Introducing our guest today was Eric Muckle, who recounted how Alex had come to be in NZ and how our very own Job got him a job (these are not pronounced the same).

Alex came here in 2014 with his wife and young daughter. He had worked in Denmark and Scotland before the option to come to NZ arose. He is very proud to have got Residency. Whilst he had trained in the Ukraine as a veterinarian, unfortunately it doesn't transfer to NZ qualifications and as an Immigrant with a young family to support could not afford the extra study required. He however enjoys working on the dairy farm in Te Poi.

Alex proceeded to tell the sobering story of the war and it's devastation on his homeland. Ukraine is under constant shelling, they are without power, water and communications. The Russian attack led to a population move, seven million people left to neighbouring countries along with 6.5 million internally displaced. At this point Alex needed a break.

Krishna stood up and told us of his visit to Kiev for dentistry purposes. A Ukranian dentist was one of the best he'd ever met, unfortunately hasn't been able to contact him since the war started. Alex carried on giving the horrific stats of casualties inflicted by Russia. Alex was born in Russia and he said if he was still in Ukraine life would be very difficult even though he'd lived in Ukraine from a very young age. He has good friends there who are helping displaced people from coastal towns trying to flee from the Russian onslaught. 

Ross Bay has a connection with Ukraine so it was very apt that he thanked our guest tonight.

 

 

Big apology to Margaret Sing... great when you can't read your own shorthand! Wrote Marg and thought it was Mary!