Jumping for joy
The NSW Government has provided $20,000 to help fund the Maccabi Junior Carnival being held in Sydney in January next year.
At a ceremony held at Queen’s Park yesterday NSW Sports and Recreation Minister Graham Annesley was joined by local Liberal member Gabrielle Upton when handing over the cheque to Maccabi NSW president Max Futeran and Maccabi stalwart Danny Hochberg who will head the Carnival.
Hochberg told J-Wire: “This is the first time Maccabi has received funding for Junior Carnival from the State Government. We are extremely useful and the money will be put to good use.”
NSW Minister for Sport and Recreation, Graham Annesley, joined local Member for Vaucluse, Gabrielle Upton, to announce a $20,000 funding grant to support the staging of Maccabi Australia’s 31st National Junior Carnival in Sydney next year.
“This is a major sporting event on the Jewish Community calendar and the NSW Government is very pleased to support the Carnival,” Mr Annesley said.
“This outstanding community event will create additional participation opportunities with upward of a thousand young athletes aged between 12 and 16 competing, proudly supported by hundreds of supporters and volunteers.
“The NSW team will be joined by teams from Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong.
“The Carnival will be held across Sydney with activities taking place at venues all over the city and the Central Coast,” Mr Annesley added.
Ms Upton said the NSW Government’s support reflected not only the importance of sport but also the cultural diversity of our communities.
“The National Junior Carnival to be held between 15 and 22 January 2013 is the biggest project Maccabi Australia undertakes, which will be hosted by Maccabi NSW and create many social and economic benefits for Sydney,” Ms Upton said.
“Sporting activities are held during the day with many associated activities in the evening, highlighting the ongoing commitment of the Australian Jewish community to develop and strengthen its ties through sporting, cultural and social activities.
“The group also has a designated day assisting charities in and around Sydney, most of which are non-Jewish, to ensure the goodwill of the carnival spirit is experienced by everyone,” Ms Upton added.
Maccabi Australia is the umbrella organisation for all Jewish groups in Australia and is part of the Maccabi World Union, which hosts the Maccabi Games in Israel every four years. Its mission is to “Connect our Jewish community through Sport”.
“I wish the Maccabi NSW organisers all the best with the 31st National Junior Carnival.”