Maccabi Life Members

NEW LIFE MEMBERS

ALAN SYNMAN

Throughout this long period of distinguished service, Alan has so often been the catalyst, the driver, the creator of ideas, the one who has persisted in face of adversity and funding barriers. He has taken it upon himself to personally seek the funds necessary for these projects, bringing together a range of people of skill and ability. His leadership in these situations has been outstanding.

It is a particular skill to turn an idea into reality. Many people have great ideas, but only a few have the skill, energy and drive to turn these ideas into a reality. Alan Synman is one of those people. Over and above the time commitment to his profession and family, Alan always found space to contribute to projects in the Jewish and wider community, projects which have had massive impact on their target ‘audience’. His most recent example is his outstanding contribution (both personally and through his own fundraising) to the establishment of the Maccabi All Abilities Project, which is regarded as the leading project of its type in Victoria. This Project has created a range of significant sporting and recreational opportunities for people with a disability, opportunities previously denied to them. The impact on their personal, physical and social lives has been enormous.

His leadership of various Maccabi sporting developments has led to a) major developments for the AJAX Football Club facilities; b) the establishment of the Maccabi Tennis Centre in South Bentleigh, with eight courts and a pavilion; c) the proposal to establish a Community Hub at the Caulfield Park Sports Club; d) the creation of a significant capital fund for Coaching, ensuring that all clubs can access funds annually to enhance their coaches capabilities, skills and qualifications.

He continues to share his wisdom with our Property Committee to ultimately create a ‘home base’ for Maccabi Victoria.

Accomplishments to Maccabi Victoria include:

• 1960 – 1974 – AJAX Amateur Football Club – player (143 games, one year best and fairest); coach (six years, including three years as senior coach); administrator
• 2004 – Maccabi Victoria Foundation Director since 2004
• 2004 – Ajax Senior Football Life Member Award
• 2007 – Maccabi Victoria Foundation Trustee
• 2012 – present – Maccabi All Abilities Project – initiator of a major fundraising drive for this Project; major

personal financial contribution

• Maccabi Victoria – oversight of the $1.3m tennis centre development
• Creator of the Club Coaching Fund
• AJAX Amateur Football Club – project manager for a variety of developments, especially construction of

the David Mandie Sports Pavilion in Albert Park.

Accomplishments to the Jewish Community include:

• Chair Jewish Museum of Australia Corporate Club 2009 – 2013
• Member of the Building Project Control Group Beth Weisman 2009-2011
• Member of the Building Project Control Group Metropolitan Golf Club since 2009
• Founder Helen Synman Archiving Project Mount Scopus Memorial College 2011
• Member of the Building Project Control Group Emmy Monash Aged Care Homes since 2011

Other information:

Alan Synman has made an enormous contribution to society in a variety of fields, combining a significant professional career with extensive volunteering. Having graduated as an architect in 1965, Alan became a founding partner in ‘Synman Justin Bialek Architects’ (SJB) in 1976. As a Founder and Director of the firm, he was involved directly in all aspects of the operation of the company from site planning, architectural design development, documentation and project management to quality assurance, proposal development, presentation, general marketing and business operations & strategy.

Alan’s leadership, drive and commitment at SJB allowed it to expand its areas of expertise, creating SJB Planning (a successful town planning practice), SJB Interior Design (an award-winning interior design company) and in July 2000 SJB/FKA Architects was formed (now known as Plus Architecture) through an exciting initiative with Fender Katsalidis Architects. Plus Architecture was originally born out of the involvement of both firms in the Melbourne Docklands NewQuay project – now the two firms collaborate on selected projects in response to the challenge of designing for the way we live, work and relax this century.

Alan Synman’s principal interests in architecture have shaped a range of projects over the years: he was Director in Charge of the development of the headquarters for Smorgon Consolidated Industries, the Crown Entertainment Complex – The Showroom, the public spaces in the Western End, Jack’s Bar, the Heat Discotheque and Bar, the Heritage Golf and Country Club in the Yarra Valley, and Bayview Apartments and Retail Centre in Port Melbourne.

He was Director in Charge of the Master Planning for Mount Scopus Memorial College, and was the Director in Charge of the recently completed projects including Moonah Links Golf Clubhouse and Hotel for Golf Australia in Rye, the Cranbourne Golf Club, the refurbishment of Pran Central in Prahran, and ageing-in-residence facilities for Prime Life in Brighton, as well as retirement facilities in Phillip Island, Heidelberg and Toorak.

The growth of the practice was due not only to Alan and SJB’s significant contribution to the built environment, but also the firm’s ability to adapt to changing social and economic times, to respond appropriately to clients and to recognise and support the skills of its staff.

Retiring from SJB in 2005, Alan continues to consult to the practice providing advice and assistance in educational and golf related projects.

Michael Same

Michael has had a long association with Maccabi Victoria dating back to the late 1960’s where he played hockey for what was then called Hakoah Ajax.

In 1974, Michael Same played in Ajax Firsts Hockey Premiership Side in State Level 3. He won the Best and Fairest Award at the age of 15 and also represented Victoria at Under 16 level.

The following year he made his debut in State League 1 where he became a leading player for the next 10 years and played in excess of 150 games.

Michaels Hockey talent was very obvious at an early age, having been awarded the “Victorian Junior Hockey Player of the Year in 1970 (Under 12’s), 1972 (Under 14’s), 1974 and 1975 (Under 16’s), and in 1977 in the Under 21’s.

