Honouring their sacrifice
South Sydney High School captain Deborah Shatari spoke of her great uncle Private Joseph Rovkin.
Two speeches from the heart deeply moved an audience of 200 at last Sunday’s NSW Association of Jewish Service and Ex-Service Men and Women’s (NAJEX) 2025 communal Anzac Day service.
South Sydney High School captain Deborah Shatari spoke of her great uncle Private Joseph Rovkin, who died on service in New Guinea in November 1942, when only 16.
He’d enlisted in the Australian Army under the surname Rorkin, and the religion Greek Orthodox, to avoid antisemitism in case of capture.
“Joe received a head wound in combat … his death left a hole in the family that never healed,” Shatari said.
“We have many letters from Joe, who always sent love to his parents and sisters, and never complained.
“Reading them is a reminder that he was just 16 when he went to war, and I’m only 17.
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“My brother Joey was named in his honour … and this Anzac Day, Nova Peris participated in a presentation beside his grave.”
Rovkin’s headstone at Bomana War Cemetery had a cross on it, but with great persistence, his family ensured it was replaced with a Star of David, and that his surname was corrected.
The keynote address was delivered by Geoff Evans, an officer who served for 19 years in the Australian Army, including in a special operations task group in Afghanistan, alongside Private Gregory Sher, his mate.
Sher was killed in a Taliban rocket attack on January 4, 2009, and is the only Jewish Digger who died on service in that war.
“Greg was 30, he was engaged … and as you can tell, it still touches me very deeply,” Evans said.
“Australian Jews fought in every conflict that Australia has been involved with, and volunteered consistently at rates higher than the national average.
“We have to remember their stories, lest we forget their sacrifice.”
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