Ambassador Jeremy Jones
Jeremy Jones, Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council’s (AIJAC’s) Director of International and of Community Affairs, has completed his duties as a 2017 Australian Day Ambassador.
Ambassador Jones
The Ambassadors are selected from Australia’s “high achievers” and invited to speak at events around Australia.
After being a guest at former Premier Mike Baird’s final speech and, five days later, at Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s first public engagement – both of which were dedicated to Australia Day – Jones set out for the Lithgow region.
On the eve of Australia Day, he was hosted at a vegan dinner by the Mayor of Lithgow, Stephen Lesslie, and on the day itself addressed larger-than-anticipated crowds in Lithgow, Portland, Wallerawang and Rydal.
Jones presents Community Service award in Portland
The Lithgow event included a citizenship ceremony, while other events were devoted to honouring community volunteers.
“Wearing my kippah, I received a few “Shalom” greetings, but more significantly, my open Jewishness was not in any way an obstacle to me being seen as an authentic representative of Australia”, Jones said.
The theme of his presentations was the way in which the population of Australia, drawn from Indigenous peoples, voluntary migrants, involuntary migrants (convicts) and refugees, had dealt with the challenges of social cohesion, social justice and an understanding of our identity.
“The involvement in the events of the day by all sections of the community – young and old, women and children, Indigenous, long-term residents and recent migrants – was inspiring”, Jones said.
