Rose Hovev
Rose Hovev (nee Weintraub) was born in 1901 in Warsaw, Poland. She was the second oldest of 5 children in an orthodox family.
A passionate Zionist from a young age, she was part of the “fourth aliya movement” moving to the British Mandate of Palestine in 1925, settling in Tel Aviv, travelling without her family (but travelling with friends, who were related to Sam Hovev who she met in Tel Aviv and married soon after). She worked as a bookkeeper whilst in Tel Aviv. Due to difficult economic times, in 1926 Rose and Sam decided to emigrate to Australia, sponsored by an Australian cousin.
Sam arrived first, and when he secured finances to bring Rose across, she travelled alone on the 6-week journey to Australia, arriving in Sydney in April 1927. They eventually settled in the country town of Orange, where they ran a very successful clothing and millinery store for a decade. They had 3 children, Diana (Encel), Leah (Zander), and Lionel(Hovey). Soon after Lionel was born, they moved to Sydney. Rose and Sam initially opened a delicatessen in Bondi Junction, but then opened clothing shops in different locations in the city.
As soon as they arrived in Sydney, both Sam and Rose became very involved in the Jewish community and in Zionist causes.
Rose became the founder and initial President of WIZO Carmel in 1948. WIZO Carmel soon became the second largest WIZO group in NSW. This group was very active in raising money for the WIZO Ahuzat Yeladim boarding school on Mount Carmel in Haifa. Sam and Rose became Life Governors of Ahuzat Yeladim in 1958. Rose remained President of Carmel from 1948 until 1962. From 1958 until 1964, she became Treasurer of WIZO NSW (known at the time as the State Council of NSW). Then in 1964 she became President of the NSW State Council and vice President of the Australian Federation of WIZO (known today as WIZO Australia). Rose was President of NSW from 1964 until 1966. Throughout all those years, Rose often hosted fund-raising events in her Bellevue Hill home (including many canasta competitions). In 1968 she became Chairperson of Wills and Bequests for WIZO Australia, in 1969 she became Chairperson of the Beth WIZO committee - Beth WIZO is the house in Edgecliff Rd that was given to WIZO NSW and where the office was located for many years), and in 1974 she was made an Honorary Life Member.
Rose passed away in March 1982, leaving behind, at the time, her husband Sam (who died in 1993), her 3 children and 10 grandchildren. Despite suffering deafness from a young age, she was a tireless contributor and a much-valued member of the Sydney Jewish community. She continues to be missed by all who knew her.