Carlton goes kosher for fans
The Jewish community’s support of Carlton Football Club and Australian Rules Football was celebrated at the President’s Luncheon last weekend prior to the match against St Kilda.
THE Jewish community’s support of Carlton Football Club and Australian Rules Football was celebrated at the President’s Luncheon last weekend prior to the match against St Kilda.
More than 450 people were in attendance at the kosher-catered event, including Carlton legends Stephen Silvagni and John Nicholls. The crowd heard from Blues president Mark LoGiudice and David Mond, founder of Recoveries Corp., which sponsored the function.
LoGiudice spoke of the club’s history prior to World War II, a period in which thousands of Jews settled in the suburb.
“I am pleased to say that the Carlton Football Club became the sporting and cultural home in Melbourne for many Jews, and we celebrate that today,” he told the crowd.
Speaking of the connections the club held with the community, LoGiudice spoke of his predecessor, former president Richard Pratt as well as the Smorgon, Fried and Edelsten families.
“There can be no disputing that the Australian community, the AFL and the Carlton and St Kilda Football Clubs are indebted to the Jewish community for their support in the past and we know we can count on that support into the future.”
Lifelong Carlton supporter Mond spoke about the relationship he has had with Carlton Football Club since childhood.
Despite the heartland of Melbourne Jewry now being located around the Caulfield and St Kilda areas, he insisted it made no difference to the longstanding loyalty of the Blues supporters.
“While you can take the boy out of Carlton,” he insisted, “you can’t take Carlton out of the boy”.
“Today is a testament to the loyalty and absolute commitment by former Jewish residents of Carlton to the success of the Carlton Football Club.”
The crowd were awed by AFL great Nicholls, speaking at half-time about his relationships with several Jewish families and the impact they had on both his playing days and the community’s continued affiliation with the club.
Despite recognising what the Jewish community had done in the past, there was an air of excitement around the room for the direction the club was heading moving forward.
However, on the field, Carlton’s performance could not match the enthusiasm of the function, the team going down to St Kilda by 71 points.
DANIEL SHANDLER
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