Vanessa Fabjančič se je rodila 5.februarja 1974 staršem slovenskega porekla, Mariji in Tonetu Fabjančič, ki že dolgo živita v predmestju Sydneya po imenu Condell Park. Vanessa je obiskovala katoliško šolo Nazaret v Bankstown in istočasno tudi maturirala iz slovenscine na državni šoli v Bankstownu. Bila je navdušena Slovenka in spominjamo se je, ko je bila stara 4 leta in je v Klubu Triglav nastopala na proslavi Očetovskega dne, kasneje pa je bila ena od stalnih članic Triglavske folklorne skupine, s katero je nastopala tudi na festivalu v Sydneyski Operi. Že zelo zgodaj se je začela zanimati za delo z mladino in aktivno sodelovala v Young Youth organizaciji, kjer je bila imenovana za Ambasadorja for Young Youth. Pri delu z ogroženo mlaino je sodelovala s policijo in dobrodelnimi organizacijami in pogosto se je zgodilo, da so prenoćevali v njihovi domaći hiši mladi ljudje, ki niso imeli doma ali družine. Sodelovala je tudi pri izdajanju časopisov, med njimi tudi glasilo mladine slovenskega porekla Australian Slovenian Review .

Na West Mc Carthur Univerzi je diplomirala iz ekonomije in se zaposlila pri National Banki v Sydneyu. Poslali so jo v Melbourne, kjer je na Monash Univerzi dodatno studirala marketing. S partnerjem Bradom Mc Kay sta odšla v Anglijo, kjer je Vanessa delala kot Marketing Manager pri Royal Scotish Bank v Londonu in zraven sta spoznavala Evropo, preden bi se vrnila v Sydney, kjer sta si kupila hišo z namenom, da si ustvarita dom in družino. Iznenadna in kruta bolezen jima je prekrižala načrte in Vanessa je morala začeti z zdravljenjem, ki je nekaj časa izgledalo uspešno. Kljub prigovarjanju je Vanessa želela počakati s poroko, da bo izven nevarnosti,da bo spet krepka in zdrava, da ji bodo zrasli lasje, ki jih je radiacija uničila in nekaj časa je bilo videti, da je premagala bolezen. Vrnila sta se v Sydney, da bi bila blizu svojih ljubečih družin in Vanessa je bila polna močne volje in zaupanja, da bo premagala bolezen. Ko se ji je stanje poslabšalo, je Brad dobil dopust od banke, ki je oba zaposlovala, da se je posvetil Vanessini negi. Na žalost ni pomagalo ne zdravljenje, ne ljubeča nega niti skrb in ljubezen Brada, staršev, brata , prijateljev in sorodnikov, 8.novembra 2007 je izgubila borbo.Kako ljubljena in spoštovana je bila Vanessa, je pokazala neizmerna množica žalujočih, ki so se zbrali, da bi jo pospremili na zadnji poti na Slovensko pokopališče v Rookwoodu.

Težko nam je razumeti in verjeti, da je odšla resnično v cvetu mladosti, da ne bomo več videli njenega ljubeznivega nasmeha, da nikoli ne bo doživela sreče držati v naročju svoje lastne otroke...

Poznali smo jo kot otroka, kot šolarko, kot dekle v narodni noši, kot mlado ženo na robu življenja, kot bled, od trpljenja zaznamovan obraz in oko se nam solzi ob misli, da smo se morali dokončno posloviti ond nje...

Martha Magajna , Klub Panthers Triglav

My name is Brad McKay. I have been Vanessa’s loving partner for ten wonderful years.

 With these words I hope to capture in some very small way how much Vanessa meant (and means) to me, and the impact she had on my life and the lives of others.

Although she was with us for what seems like a short period of time, her positive attitude, zest for life and complete selflessness left an impression that I am sure will never be forgotten.

Like all the things in our lives we cherish, we always crave more. While Vanessa’s passing came too early for any of us to comprehend, we can take solace from the way Vanessa lived her life and the joy she brought to so many people.

Vanessa not only opened the door for me to new friends and family, she also taught me the importance of tolerance, kindness and compassion. She was someone who respected her Slovenian heritage, but also maintained her own sense of identity.

Those who met Vanessa could not help but have been touched and inspired by her. She didn’t allow her battle to in any way diminish her grace, poise or dignity, and she continued to fight with the same positive outlook on life, which I loved and admired.

Vanessa’s personality did not come about by chance. She is primarily the result of the teachers and role models that are her parents, Tony and Maria.

The gratitude I feel towards them for helping make Vanessa the person she was, and for the warmth, love and support they have shown me over the years is profound. Similarly, Vanessa’s extended family has always made me feel like an adopted Slovenian.

Vanessa packed more into her 33 years than many people cram into a lifetime. Suffice to say, life with Vanessa was anything but dull – Australian tropical islands, London pubs, European restaurants, Asian resorts. All the better if the experience involved shopping – budget was never a consideration...

She was an intelligent, articulate woman with a successful career. That said, she never lost sight of the things that were most important to her, family and friends.

The vibrant sense of humour that she brought to all aspects of her life contributed to her warmth and incandescence. Vanessa always lit up every room she entered. She had an incredible way of making you feel better about yourself.

Vanessa has left me a legacy the depths of which I am sure I will never fully be able to comprehend. One thing I am certain of is that she made me a better person - not by coercion, not by direction, but simply by being the beautiful, precious and irresistible woman she was.

I loved her in life, I will love her forever.

Zbogom draga mojega srca;
lepa punca ,moje dekle.
Sedaj mirno spis s angeli –
zbogom draga, in lahko noc.

15 November 2007