July 1, 2024 • 62 mins
Witness the strength of the human spirit through Olga Hurina's eyes, a Ukrainian humanitarian entrant whose life took a dramatic turn when war forced her from her homeland to the unfamiliar shores of Perth, Australia. Leaving behind her husband and a career in public service, Olga's story is one of resilience and hope. Amidst the backdrop of the ongoing Ukrainian crisis, she shares her emotional journey, the challenges of adapting to a whole new world, and how she's now contributing to her new community while reaching back to aid those in Ukraine.
Our conversation with Olga culminates in a broader discussion about displacement and the strength required to rebuild a life from the ground up. We hear about the impact of war on infrastructure and the daily struggle for normalcy, while celebrating the remarkable strides Olga has made towards establishing her independence in Australia.
Her tale is a profound reminder of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, paying tribute to the resilience of displaced individuals globally and the unquenchable human spirit to chart a course toward a more hopeful tomorrow.
Links:
Echoes of Ukraine
Photovoice project: Fleeing the War across Oceans
Assets - organisation to support refugee survivors
Dress for Success WA
Movie: 20 Days in Mariupol
Warm thanks to:
Sponsor: Females Over Forty-five Fitness in Victoria Park
Sound Engineering: Damon Sutton
Music: William A Spence
... and all our generous and inspiring guests around the warm table this season!
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My Warm Table, translated into Italian is Tavola Calda. These were the words my Papa used to describe a table of good friends, good food and good conversation. I always aim to create a tavola calda in my life and I hope this podcast encourages you to do so too!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Olga Hurina (00:04):
It's very hard to find hope in my heart and I try
to keep my attention in the verysmall thing.
I go to the job, try to earnmoney and in this case, support
to be financially independent.
(00:24):
to be able to provide somefunds for the humanitarian aid
humanitarian organization.
I try to be an active member ofmy community too, in different
days, support people who myfellow Ukrainians who currently
(00:46):
live here.
Sonia Nolan (00:50):
Thanks for joining me, Sonia Nolan, around the warm
table, or the tavola calda asmy Italian papa used to call a
welcoming table of acceptance,positivity and curiosity.
My Warm Table podcast aims tocreate that and more, as we
amplify stories of WesternAustralians making our
communities better.
My Warm Table Season 3 is proudto be sponsored by Females Over
(01:13):
45 Fitness, with a studio inVictoria Park and also online
all over Australia.
So now please take a seat andjoin us for Season 3 as we
explore stories of hope.
The world changed on February 24, 2022, when Russia launched a
full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
(01:39):
You'll recall seeing the visionson the nightly news of
thousands of women and childrentraversing the countryside to
make their escape to safer lands, while their men stayed on to
fight.
Since that time, more than 8million displaced Ukrainians
have sought refuge in anotherland, including more than 11,400
who have entered Australiathrough a humanitarian program
(02:00):
and other visa pathways.
One of these people is OlgaHurina, who left behind her
husband, her career, extendedfamily and friends and her
apartment in the heart ofUkraine's capital, Kyiv, to
start a new life alone here inPerth, with just a backpack full
of essentials.
She is resilient and determinedin her quest to learn new
skills, adapt to a new culture,speak a different language and
(02:23):
contribute to her community.
Despite the darkness, Olga hasfound hope in Australia and,
through the generosity ofAustralians.
She joins us around the warmtable to share her story and
give us an insight into whatlife is still like in Ukraine.
Olga, thank you so much forjoining me around the warm table
(02:43):
.
Thank you, sonia, I'm also happyto be here today,
and there is a big story aroundwhat brings you here today to my
warm table.
The very small part of thatstory is that I met you some
months back when I was a mentorin the Diverse Women in
Leadership program, where youwere a participant, and then got
(03:08):
to know you follow your storythrough social media, actually
and seeing you on LinkedIn andthe things that you were
achieving, and I was just soimpressed and inspired by you,
olga, in what you haveestablished here in Australia
after a circumstance which wasnot of your choosing, which came
(03:30):
perhaps very spontaneously inyour country, and you fled the
Ukraine and came and resettledin Australia.
So I'm very much inspired byyou as a human and I hope that
you're able to share your storywith us as to what life was like
for you and what life is likefor you now.
Olga Hurina (03:53):
I arrived in Australia in March 2022 as a
humanitarian entrance because ofthe full war invasion in
Ukraine.
I have a happy life in Ukraine.
I'm married, I have a husband,I had a successful career, I
(04:25):
used to work in a governmentagency as a public servant and I
have oldest brother and sister.
Unfortunately, my parentspassed away, but still my family
quite big and it was.
(04:47):
I leave all of this in Ukraineand in Australia I start a new
life from scratch.
Sonia Nolan (04:59):
Straight from scratch.
So when you say you left all ofthat behind, it was your
husband who encouraged you tocome to Australia.
Is that right?
Olga Hurina (05:07):
Yes, my husband encouraged me to leave Ukraine
because of the war.
He thought about my safetyfirst of all.
In Ukraine, we have a rule, alaw.
In Ukraine we have a lawregarding this law All men have
(05:28):
a duty to serve in the army.
They can't go across borders.
Only women and children can dothis and it was not safe to stay
in Ukraine and he encouraged meto leave and hopefully his
(05:50):
sister, who lives in Australia,offered me a shelter here and we
decided to leave Ukraine andmove to Australia.
Sonia Nolan (06:09):
So did you move with your husband or?
Olga Hurina (06:16):
he had to stay and serve and protect the Ukraine.
As I mentioned, only I can goacross borders.
My husband stays in Ukraine andhe is currently in Ukraine and
he is safe.
It's hard to say, because noone is safe in Ukraine now.
(06:37):
We keep in touch, wecommunicate every day, day, but
unfortunately we don't see eachother personally more than two
years.
Sonia Nolan (06:50):
yes, yes yes, and so your husband had a sister,
has a sister here, yeah, and soshe was able to, you know,
organize for you to come toaustralia.
Olga Hurina (07:02):
Yes, it was good that Australian government they
create a special pathway forUkrainians who try to escape the
war, and my sister-in-lawhelped me to write the
(07:24):
application and submit throughthe government portal and after
several hours I received apermission, a visa.
I was granted by visahumanitarian visa and I was able
to come into Australia.
And that happened in March.
Yes, that happened in March.
(07:47):
I arrived 14th of March.
Sonia Nolan (07:51):
And the Ukrainian.
The Russian invasion of Ukrainehappened in was it February?
Olga Hurina (07:58):
In February, 24th of February.
Sonia Nolan (08:02):
So within three weeks you were able to leave and
come here.
Olga Hurina (08:08):
But it takes near the week to actually arrive in
Australia because of the problemin move across the Ukraine.
Problem in move across theUkraine, if you know, more than
(08:32):
8 million Ukrainians leaveUkraine the first months after
the war started and it was veryhard period of time.
I was lucky one because ourneighbor had a place in her car
and in this car we're traveling.
(08:54):
Four people in the car threedogs, one cat and one small
turtle A turtle, Turtle yeah,wow.
Sonia Nolan (09:09):
That's an unusual carload of people and animals.
Olga Hurina (09:12):
We all try to escape the war.
You know, not only peoplesuffer because of the war.
We also should think about theanimals.
We also should think about theanimals.
Unfortunately, a lot of thempeople live in their house.
(09:33):
They can't bring them into anew country, and it's so sad
story.
And in this time we shouldsupport not only people who now
in ukraine, we also should helpthe animals, the little
(09:55):
creatures who also sufferbecause of the war.
Sonia Nolan (09:58):
yeah, and that's what makes us human, and it's
what makes us families and whatmakes us communities, isn't it?
Yeah, all of the things that wetake for granted here in
Australia.
Is that something that you'reseeing, olga, that you see that
in Australia it's a verydifferent place to Ukraine.
What were your firstimpressions when you came to
(10:20):
Australia?
Olga Hurina (10:22):
Oh, I think I arrived at night and it was very
humid, as you mentioned.
Definitely, what the most Ilike in Australia that you value
the human life and thegovernment try to make the
policy which support people indifferent circumstances, and not
(10:48):
only people.
Also, you think a lot of thesociety, you think a lot of the
animals and environment and Ilistened to one of your podcasts
and one lovely participant,lovely lady, she mentioned this
is important when we create theenvironment in the city, think
(11:12):
about not only about not thinkabout the people.
We should think about the smallcreatures who are also around
us.
Yes, because we take place fromthem.
Yes.
And it's important to findbalance.
Sonia Nolan (11:28):
Yes, that was Donnelly Patman when she talked
about rewilding Australia.
Yes, some wonderful thoughtsthat came out of that
conversation I had with her.
Yeah, thank you for listeningto my podcast, Olga.
That's very exciting, it's apleasure.
But this podcast episode is allabout learning about the
Ukraine, learning about thesituation there, learning about
(11:52):
what brought you here toAustralia.
So are you happy to talk moreabout the Ukraine and your life
in the Ukraine and what thingswere like before February 2022?
Olga Hurina (12:04):
As I mentioned, I have a husband and we enjoy our
life together, and I used towork in the government agency
and our agency was responsiblefor preventing corruption in
Ukraine preventing corruption inUkraine, the department where I
(12:25):
used to work.
We were responsible fordevelopment of anti-corruption
program in the local andgovernment agencies.
