From Australia’s Jewish Past: Celebrating National Council of Jewish Women NSW Division’s 100th anniversary
Whilst NCJWA NSW is not the only organisation in our community to have reached its 100th anniversary – it certainly is a milestone to celebrate and provides the year ahead with lots of activity.
March across NCJWA has always been Council Month and the first Shabbat has always been celebrated at a synagogue service. It is an appropriate time for their story to be told of where and how it all began.
Dr Fanny Reading
Fanny Rubinowich was born on 2 December 1884 in Minsk, Russia. She was the eldest of five children of Nathan and Esther Rubinowich. In 1889 Fanny and her mother joined her father, who had fled Russia, settling in Ballarat, Victoria, which at that time had one of the most vibrant Jewish communities in Australia. In 1918 her father adopted by deed poll the surname Reading. Dr Fanny’s (as she was known throughout her life) first degree was in music, and she embarked on a teaching career. She always had a great interest in welfare and health issues and went on to study medicine at the University of Melbourne, graduating in 1922 as one of the very early women graduates. She moved to Sydney and joined a practice with her brother in what was known as the ‘’seedy’’ suburb of Kings Cross, mainly treating women and children.
She was a Zionist activist as well as for Jewish women’s causes and believed the view that Jewish women should work actively to achieve improvements in their own community and in the wider Australian society. In 1923, already involved in fundraising for Ukraine and the plight of Jews, she met Madame Bella Pevsner, a US representative of the Jewish National Fund, who was visiting Australia to raise funds for land reclamation projects in Palestine. NCJW of America was founded in 1893 by Hannah Solomon – their objectives being “Religion, Philanthropy and Education’’. Whilst Dr Fanny founded and presided over NCJW NSW, Bella made a significant contribution to its establishment.
On Sunday, 8 July 1923, a meeting was held in the home of Mrs Morris Symonds (of Symonds Furniture) in Bellevue Hill. It brought together the women who had already been working with her in fundraising for the Jews of Ukraine. Her aim was to form an organisation along the American lines with four ideals: Judaism, the land of Israel, Jewish education, and Philanthropy in both the Jewish and non-Jewish communities. In 1925 Dr Fanny travelled to the US, Europe and Palestine and helped organise a conference for the International Council of Jewish Women which NCJW then became affiliated with. Interestingly enough, in an article in the Sydney Jewish Chronicle in 1929 it read as follows:- ‘many community leaders….dreaded that the women’s organisation would overstep the limits of its jurisdiction and endeavour to exert an influence on congregational affairs which would be deleterious’. The Chronicle went on in the coming months to applaud the new organisation. By the end of 1923, there were 377 NSW members. Its aims – ‘Religion – Education – Philanthropy – Social’ were printed across the first letterhead of the organisation that was being led by a most practical visionary feminist. Although small in stature, Dr Fanny was very much a woman of strength and determination. By 1929 branches were being formed across the country and in May 1929, the first Australasian Jewish Women’s Conference was held NCJWA was established with Dr Fanny having served as the NSW Division’s President until 1929, to be followed by the National Presidency until 1955 and then its Life-President until her passing in 1974. Her wider social welfare work was recognised with medals from King George V Jubilee in 1935 and the King George VI Coronation in 1937. In 1961 she was honoured with an MBE – A true woman of worth.
Whilst Dr Fanny was more than kept busy with managing her medical practice, her growing organisation, and representative of the NSW Division, she involved her volunteers in many other areas such as national disaster relief, Lord Mayor’s Fund, Benevolent Society of NSW, hospitals and aged care in nursing homes and Meals on Wheels. Dr Fanny always held an open house over the Shabbat period bringing together visitors and many recent migrants in need of a meal and friendship. One such visitor was Yehudi Menuhin.
Many of NSW’s Jewish Community came to settle in Australia as migrants, and Dr Fanny and her team of selfless women would meet the boats arriving from war-torn Europe and the UK at Woolloomooloo to assist and support them with their needs. Council, together with the Australian Jewish Welfare Society, remained leaders in the absorption of European Jewry into Australian communities. This was not all, 300 volunteers cooked hundreds of meals per day, raising £4303 for the Commonwealth War Loans Program from a kiosk they set up in Martin Place. Dr Fanny used to say ‘’ that service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy in this world’’. In 1927 an engine room was established in Francis Street, then moving to Day Street in 1928, Castlereagh Street in 1929, Pitt Street in 1931, and then to Young Street from 1944 to 1963 when, through the efforts of fundraising and no interest loans, Fanny Reading Council House was built in Queen Street Woollahra, where it became the NSW Division’s permanent home. Since that time, its space has been hired and used by hundreds of NCJW and other functions within the Jewish and non-Jewish communities, corporates and even High Holyday Services
The start of Council Groups, of which there were many, was Dr Fanny’s idea. One of which was a young people’s group so Jewish men and women could meet each other. From this followed a young marrieds group and the formation of a number of NSW Council groups throughout Sydney including Newcastle and Coffs Harbour/Northern Rivers, bringing together like-minded Jewish women – of all ages – who wish to volunteer their time and skills to Council’s objectives. Groups found a niche through their members who volunteered delivering Meals on Wheels, participating in the JNF Queen Competition, card parties, art exhibitions, theatre performances, concerts, thrift shop, fete and street stalls, hospital and Montefiore Home visiting, playgroups, book clubs, public speaking, representation at other Jewish and non-Jewish organisations, such as National Council of Women and many more. NCJWA became part of three Australian Federal Government-funded alliances of national women’s organisations. These are Australian Women’s Coalition, Australian Women Against Violence and Equality Rights. NCJWA pioneered the Status of Women in Judaism and Jewish Law Committee, educating lawyers about the need for a Gett (Jewish divorce) to be received with a secular divorce. Council worked for this to be the case the world over. Each stage of Council’s work and activities has provided Jewish women with the opportunity to grow and lead committees, be part of the state and national boards, not only within the organisation but in the wider community.
As times have changed and work-life balance plays a more prominent part in women’s lives, change is also required within organisations. NCJWA and its branches have never strayed from its objectives. NSW has established and works in many different programs, including Mum for Mum, Cuddle Bundles, Days for Girls, Empower Her, Breast Cancer Network, and Library, plus committees working against domestic violence, gender equality, human rights, antisemitism and so much more. NCJW NSW and all state branches have continued the work of educating, empowering women and building better lives. All past and present members and Council friends acknowledge the vision and drive of a most remarkable woman, who was known at times as a hard taskmaster but always fair and loving. A great achievement and here’s to many more exciting years.
In a thesis by Jeanette Debney-Joyce, Dr Fanny was referred to as ‘a clever little bird’. Dr Fanny never married and passed away on 19 November 1974 in Wolper Jewish Hospital, Woollahra, established by NCJW NSW in 1953 through the bequest of Mrs Wolper Stone’s home. Dr Fanny is buried in Rookwood cemetery.
The AJHS acknowledges the following references in the preparation of this story:-NC
Making a Difference – a History of NCJWA by Marlow Newton; NCJW NSW and NCJWA Archives; Australian Dictionary of Biography; State Library of NSW; Australian Women’s Registry.
The Australian Jewish Historical Society is the keeper of archives from the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 right up to today. Whether you are searching for an academic resource, an event, a picture or an article, AJHS can help you find that piece of historical material. The AJHS welcomes your contributions to the archives. If you are a descendant of someone of interest with a story to tell, or you have memorabilia which might be of significance for the archives, please make contact via www.ajhs.com.au or its Facebook page.
