Dunsborough unites in fundraising concert for Ukraine people

The Dunsborough community will once again come together to do their part to support for those less fortunate, with a community concert raising funds for Ukraine.

The Dunsborough Progress Association has organised a concert at Lions Park for this Saturday, inspired by the vigil at Our Lady of The Capes Primary School.

On February 24, the Russian military invaded Ukraine thrusting innocent civilians into an active war zone and inciting support from across the world for Ukrainians.

Dunsborough woman and Ukrainian immigrant Nataliya Komendar began her fundraising efforts for her home country last week and was amazed at the support the progress association and community have shown.

“People have come to help and I am amazed at the support,” she said.

“I feel grateful for people in this community who have come forward to help and it has opened my heart completely. It is not just a beautiful place it is full of incredible souls.”

“I would like to help people directly as they are doing this as volunteers and using their savings.

“People who live in the town know that my friend is hosting the refugees and her neighbours are bringing her food to cook.

“There is a lot of humanitarian support in the form of clothes, food and medicine coming, but people need money for fuel and food regularly and they are not in the mainstream.”

The weekend’s fundraiser will feature short speeches from people who have moved to the region from Ukraine, including piano teacher Anna Bogachova and humanitarian Jason Searle.

While the concert itself will be free donations can be made at various points of the Lions Park, a raffle will run as well as the Dunsborough Lions Club’s famous $5 sausage sizzle.

All funds raised will go to ACTED, a humanitarian organisation co-ordinating cash-based support in Ukraine and a community group “Volunteers of Transcarpathia”, who have been operating since 2014 in Uzhhorod helping people with medical issues, veterans and orphans.

Attendees are being asked to purchase a free ticket from the Together with Ukraine Dunsborough page on Eventbrite to support COVID-19 protocol and regulation compliance.