Sonia Newell – Development Officer – Alumni & Community Relations

Have you been to the movies lately?

Jamie Hilton (Class of 1997) and son Lenny

Alumnus Jamie Hilton (Class of 1997), who now lives in Perth with his wife and two young sons, is a film producer and the founding partner of his production company See Pictures which recently launched their latest film Long Story Short.      

Jamie has won a number of awards in the entertainment industry including the AACTA Award for Best Indie Film last year, as the co-producer of Standing up for Sunny a 2019 comedy film about an isolated man with cerebral palsy who finds love and acceptance through stand up comedy.

Coming to Australian cinemas in May is the star-studded Aussie comedy June Again staring Noni Hazelhurst and Claudia Karvan, another film produced by Jamie. Other notable feature films to his credit Simon Baker’s Breath, based on Tim Winton’s book by the same name, Josh Lawson’s The Little Death and The Waiting City featuring Radha Mitchell and Joel Edgerton. Jamie was Executive Producer on Julie Leigh’s Sleeping Beauty, selected in Official Competition Cannes 2011.

Jade Reuveny (Class of 2018) and Chana Kavka (Friendship Circle)

More news from Sydney Friendship Circle (FC)

February was Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month. Sydney Friendship Circle and Jewish House have partnered to empower organisations to work together to increase participation and inclusion of people with disabilities in their services and in the community. Current initiatives include:

• Shabbat Together (Friday 5 March 2021 and Saturday 6 March 2021)
• A joint declaration about inclusive practice to be adopted by community organisations. Sign this declaration here.
• A set of interactive discussion cards to be given out at participating local schools

Stay tuned for updates on these initiatives.

Planning ahead for next month, they will be running a 4-day Day Camp during the school holidays (Tuesday 6 April 2021 – Friday 9 April 2021), and a group of young adults will be jetting off to Melbourne for their very own Getaway (Friday 16 April 2021 – Sunday 18 April 2021). Whilst many of our alumni and current students volunteer for these camps and other events, they are always seeking new volunteers. If you or someone you know would like to join their programs as a participant or volunteer please email Sydney Friendship Circle. Find more information and photos on their Facebook page.

The 43^rd Annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade

Dayenu float (photo by Toby Evans, Class of 2006)

Dayenu, conceived in 1999, is the public face of Sydney’s Jewish LGBTQIA+Community, providing outreach through education, information, resources, social activities and other events and has been involved in this ever-growing annual celebration since 2000. Their partner organisations include Emanuel Synagogue, NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, Keep NSW Safe and World Congress Keshet Ga’avah. Look out for the Dayenu float at the parade this weekend.

If you have photos and/or news to share, please send to Sonia Newell   

Stay safe and Shabbat Shalom.