Parliament of Western Australia praises contribution of Ukrainian community

Paul Papalia, the Minister for Multicultural Interest of the Western Australia Government, read the corresponding statement at the Parliament, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

"This year, Ukrainian communities throughout Australia are commemorating the 70th anniversaries of the first arrivals. The year 2018 also marks the 85th anniversary of Holodomor, the famine in Ukraine caused by the deliberate actions of Stalin’s soviet regime. For many Western Australian Ukrainians, these are extremely emotional anniversaries... They [Ukrainians] worked hard, formed families and built up their community, giving much back to Western Australia and helping to make this state the place it is today," the statement reads.

It is noted that Western Australia, which admitted the migrants from the war-torn Europe 70 years ago, is grateful for those people for its present-day prosperity.

"These migrants, many of whom went on to work in the goldmines in Kalgoorlie, the railway lines around Perth, the construction of Mundaring Weir, and many other projects, farms and businesses, certainly did Western Australia proud," the minister added.

In turn, Mykola Mowczan, the head of the Ukrainian community of the state of Western Australia, also commented on the statement: "It is a historic day for Ukrainians and the Ukrainian Association of Western Australia."

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