Charlotte Varcoe
“IT must have been such a devastating experience to see his beautiful country and city being destroyed,” Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin said in reaction to hearing a speech from a Ukrainian deputy mayor whose city is feeling the effects of the Ukraine/Russian conflict.
Mayor Martin spoke to The Border Watch after commenting in her report to a city council meeting recently about the heart-wrenching feelings expressed when she spoke to the deputy mayor of Ukraine’s Vinnytsia, Andriy Pizhevesky via video call when attending a meeting of the State’s Local Government Association.
The city of Vinnytsia was previously voted as the most liveable city in Ukraine for several years running and was well-known for its progressive nature.
Currently, due to the continued conflict, it serves as a humanitarian hub for refugees escaping from east to west and is also a key road and rail junction sitting between Kyiv and Odessa.
Mr Pizhevesky returned to Ukraine on April 20 after visiting his daughter who resides and studies in Melbourne.
Ms Martin said he wished to bring a beacon of hope from Australia to Ukraine and he appreciated the assistance from the Australian Government given thus far.
She said Mr Pizhevesky found it difficult to speak about the situation unfolding in Ukraine which he believed was aimed at the extermination of the Ukraine people, communities, culture, government and cities.
“It was quite confronting and heart-wrenching to listen to his story and just the way the Ukraine people have been treated at this point in time,” Ms Martin said.
“There is a real sense of hopelessness but on the other hand, they hope they get through this in the not-so-distant future.”
According to the discussion between Ms Martin and Mr Pizhevesky, moral support for Ukrainian residents was at the forefront of his agenda.
“He wanted people to show them the world was thinking of them and has both their solidarity and support,” she said.
“This is what he was really wanting because it provides them with both hope and moral support.”
Council recently lit some of its buildings in the Ukraine colours of blue and yellow to showcase its support with Ms Martin saying although it did not seem like much, it was the moral support which was important.
“It was very confronting to listen to Mr Pizhevesky speak and I tried to put myself into that position as to how I would feel if this was happening to the people of Mount Gambier,” she said.
“I know I would do everything I could for them to ease their pain and assist them through this difficult time.
“It must have been such a devastating experience to see his beautiful country and city being destroyed.”
The mayor said she would welcome any and all Ukrainian refugees to the Mount Gambier region and encouraged the community to support them in the future.
