NSW stalwarts honoured
Sydney community stalwarts Ian and Josie Lacey have been made Honorary Life Members of the Ethnic Community Council of NSW.
Josie and Ian Lacey
The Bellevue Hill couple has been representing The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies on the Council for 22 years. Josie recalls: “At that time there was a very large right wing advocacy presence within the Council…and we had to deal with that.”
In 1991, Josie Lacey was given the portfolio of the Anti-racism Task Force. Ian lacey told J-Wire: “It was the time of the Gulf War and the Council queried as to why a Jew should be given the position of chairing the Task Force during the War.” Josie Lacey continued: “The leadership replied that ‘they had every confidence in my fairness and I did not let them down.”
The Laceys, who have been involved with the Board for over 30 years were involved in the preliminary work which culminated in the introduction of racial vilification legislation introduced as federal law in 1995.
Josie added: “When we started, it was a difficult time with more than a fair share of anti-Jewish sentiment in the country. We were not warmly welcomed in the beginning by some.”
The Laceys were not present at ECC Annual General Meeting but Yair Miller, the president of The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies was…and he broke the unexpected news to them.
Congratulations to Josie and Ian. Their years of dedicated work have been appreciated and recognised
Good for them I know they are hard workers, but I resent the comment
“At that time there was a very large right wing advocacy presence within the Council…and we had to deal with that.”
That would be preferable to what we have at present with all the left wingers and their inter-faith nonsense
They were remnants from the Axis powers, not members of the Liberal party.
Thank you
Josie, you Pride of Romania, I loveya and, as said before, when I grow up I want to be just like you, a gorgeous blonde .
Ian, lucky pirate of the Rose Bay seas , mazal tov to both of you !!
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