Ukraine Independence Day
Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (10:02): I rise to update the house on the wonderful opportunity I had to celebrate Ukraine Independence Day at the Ukrainian Community School in Noble Park with their festive concert and their Ukrainian lunch. It was a tremendous honour and a privilege to be there. I was joined of course by Lee Tarlamis, Michael Galea and others. It was really, really heartening to be in a bipartisan situation where we were around the Ukrainian community, who not only are a second generation teaching their young people the language and the culture of their parents but have had to open their doors to the refugees that have come in from Ukraine who are now having to learn English. To reach out to them, to hear their stories and to see those children come out with their drawings was very moving, realising that these are kids that have left their fathers, their brothers, their uncles and their grandparents behind. It was really heartening. So I just want to reach out to them and wish them all the best.