Russian Speaking Women in SA cook with love to help Ukrainian refugee arrivals, as SA sends medical supplies overseas

An Adelaide club founded on the love between Russian-speakers and Ukrainians have revealed what they’re cooking up over Putin’s invasion.

A group of big-hearted Russian-speaking Adelaide women are cooking up a storm to raise money to help Ukrainian refugees arriving in South Australia.

The Russian Speaking Women in SA are hosting a Community Easter Fair, selling traditional Russian and Ukrainian fare alongside craft and souvenirs, this Sunday.

Spearheading the fundraiser is Russian-born Olga Papageorgakis who settled in Adelaide with her Greek husband 24 years ago.

“I grew up in Russia but my grandfather was Ukrainian … what is happening to the Ukrainian people now is very bad – it is terrible, it is disgusting,” she said.

“We feel really sorry for the innocent people who are dying and want (this war) to finish as soon as possible.

“I felt like I wanted to do something to help … in Adelaide, the Russian community and Ukrainian community are all friends, we party together, we celebrate life. We came here for a better life for our children.

“In Adelaide we love the Ukrainian community … I feel a responsibility to keep our communities happy and friendly.”

Ms Papageorgakis, who has baked traditional medovik (honey cake) and apple piroshki (pastry) to be sold at the fair, says all money raised will go to the Ukrainian Church to help new arrivals.

“I have had a lot of people ringing me to ask how they can help, a lot of people want to help, the Russian people are good people,” she said.

Olga Papageorgakis, Dilara Valiff and Natalia Atkins with traditional desserts Apple Pirozhki, Poppyseed Roulette and Medovik. They are baking for an Easter fare, to raise money for Ukrainian refugees in Adelaide. Picture: Morgan Sette.

Dilara Valiff said she was “jolted” into action when her eldest daughter asked: “Are Russians enemies now? Is it embarrassing to call ourselves Russian now?” while watching television news about the war in Ukraine.

Ms Valiff said the fundraiser was a way for her to help people in need.

“In these difficult times of the war, Ukrainian refugees are arriving in Adelaide and they require urgent assistance,” she said.

“We, Russian speaking women of Adelaide, are happy to reach out to them with help in a way we can, from the bottom of our heart.”

The group includes women from the former Soviet Union, including Tatars, Uzbek, Kazakh and Belorussian.

The fair is on Sunday 10am to 5pm at the Migrant Resource Centre, 23 Coglin Street, Adelaide.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA SENDS MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO UKRAINE

It comes as the state government sent five pallets of medical supplies to Ukraine, to support the local hospitals and health care workers providing emergency care to wounded civilians.

The package of medical items included laryngeal masks (used to keep a patient’s airway open during anaesthesia, or while unconscious), first aid and wound dressings, and pulse oximeters. The items are surplus to requirements.

Premier Peter Malinauskas said doctors and nurses were scrambling to provide emergency care to thousands of civilian casualties across Ukraine as a result of the Russian invasion.

“From our safe and peaceful part of the world, we look to Ukraine with horror at what is unfolding,” he said.

“Donating these items is one way South Australians can do their bit to help the Ukrainian people.”

The pallets were collected on Friday night and sent to Melbourne where they will be loaded onto a freight plane next week.

The state government has called on the federal government to extend the refugee intake given the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and has committed to SA taking more refugees.