Changing of the guard at the JCCV

IT MAY not have quite the drama of a parliamentary election, but there was still some level of excitement when voting took place for the new board of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria  on Tuesday night.

First, the fact that there was an election at all was  a historic event – it was the first time positions on the executive have been contested in more than two decades. And second, the results were tied, which means there are six successful candidates for just five seats.

But while the election was notable in its own right, the evening belonged to outgoing president John Searle and his replacement Nina Bassett.

VIPs queued up to pay tribute to Searle – from Attorney-General Robert Clarke to Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews, from Croatian consul-general Antun Babic to shadow minister for police James Merlino, all hailed the outgoing president’s exceptional efforts over the past three years, which they insisted benefited not just the Jews of Victoria but all minorities in the state.

The sentiment was summed up by Andrews who told attendees at the AGM: “With dignity, with grace, with authority with patience and with a real determination to support those around him and play his role in celebrating not just Jewish culture, faith and vision, but sharing that with the broader community, John has served you and all of your members, the broader Jewish community and indeed all the Victorian community with absolute distinction.”

In his farewell speech, Searle highlighted the key areas he has focused on over the past three years: fostering relations with other communities and faiths; standing up to Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) and other manifestations of anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism; launching the Youth Alcohol Project and the GLBT reference group; and working closely with parliamentarians on all issues affecting Melbourne Jewry.

And in a final appeal for communal harmony, he called on different groups to be less competitive and more collaborative.

Stating that the JCCV had led the way in holding joint events with other organisations, he said: “We and the community must work collaboratively, we must work cooperatively and we must try whenever possible not to stand on each others toes.”

While he may have been bidding farewell to the presidency, however, Searle hasn’t said goodbye to the JCCV executive. Putting himself forward for election to the board, he and eight other candidates fought it out for the five seats. Searle was successful, but thanks to a tie so were five others, including incumbents Dr Dvir Abramovich and Rinma Sverdlin and newcomers Jennifer Huppert, Jackie Philips and Daniel Fox.

Speaking to The AJN after the election, new president Nina Bassat said she was examining the constitution, with a view to ensuring all six successful candidates could sit on the board.

ZEDDY LAWRENCE