We have some problem withcorruption but we try to do our
best to improve the situationand this is a process which is
(12:46):
long in time and I have goodco-workers.
I enjoy my work in Ukraine and,as I mentioned, the war started
on the 24th of February.
As I mentioned, the war startedon the 24th of February.
(13:15):
I know about the war through thecall from our friend who
actually lived in Kharkov it's aUkrainian city which is very
close to the Russian borders andit's the first city which
suffered from the Russian attackand he called us near the 5
o'clock in the morning, 5 am,and said you know the war
(13:41):
started and it was very hard toaccept this news.
How the war?
Because you know, before thisday was a lot of conversation
about the war, but I expect thatafter the second war that so
(14:03):
many people were killed,millions people, we should think
never war again and thishappened and maybe within three
(14:33):
days, russian troops came veryclose to Kyiv.
Apartment my balcony I can seethe lights from the bottles and
it was very.
I was very scared and it was aterrible experience.
(14:55):
And now I understand why myhusband encouraged me to leave
Ukraine because I used to workas a public servant.
And then the Russians came tothe city, occupied the city.
They already have a list ofpeople who serve for the
government and if they occupiedKiev, he as a man, he thinks, oh
(15:26):
, that I can be in a danger,they can came and put me in the
prison because of my position.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
This is what that was about my.
Yeah, this is my life.
Olga Hurina (15:41):
This is all about my life in Ukraine yeah, I want
to take us back further into.
Yeah, this is my life, this isall about my life in Ukraine.
Sonia Nolan (15:45):
Yeah, I want to take us back further into your
growing up in the Ukraine.
Mm-hmm, yeah, something that'smaking you smile.
Yeah, I'm so glad that we canfind some really happy times in
that, because it then becamequite dark, but the happy times
in the Ukraine.
I know one thing that you likeis making sure you preserve the
(16:09):
culture through singing of folksongs, and that embroidery is
another very big and importantpart of the Ukrainian.
I guess story and folklore andculture Tell me about growing up
in the Ukraine.
Olga Hurina (16:25):
I was born in a small city which name is
Komsomolsk.
It's Poltava region, centralpart of Ukraine.
I know my parents.
I was not inspected child.
Oh, you were surprised.
(16:46):
Yeah, I was surprised.
I am a third child of myparents.
We have a big difference agedifference between my oldest
sister and oldest brother, mysister older than me for 20
years.
Oh, you were a surprise.
Sonia Nolan (17:07):
Yeah, I was a surprise.
Olga Hurina (17:11):
And my parents loves music, loves singing, and
I grow up in their family, inthe environment.
They all sing.
This is why I so love Ukrainianfolk songs.
(17:32):
And when I resettled inAustralia, when I read the news
in social media when one lovelylady, marta Soba Butler, tried
to find and organize a Ukrainianchoir in Perth, I decided, oh,
(17:56):
I should join this initiative.
And now I'm a proud member ofUkrainian choir Echoes of
Ukraine.
Every week we have a rehearsalin Mailand suburb, actually at
our church hall, and we are veryhappy to share our culture, our
(18:23):
songs, happy to share ourculture, our songs.
And maybe twice a month we havea concert in different
communities to show our culture.
And I'm quite happy thatAustralia is a multicultural
country, very multicultural, andpeople happy to know another
(18:45):
culture.
In this case, it's alwaysinspired me and it's my song,
it's my treatment from themental health disease.
Sonia Nolan (18:57):
Yes, great therapy, great therapy.
Olga Hurina (18:59):
Especially from when you went through so
difficult times, so challengingperiod.
It's definitely a treatment.
Sonia Nolan (19:14):
So you grew up singing folk songs which you
have brought to Australia, whichis wonderful.
I'm wondering whether, a bitlater on, you might sing one of
those folk songs for me at theend We'll cross that bridge when
we get to it.
Okay, so you grew up in theUkraine the youngest by far of
three children, and then did yougo to university, did you?
(19:37):
Yes?
What did you study atuniversity?
Olga Hurina (19:39):
I have three degrees.
My first degree, my firstqualification, I'm a lawyer, a
lawyer.
Speaker 4 (19:47):
Yes.
Olga Hurina (19:49):
Then I graduate another university and my second
qualification I am auditing andaccounting.
And the last one as I mentioned, I used to work as a public
servant and it's a requirementfor the public servant in
Ukraine to have a degree in thepublic administration.
(20:13):
Yeah, and the last one I am amaster of public administrating.
Sonia Nolan (20:19):
You're incredibly qualified, such an incredible
woman, yeah and you knowAustralia also.
Olga Hurina (20:25):
When I arrived in Australia I identified how
important to have a localqualification, and here I
received qualification.
I graduate a certificate forwork health and safety in North
Metro TAFE and I'm very proud tohave this qualification here.
Sonia Nolan (20:49):
And congratulations on that, because that is a huge
achievement for many reasons,but one of those reasons is that
English is your second or thirdlanguage.
How many languages?
Third language, I knew there'dbe more than another one.
So tell me the languages thatyou speak.
Olga Hurina (21:05):
I speak Ukrainian, I speak Russian and I speak
English.
Sonia Nolan (21:10):
And now you speak English.
Did you speak English beforeyou came to Australia?
Olga Hurina (21:14):
I learned English in the school but unfortunately
I didn't use English at my workand you know, language is a life
tool.
It is and you should uselanguage in your daily
conversation.
We do.
If you not use, you lose thisand it's happened in my case.
(21:37):
But when I arrived in Australia, I joined the AMEP program.
It's a special program for theadult migrant where you can
improve, uplift your Englishconversation skills, language
skills, and I graduatedcertificate 3 in English as a
(22:02):
digital language in SouthMetrotave and I'm quite happy.
Through this program I found alot of friends and we still keep
in touch and some lectures.
We also.
They still support me and wechange their emails.
Sonia Nolan (22:28):
They're always curious how I am, how you were
going yes, which is wonderful,and your English is very, very
good.
It's very, very good andinteresting, as you were saying
how you have to keep thelanguage current, otherwise you
lose it, and my papa always usedto say, which means you need to
(22:51):
dissolve your tongue.
That's translated exactly, butit is that once you get into a
language, your tongue needs to,you know, sort of get into the
motion of what it is.
You need to say so he used toalways say so yes, I understand
exactly what you're saying.
You need to immerse yourself sothat you're saying it all the
(23:12):
time, so then it's just naturalfor you to be speaking in that
way.
Olga Hurina (23:16):
Thank you for sharing your story.
Sonia Nolan (23:20):
But your English is excellent and that you know.
I know when we spoke a bitearlier before we started
recording, you said you were alittle bit nervous because
English wasn't your firstlanguage.
But let me assure you that youare just sharing your story so
beautifully and so articulatelyin another language.
Olga Hurina (23:41):
Thank you, my teachers and South and North
north metro tafe.
Sonia Nolan (23:47):
They will be very proud of you.
Very proud of you.
I've got so many questions thatI'd love to explore with you
and I hope you will indulge meand um and see how we go with
the with these questions.
Ol, how did you find theresilience and the emotional
fortitude to leave?
(24:07):
I know that perhaps it wasn'teven a choice, it was a
necessity.
But where did the courage comefrom?
Olga Hurina (24:16):
When I arrived in Australia I only have a backpack
with essential things which myhusband collected for me for the
first time and when I arrived Iwas fully frustrated because I
didn't know what to do here inAustralia.
(24:37):
But after I decided to moveforward step by step.
When I arrived in Australia Ihad problems with language,
cultural difficulties, mentalhealth problems because I was
(24:59):
very sad and felt not goodbecause of the war in Ukraine.
I tried to find a way toresolve this issue.
I joined an adult migrantEnglish program.
(25:20):
Then I joined another programwhich helped me to be more
proficient to how to enrich thecommunity life here in Australia
, for example, through ASET.
I joined to civil program.
(25:40):
This is a program forvolunteers and leaders of
different communities.
They share with us some skillsand knowledge how to be
proactive, how to manage theircommunity organization, how to
apply for the grant, how toreceive funding if you want to
(26:03):
be a good leader, how to improvethe skills.
I graduated from this program.
After this I joined anotherprogram.
This is a diversity womenleadership program, which is
where we met.
Again, through the communication, through the lectures which
(26:26):
share with us them stories andwhat uplift them, I found the
way which suit me to moveforward.
I also participate in theprogram Women Career Clinic.
This program was organized forwomen who is qualified,
(26:48):
overqualified, in their countrybut because of different
circumstances they arrived inAustralia and tried to find them
pathway to find a job here inAustralia, because it's quite
hard in the beginner here inAustralia, because it's quite
hard in the beginner.
This program helped me toimprove my job interview skills
(27:13):
how to go through the jobinterview, local job interview,
how I lived my resume.
But I also can't forget aboutDress for Success.
Sonia Nolan (27:28):
I was just going to mention them because there's a
lovely video of you on Dress forSuccess website talking about
the help that they gave you.
Olga Hurina (27:34):
Yeah, this is quite .
It's a perfect organization.
I met them volunteers at theone Job Expo here in Perth and
through this link, Iparticipated in several
(27:55):
workshops online workshops withthem.
Again, they helped me improvemy resume, prepared me for the
job interview, to create myLinkedIn profile.
They also shared with me sometechniques how to improve my
(28:15):
daily well-being routine Did.
Speaker 4 (28:19):
I do that too.
