As part of the celebrations for the 90th anniversary of the Cypriot Community of Melbourne and Victoria, the first organised Community of Cypriot Hellenism in Australia is launching Professor Anastasios Tamis’ new book The Children of Aphrodite: Cypriots in Australia.
The event will take place next Sunday, December 18, at 3pm at the Nikos Andrianakos Hall of Alphington Grammar, 18 Old Heidelberg Road, Alphington supported by the Cypriot High Commissioner, Antonios Sammoutis, with the participation and support of the Government and the Parliament of the Republic of Cyprus.
The book, which in its almost 780 pages, brings to life the memories and activities of the Cypriots of Australia, refers to the Cypriot settlement, the organisation, the relations of the Cypriots with Cyprus and Greece; it also analyzes the ideological struggles that caused chronic intra-community conflict, and the tragedy of refugees. Al these emerge from a difficult past, describing the social and political struggles of the Cypriots and highlighting the persons who contributed to the evolution of the organised Cypriot Hellenism.
The whole project took more than two years of research and writing and the consensus and unanimity of the Board of Directors of the CCMV. The inspirer of the publication of the book was the former President of the CCMV, Mr. Stelios Angelodemou, who, along with the construction of a new cultural center of the Cypriots, had the vision of compiling and publishing a book that would describe the history of Cypriot Hellenism. This idea of this president was also strongly acquiesced by its then Vice-President, Theofanis Theophanous. This magnificent consensus and its acceptance by the members of their Boards led to a successful outcome.
The guests will be welcomed by the Principal of the Alphington Grammar Dr. Vivian Nikou, while the introduction of the event will be made by Lambrini Lambrou from the Cypriot program of 3XY.
Salutations will be presented by leading dignitaries of the Republic of Cyprus from Nicosia such as High Commissioner Antonis Sammoutis; the President of the Community of Cypriots Theofanis Theophanous; the President of the Greek Community Bill Papastergiadis, OAM.
Philhellene former Premier of Victoria, John Brumby AO will prologue the book while the ceremony will be presented by Andrea Dimitriades.
The launch has been organised by the Cypriot Community of Melbourne with the active participation of the Greek Community of Melbourne, the Alphington Grammar day school, the Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies and the Australian Institute for Hellenic Research.
“We feel very happy and proud to present the first recorded history of Cypriot Hellenism in Australia, on behalf of all Cypriots in our country. It is a story of survival and triumphs, a journey of a lifetime where the difficulties, the suffering, the pain of the stranger, the agony of success are described and given in a masterful way by the author, as well as the road map walked by over 60,000 Cypriots in Australia. I also had the happiness of reading the whole book and contributing in my own way. In many parts of the narrative, I felt impressed, in other parts of the book the emotion brought me sobs, in others I felt my ancestors, all those Cypriots from 1890 onwards who set up the Communities and prepared the way for their children. I feel the need to thank Professor Tamis for his truly impeccable and impressive work, his passion and the strength of his pen, to revive our dead fathers, to make us relive their achievements, their struggles, and their problems. This monograph is a reference book on the Cypriot Hellenism of Australia. The community of Melbourne undertook to preserve the historical memory of all Cypriot organisations. I thank all those who came and helped in this reconstruction of our historical past”, said the President of the CCMV, Mr. Theophanous.
“I feel proud to have seen the completion of the writing and publication of this monumental book. I feel the need to thank Dr Tamis for his bottomless patience and courage to complete the project and implement the vision I had and which I entrusted to him in August 2020. I also feel happy that the leadership and the Board of Directors of the Community have continued and completed the effort. I invite all Cypriots to procure the book and offer it to their children, so that they know the history of their ancestors. Without history we will have no memory and no knowledge of the past. The history of our ancestors must enter all homes to remind them of their ancestors and teach them”, said Mr. Angelodemou.
Those who wish to take part in this historic launching of the book next Sunday, are kindly requested to reserve places in time, due to the great enthusiasm that prevails.
Those interested may call or write to:
Evros Evripidou JP’ via evrosjp@gmail.com
Claire Gazis via clairegazis48@gmail.com
Tony Antoniou’ via tonyantoniou56@icloud.com
Anastasios Tamis via anastasios.tamis@aims.edu.au
