By Geoff Cohen Director: Jewish Identity & Community

We pay tribute to our past chair, Walter Robinson, who was Chairman of Herzlia between 1973 and 1976.

His tenure as Chairman was during the time that I was a young boy in the High School where I matriculated in 1976, so my memories of that time are vivid in my mind.

A number of other factors also bring back many memories of that period.

My dad served as a board member throughout Walter’s chairmanship, and I can clearly recall some of the big events that took place during that time period.

I also grew up two streets above the Robinson family and I remember with great fondness the carefree lives we lived growing up in Oranjezicht and the wonderful times we had, visiting each other’s homes and being so much a part of all the families who lived in our neighbourhood.

Invermark Crescent and Woodburn Ave was our territory where we roamed the streets and the Gardens Rugby field was where we spent our afternoons playing soccer, gaining grounds and touch rugby. The Robinson, Cohen, Kreiner, Rabkin and Resnik parents never worried about us, as they knew we were all playing together and that we all knew we had to be home for supper.

I know for sure that Gary, Brenden and Rena can recall those times as if they were yesterday.

I recall the Minyan Yosef playing a big part in the Robinson family life and I know that there are fond memories of their time spent in the school shul.

Walter and his wife Fanny devoted their energy and passion to our school in many ways, with Fanny editing Herzlia publications and convening the wonderful fetes we used to have at that time.

Walter’s entrance into Herzlia leadership started in 1966, when some controversial discussion took place at that 1966 AGM. As often happens when one speaks one’s mind at such meetings, Walter was elected to the committee and eventually became Chairman of the Board of Governors in 1973.

During the time that Walter was Chairman, a number of significant events took place:

1. Van Riebeek Field – late 1960’s
2. The school hostel was opened in 1966
3. The hostel closed in 1979 due to most of the country’s communities starting to dwindle
4. Highlands Primary moved out of the High School building into the renovated Hostel building in 1976. The move was completed in 1978
5. Constantia: Building started in 1972 and opened in 1973, the year Walter became Chairperson

On behalf of the Herzlia family, we wish Fanny, Gary, Brenden, Rena and their families long life and that his memory be a blessing.