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SEEING IS BELIEVING! Pictures from the tour of WIZO Australia’s projects in January 2012

WIZO enriches the lives of children and youngsters in Day Care centres and schools, provides a framework for youth in its network of youth clubs and one-on-one assistance for teenage girls in distress and victims of domestic violence. who obtain psychological counselling, rehabilitative care and legal assistance.

WIZO Australia’s 5000 members sponsor the following projects…

Marianne van der Poorten and Vivienne Selwyn honoured at the EGM 2012

Tribute was paid to Marianne van der Poorten at the EGM 2012 in Israel to honour her exceptional devotion and dedication to World WIZO. Marianne was offered a seat on the World WIZO International Council.

Vivienne Selwyn of NSW was honoured and was offered a seat on the World WIZO International Council.

As a Member of the World WIZO International Council they are invited to attend sessions of the Annual Meeting of Representatives and of the Enlarged General Meeting that occurs once in every four years. They will also receive minutes of sessions of the Enlarged General Meeting of the Amuta and of sessions of the Meeting of Representative so they can keep abreast of what is happening within WIZO.

Betty Crystal and Ruth Rappaport Co-Chairpersons of the World WIZO International Council planned a special evening for members of the World WIZO International Council at the EGM.

Marianne and Vivienne received a special pin for receiving this honour.

Jo Gostin OAM recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia

Jo Gostin OAM Immediate Past President of WIZO Australia was recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia on Australia Day for more than four decades of service to the Jewish Community.

Jo has had a very long association with WIZO beginning her volunteer work with the organisation in 1969 when she became President of a new WIZO group, WIZO Ziona. Over time she joined the State Executive and took on a number of executive roles such as Vice President and Honorary Secretary.  Her ability was recognized in Victoria when she was elected President of WIZO Victoria in 1989.

She served in this role with distinction and brought her passion for social justice to the fore when she actively participated in the campaign to help Soviet Jewry gain permission to leave the former Soviet Union and settle in Israel. She also promoted the absorption of thousands of Ethiopian Jews who were liberated from Ethiopia in “Operation Solomon” and settled in Israel in the 1990s.

Jo led WIZO Victoria in all regular fundraising and educational activities. She served as a role model for Jewish women in Victoria who were happy to support her and join the organisation. She represented WIZO most ably on the executive of various communal bodies such as the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and the Zionist Federation of Australia. In 2004 Jo was elected as President of WIZO Australia.

Jo is an excellent example of a migrant who arrived in Australia as a child and has become head of a Jewish Women’s Organisation with some 5000 members around Australia. She is extremely well respected by the world leaders of WIZO in Israel and brought great credit to Australia in her endeavours to help underprivileged children in our projects in Israel.

She has also been a delegate at the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and the Zionist Federation of Australia and the Vice President of the Zionist Council and the Women’s Division of the United Israel Appeal.

Kol Hakavod Jo.

800 passionate WIZO women from around the world meet in Tel Aviv

Australia’s delegation of 27 joined women from 32 countries for 4 days of discussion and celebration. WIZO’s pre-eminent position in the life of Israel was acknowledged by speakers ranging from Shimon Peres to Tzipi Livni and Benjamin Netanyahu.

Delegates farewelled the outgoing World WIZO President, Helena Glaser, and welcomed the new President, Tova Ben Dov, together with the new Chairperson, Dr Rivka Lazovsky.

Women of all ages, and from countries as diverse as India and Switzerland, took new inspiration and energy home to continue the task of “Creating a New Tomorrow” in Israel.