Goulburn Ukraine-born women launch fundraiser for medical supplies

With the help of locals, three Ukrainian-born women have launched their own fundraising campaign to send much-needed medical supplies to Ukraine.

The fundraiser is led by Goldsmith Street Surgery GP, Dr Natalia Peker, who recently helped her mother escape from Ukraine.

READ MORE: Australian GP Natalia Peker rescues mum from Russian-occupied Ukraine

Dr Peker said she had been overwhelmed by the ruthless Russian aggression against the Ukrainian people since the war began on February 24.

"The first thing I heard was an official, senseless statement that the war would be over in 72 hours and that Ukraine would fall," Dr Peker said.

"I am grateful that no one was home to witness a smashed TV remote.

"In the midst of my rage I saw [my] two cats sitting shoulder to shoulder with their ears pressed tightly against their little heads, eyes wider than their faces.

"I picked them up and started rocking and chanting, it will never happen."

Goldsmith Street Surgery manager, Mandy McColl, said Dr Peker had come to work in tears everyday since the war began.

Dr Peker was recently re-united with her Mum after using family and phone contacts to secure her mother passage out of the Ukraine to Australia, but said she still had grave concerns for the state of hospitals operating in Ukraine.

"At the start of the war I sent my money everywhere, but then I realised I didn't know where it was actually going," Dr Peker said.

Her nephew, who works in an emergency hospital in the City of Dnipropetrovsk, said they hadn't received money or supplies despite being under siege.

"The Russians are targeting Ukrainian hospitals," Dr Peker said.

"My nephew is working and living at the hospital and he said they're truly operating on 'empty'.

"I have another friend too, who I studied with at university, who hasn't left the hospital for weeks."

ALSO READ: Intensifying barrage pounds east Ukraine

Using the strong network of volunteer connections she made during her mother's evacuation, Dr Peker said she could deliver medical supplies directly to the hospital in Dnipropetrovsk.

She has teamed up with other Ukraine-born women, Maria Adameitis, a local business owner, and Svetlana Benediktova, now retired, to raise money to buy the supplies.

The women are currently working with 12 volunteers, including Goldsmith Street Surgery manager Mandy McColl, to sell raffle tickets.

The women said the failure of organisations such as Red Cross, whose volunteers have been captured by Russians, have forced them to take action themselves.

"People are watching what's happening in Ukraine but they're not doing anything, this is really demoralising and is resulting in people losing their lives," Dr Peker said.

Dr Peker said the group had a network of volunteers on the ground ready to dispense the supplies, but were concerned about bureaucratic red tape around getting the supplies out of Australia and into Ukrainian hands.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade currently recommends Australians donate cash, not goods.

"Transporting goods to the region is difficult and expensive," the Department told the Post in an official statement.

"Donating cash to a local or international charity responding on the ground is often the best way to support communities affected by conflict.

"Cash is fast, flexible and is used to meet immediate and changing needs."

However, Dr Peker said she had received specific requests for medical supplies.

"We've received specific requests for basic medications, hospitals need bandages, antibiotics, insulin, blood products and intravenous lines," she said.

"They're single use products that need to be constantly replenished, money doesn't serve this purpose, they need the actual supplies."

ALSO READ: Ukraine and Russia: What you need to know

Further to the supplies, Maria Adameitis said support systems needed to be in place for Ukrainians that arrived to Australia on humanitarian visas.

"These people are arriving with skills, with professions and are willing to work," Adameitis said.

"But they're also arriving with a lot of trauma and need support from local health professionals," Dr Peker added.

Raffle tickets will be sold from Goldsmith Street Surgery as well as from some selected businesses around Goulburn, including Ms Adameitis' Adameitis Jewellers.

Ms McColl said they had registered with Fair Trade and were opening a charity bank account for donations.

The raffle will run for six months and tickets will be $5 each or five for $20. A number of local businesses have donated prizes to the raffle including Ian Henderson, a local artist, whose painting will be given away as first prize.

However, while Dr Peker said she was thankful for all the volunteers and local businesses that had donated prizes so far, she really needed the support of local MP's and councillors.

"We really need the government to change the restrictions on exports," Dr Peker said.

The women hope to see their fundraiser spread through the support of other doctors in Wollongong, Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.

"This is just the starting point," Dr Peker said.

For more details about the raffle, or to donate a prize, call Goldsmith Street Surgery on 4855 0123.

Goldsmith Street Surgery would like to thank all the businesses that have donated prizes so far including Goulburn Soldiers Club, Adameitis Jewellers, Zantis Jewellers, Vintage House, Gehl Garden Centre, Morton's Toys, Cut and Curl Salon, Hair Talk Centre, Hampton Love, Your Home Matters, NHL Products, Body Shop, Tupperware (Judy Bogg), Products (Lind Tiyce), Price Attack.

We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:

Make sure you are signed up for our breaking news and regular newsletters