Excelling in their fields, 22 Jewish Australians have been recognised in this week’s Queen’s Birthday Honours, topping last year’s crop of almost 20.
This year’s honorees include Sydney arts patron and collector John Kaldor, 80, who was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to contemporary visual art and philanthropic contributions to cultural institutions.
As a 12-year-old, Kaldor escaped with his family from postwar Hungary and they arrived in Paris as refugees. In the winter of 1948, his mother took him to the Louvre, which sparked his lifelong passion for art. The Kaldors arrived here the following year, and by 21, Kaldor had become a collector. In 2013, he donated $35 million in art to the Art Gallery of NSW. “I was so passionate about art that I wanted to share it with the public,” he said.
Former Federal Court of Australia judge Roman Finkelstein, of Melbourne, has been made an AO for his work in the judiciary and law in general. Melbourne academic Dr Edwin Crawcour’s recognition as an AO reflected his significant contribution to higher education, particular in the Asia-Pacific region.
Ten Jews were honoured as Members of the Order of Australia (AM).
Read the full story in the Australian Jewish News.