State News

Maccabi Victoria honoured the best Jewish sport stars in the state recently, with Victorian netballer Joel Gocs and Melbourne Victory gun Ashley Brown taking out the top two awards.

The event was also used to recognise the work of volunteers from the 23 Maccabi clubs.

Gocs, 22, was named the Outstanding Jewish Sportsman of the Year, after having won the Trans-Tasman Test series against New Zealand with Australia’s under-23 side.

“It’s wonderful to receive this award for my sporting achievements,” Gocs told The AJN. “It’s a great honour.”

Brown, 18, won the award for the Outstanding Jewish Sportswoman of the Year after starring for the Victory in the W-League and playing six games for the Matildas, including a debut international goal against Haiti.

She was able to share the occasion with her younger brother Jordan, 16, who took the Outstanding Jewish Junior Sportsman of the Year, and younger sister Jamie, 14, who was named the Outstanding Maccabi Club Junior Sportswoman of the Year.

“It was cool that we could all go up there and share it together,” said Ashley.

Jordan added: “It does make it a sweet a moment, because we’ve all grown up in the same house, we’ve trained and played with each other, and to get awards like this in front of all these people is really good.”

Champion walker Jemima Montag, 15, was recognised for her wins at the state and national championships with the Outstanding Jewish Junior Sportswoman of the Year award.

Lawn bowler Gail Nadelman and hockey veteran Norman Same took out the Outstanding Jewish Masters Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year awards respectively.

Star AJAX footballer David Fayman’s outstanding 2012 saw him win the award for the Outstanding Maccabi Club Sportsman of the Year, while Asher Marks was recognised for his achievements on the track by taking out the Outstanding Maccabi Club Junior Sportsman of the Year award.

Harry Szmerling, who represents the Maccabi Toastmasters Club and has starred at several levels of competition, won the Outstanding Club Masters Sportsman of the Year award.

Maccabi Victoria also recognised its top administrators, with Adam Needleman named Outstanding Maccabi Club Administrator of the Year and Sharon Hamilton winning the Lenny Bogatin Award for Outstanding Service to Maccabi Victoria and Jewish Sport.

With thanks to Ashley Shenker and Peter Haskin, The Australian Jewish News.

 Club Volunteer Winners

Maccabi Victoria All Abilities Group                        Kay Schweitzer
Maccabi Athletic Club                                                Adam Bogatin
Maccabi Victoria Basketball Club                           Mark Garkawe
Maccabi AJAX Junior Cricket Club                          Ian Jones
Maccabi AJAX Cricket Club                                       Paul Fink
Maccabi Cycling Club                                               John Gould
Ajax Amateur Football Club                                     John Rockman
Ajax Junior Football Club                                         Marie Keller
Maccabi Victoria Golf Club                                       Nick Swart
Maccabi Hockey Club                                               Andrew Lenga
Maccabi AJAX Lawn Bowls                                      Sue Aarons
Maccabi AJAX Netball Club                                      Rosalie Machlin
Victoria Maccabi Snooker Club                               Daniel Konefka
North Caulfield Maccabi Junior Football Club     Sam Gamsu
North Caulfield Maccabi Soccer Club                    Daniel Opat
Maccabi Tennis Club                                                Yaron Flicker
Maccabi Toastmasters Club                                   Victor Kelmann

Sports Awards

Outstanding Maccabi Club Junior Sportswoman of the Year
Jamie Brown

Outstanding Maccabi Club Sportsman of the Year
David Fayman

Outstanding Maccabi Club Masters Sportsman of the Year
Harry Szmerling

Outstanding Jewish Junior Sportsman of the Year
Jordan Brown

Outstanding Jewish Junior Sportswoman of the Year
Jemima Montag

Outstanding Jewish Sportsman of the Year
Joel Gocs

Outstanding Jewish Sportswoman of the Year
Ashley Brown

Outstanding Jewish Masters Sportsman of the Year
Norman Same

Outstanding Jewish Masters Sportswoman of the Year
Gail Nadelman

Administrator of the Year
Adam Needleman

The Lenny Bogatin Award for Outstanding Services to Maccabi Victoria and Jewish Sport
Sharon Hamilton

Club Presidents

Maccabi Victoria All Abilities Group                          Sharon Hamilton
Maccabi Athletic Club                                                  Len Bogatin
Maccabi Victoria Basketball Club                             Danny Samuels
Maccabi AJAX Junior Cricket Club                            Howard Machlin
Maccabi AJAX Cricket Club                                        Leon Jacobs
Maccabi Cycling Club                                                 Nick Orloff
Ajax Amateur Football Club                                       Ian Fayman
Ajax Junior Football Club                                           Daniel Antman
Maccabi Victoria Golf Club                                         Allen Garb
Maccabi Hockey Club                                                 Darren Krawitz
Maccabi AJAX Lawn Bowls                                        Keith Faiman
Maccabi AJAX Netball Club                                       John Gdanski
AJAX Ski Club                                                               Marcel Dayan
Victoria Maccabi Snooker Club                                 Mal Gilbert
North Caulfield Maccabi Football Club                    Morris Ritz
North Caulfield Maccabi Junior Football Club        Kevin Milstein
Maccabi Squash Club                                                 Richard Margolis
Maccabi AJAX Swimming Club                                  Peter Bloom
Maccabi Table Tennis Club                                       Jack Cyngler
Maccabi Victoria Tenpin Bowling Club                     Tony Aarons
Maccabi Tennis Club                                                   Henry Muscatel
Maccabi Toastmasters Club                                      Danny Shafar
AJAX Maccabi Waterpolo Club                                   Paul Fleiszig