Olga Hurina (28:20):
Yeah, they also provide this kind of workshops.
Yes, they also provide thiskind of workshops.
They provide for me fivedifferent outfits which are
appropriate for the job, for theperson who tries to find the
job.
As I mentioned, I arrived inAustralia with only a backpack
and at that time I didn't haveappropriate clothes.
(28:43):
I should buy this, but it costa lot and they provide this help
for me.
We now have a very goodrelationship, communication, and
(29:10):
then they offer me to join themlike annual campaign to empower
our.
I say yes, I want toparticipate in this because I
should support the same, thewomen who in the same situation
as me, who struggle to find afirst job or not first job
because of some circumstanceswhich happened in their life,
and if we have enough fundingfor the organization who provide
(29:34):
support for these women, itwill be good.
It's a perfect initiative,absolutely.
Women for women, women forwomen.
Sonia Nolan (29:43):
Absolutely Women for women.
Women for women AbsolutelyBeautiful words.
Olga Hurina (29:45):
I encourage other people to support this
organization and provide thefunds for them or share the
clothes, because it's also verysustainable practice.
It is these clothes not go tothe landfill.
These clothes, if it'sappropriate for the job, can
(30:09):
help others.
Sonia Nolan (30:10):
Yes, dress for Success.
Western Australia an excellentorganisation, absolutely.
You mentioned your backpack acouple of times now.
Yeah, I'm very curious to knowwhat did you and your husband
pack in the backpack that youbrought to Australia.
What were those?
You know, sometimes you hearthose, you know those sort of
what if conversations.
You know, if you were strandedon a desert island, what would
(30:33):
you take with you?
And you know, thankfully, formany of us they're just what if
situations, that can be playful,but for you it was real life
what did you pack in yourbackpack to take and start a new
life?
Olga Hurina (30:48):
To start a new life .
Some T-shirt, some pants,underwear, passport, what else?
It was a small quantity ofthings the knife A knife, yeah,
(31:13):
a little bit of food, dry food,sneakers, and I think that's all
you know.
After this experience, Irealized that through our life
we collect the things and whenwe pass away our children, they
(31:37):
don't know what to do with thisthing.
And after this experience Icompletely changed my mind and
now I'm don't think about thethings I try to buy less, only
essential things for me, becauseyou know I still had this fear
(32:03):
if I I should move further, whatI will do with these things
with this stuff, yes, no.
In this case we need a smallquantity of things, only
essential things, only essentialthings yes.
I think now this is for me forthe rest of my life.
(32:24):
That was a big learning.
Sonia Nolan (32:27):
Yeah, yeah, was there anything sentimental that
you packed with you?
Was there anything?
Olga Hurina (32:33):
Some.
You know I didn't bring thephotos because photos in the
phone, you know, nothing special, only essential.
Because at the car they have asmall place for the things in
(32:55):
the back of the car.
And my husband told me youshould keep in mind that if you
should walk across the borderyou shouldn't have hard things
because you carry too heavy.
Sonia Nolan (33:14):
Very practical.
Olga Hurina (33:15):
Very practical.
Yeah, In this case, only what Ineed.
I still have a key from myapartment in Kiev.
I think it was one of theheaviest things.
Sonia Nolan (33:32):
Yeah, and I guess, heavy in the hope that one day
you'll be able to return to yourapartment.
Olga Hurina (33:37):
Yeah, but I don't know when this day will be, but
I don't know when this day willbe Olga.
Sonia Nolan (33:47):
what is it that you want Australians and I guess
particularly our warm tablelisteners to?
Olga Hurina (33:55):
know about what's going on in the Ukraine.
The horrible things happened inUkraine.
As I mentioned, I have anoldest sister and oldest brother
.
Before the war, my sister livedin Mariupol.
It's a big city which near theAzov Sea and near 300,000 people
(34:23):
lived in the city before thewar and in March 2022, Russia
put all their effort to try tooccupy this city because it's
close to the sea, it's a bigport and it's again if they
(34:49):
occupied, if it give them theway to link the donbass with the
crimea, which have alreadyoccupied by russia.
And, uh, it was a horrible timefor the people who lived in
this city.
My sister shared with me whathappened during this time,
(35:16):
during March and April 2022.
It was daily bombing.
It was daily bombing the peoplewho lived in the city.
They didn't have electricity,they didn't have water.
They don't have the opportunityto go to the shop and buy the
(35:43):
food.
They struggle to find the food.
In this case, my sister shouldgo to the spring near the church
which is close to the housewhere she lived, to have water
(36:05):
they don't have electricity inthis case, and gas In this case.
They're not able to cook thefood and they make a fire near
them residential houses to cookthe food on the fire.
They broke their furniture andused it as wood to make a fire.
(36:28):
Most of the time they spent inthe basement to try to survive
after the bombing attack and shelost 20 kilos because of the
stress.
Gosh yeah, and this happensdaily with our cities which are
(37:00):
very close to the front line inthe Donbas region.
But again another city which isclose to Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv.
The recent things they bombedKharkiv, where I studied every
day, and they destroyed not amilitary object like.
(37:25):
They destroyed the residentialhouses where actually people
live and I read the news everyday 3, 4, 5, 10, 15 people,
including the children, waskilled because of the bomb.
(37:47):
And again, you know we have arescue team.
This is the first people,firefighters who came to the
place and give support peoplewho struggle or was injured in
(38:09):
this attack.
And what they do?
They put missiles.
They sent missiles again to tryto kill these people who help
and support the injured people,and it's so horrible practice
which Is unjust and immoral.
(38:29):
Yes, it's completely immoralwhat happens now in Ukraine.
In this case, we need support,we need special system of
weapons who protect us, protectour sky, from this attack.
And again, people whose houseswere destroyed need a new
(38:59):
shelter where they cantemporarily escape, survive and
live.
In this case, in Australia, wehave several organizations who
provide humanitarian support forUkraine for people who need
(39:24):
shelter or to support theanimals who also struggle
because of the war.
This is a crisis appeal fundwhich organized by the Rotary
Club.
I can send you the link.
Sonia Nolan (39:47):
Yes, and we'll put those on the show notes.
Olga Hurina (39:49):
I think that's really important For the
organization here in Australiawho support, who provide the
humanitarian aid help for peoplewho are in Ukraine now.
We will be very grateful forthis support, if you can do this
.
Sonia Nolan (40:08):
Yeah, thank you for that, Olga.
I just remember when theRussian invasion of Ukraine
happened in February 2022, ournews feed was all full of the
photographs.
Our news feed was all full ofthe photographs, the images of
women and children fleeing, andyou know all of those that mass,
(40:30):
mass status of displaced peopleleaving the Ukraine.
You know, we saw it all overthere Eight million, eight
million people leaving, and theywere shocking images for us at
that time.
And now we don't see that onthe news anymore.
We're not seeing the everyday.
(40:51):
You know, for many people, itcould be that they they've
forgotten, because we live in acountry where it's easy to
forget these things but, it isso important.
You know your story is soimportant for us to remember
that it actually is still aneveryday occurrence over there
in the, in Ukraine.
People are still suffering,they're still in war.
(41:12):
It is not a situation that hasended or is potentially likely
to end very quickly, so it'svery complex and it's still very
dangerous.
So so thank you for remindingus of that.
Olga Hurina (41:26):
Yeah, you know, I completely understand people in
other countries.
It's very hard to every dayread the news or watch the news
from the TV about the same,about the bad things, about the
same about the bad things.
But what I want to mention,another conflict arises and it's
(41:52):
also keep attention for anotherconflict.
But I think it's all havelinked, link it and you can
imagine how exhausted is peoplewho still in Ukraine Because
(42:14):
every day they don't have a restfrom this story.
Every day they try to deal withthis.
It's so hard period of time andI don't know what the disease
and what happens in the future,what we have in the future, how
(42:39):
many mental problems, yes, andhow to resolve how many
resources we need to rebuild ourinfrastructure, resolve how
many resources we need torebuild our infrastructure.
This week the Russiansdestroyed a big plane in Ukraine
(43:01):
which created heat in thewinter and this enterprise
provides this service for a bigarea, quite big area, and I
don't know how the peoplesurvive in the city, in the
closed cities, without theheating in winter.
Destroyed, all infrastructurekilled people because we have
(43:29):
another opinion.
All infrastructure Killedpeople Because we have another
opinion and we decide to livewith another values, not support
the tyrant and them politics.
It's very hard Then I canimagine, and sometimes our
(43:52):
conversation all about the hope,and then I read this it's very
hard to find a hope in my heartand I try to keep my attention
in the very small thing.
I try to keep my attention inthe very small thing.
I go to the job, try to earnmoney and in this case, support,
(44:19):
to be financially independent,to be able to provide some funds
for the humanitarian aid,humanitarian organization.
I try to be an active member ofmy community.
In different days I supportpeople who my fellow Ukrainians
(44:42):
who currently live here.
Sonia Nolan (44:44):
It remains a very live situation in the Ukraine
right now, doesn't it?
Yeah, the Russian war is stillgoing.
Olga Hurina (44:51):
The war is still going and in this case, I
encourage people who listen toour podcast to try to
indifferent.
They support Ukraine.
Ukrainians want peace.
We have a life and we have aright to choose what the life we
(45:15):
want for us, for our children,for our grandchildren.
And if we decide that theEuropean values are important
for us and we follow and we wantto follow this path, we have
the right to choose this.
