Anton's Eulogy

[NYCROATS.COM Staff]

My Dear Father Passed away a few weeks ago. He was a very special
person who had an amazing story of Hardship, good times and love.
He was a Croatian Patriot who touched many lives. If you have 15
minutes, you'll be inspired by this read.. This is his story in brief
for his Eulogy.
Antons Story

Standing here today looking out, I see so much love and support for our family and the love and respect that you had for my Dad.
Words such as Courageous, Compassionate, Dignified, Honorable, Humble, Passionate, Proud, Generous, Inspiring and Honest are not even big enough to describe this man  - our father, husband, grandfather, father in-law, brother, uncle and friend that was truly a ‘one in a billion’.
He came from adversity and hardship in a communist country to build an incredible life for his family in Australia filled with comfort, love and happiness.
Dads story that we are about to tell needs no embellishment as this is a story of a man that lived 100 lives in one life time. One only needed to look at Dad to know he had a great story- it was written on his face and in his eyes.
Although I am now going to attempt to give you an insight in to his life, I want you to imagine that this is Dad talking to you, because no- one could tell a story like Dad with his imagery, hand gestures, spirit and that little bit of magic.
Dad was born on the 4th of June 1930 in Olovo, Bosnia. He was the 6th of 10 children: Mato, Vinco, August, Paula, Drago, Anton, Milo, Bozo, Maria and Leopold, to Croatian parents Ilya and Maria.
From the age of 8 dad already had a strong business mind and work ethic. Starting a lolly shop in his local village, asking his Dad to purchase products while he was working in a large town called Zavdovici. Dad quickly discovered that his main clientele were soldiers so diversified in to selling tobacco to increase profits – now I don’t know too many other 8 year olds with that kind of entrepreneurial foresight!
At age 13 dads parents died within 6 months of each other and life as he knew it would be changed forever.
With his brothers and sisters all separated he went to live with an aunt and uncle in Zavdovici – Franjo and Kato Babic Bonic, and it was here at age 13 Dad started his trade as a fitter and turner – certainly not your average 13 year old!
At age 15, circumstances led Dad to be enlisted in to the Croatian / Ustasa army where he witnessed many things too tragic to mention.
His elder brother Vinco went to plead with officers to let Dad leave the army because he was so young, but to no avail.
So Vinco hatched a plan for Dad.
Vinco gave Dad instructions to jump on a freight train headed for Zavdovici and jump off before the train pulled in to avoid soldiers at the station. Once there dads other brother Drago was waiting for Dad with civilian clothes to get him to safety.
Meeting an old friend the next day in a local coffee shop, soldiers entered and approached the table, they asked if anyone knew of an Anton Bonic.
Dad sat there still as a statue while his friend replied ‘ I am not familiar with that name’. Dad knew that this was such a close call , so once again had to flee, this time to Kakanj to his Aunty Donka.

It was here that Dad became the second youngest locomotive train driver in Europe.
Elvis Presley was very popular around this time, so Dad used to wear a roller in his hair at night to get the jelly roll – just like Elvis.
One cold night the railway workers lit a drum using fuel to stay warm, unfortunately the fire got out of hand and they started yelling for Dads help.
Forgetting that he had the roller in his hair, he ran to help, only to have his roller catch alight and set his hair on fire.
When he told us this story we were never sure if he was more concerned about his hair catching alight or his friends seeing him with a roller in his hair.
At 21, forced back in to the army and increasingly disagreeing with communism, Dad decided to escape the now former Yugoslavia with friend Tony Kadvanj.
Once again boarding a freight train, jumping off in the early hours and continuing on foot, they made it over the boarder in to Triest, Italy.
Exhausted from their ordeal they fell asleep in long grass, unaware that they were within metres of a cliff face.
Dad recalls being abruptly woken by the Calibinari – the Italian police, with the words –     ‘ ha, ill give you your America’ !
Now to most Australians being jailed has negative connotations but Croatians jailed as political prisoners are regarded as hero’s, standing up and fighting for their freedom.
Dad was jailed for 2 months in Italy and then after prisoner exchange, 6 months back in the now former Yugoslavia.
Still determined for a better way of life, my courageous Dad once again escaped in 1956 with friend Mito Radic- again to Triest.
At the same time 2 of Dads friends that were champion rowers were in a race in Croatia and kept going, rowing all the way to Triest to meet him.
Once in Triest and with the assistance of a priest helping Croatian escapees, Dad listed on his immigration form Canada, France then Australia.
Dad received immigration to France.
Dads remarkable adventure continued when he arrived in France where in Czar he was offered work in a Cole mine as a fitter and turner.
As he couldn’t speak the language, they put him to work in the cole mine instead.
Dad never afraid to stand up for his rights, confronted the boss and an argument ensued- Dad in Croatian and his boss in French.
All dad understood from the argument was getting called a ‘swine’  - so with that he quit!
Continuing his incredible journey , Dad arrived in Paris in 1956. Here he met up with 2 friends and found themselves sleeping in abandoned cars to survive. One of his friends uncles worked in the Eifel Tower as a waiter and managed to get all 3 jobs as waiters there.


