Supported by the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO), the Ukrainian Council of NSW (UCNSW) and the Ukrainian Embassy of Australia, Woollahra Council has voted to commence the process to change the name of the street on which the Russian Consulate is located in Sydney to Ukraine Street, Woollahra.
Close to 300 supporters of Ukraine directly contacted Woollahra Council, and almost 1,700 people signed online petitions, requesting the name change from Fullerton St, Woollahra to Ukraine St, Woollahra.
“Living away from Ukraine, it is sometimes hard to know how you can support people under attack. However, the Councillors of Woollahra have initiated a simple but meaningful act of support for the courageous Ukrainian people, who are defending the values of freedom and democracy against a brutal and illegal aggressor,” said Ms Kateryna Argyrou, local resident and Co-Chair of the AFUO.
“Just as St George’s Place in Glasgow was renamed Nelson Mandela Place due to its position as the home of the Apartheid South African consulate, let’s do it for Ukraine here. Several countries have already renamed streets in solidarity with Ukraine, including Canada, Poland, Norway, Albania, Lithuania, Latvia and the Czech Republic,” said Ms Argyrou.
Woollahra Council will initiate an application with the Geographical Names Board to change the name of Fullerton Street to Ukraine Street, and immediately commence community consultation with residents of Fullerton St, Woollahra.
