Josette (Jo) Gostin OAM z'I

Jo was born in Cairo, Egypt and lived in Elizabethville, Belgian Congo, Zaire until she was 10 and then migrated to Australia in 1954 not speaking a word of English. She went to Brighton High School and then to Melbourne University to do an Arts Course, majoring in Psychology. Jo married Ron Gostin in 1967 and they have two daughters, Dani and Cassie.

Jo was Foundation President of WIZO Ziona from 1969 -1975. In 1989, after holding portfolios of Vice President, Honorary Secretary and Publicity Chairman, Jo was elected as President of WIZO State Council of Victoria, a position she held for 8 years.

She stepped down as President of WIZO Victoria in 1997 and was then elected as President of WIZO Australia in 2004, a position she held until June 2010.

During her Presidency Jo managed to enlist the support of donors whose generosity enabled WIZO Ahuzat Yeladim's facilities such as the Mandel and Marein Dormitories to be rebuilt, as well as the House of Dreams and the all-weather basketball court. The Road of Hope at Ahuzat Yeladim, dedicated to Jo, was one of her initiatives which honours our members. She also received a donation for the Rae and Tom Mandel Centre for Women and Children in Modi'in.

On Australia Day, 2012 Jo was recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia for more than four decades of service to the Jewish community through a range of Jewish organisations and her passion for WIZO and for Israel. Outside of WIZO, Jo started her own travel agency, aptly named Jo Travel which she ran for 17 years, and in 2001, she joined with FBI Travel for another 19 years. Jo was known as the "Queen of Cruising".