Alcott charms Maccabi
Ten members of the Maccabi community were inducted into the Maccabi Hall of Fame, two members received the Lifetime Achievement award, and three Hall of Famers were elevated to legend status.
AUSTRALIAN of The Year Dylan Alcott and Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medallist Cathy Freeman were guests of honour at Maccabi Victoria’s Hall of Fame Gala that took place last Tuesday.
The event recognised “the elite among the elite”, a term used by Maccabi Victoria president Brian Swersky, as 10 members of the Maccabi community were inducted into the Maccabi Hall of Fame, two members received the Lifetime Achievement award, and three Hall of Famers were elevated to legend status.
Maccabi Victoria Hall of Fame chairman Mark Klapish welcomed everyone to the fifth induction ceremony and introduced special guests Alcott, Freeman, and Australian Olympic Committee vice-president and the Chef de Mission of the Australian Tokyo Olympic team, Ian Chesterman.
Guest speaker Alcott, a duel Paralympic gold medallist in two sports who also completed a golden slam at the 2021 US Open, shared some of his sporting and life wisdom.
Alcott said the thing he was most proud of is, “I really, really try and be a good a person – being a good tennis player is like number 30 on my priority list.
“When you are making an effort to be authentically you, be vulnerable, be yourself, you’d be surprised how much your career and your relationships change.”
Alcott also spoke about the importance of representation for young people with disabilities in the sporting arena.
“We need more representation everywhere – in our boardrooms, in our parliaments, on our sporting fields, on our screens, on our dating apps, in our pubs, on our aeroplanes, everywhere, because that’s what has the biggest change,” he shared.
“The reason people want to watch athletes with a disability is not because we’re inspirational. It’s because we are entertaining, elite sports-people and people want to watch.
“My purpose is to change perception, so people with disabilities can get out there and live the lives they deserve to live. That’s the reason I get out of bed.”
Swersky described the gala as “a celebration of excellence, a celebration of commitment and a celebration of our Jewish community”, adding that it is through sport that we can learn life skills such as resilience, leadership, accountability, respect and patience.
“The aspirations and history of communities are reflected through sport which always moves and captivates its people,” he said.
“Every week thousands of Jewish athletes compete against the broader community in 23 different sports, in all age groups and at all levels, all playing hard but fair, proud of their Jewishness, culture and community.”
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