Brisbane community rally behind widow who fled war torn Ukraine with young children

A Ukrainian mother who fled her country with her two young children has received a wave of support after hearing her husband was killed fighting Russian troops in the Ukraine.

A Ukrainian widow has spoken out about the amazing support she has received from the Brisbane community after her husband was killed in action in Ukraine.

Kateryna Pona fled her home country arriving in Brisbane in May with her two young children.

Her husband, Taras Pona, a doctor and army volunteer, stayed behind to fight.

On October 21, Taras was killed in action in Donetsk.

“It was a terrible night” Mrs Pona said.

“I couldn‘t tell the kids. I couldn’t believe that (it happened) because he was always so confident and so prepared for everything”

Unable to attend her husband‘s funeral, a celebration was held in Holland Park West at a local Ukrainian Community Centre on October 28.

Taras Pona was an avid rock climber and mountaineer before the war

“I didn’t want him to risk his life but he told me, if not me then who?”

“He died as a hero, covering for his fellow soldiers. Thanks to him, they survived”.

Mrs Pona’s young family has received an outpouring of support from the Rochedale and Holland Park West community.

“I met many fantastic people here who helped our family a lot,” she said.

Emma Monihan, a Brisbane local, hosted Mrs Pona and her two children when she first arrived in Australia.

“(Emma) helped with the accommodation for a few months and general guidance in Brisbane; she spent a lot of time kindly helping us with everything.”

Mrs Pona’s children, Tymur and Artur aged 5 and 7, have started to settle into life in Brisbane, with the older child now attending Roachdale State School.

Kateryna Pona and her late husband Taras and their children

Mrs Pona has also found support in the workforce. A marketing specialist in Ukraine, she recently found employment in Brisbane. “My employer is a very kind person who has given lots of life advice on how to settle here.”

Hayden Kemp, Mrs Pona’s employer, said it was the right thing to do.

“Our decision to get involved started as a personal choice, I knew it was the right thing to do” Mr Kemp said.

“Giving these refugees the ability to earn their own money restores some dignity and offers a safe and friendly environment”.

“It always amazes me, how Aussies will band together to help others.”

Since Russia launched a full scale military attack on Ukraine in February this year, millions of people have become displaced.

As of September 2022, there were 4648 displaced Ukrainians in Australia on Humanitarian Visas, according to the Department of Home Affairs.

715 of these people are living in Queensland.

A Ukrainian flag flies above the ruins of a building. Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images

President of the Ukrainian Community of Queensland Peter Bongiorni said he has had direct contact with 50-60 per cent of displaced families in various parts of Queensland.

He said they helped the Pona by assisting in facilitating the enrolment of children into state schools, providing information on pathways to arrive in Australia, facilitating urgent short and medium term accommodation, providing essential items and liaising with Refugee Health Services and Mental Health Services.

When asked why they chose Brisbane, Mrs Pona said her husband told her the war would last for a few years and he wanted them in a safe place.

“We spend a lot of time outside, and in different parks; (my children) enjoy nature and animals, especially the geckoes and birds here.”

A GoFundMe has also been set up to assist Mrs Pona and her children.