Matt Thistlethwaite MP has praised the Cyprus Community of New South Wales in a speech to Federal Parliament, describing it as “a living bridge between Cyprus and Australia” and highlighting its enduring contributions to the nation.
Speaking in the House of Representatives following his attendance at the Australia-Cyprus Achievement Awards last month, Thistlethwaite said the ceremony celebrated “achievement, service and shared heritage between Australia and Cyprus” and the remarkable journey of the community since many first arrived after the Second World War.
“They were young, they didn’t speak English, they found our food boring and tasteless, they had little but the clothes on their back, but they worked hard,” Thistlethwaite said.
“They maintained their faith through the Greek Orthodox Church and community. They had families and they made a life of it in Australia, and hasn’t our nation benefitted because of that…”
Thistlethwaite noted the community’s role in shaping modern Australian suburbs and the multicultural character of the country.
He highlighted some of the award recipients, including Neophytos Stavrou, recognised for lifelong service to commerce, culture, faith and philanthropy, and Con Theocharides and his family, honoured for their humanitarian leadership through their charity A Touch of Kindness, which feeds the homeless and displaced in Sydney each week.
Other awardees included Professor Richard Green, who received the 2026 Australia-Cyprus Achievement Hall of Fame award for his work in classical and Cypriot archaeology and advancing scholarly ties between the two nations, and Jacquelene Tsovolos, who was recognised for promoting civil participation among young Cypriot Australians.
“The awards reflected the legacy of a community that has enriched Australia in so many ways,” Thistlethwaite said, underscoring the ongoing impact of the Cyprus community on the nation’s cultural and civic life.
