Committee
Alida Lipton
President
Alida's connection with football began over 15 years ago when her two sons played Auskick with AJAX. They continued to play every age/year with the Junior Club until U17, both winning premierships as juniors. She assisted their teams wherever possible, First Aid Trainer at matches, organising social events and junior parental rostering duties.
With youngest son Toby in the Senior Men's Team, she joined the committee in 2019 bringing her Administrative skills and commitment to the Club. She has previously served on the Maccabi AJAX Swimming Club as Secretary, having competed as a junior & open athlete.
Becoming President at end of 2022 she is excited for the Club to continue to flourish, grow and be an integral part of the local Jewish community as well as successful in the sporting community.
She believes in the importance of teamwork both on and off the field and her love of sport and passion for Maccabi strengthens her drive to contribute to the Club every way possible.
Alida is a Support worker as well as a practicing Yoga & Meditation teacher and uses many of these skills in every day life.
Craig Joel
Vice President
Craig joined AJAX Senior Football Club in 2014 and as well as being the Vice President since 2016, he is also the Team Manager of the Development Team since 2015.
Craig played little league with AJAX in its formation years, and school football with Wesley College.
His sons Brandon and Andrew play with the senior club, which may be one of the reasons we are fortunate to have Craig on the committee.
Outside of the Club, Craig is Director at Joelcorp Pty Ltd where his interests are in Property investment.
He is also a lover of fishing and classic cars.
Adam Micmacher
Vice President/Head of Football Operations
Adam has been associated with the AJAX Football Club since joining the Junior Club in 1975 having played over 100 games with both the Junior Club and the Senior Club.
He is now enjoying supporting his four children to so the same with his two eldest boys and daughter currently playing at the Senior Club and his youngest son at the Junior club.
As Head of Football Operations, Adam oversees the Football Department, ensuring every Jewish footballer has the opportunity to be part of this great Club and Community.
By day, Adam is an accountant working as the managing partner for the accounting firm of Lowensteins Arts Management. He has worked with the organisation since 1987 and has thoroughly enjoyed the journey from lowly shlepper to a partner. In 1996 he was given the opportunity to head up the NSW practice which saw him move to Sydney and live there till the end of 2010.
Now back in Melbourne, and spending most weekends watching his children’s sporting activities through the whole Maccabi umbrella
He is keen to give back to the club that has provided him with so many wonderful memories, friendships and trophies along the way. He sees the AJAX football club as the cornerstone of the Jewish sporting community and his aim is to try to ensure that as many Jewish boys and girls find their way to the club to not only wear the AJAX jumper, but more importantly, to enjoy their participation as part of the club
0418 897 788
Peter Kagan
Secretary
Peter played in the last North v South match which was the forerunner of the AJAX Football Club. He trained with St. Kilda U18 in 1957 however a knee injury put a premature stop to his season for that year.
In 1958 he joined AJAX at the Peanut Farm in St. Kilda, however after three matches, his work career took him away from football. One of his work colleagues recruited him to play with Old Trinity where he played continuously until 1970. During another knee injury in 1965 he recuperated by taking up fencing.
In 1969 having played well over 100 senior games, Peter continued his involvement at Old Trinity for a number of years on their committee. After retiring from football PK took up serious squash and played competition pennant for many years for North Eastern Jewish Community in Doncaster and represented Australia five times at the Maccabiah Games in Israel and at the Pan American Maccabiah Games in Chile.
Peter joined the thousands watching AJAX win the flag in 1979 B Grade and has only missed a handful of matches since. He joined the committee in 1997 and has been an invaluable member ever since. Peter attends every training session, every match, pre-season, post-season and is our most treasured committee member and supporter. His wife of over 50 years Denise and 3 daughters, are working on providing grandchildren for PK, to play with the Jackas - so far he is 5 into the count.
In 2022 he was awarded Maccabi Victoria Life Membership, in 2011 he was awarded a life member of AJAX FC and in 2016 was also recognised by the VAFA with “The Certificate of Merit”. Having a career in accounting working with organisations including Qantas, Jetset Tours, Nexia, Lowe Lippman, his business acumen even assisted Olympian Michael Klim set up his business. Now, semi-retired he is involved in handling the management and accounting for a Body Corporate group.