We don't want to return back tothe period when we were a part
(45:41):
of the USSR, because in thispart, why I know Russian?
Because in this part why I knowRussian, because when I was a
child at the school, you canlearn only Russian.
We have Russian schools.
Unfortunately, ukrainianculture was forbidden or it's
(46:03):
not encouraged to learn, and wehave like a it's a stolen
history um, and now we're quitehappy that we receive
independence and after this, weum have the opportunity to
(46:24):
improve our culture, to learnmore about our history in the
past, because we didn't havethis opportunity when we were a
part of USSR.
Sonia Nolan (46:38):
So, coming to Australia, olga, how hard was it
for you to find a job?
How was the resettlementprocess for you?
You talked about the support alot of the support that you got,
and with Dress for Success andwithout telling us where you're
working or anything, but justthe journey of finding a job.
How hard was that or how easywas that?
Olga Hurina (47:02):
Well, it was not easy.
Again, through participation indifferent programs, I be able
to improve my resume, tocomplete my resume, to create a
LinkedIn profile, and I alsofound new friends here in
(47:28):
Australia very important have awide networking and through this
networking which I create, Ishare my resume and my resume
came to the right person whodecided to invite her for the
(47:50):
job interview.
It was my first job interviewin Australia and after this they
made a decision.
We can offer her a job and,yeah, it's like a miracle for me
and I am quite happy tocontribute and to use my skills
and experience here in Australia.
Sonia Nolan (48:12):
And so tell me about your housing, your
accommodation situation here inWestern Australia.
Olga Hurina (48:19):
Oh, you know, now it's a huge problem to find
accommodation.
The market is so tough, yeah,tight, tough, tight.
Yes, the market is so tough,yeah, yeah, tight tight yes yes,
and the first seven months whenI arrived in australia I live
with my with family of mysister-in-law and I'm very
(48:45):
grateful for them, for theirfirst support that they provide
for me and we're in a goodrelationship.
But I realized that I shouldmove forward and also some
circumstances arise from themside, because their youngest son
(49:07):
should go to the higher schooland maybe they can like move in
another area.
And I decide, oh, maybe Ishould find another place for me
, place for me, and I was luckyto met ray and carmel ward, who
(49:39):
actually became my second family.
As I mentioned, my parentspassed away in uk but I found a
new family here in Australia.
This family offers a room intheir house and we have a very
(50:04):
good relationship.
Women inspire me, very goodrelationship.
Women inspire me.
The first woman who inspired meis my mother because through
her example I realized howstrong you should be when you go
through the challenging times.
But through CamelWord I thoughtthat you should be an active
(50:29):
member of the local community.
She is a volunteer, she isvolunteering all her life and
she contributes so much for herlocal community and people
around her and this is a lifeexample for me to follow, to
(50:53):
also try only think not aboutyourself.
Also think about the others.
And Ray here also inspired mebecause he has so positive
attitude.
He always smiles.
It doesn't matter what mood youhave, what the weather, the
(51:20):
main thing you should be happyand share a smile with others.
I'm quite happy that I metthese people here and I proudly
can say that my second familyhere.
Sonia Nolan (51:38):
And so the visa that you were granted as a
humanitarian entrant is that apermanent resident?
Is it a temporary resident?
It obviously allows you to work, which is a blessing.
What is the process in regardsto being a humanitarian entrant
(51:58):
and the type of visa that youwere able to access?
Olga Hurina (52:02):
In 2022, australian government.
In 2022, the Australiangovernment created a separate
humanitarian program forUkrainians.
It's a special type of visa andthis visa has the working right
(52:35):
, but it has a restriction onlyfor the three years.
Yeah, my visa expired in 2025and this also the problem,
because the this createuncertainty.
We don't know what will be thedecision from the australian
government regarding thisdeadline.
We will find a solution whichwill be good for the people who
escaped the war here inAustralia and decide to stay
(52:58):
here and contribute toAustralian society, to be a
proud member of this society,but still keep in heart Ukraine
and share the knowledge andculture that we have, our
heritage.
Sonia Nolan (53:18):
Yes, and make Australia richer with this
information and this beautifuladdition of culture.
Olga Hurina (53:24):
Yes, this is definitely what I like in
australia, because I I in thepast I didn't have this
experience to communicate with.
So multicultural society, yeah,but here, yeah, it's unique
country, what I like also inaustralia then you are smart and
(53:45):
have a desire to achievesomething.
You definitely can do this andimplement your dream, um, and it
doesn't matter what the familyyou have, how rich you are, uh,
the main thing, if you yourdesire to achieve something and
(54:05):
it's, um, I like this inAustralia the most.
Sonia Nolan (54:11):
Yes, yes, it is definitely one of the beautiful
things about our country.
Yeah, it is.
We are a very lucky country.
One of the things that youintroduced me to, olga, in the
conversations we've had leadingup to today, is the Photo Voice
Project, which is run through Ithink it was funding through
(54:31):
Healthway, through Lottery Westand through Curtin University,
and that is where a group ofpeople from the Ukraine who've
come out on.
I guess it talks aboutdisplaced persons, it talks
about the humanitarian entranceinto Australia and I guess this
is specifically WesternAustralia, and there is a
(54:51):
PhotoVoice online project whichI will put a link to in our show
notes for this episode.
But it's such a moving andinsightful PhotoVoice project in
that it invited participants totake photographs and show, I
(55:14):
guess, a photographic depictionalong some key themes, and one
of them was about leaving home.
Another one was about life goeson and adjusting to life in
Australia.
Then it talked about feelinggrateful for what they've
discovered in Australia and then, obviously, it's one thing to
(55:35):
feel grateful, but there'salways going to be the Ukraine
in your heart, yes, which is,you know, I think, a story of
every migrant, of knowing thatthey had a.
There was a beautiful quotefrom somebody on that project
that said we need to rememberour full life in the past and
try to build a full life in ourpresent, and I thought that was
(55:57):
a really beautiful way ofdescribing that you can move on
but you can't forget the fulllife you've already got from
your hometown.
And then thoughts about thefuture was the other key theme,
and what really struck me as Iwas looking at these beautiful
photographs was the connectionwith nature that people have
(56:19):
found in Australia, and the moststriking photograph for me was
this beautiful collage of thesky in different iterations of
the sky at sunrise, at sunset,and blue skies or cloudy skies
and it talked about what theyloved about the sky was that it
(56:43):
was safe and there was nothing.
No fear in the sky, nothing, nobombs dropping from the sky.
Olga Hurina (56:50):
It was so moving.
You know that you mentionedabout the sky and in my thoughts
I memorized one of the dayafter this full invasion.
After this full invasion, thenI heard the sounds of a plane
(57:19):
under me and it was like an armyplane and it sounds very scary.
You want to sit down on thefloor on the ground and cover
your ears because of thesesounds?
Yeah, definitely eclipse sky.
If you don't have this horribleexperience, this horrible
(57:52):
experience, you can't imaginehow important to have a safe sky
.
Sonia Nolan (57:54):
Yeah, it's a remarkable story your life
already.
Olga, I want to thank you somuch for joining me around the
warm table.
Thank you for enrichingAustralia.
Thank you for the communityspirit that you have brought to
Australia, all the volunteeringthat you're doing, the awareness
you're raising for us about thereality in Ukraine, but
(58:19):
bringing your skills with suchgrace and humility and
resilience to us.
We've got so much we can learnfrom you.
So thank, thank you.
I wonder if I can put you onthe spot to share a folk song,
or if you're happy to sing, orif you're happy to maybe even
just just tell us in words youknow, speak your language and
(58:40):
then and then maybe translatesome of the words for us.
I would be so honored if youcould do that, if you're
comfortable doing so.
Olga Hurina (58:47):
Yes, I will do this with joy.
I want to say thank you.
In my language this means thankyou for the support that
Australians provide for Ukraine,and maybe I can sing a short
(59:11):
song in Ukrainian.
I would love that.
I would love that this is asong about the love.
It's a bit sad, sorry, but Iwant to finish this story in
good spirits, please.
We should love each other andrespect each other, and the life
(59:32):
will be perfect.
Who falls?
Who does not know love thatmountain does not know?
Speaker 5 (59:49):
Hi, I'm Kelly Riley creator and head coach of
(01:00:22):
Females Over 45 Fitness, or FOFas we are fondly called.
Our studio is located inVictoria Park and we are also
online all across Australia.
At FOF, our members range inage from 45 through to 84 years
of age at the moment.
They're amazing examples ofhope.
Let's meet one of our membersnow and be inspired by her story
(01:00:44):
.
Speaker 4 (01:00:49):
My name is Peter and I'm in my 50s and I'm an artist.
I love painting and teachingpainting to anyone willing to
learn.
I train at FOF three days aweek and it's actually been a
life changer for me.
I had a serious cyclingaccident an undiagnosed broken
foot, and spent a number ofweeks in a wheelchair, thinking
my future life was going to beone of immobility, pain and a
(01:01:10):
burden on my family.
After seeing a FOF advert onFacebook, I was on the phone and
making an appointment to seeKelly and what was the beginning
three years ago of apartnership with not only FOF
but my strengthening body?
Hope for me means that I can nowbe a grandparent along with the
best of them.
I have four grandsons.
I'm going to get upset now.
I have four grandsons with whomI spend a lot of time.
