(Dynnargh dhe'n gwiasva a Kowethas Kernow Kembra Nowydh Dyghow)

Established on 16 April 1975 at a meeting in the Old Toongabbie Methodist Schoolroom, the Cornish Association of Sydney was formed - now renamed the Cornish Association of New South Wales ( CANSW ) - in Kernewek 'Kowethas Kembra Nowydh Dyghow'. We will celebrate our 50 years on 16 April, 2025 (stay tuned for news as this date approaches)

Membership (which is by household) is currently just 64 households, covering about 100 interested people across NSW. We are very small, and widely spread, so new members are always welcome! 45% of our members are outside Sydney, and %5 outside NSW. There is plenty of room for growth as there are many Cornish people working or retired in Australia, and over 1% (or about 100,000 people) in the State of NSW have quite strong Cornish ancestry, starting in 1788 with the arrival of convict Cornishman James Ruse and his countrymen on the First Fleet! Why not contact us? We have also traditionally covered the ACT and Qld for those wanting an association to be part of.

The CANSW follows an earlier association(s) established in the late 1880s and a presence lasted well past the 1920s, with some such existence known until the 1950s. The modern CANSW was formed in Sydney initially by post-WWII Cornish immigrants for social and cultural activities but soon gained many members of Cornish descent (up to the 6th generation) across the state.

Today, the CANSW has people with interests covering a broad scope: Old and modern Cornish culture, migration, family history, history, language, music, dance, food, Celtic connections, Cornish heritage (in Cornwall and Australia [see Stories pages]), Cornwall today, social contact, and more. Members receive 6 newsletters per year, which are also lodged as ISSN with the NSW State Library and Australian National Library, plus on NED.

MENU - Jump straight to: | NSW Cornish heritage 'Stories Site' | About our Association | Membership | Contacts |
| Members Research & Information | | Members Library | | Previous Talks and Papers | |
FAQ - Frequently asked questions (under consideration) |
| 50 Years / Jubilee
(working on it) |
Coming events | Honoured Members

Latest News: .. Next Association event/s - contact the Secretary for our meet up via Zoom (Next is our Spring Zoom session late October 2024 - date/time tba) + Other, in person, events [End of Year Lunch November 28 - 11.30am for Noon - Searock East Circular Quay, Sydney] .. See more about us, the Cornish and Cornwall on this website. .. Contact Secretary for more details ... end ..
This banner for latest news is updated only as new information is to hand

The Stories Site covers a wide range of Cornish heritage and history in NSW.

Do take a tour via this link: Stories Site - Welcome page

CANSW Heritage projects in Australia in the Stories Site include:

< Byng and its Chapel: The story from the 1840s to the present day.
Some of the pages which make up the Cornish Settlement or Byng story on the site: The Cornish Settlement starts: Byng & its Chapel, Bethel Rock and 'Parson' Tom, A Visit to the Orange & District Historical Museum - William Tom's Pipe Organ & a Tribute to William & Ann Tom, Wesleyan Baptisms at Byng, Wesleyan Cemetery Records at Byng, The First Australian Payable Gold Discovery.

< Cadia Engine House : A story of stabilisation and repair, together with many stories of Cadia Village and the opening of the new copper/gold mine.

And there is much more about the Cobar Cornish Family and Mining, the story of a Bal Maiden who recognised copper ore shown her

Navigate your 'tour' or go to pages of interest via the Menu at the left hand side of all those pages


More about our Association


The CANSW has close contact with the other Cornish Associations in Australia and also is a member of the Celtic Council of Australia (in NSW) through which it is affiliated with the Ethnic Communities Council of NSW. Interchange with those other Cornish Associations, other Celtic communities, and many kindred Cornish groups in Cornwall and around the world, takes place regularly. We celebrate our 50 years on 16 April, 2025.

