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WIZO Western Australia

WIZO WA HISTORY

WIZO WA has been in existence for 73 years.  In 1948 Rebecca Sieff undertook the trip to visit Perth to meet with Vera Rosenwax and Hannah Breckler, two wonderful ladies who wanted to establish WIZO in Western Australia.  This first group of ladies formed the Galil group, which was active for many years.  Sadly we have none of those much loved ladies with us today.

With the first fundraising event raising the princely sum of 265 Pounds, WIZO WA was on its way.  No kosher catering was available in Perth in those early years, and it was the women of WIZO Galil who undertook to provide kosher catering for every function in our community.  Fish was fried in laundries, homes were pervaded with the smells of delicious cooking and meals transported across town in the women’s cars.  After some years Rabbi Coleman decreed that home catering should be no more, and WIZO was given a kitchen in the Jewish Centre.  Catering by WIZO existed for many years, but has long ceased to be the mainstay of WIZO in Perth, and the various groups have undertaken a diverse range of activities to raise funds for Israel.  Art exhibitions, starting with the Salec Minc Exhibition and spearheaded by Debra Majteles and WIZO Golan, became a regular fixture in our calendar with some of the best local artists exhibiting their work, and raising large amounts for Israel.  Craft Fairs, the brainchild of WIZO Ilana, also became a regular successful fundraising event, as did musical shows produced by Diane Cohen, Lyn Kooperman, Judy Freedman, Ilana Klevansky and Heather Kur, with huge success.  WIZO WA’s Golan group is proud to have produced 6 Cookbooks, and our groups have presented many cultural events, jazz music events, dances, even events which one can pay NOT to attend!  The creativity of the Perth WIZO groups has known no bounds and continues to flourish 73 years on.