In the world of Community clubs, meetings rarely get any attention at all. Then there is the Cyprus Community of New South Wales which has had its general meeting cancelled three times, delaying a decision on the future of its Club property at Stanmore.
In June 2024, The Greek Herald exclusively reported the Cyprus Community of NSW had conducted a global Expressions of Interest (EOI) campaign to attract ideas and proposals on what to do with the rezoned Stanmore property.
A General Meeting of members was scheduled for this Sunday, August 25, to decide on which proposal, if any, the members preferred.
This was the third General Meeting called to decide on the future of the Stanmore property. The first was cancelled due to a request from Dr Con Costa and his sister Dorothy Bassil. The second meeting scheduled for February 11, 2024, was stopped by the Courts at the demand of Ms Bassil.
After 10pm on Thursday, August 22, lawyers for Ms Bassil served a letter of demand on the Community’s lawyers to stop the third meeting scheduled for Sunday, August 24.
On Friday, August 24, the Community’s lawyers were served with court documents to appear at 3pm before Justice Slattery, the Judge who heard the February meeting court order.
Vice President of the Cyprus Community of NSW, Koula Pavlou was present in the court room and said it was a “tense” experience.
“The Judge showed a genuine concern that this can’t keep happening. He wanted to get to the real reasons that lie behind Ms Bassil taking the same action again and again,” Ms Pavlou said.
The Judge suggested he manage the case to find the underlying cause of the matter.
President of the Cyprus Community of NSW, Michael Kyriacou told The Greek Herald he would prefer not to comment as the case was now before the courts, but encouraged members to respect each other.
“The anger and tone of the language is not acceptable. I ask everyone to respect each other. We all have the right to go to court, the matter is still ongoing,” Mr Kyriacou said.
“I understand the frustration and agree with the sentiment expressed in last 24 hours. The Community does not belong to any faction, family or ego, I get that, nor does the Community favour or give privileges to any one member or family or even village. I ask we respect our pioneers, our ancestors, and our compatriots.
“All Australians must not think lesser of us. Any anti-social behaviour, any attempt to damage the Community, its assets and reputation is not acceptable. I ask for calm, cool heads to prevail.”
Treasurer Terry Bieri said the feedback in the last 24 hours or so is clear.
“Community members want to move on. They want a choice, they want renewal, they do not want the Community to keep borrowing money to pay lawyers, they do not want the Community to be a play thing of the very few,” Mr Bieri said.
Community Secretary Kyriakos Panayi said “every member was eager to have their say.”
“We received lots of questions and we had discussions with stakeholders and members for months. Everyone was focused on the future, the quality of the corporations and their proposal. It was exciting,” Mr Panayi said.
The Secretary added that the Community’s team of experts are now assessing how the court decision will impact the future of the club.
“We are assessing how this impacts the offers and value of the asset. These corporations have many opportunities put to them, they have the money and expertise to stay with the proposals or walk, so we need to manage this carefully,” Mr Panayi said.
President Mr Kyriacou added that “the Community is now raising money for lawyers and not for repairs and an elevator.
“This is not what it should be doing,” Mr Kyriacou said.
George Phillips, Chair of the Expressions of Interest (EOI) Committee, has stressed that “the EOI process was conducted with integrity and fairness for the benefit of the Cyprus Community of NSW and the future generations of Cypriots.”
The matter is before the same Judge this coming Wednesday, August 28.
