Bridge Connection Barfold, Baynton, Derrinal, Elphinstone, Glenhope, Heathcote, Kyneton, Langley, Metcalfe, Sidonia, Sutton Grange Edition 45 August 2013 A community owned newspaper From tragedy to triumph Make a Wish Foundation on the right note By Jim Mynard Redesdale father of twin and work commitments teenagers, Dino Tomisic, there was a time limit,” he has warmly thanked the said. Make a Wish Foundation The holiday trio set off dur- for supporting his twin son, ing July 2012, but on the Leigh, after a sudden med- morning of the fourth day ical accident in Leigh’s Leigh collapsed with no brain, during a trip to warning, throwing up bile Sweden. and was in spasms. The boys had pressed The Swedish medical sys- their Dad for a few years to tem went into action, with take them back to his an ambulance arriving homeland. within 15 minutes and “They wanted to see where Leigh was taken to the I ran around as a kid,” he Lund University Hospital said. 130 kilometres away. Dino was born in a little vil- ”They are second to none lage about 20 kilometres in the world,” said Dino. north of Pula on the He was placed on life sup- Peninsula of Istria in the port for nearly four weeks south coast of Croatia, and Dino, with Leigh’s twin about one hour by boat brother, Cody, made the from Venice. 260 kilometre round trip When he was eight years from Anna’s home every old his parents moved to day for six weeks. Sweden in search of a bet- This was a family in crisis. ter future, and to escape They sat with him from communist oppression. 9am to 8pm every day. “My elder sister, Anna, still Dino said the boys were lives in Sweden with her living with their Mum, who husband of almost 50 had made a new life with years, and their children her husband at Warragul, and grandchildren. but she was able to come Dino and his younger to him. brother came to Australia Dino, and his new wife, with their parents during Jenny, run the Redesdale 1968 when he was 15. Servo. “Our plan was to spend Leigh is back at school, but three weeks visiting Swe- still in the final stages of den, Croatia, Venice, and recovery, although Dino Milan. says he is nearly there. Leigh Tomisic proudly displays his new Dave Ellefson base guitar, specially auto- “Due to school holidays To Page 2 graphed by the famous musician. From Page 1 accept a scenario of his mate operations before he could be back and forth to Australia, to “We also received wonderful not making it. brought home. his Mum until she was able to support from Anna, her hus- His belief was unshacken, Besides triumphing over his ill- come to him, and to the insur- band, and their children with even when his brother’s brain ness, Leigh had a wish to own ance company in London. everyone alternating with driv- swelled to a critical level. a Dave Ellefson base guitar. “Whatever you do, please do ing and cooking. Dino watched on: “Cody would The Make a Wish Foundation not leave home without travel “And the neuro surgeons at sometimes go for a long run presented Leigh with the gui- insurance. Lund Hospital are recognised for obvious reasons. tar during a special function. “Without our insurance I would as among the best in the “I just consulted my psycholo- Leigh has trouble with his now be bankrupt because world, if not the best. gist and good mate, Johnny short term memory, but it is all there was no change from Without their skills we would Walker,” said the father who there when it comes to making $1million.” he said. Leigh was have lost Leigh,” he said. might lose his son. music, and it is probably not flown to Melbourne with a doc- Dino speaks of ‘that golden Cody called on the spirit of hard to guess, just what he will tor and nurse and admitted to hour’ the time crucial for Leigh Leigh’s favourite guitarist, be playing. Monash Hospital where he to benefit from their life saving Dave Ellefson, from the Maybe there was just enough spent six months in slow work. Jackson Dave Ellefson Sig- Johnnie Walker to ward off recovery. He regained his bal- “Leigh had been living with a nature CBXV group, and dehydration, but Dino also had lance, his speech, most of his ticking time bomb because of placed his own iphone against other things to consider, so memory, and is back at school a malfunctioning vein in his Leigh’s ear, with Dave not too much consultation with in Warragul; still doing some brain. Ellefson’s music coming Johnnie. rehabilitation. And playing lots “It was always going to burst,” through. “We had daily phone calls of music. said Dino, still shaken from his