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The Ukrainian Community in Australia Ukrainians managed to establish an independent Ukrainian state in 1918, but it could not withstand simultaneous attacks by Poland from the west and Russia from the east. Ultimately the fighting ended in the partition of Ukraine between Poland and the USSR. Ukrainians suffered greatly under Stalin's repression during the inter-war period. An artificially-induced famine, in which Ukrainians estimate about six million people died, was used by Stalin to forcibly implement the collectivisation of agriculture in Ukraine. Ukraine remained occupied by the USSR until 1991, when the latter was dismantled. It is believed that prior to World War I up to 5,000 Ukrainian workers had settled in Australia. Ukraine was a major area of conflict in World War II and many Ukrainians fled to Western Europe, where they were interned as Displaced Persons (DPs). The first Ukrainians began arriving from the DP camps in late 1948. They came to Australia on assisted passages which included two-year work contracts with the Commonwealth Government. Among the migrants were priests, lawyers, doctors and engineers, but the vast majority were people from a rural background. The 1947 census did not list Ukraine as a birthplace, but the 1954 Census recorded 14,757 Ukraine-born. After that the number of migrants from the Soviet Ukraine was negligible, apart from some Ukrainian Jews. There was also limited migration of Ukrainians from communities in Poland and Yugoslavia. Migration from Ukraine has only been significant since independence in 1991. The 2006 Census recorded 37 574 people with Ukrainian ancestry and 13,666 Ukraine-born people resident in Australia (up from 9,051 at the 1991 Census). Most live in New South Wales and Victoria. Persons born in the Ukraine Sex Male 5,762 Female 7,909 Total 13,666 Age 0-9 years 105 10-19 years 761 20-29 years 1,239 30-39 years 1,604 40-49 years 1,513 50-59 years 1,251 60-69 years 1,667 70-79 years 1,862 80-89 years 3,418 90-99 years 243 100 years and over 3 Total 13,666 State of Usual Residence NSW 4,940 Vic 5,683 Qld 929 WA 623 SA 158 ACT 1,222 NT 16 TAS 92 Total (includes other territories) 13,666 Citizenship Australian 12,002 Not Australian 1,426 Not stated 239 Religion Buddhism 17 Christianity 8,028 Hinduism 14 Islam 24 Judaism 2,950 Other Religions 33 No Religion 1,916 Not stated 607 Year of arrival Arrived 2006 143 Arrived 2000 - Arrived 2005 1,490 Arrived 1990 - Arrived 1999 4,746 Arrived 1980 - Arrived 1989 1,075 Arrived 1979 or earlier 5,740 Ancestry (multi-response) (Top Five) Ukrainian 8,408 Russian 3,286 Jewish 1,708 Polish 216 German 216 Language spoken at home (Top Five) Russian 6,647 Ukrainian 4,167 English 1,937 Polish 248 German 117 Proficiency in English Very well 4,202 Well 4,460 Not well 2,393 Not at all 486 Not stated 190 Not applicable 1,936 Total 13,666 Community Contacts Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia, Chairperson: Randolph Alwis PO Box 344 Curtin, ACT 2605 Phone:02 6282 5755 Fax: 02 6282 5734 Special Events Calendar SBS Radio's Ukrainian Language Program presents special coverage of the following events throughout the year. January 6 Ukrainian Christmas Eve January 7 Ukrainian Christmas Day January 13 "Malanka" - Ukrainian New Year's Eve January 22 Unity Day in Ukraine (Den' Sobornosti) January 26 Australia Day March 9 Birthday of Ukraine's national poet, Taras Shevchenko April 25 ANZAC Day April 27 Easter May 11 Mothers' Day May 23 Commemoration of Freedom Fighters August 24 Ukraine's Independence Day September 7 Fathers' Day December 19 St Nicholas' Day |
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