Gogo Schueler z'l
Gogo Schueler z’l was born in 1913 in Nuremburg, Germany where she lived with her parents and sister Hilde. At the age of 16, Gogo left school to learn the printing business, as her father owned a printing and stationery factory and had no sons to help. Gogo took a course in correspondence, book keeping and other skills needed to eventually run the business.
Their home in Nuremburg was close to a beer garden and at the age of 20, Gogo heard Hitler speaking poisonous words about Jews and became aware of the hatred of Jews by the German people under Hitler’s influence.
Gogo tried to convince her parents to leave Germany but they thought the attitude would dissipate, but Gogo left the family and Germany and went to Algeria where she got a position to look after the young daughters of a retired French Naval Officer. Sometime later, Gogo became an assistant to the local doctor which satisfied her desire to work in the medical profession. Some years later, Gogo, Hilde and their mother decided to go to England where she continued her studies. During the 2nd World War, Gogo worked in a Devonshire hospital as a radiographer and eventually was naturalised a British subject.
In 1966, Gogo’s son moved to Adelaide to work in the Hines family business on a trial basis, for 6 months, on the condition he would stay if both sides were happy. Norman stayed and still lives in Adelaide. In 1967, Gogo and her husband Otto, visited Adelaide for her niece’s wedding. Sadly a few weeks later, after a stroke, Otto passed away. Gogo returned to London but later decided to relocate to Adelaide.
In 1970 Gogo, moved to Adelaide from London where her son, mother, Hilde and her husband had settled. Gogo very quickly entered into communal life with great enthusiasm. She joined the Friends of the Children’s Hospital, WIZO and B’nai Brith and came into the mainstream of WIZO leadership.
In 1971, Gogo was sat next to Kurt Sulan at Miriam and Rob Millingen’s wedding. In 1972, Gogo and Kurt decided to join lives together.
Gogo became President of WIZO South Australia in 1976, a position she held in the organization for the next eight years. Gogo held the portfolio of Chairman for Education for WIZO South Australia and was also a Life Member of WIZO Australia. Gogo also served as President of her group, WIZO Henrietta Irwell Carmel, for many years. In 1984 Gogo received the Rebecca Sieff Award for outstanding service to WIZO South Australia.
On the occasion of her 95th birthday, Gogo was honoured in WIZO’s House of Dreams at Ahuzat Yeladim in Haifa, in a way she would appreciate and was befitting of her tireless efforts to WIZO and the wider Jewish community.
Gogo has served on the Board of Management of Beit Shalom, and was very involved also in Bnai Brith Adelaide. Gogo was instrumental in forming the younger chapter, Bnai Brith Unit Ora.
Gogo passed away at the age of 99. Gogo has been remembered through a bequest at the WIZO Makom BaLev Centre in Beersheva,
Gogo was a wonderful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and to so many, a caring friend. She was truly a Woman of Worth.