גן הזיכרון

Last Tuesday evening, a delegation from the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) visited the Semakh Railway Station and the Australian Light Horse Memorial Garden, located on the Kinneret College campus. This memorial site is the only one in Israel that commemorates Aboriginal soldiers who fell in battle during World War I—particularly the 11 Aboriginal troopers who lost their lives during the pivotal nighttime cavalry battle at the Semakh Railway Station on September 25, 1918.
At the heart of the memorial garden stands a striking sculpture of an Aboriginal soldier and his horse, the soldier kneeling solemnly at the grave of a fallen comrade. This unique site honors the heroism and sacrifice of Aboriginal soldiers and stands as a singular tribute to their enduring legacy in the State of Israel.
The visiting group, part of AIJAC—an Australian Jewish organization representing the Jewish community in Australia and engaged in the fight against antisemitism—was comprised of ten individuals, most of whom are of Aboriginal descent. The delegation was led by Nova Peris, Australia’s first Aboriginal Olympic gold medalist and a former Member of Parliament.
Nova Peris, a highly respected and widely recognized figure in both Australia and Israel. This visit marked her second time in Israel since the outbreak of the war. On Sunday, she was hosted by the Technion as a guest of honor at the institution’s centennial celebrations and later met with President Isaac Herzog.
A warm and meaningful bond was formed with Nova and the members of the delegation, who expressed a commitment to return and further contribute to preserving and deepening Aboriginal heritage at the historic Semakh Railway Memorial Site.