Maccabi Australia announces national awards
The winners of State awards for sporting prowess within the Australian Jewish community qualify for the national awards…and they have been announced today.
![Tom Goldman [l] with winners](https://i0.wp.com/www.jwire.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Tom-Goldman-and-winners610.gif)
Tom Goldman [l] with winners
A spokesperson for Maccabi Australia told J-Wire: “MAI works to connect our Jewish community through sport. It is important that as part of this we identify, recognise and reward individuals for their sporting efforts, their successes and their individual pursuits, both within and outside Maccabi.”
Winners of each State award become eligible for the National Awards.
The MAI Awards recognise outstanding achievements in the 2013 calendar year, and they were presented in Victoria, New South Wales, and Western Australia throughout the month of August.
We would like to extend a huge Mazel Tov to the following:
Amos Gollach
Amos Gollach (WA) Ironman Triathlon – Outstanding Jewish Sportsman of the Year.
Amos came first in the 18-24 age group in Kona Hawaii, making him the World Champion, placing him at the top of the overall Ironman world ranking in his age category.
Jessica Fox (NSW) Slalom Canoeing – Outstanding Jewish Sportswoman of the Year.
World Champion Jessica has competed all over the world in Slalom Canoeing. Her achievements in 2013 were remarkable, with several C1W U23 World Cup wins to her name including in Slovakia in July and Prague in September.
Riley Hart (VIC)Cycling – Outstanding Jewish Junior Sportsman of the Year (jointly awarded).
Lisa Borowick and Jordan Hazan
Riley had an outstanding 2013, both on the track and on the road. His top 10 finish in the General Classification at the European Junior Tour is a great achievement as he was racing against the best riders in the world.
Benno Negri (VIC) Swimming – Outstanding Jewish Junior Sportsman of the Year (jointly awarded)
Benno competed in the Victorian State Sprints, winning Gold in 50m freestyle Silver in 50m backstroke and Silver in 50m butterfly.
Deborah Greenbaum (NSW) Aerobic Gymnastics – Outstanding Jewish Junior Sportswoman of the Year.
In 2013 Deborah won the Gold medal at the Australian Championships in the elite Junior International division. She was selected to represent Australia in Aerobic Gymnastics competing in Japan in the World Cup. Deborah also achieved in Artistic Gymnastics, where she competed at the NSW State championships finishing second overall, resulting her in selection for the NSW State team.
Alan Oshlack (VIC) Squash – Outstanding Jewish Masters Sportsman of the Year.
In April 2013 Alan won the Victorian Masters Squash Open Championship. He then went on to win the Australian
Lisa Borowick and Alan Oshlack
Masters Games Squash Championship in October. Alan remained undefeated in Pennant Squash for Maccabi throughout 2013.
Dafna Orbach (NSW) Lawn Bowls – Outstanding Jewish Masters Sportswoman of the Year and the Outstanding Maccabi Masters Sportswoman of the Year.
She won a number of tournaments throughout 2013, including the Victorian Open Mixed Pairs, the Mosman Ladies Masters Pairs and the St John’s Park Ladies Triples. These achievements resulted in Dafna being eligible for and ultimately awarded both the Outstanding Maccabi and Outstanding Jewish awards.
Jeff Sher (VIC) Swimming – Outstanding Maccabi Masters Sportsman of the Year (jointly awarded).
Jeffcompeted at the Maccabiah Games in 2013 winning Gold medals in the 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m freestyle and the 1.5km Open Water Swim in his age category.
Ray Jankelowitz (NSW) Lawn Bowls – Outstanding Maccabi Masters Sportsman of the Year (jointly awarded). As the 2013 winner of the NSW State Senior Singles, Ray became the first Jewish bowler to achieve this honour.
Jordan Hazan (VIC) Swimming – Outstanding Maccabi Junior Sportsman of the Year.
Jordan ranked 2nd in Victoria in 2013 for 200m backstroke and 3rd for 400m freestyle. He swam the backstroke leg in the boys 4x100m Bronze-winning medley relay team at the Maccabiah Games in 2013.
Mikaela Rifkin (NSW) Swimming – OutstandingMaccabi Junior Sportswoman of the Year.
Mikaela competed at the Maccabiah Games in 2013 where she won Gold in the 1.5km open water swim. This made her Australia’s first swimming Gold Medal winner in 32 years.
Adriel Young (NSW) Triathlon – Outstanding Maccabi Sportsman of the Year.
Adriel had an incredible 2013 highlighted by his 1st Place Overall at the Asia Pacific Ironman Championships in Auckland. In addition to this he won two Triathlon Gold Medals at the Maccabiah Games– he placed first not only in his age category of 25-29, but overall in the Open category.
Marni Burger (VIC) Swimming – Outstanding Maccabi Sportswoman of the Year.
Marni won gold in the 100m, 50m freestyle and the 50m butterfly at the 2013 Maccabi Ajax Jewish Championships. She went on to win a Silver Medal in the 100m butterfly at the Maccabiah Games which was the first Australian Open swimming medal won in 20 years.
Danny Hochberg (NSW) Junior Carnival– Outstanding Maccabi Administrator of the Year.
President of Maccabi NSW, Danny led an incredible Maccabi Junior Carnival organising committee in Sydney. This Carnival trialled some new concepts which have paved the way for future Maccabi Carnivals.
Maccabi Australia chairman Barry Smorgon and president Lisa Borowick added: “We wish to thank the MAI Board of Governors, chaired by Tom Goldman who sat as the Awards Committee to determine these most deserving 2013 Maccabi Australia Award winners.”
