Elaine Brown

Elaine Brown (nee Tocke) was born in Cape Town and was married to Graynom Brown z’l. They had three children and as a family their life was like a ‘tale of five cities’, Cape Town, London, Worcester, Adelaide and Sydney.

In Cape Town, Elaine was heavily involved in Habonim, Shomrim, and later Charter, a Jewish group in North London. She joined B’noth Zion (WIZO) in Worcester and then took a sabbatical for eight years. They arrived in Adelaide in 1980.

In 1982, Elaine became Co President of WIZO Ilana and remained in this position until she made Aliyah to Sydney in 2002.

Elaine was president of WIZO State Council South Australia from 1989 – 1992. She attended the WIZO Aviv Conference in Israel in 1988, a highlight of all her years in WIZO. She attended a further four conferences in Israel.

Elaine is an Honorary Life Member of WIZO Australia, and a recipient of the coveted Rebecca Sieff Award. Elaine was President of the State Zionist Council of SA from 1996 – 2002, during which time she oversaw the Schlichut program, Machon and Shnat and Academy programs, and with much pride, was able to send most of Adelaide’s youth on one of these fabulous programs. Elaine was awarded the Jerusalem Medal by the Israeli Ambassador at the time, who was visiting Adelaide. She also served as Vice President of the Jewish Community Council in South Australia.

She is now the Co-President of WIZO Ayelet in NSW, for the last fourteen years, a position she holds very dear to her heart.

Elaine is also on the Executive of WIZO NSW State Council.