The recent elections of the Cyprus Community of NSW have now been decided, and the new Board includes five new members as well as Andrew Antoniou, Michael Kyriacou from the previous Board, and Roula Christodoulides remains as Secretary.
The new President is Andrew Costa who has been on the Audit Committee for the last three years, well known and respected in the community as are the other new directors – Andreas Pantziaros, Costa Argyrou, and Terry Bieri.
There is a total of nine directors and unfortunately, there was a tie for the 9th position. This was resolved by drawing a name out of a hat, as stipulated by the Registered Clubs Association NSW.
Peter Sozou, also a member of the previous board, was the ultimate successful candidate for the 9th position.
The new Board is a combination of experienced previous board members and a younger new generation of highly skilled, experienced professionals and community focussed people, who can help the Board to better deal with the challenges ahead.
The Cyprus Club is open for all the members, as well as the Greek community, our neighbours, and the wider community to enjoy our range of events, services, facilities and functions.
Our Friday and Saturday night, Tavernaki with live music and great food continues to be a unique venue celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, arguable the longest running Greek “bouzouki taverna” interrupted only by COVID lockdowns!! We have been full for the past few weeks so booking is advisable.
The Club’s restaurant, traditional kafenio with a traditional barber, our bar, gaming room, are all open, a place to meet and enjoy famous Cypriot hospitality.
Our Greek School classes continue to grow and in the future we plan to introduce high school courses and Greek language classes for adults.
READ MORE: Greek School of Cyprus Community of NSW celebrates 20th anniversary milestone.
We have plans to bring educators from Cyprus for the School, and organise an exchange programme for Australian students to spend a session or two at schools in Cyprus.
At the same time, we are looking to introduce an online learning module for Primary and High Schools ‘Cyprus : History, People, Culture & Australia’ to bring awareness of the island, its people, history, culture and our contribution to Australia.
Later this year, we plan to launch ‘Towards our Centenary’ to video, document the life, events, times of our pioneers, and our emerging leaders, as the first step to establish a ‘NSW Cyprus Library & Museum’ to deposit archives of all our pioneers and their families, to document and preserve the ‘Story of Cypriots in Australia.’
READ MORE: ‘We can work together’: Cyprus Community of NSW announces new Board members.
Our soccer club can only grow with plans to expand the junior league, give it a home within the Club building and we are even looking at a gymnasium.
The Club’s highly respected Dancing School continues to grow and in the future we plan to introduce classes to the wider Australian community with adult classes.
Regarding the charity status, it’s something very sensitive and we need to look at it carefully and consult widely with the members. We are aware of concerns about the charity status and its potential impact on the political work required to advance the cause of Justice for Cyprus and to protect our 94 years of ”social” activities to ensure our support of our Soccer Club.
We have plans to refresh and refurbish the Club premises to provide facilities and services for our youth, our Soccer Club, a new look to welcome our neighbours, reinvigorate our Community whilst we continue the Rezoning of the Stanmore site, but it’s going to take 2-5 years’ time, so we can’t wait around for that.
READ MORE: Cyprus Community of NSW presents its development plans for The Cyprus Club in Stanmore.
Our first priority will be to stop bleeding money on lawyers, instead spend the money to update the facilities at Stanmore and make them available for social functions, family functions, an auduitioum available to all Greek associations, to our neighbours, wider community for all gatherings, functions and events, a place to showcase talent, lectures, and entertainment.
We also plan to refurbish the coffee shop, gaming rooms and sports bar.
We are currently organising the commemoration of the invasion of Cyprus in 1974, which occurs every year on 17 July.
We have also organised the Sunday, July 24 memorial service, Mnimosino at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of Our Lady in Redfern followed by the Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph in Martin Place with wreath laying by local and overseas dignitaries and Greek community leaders, as well as a further function on the day at the Cyprus Club.
In July, we will be welcoming Deputy Minister to the President of the Republic of Cyprus Hon. Kyriakos Koushos, and holding a reception at the Club in the Minister’s honour.
We are organising a function to farewell Martha Mavrommatis the High Commissioner who is leaving in August for her new posting to China as the High Commissioner for Cyprus. We invite her many friends and supporters for the farewell function!
We urge and invite all those of Cypriot heritage to take this opportunity to become members and be part of our Community.
Andrew Costa, President, Cyprus Community of NSW.
