Elaine Ptasznik 60th

Having reach this wonderful milestone in life, my 60th birthday, I reflect on the family I wish I could share this with. The warmth, embrace and love of family and friends are the greatest gifts for me. I am lucky enough to know it. My parents were holocaust survivors. They started life surrounded by large loving families, but all of this was ripped away during WW11, catapulting them into the fiery recesses of an unimaginable hell; simply because of their religion. Their voices were not heard between 1939 -1945. The Holocaust Centre in Melbourne, are my parents and other voices in the world. What happened in Europe can repeat itself. The Holocaust Centre receives busloads of school children from all over Victoria, from all denominations, tourists and locals, who all have the humbling honor of meeting the diwindling precious group of survivors who are well into their 80's and 90's and yet every week speak of their experiences and give voice to those who couldn't. I believe strongly in education and insight to what happened in Europe over 70 years ago, so that anywhere, to any people it will never, ever happen again.

Below is a photo of myself as an infant being supported by my beloved mother, Eva. Her arm displays her Auschwitz Identification number permantly embedded in her arm.

The other photo is of my youngest child Gideon, where myself, daughter Gaby, son Chaim and husband Ronnie are attending Gideon's graduation as a doctor last year 2016.