Living in colour
Lilly Skurnik OAM never let things get her down. Throughout her life, no matter what was thrown her way, she displayed an optimism very rarely seen. Over the weekend, Skurnik passed away. The AJN looks back on a life well lived.
The daughter of Polish Jewish immigrants, Lilly Skurnik OAM grew up in 1930s Newtown.
Unfortunately, at the age of 14, she began losing her vision. A tumour was found on her brain, crushing her optic nerve.
Despite a successful operation that removed the tumour, Skurnik lost her sight and her ability to partake in so much of life that she enjoyed, whether that was ice skating, dancing or playing the piano.
Displaying true optimism though, she found a way to pick herself up and turn her attitude around. She continued to live her life by a saying by 19th century philosopher and environmentalist Henry David Thoreau: “It’s not what you look at that matters; it’s what you see.”
At the age of 86, Skurnik published her third book, The Colours of Life – Living Blind. The book, which was launched by former NSW governor Dame Marie Bashir in 2017 shows how despite blindness, Skurnik found the positives, living a wonderful life with those around her.
She was fiercely independent, working as a switchboard operator to support herself, undertaking a degree in social welfare and travelling alone. She even took up tango dancing and climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a testament to what one can do despite life’s adversities.
When publicising The Colours of Life – Living Blind, Skurnik remarked that despite not being able to see, colour remained extremely important to her.
“I still have a vivid memory for colour and can picture in my mind’s eye how things fit together,” she told The Daily Telegraph. “I know every garment I own.”
Skurnik was also president of Jewish Care’s LaPid Group for 27 years. The group, which started off with the simple mission of helping the vision impaired, grew to be much more. Throughout her time at the helm, Skurnik was devoted to bringing the arts and entertainment to her fellow LaPid Group members.
Valerie Rubel, program manager at Jewish Care, spoke highly of Skurnik, remembering her unequivocal dedication to Jewish Care and devotion to her “people”.
“She always got the best entertainers and most interesting speakers,” Rubel shared. “No matter how busy or how important they were, when Lilly called, they turned up.”
Sharing words about Skurnik’s passing, Rubel also fondly noted her zest for life. “Lilly could talk anytime, anywhere, about anything with no notice. Lilly was so full of laughter and happiness and enthusiasm.”
Lilly Skurnik, always in command and full of life, will be missed.
comments