As part of its ongoing programme of branch visitations, the National Executive of the UYAA, through its’ General Secreatry (Slavko Duma) paid a visit to the Newcastle Branch (patron Symon Petlura) on Friday, 30 April.

In a meeting attended by the Newcastle Branch President, Mr George Boyko (who is concurrently the President of the Ethnic Communities Council of Newcastle), - present also were Fr. Paul Berezniuk - Parish Priest of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Mrs Maria Brylinska – President, Association of Ukrainians in Newcastle & The Lower Hunter, as well as several local members of the UYAA branch. It was most pleasant to see younger druzhynnyky – Stephanie Boyko and Elise Grist, take an active part in the discussions at the meeting.

Slavko Duma provided an overview of the plans and activities of the National Executive, especially noting the current 60 year celebrations being held in Melbourne in June 2010. He encouraged Newcastle to take up the challenge of participating, especially in the concert on that weekend.

He congratulated Elise Grist on her attaining the award of Miss Newcastle Show at the cities recent Annual Show as well as her having recently graduated with a Bachelor of Communications and her continued studies in Law.

During the meeting, Stephanie Boyko put forward the idea of holding an afternoon called “Let’s Rejuvenate CYM Newcastle – Meeting old friends”, whereupon it is hoped that the young people of Newcastle would return to progressively increase activity in the branch, and take up the challenge to maintain the culture and heritage of their forebears.

Similarly, Newcastle also agreed to host the UYAA’s “Leadership/Self Development” training session later in August, to which young druzhynnyky from all over Australia would be invited…

The challenge is there – new and old friends, locally and nationally… Ironically, whilst the current Ukrainian government, somewhat sympathetic to Russia, set’s about to destroy all that is Ukrainian, on the other side of the world, in a city which many in Ukraine may not have heard of, the challenge to maintain identity and heritage is being taken up by third generation Australian Ukrainians…

Let us all meet again and take up the challenge to maintain our identity through heritage…!