Members have extra access to a range of web pages covering: membership renewal form, sample newsletter, fliers, many talks & articles, some sales items and our small reference library listing for members use in Glen Innes, etc. For Cornish Association members resources, research, and library


The AGM is held on the Saturday closest to St Piran's Day (5th March), and membership (which is by household) starts then and runs for 12 months. Six (6) Newsletters per year are mailed, or if you wish, emailed in pdf form to members. Our Newsletters carry ISSN identification and are lodged at the State Library of NSW and the National Library in Canberra. Since 2020 they are lodged in NED (National Electronic Desposit.

Meetings, functions, and live activities are held about 3 times a year - AGM and function in Sydney in March, end of Year Lunch in Sydney, a function in Glen Innes in May, and from time in other areas of NSW.

Involvement with Cornish Associations and their activities interstate (eg. Kernewek Lowender in South Australia, and any Victorian Celtic Festivals) is a key part of the Associations programme as are involvement in other Celtic Festivals (eg. the Australian Celtic Festival at Glen Innes).

As part of the on-going Calendar, there is Association attendance in May at the Australian Celtic Festival at Glen Innes in the north of NSW. In the past there were heritage activities at the old Cornish Settlement and Chapel at Byng (near Orange), and occasionally such other operations as those at Cadia and Cobar.


Glen Innes Celtic Festival 2012


You would be very welcome, wherever you live!

Find out what Events are coming up in the CANSW Calendar. You would be very welcome at any of them.


Annual Subscription is A$15.00 per household. Our term is annually from the day after the AGM, usually near St Pirans Day (5th March) to the next one - but you may join at any time.

To enquire about Membership write to the Secretary at the address shown below, or
Send an E-mail to the Secretary at
kevrenor@gmail.com

Get your CANSW Objects & Rules of Association in PDF here: Objects & Rules
Membership / Renewal Form
Download Membership Form
(in pdf) - download and / or print, and fill in - then post to us with your cheque, or take a photo and email (after depositing the fee in our bank).

Get CANSW information flyers here: What do these names have in common?
AND/OR Cornish Recipes of the CANSW?

Subscribe to the 'Cornishdownunder' Facebook page run by CANSW and CAV members by clicking below!

FACEBOOK

If you would like to learn more about Cornwall and Cornish culture, some of the wider activities associated with its members, or Cornish communities around the world you can use the following links provided by the CANSW Secretary:

Previous Talks and Papers available

Kernewek - the old Celtic Cornish language that is very much alive: A Basic Cornish Dictionary for your interest.
- Word for the season "Yeyn" meaning - Cold

Music! More coming on music and songs, but for now listen to the Ragged Band singing an anthem for Cornwall - Trelawney
Sing along with Jim Wearne from the USA: 'This isn't England!'

Interested in 'Cornish First Names' for children

Or perhaps you would like Cornish Food (incl some recipes)

For information about The Bards of Cornwall in Australia web site

Overseas and local link suggestions:


Contacts:

CANSW President, and Treasurer:

Joy Dunkerley, 34 Circular Avenue, Sawtell NSW 2452
Tel: 0428 617 830
Email:
President

CANSW Hon. Secretary; and for membership, newsletter editor and website:

Chris Dunkerley, 34 Circular Avenue, Sawtell NSW 2452
Tel: 0409 393 059
Email for enquiries and general correspondence: kevrenor@gmail.com

Family History interest contact: Doreen Davis, email: CANSW Family History interest contact

Kindred Cornish Associations in Australia and NZ :

Cornish Association of Victoria Inc - including branches
Cornish Association of South Australia (est. 1890) - including branches
Cornish Associations of New Zealand - including branches


Note: 'Sites Story' web pages compiled and produced by the late Dr John L. Symonds for the CANSW, and the balance of the site by Chris Dunkerley webmaster for the CANSW
First created on 17 April 1997 - This page last Updated: 8 October, 2024 ( 28th year on the web!! [Rebuild 2 - on WebCentral from July 2024] )

© CANSW 1996 - 2024
Cornish Association of New South Wales (CANSW)