Awarding of the Torberg medal by the Jewish Community Vienna
February 17th was a big day for my family because we were awarded the „Marietta and Friedrich Torberg medal“.
In previous years well-known Austrians like governor Waltraud Klasnic, Univ. Prof. Dr. Clemens Jabloner (president of the Higher Administrative Court), Hon. Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Neugebauer (Head of the Archive of Austrian Resistance), the journalists Josef Broukal and Hans Rauscher, the former protestant superintendent Mag. Gertraud Knoll, and the publisher Alexander Potyka were awarded the Torberg medal.
This year there were two more awardees besides us, who have been taking care of the Jewish graveyards of Klosterneuburg and Wiener Neustadt. The medal was awarded to us as a family, what is very appropriate. Without the full support of my parents I wouldn’t be able to even start out with my research or invite so many people to our home. After all I was just 16 when I started my research. It was their interest and openness that offered a warm welcome and an open door to the many former people from Laa, their children and grandchildren. I want to mention the efforts of my father, who spent countless hours founding the society and managing the erection of the monument and of my mother, who spent much time with our guests and made important helpful suggestions.
You have the opportunity to listen to recordings of the laudation by Kitty Schrott (the quality improves with time) and the acceptance speech of my father and me.
You can also see some nice pictures that were taken before, during and after the event by Michael Nagel.
I want to thank the Jewish community of Vienna for the big honor and Family Schrott, who suggested us for the award. I also want to thank all friends, who spent this special evening with us.
Mag. Magdalena Müllner Munich, 20th February 2010