Foundation to start kicking goals

THE unexpected loss of a child is inconceivable, but for Kevin Milstein and Tamara Newing, the tragic loss of their son was also the impetus to do something positive.

Reagan Milstein, 14, died in July following a scuba diving accident in Malaysia on the way home from a dream trip with his father to the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Despite medical treatment in Singapore and Melbourne, the Bialik College student never regained consciousness.

Inspired by their son’s strong sense of social awareness and, above all, obsession with soccer, the family will this week launch the Reagan Milstein Foundation to offer financial and moral support to Australian youngsters to get involved with sport.

Launching on what would have been Reagan’s 15th birthday, the fund will have a particular focus on indigenous children and the development of an indigenous soccer club.

“It was during the darker days in intensive care in Singapore when I was contemplating the worst. I thought, I don’t want my son to just fade away from people’s memories,” Milstein explained.

“It’s very bittersweet. On one hand, it is something that Reagan would have loved for us to be doing and would have been very proud of, but it’s not something we would choose to be doing.”

An advisory committee comprising of Milstein, Newing, their eldest daughter Brittany, former Bialik principal Genia Janover and representatives from the indigenous community and Football Federation of Victoria has been formed.

According to Milstein, the foundation’s ultimate goal is to support an indigenous youngster to play soccer for A-League side Melbourne Victory.

Some funds will also be put aside to assist Maccabi junior and senior soccer clubs and another aim of the foundation is to host an annual match preceding a Melbourne Victory game that would see a Maccabi side take on an indigenous club.

With contacts in both the indigenous and Jewish communities, Milstein has also launched an unrelated campaign to raise funds to allow the family of the late indigenous leader and Kristallnacht campaigner William Cooper to travel to Israel.

Yad Vashem will establish the Chair for the Study of the Resistance during the Holocaust in tribute to Cooper next month. Through donations, Milstein has raised about a third of the necessary $10,000 to allow Cooper’s grandson and great-grandson to attend the ceremony.

Enquiries:  kevinm@aapt.net.au; www.reaganmilsteinfoundation.com

DALIA SABLE