Michael Marx: a pillar of the Sydney Jewish community
Michael Marx, a former president of The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies and a pillar of the Sydney Jewish community until he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2002, has passed away at the age of 67.
Today, Rabbi David Rogut delivered the following eulogy prepared by Michael’s family at Michael’s funeral.
Michael Marx
Michael was a natural leader. Whether it was a caving group, the 4th Lindfield Judean scouts, student politics, the Labor Party, local youth groups, the Jewish community, or, of course, a courtroom, Michael was someone who commanded respect and trust.
Escaping a dangerous Europe for Jews in the 1930s, Michael’s parents, Ernest and Lisa, came with their respective families to Australia, where they married. He and his brother, Ian, grew up in leafy Lindfield and went to North Shore synagogue and local public schools.
At 14, Michael had a breakthrough career moment with a weekly television appearance on the Wilma the Witch kids TV show thanks to the Australian Museum Discoverers’ Club, to which he belonged with cousins Carol and Estelle. Explaining to kids the intricacies of spiders and insects, Michael had found his first public platform. From little things, big things grow.
Michael went from school to Macquarie University, where he managed to juggle his legal studies, student politics, his Presidency of the Australian Union of Jewish Students and – it’s not finished yet, being a member of the Rural Bush Fire brigade, together with his close friend Stuart Clark. Michael was notorious for interrupting his friends while they were driving from A to B if he heard a fire engine siren in order to follow it.
Organising and running under the ticket of Centre Unity for the Macquarie University Students Council election– or MUSC as it was better known – Michael made friendships which would last for his lifetime, including meeting a staff member there who would become his best friend and wife. And, of course, Centre Unity won the election.
Michael’s ability to manage law studies, student activism and community involvement stayed with him for the rest of his working life. Added to this ability was a gift for strategic thinking.
In the mid-1970s at Macquarie, as a law student, Michael planned the strategy for the Israel debates. His strategy resulted in the defeat of the anti-Israel resolutions by the Australian Union of Students at Macquarie and, in fact became a blueprint for universities around Australia and the world.
In the mid-1980s, Michael went to Russia to support Russian Jewry with Steven Lewis. They visited refusenik families in Moscow and Leningrad, bravely bringing prayer books and other religious materials with them. On his return, he remarked that it was a Third World country with a space program.
Michael started at Legal Aid in the early 1980s, where his charm, patience and skills made him a formidable defence lawyer.
In the mid-1980s, Michael worked for Labor politician Terry Sheehan, and they developed a close relationship. Unfortunately, this didn’t stop Terry from losing his family’s 38-year hold on the seat of Burrinjuck. Not one of Michael’s strategic successes!
He then returned to Legal Aid, and thanks to his powers of persuasion, he managed to convince Michael Chalmers to leave his well-paid private practice and join him there. This ultimately led to the formation of Chalmers Marx.
In 1990 Chalmers Marx became the firm of choice for the ‘alleged’ Eastern Suburbs criminal – be they low – or high-born!
Meanwhile, he continued his involvement in the Jewish Community, the Labor Party and the youth organisation WAYS. In 1992 Michael achieved the honour of being elected President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, a post he held until 1996.
In this post, he was supported by close friends George Kahane, Mark Hertzberg and Jody Glasser, as well as his Executive and the deputies themselves. His diplomatic skills in this position are still fondly remembered today.
In 1997, at the age of 42, to the great surprise and delight of his parents, Michael married Francine and became a step-father to 8-year-old Jonathan.
It was obvious to his friends that Michael wanted children when they saw him display his complete lack of sporting ability by trying to play backyard cricket with Jonathan and his friends. In quick succession, along came Daniel in 1998 and Benjamin in 2001.
Although he came to family life late, Michael loved being a father. He was always extremely proud of his three boys and his love for Francine knew no bounds.
This kind and courteous man who loved his family was at the same time a ferocious advocate for his clients. As well as in the local courts, Michael appeared at the ICAC and the Police Integrity Commission.
