Man of integrity, vision and compassion
The Jewish Community Council of Victoria has spoken of its late vice-president Anton Hermann, killed cycling near Port Douglas in North Queensland.
Anton Hermann
From the JCCV:
A wonderful family man, Anton touched many with his loyalty, sense of duty. Anton was indeed a true mensch.
He promoted Jewish values, tolerance and a deeper understanding of cultural differences were some of Anton Hermann’s core interests as a student, lawyer, community spokesman and devoted family man. The sudden passing of Anton will be felt across the Jewish and wider Melbourne community owing to his genuine care and knowledge to bridge differences across political, religious and legal spheres, together with his personable, empathetic and honest approach to individuals and organisations.
We extend our condolences and wish long life to his wife Karen, children Joel, Ella and Tahlia, mother Doreen and brother Larry.
A Mount Scopus College OC 1983, Anton studied Law at Monash University and became an active member of AUJS. In the mid-1980s, through his interest in Jewish student affairs, he gained a place at the LDP Leadership program in New York and Washington and continued his learning at the America Israel Public Affairs Committee (APAC). This period formulated Anton’s keen pursuit of community involvement, which was a mark of his professional career. He undertook his articles at Minter Ellison Lawyers before pursuing a decade in government and community-focused work.
Anton’s unique mix of legal training and understanding of both the Jewish and broader community lead to his role as Chief of Staff for Victorian Environment Minister and later Industry Minister, Mark Birrell from 1992 to 1997. He then pursued a career in the not for profit sector, initially as Executive Director of Jewish Community Services Inc, and then as Chief Executive of the Australian Council for Children and Youth Organisations before returning to Minter Ellison Lawyers where was appointed to the role of Director Pro Bono and Community Investment, working with marginalised citizens and charities.
With exceptional talent in the government and not for profit sectors, Anton was closely aligned to the mission and vision of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV). Anton was welcomed to the JCCV Executive by President, Nina Bassat in May 2013 and became Vice President in November 2014. He held the Governance and Fundraising portfolios from 2014 and made a significant contribution through his advice, mentoring and collaborative approach. He worked tirelessly with JCCV President Jennifer Huppert from 2014-2019 to ensure the focus was always on building bridges across communities, assisting those most vulnerable in our community and maintaining our Jewish heritage and traditions. Anton also served as a Councillor of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) and provided advice and support to the JCCV, ECAJ and many other Jewish community organisation in the area of Child Protection.
Anton made a significant difference to Jewish communal affairs, through a variety of Jewish and broader community organisations, and the legal profession.
