By Michael Peters Kyriacou, Honorary President, Cyprus Community of NSW
Cyprus is the island that gave the world Aphrodite, the ancient symbol of beauty, strength and femininity. For thousands of years, the women of Cyprus have embodied these qualities — sustaining families, preserving culture and guiding communities through hardship, displacement and renewal.
On International Women’s Day, the Cyprus Community of NSW honours the extraordinary contribution of Cypriot women while announcing a landmark initiative aimed at strengthening female leadership for future generations.
The Community has launched a Women’s Leadership Programme, designed to identify, mentor and train young women to take on leadership roles within the organisation and across the broader community.
The story of Cyprus is, in many ways, the story of its women.
From the arts to trade, from technology to agriculture, from the struggle for liberty to the building of government and society, Cypriot women have stood at the forefront of the nation’s journey.
The island that gave the world Aphrodite is also the island that endured invasion, displacement and hardship — and survived through the strength, resilience and determination of its women.
Women at the heart of Cyprus’ history
Throughout Cyprus’ long and complex history, women have played a central role in sustaining families, preserving culture and shaping the nation’s identity.
They have been the transmitters of language and tradition, the custodians of family histories and the anchors of communities during periods of upheaval.
Following the events of 1974, when thousands of Cypriots were displaced and families were separated, women often carried the emotional and practical responsibility of rebuilding lives.
In many households they became the primary decision-makers — managing homes, raising children and ensuring the survival of their families and communities.
Pioneers who changed the course of history
Cypriot history is also marked by remarkable women who challenged social barriers and opened new opportunities for future generations.
Among them was Polyxeni Loizias (1855–1942), one of the earliest champions of women’s education and equality in Cyprus. As principal of the Limassol School for Girls, she spent decades expanding opportunities for female students at a time when education for women was rare.
Another trailblazer was Stella Soulioti (1920–2012), who became the world’s first female Minister of Justice in 1960 and later served as Attorney General of Cyprus. For more than forty years she also led the Cyprus Red Cross Society, playing a crucial humanitarian role following the 1974 invasion.
In the arts, Loukia Nikolaidou (1909–1994) helped shape modern Cypriot visual culture after becoming the first Cypriot woman to study fine arts abroad.
In sport, Domnitsa Lanitou-Kavounidou (1914–2011) broke new ground by becoming the first Cypriot woman to compete in the Olympic Games, challenging long-standing social attitudes about women’s participation in public life.
Women in conflict and peacebuilding
Women have also played a powerful role in the island’s struggle for justice, survival and reconciliation.
During and after the 1974 conflict, women became the primary keepers of family and community stability.
Teachers such as Eleni Foka continued educating children in the occupied Karpasia peninsula, even establishing informal classrooms in her own home despite pressure and harassment.
Women also became the public voice of the campaign to identify the island’s missing persons. Harita Mandoles, who witnessed the execution of members of her family during the invasion, later became a leading advocate for justice through the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP).
Grassroots peace initiatives led by women also gained international attention. The Women Walk Home movement, founded in 1975, saw thousands of Greek-Cypriot women march peacefully toward the Green Line, demanding the right to return to their homes.
More recently, the Gender Advisory Team, formed in 2009, has worked to ensure gender equality is considered in peace negotiations and reconciliation efforts.
The women who built the Cyprus Community in Australia
Within the Cypriot diaspora, women have also been the backbone of community life.
In our own Community we have seen the extraordinary role women have played in ensuring that we survived and prospered.
They are true pioneers in every sense of the word. They kept the mission alive and the Community open and viable through decades of change and challenge.
From the tireless leadership of women such as Ellie Mournehis Kambos, who served the Community for decades, to the contributions of Anna Adamou and, in more recent years, Dr Miranda Adamou and many others, the Cyprus Community has been sustained and strengthened by the dedication, resilience and service of its women.
The Women’s Committee of the Cyprus Community of NSW has been a pillar of the organisation since its early decades, playing a central role in settlement services, cultural preservation and social welfare.
Following the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, the women became a vital support network for refugees arriving in Australia, assisting families with housing, welfare support and community connections as they rebuilt their lives.
Honouring a lifetime of service
Among the many women whose dedication helped build the Cyprus Community in Australia was Ellie Mournehis Kambos, who served the Community for more than 55 years.
Mrs Mournehis Kambos was President of the Cyprus Community’s Ladies Committee for many years and played a central role in strengthening the organisation and supporting its members.
Even in her seventies she remained actively engaged, promoting the Cyprus Club through the Cypriot Community talkback radio program.
Her dedication to community service was widely recognised. In 2012 she received the Local Woman of the Year Award, presented by the then NSW Minister for Women Pru Goward MP, and in 2017 she was honoured with the Lifetime Community Award by the Federation of Cyprus Communities of Australia and New Zealand.
Investing in the next generation
To mark International Women’s Day, the Community is proud to announce the establishment of a Women’s Leadership Programme, representing the next step in recognising and strengthening the role of women within the Community.
Today more than six young women are already participating in emerging leadership initiatives within the organisation.
The new programme will dedicate resources to identifying, training and mentoring young women, ensuring they develop the skills, confidence and experience required to lead — both within the Community and across other organisations.
Participants will be mentored by experienced leaders and will also engage with other community organisations and clubs to broaden their leadership experience.
Our goal is to ensure the next generation of leaders reflects the diversity of our community — across age, generation and gender.
Encouraging young people to step forward into leadership is essential to the future of our Community. Our survival depends on the talent, energy and commitment of younger generations, and our young women have the capability and determination to ensure our Community continues to thrive.
Our Community will benefit from equal representation and from the wisdom, energy and contribution of all members of our society.
Honouring the women of Cyprus
For millennia, Cypriot women have been the guardians of family, culture and community.
The story of Cyprus is the story of women standing at the forefront of every endeavour — in times of crisis, in moments of sorrow and in periods of hope and renewal.
Today we celebrate and honour the women of Cyprus — past and present — whose courage, sacrifice and leadership continue to shape our future.
Through initiatives such as the Women’s Leadership Programme, the Cyprus Community of NSW hopes to ensure that the next generation of young women continue this proud tradition of leadership and service.
Further information or to apply for the Women’s Leadership Programme:
www.thecyprusclub.org.au/women