(01:01:34):
I can run, jump, lift, throwskateboard, chase, swim, get on
the ground and crawl with themwith confidence, and do it all
again the next day.
I've also been training againwith my kayaking husband, who
competes in the Avon Descent.
I could easily have given upand stayed on the couch, but
that little bit of hope thatpeaked during the advert had me.
Sonia Nolan (01:01:56):
Thanks for joining us around the Warm Table.
My Warm Table is produced,hosted and edited by me, sonia
Nolan.
It's my way of amplifyingpositivity and curiosity in our
community.
I invite you to share thisconversation with family and
friends and follow my Warm Tablepodcast on Facebook, instagram
and LinkedIn.
Also, you can subscribe andfollow my Warm Table on Spotify
(01:02:20):
or Apple Podcasts, and maybeeven leave a review, because it
helps others to find us moreeasily.
It's very hard to find hope in my heart and I try
to keep my attention in the verysmall thing.
I go to the job, try to earnmoney and in this case, support
to be financially independent.
(00:24):
to be able to provide somefunds for the humanitarian aid
humanitarian organization.
I try to be an active member ofmy community too, in different
days, support people who myfellow Ukrainians who currently
(00:46):
live here.
Sonia Nolan (00:50):
Thanks for joining me, Sonia Nolan, around the warm
table, or the tavola calda asmy Italian papa used to call a
welcoming table of acceptance,positivity and curiosity.
My Warm Table podcast aims tocreate that and more, as we
amplify stories of WesternAustralians making our
communities better.
My Warm Table Season 3 is proudto be sponsored by Females Over
(01:13):
45 Fitness, with a studio inVictoria Park and also online
all over Australia.
So now please take a seat andjoin us for Season 3 as we
explore stories of hope.
The world changed on February 24, 2022, when Russia launched a
full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
(01:39):
You'll recall seeing the visionson the nightly news of
thousands of women and childrentraversing the countryside to
make their escape to safer lands, while their men stayed on to
fight.
Since that time, more than 8million displaced Ukrainians
have sought refuge in anotherland, including more than 11,400
who have entered Australiathrough a humanitarian program
(02:00):
and other visa pathways.
One of these people is OlgaHurina, who left behind her
husband, her career, extendedfamily and friends and her
apartment in the heart ofUkraine's capital, Kyiv, to
start a new life alone here inPerth, with just a backpack full
of essentials.
She is resilient and determinedin her quest to learn new
skills, adapt to a new culture,speak a different language and
(02:23):
contribute to her community.
Despite the darkness, Olga hasfound hope in Australia and,
through the generosity ofAustralians.
She joins us around the warmtable to share her story and
give us an insight into whatlife is still like in Ukraine.
Olga, thank you so much forjoining me around the warm table
(02:43):
.
Thank you, sonia, I'm also happyto be here today,
and there is a big story aroundwhat brings you here today to my
warm table.
The very small part of thatstory is that I met you some
months back when I was a mentorin the Diverse Women in
Leadership program, where youwere a participant, and then got
(03:08):
to know you follow your storythrough social media, actually
and seeing you on LinkedIn andthe things that you were
achieving, and I was just soimpressed and inspired by you,
olga, in what you haveestablished here in Australia
after a circumstance which wasnot of your choosing, which came
(03:30):
perhaps very spontaneously inyour country, and you fled the
Ukraine and came and resettledin Australia.
So I'm very much inspired byyou as a human and I hope that
you're able to share your storywith us as to what life was like
for you and what life is likefor you now.
Olga Hurina (03:53):
I arrived in Australia in March 2022 as a
humanitarian entrance because ofthe full war invasion in
Ukraine.
I have a happy life in Ukraine.
I'm married, I have a husband,I had a successful career, I
(04:25):
used to work in a governmentagency as a public servant and I
have oldest brother and sister.
Unfortunately, my parentspassed away, but still my family
quite big and it was.
(04:47):
I leave all of this in Ukraineand in Australia I start a new
life from scratch.
Sonia Nolan (04:59):
Straight from scratch.
So when you say you left all ofthat behind, it was your
husband who encouraged you tocome to Australia.
Is that right?
Olga Hurina (05:07):
Yes, my husband encouraged me to leave Ukraine
because of the war.
He thought about my safetyfirst of all.
In Ukraine, we have a rule, alaw.
In Ukraine we have a lawregarding this law All men have
(05:28):
a duty to serve in the army.
They can't go across borders.
Only women and children can dothis and it was not safe to stay
in Ukraine and he encouraged meto leave and hopefully his
(05:50):
sister, who lives in Australia,offered me a shelter here and we
decided to leave Ukraine andmove to Australia.
Sonia Nolan (06:09):
So did you move with your husband or?
Olga Hurina (06:16):
he had to stay and serve and protect the Ukraine.
As I mentioned, only I can goacross borders.
My husband stays in Ukraine andhe is currently in Ukraine and
he is safe.
It's hard to say, because noone is safe in Ukraine now.
(06:37):
We keep in touch, wecommunicate every day, day, but
unfortunately we don't see eachother personally more than two
years.
Sonia Nolan (06:50):
yes, yes yes, and so your husband had a sister,
has a sister here, yeah, and soshe was able to, you know,
organize for you to come toaustralia.
Olga Hurina (07:02):
Yes, it was good that Australian government they
create a special pathway forUkrainians who try to escape the
war, and my sister-in-lawhelped me to write the
(07:24):
application and submit throughthe government portal and after
several hours I received apermission, a visa.
I was granted by visahumanitarian visa and I was able
to come into Australia.
And that happened in March.
Yes, that happened in March.
(07:47):
I arrived 14th of March.
Sonia Nolan (07:51):
And the Ukrainian.
The Russian invasion of Ukrainehappened in was it February?
Olga Hurina (07:58):
In February, 24th of February.
Sonia Nolan (08:02):
So within three weeks you were able to leave and
come here.
Olga Hurina (08:08):
But it takes near the week to actually arrive in
Australia because of the problemin move across the Ukraine.
Problem in move across theUkraine, if you know, more than
(08:32):
8 million Ukrainians leaveUkraine the first months after
the war started and it was veryhard period of time.
I was lucky one because ourneighbor had a place in her car
and in this car we're traveling.
(08:54):
Four people in the car threedogs, one cat and one small
turtle A turtle, Turtle yeah,wow.
Sonia Nolan (09:09):
That's an unusual carload of people and animals.
Olga Hurina (09:12):
We all try to escape the war.
You know, not only peoplesuffer because of the war.
We also should think about theanimals.
We also should think about theanimals.
Unfortunately, a lot of thempeople live in their house.
(09:33):
They can't bring them into anew country, and it's so sad
story.
And in this time we shouldsupport not only people who now
in ukraine, we also should helpthe animals, the little
(09:55):
creatures who also sufferbecause of the war.
Sonia Nolan (09:58):
yeah, and that's what makes us human, and it's
what makes us families and whatmakes us communities, isn't it?
Yeah, all of the things that wetake for granted here in
Australia.
Is that something that you'reseeing, olga, that you see that
in Australia it's a verydifferent place to Ukraine.
What were your firstimpressions when you came to
(10:20):
Australia?
Olga Hurina (10:22):
Oh, I think I arrived at night and it was very
humid, as you mentioned.
Definitely, what the most Ilike in Australia that you value
the human life and thegovernment try to make the
policy which support people indifferent circumstances, and not
(10:48):
only people.
Also, you think a lot of thesociety, you think a lot of the
animals and environment and Ilistened to one of your podcasts
and one lovely participant,lovely lady, she mentioned this
is important when we create theenvironment in the city, think
(11:12):
about not only about not thinkabout the people.
We should think about the smallcreatures who are also around
us.
Yes, because we take place fromthem.
Yes.
And it's important to findbalance.
Sonia Nolan (11:28):
Yes, that was Donnelly Patman when she talked
about rewilding Australia.
Yes, some wonderful thoughtsthat came out of that
conversation I had with her.
Yeah, thank you for listeningto my podcast, Olga.
That's very exciting, it's apleasure.
But this podcast episode is allabout learning about the
Ukraine, learning about thesituation there, learning about
(11:52):
what brought you here toAustralia.
So are you happy to talk moreabout the Ukraine and your life
in the Ukraine and what thingswere like before February 2022?
Olga Hurina (12:04):
As I mentioned, I have a husband and we enjoy our
life together, and I used towork in the government agency
and our agency was responsiblefor preventing corruption in
Ukraine preventing corruption inUkraine, the department where I
(12:25):
used to work.
We were responsible fordevelopment of anti-corruption
program in the local andgovernment agencies.
We have some problem withcorruption but we try to do our
best to improve the situationand this is a process which is
(12:46):
long in time and I have goodco-workers.
I enjoy my work in Ukraine and,as I mentioned, the war started
on the 24th of February.
As I mentioned, the war startedon the 24th of February.
(13:15):
I know about the war through thecall from our friend who
actually lived in Kharkov it's aUkrainian city which is very
close to the Russian borders andit's the first city which
suffered from the Russian attackand he called us near the 5
o'clock in the morning, 5 am,and said you know the war
(13:41):
started and it was very hard toaccept this news.
How the war?
Because you know, before thisday was a lot of conversation
about the war, but I expect thatafter the second war that so
(14:03):
many people were killed,millions people, we should think
never war again and thishappened and maybe within three
(14:33):
days, russian troops came veryclose to Kyiv.
