Maccabi announces national Australian awards
Maccabi Australia has announced the winners of the 2015 Maccabi National Sports Awards.
The awards recognise outstanding achievements for both Maccabi club performances as well as awards for athletes competing outside Maccabi in 2015. The awards support junior, open and masters categories across Australia.
MAI Governor Sam Parasol, Jemima Montag and MaAI executive director Allana Aarons Photo: Les Neistat
The awards were announced at the recent Maccabi Victoria Awards presentation evening by Executive Director Ellana Aarons. In her address Aarons commented that the quality of the country’s Jewish athletes continues to improve.
The following winners must be congratulated on their efforts and achievements in the 2015 year.
Jessica Fox (NSW) Slalom Canoeing – Outstanding Jewish Sportswoman of the Year.
Jessica is a Slalom Canoeing World Champion with many international achievements over the years, including winning the overall world cup title in the C-1 category in both 2013 and 2015 . She has been awarded as Outstanding Jewish Sportswoman of the Year four years running for her ongoing exceptional commitment and achievements in the sport.
Michael Klinger (WA) Cricket – Outstanding Jewish Sportsman of the Year.
2015 was a year of incredible consistency and performance for Michael. In all first class matches Michael scored 1666 runs including 6 centuries, with a highest score of 202 not out, at an average of 61.70.
In the Men’s Masters categories, there were two outstanding athletes who have been jointly awarded both the Maccabi and Outstanding Jewish awards, they are:
Michael Carp (VIC) Swimming
Michael excelled at both a national and state level in 2015. He placed 1st at a number of events at the National Masters as well as at numerous events at the Victorian Long Course Championships.
Russell Stein (WA) Table Tennis
Russell has a long list of international and national achievements in 2015. His accomplishments included representing Australia at the South East Asian Veteran Table Tennis Championships and winning a number of medals at a national level.
Jemima Montag (VIC) Athletics – Outstanding Jewish Junior Sportswoman of the Year and Outstanding Maccabi Junior Sportswoman of the Year.
2015 saw Jemima co-captain the Australian track and field team at the World Youth Games in Columbia and compete in the 5000 metre race walk. Among other achievements, she also accomplished the fastest time for a junior in the world for the 5000m race walk and won 1st place in the Victorian U/18 5000m race walk.
Riley Hart (VIC) Cycling – Outstanding Jewish Junior Sportsman of the Year.
At such a young age Riley already has an extensive list of international, national and state level accomplishments. In 2015 he spent a month racing in Belgium where he excelled in many of his races, including winning a 1st place. He also won four national titles and numerous medals at a state level last year.
Toni Hamilton (VIC) Football – Outstanding Maccabi Sportswoman of the Year.
Toni’s outstanding achievements in 2015 include winning both the AJAX East Division Football League Best and Fairest as well as being one of the 100 females to be nominated into the AFL pre-season program.
Robbie Ezekiel (NSW) Touch Football/Futsal – Outstanding Maccabi Sportsman of the Year.
In 2015 Robbie both captained and competed in a number of Futsal and Touch Football championships. His achievements over the year include captaining the winning team in the National Futsal Championships and winning Maccabi Touch Football’s Club Player of the Season.
Gail Nadelman (VIC) Lawn Bowls – Outstanding Maccabi Masters Sportswoman of the Year.
Gail has played bowls since she was 21 and has achieved at both a club and state level. In 2015 she represented the Victoria Senior State side in a round robin tournament held in Tasmania.
Dante Negri (VIC) Swimming- Outstanding Maccabi Junior Sportsman of the Year.
In just one year Dante achieved a long list of accomplishments at a state and a national level. He won four medals at the Victorian State Sprint Championships in February and two medals at the Australian Age Championships in April 2015
Clive Aaron (VIC) Swimming – Outstanding Maccabi Administrator of the Year.
Clive is a critical member of the Maccabi AJAX Swimming Committee. Among other successes, he singlehandedly organised the new Open Water Series and was pivotal in organising the annual MS Swimathon.
Barak Mizrachi (VIC) Table Tennis – President’s Award for Notable Achievements in 2015.
Barak is a dedicated Table Tennis player who has achieved at both a national and international level. He is the Oceania Para Table Tennis Champion and won silver at the Thailand Para Open. We wish Barak the best of luck at the upcoming Rio Paralympics.
Barry Smorgon Maccabi Australia President noted: “The quality of Jewish athletes and administrators continues to increase every year, and Maccabi Australia congratulates all state and national nominees and awards winners on an exceptional 2015.
VIC Junior Rhythmic Gymnast Alexandra Kiroi is the winner of the 2016 Maccabi Australia Rudi Roth Sports Scholarship.
2015 was an outstanding year for Alexandra in which she won four gold medals and one silver medal becoming Australian Champion in her age group. Alexandra was also selected for the Commonwealth Games Training Squad. Her future goals include qualifying and competing in the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2020 Olympics, as well as attending the 2017 Maccabiah Games.
The selection committee consisting of Rudi’s nephew Sonney Roth, Maccabi Australia Board Member Paul Platus and Member of the Board of Governors, Harry Procel made their decision based not only on sporting achievement, but also where they felt that the scholarship would have the greatest impact.
The scholarship was established in 2015 with the inaugural winner being 13-year-old NSW tennis player Lara Kaplan. Lara had a fantastic year culminating in her winning 2 major under 18 NSW country tournaments and by the end of the year was ranked 5th for her age in Australia. Lara was extremely grateful for the scholarship, stating “that with the funding she was able to take on extra high level coaching that ultimately allowed me to achieve me highest ever Australian ranking.”
Rudi, a former Maccabi Squash Club President and captain will continue to make a single grant each year to assist emerging athletes on the path to achieving at an elite level. Having overcome Rickets at age 12, undergoing six operations and then re-learning how to walk, Rudi was not sure he would ever walk again, let alone succeed in squash at the highest level. Rudi established the scholarship to support emerging athletes, with their eye on elite status.
Rudi’s nephew Sonney, whose company Antler Luggage is also a major sponsor of Maccabi Victoria, speaking on behalf of his uncle, spoke of Rudi’s wish in establishing this award to genuinely assist an athlete on their journey to become elite. Sonney is “certain that Alexandra will continue to achieve in her sport of Rhythmic Gymnastics. We wish you (Alexandra) the best of luck in perusing selection for the Commonwealth Games.”
