JCA Communal Awards acknowledges dedicated service to the community
JCA held its 2018 campaign events to a sell-out crowd at Sydney’s Hordern Pavillion.
Hanni Chalmers and Bruce Goldsmith
Almost 2000 people attended over two nights to celebrate the community and explore an Evening of Dangerous Ideas with guest speakers Phill Nosworthy, Tamar Krebs, Mark Baker, Max Stossel and Allanah Zitserman.
It was also an opportunity to honour some special people who have made a real difference in our community. Each year JCA acknowledges the contribution of volunteers at their member organisations and recognises their achievements. This year there were five winners in the four categories.
“Our volunteers at our many organisations are sometimes the real backbone of our community. They show up – without expectation day after day, week after week, year after year,” said Bruce Goldsmith, CEO of JCA.
Candice Shakenovsky and Bruce Goldsmith
The Young Social Entrepreneur Award for Innovation and Leadershipwithin the Jewish Community of NSW/ACT was awarded to Candice Shakenovsky. She was nominated by JewishCare for her contribution to both Junior and Senior Camp Sababa’s over the past 11 years. In their submission JewishCare said:
“Her deep understanding of the campers and their needs as well as those of their parents. She is highly organised and ensures that everyone on the committee knows their roles and performs all the activities they commit to. She spends hours each week making calls and ensuring that all the process and risk management is adhered to. She is able to work with and manage a group of volunteers who are highly motivated and dedicated in a way that ensures they all feel like they are contributing. She always has a “campers first” attitude in all she does, making her a pleasure to work with.”.
The Hal Goldstein Lifetime Awardfor outstanding service to the Jewish Community of NSW/ACT was awarded to Hanni Chalmers.
Morris and Ruth Eskin and Bruce Goldsmith
Nominated by COA Sydneyshe was a founding member of the organisation and now works one on one with frail, aged and lonely people creating relationships and ensuring people are cared for and feel connected to our community. In 2000 she created a program dedicated to monitoring geographically isolated and housebound Jewish people who morphed into COA’s current Shalom Connect program of weekly social calls. Her compassion has ensured that hundreds of seniors in the last 36 years have felt support and connected to the wider community.
The Mensch Awardwinners were Ruth and Morris Eskin– also nominated by COA Sydney. For 12 years they have been delivering Kosher Meals on Wheels to the homes of seniors in our community. Their concern goes beyond merely delivering meals – they spend time with each client and connect with them socially and also focus on their extra needs – often reporting areas of concern to social workers to follow-up to ensure that their people are able to remain at home as long as possible. The Shofar Awardfor outstanding service to the Jewish Community was awarded to Dr Allan Shell and accepted by fellow Wolper Hospital Board member Richard Glass in his absence. Allan has greatly contributed to the successful operation of Wolper Jewish Hospitalover many years as a Board member, as an officer of the board and as a member of the Medical Advisory Committee. He has served in every capacity other than President. He was instrumental in developing Wolper’s very successful Wellbeing educational program that promotes good health and educates the community and other medical professionals on the latest research and thinking on the most relevant health related topics of the day. He has served Wolper for over 28 years. Allan is a man who Wolper and our community can be proud of.
In addition to their trophy all award winners received a Raymond Weil watch.
Bruce Goldsmith congratulated all the award winners and expressed his great appreciation for the work they do for the community.