Apartment my balcony I can seethe lights from the bottles and
it was very.
I was very scared and it was aterrible experience.
(14:55):
And now I understand why myhusband encouraged me to leave
Ukraine because I used to workas a public servant.
And then the Russians came tothe city, occupied the city.
They already have a list ofpeople who serve for the
government and if they occupiedKiev, he as a man, he thinks, oh
(15:26):
, that I can be in a danger,they can came and put me in the
prison because of my position.
Speaker 4 (15:37):
This is what that was about my.
Yeah, this is my life.
Olga Hurina (15:41):
This is all about my life in Ukraine yeah, I want
to take us back further into.
Yeah, this is my life, this isall about my life in Ukraine.
Sonia Nolan (15:45):
Yeah, I want to take us back further into your
growing up in the Ukraine.
Mm-hmm, yeah, something that'smaking you smile.
Yeah, I'm so glad that we canfind some really happy times in
that, because it then becamequite dark, but the happy times
in the Ukraine.
I know one thing that you likeis making sure you preserve the
(16:09):
culture through singing of folksongs, and that embroidery is
another very big and importantpart of the Ukrainian.
I guess story and folklore andculture Tell me about growing up
in the Ukraine.
Olga Hurina (16:25):
I was born in a small city which name is
Komsomolsk.
It's Poltava region, centralpart of Ukraine.
I know my parents.
I was not inspected child.
Oh, you were surprised.
(16:46):
Yeah, I was surprised.
I am a third child of myparents.
We have a big difference agedifference between my oldest
sister and oldest brother, mysister older than me for 20
years.
Oh, you were a surprise.
Sonia Nolan (17:07):
Yeah, I was a surprise.
Olga Hurina (17:11):
And my parents loves music, loves singing, and
I grow up in their family, inthe environment.
They all sing.
This is why I so love Ukrainianfolk songs.
(17:32):
And when I resettled inAustralia, when I read the news
in social media when one lovelylady, marta Soba Butler, tried
to find and organize a Ukrainianchoir in Perth, I decided, oh,
(17:56):
I should join this initiative.
And now I'm a proud member ofUkrainian choir Echoes of
Ukraine.
Every week we have a rehearsalin Mailand suburb, actually at
our church hall, and we are veryhappy to share our culture, our
(18:23):
songs, happy to share ourculture, our songs.
And maybe twice a month we havea concert in different
communities to show our culture.
And I'm quite happy thatAustralia is a multicultural
country, very multicultural, andpeople happy to know another
(18:45):
culture.
In this case, it's alwaysinspired me and it's my song,
it's my treatment from themental health disease.
Sonia Nolan (18:57):
Yes, great therapy, great therapy.
Olga Hurina (18:59):
Especially from when you went through so
difficult times, so challengingperiod.
It's definitely a treatment.
Sonia Nolan (19:14):
So you grew up singing folk songs which you
have brought to Australia, whichis wonderful.
I'm wondering whether, a bitlater on, you might sing one of
those folk songs for me at theend We'll cross that bridge when
we get to it.
Okay, so you grew up in theUkraine the youngest by far of
three children, and then did yougo to university, did you?
(19:37):
Yes?
What did you study atuniversity?
Olga Hurina (19:39):
I have three degrees.
My first degree, my firstqualification, I'm a lawyer, a
lawyer.
Speaker 4 (19:47):
Yes.
Olga Hurina (19:49):
Then I graduate another university and my second
qualification I am auditing andaccounting.
And the last one as I mentioned, I used to work as a public
servant and it's a requirementfor the public servant in
Ukraine to have a degree in thepublic administration.
(20:13):
Yeah, and the last one I am amaster of public administrating.
Sonia Nolan (20:19):
You're incredibly qualified, such an incredible
woman, yeah and you knowAustralia also.
Olga Hurina (20:25):
When I arrived in Australia I identified how
important to have a localqualification, and here I
received qualification.
I graduate a certificate forwork health and safety in North
Metro TAFE and I'm very proud tohave this qualification here.
Sonia Nolan (20:49):
And congratulations on that, because that is a huge
achievement for many reasons,but one of those reasons is that
English is your second or thirdlanguage.
How many languages?
Third language, I knew there'dbe more than another one.
So tell me the languages thatyou speak.
Olga Hurina (21:05):
I speak Ukrainian, I speak Russian and I speak
English.
Sonia Nolan (21:10):
And now you speak English.
Did you speak English beforeyou came to Australia?
Olga Hurina (21:14):
I learned English in the school but unfortunately
I didn't use English at my workand you know, language is a life
tool.
It is and you should uselanguage in your daily
conversation.
We do.
If you not use, you lose thisand it's happened in my case.
(21:37):
But when I arrived in Australia, I joined the AMEP program.
It's a special program for theadult migrant where you can
improve, uplift your Englishconversation skills, language
skills, and I graduatedcertificate 3 in English as a
(22:02):
digital language in SouthMetrotave and I'm quite happy.
Through this program I found alot of friends and we still keep
in touch and some lectures.
We also.
They still support me and wechange their emails.
Sonia Nolan (22:28):
They're always curious how I am, how you were
going yes, which is wonderful,and your English is very, very
good.
It's very, very good andinteresting, as you were saying
how you have to keep thelanguage current, otherwise you
lose it, and my papa always usedto say, which means you need to
(22:51):
dissolve your tongue.
That's translated exactly, butit is that once you get into a
language, your tongue needs to,you know, sort of get into the
motion of what it is.
You need to say so he used toalways say so yes, I understand
exactly what you're saying.
You need to immerse yourself sothat you're saying it all the
(23:12):
time, so then it's just naturalfor you to be speaking in that
way.
Olga Hurina (23:16):
Thank you for sharing your story.
Sonia Nolan (23:20):
But your English is excellent and that you know.
I know when we spoke a bitearlier before we started
recording, you said you were alittle bit nervous because
English wasn't your firstlanguage.
But let me assure you that youare just sharing your story so
beautifully and so articulatelyin another language.
Olga Hurina (23:41):
Thank you, my teachers and South and North
north metro tafe.
Sonia Nolan (23:47):
They will be very proud of you.
Very proud of you.
I've got so many questions thatI'd love to explore with you
and I hope you will indulge meand um and see how we go with
the with these questions.
Ol, how did you find theresilience and the emotional
fortitude to leave?
(24:07):
I know that perhaps it wasn'teven a choice, it was a
necessity.
But where did the courage comefrom?
Olga Hurina (24:16):
When I arrived in Australia I only have a backpack
with essential things which myhusband collected for me for the
first time and when I arrived Iwas fully frustrated because I
didn't know what to do here inAustralia.
(24:37):
But after I decided to moveforward step by step.
When I arrived in Australia Ihad problems with language,
cultural difficulties, mentalhealth problems because I was
(24:59):
very sad and felt not goodbecause of the war in Ukraine.
I tried to find a way toresolve this issue.
I joined an adult migrantEnglish program.
(25:20):
Then I joined another programwhich helped me to be more
proficient to how to enrich thecommunity life here in Australia
, for example, through ASET.
I joined to civil program.
(25:40):
This is a program forvolunteers and leaders of
different communities.
They share with us some skillsand knowledge how to be
proactive, how to manage theircommunity organization, how to
apply for the grant, how toreceive funding if you want to
(26:03):
be a good leader, how to improvethe skills.
I graduated from this program.
After this I joined anotherprogram.
This is a diversity womenleadership program, which is
where we met.
Again, through the communication, through the lectures which
(26:26):
share with us them stories andwhat uplift them, I found the
way which suit me to moveforward.
I also participate in theprogram Women Career Clinic.
This program was organized forwomen who is qualified,
(26:48):
overqualified, in their countrybut because of different
circumstances they arrived inAustralia and tried to find them
pathway to find a job here inAustralia, because it's quite
hard in the beginner here inAustralia, because it's quite
hard in the beginner.
This program helped me toimprove my job interview skills
(27:13):
how to go through the jobinterview, local job interview,
how I lived my resume.
But I also can't forget aboutDress for Success.
Sonia Nolan (27:28):
I was just going to mention them because there's a
lovely video of you on Dress forSuccess website talking about
the help that they gave you.
Olga Hurina (27:34):
Yeah, this is quite .
It's a perfect organization.
I met them volunteers at theone Job Expo here in Perth and
through this link, Iparticipated in several
(27:55):
workshops online workshops withthem.
Again, they helped me improvemy resume, prepared me for the
job interview, to create myLinkedIn profile.
They also shared with me sometechniques how to improve my
(28:15):
daily well-being routine Did.
Speaker 4 (28:19):
I do that too.
Olga Hurina (28:20):
Yeah, they also provide this kind of workshops.
Yes, they also provide thiskind of workshops.
They provide for me fivedifferent outfits which are
appropriate for the job, for theperson who tries to find the
job.
As I mentioned, I arrived inAustralia with only a backpack
and at that time I didn't haveappropriate clothes.
(28:43):
I should buy this, but it costa lot and they provide this help
for me.
We now have a very goodrelationship, communication, and
(29:10):
then they offer me to join themlike annual campaign to empower
our.
I say yes, I want toparticipate in this because I
should support the same, thewomen who in the same situation
as me, who struggle to find afirst job or not first job
because of some circumstanceswhich happened in their life,
and if we have enough fundingfor the organization who provide
(29:34):
support for these women, itwill be good.
It's a perfect initiative,absolutely.