As dad could still not speak French fluently he was put to work in the back bar preparing drinks.
As waiters, the main income was from customer tips so Dad was outraged that he was stuck in the back bar and not with customers.
So dads knack for inspiring the masses and leadership qualities, talked the entire wait staff in the Eifel tower in to having a strike for better wages.
Unfortunately dads plan backfired and they all got the sack!

So dad being the survivor that he was , found a job in the Citroen factory, where he stayed until 1959.
On the 13th of April 1959 Dad arrived in Australia with 30 pound in his pocket to see his sister Paula and with plans to earn enough money in Australia to go back to Paris and open his own restaurant.
Paulas husband Sigfred, a doctor, was working in Sofala hospital- just outside Bathurst – a condition for all immigrant doctors to work in a country town.
It was in Sofala hospital that mum was working as a nurses aid.
The first time that mum and dad met was in the hospital kitchen and being so shy and innocent, the moment mum locked eyes with dad she ran like lightning out of the room. A year later on September 3rd 1960 they were married.
Mum and Dad’s was a true love story.
In the early years of marriage, Dad could speak Croatian, Italian, German and French – but alas no English. So to communicate, mum would draw him pictures – she would draw a stick figure of herself holding a loaf of bread  , so dad knew that she was at the bakery.
Mum recalls their first house purchased for 400 pound, it had no laundry, cold air would come through the cracks in the walls – but to them it was one of the happiest times of their life.
After having a job in a welding shop, in 1964 , Dad decided to open his own business and started Stewart constructions.
As the business prospered , Dad moved the business to the old Bathurst baths and changed its name to Bonic Constructions. With business growing, Dad asked his youngest brother Leo to join him and form a partnership.
Throughout his life dad has always led by example and showed us what hard work really was. Working sometimes all night to complete projects there was no job ever to small or large for the brothers who forged an incredibly successful business. It was a proud  moment when for a short time when four brothers Dad, Leo, Milo and Bozo all worked in the business.
With his business flourishing so was his home life, In 1961 Lana was born followed by Vincent then Mark. Family was always number one, and I often heard stories of dad driving from Bathurst to Canberra to see his sisters just for a cup of tea then straight back home.

Now those folk out there that have seen Dad in a social situation would know that he was the life of any party.
He loved to share his Croatian culture even if it was just though having a shot of plum brandy.
He was so excited when he and Leo bought land and it happened to have a plum orchard - that he had Vincent, Mark, and nephews Tomi and Ilya picking plums to make slivovitz for the winter!
He would make family and strangers feel equally welcome in his home, regaling them with stories and words of wisdom. Even if you weren’t friends before the party, by the end of the evening , you had found a new best friend in Dad.

Dad gained a reputation as a honorable and generous man, there are countless stories of him donating money and financially supporting friends and strangers – but in Dads humble fashion, never wanted any recognition.

