Victorian Association of Jewish Ex & Servicemen & Women Australia Incorporated
Founding Member General Sir John Monash GCMG KCB VD
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John Monash (Monasch) born
in Melbourne, Australia on 27 June 1865, the son of
German Polish Jewish migrants, can be researched in any
military history encyclopaedia or in fact by just
‘Googling’ his name on the internet. His history
and list of achievements are long and far too many to detail
in this brief summary. However, might I say that reading his
history is well worth the effort and I can assure you that
his deeds will amaze you. I have found that the deeds are
better labelled on more than one man and in more than one
lifetime.
- Remembrance
- Historic Memorial
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An
announcement was made in the weeks leading up to the
Centenary of ANZAC by Judy Landau, President VAJEX Aust.
She stated that it gave her great delight to announce
that VAJEX Aust (Victorian Association of Jewish Ex
& Servicemen & Women Australia Inc) has
successfully raised the required funds to build a new
Victorian Jewish Memorial after the style of the
historic Memorial located in the Jewish section of the
Melbourne General Cemetery. After an extensive two year
process, Judy has single-handedly sought letters of
support, raised the funds, and obtained approval from
the City of Port Phillip.
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- InFormation
Presidents Message to Members
Who was there with you?
Dear Member,
We know your service number, but what we really want to know is, who was there with you when you did your military service? By “who” we are referring to Jewish personnel who have a connection with Victoria.
Why do we ask? The answer is simple … LIFE.
Yes life, some live and some die - it’s the cycle of life. VAJEX Australia membership is the same. We are an old Association with a diminishing number of ex-service members. As opposed to that, we believe that there are a few hundred Jewish men and women currently serving in the ADF, both in Australia and overseas. Their welfare is our concern, as is that of Jewish ex-servicemen and women.
In order to increase our membership, we ask if you know of any Jewish men or women who either served with you or who may have served elsewhere with Allied Forces? If the answer is, “Yes I do” then we would appreciate their details so that we can make contact and invite them to join us.
Please spend a minute of your time to remember, so that we can make VAJEX Australia live and grow.
The Board looks forward to your response.
Marvin Bude
President
Presidents Message to ADF Personnel
Your choice to join the ADF follows in the honourable tradition of our forebears and families. These Jewish military personnel enlisted to fight for democracy and human rights in numerous wars and conflicts around the globe, from antiquity to the present time. You display the same Jewish fighting spirit and sacrifice, following an ideal. This ideal is a principle of Judaism and of democracy, fighting for freedom, equality, minority rights and universal human values. Jews who fight for their country, are loyal and courageous, and many have died for democracy and the rights of others. (There were more Jews in the Services proportionately to our numbers in the population in the two World Wars.)
VAJEX Australia is a beacon to our friends, foes and detractors, and demonstrates that Jews do enlist in all branches of the ADF.
VAJEX Australia exists to represent YOU, giving support when you need it or want it.
PTE Greg Sher (Z"L) was our youngest member. He paid the supreme sacrifice while on active duty in Afghanistan in January 2009. As a memorial to Greg Sher, VAJEX Australia has inaugurated a Memorial Shield which is offered to every Jewish day school and UJEB to honour his memory.
Our Association is vibrant. We produce our association magazine PARADE in October each year. It is now available online for all our Jewish ADF personnel to read and keep up with what is happening back home in Melbourne and occasionally, the wider community. Our newsletter, InFormation, comes out in April.
We have events right through the year. These include a Remembrance Service held at our new Obelisk followed by our Book of Remembrance luncheon, an ANZAC Day commemoration Service, a Memorial Service at the Shrine of Remembrance with our flag raised in the Forecourt, etc.
Wherever you are, we would like to communicate with you via our website. VAJEX Australia keeps the identity of all serving ADF personnel confidential. The only exception to this is if you choose to let it be publically known that you are Jewish and give written permission allowing us to mail you a hard copy of PARADE magazine and other mail-outs that may happen through the year.
We need you and other members of your family to join us. It is essential to preserve, sustain and increase membership of VAJEX Australia in years to come, to reflect the Jewish ideal.
On behalf of the Board and members, we look forward to having contact with you and wish you all good health and safety.
Marvin Bude
President