In 2019 Beersheba Vision under the direction of Barry Rodgers OAM, partnered with Christians for Israel Australia to place a monument at the ANZAC memorial garden at Kinneret Academic College on the southern shores of the Galilee. Together with other generous partners and sponsors we helped raise about $50,000 for the statue to be crafted. None of this would have happened without that great Australian historian Kelvin Crombie first alerting us to its historical significance. The statue designed by the brilliant Light Horse artist Jennifer Marshall, depicts an Aboriginal Trooper attending to the grave of a fallen white mate who fell during the battle that occurred in the early hours of the morning before daylight. The Australian Light Horse comprised of many Aboriginal Troopers charged the heavily defended railway station at Semakh. The statue is simply called “No Greater Love”. Ziv Ophir the vice CEO of Kinneret worked tirelessly with us to make the tribute to the Aboriginal Troopers of WW1 come to pass. This week Ziv wrote the following heart felt letter addressed to all his “dear Australian friends.” This letter shows something of the heart of these dear folk in Israel:
And now, if I may, I would like to share something a little more personal.
“For about a week and a half, Israel has been engaged in a difficult and complex campaign against Iran and the extremist forces that, for more than forty years, have threatened not only the State of Israel but also the stability of many nations across the Middle East and the broader free world. Israel has undertaken this campaign in defence of its citizens and in solidarity with democratic nations everywhere.
Over these past ten days, my family and I have repeatedly rushed to the shelter when sirens sound, day and night. A strange silence has settled over a place that is usually full of life and learning.
Yesterday morning, moments before another siren sounded, I found myself at the Semakh Railway Station. The grounds were deserted. I stopped in front of the Australian Cavalry Memorial Garden — before the statue of the horse and its rider, and before the nineteen eucalyptus trees standing tall in the morning light, and I found myself thinking about how history echoes across the centuries, and how vital it is to preserve its memory.
More than a hundred years ago, as today, soldiers set out from distant shores to defend the values of the free world, placing their lives on the line for something greater than themselves. Standing there yesterday, I felt that truth more powerfully than ever before.
The Australian Light Horse Memorial Garden here is more than a monument. It is a quiet and enduring testament to the bonds between our two nations, and to the shared memory we are privileged to carry together. I am deeply committed to honouring and preserving that memory, now more than ever.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for taking the time to read these words.
With warmth and gratitude,”
Ziv Ophir V.CEO
Kinneret Academic College
Opportunity to Serve at Pindari Centre
The Pindari Centre is seeking individuals or families passionate about mentoring young people, the outdoors, and supporting Christian youth leadership. A pioneering spirit and interest in horticulture or animal husbandry are advantageous. Accommodation and some remuneration are available.
Contact: Barry Rodgers OAM
0428 662 528 | barry@pindaricentre.com.au | www.pindaricentre.com.au
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