Of course, it would not be an accurate story if I did not mention Dads passion and fiery Croatian personality.
As captain of the soccer team in Bathurst, Dad could never sit back and tolerate injustice. So one icey morning in Bathurst a verbal disagreement ensued between Dad and the Ref after a poor ref decision.
As the argument escalated, Dad got the entire team to walk off in protest making the front page of the paper.– only Dad could have a way of getting others to back his cause ! As quickly as Dad exploded – he would calm down and his team went on to win the district championships.
Never wasting a moment in life, Dad then decided to get his pilots licence and fulfilled a dream of flying solo.
Mum and Dads home life was a happy sanctuary and his family was his world. In 1974 Chenoa was born , followed by Augustin, Luke and then me. All of us 7 children truly had a blessed childhood, not wanting for anything, rich with love and with mum and dads support , made us believe that any of our dreams were possible.
Dads wisdom and support extended beyond his wife and kids to his closeness with his two sisters Paula and Maria, respect and honour for his brother Mato- a Franciscan priest , compassion and closeness with his composer brother Milo, incredible bond with his brother Bozo and protection and proudness of his brother leo – and most of all – unconditional love for is brothers, sisters and their families.
Dads heart was broken with the premature deaths of Vinco, August and Drago but he always spoke of them with fond memories and love in his eyes.
Whilst Dad lived and breathed Croatian honor he also adopted his wifes home of Australia and loved her family with open arms. Chris, Kay, Coral, Roger and their families all adored this larger than life man that had swept their sister of her feet.


In 1988 after Mum was diagnosed with cancer, he moved his family to the central coast for a warmer climate to aid in mums recovery.
Dad was the strongest, bravest man I know, but when it came to mum and her well being he would fall to pieces.
I recall a few years ago mum fell off a stool whilst changing a light bulb and cut her leg quite badly. Instead of comforting mum , mum had to passify dad saying ‘ill be ok Tony’ as he was crying like a baby on the floor.
When we arrived on the Central Coast Dad started his new business – Bonic Builders – where in his retirement years, he went on to build over 40 units, house and commercial properties over the next 20 years – including the family home where we still live today.
So let me recap-        Business owner at 8
                        Fitter and turner at 13
                        Soldier at 15
                        Train driver at 19
        then miner, waiter in the Eifel tower, pilot, engineer then builder – wow not bad!
Although Dad was a successful business man, his real joy was with his family and seeing them happy.
We are so grateful that we have had so many family events and parties, as family was his world.
He loved and supported us all –
Children: Lana, Vincent, Mark, Chenoa, Augustin, Luke and Lydia.
In Laws: Chris, Kathy, Tonk and Leone and
Grandchildren: Daniel, Lachlan ,Olivia, Jordan, Isaac, Ben, Mathew, Adam, Nicholas, Lauren, Orlando, Darcy and Phelix.
Over the last few years Dad was in his element , dividing his time between his home at Green Point and his home in Markaska – Croatia. It gave him great joy to invite family and friends to stay in Croatia and show them his heritage.
Two proud moments in Dads life were in 1992 when Chenoa our ballerina, was accepted in to the Zagreb ballet company in Croatia where she performed for two seasons.
Again on June 4th in 2007when Gus and Luke played with INXS in Zagreb. This happened to fall on Dads birthday and backstage the INXS boys requested that Dad make a speech. He mentioned that families need to stick together and the importance of brotherhood- there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
Dad never stopped working and living life – he loved it. Only 6 weeks ago he was pouring a concrete slab with Vincent –one of the many slabs that he did with all of his sons and son in-laws. He was swimming every day, regularly going to live music gigs and the savviest 81 year old on his ipad. Our neighbors even referred to him as action man – when at 80 he restored our jetty on his own in a little dingy.




He always made us smile and we loved his sometimes stumble of the English language.
Instead of hearing that his tradesman had had a relapse – dad thought he said he was having a RELAX- so said that’s good!
When ordering crepes in a café the waiter arrived with his plate- dad said ‘what’s this crap’ – not realizing it was pronounced crepe!
The stories go on and on – when he was looking for prunes the shop assistant directed him to the prawns…. He really was a one of a kind.

When all is said and done though, it comes back to mum. A love like there’s is something that we can all aspire to. 51 years of marriage, they stood united through sickness and health, happiness and tragedy, hardship and prosperity. Dad always used to say ‘ mum will go to heaven with her shoes on’ – he idolized her. When mum was staying for a week in Sydney, Dad sadly came down the stairs and said ‘ its no fun without mumma’.

Today we farewell our hero.
He was the life blood and back bone of our family.
He saw the goodness in everyone and took people for their word.
He made us believe that through hard work , anything is possible.
We are losing a great man today but he has shown us all so much and what we can aspire to.
So I wanted to leave you with Dads favorite saying – ‘together we can do anything’.


-NYCROATS STAFF