President Harry Lubansky and the ceremonial team Julie Leder and Judy Landau had a packed house at today's ANZAC Commemoration service.

The service was held in the presence of:

Immediate Past President and Life Member Dr Judy Landau (and Mr Steve Tusak)
Past President and Life Member Mr Ben Hirsh (and Mrs Hanna Hirsh)
Life Member Mrs Ruby Grose
Life Member Mr Ian Mansfield (and Mrs Alona Mansfield)

Mr Tim Wilson MP, Federal Liberal Member for Goldstein
Mr David Southwick, MP State Member for Caulfield

Cr Mary Delahunty, Mayor City of Glen Eira
Cr Tony Athanasopoulos
Cr Jamie Hyams
Cr Joel Silver

Mr Simon Bloomer, President Carry On Victoria
Legatee Graeme Plumridge, President Melbourne Legacy
Mr Geoff Goldsmith, representing Caulfield RSL & also representing NZ RSL

Mr David Marlow, Executive Director JCCV
Ms Roni Fraid, Vice President JNF Victoria and National Board member JNF
Mrs Rysia Rozen OAM, President National Council of Jewish Women of Australia (and Mr Richard Rozen OAM)
Mrs Atida Lipshatz, representing Zionism Victoria

Guest of Honour was COL John Coulson OAM RFD ED Governor of the Shrine of Remembrance and Chairman of the Battle for Australia Foundation.

Memorial candles were lit and Psalm 23 was recited by member Mr Dennis Max. Many wreaths were placed before the Ode was recited by Mr Harry Lubansky. Last Post, minute's silence and Reveille* was sounded by a bugler from the Royal Australian Navy Band. * Note: RAN sounds Reveille and not Rouse.

Kel Maleh Rachamim was chanted by Chaplain CAPT Rabbi Dovid Gutnick, VAJEX Australia & ADF Chaplain. Kaddish was said by our welfare officer, Mr Efraim Finch.

The presentations of the Private Gregory Sher Memorial awards were given by Captain Joshua Fink who represented the Sher Family who were interstate. Students eligible for the award are not already taking a high leadership profile in the school, but contribute by doing service in the community or at their school, in an outstanding way. Private Gregory Sher had the lowest rank in the army, but he made a significant difference with his service and sacrifice.

Winners were:
BETH RIVKAH LADIES COLLEGE
Dobba Raskin and Aliza Werdiger

BIALIK COLLEGE
Cara Davies and Tania Szwarcberg

LEIBLER-YAVNEH COLLEGE
Benji Kalkopf and Aimee Raitman

MT SCOPUS MEMORIAL COLLEGE
Nathan Faiman and Gabriella Katz

SHOLEM ALEICHEM
Mikhayla Burstin and Milo Friedman

THE KING DAVID SCHOOL
Ellie Figdor and Aaron Segal

UJEB
Zoitsa Diakoumis and Reuben Stein-Fooks

YESHIVAH COLLEGE
Ilan Janet and Efraim Raskin

President Mr Harry Lubansky with Immediate Past President Dr Judy Landau and Past President Mr Ben Hirsh.

The event was proudly supported by Glen Eira City Council.

Julie Leder represented VAJEX Australia at Hobart Synagogue on Sunday, 30th of October 2016.
The service honoured current and ex-service members of the Australian Defence Force.
In particular, for the Centenary of ANZAC, mention was made of the 16 members of the Tasmanian Jewish Community who served in World War 1, especially the three Tasmanian Jewish Soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice.
The highlight of the service was the dedication of a new Honour Roll Plaque, displaying the names of all the Tasmanian Jews who served in the Boer War, WW1 and WW2 and it was blessed by Rabbi Yochanan Gordon from Launceston Synagogue.
The event was attended by Senator the Hon Eric Abetz, Chaplain Rabbi Yossi Friedman from RAAF Richmond, many relatives of those who served and many other distinguished guests.
Afterwards, Julie attended the Hobart Town Hall for a function to recognise the ANZAC Remembrance Service of the Tasmanian Jewish Community.

Immediate Past President and Life Member

At the party, Ben was surrounded by family and friends. Ben has made life-long friends far and wide from his many interests and it was special to have large numbers of these people in the same room at the same time.

Children and grandchildren made speeches that would warm the heart of any who heard, and the love and respect shown by all attending was a real tribute to a man who is a mensch.

From all of us here at VAJEX Australia, we wish you a very happy birthday and look forward to your many more healthy happy years. 

Mr Felix and Mrs Yvonne Sher presented the awards inagurated by VAJEX Australia in memory of their son, Private Gregory Sher obm, at the VAJEX Australia 2016 ANZAC Commemoration service held on 1 May 2016 at the Glen Eira Town Hall Auditorium.

Greg was tragically killed in action in Afghanistan on 4 January 2009.

The Individual Winners

Beth Rivkah Ladies College - Megan Gorley

Megan’s involvement in all school activities has been a pleasure to see. She has been involved in Yad L’eEzra as a volunteer and has been very involved in our Tzedakah committee raising funds for various causes. She has been named as Health and Well-being Prefect for 2016. Her enthusiasm and good behaviour make her a worthy recipient for this award.

