Volunteer award for Ruth
The Jewish Holocaust Centre’s Centre News editor Ruth Mushin has been honoured for her volunteering efforts, winning a 2021 Caulfield Volunteer Award.
Ruth Mushin
While other volunteering activities at the Jewish Holocaust Centre were severely interrupted by COVID and their major redevelopment, Ruth continued working on the Centre News. The last few years presented challenges as Ruth usually draws on special events for content in the magazine. She continued to resource and cover exciting news, including the announcement of mandatory Holocaust education in schools, the museum redevelopment, and transitioning to online education programs due to COVID.
Ruth’s professional background is in policy and program development in aged care and mental health services includes extensive writing of business documentation and publications. She participated in a writing program at the Lamm Jewish Library, which led to helping community members edit their life stories, many of them Holocaust survivors. “I fell into something that I loved doing. I liked writing, and I developed wonderful relationships with people.”
In 2008, Ruth Mushin decided to devote her talents to volunteering with the Jewish Holocaust Centre. “I had editing and writing skills, and when I left the full-time workforce, I wanted to use those skills somewhere that would help others,” she said. “I learnt on the job, and it has certainly become easier. As soon as I’ve finished an edition, I’m thinking about the next one.
Being part of an organisation that works to combat antisemitism, racism and prejudice has been a perfect fit for me. There have been many highlights but telling the stories of Holocaust survivors in the magazine tops the list.”
Centre News is published twice a year in spring and autumn containing news about the Jewish Holocaust Centre, its volunteers and staff, as well as articles relevant to the Holocaust and its study.
Volunteers like Ruth are vital in supporting the museum’s programs. Each year more than 160 people from diverse backgrounds and communities donate their expertise and time to further their goals. Students, job seekers, recent graduates, interns and retirees, assist with education programs, cataloguing collections, research for exhibitions, fundraising activities, administrative tasks, and oral testimony.
The Caulfield Volunteer Awards acknowledge the outstanding efforts of those who have stood up to support the community, going above and beyond to make a positive difference. This year, local member for Caulfield David Southwick presented Caulfield Volunteer Awards at an in-person awards evening. In addition to Ruth receiving an award, the Jewish Holocaust received a cheque for $1000 from Community Bank Caulfield Park and a custom video to help promote the work and mission of the Jewish Holocaust Centre, produced by GameFace Media.
David Southwick posted on Facebook: “How good are our local volunteers? Last night, we held our annual Caulfield Volunteer Awards, which acknowledges the amazing efforts of the unsung heroes of our community – and there are many!”
Other winners included volunteers from FoodFilled, Community Security Group, C Care, B’nai B’rith Victoria Jewish Youth Art Competition, Jewish Care and Emmy Monash and the Jewish Children’s Aid Society.
Nominations for the 2022 Caulfield Volunteer Award are now open.
The Jewish Holocaust Centre congratulated Ruth for being recognised amongst this year’s award recipients and for her time, skills and dedication to Centre News.
