THE man who helped make the Big Merino a reality has passed away in Queensland. Atilla Mokany died suddenly at his Buderim home on Monday night, aged sixty-nine. The cause of his death is unknown at this stage. His good friend of 30 years, Leonard Martin told the Post Mr Mokany’s son, also Atilla, discovered his father deceased at his home at 6.30pm. He had gone there to celebrate his father’s birthday. Mr Mokany snr and his brother, Louis built Goulburn’s now famous Big Merino. The icon, modelled on a Bullamalita ram, opened in 1985 and drew in hoards of tourists and helped put the city’s wool history on the map.   The brothers also built the Big Oyster at Taree and the Big Prawn at Ballina. “He and his brother were true visionaries,” Mr Martin said. “Atilla’s vision was to bring the population to regional areas, to validate them and to really exalt rural produce.” “He also wanted to have the things his family had never had in war torn Europe.”  Born in Hungary, the family spent time in a detention camp in Yugoslavia during the war. Atilla was drafted into the Hungarian Communist Army, which he later described as one of his “worst, loneliest experiences,” Mr Martin said. The family’s move to Australia in about the 1950s opened new possibilities. Their first venture was the Golden Fleece service station and restaurant at Collector. Louis later bought the Lilac City Motor Inn and Atilla – Katilla’s Bistro in Canberra. But in the 1980s the brothers started their biggest venture - establishing a Viennaworld franchise in Goulburn and building the Big Merino. The sheep opened in 1985 and over ensuing years, the complex attracted busloads of ski tourists and general sightseers. It expanded with the addition of the Billabong Restaurant and Agrodome. Mr Martin worked on the Merino’s layout and décor with architect, Garry Dutaillis. “The Merino had ‘big legs’ but the Australian populace had a softness for it and the brothers got away with it,” Mr Martin said. The family plans to hold Mr Mokany’s funeral service in Goulburn. He is survived by partner Grace, brother Louis and sons Atilla and Stephen.  An autopsy will be performed and report prepared for the coroner. A fuller tribute to Mr Mokany will appear in a future edition of the Goulburn Post.