Romy and Jenni, entering the forest after 1,000 stepsJanuary 24th
Hike 27: The Dandenongs and its 1,000 steps
We’re in Melbourne, a large city by any standard. This does not necessarily mean that there are high mountains though. Then again, you can’t have everything. Shabbos was at St Kilda’s Hebrew Congregation, a friendly community with Rabbi Heilbrunn, formerly of South Africa. The Rabbi sounds equally at home as a chazzan, too.
It was a most interesting and uplifting few days. We met family of Jenni’s who live in Australia by the name of Klein (from Springs). Isadore, Bernice, daughters Cheryl and Louise and niece, Jenny. Family like this one doesn’t run away from but rather, one runs to. Then we linked up with Lorraine and Bobby Heilbrunn who are cousins and hosted us at their home for a wonderful dinner. Yes. Bobby is the brother of the rabbi and Lorraine is Jenni’s first cousin. We have met up with quite a few ‘landsman’. What is most interesting is that every South African we spoke with living in Australia has only good things to say of the country.
The 'Groot' Kleins
With LorraineWe go through life looking for heroes, perhaps role models. We look at ‘iron men’, 4-minute milers and other successful celebrities. By focusing in the wrong places, we often miss that which stares us in the face. There are people in our midst who are not famous, not successful by modern measures but who face momentous tasks and challenges each and every day. I can remember holding a spunky little girl in my arms when she was days, weeks and a few years old. What could this little toddler teach me; for that matter, anyone? Yet today, she is a young woman who has lived with difficulties that no child should have to endure. Yet, she stands firm, upright and still spunky. Whereas we may not have agreed with this young woman on every action she took, we stand in awe at her courage, her resilience and ability to face each and every stumbling block that is put before her and vault over it. May Hashem make life better for you incrementally. We salute Romy Klotnick, our niece.
Uncle and nieceIt’s a little difficult to talk of hiking after the above sentiments. Nevertheless, because we were with Romy, the Dandenongs and its 1,000 steps will have special significance for us. We climbed the steps which are symbolic of the path that Australian soldiers took in 1942 in Papua New Guinea. Although steep, we had it a darn sight easier. We followed this with a hike through the forest, spotting and listening to the wonderful birds in this part of the world.
We’ll leave it right there.
Beautiful birds aboundCheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
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