Kyriacos Tsolakis
{{Short description|Cypriot architect and politician.}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}}
{{Orphan|date=March 2016}}
Kyriacos (Kerry) Tsolakis (born 23 January 1948 in Agros) is a Cypriot architect and politician. He serves as Honorary President of the Repatriated Cypriots of Australia.{{cite web|title=Information for Overseas and Repatriated Cypriots|url=http://www.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/mfa2006.nsf/All/9D1A5A58BE2060CDC2257F4E00298D17?OpenDocument|website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus|accessdate=20 March 2016}} Having moved to Australia in 1972, Kyriacos became a key figure in the Cypriot diaspora and repatriated Cypriot communities of Australia, founding the Cyprus Hellenic Club of Melbourne {{cite news|title=Federation of Cyprus Hellenic Associations of Australia Founded|publisher=The Greek Herald Newspaper|date=19 November 1987}} and serving as vice-president of the Federation of Cyprus Hellenic Associations of Australia for ten years.{{cite news|title=Historic Summit of Cyprus Hellenic Club|publisher=New Country Newspaper|date=14 April 1984}}
The Cypriot Diaspora in Melbourne
In parallel to his architectural career, Tsolakis served as President of the Cyprus Hellenic Club for ten years and Secretary of the Coordinated Committee for Justice in Cyprus (SEKA), both of which he was a founding member.{{cite web|title=S.E.K.A|url=http://www.cyprus.com.au/old/seka.htm|website=Cyprus Community of Melbourne and Victoria|accessdate=20 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140126152908/http://www.cyprus.com.au/old/seka.htm|archive-date=26 January 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=S.E.K.A is Founded/H S.E.K.A tha Anastilothei|publisher=New Torch Newspaper|date=31 January 1991|page=19|language=Greek}} This was during a period which witnessed the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the social and economic aftermath as well as a large relocation of Cypriots overseas. During the 1980s, Tsolakis helped the Cypriot banking industry set up in Melbourne, namely Cyprus Popular Bank and Bank of Cyprus.{{cite news|title=Cyprus Popular Bank Supported the Repatriated Cypriots/Laiki Trapeza konta stous Epanapatrizomenous|publisher=H Alitheia Newspaper, Cyprus|date=10 February 1995|language=Greek}}
The Repatriated Cypriot Community
Upon his return to Cyprus in 1993, Tsolakis became President of Association of Repatriated Cypriots of Australia.{{cite web|title=Information for Overseas and Repatriated Cypriots|url=http://www.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/mfa2006.nsf/All/9D1A5A58BE2060CDC2257F4E00298D17?OpenDocument|website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus|accessdate=20 March 2016}} In 1997, Kyriacos organized one of the first bi-communal meetings between Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot repatriates at the Nicosia Airport in the UN Buffer Zone, under the auspices of the UN Civil Police Force and the Australian High Commission.
A personal friend of the late President of the Republic of Cyprus Glafcos Clerides,{{cite news|title=The Problems of the Repatriated Cypriots expressed to President Clerides|publisher=Phileleutheros Newspaper, Cyprus|date=5 April 1994}} Kyriacos has worked closely with many presidents in his role including Spyros Kyprianou, Tassos Papadopoulos, George Vasiliou and Demetris Christofias.{{cite news|last1=Charalambous|first1=Annie|title=Repatriated Australian Cypriots Want Legal Changes To Ease Transition|url=http://media.philenews.com/Flash/cyprusweekly/flash/current-issues/weekly/11_11_2011/weekly/data/search.xml|accessdate=20 March 2016|publisher=The Cyprus Weekly|date=11 November 2011}}
Architectural career
In Melbourne, Kyriacos founded his architectural practice K. Tsolakis & Associates Architects Pty Ltd and the construction company T.K.S Design & Construction Pty Ltd. During the 70’s and 80’s the practice went on to win a number of notable competitions{{cite news|title=Aderfoi Tsolakis / Tsolakis Brothers|publisher=Pyrsos Newspaper Melbourne|date=February 1987|page=38}} in Melbourne with a project list totalling 520.{{cite web|title=Tsolakis Architects History|url=http://www.tsolakisarchitects.com/history|website=Kyriacos Tsolakis Architects|accessdate=20 March 2016}} Together with his children, they have set up their architectural practice, Kyriacos Tsolakis Architects, based in Nicosia and London.{{cite web|last1=Lewis|first1=Penny|title=Women In Practice: Emerging Architects|url=http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/comment/women-in-practice-emerging-architects/8624950.article|website=The Architects' Journal|publisher=The Architects' Journal|accessdate=20 March 2016}}
Personal life
Kyriacos has been married to Angela Raftopoulos since 1980, daughter of the philanthropist Stathis Raftopoulos, MBE; businessman, poet and co-owner of the Greek Cinemas of Melbourne.{{cite news|last1=Pappas|first1=Penni|title=The Cultural Pioneer|url=http://neoskosmos.com/news/en/the-cultural-pioner-stathis-raftopoulos|accessdate=20 March 2016|agency=Neos Kosmos Newspaper|publisher=Ethnic Publications Pty. Ltd|date=18 November 2013}} They have three children, Elena, Nicodemos and Cassandra who are all architects.
References
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