Families of Cypriot descent across New South Wales are being invited to help preserve their stories, memories and family records with the launch of a new Family Heritage Register by the Cyprus Community of NSW, as part of its 1929–2029 Centenary program.
As the Community approaches its 100th anniversary, the initiative aims to safeguard the experiences of generations of Cypriots who helped shape both the organisation and the broader social, cultural and civic life of NSW. From early migration and post-war settlement to the preservation of language, culture, enterprise and identity, Cypriot Australians have made an enduring contribution to Australian society.
Yet many of these stories – particularly those of first-generation migrants – remain undocumented and at risk of being lost. The Family Heritage Register seeks to create a permanent and accessible record of NSW Cypriot family histories for future generations. Families are encouraged to contribute oral histories, photographs, documents, letters, personal testimonies and family heirlooms.
Core to the Community’s vision
The Register is overseen by the Cyprus Community of NSW Ltd, a registered charity established in 1929, under the supervision of the Community’s Heritage Committee and its recently appointed Director of Archives – Heritage, Dr Panayiotis Diamadis.
The project forms a central pillar of the Community’s long-term strategic plan, developed following extensive consultation with members, experts, stakeholders, advisory bodies and regulators.
Honorary President Michael Kyriacou said the initiative reflects a broader effort to modernise the organisation while preserving its legacy.
“It has been a thorough process, taking into account demographic changes across Australia and overseas, while planning for sustainable growth, engagement and infrastructure needs,” Mr Kyriacou said.
He said programs must remain relevant, inclusive and responsive to the needs of young families, elders and youth, adding that members interested in governance now have clearer pathways to actively engage.
Archives and heritage leadership
Dr Diamadis described the Register as central to the Community’s reform and heritage agenda.
“My role is to engage with everyone – to invite participation and ensure the stories of all Cypriots are preserved,” he said. “This is for everyone, young and not so young. Even those with little interest in family history may be surprised by what they discover.”
Dr Diamadis holds a PhD from the University of Sydney and researches the genocide of indigenous Hellenes of Pontos, Asia Minor and Thrace, alongside the Armenian and Assyrian genocides. He is also a board member of the Australian Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies.
Families contributing to the Register are supported at every stage of the process, with submissions able to include oral histories, photographs, documents and family heirlooms. All material is handled with care, respect and professional archival standards.
The Community is also developing partnerships with libraries, research institutions and Greek and Cypriot diaspora networks to ensure contributions are preserved and accessible for generations to come.
“The Register is as important as a permanent building,” Mr Kyriacou said. “It drives the Community’s three-part strategy: preserve, educate and engage.”
“Knowing where you come from sheds light on who you are and reinforces your connection to family and community,” Dr Diamadis added.
Education, legacy and the next generation
Honorary Assistant Secretary Andrew Paschalis said preserving the Community’s legacy is especially important as it undergoes generational change.
Honorary Secretary Kyriakos Panayi said the Register will form the foundation for incorporating Cypriot family history into school curricula in NSW and overseas.
“Dr Diamadis’s appointment places the Community in a new phase of education and engagement, creating a lasting resource for members, stakeholders, youth, elders, the wider Australian community and the global Cypriot diaspora,” Mr Panayi said.
“It is another step in the Community’s ongoing renewal – looking forward while preserving our members’ past with care and respect.”
A call to Cypriot families
The Family Heritage Register is open to all members of the Cypriot Australian community, including families, elders and descendants, as well as individuals with personal stories, photographs or documents to share. Community members interested in volunteering or assisting with the project are also encouraged to take part.
The Register will document family stories of migration, settlement, civic participation, professional achievement, entrepreneurship, sport, culture and identity across generations.
“This is a once-in-a-century opportunity to bring together memory, identity and history – not as abstract ideas, but as lived experience,” Dr Diamadis said.
The Cyprus Community of NSW warmly invites families, elders, descendants and community members to contribute photographs, stories, documents and memories, or to assist in bringing the Family Heritage Register to life.
To learn more or register your family, visit:
https://thecyprusclub.org.au/family-heritage-register/
