A new book will present the history of the Cypriot Greek Orthodox Community of St Andrews in Sunshine, in Melbourne’s west.
The book was written by author Georgia Georgiou-Yianni, a director at the Community’s school and will be unveiled by Dr Maria Herodotou on November 8 at 3.30 pm at the Community’s facilities at 100 Forrest Street, West Sunshine.
In the prologue, Georgiou-Yianni says the community has always aimed to preserve its culture from the outset of migration.
“Following the influx of Greeks in Australia, especially in Melbourne, communities established their own organisations in an effort to help newly-arrived migrants with their basic needs – like finding housing and employment.
“The communities aimed to preserve national identity. The maintenance of the Greek and Cypriot cultures extended beyond setting up communities, to building schools and churches. This is reflected in the establishment of the Cyprus Greek Orthodox Community St Andrews in Sunshine.”
Melbourne’s western suburbs, particularly Sunshine, are closely linked to the organisation, whose presence has so far been felt in the region, more than any other ethnic group – with its more colloquial reference as a ‘Cypriot suburb’.
Cypriots have contributed to the development of the region. The establishment of the Community and the establishment of the St. Andrews church is a remarkable example of the Greek Cypriot diaspora and migration into Australia, and their integration in the broader context of the Greek diaspora.
The aims of the founding members of the Cypriot community are not too dissimilar from those of other community organisations. However, its emphasis on Cyprus shows distinctiveness in terms of Greek identity. That sentiment is displayed through the St Andrews church with its organisation of festivals and events based on Cypriot culture. The organisation’s name change from what was originally the Greek Cypriot Orthodox Community of St Andrews to the Cypriot Greek Orthodox Community of St Andrews further displays that identity dilemma.
For the Cypriots of Sunshine, their community is defined as one belonging to Cyprus, but also to the wider Greek community. Within the first generation of Cypriot migrants, there is a link with the wider Greek community – through national and cultural ties – but it becomes more distinct throughout the second generation (and beyond) to one focussed on Cypriot culture.
Consistent with the views of theorists, important factors that determine the identity of a group is religion, language, culture and the common ancestry, which have been sought to be passed onto second generation Cypriots.
The Community’s cultural events are of a socio-religious nature and link with those taking place in Cyprus. Its school, apart from Greek language and Greek cultural aspects, particularly emphasises the history, geography and culture of Cyprus. A greater emphasis is given to celebrating Cypriot celebrations through Greek and Cypriot symbolism.