The Cyprus Community of NSW’s club, located at Stanmore for over four decades, is set to relocate, with an “End of an Era” party being held at the premises on Saturday, August 23 from 5pm to mark the occasion.
Due to a fire order served on the Community by the Inner West Council, the Community is being forced to close its Stanmore building and relocate.
Despite this, the Community will continue to operate all its services until the very last day and intends to restart them at its new location.
The Community’s Assistant Secretary Andrew Paschali said, “relocation offers new opportunities, new amenities, and a new place for all our subcommittees, volunteers, supporters, compatriots, our elders and the youth, and all our regulars to meet and enjoy Cypriot hospitality in a relaxed atmosphere.”
The Community was recently in the news following a heated members meeting where administrators EY Australia confirmed the Stanmore property had been sold to developer Conquest for $55 million plus GST. The sale of the Stanmore property is subject to a Supreme Court of NSW judgment.
For members, supporters, and regular visitors to the Community’s club, a new location brings mixed emotions.
“It’s an exciting time for the community. The Community will shortly announce a new programme of events, committed to our legacy mission,” Secretary, Kyriakos Panayi, said.
The Community will relocate its operations to The Lakemba Club at 26 Quigg Street, Lakemba, Sydney – the temporary home of the Community’s legacy Cypriot kafenio and the bistro. It will also shortly relaunch its long-running Saturday Cyprus Taverna night.
The Greek School will be located at The Lakemba Club to service students also enrolled in Dancing School from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and other classes will be held at the NSW School of Languages, 35 West Street, Petersham.
Members will also soon have access to the Canterbury Leagues Club’s facilities and services, located opposite Belmore Train Station.
“The community is about people – our volunteers, our mission, the children who attend our schools and their parents and grandparents, our soccer players and fans – all have been part of our community for decades. Nothing changes. This will be the beginning of a new era. All our traditions continue,” Mr Panayi said.
Further information about new member services and facilities will be announced in the coming weeks.
Stanmore, home to the Community since 1989, has been the setting for countless memories spanning generations.
Hundreds of thousands have visited the Stanmore club over the years – many having their first Greek dance or first kiss there, tasting sheftalia, moussaka, koupepia, and sousouki for the first time, playing tavli and cards, sampling the beers and wines of Cyprus, enjoying delicacies and sweets inspired by the “island of love”, or celebrating weddings, birthdays, and other milestones until the early hours.
Thousands attended as students, or had their children enrolled in the Greek or Dancing Schools, took part in youth dances and parties, went on ski trips or tours to Cyprus, joined the famous bus trips to cherry farms, mushroom paddocks, and the vineyards of the Hunter Valley, or visited Canberra. Others may recall their mothers or grandmothers in the Women’s Committee or participating in the hundreds of excursions, festivals, and events hosted by the Club.
So many events, functions, and milestones have been hosted at the Stanmore club that a dedicated committee has been launched to collect, catalogue, and prepare for an exhibition titled ‘Memories Made in Stanmore.’
The Community is inviting everyone to send pictures, videos, and a brief note or story of their “memories of Stanmore” to be collated into an art installation at the Community’s new location. The first 100 entries will receive a $50 voucher to spend at the new premises.
Send your memories to: info@thecyprusclub.org.au.
The “End of an Era” party will be held at The Cyprus Club in Stanmore on Saturday, August 23 from 5pm. The event is being organised by the Cyprus Community’s Dance Group.
