Slovenska skupnost v Sydneyu in še posebej člani kluba Panthers Triglav smo izgubili dragocenega prijatelja, ko je podlegel kruti bolezni Rudi Jakšetič.

Rudi je bil rojen leta 1928 v Trepčanah pri Ilirski Bistrici kot najmlajši od enajstih otrok. Oče mu je umrl, ko je bil star pet let in Rudi je zrasel na domači kmetiji, vse, dokler nista leta 1948 z bratom Alojzom pobegnila preko meje v Italijo. Rudi je do odhoda v Avstraljo leta 1949 delal kot vrtnar in še druga potrebna dela v samostanu blizu Rima. Po prihodu v Avstralijo z norveško ladjo je bil nekaj časa v taborišču v Lithgow, kjer je delal na gradnji cest. Nekaj let je delal na Snowy projektu, za tem pa različna dela v Sydneyu.dokler ni dobil delo v kompaniji Welcome Australia, kjer je bil zaposlen zadnjih 27 let. V Sydneyu se je leta 1957 poročil z Emo in vzredila sta lepo družino, hčerko Mirjam in. tri sinove, Dannija, Davida in Marka

V klub Triglav so prišli prvič s prijatelji v času, ko je bila že kupljena triglavska zemlja in so se ljudje zbirali v stari kmečki hiši in vrtu zraven nje. Rudi in njegova družina so tam našli njihov drugi dom. Vključili so se v delo triglavske skupnosti na vseh področjih, tako je postal Rudi odbornik v klubu in z ženo Emo sta opravljala dežurstvo, s kuhanjem, pečenjem mesa na žaru, postrežbo in vsemi drugimi potrebnimi deli pogosto tudi , kadar ni bila njihova vrsta. Rudi je v odboru prevzel odgovornost organiziranja prireditev in je zelo domiselno organiziral vinske trgatve, pustovanja, miklavževanja in druge privlačne prireditve. Njihovi otroci so obiskovali Triglavsko slovensko šolo in tudi kasneje Državno slovensko šolo v Bankstownu, sodelovali v slovenski mladinski organizaciji in v različnih mladinskih aktivostih v slovenski skupnosti in Rudi in Ema sta lahko ponosna nanje, saj sta jih vzgojila, da so vsi zrasli, kot strokovno usposobljeni, šolani in uspešni mladi ljudje, vredni spoštovanja.

Največja Rudijeva ljubezen pa je bilo petje. Ko je njegov prijatelj Boro Šedelbauer začel sestavljati Triglavski moški pevski zbor, je bil Rudi eden od prvih članov in ni nehal prepevati vse dokler se zaradi težke bolezni ni mogel več dvigniti iz postelje. S Triglavskim zborom je Rudi delil največje uspehe, nastop v sydneyski Operi, samostojne koncerte, turnejo po Sloveniji in Koroški in kasneje, ko jih je zapustil pevovodja, bolečino počasnega razpada zbora. V kasnejših letih je z drugimi preostalimi triglavskimi pevci prepeval v Cerkvenem pevskem zboru pod vodstvom sestre Francke Žižek, Moskem pevskem zboru pod vodstvom Ivana Tomšiča in Moškem pevskem zboru Rožmarin pod južnim soncem pod vodstvom Uroša Ergaverja. Ta zbor se je še posebej poslovil od njega s prelepim petjem ob njegovi krsti, enako kot tudi Cerkveni pevski zbor, v katerih obeh bo občutno manjkal njegov prelepi žametni bas.

Rudi se nas je dotaknil na vseh področjih našega življenja. Če je bila zabava, je bil Rudi med prvimi na plesišču, ko je bilo balinarsko tekmovanje, je Rudi kot pravi Primorec bil prvi na igrišču s balinarskimi kroglami, bil je z nami na avtobusnih izletih, dokler mu je zdravje dopuščalo, vedno pripravljen za šalo in pogovor, čeprav so njegove šale včasih malo neusmiljeno zadele tarčo;zraven pa nam je še vedno prinašal zelenjavo in cvetje iz njegovega ljubljenega vrta. Vedno je bil pripravljen pomagati, če je bila komu pomoč potrebna in med drugim je, vse dokler je mogel, nudil prevoz prijatelju pevcu, ki ga je bolezen zadela že pred njim.Iskreno sožalje njegovi ženi Emi, otrokom in vnukom in drugim sorodnikom! Pogrešali ga bomo kot člana naše družine in naj mu bo lahka avstralska zemlja,v grobu poleg brata Lojzeta, s katerim sta skupaj zapustila staro domovino in ki že petdeset let počiva na Rookwoodu.

Na fotografiji: Ema in Rudi Jakšetič

The Choir Rosemary Under The Southern Sun is taking leave of Rudi

Ema and children are saying farewell to Rudi

Thank you to everyone here today for joining my family at such a special time. On behalf of the five grandchildren (Mathew, Alex, Stephanie, Timothy and myself) I would just like to say a few words about my nono.

When I think of nono there is one word in particular for me that comes up over and over.To me this word explains him so well and simply. It explains both this strengths and weakness. This word is ‘STRONG’.

*Nono was strong when he lost his father and was left with a mother and 10 other brothers and sisters as the youngest child.

*Nono was strong when he came to Australia, married my beautiful grandma and raised four individually special children.

*Nono had strong work ethic. Everything was always done to the best of this ability, and treated as his own work even if it were for someone whom he had never met.

*Nono was strong minded and was very determined to think that he could never be wrong. In his mind nothing was ever doubted, everything was for certain.

*Nono had a strong voice like no other. Many of times you could hear his voice singing, telling someone off or asking when dinner was going to be at 5 mins to 5.

*Nono had strong determination for anything that was presented to him. A job, a request, a suggestion, anything of this nature was how nono helped others. If anything was broken he would fix it, if something was needed he would make it. His determination was at the utmost level.

*Nono had strong love. It wasn’t the type that was always crystal clear to see but you knew that it was always there.

*Finally ,nono’s strong power to live. He had been sick for a very long time but he was in the game till the last moment while I held his hand.

These are few examples of the strong traits and qualities that were within one man. More would be his strong touch, his will, his presence, his stubbornness and his strong drinks.

I like to think of the special bond that we shared, as it was one that he had with no other, or so I like to believe. It was a connection that two opinionated people had, both wanting to speak our minds but he would always listen to me and my thoughts. I could always tell him when he was being a grumpy man, and at those times the bond just got stronger as we both appreciated that we could speck that freely. It’s those times that I will miss so much. Nono was a fighter till the end. All the memories that I share with him, I will cherish forever. Anyone would be so fortunate to be apart of this mans life and by the people present in this room we can see how many people cared for him. From the days of nono trying to catch me as a toddler running round to a few days ago as I fed him spoonful by spoonful, each memory is precious and will be held close to my heart forever. I will not forget. I love you nono forever and ever.