|
Charles Leski writes from Melbourne:
In the Queen's Birthday Honours List, published on June 10th,
2009, the Australian Government awarded an OAM to our great friend and hard
worker, Harry Gelber. The Medal was awarded "for service to the community
through the establishment of mental health programs supporting children and the
indigenous community."
Prof. Allan Borowski [see picture below] introduced Harry and
talked about the OAM, their long friendship and his great admiration for Harry's
achievements.
 Harry
has devoted his professional career to this challenging and difficult field, and
in so doing, has earned the respect and admiration of a huge number of people
from many walks of life.
His friends at Keren Malki join with his family and professional
colleagues in wishing him continued health and happiness. May he continue to be
a positive influence in the lives of others.
In typical fashion, when it came to acknowledging his award, Harry decided to
include Keren Malki. On Motzaei Shabbat, June 20th, some 150 family and friends
gathered at the Gelber home to eat, drink a l'chaim and generally celebrate.
Rather than gifts, the Gelber family requested donations to Keren Malki and
several thousand dollars were raised. Please think of Keren Malki next time you
have a happy occasion.
Harry spoke very movingly about his family, especially his late
mother, and the role they all play in his life. Harry actually spent more time
talking about his wife, Helen, than about himself. Helen has been instrumental
in the creation and installation of a mural honouring children who died in the
Holocaust. The mural was recently unveiled at the Beth Rivkah School in
Melbourne where Helen is a teacher.
Ralph Greenberger, a foundation member of Australian Friends of
Keren Malki, spoke about the ways in which the money raised would be used in
Israel and presented Harry with a beautiful certificate.
|
to
receive Frimet and Arnold Roth's occasional published articles,
sign up for the
