The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) was proud to join H.E Vasyl Myroshnychenko, Ambassador of Ukraine, as the Посольство України в Австралії / Embassy of Ukraine in Australia hosted around 350 guests from across the federal parliament, government, the diplomatic corps and the Ukrainian-Australian community and clergy to mark 35 years of Ukrainian restored independence on Wednesday 16 September.
The evening featured a Prayer for Peace led by His Eminence Cardinal Mykola Bychok CSsR alongside Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox clergy, and ceremonial toasts and national anthems performed by the Royal Military College Band, Duntroon.
There were uplifting speeches affirming Ukraine’s right to determine its own future, and honouring the courage of the Ukrainian people, from Senator Don Farrell, Minister for Trade and Tourism, the Hon Pat Conroy MP, Minister for Defence Industry and the Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Assistant Minister for Immigration.
Senator Deborah O’Neill, Chair of the Australia–Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group, Ted O’Brien MP – Federal Member for Fairfax, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, and Senator Dave Sharma, Deputy Chair, Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence, also attended.
The evening also featured the presentation of one of Ukraine’s highest honours – the Order of Merit – to Senator Farrell, and two long-standing members of the Ukrainian-Australian community, Dr Michael Lawriwsky and Peter Shmigel. We wish them warm congratulations!
As one of the proud sponsors of the event, we thank everyone who came together to stand with Ukraine on this important occasion. Congratulations to the Embassy of Ukraine for hosting such a powerful, well-attended event.
Слава Україні! 
#UkrainianIndependenceDay #Ukraine35 #StandWithUkraine #AustraliaUkraine #SlavaUkraini
