Our honoured folk
WHILE for most of us, this Thursday may just be a fun day off work, for more than a dozen members of the community there’s an extra reason to celebrate as Australia rewards them for their outstanding contributions and achievements.
WHILE for most of us, this Thursday may just be a fun day off work, for more than a dozen members of the community there’s an extra reason to celebrate as Australia rewards them for their outstanding contributions and achievements.
Accounting for almost three per cent of OAM and AM recipients, the select few are being recognised for endeavours in a broad range of fields including the arts, health, business, local government, philanthropy and last, but by no means least, their efforts on behalf of Australian Jewry.
Among those collecting letters after their names are NSW’s former Jewish Communal Appeal president David Balkin AM and communal stalwarts Harold Finger OAM and Josette Gostin OAM.
“It’s good not only personally, but I think it’s very complimentary to the community to have a presence when they give out these awards,” said Gostin, echoing sentiments expressed by many of the Jewish honorees.
In the world of science and medicine, Holocaust survivor Professor Frank Vajda AM was recognised for his research into epilepsy, while Professor Garry Walter AM and Dr Anne Sved Williams AM were honoured for their work in the field of mental health. “It is a moment of great pride,” Williams told The AJN.
Other recipients included Dr Bengt Korman for his contribution to the Holocaust Institute in Western Australia, Dina Danon OAM and the late Sabina Van Der Linden-Wolanski OAM for their service to the community, patron of the arts Simon Mordant AM and footwear heir David Wittner AM for his service to business, charity and medical research.
Also honoured were Dr Colin Benjamin of “Life. Be in it” fame for service to the community and Yehudi Blacher PSM for public service in Victoria.
In all, 439 honours were awarded in the general division, with Jewish recipients accounting for at least 12, perhaps reflecting Gostin’s assertion that “as a culture, we’re taught to care, not only for our own families, but for others”.
AJN STAFF
Harold Finger (left, pictured with former Foreign Minister Alexander Downer) received an OAM in this year’s Australia Day honours.
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