JOANNE ( ROSEN) GROZOVSKI

The whole Maccabi community is very saddened to hear of the passing of Joanne (Rosen) Grozovski. Joanne’s parents Jean and Joe Rosen were instrumental in the founding of Maccabi WA inc . Always very generous donors and supporters any way they could . Jean and Joe later moved to Israeli where they hosted many Australian Maccabiah delegations and teams as they continued to support Maccabi in  Australia. Joanne continued this legacy by making sure  our Maccabi oval was named after her father - the Joe ( Yossi ) Rosen oval , Jean and Joe will be commemorated in the new JHub community centre . 

MICHAEL (MICK) J. GOULBURN 10/01/1925 – 22/07/2022

Maccabi WA is saddened to here of the passing of one of Maccabi WA’s founders Michael Jay Goulburn born 10 January 1925, initially from Melbourne. Mick was a great sportsman having a great love of cricket and AFL. By 1946 Michael was involved in AJAX Maccabi Melbourne rising to Vice President and organiser of the first Maccabi Carnival after the War in late 1946.

Mick was on the management teams of three State Maccabi Clubs, played cricket and sport for three different States, played first grade cricket in Perth, including a call up to the WA State squad, established many clubs not to mention the hallowed grounds of the Jewish community and Maccabi in Perth. A unique achievement.

After meeting and marrying Perth girl Ruth Ensly at a Melbourne Maccabi Carnival, they settled in Perth and had two sons, Alan in 1949 and Daniel in 1953, while Mick pursued his first-grade cricket career with West Perth. He played first grade and was drafted to the WA State Squad.

In Perth, Mick’s community spirit arose again and he was soon a young President of the Western Australian Maccabean Club, later to become WA Maccabi. As a young President in his late twenties he had the vision and was one of 3 people to establish the Maccabi grounds, by moving to purchase a large piece of land in the bush on the Dianella/ Yokine boarder. Mick managed to raise enough local support to buy the land.

The rest is history as the Perth Jewish Community now enjoys a prime piece of property close to the city which provides not only large sporting facilities, including a full sporting oval, tennis and basketball areas but the Maurice Zeffert Aged Care Home, Carmel School, the only Jewish school in Perth, the Community Centre and, recently, the soon to be built JHub and WA Holocaust institute.

In 1954 for business reasons the family moved to Sydney rather than Mick’s home town of Melbourne. Cricket took a back step as he concentrated on business and yet again Maccabi. He became Vice President of JASA, being part of establishing the Squash Club, the Maccabi Junior Soccer Club and the Maccabean Ten Pin Bowling club where he served as President for years. He was instrumental in establishing co-operation between the Hakoah Club and NSW Maccabi.

Maccabi community Australia wide is surely grateful to the effort and passion of Mick to our community. We wish long life to Mick’s sons, 4 grandchildren and great grandchildren. Maccabi WA will never forget his outstanding contribution.