Honours for Jewish Aussies
"I'm very much a hands-on person, I was actually quite glad they gave an award to a grassroots volunteer" - Helena (Lane) Shmerling
It’s twice the elation when a married couple are recognised in the Australia Day Honours. That’s what happened this year when Arnold Shmerling and Helena (Lane) Shmerling of Melbourne were each recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).
Lane’s OAM is for services to the community, while Arnold’s is for service to the Jewish community.
The husband and wife are founding members of Stand Up, which helps marginalised communities. Arnold told The AJN the concept “started off as a few friends around the kitchen table”. Lane said, “I’m very much a hands-on person, I was actually quite glad they gave an award to a grassroots volunteer.”
Former chief scientist of Australia Dr Alan Finkel’s groundbreaking advisory roles to Australian governments on innovative fuel strategies, natural disaster relief and COVID strategies, have earned him top honours, recognition as a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).
The scientist, who has previously been made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), said, “I was excited and honoured, it’s a real privilege.”
Climate scientist Dr Tom Beer attributed “an immense interest in the weather ever since I was very young” to a curiosity and discipline that has culminated in an AO. On hearing the news, he felt “joy that the work I’d been doing had been recognised”.
Meanwhile, geneticist Associate Professor Kristine Barlow-Stewart was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to medicine in the field of human genetics, and to education. While not Jewish, she co-founded the Jewish community genetic carrier screening program with Professor Leslie Burnett, also an honouree.
“I feel honoured and privileged and proud that the work has been recognised. Of course it’s not just mine. It’s with many others,” she said.
Olympic slalom canoeist Jessica Fox was delighted to receive a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), describing it as “a huge honour”.
Fox campaigned to have women’s C1 (single canoe) introduced into the Olympic program in time for inclusion in last year’s Tokyo Olympics – a discipline that had only been available to male Olympians.
After winning the Olympic bronze medal in the women’s K1 final in Tokyo, Fox snared her first gold medal in the inaugural women’s C1 Olympic final.
Jewish Australians, who make up only 0.4 per cent of the population, have once again punched above their weight, with 25 Jewish awardees – three per cent – out of a total of 732 awards in the General Division of the Order of Australia.
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