Leighs left hand began to concerns. move as if he was was work- The brilliant surgeons had ing the strings. done their work well, but a twin Dino said staff in the intensive brother by Leigh’s side creat- care unit erupted in applause. ed a trigger for his re-sponse. Dino then knew there was During the five weeks Leigh hope for his boy. was in a coma, Cody was a “He began after a few days to solid rock and refused to recognise me,” he said. But there were emergency Farm Quad Bikes for sale 0408 510 509 Index Mia Mia history project Page 3 Letters Page 4 Bendigo council grants Page 6 Redesdale and District Association Page 7 University/s of Third Age Page 9 History Snippets - Noel Davis Page 10 Leigh Tomisic, left, with twin brother Cody, after the Make a Wish Foundation Heathcote memorabilia Page 11 presentation. Fines out for unregistered pets Page 13 Diary Dates Page 14 Editorial Page 14 A ‘party planned’ for Redesdale Rainfall Page 14 Redesdale and district residents are invited to a launch Womens’ Honour Roll nomination Page 15 party for the revised community plan and new website. Kyneton Antique Fair Page 20 The party is set for 6pm in the Redesdale Hall on Sunday 8 September. Admission is free and refreshments are free. Profits from the Bridge Connection For catering purposes please RSVP if you are coming - by are email on [email protected] or by phone on 5425 3272 returned to the community with a message. Page 2 Bridge Connection August 2013 Strong future for Mia Mia history project By Kate Hicks Desperately seeking Mia Mia people We’ve had a good response to our call for people with Mia Mia family Mia Mia community is compiling a history of the Mia Mia District. Already excellent and treas- connections to share their stories ured information has been gathered, but the team wants to hear from anyone with any information with us. passed down through families. Diaries and letters are valuable. A history We know there are many more of display in July moved the project forward enormously. you out there who have not yet con- Please send any information to Kate Hicks at [email protected] tacted us. or phone Kate on 5425 5565. We are keen to have all Mia Mia families, both present and past, rep- resented in the book. The area we are covering in the book includes the parishes of Spring Plains, Glenhope, and Langworner, including Meadow Valley. These are all Dalhousie County, some in City of Greater Bendigo and some in Mitchell Shire, and all are now included in the Mia Mia CFA brigade area. Several people have asked what we are seeking as contributions. We want the stories that you might tell your children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren about growing up in this area; the stories you have heard from current and former resi- Above. From left: Sheila Madden, Kathie Smith, Phillip Anderson, Rosalie and Michael McKenzie- dents of the area, the stories about McHarg. Below. The Bennett family. From left: Tom, Peter, Helen, Brooke, Laura, and Mary. why people came to Mia Mia, the joys and the sorrows of their time here, what they did here, and, if they are no longer here, why they left. We’d like to have as many family stories as possible, not complete family histories, just those family stories that relate to Mia Mia. We are able to access many official records such as rate books and school records, as well as old news- paper stories, but we want to include the stories of the people who helped make our community. The official content is relatively easy to obtain, although very time con- suming. The personal stories can only come from you. If you have contact with any Mia Mia residents, past or current, please ask them to contact us, they can email us at [email protected] or phone Kate on 5425 5565. We'll be following up all those who have already contacted us later in the year. Coming soon to an Internet address near you is the new Mia Mia website. It should be operational by the start of September. We will provide the website address in the next Bridge Connection. The website will allow us to keep you Left: Howard Nathan and Jenny Dempster. informed of progress on the history Above: Three generations - descendants of project. Michael Moroney. Bridge Connection August 2013 Page 3 Letters Australia leads Alzheimer research By Louise Joy "We are the best in the world at Alzheimers’ Disease speak to Heathcote U3A. Recently, a disgusting break in Research", said Rob Williams, Chief Research "What is the event?" asked Gail Casey accustomed occured in Redesdale.