Elliot Perlman, prize-winning, internationally-acclaimed author of SEVEN TYPES OF AMBIGUITY, feted as “one of the 50 most important writers in the world” (Lire, France) brings his storytelling prowess to a new novel about memory, love, the extremes of racism, unremitting guilt, astonishing heroism and unexpected kindness in THE STREET SWEEPER, taking us from the civil rights struggle in the US to the Nazi crimes against humanity and beyond.

The issue of Jewish victims who co-operated with the Nazis is explored in this compelling documentary.

Directed by Tor Ben Mayor and Dan Setton. 55 mins
Presented by Phillip Maisel OAM, Jewish Holocaust Centre.

The Jewish Holocaust Centre (JHC) was the winner of the prestigious Small Museum, Permanent Development Award presented in Perth last week.

Museum Australia’s inaugural Museum and Gallery National Awards (MAGNA) were presented at the conclusion of the three-day Museums Australia National Conference held in Perth and attended by representatives of museums nation-wide.

Phillip Maisel OAM, 88, of Caulfield North was recently recognised with a 2011 Victoria Senior Achiever Award at Government House. The award was in honour of his work collecting testimonials from Holocaust survivors. Minister for Health and Ageing David Davis said Mr Maisel diligently worked to create a legacy through the Oral Testimonies Project for the Jewish Holocaust Centre.

A piece of art with a unique story attached to it was donated to the Melbourne Jewish Holocaust Centre (JHC) this week.

Created by Aboriginal artist Stephen Harrison following a visit to the museum with the Galiamble Aboriginal Men’s Recovery Centre, the painting was gifted to JHC president Pauline Rockman in a ceremony on Monday.Harrison, a father of 14, told the gathering his inspiration came after he was taken to the museum by vice-president of the Child Survivors of the Holocaust Vivian Parry, also a volunteer at the Aboriginal centre. It was Harrison’s first-ever trip to a museum.

The Jewish Holocaust Centre is concerned the ravages of time are taking a toll on irreplaceable historical documents.

The Elsternwick centre needs “hundreds of thousands of dollars” to preserve some of the deteriorating artefacts, mainly paperwork but also some textiles, art and photographs donated by Holocaust survivors.