History:
Hashomer Hatzair Australia was established almost 40 years after the world movement was originally founded in Galicia, Poland. Hashomer Hatzair which means 'the young guard' played an active role in resistance during the Holocaust in places like the Warsaw and Vilna ghettoes. It was also active in establishing kibbutzim and many of its members were part of the haganah in Palestine.
By 1953 the movement had begun to take shape in Melbourne. At the end of 1955 the first Hashy summer camp was held for both junior and seniors.
In 1966 Hashy opened its own hall in Raglan St (where it remains till this day). By 1969 Hashy had 400 members in 4 centers throughout Melbourne. From the 1980's till today Hashy has become a movement of approximately 120 members in one center in Melbourne. Two parent organisations have been instrumental in assisting Hashy throughout its history, Hashomer Hatzair Parents Committee and Hashomer Hatzair Mapam. Hashy is now considered much more mainstream, However Hashy still adheres to a proud tradition of progressive Zionism and strongly believes in a just outcome for all in the Israeli - Palestinian conflict. Hashy also continues to educate about current Australian political issues and strives to take an active role in Australian issues. Throughout its history Hashy Australia has been a youth movement which constantly questions the world around it.
Today:
Today Hashy is a place where Jewish students are encouraged to make new friends, learn about their Judaism and participate in the festivals, and learn about the ideology of the youth movement.
Who runs it?
Members of Hashy continue on to lead the movement on a voluntary basis. Interested year 10’s participate in a Hadracha (learning to lead) program for a year, and then lead the junior movement in year 11. Working with the year 11’s and leading the senior movement are Bogrim who have ‘graduated’ from the movement, mostly have gone to Israel on Hashy’s shnat program in their gap year, and stay for a few years to give back to the movement, also taking on organisational roles (Tafkidim).