MILANKO, MR J.

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON (Croydon—Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (15:23): Today I place on record the state's recognition of and appreciation for the life of Jim Milanko OAM of the Macedonian community and our appreciation for what he did for multiculturalism in South Australia. Jim Milanko died on Wednesday 9 April 2009, aged 64.

Jim was born in Dolno Kotori on 15 September 1944. He arrived in Adelaide with his family on 12 December 1955. Jim Milanko was a long serving committee member and office bearer of the Macedonian Community of Adelaide and South Australia Incorporated. He joined the community in 1964, was president of finance from 1966 to 1968 and public officer from 1970. He was president throughout the 1990s, a life member and also held the title of Elder.

Jim Milanko was also president of the Macedonian Orthodox Church of St Naum of Ohrid for many years and a committee member of the Macedonian Orthodox Church of Australia at the time of his death. I attended his funeral and there were many priests on the altar and dozens of mourners from interstate.

Jim was perhaps best known to the multicultural community as Chairman of Ethnic Broadcasters Incorporated for many years. He was chairman from 2001 to 2007, having been vice-chairman for seven before that. He was patron of the Macedonian community radio program on 5EBI FM from 1984 to 1994. Jim Milanko was the founding secretary of the Macedonian United Findon Soccer Club, established by the Macedonian Orthodox Community of South Australia, and was the club's president during the 1980s. He was also at one point a committee member of the Macedonian Council of Australia and was a member of the former Ethnic Communities Council of South Australia, which later amalgamated to become the present day Multicultural Communities Council of South Australia.

Like me, he was a supporter of the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles Australian Rules Football Club, and we often spoke at Woodville Oval during home games. Jim Milanko was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in the General Division of Australian Honours in 2004 'for service to multiculturalism in South Australia and to the Macedonian community'. Mr Milanko's family, in a notice published in The Advertiser, described him as:

A powerful man whose pride in his Macedonian Australian identity was only surpassed by his devotion to his family. [His] life has been an epic, and we mourn the passing of a true Macedonian warrior…

Jim Milanko is survived by his widow, Rina, children John and Vesna, Chris and Tania, and grandchildren Samuil, Mitchell and Paul. This well-known community leader will be greatly missed, and I offer my condolences to his family and friends.