Obituaries Australia

Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Hallenstein died in Melbourne within a few months of each other early this year. Mr. Hallenstein was a son of the late Isaac Hallenstein, an early Melbourne pioneer and a founder of two important firms, Michaelis, Hallenstein & Co. Pty. Ltd., of Melbourne, and Hallenstein Bros. Ltd., of New Zealand. His commercial career was bound up with these firms throughout his life.

He took an active part in Jewish affairs over very many years. In 1898 he was President of the St. Kilda Hebrew Congregation, and maintained his association constantly and loyally until his death. He had a further term as President in 1933. In charitable work, both inside and outside the Jewish Community, he was prominent. As a trustee of the Melbourne Jewish Philanthropic Society and a Vice-President of the Victorian Deaf and Dumb Institution, he was an assiduous worker and a generous contributor to these and numerous other funds:

Mrs. Lucie Hallenstein, O.B.E., a daughter of the late Moritz Michaelis, of Melbourne, like her husband, took a very active interest in charitable work, both Jewish and non-Jewish. She was a prominent worker for the soldiers of World War I, and was founder and head of the St. Kilda Soldiers' Lounge, which provided entertainment and refreshments for many thousands of troops. For her work with this body she was appointed an O.B.E. in 1934. For years she was Honorary Secretary of the combined Auxiliaries of the Alfred Hospital and, up to the time of her death, President of the St. Kilda Branch of the workers for this important hospital.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Hallenstein were actively interested in the work of caring for those who left Europe to escape the Hitler persecution and were among the founders of the Australian Jewish Welfare Society, to whose funds they contributed generously, and for which they worked hard.

Three of their children, Mr. G. F. Hallenstein and Mrs. R. Shannon, of Melbourne, and Mrs. Enid Cianchi, of London, survive, one son, Lieut. Delbert Hallenstein, having been killed in action in 1918.