Women for women, women forwomen.
Sonia Nolan (29:43):
Absolutely Women for women.
Women for women AbsolutelyBeautiful words.
Olga Hurina (29:45):
I encourage other people to support this
organization and provide thefunds for them or share the
clothes, because it's also verysustainable practice.
It is these clothes not go tothe landfill.
These clothes, if it'sappropriate for the job, can
(30:09):
help others.
Sonia Nolan (30:10):
Yes, dress for Success.
Western Australia an excellentorganisation, absolutely.
You mentioned your backpack acouple of times now.
Yeah, I'm very curious to knowwhat did you and your husband
pack in the backpack that youbrought to Australia.
What were those?
You know, sometimes you hearthose, you know those sort of
what if conversations.
You know, if you were strandedon a desert island, what would
(30:33):
you take with you?
And you know, thankfully, formany of us they're just what if
situations, that can be playful,but for you it was real life
what did you pack in yourbackpack to take and start a new
life?
Olga Hurina (30:48):
To start a new life .
Some T-shirt, some pants,underwear, passport, what else?
It was a small quantity ofthings the knife A knife, yeah,
(31:13):
a little bit of food, dry food,sneakers, and I think that's all
you know.
After this experience, Irealized that through our life
we collect the things and whenwe pass away our children, they
(31:37):
don't know what to do with thisthing.
And after this experience Icompletely changed my mind and
now I'm don't think about thethings I try to buy less, only
essential things for me, becauseyou know I still had this fear
(32:03):
if I I should move further, whatI will do with these things
with this stuff, yes, no.
In this case we need a smallquantity of things, only
essential things, only essentialthings yes.
I think now this is for me forthe rest of my life.
(32:24):
That was a big learning.
Sonia Nolan (32:27):
Yeah, yeah, was there anything sentimental that
you packed with you?
Was there anything?
Olga Hurina (32:33):
Some.
You know I didn't bring thephotos because photos in the
phone, you know, nothing special, only essential.
Because at the car they have asmall place for the things in
(32:55):
the back of the car.
And my husband told me youshould keep in mind that if you
should walk across the borderyou shouldn't have hard things
because you carry too heavy.
Sonia Nolan (33:14):
Very practical.
Olga Hurina (33:15):
Very practical.
Yeah, In this case, only what Ineed.
I still have a key from myapartment in Kiev.
I think it was one of theheaviest things.
Sonia Nolan (33:32):
Yeah, and I guess, heavy in the hope that one day
you'll be able to return to yourapartment.
Olga Hurina (33:37):
Yeah, but I don't know when this day will be, but
I don't know when this day willbe Olga.
Sonia Nolan (33:47):
what is it that you want Australians and I guess
particularly our warm tablelisteners to?
Olga Hurina (33:55):
know about what's going on in the Ukraine.
The horrible things happened inUkraine.
As I mentioned, I have anoldest sister and oldest brother
.
Before the war, my sister livedin Mariupol.
It's a big city which near theAzov Sea and near 300,000 people
(34:23):
lived in the city before thewar and in March 2022, Russia
put all their effort to try tooccupy this city because it's
close to the sea, it's a bigport and it's again if they
(34:49):
occupied, if it give them theway to link the donbass with the
crimea, which have alreadyoccupied by russia.
And, uh, it was a horrible timefor the people who lived in
this city.
My sister shared with me whathappened during this time,
(35:16):
during March and April 2022.
It was daily bombing.
It was daily bombing the peoplewho lived in the city.
They didn't have electricity,they didn't have water.
They don't have the opportunityto go to the shop and buy the
(35:43):
food.
They struggle to find the food.
In this case, my sister shouldgo to the spring near the church
which is close to the housewhere she lived, to have water
(36:05):
they don't have electricity inthis case, and gas In this case.
They're not able to cook thefood and they make a fire near
them residential houses to cookthe food on the fire.
They broke their furniture andused it as wood to make a fire.
(36:28):
Most of the time they spent inthe basement to try to survive
after the bombing attack and shelost 20 kilos because of the
stress.
Gosh yeah, and this happensdaily with our cities which are
(37:00):
very close to the front line inthe Donbas region.
But again another city which isclose to Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv.
The recent things they bombedKharkiv, where I studied every
day, and they destroyed not amilitary object like.
(37:25):
They destroyed the residentialhouses where actually people
live and I read the news everyday 3, 4, 5, 10, 15 people,
including the children, waskilled because of the bomb.
(37:47):
And again, you know we have arescue team.
This is the first people,firefighters who came to the
place and give support peoplewho struggle or was injured in
(38:09):
this attack.
And what they do?
They put missiles.
They sent missiles again to tryto kill these people who help
and support the injured people,and it's so horrible practice
which Is unjust and immoral.
(38:29):
Yes, it's completely immoralwhat happens now in Ukraine.
In this case, we need support,we need special system of
weapons who protect us, protectour sky, from this attack.
And again, people whose houseswere destroyed need a new
(38:59):
shelter where they cantemporarily escape, survive and
live.
In this case, in Australia, wehave several organizations who
provide humanitarian support forUkraine for people who need
(39:24):
shelter or to support theanimals who also struggle
because of the war.
This is a crisis appeal fundwhich organized by the Rotary
Club.
I can send you the link.
Sonia Nolan (39:47):
Yes, and we'll put those on the show notes.
Olga Hurina (39:49):
I think that's really important For the
organization here in Australiawho support, who provide the
humanitarian aid help for peoplewho are in Ukraine now.
We will be very grateful forthis support, if you can do this
.
Sonia Nolan (40:08):
Yeah, thank you for that, Olga.
I just remember when theRussian invasion of Ukraine
happened in February 2022, ournews feed was all full of the
photographs.
Our news feed was all full ofthe photographs, the images of
women and children fleeing, andyou know all of those that mass,
(40:30):
mass status of displaced peopleleaving the Ukraine.
You know, we saw it all overthere Eight million, eight
million people leaving, and theywere shocking images for us at
that time.
And now we don't see that onthe news anymore.
We're not seeing the everyday.
(40:51):
You know, for many people, itcould be that they they've
forgotten, because we live in acountry where it's easy to
forget these things but, it isso important.
You know your story is soimportant for us to remember
that it actually is still aneveryday occurrence over there
in the, in Ukraine.
People are still suffering,they're still in war.
(41:12):
It is not a situation that hasended or is potentially likely
to end very quickly, so it'svery complex and it's still very
dangerous.
So so thank you for remindingus of that.
Olga Hurina (41:26):
Yeah, you know, I completely understand people in
other countries.
It's very hard to every dayread the news or watch the news
from the TV about the same,about the bad things, about the
same about the bad things.
But what I want to mention,another conflict arises and it's
(41:52):
also keep attention for anotherconflict.
But I think it's all havelinked, link it and you can
imagine how exhausted is peoplewho still in Ukraine Because
(42:14):
every day they don't have a restfrom this story.
Every day they try to deal withthis.
It's so hard period of time andI don't know what the disease
and what happens in the future,what we have in the future, how
(42:39):
many mental problems, yes, andhow to resolve how many
resources we need to rebuild ourinfrastructure, resolve how
many resources we need torebuild our infrastructure.
This week the Russiansdestroyed a big plane in Ukraine
(43:01):
which created heat in thewinter and this enterprise
provides this service for a bigarea, quite big area, and I
don't know how the peoplesurvive in the city, in the
closed cities, without theheating in winter.
Destroyed, all infrastructurekilled people because we have
(43:29):
another opinion.
All infrastructure Killedpeople Because we have another
opinion and we decide to livewith another values, not support
the tyrant and them politics.
It's very hard Then I canimagine, and sometimes our
(43:52):
conversation all about the hope,and then I read this it's very
hard to find a hope in my heartand I try to keep my attention
in the very small thing.
I try to keep my attention inthe very small thing.
I go to the job, try to earnmoney and in this case, support,
(44:19):
to be financially independent,to be able to provide some funds
for the humanitarian aid,humanitarian organization.
I try to be an active member ofmy community.
In different days I supportpeople who my fellow Ukrainians
(44:42):
who currently live here.
Sonia Nolan (44:44):
It remains a very live situation in the Ukraine
right now, doesn't it?
Yeah, the Russian war is stillgoing.
Olga Hurina (44:51):
The war is still going and in this case, I
encourage people who listen toour podcast to try to
indifferent.
They support Ukraine.
Ukrainians want peace.
We have a life and we have aright to choose what the life we
(45:15):
want for us, for our children,for our grandchildren.
And if we decide that theEuropean values are important
for us and we follow and we wantto follow this path, we have
the right to choose this.
We don't want to return back tothe period when we were a part
(45:41):
of the USSR, because in thispart, why I know Russian?
Because in this part why I knowRussian, because when I was a
child at the school, you canlearn only Russian.
We have Russian schools.
Unfortunately, ukrainianculture was forbidden or it's
(46:03):
not encouraged to learn, and wehave like a it's a stolen
history um, and now we're quitehappy that we receive
independence and after this, weum have the opportunity to
(46:24):
improve our culture, to learnmore about our history in the
past, because we didn't havethis opportunity when we were a
part of USSR.
Sonia Nolan (46:38):
So, coming to Australia, olga, how hard was it
for you to find a job?
How was the resettlementprocess for you?
You talked about the support alot of the support that you got,
and with Dress for Success andwithout telling us where you're
working or anything, but justthe journey of finding a job.
