People from Cowra and the Ukraine have come together once again to mark the 70th anniversary of the Ukrainian Women's Association Australia (UWAA), which was founded at the town's migrant camp after WW2.
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Members of the Association from across Australia joined in a ceremony at Europa Park, followed by a lunch to mark the milestone last Saturday.
President of the UWAA, Luba Kwasnycia-Kaye said it was wonderful to be on the site of the organisation's founding on September 13, 1949.
"We're gathered here again to honour the founders of our organisation, 70 years ago, in the paddock just behind us over there, stood military barracks, which post-WW2 were converted into a migrant holding centre to house the women with children while their husbands fulfilled their contracts to work," she said.
"We're extremely grateful to those far-sighted women who saw a desperate need and stepped in and decided to do something about it."
Ms Kwasnycia-Kaye noted the plaque and Chinese elms trees planted at the 50th anniversary before members of the Zahrava Ukrainian Youth Association Dance Ensemble presented Cowra Mayor, Councillor Bill West and Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia, Mykola Kulinich with a korovai, a traditional bread made for welcomes.
There was also a performance by the Sutsvittya Choir.
Cr West said Cowra and the Ukraine will be forever connected through history and culture.
"What you've brought to Cowra today is a reminder, not just of your heritage and your history and your culture, but also part of our heritage and our culture and where we as a Cowra community have fitted into a whole range of international events," Cr West said.
"It doesn't seem that we can imagine that 70 years ago, right there on the fields of gold, there was a migrant camp where Ukrainian ladies who decided they needed to get together to preserve their culture and help each other and look after each other and their families as they escaped what was war torn, ravaged Europe.
"I think a situation in today's world that we as Australians would probably struggle to understand the situation that they faced."
