On Sunday, February 16, Cazzie Youth in New South Wales hosted a sell-out event at the Coogee Pavillion Rooftop in Sydney. The event drew a crowd of more than 70 people aged 18-35 and set the tone for a busy year of events planned for 2025.
Against the backdrop of a picturesque Coogee Beach on a warm Sunday evening, attendees mingled and danced as the sun set on a beautiful Sydney summer day. It was the perfect opportunity to catch up with familiar faces and make new friends over a drink at the famed Rooftop.
Cazzie Youth is the youth arm of the Castellorizian Association of NSW, representing the next generation of the Castellorizian community.
In 1960, the Castellorizian ’Younger Set’ was established by the Castellorizian Association of NSW to cater towards a younger generation of Castellorizians, holding various functions and fundraising alongside the then well-established Ladies Auxiliary.
After the Cazzie Club opened its doors on Anzac Parade, Kingsford, in October 1973, it quickly became a landmark institution within Sydney’s Greek community, especially cherished by the younger Australian-born generation. Its iconic Friday night discos, which attracted hundreds of people, are fondly remembered by a generation of loyal attendees and continue to evoke nostalgia among many today.
In 2015, a reimagined Cazzie Youth was established after more than two decades of a Younger Set hiatus, and enjoyed a period of great success and momentum until the pandemic.
With renewed enthusiasm and commitment, Cazzie Youth was once again revitalised in February 2023, reigniting the spirit of community amongst the younger generation. In just two years, Cazzie Youth has hosted multiple sell-out events at venues across Sydney including STEKI Taverna, The Phoenix Woollahra and the Association’s own ‘The Castellorizian’ building in Kingsford which opened in May 2021.
These successful events have demonstrated that the emerging generation is more eager than ever to connect with one another and embrace their shared heritage.
Siblings Jack and Lavinia Mangos, proud third-generation Castellorizians and Cazzie Youth committee members, are thrilled by the overwhelming support from the community and are excited about the future of Cazzie Youth.
