BISHOP Druitt College Principal (BDC) Simon Doyle, from Sawtell, spent five weeks of the summer break volunteering in war-torn Ukraine.
His role was to deliver humanitarian aid and support to communities enduring one of the harshest winters since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.
Having previously volunteered with a non-government organisation (NGO) in 2024, Simon said this second visit was markedly different and at times far more confronting.
“I’m not sure my first visit prepared me for the second visit, as this was very different and at times more difficult than before,” he said.
Recent weeks have been especially brutal for Ukraine.
Russian missile and drone strikes, prolonged blackouts and freezing temperatures, dropping as low as minus 20 degrees, have placed immense strain on everyday civilians.
Heating, electricity and water have been cut for long periods, with many families surviving on just a few hours of power a day.
“Entering Ukraine via the historic western city of Lviv, I spent time learning more about Ukrainian culture and traditions.”
Hosted by staff from the School of Free and Caring, and Learn and Teach UA, he visited schools, the Museum of Folk Architecture and Lifestyle, and experienced the traditions surrounding St Nicholas.
Despite the festive atmosphere – hand-made Christmas stars, nativity scenes and bustling markets – the reality of war was never far away.
At one school he saw bomb shelters clearly marked, and yard duties included safety monitoring.
Simon experienced the powerful daily reminder of the people’s suffering as the entire country pauses for a minute of silence at 9am every day, to honour lives lost to the war.
“It happened everywhere: on the streets, in shops, even lining up for fuel.
“Even the youngest children stood silently.”
He also witnessed funeral motorcades where pedestrians knelt in silence as grieving families passed.
A visit to the Field of Mars military cemetery in Lviv left a lasting impression.
“Half used on my last visit, it is now overflowing with graves of volunteers; teachers, mechanics, students and retirees, ordinary people who never expected to go to war.
“The scale is overwhelming.”
“Each grave is deeply personal.
“The grief feels physical.”
Much of Simon’s time was spent delivering aid alongside long-term volunteer Kevin Fisher.
Collecting supplies from a UNHCR warehouse, they transported several tonnes of aid, including food, clothing, medical equipment, heaters and Christmas gifts donated from across Europe, including Scotland, often to eastern regions where aid rarely reaches.
Heavy snow and icy roads meant a perilous 120-kilometre journey could take three hours, with additional delays freeing vehicles bogged in snow.
In Kyiv, their vehicle slid off the road.
“I’ve never experienced anything like it,” he said.
The pair travelled more than 5,000 kilometres, delivering aid to cities including Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih and Ternopil, working closely with Ukrainian volunteers who then distributed supplies locally.
Among the most impactful items were newborn boxes, containing nappies, blankets and clothing which double as a crib, and wheelchairs delivered to remote hospitals.
In Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown, Simon saw the aftermath of a missile strike on a children’s playground that killed ten children.
“There were no military targets nearby.
“The cruelty of these strikes is unforgiving,” he said.
In the eastern city of Zaporizhzhia, closer to the front lines, conditions had deteriorated since his 2024 visit, with more power outages, fewer people and constant air-raid alerts.
In one Internally Displaced People’s community, families from occupied regions waited calmly for hours in the snow for aid, always allowing those with children to go first.
“Their gratitude that they haven’t been forgotten was obvious,” Simon said.
A highlight was returning to underground School 88, seven metres below ground, where students continue learning despite regular alerts.
Letters and books from BDC were warmly received.
“School continued, even after feeling nearby impacts.
“It was incredibly moving.”
Back in Australia, Simon admits readjustment takes time.
“You stop checking power levels and alert apps, but the experience with the people stays with you.”
He plans to continue volunteering online with Learn and Teach UA and hopes to one day facilitate an educator study tour to Australia.
“The generosity and resilience of Ukrainians is extraordinary,” he reflected.
“But the relentless horror inflicted on civilians is hard to comprehend.
“If you can support humanitarian aid, especially heating this winter it has never been more important.”
The Ukrainian Crisis Appeal and Only Passing Thru are two Australian NGOs supporting Ukraine with heating and aid for winter.
Tax-deductible donations can be made by visiting www.ukrainecrisisappeal.org and www.passingthrough.net.
By Andrea FERRARI
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