A Remarkable Australian Honoured

January 26, 2014 in Inspirational

Anna Kahan
                         
When Allan Moore saw Olga Horak on 15 May, 2005, his first words were “I never expected to see you alive”. It was 60 years since they’d previously met, so this was something of a reunion. The event was the opening of Sydney Jewish Museum’s Through Australian Eyes, an exhibition of Moore’s wartime paintings and photographs.

Lt. Moore had been the official Australian War Artist and was present when the British troops marched into the Hell that was Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp. He also kept a diary in which he recorded a meeting with a young girl, 19 year old Olga Rosenberger, in the Camp’s infirmary. She weighed 29 kilos and looked close to death.

When Mr Moore was approached by the Museum to mount an exhibition of his work, he asked if, purely by chance, anyone had ever come across Olga Rosenberger. He had no idea if she’d survived and, if so, where she might be. But he asked anyway. In true small world story style, he found that Olga was not only alive but an active Volunteer Guide at the very museum showing his works.

Now in her 80s, she is still at the Sydney Jewish Museum, where she uses her terrible experiences to educate against religious intolerance, race hatred, bigotry and injustice. As a highly valued and respected member of the museum’s education programs, she presents this message to police groups, hospital and ambulance staff, abused women’s groups, school groups and adult visitors, both locals and tourists, among others.

Those who have heard her speak praise her dignity, insights and wisdom, commenting on how moved they were, often to tears, by her strength and how inspired by her message of standing up to injustice and intolerance.

She has often been sought for TV, radio and print media interviews as well as to speak to schools and other organisations in the wider community, for which she willingly makes herself available when possible. Her very popular autobiography, ‘From Auschwitz to
Australia: A Holocaust survivor’s memoir’ has been translated into a dozen languages.

Olga won’t be in Sydney to hear the official announcement of her inclusion in the Australia Day Honours List. She’ll be in Hong Kong, invited by the Jewish community to speak at their Auschwitz Liberation/ UN Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony on 27 January.

Olga Horak née Rosenberger, survivor of 5 concentration camps and a Death March, has 2 adult daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all born in Australia. She is a proud and grateful Australian citizen. Being awarded the Order of Australia shows that the feelings are mutual.