Photograph of Asher Joel sworn into the NSW Legislative Council
Object numberM1998/029:001
TitlePhotograph of Asher Joel sworn into the NSW Legislative Council
DescriptionBlack and white photograph of Asher Joel, wearing the traditional yarmulka, being sworn in as a Member of the Legislative Council in 1957 by the President, The Hon. William Dickson.
Sir Asher Alexander Joel was born in Stanmore on 4 May 1912 to Moses (Harry) Joel and Phoebe described as "borderline poverty" for most of his childhood. As a child, he recalled the importance his parents placed upon his Jewish heritage and was told to reply "I am an Australian born Jew", when asked who he was (p.190). He stated; "You were never allowed to forget, either by your family or by the outside world, that you were a Jew. This is one of the inescapable destinies of being born of that faith." (p.173)
He left school just before his 14th birthday and worked as a copy boy and messenger for The Daily Telegraph between 1927-1933. He was later promoted to cadet reporter for the Labour Daily in September 1933 until 1937. His work as a political journalist throughout his career enabled him to build strong relationships with key political figures such as Premier Jack Lang. Sir Asher continued to have a particularly close affiliation with Lang, travelling as his private secretary for a state-wide tour and acting as his pall bearer at Lang's funeral.
Quitting journalism by the age of 24, Sir Asher was offered the role as Publicity Director for the Coronation of George VI and the 1938 Sesquicentenary. Following this, he worked for the Australian Comforts Fund as the General Organising Secretary for the New South Wales division. In March 1939, he enlisted as a Sergeant in the Citizen Military Forces in the 1/19 Infantry Battalion at Paddington. He writes of his decision; "As the months went by news from overseas began to disturb me greatly. I was deeply concerned by the fate of Jews in Europe, particularly in Germany. There was a sense of alarm in me and I feared that war was inevitable. As an Australian and a Jew, I felt I had a duty to involve myself and be prepared in the event of hostilities to make a real contribution. I didn't want to get caught flat-footed. I wanted to learn to be a soldier..." (p.578)
He continued voluntary service until November 1939 until he was discharged due to his employment in an essential service. He would continue to attempt enlistment but was rejected each time. Frustrated with this rejection, Sir Asher resigned from the Australian Comforts Fund and enlisted in the Australian Army on 26 June 1942. On 4 November 1942, he enlists within the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and was commissioned as a Paymaster Lieutenant in the RANVR (Volunteer Reserve). He wrote of these new military experiences; "... I was now just a number, a nothing. I was totally engulfed in an amorphous mass of men. My previous military experience was completely discounted... The system swallowed me up." (p.618)
Sir Asher's service would include a period in Townsville as Assistant Staff Officer (Operations) before he was appointed Staff Officer (Operations) at Milne Bay, New Guinea in 1943. He recalled, "In the fifteen months I was stationed in Milne Bay I packed in more adventure, more drama and learned more about men than at any other time in my life." (p.686) He would serve in New Guinea as well as in the Philippines, acting as a Liaison Officer with the Americans, as an Intelligence Officer and in Naval Operations within General Douglas Macarthur's headquarters. He was awarded the Philippines Liberation medal by General Basililo Valdez, Chief of the Philippines General Staff, after the liberation of Manila in March 1945. He was also the first Australian naval officer in WWII to receive the US Bronze Star for gallantry in the face of the enemy. The citation, signed by James Forrestal, US Secretary for the Navy, read: "For meritorious service in connection with combat operations in the South West Pacific area, and also for exemplary professionalism, resourcefulness and loyal devotion to duty in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service."
He continued to have a strong commitment to public service after the war. He was elected for a 12-year term as an Independent Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council in 1958 and joining the Country Party in 1959. He continued to serve in Parliament for 20 years and retired from politics in 1978.
Drawing from his public relations and organisational expertise before the war, Sir Asher would also organise large public events. This included the visits of President Lyndon B Johnson (1966), the visit of Pope Paul VI (1970), the Bi-Centennial commemorations (1970) and the planning and eventual opening of the Sydney Opera House (1973). For these roles in public life, Sir Asher received multiple commendations and awards. He was knighted twice by the Queen in 1970 and 1973, he was the first Australian Jew to be made a Papal Knight (1994), received an additional knighthood from the Philippines and was awarded the Order of Australia medal (1986).
He was actively involved within the community, serving on the United Israel Appeal board, the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce, as well as setting up the Sir Asher Joel foundation at Macquarie University for Ancient History and Archaeology students. He was also an avid writer, authoring two books; 'Without Chains Free', a history of a Filipino family he befriended in WWII and 'Australian Protocol Procedures', a handbook used to guide individuals on all aspects of public and private occasions. He continued to stress the importance of communication stating; "Communication is the nervous system of our society, community structure and person-to-person relationship. There is no greater need in the world today than the necessity to communicate ably and fluently with others." He also published his own newspaper in Mount Isa, Queensland, 'The North West Star'.
Amongst his varied life and achievements, Sir Asher also had four children and married Lady Sybil Joel (nee Jacobs). Reflecting in his memoir, "Throughout my life I had tried so hard to live according to the standards set by my parents. To live honourably. Never to forget I was a Jew, in the knowledge that I could do everything but fail, either myself, my people, the wider community and most important of all, my faith." (p.2083) He passed away on 11 November 1998.
