SJM Youth Committee

Abigail Steel is currently in Year 12 at Kiama High School. She was born in and has grown up on the South Coast of New South Wales, in the small town of Kiama. Abby is a dedicated young woman who has always been passionate about social justice. Growing up surrounded by others who love history, she shares a similar passion for remembering and understanding the past. She thoroughly enjoys all her subjects at school and takes pride in all her work. Abby has been lucky enough to travel overseas, and really enjoys learning about and experiencing different cultures. 

Courtney Joubert is a Year 10 student at St Francis Catholic College Edmondson park. As a self-proclaimed avid history enthusiast and advocate for universal human rights, Courtney has dedicated herself to self-education, the support of advocacy and the constant pursuit of information on anything and everything that interests them. Having been a part of their school’s debate and mock trial teams, Courtney takes great interest in the art of public speaking and is delighted at the opportunity to voice her opinions in conversations and debates. They believe that through education, conversation and the ability to question one’s environment and think critically, it is possible to change the world.

Elise Kitchener is a Year 9 student at Emanuel School. She is very passionate about social justice, being an upstander and an activist. She is greatly involved in the Jewish community and enjoys Tikkun Olam. Elise actively participates in Habonim Dror and enjoys learning about aspects of Judaism, her heritage, and topical issues around the globe. This has inspired her to focus on social justice. Elise likes learning new things, is dedicated to her schoolwork and was Dux of Year 8. In her spare time Elise loves painting, photography, and video editing. She looks forward to contributing to the Youth Committee.

Lara Greenfield is a Year 10 student at SCEGGS Darlinghurst whose interest in
her family’s history and Jewish culture was first sparked when learning about the stories of her Holocaust survivor great-grandparents. Since then, she has used every opportunity to share these stories with her peers. The interest that they have shown in the subject matter, and her own curiosities, have inspired her to embrace all aspects of Judaism. This led to a deeper interest in social justice and altruism too. Attending an Anglican school has further encouraged her closeness to Judaism and has made attending synagogue more special. As a musician, she enjoys the importance of music to Judaism and also appreciates the diversity of Jewish musicians, from the Levites to Amy Whinehouse. She especially enjoyed the Sydney Jewish Museum’s exhibition “Jukebox Jewkbox! A Century on Shellac and Vinyl”. She is proud to be a fourth-generation Jewish museum member and an advocate for the Jewish community.

Lauren Cleary is currently a Year 10 student at Abbotsleigh, focusing her studies on History, English, Biology, Geography and Maths. Lauren explores her interest in history and the language arts through programs such as ISDA & SDN debating, and UN Youth. Additionally, she expresses herself creatively through school choirs, Trinity College Drama programs, and dance. Lauren hopes to use her lifelong passion for history to be a part of connecting the people of today to the stories of the past, through opportunities such as the Sydney Jewish Museum Youth Committee.

Nick Annas is currently studying Year 10 at the McDonald College of the Arts where he majors in drama, with additional external training with the Australian Theatre for Young People. Outside of his passion for social justice, Nick works professionally as an actor represented by Sophie Jermyn Management, appearing in projects for HBO, Netflix, and all major Australian television networks. Nick has served on the Australian Theatre for Young People’s youth advisory board for three consecutive years. In his free time, he enjoys swimming at his local beach, reading, and studying films from his favourite directors. His passion for history was fostered by his history teacher, and he looks forward to working with the Sydney Jewish Museum Youth Committee to collaborate with like-minded young people in pursuit for the Museum’s initiatives for human rights.

Nirma(a)ni Devundarage is a Year 12 student currently attending Macarthur Girls High School. She is passionate about all history-related subjects and issues, as well as being a very enthusiastic and vocal participant in the discussion of these topics with others. She loves and gain great satisfaction from being involved and giving back to the community, as there is great value attributed to directly helping others out, raising awareness on important issues and learning life lessons along the way. Her hobbies and interests include: history (of course!), reading, cycling, DIY/creative projects, and games. She describes herself as being loyal, determined, hardworking, caring, practical, reliable, creative and appreciative. Her skills include personal organisation, time management, problem solving, collaboration, communication and leadership.

Oscar Lawrence is a Year 10 student currently attending St Francis Catholic College in Edmondson Park. With a passion for history, art and human rights, he views his acceptance into the Sydney Jewish Museum Youth Committee as a once-in-a lifetime opportunity for which he cannot wait. He enjoys engaging in political debates having been a part of his school’s debating and mock trial teams, and will be sure to let you know how he feels about a subject (especially if you disagree with him). Despite his opinionative nature, he works well in a team, and he can also take into account the feelings and opinions of many people when making decisions. Of course, above all, he wants to do what is best for the most amount of people.

Quynh Le is a Year 10 student currently studying at the McDonald College. They are a first generation Vietnamese immigrant, passionate human rights advocate and a terrible bass player. Their name is pronounced ‘Quinn.’

Ruby Borer is a Year 9 student at Randwick Girls High School and is very passionate about the Jewish community and religion. She loves being a part of the amazing Sydney Jewish Community and has a passion for Tikkun Olam. As someone who does not go to a Jewish Day School, she understands the importance of Holocaust education and connecting with her Jewish roots, and is honoured to be chosen for the committee. She loves spending time in our community and is very involved in BBYO, BJE, Habonim Dror, JEMS, Friendship Circle and Coogee Synagogue.

Savannah Kesby is 15 years old and lives in the Illawarra. She attends Corpus Christi Catholic High school and is in Year 9. Her favourite subjects include History, English and Science. She is Year 9 Captain and is involved in a number of clubs, such as public speaking and debating, Youth Ministry, Laudato Si and Tournament of Minds, where she loves helping others and being a leader. She enjoys being an active member of the community and is a member of the Shellharbour Youth Council. Savannah is also a member of the Beachettes Netball club in Kiama, where in addition to playing, she also umpires games. Her hobbies include reading, cooking, bullet journalling and listening to music, especially by Taylor Swift.

Stevie Murray is in Year 10 at St John Paul College, Coffs Harbour. She has a passion for modern history, and has hopes to become a museum curator or lecturer. She loves music of all genres and plays guitar in her free time. She loves camping and hopes to go on many camping trips with her friends now that lockdown restrictions in her area have been lifted. She loves to use the Oxford Comma. Stevie’s year group visited the Sydney Jewish Museum earlier this year, and she was inspired by the lectures and survivor testimony from Paul Drexler to pursue history and human rights, which is why she joined the Sydney Jewish Museum Youth Committee.

Tamer Farhat is a student in Year 10 at the King’s School, North Paramatta. He is
particularly interested in the topics of history, philosophy, and politics, which he views as fundamental ways by which we apprehend the world around us and inform our perspectives, in order to understand our purpose in society.
Tamer’s interest in the Holocaust and its impacts emerged after his involvement in an excursion to the Sydney Jewish Museum along with his creation of an exhibition on the rise of antisemitism. These unique experiences were able to deliver Tamer an insight into the capacity for stereotyping, scapegoating, and racism to lead to untold discrimination and genocide. It was also able to showcase to him the value of institutions such as the Museum in allowing for education as a means to stimulate empathy and compassion. Tamer is devoted to the cause of ensuring social justice, tolerance,
and anti-discrimination.