The Noosa community and Australians in general have always been very supportive of Ukraine and its people, says Tewantin Ukrainian Johann Holdysz.
The support was very evident after the Chernobyl Nuclear disaster, when on the weekend of 11/12 July 1992, Noosa hosted six Chernobyl children and with open arms.
They were provided with a nutritious luncheon on an acreage at Tinbeerwah, accommodation courtesy of the Noosa Backpackers who also supplied a 14-seater 4WD for a day trip to the Cooloola Sandpatch.
A Noosa River trip to the north shore at the river entrance was courtesy of T-Boat Hire together with a Coast Guard Noosa escort, and a beachfront breakfast at Hastings Street was amongst other activities and gifts provided to them.
With the horrific and senseless Russian aggression against Ukraine, Australians have again given their hearts and generosity to help Ukraine.
A local fundraising effort by a Tewantin Ukrainian couple, Johann Holdysz and Galyna, has resulted in almost $20,000 from locals, family and friends to help house and feed some of the over 8 million internally displaced Ukrainians.
A further 6.6 million refugees have left for neighbouring countries as per UN reports.
The Noosa Community has become very much involved with the crisis.
The Tewantin Commonwealth Bank kindly dispensed with the International Money transfer and tracking fees involved.
A Noosaville Medical Centre dispensed with their consultation fees upon learning that Galyna had family in Ukraine, and that her sister and her family narrowly escaped death in the City of Irpin, the scene of much destruction and atrocities.
Also in Irpin lived Tewantin hairdresser Lilia’s 86-year-old mother, Lydia, who remained scared and frightened in her flat throughout the bombing and killing, with all windows in her flat shattered.
“With no contact for a week, family feared for the worst for her until we contacted one of Lilia’s school friends who found Lydia disorientated and shocked, crouched in the corner of the flat and did not want to leave,” Johann Holdysz said.
“Thank God that she has now arrived in Tewantin on Tuesday to be with her daughter.
“The first batch of money sent to Ukraine coincided with the arrival of a busload of orphans from the destroyed Black Sea port City of Mariupol and was used to help attend to their needs including social support.
“Tens of thousands were killed in besieged Mariupol where a children’s hospital was bombed.
“Money sent provided food to many of the surviving residents of the Cities of Bucha and Irpin on the outskirts of Kyiv.
“In addition to their continued work, the volunteers have recently fed, clothed and accommodated 19 newly arrived displaced people in Kolomeya, Western Ukraine.”
At the Tewantin Shopping Centre, in a kind gesture, someone has decorated all the bollards alongside the Poinciana Avenue roadside, parking area and the shared zone at the Poinciana Avenue and Memorial Avenue intersection with have blue and yellow ribbons, the Ukrainian national colours.
At the Eumundi Pavillion Market’s Lakshmi Fine Art, Sculpture and Artisan Homeware shop, Doonan resident and local artist Sian Leworthy has just finished a ‘War & Peace’ painting, expressing her sympathy and compassion for the people of Ukraine.
The painting shows the blue and yellow colours of the Ukrainian flag representing golden fields of grain under a clear blue sky.
The sunflower is one of Ukraine’s national flowers. Throughout Ukraine’s history, the flower has been used as a symbol of peace. Since the early 1930s, the white poppy has been used to symbolise peace.
The painting is currently for sale with part of the proceeds to aid displaced Ukrainians. Sian can be contacted by calling 0467788695.
For those who can asisst the refugees with humanitarian aid, food, hygiene items, clothes and blankets, and those fleeing places occupied by war activities, donations can be made directly to one of the largest relief agencies in the world, ADRA Australia Donations.
For more information on how to donate visit adra.org.au
For any enquiries or help for specific projects please contact Johann Holdysz on 0434296677.