Beth Rivkah Ladies College - Michal Goldberger

Michal’s involvement in all school activities has been a pleasure to see. She has been involved in Yad L’Ezra as a volunteer and has been very involved in our Tzedakah committee raising funds for various causes including raising money to buy a motorbike for MDA in Israel. Her constant efforts and enthusiasm have been one of the main drivers behind this amazing initiative. She is a hardworking and determined young lady who has been made a Prefect for the Tzedakah committee in 2016. She is a worthy recipient of the Greg Sher award.

Bialik College - Elana Forbes

Elana exemplifies what it means to lead by example. She is a true leader. Elana consistently gives her time and energy to volunteer to make the school and the world a better place. Elana has mentored younger students as a youth leader and leads her peers as a school captain as she goes into her final year at school. Elana is a champion of the arts, Jewish culture and student engagement. Bialik College is a better place thanks to the efforts of Elana.

Bialik College - Zack Stein

Zack embodies the spirit of leadership and mateship. He is consistently the first to volunteer his time and energy to better the school and the world around him. Zack has been a champion of student leadership and works tirelessly to improve students involvement and engagement with their culture and the world. He has mentored younger students as a youth leader and leads his peers as a senior school captain.

Leibler Yavneh - Rochelle Wittenberg

Always enthusiastic and energetic, Rochelle exudes vibrance, passion and dedication. Rochelle volunteers for a myriad of charities and fund raising activities. She regularly donates her time to helping co-ordinate year level projects and activities and is selfless in her devotion to our College. Rochelle is an exceptional friend, always generous, kind and reliable. She is an extremely hard worker and always strives to achieve outstanding results. I have no hesitation in recommending Rochelle for the Greg Sher Memorial Award - she is a true Eshet Chayil.

Leibler Yavneh - Ari Goldberg

Ari is an exceptional young man, multi-talented, generous, kind and caring. He is an outstanding academic student, always striving to give his best to every subject area. Ari volunteers to help both the College and the wider community in a myriad of ways. The stalwart of our Yavneh Tech Crew, Ari was responsible for ensuring the audio-visual needs of our College assemblies, functions and activities ran to clockwork. Always reliable, responsible, enthusiastic and eager, Ari is every teacher and students' "dream child". A true mentch.

Mt Scopus Memorial College - Zoe Finger

Zoe has shown exceptional leadership in her role as College Captain.

Mt Scopus Memorial College - Alex Miller

Alex has shown exceptional leadership in his role as College Captain.

Sholem Aleichem College - Ellah Yaary

It is a great pleasure for me to recommend Ellah for the Greg Sher award. Ellah is a dedicated, versatile and talented student who has contributed to the school and wider communities in a variety of ways, most notably through her enthusiastic participation in the Kinder Buddy Program and the Year 5 Fundraising Initiative which collected over $5000 for the Nepal Earthquake Relief. It is not adequate to say that she accepts responsibility readily. She seeks responsibility. Ellah’s motivation is not forced upon her, nor does she wear it like a badge. She is a kind, generous and sensitive student who consistently displays the Sholem Values of a Lifetime. Ellah has my respect and my highest recommendation.

Sholem Aleichem College - Kalman Sharp

Kalman has raised Tzedakah by signing up sponsors for a Walk-a-thon and Bike-a-thon that he participated in this year. Kalman actively looks for opportunities to help others in need. He is to be commended for his initiative and effort.

The King David School - Jory Braun

Jory has involved himself in many school and community activities. In consultation with others at school, we nominate Jory Braun for this year’s award.

The King David School - Rebecca Freedman

Rebecca has involved herself in many school and community activities. In consultation with others at school, we nominate Rebecca Freedman for this year’s award.

UJEB - Name Withheld

The student has attended our after school centre in Caulfield for several years. While diligent in all areas of his work, the student displays a particular enthusiasm for Hebrew language, and has excelled in his studies this year. In addition, the student has demonstrated leadership qualities in his school setting, acting as a positive role model for other students and assisting with set up for the end of year concert. We are proud to nominate the student for this award.

UJEB - Rebekah Kirkwood

Rebekah has been attending our after school centre in Bentleigh for three years. She displays ongoing curiosity in her learning, allied to diligence and persistence. Rebekah has used the geography skills and knowledge of Israel’s water solutions in her public school Humanities project, showing her proud Jewish identity in all areas of her life. We are proud to nominate Rebekah for this award.

Yeshivah College - Yaakov Dovid Gordon

Yaakov Dovid is involved in the following programs and volunteering opportunities:
1. He travels regularly to help outlying Jewish communities such as in Tasmania, for weekends.
2. He organises various different events within school.
3. He volunteers to visit non-affiliated Jews each Friday in order to connect them with their heritage.
4. He is always willing to raise a hand and help with anything that needs to be done during and after school hours.

Yeshivah College - Ari Kornhauser

Ari is involved in various volunteering programs and organises the following:
1. He heads a Gemach (Hebrew for charitable organisation) during school, which allows students to borrow money for lunch etc
2. He has started to volunteer for Friendship Circle – a group which helps families with children with special needs.
3. Ari has prepared and presented various videos and power point presentations for school-run assemblies and activities.
4. He is always the first to raise his hand and help staff and his peers as necessary.