Embleton Parish has last Friday 25 April hosted a special ANZAC day service which included a remembrance ceremony for the Ukrainian soldiers and the Armenian genocide.
Parish Priest Fr Patrick Toohey lead the service, followed by speeches from the City of Bayswater Mayor, Filomena Piffaretti, Salvation Army Lieutenant Pete Brookshaw and Country Women’s Association President Felicity Edwards.
Those in attendance included war veterans and members of the community from Bayswater and the surrounding areas.
Doctor Zaven Boyajian delivered a compelling history of Armenian genocide.
“The close connection with Gallipoli Anzacs assisting the rescue of many Armenian people and the Armenian Genocide is a story that must be acknowledged and told,” Dr Boyajian explained.
RSL Bedford president Russell Shearing Jones said it was a very special event.
“This is the first I have heard the genocide of the Armenian people in detail” he said.
As Russia continues to fire deadly missiles into Ukraine, killing and injuring innocent civilians on a daily basis, many soldiers have also lost their lives or are critically injured.
Ukrainian Association of WA President Wally Perzylo stated this is the first time our Ukrainian people have had the opportunity to honour our soldiers who bravely fought and died for the Freedom of our country.
Kateryna Klemenko, who arrived in Perth from Ukraine when the Russian invasion began in 2022 said for her it was a very emotional service.
“There is not one person I know, who is not personally effected by the war,” Ms Klemenko said.
“We all know someone who has died or has been injured by the result of the war -all we want is peace,” she said.
Father Patrick said “We come together to support each other through dark and difficult times.
“This is what we strive to be, an intercultural parish community.”
The service was concluded with a prayer for peace.
Everyone attended the church hall for a buffet lunch provided by church parishioners and CWA volunteers.
