The modern medical and allied health facility being built on Ridgway by the Mirboo North and District Community Foundation (the Community Foundation), will now include a pathology room.
This addition is due entirely to a generous bequest by Joe (Joze) Zadnick from Allambee South. To recognise Joe’s generosity the new pathology space will be called the Zadnick Pathology Room.
The original plansfor this facility, developed in conjunction with the Mirboo North Medical Centre, did not include space for pathology services as these had been catered for at the aged care facility.
Paul Pratt, Chair of the Community Foundation, explained that the need became apparent as the year progressed.
“The impact of Covid made it clear that a dedicated pathology space within the medical centre was very important.”
“After consideration it was decided to fund the additional cost for the pathology room with the earnings from a bequest Joe Zadnick made to the Community Foundation in 2016,” said Paul.
Joe Zadnick was a tree feller and cattle farmer who lived with his wife, Marte, on Grand Ridge Road in Allambee South.
Originally from Slovenia, he emigrated to Australia after World War II without a word of English. This had changed by the time he met his wife, Marte, who had also emigrated from Europe: English was their one shared language, as Marte’s mother tongue was German.
When Joe and Marte moved to Allambee South from Noojee in the late 1970s, he became good friends with his neighbour, Ron Pennycuick, who had also worked in the tree felling industry.
The two families farmed worked alongside each other and the young Pennycuicks were like children to Marte, who never had any children of her own.
Phil Pennycuik still remembers his family’s relationship with the Zadnicks fondly.
“As kids we spent lots of time on their farm and Marte would often cook us meals – although they were generally in a European style we were not used to!”
“As I grew older, I would help out with the farm or fixing up machinery,” recalled Phil.
Joe’s frugal and self-sufficient approach to life and farming, common to many in our region, meant that he had considerable assets to distribute when he died.
In his will he supported a number of causes which were important to him. One of those causes was a bequest of almost $225,000 to the Community Foundation.
This bequest was targeted broadly at the wellbeing of the place that he and Marte called home.
Rob Kiddell, Vice-Chair of the Community Foundation explained how the initial $225,000 had grown over time. “Joe’s bequest has earned more than $80,000 over the past five years, which meant that the Community Foundation was well placed to distribute a large amount to cover the cost of adding the pathology room to the medical centre building.”
“Even better, in addition to funding the cost of this pathology space, the Community Foundation’s perpetual model means that this bequest will continue to grow. Joe’s legacy will therefore go on being used to strengthen the wellbeing of our district into the future.”
“While the Community Foundation was originally established with the money from the sale of the Bush Nursing Hospital, it is also perfectly placed to manage bequests such as Joe’s.
We are a safe pair of hands to ensure that bequests will continue to support projects you really care about in your community.
The actions we take today will have a positive impact our community for many years to come,” said Rob.
For more information about the work of the Mirboo North and District Community Foundation please visit: mirboodistrictfoundation.org.au
