Family's journey from Slovenia to Deni captured in new book

Tony had started writing the book as an autobiography before his passing on Christmas Day in 2024.

It was completed by wife Valerie, with assistance from sons Ian and Gary.

A complication in the book’s creation was that Tony had stored all that he’d written on an electronic tablet. And until 12 months ago, Valerie had never touched a tablet or computer.

As the person who encouraged her husband to write his story, Valerie is pleased to see his work come to fruition.

“I said to him one day, ‘In 100 years someone will want to know where this name has come from, so you’d better write something’,” she said.

“And that’s how it started.”

The book records Tony’s journey and connection to Deniliquin.

From his mountainous home of Čepno in Slovenia, he made the trek to Australia in 1956 as an 18 year-old. He came to settle on the flat plains at Deniliquin.

It was while delivering to Gillespie’s Hardware store he met Valerie, who had moved to Deni from Horsham in 1958.

West Deniliquin residents for almost 70 years, Valerie said Tony was particularly passionate about his community.

“I think he was always interested in writing. 40 years ago, he was very active writing letters to the editor of the newspaper,” she said.

“He would have had plenty to write about the irrigation issues and the hospital.”

Ian said Tony had experienced various lines of work around Deniliquin.

This included for the water commission at Lawson Syphons, as a driver at Lumbar’s Transport, in his own general engineering business and, later on, as a market farmer.

“He was farming out at Mundiwa, not far out of town on the Moonee Swamp Rd, mainly growing cantaloupes (rockmelon), lettuce and beans before growing a larger variety of vegetables on 30 acres. He had a market garden at one time,” Ian said.

“He was very passionate about farmers and the struggles of farmers.

“He’d had an understanding of the struggles of farmers through his friends who had farms in the district.”

The Purkeljcs said they’ve received positive feedback about the book, which they say serves as a bit of a history of Deniliquin.

Readers have also reported learning things even they did not know and about Tony’s extraordinary experiences, including his escape from Yugoslavia.

A Hosking Trophy winning public speaker after immigrating to Australia without any English, the book also includes some of Tony’s famous speeches.

A lot of them explore his own experiences, including from during wartime.

Valerie said publishing the book was a worthwhile experience.

“We’re happy we did it, and (Pastoral Times creative manager) Rebecca Flisher was a big help.

“Without her help, I don’t think it would have ever been finished.”

The book has unearthed many people who remember Tony, with the added benefit of preserving the Purkeljc’s history for relatives and grandsons, Thomas and Tiago.

The family has sold some copies of the book around Deniliquin, in Melbourne, and sent some overseas to Slovenia to relatives.

It is available for $45 from the family, or the Pastoral Times office.

• If you’ve written a book you would like published, enquire with rebecca.flisher@denipt.com.au or nigel.lutton@denipt.com.au or call 5881 2322.