Obituaries Australia

The passing of Mr. A. A. [Abraham Alfred] Hollander, of Macleay Street, Sydney, eldest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Hollander, removes a popular member of the Community. In years gone by he possessed a magnificent baritone voice, and was a skilled exponent of the violin, 'cello, and violincello. His successes were stimulated by his love for music. In England he was closely associated with Madame Clara Butt and Kennelly Rumford. He was for years conductor of the Melbourne Liedertafel. It is interesting to note that he obtained for Dame Nellie Melba her first engagement, and later sang with her at several concerts. He frequently gave his services to philanthropic causes. He was well known in commercial circles in Sydney and Brisbane as the Managing Director of Hollander and Govatt Ltd., the first and the leading art poster printers of the State.

Rabbi L. A. Falk at the close of the evening service in the Great Synagogue paid the following tribute to his memory. He said in part: 'For twenty years it had been my privilege to know the late A. A. Hollander and enjoy his friendship. He was the type of man characterised in the 15th Psalm (known as the gentleman's psalm) and which could 'be justly applied to him: He was a man of integrity, and uprightness in his dealings with his fellow men. The large number of non Jewish sympathisers present at the graveside testified eloquently to the appreciation in which he was held. He always had found him responsive to a call in a worthy cause. In his intimate family circle he played the role of a faithful shepherd, guiding and watching over the well-being of his dear ones. He was a scion of a noble and scholarly family of Anglo-Jewry. His late grandfather, the Rev. H. M. Hollander was enshrined in the appreciative memory of the Birmingham Jewish Community by virtue of his learning and piety. The late Mr. A. A. Hollander displayed a love for the Torah in its wider sense – he loved his people and was deeply interested in Jewish problems. Rabbi Falk also said 'it was for him a matter of deep sorrow to witness the snapping of links in the golden chain of our community and the disappearance of men who shaped the character of this community and who established for it an honoured place in Anglo Jewry. The family may derive consolation and solace from the fact that the personality of the departed will remain alive in the circle that knew and enjoyed his friendship.'