Peter's aim is to make certain the club is inclusive welcoming of all regardless of ability. Over the past few years despite its many headaches he has enjoyed ensuring the Thirds can play competitive Sunday games.
PK has achieved immense pleasure in is involvement with the AJAX FC and has ambitions to write a book “The Road Back to A Grade”.
Simon Donath
Treasurer
Simons' background is in finance where he became a Chartered Accountant and worked for Price Waterhouse both in Melbourne and New York. Over the past 20 years, Simon has been a successful entrepreneur setting up businesses in the food retail, wholesale, manufacturing sectors.
He played over 80 games for AJAX as a junior and has been a passionate supporter of the AJAX Football Club for over 15 years regularly coming to watch games as a spectator.
Together with lovely wife Sarah, he has two kids, aged 24 and 20 who are also involved in the community.
Simon is looking forward to the next phase in the Club.
Peter Berkowitz
Committee
A passionate football fan of both AJAX FC and Carlton FC, Peter has had a long journey at AJAX starting some 20 years ago assisting in the club's Auskick program. He then moved up the ranks through to Juniors and his son Justin plays in the Senior Team. Peter joined the Senior Committee in 2016 and served as one of the Co-Vice Presidents up until end of 2021.
Peter is always on hand to help out across the Club, and was recently instrumental in overseeing the Club's new non playing and Team apparel wear.
Outside of the Club, Peter is CEO of Berkowitz Furniture, a furniture family!
Mandy Caplan
Committee
Mandy's association with AJAX began with the Junior FC , standing on the sidelines watching her two sons play. Her attendance was soon consumed by the tasks earmarked for the perennial wife of the Team Manager! As the years passed and women's football gained popularity, Mandy's two daughters excitedly joined ‘the club’ and became part of the Jackettes.
This time Mandy took the opportunity to personally contribute and joined the Committee in 2018 (one of the first women to join the Committee) and became the Team Manager for the Jackettes.
AJAX FC was now a family affair and a major component of the Caplan family life.
She feels that whether our AJAX women choose to play for fitness, social connection or recreation, they have taken to the field with spirit, energy and a passion that proves that Football and AJAX FC belongs to them as well!
Without a doubt this role is Mandy's most rewarding and she feels proud to be a part of AJAX.
Jeff Israel
Committee
Jeffrey began his AJAX football club journey as a junior footballer and made a short comeback to play a couple of seasons with the seniors in his mid twenties. Jeff is very passionate about supporting Jewish sports and has previously held roles on the Maccabi AJAX Cricket Club Committee including 3 years as President. He has coached his son's junior AJAX football team for 4 seasons, finishing off with a flag. Jeff's return to the senior cub came via his son Jonty's involvement running water for the seniors.
Jeff is keen to see all members of the community given the opportunity to be part of the club, and last season he headed up the AJAX All Abilities football program, and it is this role that brought him back to the Committee, as he is trying to encourage the inclusion of the all abilities in the club as an on going opportunity to train and perhaps play representing AJAX Football Club.
Outside football Jeff's passions are motor sport, drifting and cricket. He owns and runs McKinnon discount Tyres.
Danielle McKeown
Committee
Danielle joined the committee in 2023. Her husband, Les Webb is a former AJAX player and son Noah currently plays with the senior team.
Danielle joins the committee with a focus on Legal and Integrity issues.
She works as a criminal lawyer for Victoria Legal Aid.
Phone 0419677001
Email danielle@itvconsult.com
Albert Peker
Committee
Albert is no stranger to Maccabi sport, having served as President on the Maccabi Basketball Club for many years.
His passion and dedication to the community is strong and with two of his sons playing senior football.
Andrew Shenker
Committee
We welcome Andrew back to the committee. As Life Member and former Vice President, Andrew brings his wealth of football knowledge as well as Community contacts and passion back to the Club. His role as General Manager Operations gives us the ability to operate on a professional level.
AJAX AMATEUR FOOTBALL CLUB
ABN: 45 867 575 783
c/-PO Box 1067, Elsternwick VIC 3185