For Prima Nota, it was a great honour to take part in the march, representing the Russian-speaking community.
ANZAC Day is a day of remembrance, deep respect, and unity.
For our community, this day holds particular meaning. Among members of our Russian-speaking community are those who have served in the Australian armed forces, as well as those whose families lived through the horrors of war — both the First and Second World Wars in Europe and across the former Soviet Union. This is part of a shared memory passed down through generations.
This year, it was especially important for us that two representatives of our community were able to take part in the march.
With us was Lucy Bodnar — a veteran who served in the Australian armed forces, and a descendant of a family that endured the horrors of the Second World War in Ukraine.
We were also joined by Anna Fedotenkova, who, as a child and teenager, lived through the hardships of the Second World War in Ukraine.
It meant a great deal to us that they were able to participate again — for the first time in several years.
We would also like to sincerely thank two members of our community who supported our veterans throughout the march by assisting with their wheelchairs.
Our gratitude also goes to a member of the Pakistani community who joined us in a gesture of solidarity.
We are sincerely grateful to the ANZAC Day Committee South Australia for making this participation possible.
It was also a pleasure to meet and connect with members of the French and Serbian groups.
This day was a powerful reminder of how people of many nationalities can come together — in remembrance, in respect, and in the shared hope for peace.
Lest we forget.
Thank you to Australian Broadcasting Corporation for the footage. And thank you to Tamara Barrass for the footage and for the companionship.
