Sydenham – The Coptic Suburb

Speaking at the launch of the silver Jubilee celebrations of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Australia in 1993, Mr Andrew Refshauge MP and the then Deputy Leader of the Australian Labour Party in NSW, and Member of the State seat of Marrickville, declared that the Coptic culture had permeated so thoroughly throughout Sydenham, that he considered Sydenham Australia’s original Coptic suburb:

“… I would like to suggest that I still count Sydenham as a Coptic suburb, and I think that the Church there proudly stands as a testimony that Sydenham is truly a Coptic suburb.”

The Hon. Dr Andrew John REFSHAUGE, M.B. B.S.