Melbourne March & Rally – Democracy for Ukraine.
Approximately 400 members of the Ukrainian community turned out in Melbourne on Tuesday 4th February 2014. They were joined by the Hon. Matthew Guy, priests from the Ukrainian Catholic Church as well as many other nationalities – Polish, Slovaks, Italians and Georgians.
The rally commenced with a march from Treasury Gardens (near Parliament) to the City Square (opposite Melbourne Town Hall). Victoria Police did a fine job escorting the crowd down Collins Street.
President of the AUV Mr Michael Morawski gave the opening address. A brief prayer service was conducted, remembering those who had lost their lives in the Maidan in Kyiv, supporting all the Maidan demonstrators and requesting divine assistance for a desirable outcome.
A number of speeches followed:
- the President of the AUV Noble Park branch Mr Eugene Stefyn
- chair of the Melbourne Maidan Committee Prof. Marko Pavlyshyn
- committee member Mr Marian Tkaczuk.
- Anthony Merivale and Iryna Tsundra who gave personal eye-witness accounts of events in Ukraine.
- The Hon. Matthew Guy, State Planning Minister, who took time out from a parliamentary sitting.
Thank you to Mr Volodymyr Holovko for leading the singing and to all of those who took part.