NSW Governor Margaret Beazley, Premier Dominic Perrottet, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, state and federal MPs, Jewish communal leaders and members of the public gathered at Sydney Town Hall to pay their respects to the late Eddie Jaku.
Gareth Narunsky
The Australian Jewish News
December 16, 2021
It’s not often in life that we can say that we’ve met someone “truly inspirational”, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said at the state funeral for Eddie Jaku on Wednesday.
“But I can think of no better word to describe a man like Eddie, a man who endured great pain and terror, and yet had such a zest for life. He turned his suffering into strength,” he said.
“He used that strength to become one of the most compassionate, generous people that I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.”
Son Michael Jaku noted Eddie “would have loved all of this – the centre-of-attention and in the limelight – his favourite place to be, and with all the pomp and circumstance to boot”.
“Dad was a charismatic individual with a very positive outlook,” he said.
“Despite the trials he endured during the early part of his life, we his family are quite incredulous at the profound impact, in some cases, life-changing, which he apparently had on so many all over the world.
“Andre and I are proud to call Eddie our dad, and just like those many all over the world who were touched by him, we miss him.”
The service was officiated by Rabbi Benjamin Elton, while grandchildren Marc Jaku and Danielle Jaku-Greenfield, Sydney Jewish Museum CEO Norman Seligman and NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president Lesli Berger also delivered tributes.
