Association of Ukrainians in Victoria

Keeping our Ukrainian culture and heritage alive for future generations

News

Ukraine Crisis Appeal

This Christmas, Ukrainian veterans need your help. Whilst we all battle the effects of COVID, Ukraine also continues the battle within their borders.

The Ukraine Crisis Appeal – a collaboration between the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO), Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) and Caritas Ukraine – is the largest Australian tax-deductible fundraising effort for Ukraine. 

The Veterans Rehabilitation Program aims to give veterans immediate support and enable them to re-engage as useful members of their communities. To date, it has changed the lives of 24 veterans and their families around 100 individuals in total. This report provides details of the success of the program.

The Veterans program has helped in many ways: integration back into their families and communities, it has enabled many to become employable which now enables them to support their families and provide them with the things we take for granted. But most of all it has restored their dignity.

Times are tough for many, but no amount is too little and donations are tax-deductible.

You can learn more and donate at www.ukrainecrisisappeal.org

Vincent Ward: Filming in Ukraine

Radio New Zealand tells us about film director Vincent Ward’s recent project – a film on one of the most successful sailing coaches of all time, Ukrainian-born Victor Kovalenko (OAM, Australian Sailing Hall of Fame Inductee).

Listen to the audio

Vigil, The Navigator, Map of the Human Heart, What Dreams May Come, River Queen, Rain of the Children – New Zealander Vincent Ward has a diverse and impressive directing résumé. He’s also an accomplished scriptwriter and painter and was awarded a New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to film in 2007.

In October he started filming in Ukraine on his latest film Storm School, with more filming planned in China, UK and Australia in 2021. The film is based on a script co-written by Ward and long time collaborator Louis Nowra and tells the story of two dinghy sailors, who overcome adversity to win gold medals at the London 2012 Olympics. Filming in Ukraine is focussed on the harsh childhood of one of the central characters; so-called “medal maker” and one of the world’s greatest sailing coaches, Victor Kovalenko, who guided Australian sailors to six gold medals.

From Saturday Morning, 3:35 pm on 19 December 2020 
Read the full article

You can also read more about this success story in Roger Vaughan’s book, “The Medal Maker: A Biography of Victor Kovalenko”.

Victor Kovalenko, whose teams have won more Olympic medals in sailing than those of any other sailing coach in history, grew up in the Soviet Union in the 1950s and 60s. THE MEDAL MAKER tracks his development from top sportsman in the Soviet Union to his initial Olympic success as a sailing coach of the Ukrainian team. But Victor’s innate curiosity and broad philosophical outlook clashed with post-Soviet, Ukrainian politics. When Australia beckoned, he was ready. He turned what appeared to be a mission impossible into double gold at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. At the time he was dubbed “The Medal Maker.” The name has stuck with good reason. To date, in eight Olympic Games, Victor’s team have amassed ten Olympic medals, six of them gold.

Positive Living & Wellbeing

The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) has implemented a positive living and wellbeing initiative, part of which you may have seen through their Facebook visual art event, “The Art of Lockdown“. This initiative now expands to an accessible website.

This AFUO community support website acts to provide information as we negotiate our way through challenging times.

It includes positive quotes, links to resources, contacts for support, Ukrainian music, fun facts, cookbooks and more.

As individuals, in our families, in business, within our Australian Ukrainian community and beyond;

Positivity draws strength.
For you and those around you.

Visit the website here

Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations Wellness & Wellbeing Community Website – https://wellness.ozeukes.com

AUV St Albans: Sviat Vechir

AUV St Albans Branch will again be hosting their annual “Sviat Vechir” Ukrainian Christmas Eve Dinner at 6pm on the 6 January 2021.

The event will be based on a traditional Ukrainian Christmas Eve dinner.

Tickets need to be pre-booked for catering purposes. The location has changed this year in line with the social distancing mandate (same event, different location). Please get in early as venue capacity is strictly limited and will be a seated event.

We look forward to you and your family joining them for this special dinner.