Sir Asher Alexander Joel was born in Stanmore on 4 May 1912 to Moses (Harry) Joel and Phoebe described as "borderline poverty" for most of his childhood. As a child, he recalled the importance his parents placed upon his Jewish heritage and was told to reply "I am an Australian born Jew", when asked who he was (p.190). He stated; "You were never allowed to forget, either by your family or by the outside world, that you were a Jew. This is one of the inescapable destinies of being born of that faith." (p.173)
He left school just before his 14th birthday and worked as a copy boy and messenger for The Daily Telegraph between 1927-1933. He was later promoted to cadet reporter for the Labour Daily in September 1933 until 1937. His work as a political journalist throughout his career enabled him to build strong relationships with key political figures such as Premier Jack Lang. Sir Asher continued to have a particularly close affiliation with Lang, travelling as his private secretary for a state-wide tour and acting as his pall bearer at Lang's funeral.
Quitting journalism by the age of 24, Sir Asher was offered the role as Publicity Director for the Coronation of George VI and the 1938 Sesquicentenary. Following this, he worked for the Australian Comforts Fund as the General Organising Secretary for the New South Wales division. In March 1939, he enlisted as a Sergeant in the Citizen Military Forces in the 1/19 Infantry Battalion at Paddington. He writes of his decision; "As the months went by news from overseas began to disturb me greatly. I was deeply concerned by the fate of Jews in Europe, particularly in Germany. There was a sense of alarm in me and I feared that war was inevitable. As an Australian and a Jew, I felt I had a duty to involve myself and be prepared in the event of hostilities to make a real contribution. I didn't want to get caught flat-footed. I wanted to learn to be a soldier..." (p.578)
He continued voluntary service until November 1939 until he was discharged due to his employment in an essential service. He would continue to attempt enlistment but was rejected each time. Frustrated with this rejection, Sir Asher resigned from the Australian Comforts Fund and enlisted in the Australian Army on 26 June 1942. On 4 November 1942, he enlists within the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and was commissioned as a Paymaster Lieutenant in the RANVR (Volunteer Reserve). He wrote of these new military experiences; "... I was now just a number, a nothing. I was totally engulfed in an amorphous mass of men. My previous military experience was completely discounted... The system swallowed me up." (p.618)
Sir Asher's service would include a period in Townsville as Assistant Staff Officer (Operations) before he was appointed Staff Officer (Operations) at Milne Bay, New Guinea in 1943. He recalled, "In the fifteen months I was stationed in Milne Bay I packed in more adventure, more drama and learned more about men than at any other time in my life." (p.686) He would serve in New Guinea as well as in the Philippines, acting as a Liaison Officer with the Americans, as an Intelligence Officer and in Naval Operations within General Douglas Macarthur's headquarters. He was awarded the Philippines Liberation medal by General Basililo Valdez, Chief of the Philippines General Staff, after the liberation of Manila in March 1945. He was also the first Australian naval officer in WWII to receive the US Bronze Star for gallantry in the face of the enemy. The citation, signed by James Forrestal, US Secretary for the Navy, read: "For meritorious service in connection with combat operations in the South West Pacific area, and also for exemplary professionalism, resourcefulness and loyal devotion to duty in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service."
He continued to have a strong commitment to public service after the war. He was elected for a 12-year term as an Independent Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council in 1958 and joining the Country Party in 1959. He continued to serve in Parliament for 20 years and retired from politics in 1978.
Drawing from his public relations and organisational expertise before the war, Sir Asher would also organise large public events. This included the visits of President Lyndon B Johnson (1966), the visit of Pope Paul VI (1970), the Bi-Centennial commemorations (1970) and the planning and eventual opening of the Sydney Opera House (1973). For these roles in public life, Sir Asher received multiple commendations and awards. He was knighted twice by the Queen in 1970 and 1973, he was the first Australian Jew to be made a Papal Knight (1994), received an additional knighthood from the Philippines and was awarded the Order of Australia medal (1986).
He was actively involved within the community, serving on the United Israel Appeal board, the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce, as well as setting up the Sir Asher Joel foundation at Macquarie University for Ancient History and Archaeology students. He was also an avid writer, authoring two books; 'Without Chains Free', a history of a Filipino family he befriended in WWII and 'Australian Protocol Procedures', a handbook used to guide individuals on all aspects of public and private occasions. He continued to stress the importance of communication stating; "Communication is the nervous system of our society, community structure and person-to-person relationship. There is no greater need in the world today than the necessity to communicate ably and fluently with others." He also published his own newspaper in Mount Isa, Queensland, 'The North West Star'.
Amongst his varied life and achievements, Sir Asher also had four children and married Lady Sybil Joel (nee Jacobs). Reflecting in his memoir, "Throughout my life I had tried so hard to live according to the standards set by my parents. To live honourably. Never to forget I was a Jew, in the knowledge that I could do everything but fail, either myself, my people, the wider community and most important of all, my faith." (p.2083) He passed away on 11 November 1998.
Production placeAustralia
SubjectCulture and Religion
Object namephotographs
Dimensions
- width: 283.00 mm
height: 239.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mr Asher Joel