Laura Carmichael - Archivist Kambala School
Before my time at Kambala, I worked for the Archive of Australian Judaica (AAJ). Founded on 4 July1983 as a Special Collection within the Fisher Library at The University of Sydney, it was an extraordinary repository where I collaborated closely with researchers and the Jewish community. This significant collection, comprising 500 shelf metres of material, was eventually amalgamated into the Australian Jewish Historical Society (AJHS), led by my colleague, Head Archivist, Sabrina Elias.
In the wake of the tragic shooting at Bondi, I reached out to my former colleagues and friends to offer my condolences and archival support. Last week, Sabrina and I worked together to clean and rehouse artefacts from the Bondi memorial. These materials had been gathered by Sabrina, staff from AJHS, the Sydney Jewish and Holocaust Museum, as well as a dedicated group of volunteers to be preserved for posterity.
Of the 1,266 items collected, Sabrina and I processed 200 with the utmost care, cleaning each artefact and placing them into protective mylar sleeves in preparation for digitisation. Archives do more than store records; they preserve the very soul of our history. While some collections are born from profound trauma, we have a duty to protect them. These primary sources are essential for establishing truth and ensuring that even in our darkest moments, the stories of those we lost are never forgotten.
Working on this collection was a journey of profound sadness, but it is, above all, a testament to the human spirit. There is a well-known saying to ‘look for the helpers’ in times of tragedy, and as I cleaned each item, I saw them everywhere. Every artifact was more than a record of grief—it was a tangible expression of love from each individual to the Jewish community, and all of Australia.
As an archivist and a Bondi local, my heart remains broken for the victims and all those affected by this senseless act of violence. If you would like to help support the ongoing work of the AJHS in preserving our history, please consider making a donation.
