Cocktail Reception 2009
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Speech by Dr. Danny Lamm, President, ZCV
The Hon John Brumby, Premier of Victoria; Mr Ted Baillieu, Leader of the Liberal Party – Leader of the Opposition; Members of the Judiciary; Federal and State Parliamentarians; Consular Representatives; Local government members; Mr George Lekakis, Chairman of the Victorian Multicultural Commission, generously supporting this event; Mr John Searle, President of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria; Mr Philip Chester, President of the Zionist Federation of Australia; Rabbis; Members of the Clergy; Trade Union Leaders; Supporters of the Zionist Council of Victoria’ Communal leaders, ladies and gentlemen.
Friends – we welcome you all tonight. Many of you have been attending these annual events for many years and for some, this is your first. To all of you – we value your friendship with Israel and the Jewish community and thank you for coming.
Last year, we came together to celebrate Israel’s 60th independence day. Melbourne’s Jewish community, like communities across the Diaspora and in Israel, united to celebrate Israel’s achievements – attending events which ranged from festivals, to concerts, to academic symposia. One of the final official Israel 60 projects to be completed is the upcoming publication of a very special anthology of biographical stories from members of our own community, which we’ve undertaken together with the Makor Jewish Community Library.
Speech by John Searle, President, JCCV
Premier Brumby, Ted Baillieu, leader of the opposition, members of Parliament, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen
Welcome and Shalom. It is wonderful to see so many friends of the Jewish community here from such a wide and diverse range of backgrounds.
Before I go further, I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land and pay tribute to their elders, past and present. I also want to thank both the Premier and the leader of the opposition for their wonderfully chosen words a few moments ago.