The members of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW voiced an outstanding “No” to the sale of its “large and historic” building in Sydney’s central suburb of Paddington last Sunday, at an Extraordinary General Meeting.
The ballot took place at the Community’s premises in Lakemba. The atmosphere was very tense and boisterous for over four hours.
Instead of selling, the members with a majority of at least 67 per cent voted in favour of a proposal that calls for the refurbishment, restoration and further utilisation of the building.
Even though the Community’s constitution requires a majority of 75 per cent for such proposals, the organisation’s president Mr Harry Danalis said that the Board “has to respect the outcome of the motion and the wishes of the membership”.
Asked if that development means the definite withdrawal of the proposal for sale Mr Danalis said “yes, I think that this proposal is dead.”
A Working Committee, chaired by Mr Kostas Papanikitas (Board member), was appointed in August 2012 through an EGM, to undertake the task of assessing all the properties the Greek Community owned and was given a mandate to develop and put forward recommendations to the members.
The Committee concluded in its report that if the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW is to renovate the historical Paddington building it should need to borrow a sum between $2 million and $3.7 million. If these renovations take place, it is estimated that the building can generate an annual rent revenue of approximately $1.5 million and above. The report also states the total value of the building will increase by millions of dollars.
Mr Papanikitas, commenting on the outcome of the EGM, said that the “members spoke very loudly, as they had done so 12 months ago, that they do not want to sell the building.”
“The message is that they want us to make every effort to renovate, as recommended by the Working Committee. There is work to be done from here on and we must initiate procedures to this end. The message is clear and has been sent to the Board,” said Mr Papanikitas.
The EGM was attended by 462 members. The vote was by show of hands and in support of the motion for the renovation of the building 268 members voted, while against it at least 88 members voted.
Due to the heated discussion the proposal of the Board to sell the Paddington property was not put to the vote.
In favour of the proposal for refurbishing the building argued Mr Papanikitas and Stan Koulouris from the Working Committee as well as past Community leaders, such as former presidents George Angelopoulos and Savvas Savvides, former Secretaries General Stratos Mavrantonis, Nikos Papanikitas and Takis Sarelas and others.
Against the carried proposal argued the President of the Community Mr Danalis, Vice-President Ourania Karteris, Secretary Michael Tsilimos the Treasurer Chris Belerhas and others.
The next important event in the calendar of the Community is the Annual General Meeting set for Sunday October 27. It is worth noting that this year is an election year. Voting for the new Board of Management for the GOC of NSW is expected to take place in late November or early December.