Good morning to you all,

On behalf of Laddi’s family, thank you for attending St Theresa’s today to offer your respects and heartfelt words and thoughts of comfort during our sad time.

We have all had the pleasure of being part of Laddi’s life; we now all join to offer our goodbyes to Laddi knowing him as one of the quiet gentle men of our world.

Laddi Mlekus, born Ladislav Mlekus in the Republic of France on the 15^th of June 1926.

Laddi was the second child and youngest son of Francis and Matilda Mlekus; they were mining and farming people born in the Slovenian region within Austria.

Laddi was one of three children, Andre, Laddi and Dora.

Francis and Matilda Mlekus set off to France with young Andre to follow work it was during this time that Matilda gave birth to Laddi their second child, the young family then moved on to Holland where Dora, Laddi’s little sister was born and Laddi attended school.

The years passed and the Mlekus family returned to their homeland before the war years, only to find that it had now become a part of Yugoslavia and from this time on the country of Slovenia became a politically unstable region with numerous bordering countries laying claim to its lands and people.

It was during these years that Laddi and family lost their father to the mines and experienced the many hardships of living in the mountainous regions of the Alps of his homeland.

As a young man growing into the world Laddi began his apprenticeship as an electrician servicing homes and mines, then the Second World War devastated the peace times that the world was experiencing.

Laddi explained to me that during the war his homeland was annexed by the German military, he would say things were fine as long as you kept your nose clean. As the Germans were retreating, Laddi’s homeland was left in tatters, food water all basic necessities were and the human cost of the war was great.

To add to this German solders were rounding up the young regional men to serve in the German military.

Laddi decided it was time to leave, and with his mate Joe Klavora. They left their village and families, I imagine in tears as they left their mothers, brothers and sisters, possibly never to see them again.

They left and went over the mountains both men risking their lives to find freedom and the opportunity to start a new life.

The young men arrived in Italy after a harrowing journey, food, water, clothing, money, all had to be procured whilst remaining out of harms way using only your wits to survive.

Laddi’s ability to speak several languages was his saving grace, he was able to listen and understand what was being said, using this information to out wit his pursuers and stay out of harms way as much as possible.

It was in Italy that Laddi and mate Joe met George Babic, the trio were then sent to Australia arriving in 1950.

Once in Australia, things were not a great deal better for the immigrants of Europe at this time, herded into camps with little to eat and an even smaller understanding of the great land and its people life was truly different.

I remember Laddi telling me of the fascination the people in the camps had with the ha ha pigeons and whether they would be good eating or not. Mystified I asked him to explain, what a ha ha pigeon was, he told me that they all found out the real name for the bird was a Kookaburra.

I believe even though they were all very hungry, the ha ha pigeon survived to provide further fascination to the new Australians.

Laddi eventually arrived in Newcastle and stayed in a hostel in Mayfield, and started working at Rylands later to become AWI. Laddi was unable to work as an electrician due to a difference between European and Australian standards, and as much as he would have loved to qualify as an electrician in Australia, finding employment, accommodation and adjusting to new home was an education in itself.

Laddi then moved to boarding house in Beaumont Street Hamilton and then Corlette Street Cooks Hill.

It was at this time that Laddi met the love his life in the form of the beautiful Elizabeth Skeffington

At first when Laddi and Betty met, the customary introductions were in order Betty asked Laddi his name, Laddi told her Laddi, Betty replied that she had a pet dog named Laddi, so Laddi told her she could call him Peter, Betty then informed Laddi that she had another pet dog called Peter, however they agreed Betty would call Laddi Peter (Betty felt this was more suitable anyway because Laddi looked like a prominent English man named Peter Townsend who at the time was famous because he wanted to wed the Royal Prince Margaret.) Betty still went away thinking Laddi was Laddi’s nickname.

Betty and Laddi would meet at the public dances at the Palais in Newcastle to dance and eventually go out and have a coffee and socialise with Betty’s brothers, sisters and friends.

Betty was the lively yet traditional daughter of proud Scottish immigrant Daniel Skeffington and his loving wife Cecilia. Elizabeth is the youthful Betty that we all know and love is a member of a big family. The Skeffington family invite Laddi into their family as one of their own.

Laddi and Betty marry, here in St Theresa’s on the 29^th 0f November 1958.

Laddi and Betty start their family with the birth of son Peter in 1960, soon after they buy their family home in Hamilton at 116A Cleary Street. In 1962 son David is born in to the young Mlekus family, and then in 1964 Melissa is born to complete the family of Laddi and Betty, the proud parents bring their children up in the simple traditional way of the day, all sharing in the love that abounds and courses through the blood of the Skeffington clan.

In 1970 Laddi was the innocent driver involved in a car accident that left him with a broken back and off work for two years. Laddi was promised a job for life by his employer in the office doing maintenance scheduling, however due to this offer being made verbally 1981 rolled around and Laddi was retrenched.

Due to his age and previous injuries sustained in the car accident it became increasingly difficult for Laddi to find employment. It was at this time that Betty was returned to the work force and Laddi took on the role of housekeeper to provide the balance. Laddi also worked hard to fit in some time doing a little fishing with his mate Silvio and working on improving his golf swing, he got his hole in one which he was very proud of.

In 1885 Laddi returned to his homeland and got to see his mum for the first time in 35 years. This was an exciting time for Laddi; he also knew this visit home would probably be his last. He savoured it and constantly drew upon this return visit to recall the sights, sounds, smells and experienced of his homeland, a place I am sure a piece of his heart still remains.

However the biggest part of his heart and soul have been given to us over the precious years that Laddi has been part of our lives as a husband, father, grandfather, mate, storyteller, quiet gentle man, Laddi has always been more interested in each one of us, than he  ever was in himself.

Laddi Mlekus, thankyou for being a great part of our lives. Rest in Peace good friend.