APPENDIX N - 2009 The Australian Jewish News
http://www.geoffreyedelsten.com/2009-10-16-The-Australian-Jewish-News.pdf

Friday, October 16, 2009

Edelsten on that dress and his wedding

- AJN Staff

WEDDINGS do not get much bigger than the upcoming marriage of Dr Geoffrey Edelsten and wife-tobe Brynne Gordon.

Dr Edelsten, a former medical world high flyer, will marry Gordon in a lavish Jewish ceremony next month at Melbourne's Crown Casino.

The wedding will have a true Jewish flavour, with the invitations - sent out to 500 people � encouraging guests to join in the "fressing and nashing". The entertainment will be provided by two of the funniest Jewish people: Fran Drescher from TV show The Nanny and Jason Alexander, formerly of Seinfeld fame. The bride- and groom-to-be are also encouraging guests to donate money to their favourite charitable causes, including Magen David Adorn, the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation and the Australian Sports Foundation.

Their generosity will continue Dr Edelsten's commitment to charitable causes in the fields of music, medicine, education and sport. Importantly, American-born Gordon is on a quest to convert to Judaism, and is being assisted by the rabbis at Melbourne's Temple Beth Israel.

"We've been attending shul on Friday and Saturdays, she has been attending lessons and studying hard," he said. "I have to confess, I can't remember learning half of this stuff at Mount Scopus," he said of his alma mater. "Reading Ivrit [Hebrew] isn't difficult, but some of the history and celebrations I can't remember ever learning."

Dr Edelsten and his fianc�e hit the news recently, when Gordon wore a show-stopping dress to last month's AFL Brownlow Medal awards. The dress was bought in Las Vegas.

"I made a mistake by saying to her that young girls wear fashion [to the Brownlow] that is really out there," he said.

After a high~flying career as a doctor and successful medical entrepreneur, Dr Edelsten made headlines for the wrong reasons in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when he was struck off the medical register and then jailed for perverting the course of justice in 1990. Following his release, a review by a Supreme Court found a miscarriage of justice had taken place, but at the recommendation of a legal professional, Dr Edelsten never applied to have the conviction overturned. These setbacks, though, have not slowed down the now 66-year-old.

As well as his impending nuptials, Dr Edelsten is still running a number of medical centres. The former Sydney Swans Football Club owner is also pursuing his passion for AFL. Having grown up in Carlton, he has returned to his beloved Carlton Football Club, where he attends games and is a sponsor.