Melbourne Holocaust Museum with AJAX Footy

Author: Alida Lipton

On Monday 12 February the AJAX Senior and Junior Board invited the SMJFL and VAFA Boards and Executive staff members to tour through the Melbourne Holocaust Museum with the purpose of educating and broadening the awareness of the Melbourne Jewish Community and where we have come from, as well as raising awareness of historical events of the Holocaust.

AJAX was created in 1957 as a safe haven for Jewish sportsmen to play football in a Club that accepted them, as well as to integrate all jewish players together as a Community Club.  In 1972 the Junior Club was formed and we have continued for close to 70 years to grow and provide the best Community Club possible.

This is a new initiative especially in light of trying to raise awareness and reduce antisemitism in football given the current world climate since October 7 tragic events.  Both Clubs are working with respective authorities to ensure our players, community and spectators are safe and have the ability to play football and aim to stamp out negative issues associated with anti-semitism, racism and intolerance.

It was received extremely positively by all at VAFA and SMJFL.  We had 5 VAFA Board members attend including newly appointed President Paul Newton.  Six VAFA Executive Staff attended including CEO and head of Clubs & Community.

This is a project close to my heart as I am a child of a Holocaust Survivor.  Every year we conduct a special service of memorium in the match close to Yom Hashoah, this year that falls on Round 4 Saturday 4 May AJAX v Glen Eira to be played at Dover Street, Princes Park, Caulfield South.

We are very appreciative of the VAFA members who attended and will continue to work with them to ensure our players and spectators conduct themselves with the utmost of respect and unity.

Alida Lipton
Club President