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Ernie was born in Vienna, Austria in 1935.  Abang was born in Juba, Sudan, 1982. Ernie was born into a Jewish family, Abang into the Anyuak People. Ernie is a child survivor of the Holocaust and World War II. He was liberated by the Soviet Army after the Battle of Budapest in February, 1945. Abang was separated from her parents at the age of five due to the Sudanese Civil War. Her father took her to a refugee camp in Ethiopia where war once again threatened her life and she was forced to flee.  Both Ernie’s and Abang’s fathers did not survive.  Ernie came to Australia in the 1950s with his mother, while Abang came to Australia at the turn of the 21st Century, on her own, she was just seventeen.

Both Ernie and Abang have known incredible hardship and unbearable loss.

Both have found ways to not only survive but to thrive.

Both made the conscious decision to use their experiences to help improve the world.

Ernie founded Moving Forward Together an Organisation dedicated to combating racism which proactively runs programs to help create a more harmonious Australian society.

Buckets of Hope is a visual and emotional framework created by Abang to help people understand, express, and transform their inner world. It began as a survival tool—born from her own lived experience as a child refugee – which evolved into a method she now shares in classrooms, communities, and organisations.

Come and take part in an incredible and inspiring conversation which will be moderated by Dr Jonathan Ari Lander who works closely with both Ernie and Abang.

Ernest Friedlander OAM is a Holocaust survivor and lifelong advocate for peace, social harmony, and anti-racism. A 2024 NSW Senior Australian of the Year nominee, Ernest shares his powerful story of survival to inspire change. He founded the Moving Forward Together Association (MFTA), a Sydney-based initiative promoting unity and understanding across communities.

In response to rising racism during the COVID-19 pandemic, MFTA launched the Stop Racism Now campaign in partnership with the NSW Governor. Its 2023 social media campaign won the NSW Premier's Multicultural Award for Community Campaign of the Year.

Ernest received the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2007 and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022 for his enduring commitment to human rights and social justice.

Abang Anade Othow is an educator, speaker, writer, and leader. She is the founder of Buckets of Hope, an initiative that uses visualisation and mindfulness to help individuals and communities not only survive but thrive. Abang is the Deputy Chair of the Asylum Seekers Centre and was named in 2022 the National Ambassador for the NSW Department of Education. Her forthcoming book based on her experiences and the concept of the Buckets of Hope will be published by HarperCollins Publishers.

With a Master of Teaching, a Bachelor of Arts degree, and a Diploma in Business, Abang blends lived experience with academic insight to spark impact that resonates globally. 

Dr Lander has been working with various survivor communities for twenty years. He is honoured to consider both Ernie and Abang dear friends and colleagues. He is also proud of his ongoing relationship with ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú. He teaches Year 10 students about the Holocaust and brings Rwandan survivors to share their memories. The Rwandan survivors are part of an organisation he co-founded called Kumva and Kwibuka: Listen and Remember. www.kumkwi.org.au