Bella Hirshorn AM

Bella Hirshorn was born in Vilna, Poland (now the capital of Lithuania). After the war she was reunited with her twin brother, Phillip Maisel OAM, who volunteers his time at the Holocaust Centre. An older brother survived in France.

In January 1949 Bella and Phillip arrived in Australia to make new lives. She joined WIZO Negba in 1952. In the early 1960s she joined the recently formed WIZO Eilat.

Bella was a stalwart, and still is a member of WIZO Eilat, rising to the position of President. She is currently a co- President. She recalls with joy some of the events that Eilat had.

In the 1980s Bella returned to studying and gained a M.A. from the University of Melbourne. When Bella joined the Victorian State Executive she took on the Chair of Soviet Jewry, and organized WIZO's "Let My People Go" campaign as part of the greater community's campaign. Many can still remember her letter writing campaign to the Refuseniks, and the evening when she made a phone call to Ida Nudel and others from Beth Weizman. It was a very exciting and moving moment.

Bella also volunteers her time as a guide at the Jewish Museum. She loves working there so she can introduce the visitors to Jewish history and culture.

For all her WIZO work she has been acknowledged with a Rebecca Sieff Award and an Honorary Life Membership of the Australian Federation of WIZO.

Earlier this ear she was awarded an AM for all she has done for women and for the Jewish community.

Bella is a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother.