The Cypriot Greek Orthodox Community of "Apostolos Andreas" Sunshine: an exceptional organization of the Greek diaspora

Submission note: A thesis submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts to the School of Humanities (Greek Studies Program), Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora.

The Western Suburbs of Melbourne, in particular the suburb of Sunshine, are closely linked to the settlement of Greek Migrants. More so, the Western Suburbs are connected with the settlement and organization of the Greek Cypriot community. Greek Cypriot migrants and their descendants heavily populate the area and their presence is tangible up to the present. The Greek Cypriot migrants are the current prevailing ethnic group. Despite the importance and presence of the Greek Cypriot community to the area, little has been written about the organization and settlement of this particular group. This thesis is an exploration of the history of the Greek Cypriot immigration to the suburb of Sunshine. Most importantly, it concentrates on the establishment and development of the Cypriot Greek Orthodox Community of “Apostolos Andreas” Sunshine, which is one of the oldest and most significant Greek organizations in Melbourne, which continues to play a major role in the life of the Greek Cypriot community. The establishment of the Community and the subsequent establishment of the church of “Apostolos Andreas” constitute a notable paradigm of the Greek Cypriot diaspora. This paradigm illustrates the reasons for the migration of Greeks from Cyprus to Australia and their way of life when they settled in Sunshine. Furthermore, it allows us to draw a parallel between this particular group and other Greek groups within the broader context of Greek diaspora. The study of the development of the Community, with special emphasis on the role of its church, reflects the convergences and divergences of these groups. That is, the Greek Cypriots on the one hand are closely aligned to the culture of Cyprus and are focused on preserving their Cypriot identity as distinct from other Greeks in Australia, and on the other hand the Community is willing to work either directly or indirectly with existing Greek institutions in Australia to share in their common Greek culture. The Community’s evolution highlights the differences and similarities of their Greek Identity. This is an aspect they are attempting to pass on to second generation Greek Cypriots, despite the constant exposure of the second generation to non-Greek Cypriot culture in Australian Society.