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A peace rally organised by couple Maree Stanley and Neil Dyson was held last Saturday morning in Rosalind Park, where attendees tearfully heard media reports on the war and its Ukrainian victims.<\/p>\n
The United Nations last week recorded civilian deaths, including children, at 1189 but noted that number was likely much higher.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve become acutely aware of what\u2019s happening to the Ukrainian people who are innocent victims of an illegal invasion,\u201d Mr Dyson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven though we can\u2019t change the course of the war, we wanted to do something locally to show that we care.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe people of Ukraine won\u2019t know that, but at least we feel better doing something rather than sitting, doing nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The couple have made donations to children\u2019s humanitarian organisation UNICEF and animal protection charity IFAW, and even booked an Airbnb in the country to get money directly into the bank account of a Ukrainian host.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt breaks your heart, so you have to do something,\u201d Ms Stanley said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll do the rallies until the invasion is stopped because you can\u2019t give up. Hopefully little messages will get through, especially to the people in our community that have connections with Ukraine and Russia.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AMONG the four million refugees fleeing war torn Ukraine during Russia\u2019s invasion are Ray Slywka\u2019s great niece and nephew. Mr Slywka has organised for the safe return of the husband and wife from Yaseniv-Pil’nyi, a small village in country\u2019s south-west, about 500 kilometres from the capital Kyiv. \u201cI\u2019ve already purchased the tickets, they\u2019ll be here […]<\/p>\n