Driving force at Moriah mourned

MORIAH College life patron and community stalwart Max Naumburger passed away at the age of 90 last week.

Naumburger was on the school’s board from 1953-1981 and was vice-president during that time for eight years.

“Max’s unfaltering commitment to Jewish education and to Moriah College was reflected in his continued involvement with the school over a number of decades,” Moriah College president Giora Friede said.

“He was part of the second generation (post-Rabinowitz) leadership of the college and was astute and uncompromising, and long after his active involvement [he] remained interested in all that the college achieved.”

Naumburger was a mentor and long-time friend of former Moriah treasurer and former JCA president David Balkin.

“He was an astute man, a great family man and a terrific man who had a huge impact on Jewish education in Sydney and Moriah College,” Balkin said.

“He was very pragmatic, forward looking, he called a spade a spade and he never evaded an issue.

“Max was one of the men who should be credited with making Moriah into a real school and a major part of the community.”

Naumburger was born in Fuerth, Germany, but at the age of 16 his parents sent him to England, alone, for his safety before the Holocaust began. The rest of his family was not as lucky and he never saw them again.

From England he was sent to Australia, on the Dunera, and after several years in his new country he married Ingrid and moved from Melbourne to Sydney.

Within two years he had joined the board of Moriah College.

“Max was passionate about Jewish day school education, with a fundamental belief that a sound secular and Jewish education should go hand in hand,” Naumburger’s family said in a statement this week.

“Max was actively involved in raising funds for the school’s growth and in encouraging other families to enrol their children at the fledgling Moriah College.

“This culminated in elevating Moriah in the minds of Sydney Jewish families as a worthy alternative to other private schools.”

They said Naumburger was known for his sharp intellect, dress sense, lateral mind and integrity.

“Max had a strong presence and wasn’t afraid to speak his mind, even when his opinions were unpopular. Yet he remained modest and approachable to all.

“He had a love for Israel and was a proud Australian, but his greatest joy was participating in his grandchildren’s lives.”

Rabbi Selwyn Franklin delivered the eulogy at the funeral, and said that Naumburger was a legend and an unforgettable character.

“I commented on the fact that most of the 200-300 people present at the funeral were able to read a Jewish text, and that was only because of people like Max who valued Jewish education so highly,” Rabbi Franklin said.

Naumburger’s success wasn’t limited to the Jewish community.

He was also a successful businessman.

The Coffs Coast Advocate, which is the local newspaper in Coffs Harbour, said last week that Naumburger will always be remembered as the man who helped to transform Coffs Harbour from a fishing and banana-growing town into a major regional centre.

As the managing director of Bachrach Naumburger Group, Naumburger saw the Park Beach Plaza become the most dominant retail shopping centre between Newcastle and the Gold Coast.

Naumburger is survived by his wife Ingrid, two children and seven grandchildren.

JOSHUA LEVI

Max Naumburger passed away at the age of 90 last week.