How hard was that or how easywas that?
Olga Hurina (47:02):
Well, it was not easy.
Again, through participation indifferent programs, I be able
to improve my resume, tocomplete my resume, to create a
LinkedIn profile, and I alsofound new friends here in
(47:28):
Australia very important have awide networking and through this
networking which I create, Ishare my resume and my resume
came to the right person whodecided to invite her for the
(47:50):
job interview.
It was my first job interviewin Australia and after this they
made a decision.
We can offer her a job and,yeah, it's like a miracle for me
and I am quite happy tocontribute and to use my skills
and experience here in Australia.
Sonia Nolan (48:12):
And so tell me about your housing, your
accommodation situation here inWestern Australia.
Olga Hurina (48:19):
Oh, you know, now it's a huge problem to find
accommodation.
The market is so tough, yeah,tight, tough, tight.
Yes, the market is so tough,yeah, yeah, tight tight yes yes,
and the first seven months whenI arrived in australia I live
with my with family of mysister-in-law and I'm very
(48:45):
grateful for them, for theirfirst support that they provide
for me and we're in a goodrelationship.
But I realized that I shouldmove forward and also some
circumstances arise from themside, because their youngest son
(49:07):
should go to the higher schooland maybe they can like move in
another area.
And I decide, oh, maybe Ishould find another place for me
, place for me, and I was luckyto met ray and carmel ward, who
(49:39):
actually became my second family.
As I mentioned, my parentspassed away in uk but I found a
new family here in Australia.
This family offers a room intheir house and we have a very
(50:04):
good relationship.
Women inspire me, very goodrelationship.
Women inspire me.
The first woman who inspired meis my mother because through
her example I realized howstrong you should be when you go
through the challenging times.
But through CamelWord I thoughtthat you should be an active
(50:29):
member of the local community.
She is a volunteer, she isvolunteering all her life and
she contributes so much for herlocal community and people
around her and this is a lifeexample for me to follow, to
(50:53):
also try only think not aboutyourself.
Also think about the others.
And Ray here also inspired mebecause he has so positive
attitude.
He always smiles.
It doesn't matter what mood youhave, what the weather, the
(51:20):
main thing you should be happyand share a smile with others.
I'm quite happy that I metthese people here and I proudly
can say that my second familyhere.
Sonia Nolan (51:38):
And so the visa that you were granted as a
humanitarian entrant is that apermanent resident?
Is it a temporary resident?
It obviously allows you to work, which is a blessing.
What is the process in regardsto being a humanitarian entrant
(51:58):
and the type of visa that youwere able to access?
Olga Hurina (52:02):
In 2022, australian government.
In 2022, the Australiangovernment created a separate
humanitarian program forUkrainians.
It's a special type of visa andthis visa has the working right
(52:35):
, but it has a restriction onlyfor the three years.
Yeah, my visa expired in 2025and this also the problem,
because the this createuncertainty.
We don't know what will be thedecision from the australian
government regarding thisdeadline.
We will find a solution whichwill be good for the people who
escaped the war here inAustralia and decide to stay
(52:58):
here and contribute toAustralian society, to be a
proud member of this society,but still keep in heart Ukraine
and share the knowledge andculture that we have, our
heritage.
Sonia Nolan (53:18):
Yes, and make Australia richer with this
information and this beautifuladdition of culture.
Olga Hurina (53:24):
Yes, this is definitely what I like in
australia, because I I in thepast I didn't have this
experience to communicate with.
So multicultural society, yeah,but here, yeah, it's unique
country, what I like also inaustralia then you are smart and
(53:45):
have a desire to achievesomething.
You definitely can do this andimplement your dream, um, and it
doesn't matter what the familyyou have, how rich you are, uh,
the main thing, if you yourdesire to achieve something and
(54:05):
it's, um, I like this inAustralia the most.
Sonia Nolan (54:11):
Yes, yes, it is definitely one of the beautiful
things about our country.
Yeah, it is.
We are a very lucky country.
One of the things that youintroduced me to, olga, in the
conversations we've had leadingup to today, is the Photo Voice
Project, which is run through Ithink it was funding through
(54:31):
Healthway, through Lottery Westand through Curtin University,
and that is where a group ofpeople from the Ukraine who've
come out on.
I guess it talks aboutdisplaced persons, it talks
about the humanitarian entranceinto Australia and I guess this
is specifically WesternAustralia, and there is a
(54:51):
PhotoVoice online project whichI will put a link to in our show
notes for this episode.
But it's such a moving andinsightful PhotoVoice project in
that it invited participants totake photographs and show, I
(55:14):
guess, a photographic depictionalong some key themes, and one
of them was about leaving home.
Another one was about life goeson and adjusting to life in
Australia.
Then it talked about feelinggrateful for what they've
discovered in Australia and then, obviously, it's one thing to
(55:35):
feel grateful, but there'salways going to be the Ukraine
in your heart, yes, which is,you know, I think, a story of
every migrant, of knowing thatthey had a.
There was a beautiful quotefrom somebody on that project
that said we need to rememberour full life in the past and
try to build a full life in ourpresent, and I thought that was
(55:57):
a really beautiful way ofdescribing that you can move on
but you can't forget the fulllife you've already got from
your hometown.
And then thoughts about thefuture was the other key theme,
and what really struck me as Iwas looking at these beautiful
photographs was the connectionwith nature that people have
(56:19):
found in Australia, and the moststriking photograph for me was
this beautiful collage of thesky in different iterations of
the sky at sunrise, at sunset,and blue skies or cloudy skies
and it talked about what theyloved about the sky was that it
(56:43):
was safe and there was nothing.
No fear in the sky, nothing, nobombs dropping from the sky.
Olga Hurina (56:50):
It was so moving.
You know that you mentionedabout the sky and in my thoughts
I memorized one of the dayafter this full invasion.
After this full invasion, thenI heard the sounds of a plane
(57:19):
under me and it was like an armyplane and it sounds very scary.
You want to sit down on thefloor on the ground and cover
your ears because of thesesounds?
Yeah, definitely eclipse sky.
If you don't have this horribleexperience, this horrible
(57:52):
experience, you can't imaginehow important to have a safe sky
.
Sonia Nolan (57:54):
Yeah, it's a remarkable story your life
already.
Olga, I want to thank you somuch for joining me around the
warm table.
Thank you for enrichingAustralia.
Thank you for the communityspirit that you have brought to
Australia, all the volunteeringthat you're doing, the awareness
you're raising for us about thereality in Ukraine, but
(58:19):
bringing your skills with suchgrace and humility and
resilience to us.
We've got so much we can learnfrom you.
So thank, thank you.
I wonder if I can put you onthe spot to share a folk song,
or if you're happy to sing, orif you're happy to maybe even
just just tell us in words youknow, speak your language and
(58:40):
then and then maybe translatesome of the words for us.
I would be so honored if youcould do that, if you're
comfortable doing so.
Olga Hurina (58:47):
Yes, I will do this with joy.
I want to say thank you.
In my language this means thankyou for the support that
Australians provide for Ukraine,and maybe I can sing a short
(59:11):
song in Ukrainian.
I would love that.
I would love that this is asong about the love.
It's a bit sad, sorry, but Iwant to finish this story in
good spirits, please.
We should love each other andrespect each other, and the life
(59:32):
will be perfect.
Who falls?
Who does not know love thatmountain does not know?
Speaker 5 (59:49):
Hi, I'm Kelly Riley creator and head coach of
(01:00:22):
Females Over 45 Fitness, or FOFas we are fondly called.
Our studio is located inVictoria Park and we are also
online all across Australia.
At FOF, our members range inage from 45 through to 84 years
of age at the moment.
They're amazing examples ofhope.
Let's meet one of our membersnow and be inspired by her story
(01:00:44):
.
Speaker 4 (01:00:49):
My name is Peter and I'm in my 50s and I'm an artist.
I love painting and teachingpainting to anyone willing to
learn.
I train at FOF three days aweek and it's actually been a
life changer for me.
I had a serious cyclingaccident an undiagnosed broken
foot, and spent a number ofweeks in a wheelchair, thinking
my future life was going to beone of immobility, pain and a
(01:01:10):
burden on my family.
After seeing a FOF advert onFacebook, I was on the phone and
making an appointment to seeKelly and what was the beginning
three years ago of apartnership with not only FOF
but my strengthening body?
Hope for me means that I can nowbe a grandparent along with the
best of them.
I have four grandsons.
I'm going to get upset now.
I have four grandsons with whomI spend a lot of time.
(01:01:34):
I can run, jump, lift, throwskateboard, chase, swim, get on
the ground and crawl with themwith confidence, and do it all
again the next day.
I've also been training againwith my kayaking husband, who
competes in the Avon Descent.
I could easily have given upand stayed on the couch, but
that little bit of hope thatpeaked during the advert had me.
Sonia Nolan (01:01:56):
Thanks for joining us around the Warm Table.
My Warm Table is produced,hosted and edited by me, sonia
Nolan.
It's my way of amplifyingpositivity and curiosity in our
community.
I invite you to share thisconversation with family and
friends and follow my Warm Tablepodcast on Facebook, instagram
and LinkedIn.
Also, you can subscribe andfollow my Warm Table on Spotify
(01:02:20):
or Apple Podcasts, and maybeeven leave a review, because it
helps others to find us moreeasily.
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