By Mitchell Clarke
A much-loved Pakenham man has succumbed to Motor-Neurone disease (MND) just over two years after being diagnosed with the insidious illness.
Gavin Boloski, 59, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday 8 August, just months after the debilitating disease aggressively took hold.
His heartbroken sister Joanne Staindl told the Gazette that although Gavin knew his time was limited, he had hoped he still had months left to live.
“It was the right time, because he couldn’t even walk a step, or stand up, or talk. It was ridiculously, insanely heartbreaking to witness,” she said.
“By the end, he couldn’t feed himself and he needed to be hoisted out of his wheelchair. We couldn’t want him to stay anymore, for his sake. For ours, we’d keep him here forever, but we knew we had to let him go.”
Formally diagnosed in June 2018, Mr Boloski seized his diagnosis with absolute dignity, despite being in denial at first.
The unfathomable disease, which has gained notoriety from AFL legend Neale Daniher, is essentially a death sentence.
Mr Boloski’s own father met the same fate. He lived just nine months after being diagnosed with the same evil illness in 1992.
“It’s a world of pain to have that sort of thing confirmed because there is no hope, no chance,” Ms Staindl said.
“There is no hope beyond motor neurone. Gavin knew that and it hung over his head from day one.”
Mr Boloski is being remembered by his loved ones as an “absolute gentleman who was incredibly humble”.
In 1998, he moved from Christchurch to Australia, where he landed a job as a tour driver in Alice Springs, before relocating to Pakenham in 2000.
Mr Boloski fast became a popular face within the coaching industry, and dedicated over two decades of his life behind the wheel, delivering memorable holidays, supporting colleagues in the industry and demonstrating a “boundless commitment to excellence”.
While he spent the majority of his time out on the road, he co-founded local touring company, Tour Local with his sister, and played an important, behind the scenes role and occasionally took local groups away.
“He had a plan to drive until his 70s. It was more than just a job to him,” Ms Staindl explained.
But true to MND’s awful form, Mr Boloski’s symptoms got progressively worse and in June 2019, he made the heartbreaking decision to hand over his keys.
Just weeks before he died, he moved in with Ms Staindl and as always, had his mother Elinor and sister Sonya in close proximity for any support that Covid restrictions would allow.
“Gavin and I, ever since we could walk and talk, have been as close as brothers and sisters can be,” Ms Staindl said.
She said his outlook on life was inspiring and despite knowing his time was running out, he still managed to say “there are people worse off”.
By the end, MND had rendered Mr Boloski of his basic movements and his ability to talk had almost gone completely.
“MND doesn’t affect your brain or mind, and he was intelligent and as sharp as anything to the very end,” Ms Staindl said.
“His lifeline was texting, but in the last few days, his fingers had also stopped working.”
The Covid-19 pandemic made a difficult situation worse, and sadly Mr Boloski never got to say goodbye to his daughter and grandchildren, who live in New Zealand.
Mr Boloski’s farewell was held at the Pakenham Girl Guides Hall before former bus and coach industry colleagues from across Melbourne drove past in his honour, as Adam Harvey’s ‘Highway Number One’ was fittingly played.
“Funerals during Covid are brutal. You don’t get what you want and you don’t get what you deserve,” Ms Staindl said.
“But I think Gav would’ve loved it. To think the industry paid tribute like that, we were just delighted.”
The “short, sharp and vicious” disease has robbed a grieving family of their respected son, brother and father.
“It’s been really tough,” Ms Staindl said.
“The tragedy was that first diagnosis because ultimately there was no known hope of surviving it.
“The sad thing is letting go, but the blessing, however, is how he used his time and attitude. He was just a good guy.”
Gavin Boloski leaves behind son Hayden, daughter Tara, and his grandchildren Charlie and Quinn.
