Letter for Coptic Community Dr Suzanne Eiszele-Evans Macquarie University

Emma Dortins,

Cultural Heritage Researcher,

NSW Office of Environment and Heritage.

Dominic Kelly,

Senior Policy Advisor

Office of Mark Speakman,

20 December 2015

Dear Ms Dortins and Mr Kelly,

I am a teacher of History in NSW and am engaged in teaching at Macquarie University in Sydney. In my position as a Tertiary Supervisor of our future teachers of History I have encouraged them to incorporate their local community and the historical assets within the community to better engage the students in their classrooms. This also enables them to incorporate the community into the learning of children and better engage families along with their children to engender a pride in their local shire, history and peoples. As Australia has such a short history of culture and construction by immigrant citizens from across the world, maintaining the iconic structures such as those which were constructed at major points within our history are most important.   Creating a strong link and identity with community is not only a wonderful learning tool, but helps to create a more positive and supportive community, especially when every element within the community is acknowledged and honored in both visual displays, artistic and cultural history.

I was recently approached by members of the Coptic community of Sydney in relation to the the sad news that St. Mary and St Mina Coptic Orthodox church located at 24A Railway Rd, Sydenham is to be demolished. This church’s history extends back to 1880 when it was constructed and then consecrated in 1901 at the beginning of the Federation of Australia. Due to the wonderful history of this structure, it would make sense to turn this into a public asset which outlines the changing and developing history of the area and the citizens who have brought change and growth to the area. This plan was created ten years ago, but has not been acted upon by the local council.

The church was fenced off after the relocation of the Coptic community due to the expansion of Sydney Airport and the incorporation of a third runway. The noise level which was going to impact the area eventuated in many properties being resumed by the Federal Government and given into the care of Marrickville Council, and so the Green Space was created from this.   The Coptic community did accept a relocation for their church to Bexley with the proviso made by the Federal Government that Marrickville council would maintain the property as it was Heritage listed. As can be noted from the report on the property made by Ruth Daniell in October, 2011 no maintenance has been made to the property, allowing it to fall into a poor state of preservation. The costs given to the Coptic community to develop the site themselves, due to the poor repair of the site were very large and it is a disappointing outcome from the Council’s control over this site.

In studying the Draft Plan of Management for Sydenham Green from September 2013, it is easy to see that this is a lovely asset which is being developed for the local community. Open spaces with green areas for sporting, pet walking, picnics. Cultural displays of the variety of influences from the Cadigal people of the Eora nation through to the new citizens adding their cultural influences to the area. The inclusion of one of the Victorian style structures as a creative centre for art and the refurbishment of the Coptic Church as a Historical centre would help round of the area as a diverse and valuable asset which could tell the story of this wonderfully diverse region of Sydney.

It is therefore a tragedy that the Marrickville Council has decided to demolish the church when much of the brick structures are still sound. Other heritage listed sites, which have been found to be less intact than this church have been kept intact fully, or in part and reused by the developing business who take ownership of the properties.

As a teacher who is passionate about creating community involvement and care of our historical assets I would ask you to please stop the demolition of this site due to it’s valuable and very rich heritage which will go a long way to giving a space to show the development of this deserving community.

Kind regards

Suzanne Eiszele-Evans.

Tertiary Supervisor and Tutor

Education Department | Doctoral Candidate, Education Specialist

Ancient History Department | Macquarie University