Plast NSW gathered for a meaningful and memorable celebration of Svyatyj Yurij (Saint George), the patron saint of Plast, with a day that beautifully combined tradition, history, community, and Plast spirit.
A heartfelt congratulations and thank you go to Stepovi Vidmy for organising a wonderful and engaging program that brought together Plastuny of all generations. The celebrations began at the Domivka and continued with a special heritage activity at Rookwood Cemetery, where participants explored the rich history of Plast NSW and the lives of those who helped build our community in Australia.
The Rookwood Heritage Walk, organised by pl.sen. Handzia, guided participants from the Ukrainian Orthodox section to the Ukrainian Catholic section of the cemetery. Along the way, Plastuny discovered the graves of founding members of Plast NSW and reflected on the enduring legacy of those who dedicated their lives to Plast and the Ukrainian community.
Participants searched for Plastovi lileyi on graves, visited the resting place of the designer of the Plast lileya, and learned about the first Ukrainian and Plastun to arrive in Australia. The walk also honoured soldiers connected to the UPA and UNA, offering an important opportunity to remember the sacrifices and stories of earlier generations. While locating the grave of the Kubanskyj Cossack was expected to be simple, it became one of the day’s most challenging and memorable tasks.
A sincere thank you to Stepovi Vidmy for the tremendous work and care invested in creating such an educational and worthwhile experience, and to the wonderful team of helpers who supported participants and ensured everyone’s safety throughout the walk.
The celebrations also included important recognitions and milestones within the Plast NSW community.
Warm congratulations to:
- pl.sen.dov. Orysia Sywak-Spinner, Bl., on receiving the Order of St Yuriy in Gold
- pl.sen.dov. Natalka Oleksyn, Bl., on receiving the Order of the Vichniy Vohonj in Gold
- Tayissa Oleksyn on successfully completing KV2
- Solomia Koreniuk, yunachka, on receiving her Third Plast Distinction
Plast NSW also warmly welcomed its newest senior members and youngest Ptashnyata, celebrating both achievement and new beginnings within the organisation.
In addition, Plast NSW was honoured to receive a Certificate of Appreciation from the Ukrainians in Sydney group in recognition of contributions toward securing Maul ground evacuation robots for the 1st Separate Medical Battalion in Ukraine — another example of the community’s ongoing support for Ukraine and humanitarian efforts.
The day was a powerful reminder of the values that unite Plast across generations: service, remembrance, leadership, friendship, and commitment to Ukraine and the Plast promise.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this celebration of Svyatyj Yurij such a meaningful and inspiring occasion.
