Education Office in Adelaide.

Greek-speaking education in Latin America will be the focus of a conference scheduled to take place in Montevideo, Uruguay on Oct. 16-18. The event, hosted by the Buenos Aires-based Education Coordinator in Latin America, will allow the drawing up of common policy for the promotion and dissemination of the Greek language and culture in the region.

Petros Moraitis won the second prize in the 36th "Guido d' Arezzo" International Music Competition for his music composition "Sanctus," of his work titled "Messe für Vokalensemble und Röhrenglocke" (a religious choral music composition).

"Boats," an imposing installation of wooden boats symbolising immigration and its implications in modern societies, is a work by sculptor Kalliopi Lemos, which will be showcased before the Brandenburg Gate as of October 12, as part of the celebrations marking 20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall.