Australians' tree-planting ceremony commemorates Famine victims (11/02/03)

Australians' tree-planting ceremony commemorates Famine victims

VICTORIA, Australia - Australians on Saturday, October 25, planted many hundreds of trees to commemorate the millions who perished in Stalin's act of genocide against the Ukrainian nation, the Great Famine of 1932-1933.

In gusty conditions at Point Cook Coastal Reserve, Victoria's Ukrainian community was joined by: Kaye Darveniza, parliamentary secretary to the premier; Nicola Roxon, federal shadow minister for immigration and multicultural affairs; Andrew Olexander, representing the Liberal Party; Telmo Languiller, member of the government of Victoria; Chargé d'Affaires of Ukraine Oleksander Mischenko; as well as representatives of the Croatian, Cypriot, Laotian, Lithuanian and Scottish communities, and journalist Steve Waldon of The Age.

The tree-planting ceremony was preceded by a solemn church service conducted by Catholic and Orthodox clergy and words of sincere condolence from many speakers.

Associate Prof. Marko Pavlyshyn of Monash University delivered a well-documented and stirring address. "Many millions died, but how many more millions were not born because of this Stalinist atrocity," Prof. Pavlyshyn asked.

John Argote, president of the Association of Ukrainians in Victoria and a ranger with Parks Victoria, addressed the participants.

Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organizations Chairman Stefan Romaniw reinforced the message that the international campaign to ensure this page of history is not forgotten continues. He noted that this week in the Federal Parliament Sen. Rod Kemp will propose a motion remembering the famine victims and seeking support for the government of Ukraine's resolution at the United Nations calling for the Famine to be recognized as an act of genocide.

"These trees will live on. They will serve as a living monument to those who perished. The presence of the broader Australian community here indicates that this act of genocide against the Ukrainian nation has not been forgotten," Mr Romaniw stated.

Many hundreds of children, their parents and elderly members planted trees and worked cooperatively. The sombre silence at times of hundreds of people working, yet not speaking, was no doubt due to the time being used for reflection.

The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organizations extended its thanks to all those who attended. Special thanks were expressed to Parks Victoria for its involvement and to Point Cook Ranger Argote and his staff for their support and enthusiasm, but most importantly the sensitivity and feeling with which they prepared for the day and carried out their duties.

The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organizations noted that the tree-planting ceremony is intended to be an annual event at Point Cook Coastal Reserve.

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