DG Tim Keeler AM and PDG Darryl Iseppi meet with Ukraine Ambassador His Excellency Rtn Vasyl Myroshnychenko and his Military Aide
 
On 5th August,  the Ukraine Ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko and his Military Aide did us the honour of meeting with DG Tim Keeler and PDG Daryl Iseppi. Ambassador Myroshnychenko thanked Rotary District 9620 for the great amount of help that Rotarians in our district have already given to the people of Ukraine and discussions were held on how the Rotary network could be activated to deliver more help to where it can be most effective. Without doubt a humanitarian crisis is unfolding in his country with over 1 million Ukrainians being displaced or in emergency accommodation.
 
The Ambassador is a member of the Rotary Club of Kiev Corporate and is a distant cousin of John Hewko, Rotary International Secretary General. The relationship between our two countries and within the family of Rotary is well known and the relationship between Rotary and the Ukraine community here in Brisbane is strong. Already the District has been able to assist refugees who are here on Temporary Protection Visas. Many have arrived with little belongings and with a combined effort from the Rotary Club of Logan, the Slovak Lutheran Church, RARE (formerly known as DIK) the needs of these families are being met. RARE has already sent Medical supplies to the Ukraine via the Rotary Club of London. Many other clubs have had their own Ukraine relief activities. Some of the actions we can take to strengthen and deepen the relationship by helping victims of the war in Ukraine are identified below.
 
  • On Sunday 7th August, President Gary Haora (Logan) and DG Tim Keeler have been invited to meet with the refugees based in Brisbane to ascertain their current needs. This information will then be disseminated to all interested clubs and a Disaster Relief Grant, through the Rotary Foundation, will then follow.
  • A major fundraising event for the Ukraine is being held on Wednesday, 24 August in Logan, with PRIP Ian Riseley, who is the current Chair of the Rotary Foundation, speaking at the D9620 Foundation dinner. Please consider attending and supporting this appeal.  You can buy your tickets here.
  • DG Vitali Lesko of District 2232 in Ukraine has sent a personal appeal to District 9620 Rotary clubs to work directly with clubs in his district on projects identified at district level as being especially helpful in this humanitarian crisis.:
Dear Governor Tim Keeler.
 
Thank you for your response and willingness to help the Ukrainians.
I want to establish contacts between clubs in our districts.
I held a competition of projects to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine between clubs in my district. Selected the most interesting. I ask you to invite the clubs of your district to consider them and, if interested, contact the Ukrainian clubs - the authors of the projects.
 
Governor of D2232, Ukraine,
Vitalii Lesko
 
Below you will find a selection of actions that your club can take to provide aid to Ukraine.
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