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Whats 90 years between two friends who met when serendipity intervened on Anzac day?
Oscar Kosloff has been on the lookout for a kind, old Ballarat war veteran, since he shook his hand at a bus stop following Ballarats Anzac Day service on Monday.
The mysterious solider, known only as Tom, left a lasting impression on Oscar and the two made a pledge to meet at the same bus station at the Ballarat cenotaph on Anzac Day next year.
But Oscars mum Kelly told The Courier he could not stop talking about his friend Tom the soldier and wanted to see him again so he could hear about his life as a soldier.
Earlier this week, Kelly put out a public plea on social media for help to find the veteran.
Fate intervened again this week and after Kelly was inundated by messages from people who knew Alfredton war veteran, Tom Rush, she organised a meeting between the two.
With a container full of homemade Anzac biscuits under his arm and clutching his favourite book Lest we forget, Oscar visited Mr Rush at his home on Thursday afternoon.
When Oscar arrived, Mr Rush was waiting at the door for him dressed in his army attire, with his war medals pinned to his front pocket.
I cant believe its really him, Oscar said before wrapping his arms around Mr Rush.
Mr Rush was equally chuffed.
Im having a lovely day, I tell you what, this is just tremendous, he said.
Mr Rush was enlisted in the Australia Army in 1941 and served until 1945.
He worked as a trained typist and in the motor and water transportation section of the army.
The great-grandfather of six is well-known in the community as a lifelong member of the Ballarat RSL.
He has also been visiting war veterans at the St John of God Hospital for the last 25 years.
Im so happy that he is happy, Mr Rush said.
I feel on top of the world today. Im in my nineties now and the way I see it, is that for the rest of my life, what Ive always hoped to do, is to just make people happy.
Its not difficult to do. It costs nothing to be kind to people or to say hello to somebody. You never know, you just might make a new friend along the way.
Mr Rush gave Oscar a photo of himself as solider and inscribed on the back were the words:
Wishing you good health and much happiness with your loving family. It was great to meet you on Anzac Day 2016, see you next year.
Oscar and his family live just 300 metres away. The two have vowed to remain friends.
