A time for action!

by Gab

Gillian is 84 years young and is a recent contributor to Postcards to the Front and comes from Aukland in New Zealand’s – north island. Here is her story –

“The Maidan uprising in Ukraine in 2014 caught our attention, and the 2022 invasion by Russia was a catalyst for a more intensive scrutiny, and time for action! I read of Peter and Gabbi’s project of “Postcards to the Front” and it reminded me of those folk who wrote to and sent treats to cheer up soldiers in the trenches in WW2…. a flashback to my English mother’s stories.

I had some time, and quite a collection of unused postcards, so started to write, just one or two a week, to completely unknown but greatly admired Defenders of this plucky country. I really hoped to give someone a bit of cheer and encouragement, and perhaps a lighter moment in an otherwise grim day. I tried to tell them a little bit about my country, its geography, flora and fauna, and how much I admire their fortitude as well as thank them for their courage, 

I also support an NGO setup by a Kiwi (*See note below), Tenby Powell, to transport people and deliver medical aid and essential supplies from the front line to safer areas. Through donations from countries, including Australia, it now runs a fleet of ambulances, with volunteer drivers, as well as teams up with a Kyiv-based group to manufacture wood-fired stoves and hot water heaters out of second-hand electric water heaters; all in huge demand, as Ukraine experiences widespread power outages during the freezing cold winters. You can find out more on http://www.KiwiKARE Ukraine, if you are interested.

*For our foreign friends, a kiwi is a flightless bird, with hairlike feathers and long, downcurved bill that is native to New Zealand. It is also a reference to a New Zealander. Australians are Aussies; New Zealanders are Kiwis!