Ambassador for a day
Jeremy Jones, the Director of International and of Community Affairs of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, was selected as an Australia Day Ambassador for 2020 by the Australia Day Council, the fourth time he has been given this honour.
“Ambassador” Jeremy Jones
The Ambassador Programme sends people described as “Inspirational Australians” who “share the common traits of achievement through hard work, talent and a strong source of patriotism”, to speak at, and otherwise participate in, community events.
This year, Jeremy Jones was the speaker in the towns of Coonabarabran, Binnaway and Baradine, in The Warrumbungle Shire, Central West New South Wales.
He said: “The emphasis of this year’s events was telling individual stories, and my stories were steeped in Australian Jewish history and current community concerns.
My first Australian forebears arrived in Australia more than 160 years ago and both the original immigrants and a number of their descendants have participated actively in building our society.”
Jeremy Jones added: “The story I tell also refers to John Monash before he was a household name, as well as the way he was so vital to our war effort.
I also discussEd the Shoah and Australia’s immigration policy, noting the enormous contribution of so many who escaped Nazism and especially of those who survived the Nazi Holocaust
With 27 January the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the connection between Australia and Jewish history is an essential part of any Australia Day presentation by a Jewish Australian.”
In addition to speaking at community events and presenting awards to local heroes, he had the opportunity to meet with a broad cross-section of each of the three communities, encountering a widespread appreciation of the value of Australian multiculturalism.
He also toured areas which have been devastated by drought and bushfires, ensuring that the trip would leave a deep impact.