He has been Ajax Maccabi Hockey Club President, Captain, and Coach, working with both Seniors and Juniors. In 1997, he was playing Coach of the Australian Hockey Team that won a Bronze medal at the Maccabiah Games.

Besides his hockey achievements, Michael has served as both treasurer of Victoria Maccabi and Director of Finance for Maccabi Australia and is currently treasurer for Maccabi Sports Foundation, a position he has had since 2008.

Michael was inaugurated into the Maccabi Hall of Fame in 2000.

A summary of his Maccabi accomplishments is listed below:

• 1968 Member of First Ajax Maccabi Hockey Team (played first senior game at age 9)
• 1970 State Representative – Under 12 Team
  • Winner of Les Abrahams Award for the Most Outstanding Junior Jewish Sportsman
  • Ajax Under 12 Hockey Team – scored club record of 13 goals

• 1972 Under 14 State Representative
  • Youngest player of Ajax Maccabi Firsts at the age of 13

• 1974 Under 16 State Representative
  • Premiership player in Ajax Maccabi First X1 – State League
  • Ajax Maccabi First Fairest & Best (Aged 15)

• 1974 – 1975 Carnival Perth – Indoor Hockey
• 1975 Winner of Les Abrahams Award for the Most Outstanding Junior Jewish Sportsman
• 1979 Coached Ajax Under 16 Hockey Club
• 1981 Carnival Melbourne – Indoor Hockey
• 1987 – 1988 Treasurer of Maccabi Victoria
• 1989 Carnival Melbourne – Indoor Hockey
• 1992 – 1993 Ajax Maccabi Junior Hockey Committee – influential in the introduction of two new sides
• 1994 – 1995 President of the Ajax Hockey Club – influential in having this club returned to the State League Competition
• 1996 – 1997 Coach of Maccabi Hockey Club
• 1997 Player / coach of Maccabi Hockey Team – Bronze Medal
• 1999 – 2000 Maccabi Australia Inc – Director of Finance
• 2000 Maccabi Hall of Fame Nominated & Received
• 2008     Maccabi Victoria Sports Foundation elected Treasurer

MARK KLAPISH

Marks never-ending list of contributions to Maccabi began in 1978.

He has been a member of the Swimming, Athletics, Football and Lawn Bowls Club

Mark has been the driving force behind the revival of Maccabi junior carnivals for many years and has been involved in more junior carnivals than any other person in Victoria and possibly in Australia.

He was the carnival manager of the most profitable carnival ever held in Victoria; he wrote the first set of rules for junior carnival, and he was the founder of the community day.

During his lengthy involvement with Maccabi, Mark has been instrumental in professionalizing Maccabi Australia’s Junior Carnivals.

A summary of his Junior Carnival involvement is as follows:

• 1982,83,88-90,92-93, 95-2000 – Assistant Team Manager, Victorian Junior Carnival
• 1982 – Assistant Team Manager, Maccabi Senior Carnival
• 1984, 1991, 1994, 1996 – Sports Director, Melbourne Junior Carnival
• 1986 – Team Manager of the Victorian Junior Carnival team
• 1991 – Wrote the first concise set of rules for Junior Carnival
• 1992/93 – Member Victorian Lawn Bowls Team Melbourne Senior Carnival
• 2011 – Carnival Manager 29^th Maccabi Australia Junior Sports Carnival; 850 participants
• 2011 – Founder of Maccabi Junior Carnival Community Day
• 2017 – 2018 Junior Carnival Joint Convenor Community Day
• 2020 – Consultant Victoria Maccabi Junior carnival
• 2021 – Consultant Victoria Maccabi Junior carnival

Mark’s other Maccabi Achievements include:

• 1978 – 1983 – Ajax Football club committee member
• 1978 – 1982 – Delegate to council
• 1980 – 1982 – Vice President Ajax Football club
• 1980 – Best Club Man Ajax Football Club
• 1980 – 1985 – Founder Maccabi Junior Sports Camps
• 1986 – 1990 – Founder and Organizer of Victoria Maccabi Junior sports Camps Anglesea
• 1990 – 1994 – Member of the Maccabi Victoria Board
• 1995 – 1998 – Manager of Victoria Maccabi Sports Clinics
• 1986 – 1990 – Maccabi Victoria Board Member
• 1992 – Head of first ever Maccabi Victoria all schools’ athletics championships
• 1993 – 1994 – Victoria Maccabi Representative to Maccabi Australia Junior Sport Committee
• 2011 – Victoria Maccabi volunteer of the year
• 2015 – Inducted Maccabi Victoria Hall of Fame, Maccabi Victoria Club Volunteer Award
• 2015 – 2018 – Mac Vic Awards Committee, Mac Vic Committee for Club Funding
• 2016 – Chairmen and Maccabi Victoria 90th Birthday Celebrations, Chairman Maccabi Victoria 90th Reunion celebration, Committee The 90th Photo History Book, Fundraising The 90th Photo History Book, Deputy-Chairman Hall Of Fame
• 2017 – Team Manager Maccabiah Games Israel, Committee Member – Lawn Bowls, Friends of Maccabi Committee and MC for Events twice a year
• 2018 – Chairman Maccabi Hall of Fame
• 2019 – HOF Gala Dinner Chairman, Expo committee
• 2020 – Obtained 20k donation, Chairman Maccabi Hall of Fame
• 2021 – Chairman Maccabi Hall of Fame, Chairman Friends of Maccabi