At the same time, he trained many other lawyers and passed on his sense of commitment to providing strong legal representation to people from all walks of life.
Parents of law students who worked in Chalmers Marx would see a promising corporate career disappear in front of their eyes as their offspring embraced a less remunerative career in criminal law.
Michael also had the good sense of when to say no. While he was on the NSW Police panel to represent police in trouble, Roger Rogerson needed a lawyer (again), and he said:”I want Micky”. Michael politely but firmly said, “ thanks – but no thanks”.
In 2002 Michael was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. His next 20 years were absorbed by his determination to fight this – in fellow-sufferer Sir Zelman Cowan’s words, – “cruel and perverse disease”.
Michael underwent Deep Brain Stimulation surgery, took medications which at times had very negative side effects, endured many trips to emergency wards and intense physio rehab and then the final and hardest stage of needing to be in care. During these 20 years, his family stood by him and helped him manage the truly tragic changes that Parkinson’s entails.
Despite his eventual absence in the legal and wider community, the number of people here today is a testament to the esteem in which this dynamic, compassionate man is held. Public recognition of his work includes the Order of Australia, the Centenary Medal and the Community Relations Commission Medal in recognition of his role as Deputy Chair. His eight years on the Centennial Park Trust was his last public role.
Finally, it is good to remember how Michael summed up the ‘compelling’ defences raised by his more dubious clients as the following:
“: A: I wasn’t there!!”
“ B: If I was there, I didn’t do it !!”
“ C: If I DID do it, someone made me do it !!!”
He was a man of great humour, intelligence, kindness and extraordinary abilities. A bright comet that touched so many lives.”
The co-CEO of The Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Peter Wertheim, has fond memories of Michael.
He told J-Wire: “Michael was a great friend as well as a professional and communal colleague. My four years as his Vice President on the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies was a valuable apprenticeship for when my time came to succeed him as President.
He was an innovative and strategic thinker, compassionate and quick-witted. Together we developed new alliances for the Jewish community with other ethnic and faith communities, and the Board took a high-profile stand in support of First Nations Australians. Michael had a devoted following of lifelong friends.
Robert Goot, Michael Marx and Peter Wertheim
His record of service to the Jewish and wider communities was exemplary. I have no doubt that he would have had much more to give had his life not been tragically cut short by illness. May his memory be a blessing.”
Former NSW Labor frontbencher and NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel deputy chair Walt Secord said: “The news of Michael Marx’s passing is devastating.
His contribution to Jewish communal affairs and community harmony will be greatly missed.
I knew him since October 1988 when I covered the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies as an Australian Jewish News journalist and he chaired the Board of Deputies’ Public Relations Committee. He did so with absolute mastery and sharp diplomatic skills.
His family can also be proud that he was at the forefront of fighting those who denied the Holocaust.
After his tenure at the Board of Deputies, Michael Marx continued his work to fight intolerance, antisemitism and racial hatred through the NSW Community Relations Commission, where he served as the deputy chair.
I also knew Michael Marx through his activity in the NSW Labor party. He was chair of the State’s ALP Legal Affairs Committee and had worked for an Attorney-General.
Michael Marx had four great loves – his wife and family, the Jewish community, the law and the NSW Labor Party.”
Close friend Steven Lewis said: “Michael had a positive impact on so many of our lives, mine included. From our very first encounter at university, Michael has been a mentor, friend and confidant. Michael was responsible for my involvement in student politics, the Australian Union of Jewish Students and the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies.
Michael had the trust of the judiciary. When Michael made submissions on behalf of his clients magistrates and judges listened. More often than not, Michael’s clients received the leniency of the Court – all due to Michael’s professionalism and integrity.
Michael was always there for me in both good times and bad. The tragedy is that we, his friends, were powerless to fight the insidious disease as it took its toll on his health.
Michael Marx. Born: Sydney October 19, 1955 Died Sydney December 23, 2022
