When 23-year-old John Belani arrived on the docks of Melbourne’s Station Pier as a Slovakian refugee in 1959, he couldn’t have imagined he would one day be awarded one of his adopted country’s highest honours.
On Monday, Mr Belani was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to the Laverton community.
Able to speak only broken English, he was sent to Bonagilla migrant centre in Albury as he took his first steps towards a new life in Australia.
But, things could have turned out very differently had it not been for his wife, Anna.
“When I was in Slovakia, I didn’t know anything about Australia,” he said.
“I wanted to go to the Congo for an adventure, but I met my future wife Anna and she wanted to come to Australia.
“It was a choice between following my head or my heart and I followed my heart.”
After leaving Bonagilla, the couple picked grapes in Mildura before finally settling in the western suburbs, where they remain to this day.
A trained cabinet maker, Mr Belani wanted to build his own house, so in 1960, he started his own construction company in Laverton.
After 55 years, Belani Builders is still going strong.
“I didn’t actually plan to go into business,” he said.
“I’ve always had a strong work ethic and I love people. I still meet every one of our customers and when they move into a house we’ve built, it’s very satisfying.’’
Over the years, Mr Belani has dedicated himself to a number of causes as co-founder of the Good News Lutheran School in Tarneit, Slovak Social Club in Laverton and St Matthew’s Slovak Lutheran Congregation.
He donated land to build the Christ the Lord Slovak Lutheran Church in Laverton in 1974, helped build and establish the Hoppers Crossing Club and has been recognised as a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary, as well as sponsoring local sporting groups.
Recalling his own experiences, Mr Belani has become a strong supporter of those trying to escape the civil war in South Sudan, by funding an orphanage named Anna Belani, after his wife.
“As a Christian, I’ve always believed it’s important to help my fellow man,” he said.
“My philosophy is you can’t just take all the time, you have to give back as well.”
Turning 80 last December, Mr Belani celebrated the milestone in style by walking 33 kilometres from Laverton to Little River.
With two sons and five grandchildren, he still counts his lucky stars he followed his heart rather than his head all those years ago.
“I thank God he brought us to this lucky country – I think if I can make it here anybody can,” he said.
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