The Star: April 27, 2023

The Star Thursday April 27 2023
12
NEWS
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Landmine expert inspires rest home
residents to get knitting for Ukraine
• By Daniel Alvey
UKRAINE MAY be 17,000km
from Christchurch, but rest
home residents are doing their
bit to help the war-torn country.
Russley Village residents have
knitted woollen goods to send
to Ukraine, including blankets,
hats and scarves, as well as
donated brand-new jackets
and jerseys.
The residents were inspired
to get crafting by former soldier
Tony Connell, who returned to
Christchurch this week and will
help deliver the much-needed
goods.
Connell has been living in
Ukraine since 2014, and
since 2016 has been helping
remove landmines,
as well as educating
locals on what to do if
they find one.
He is based in
Chernihiv, a
town about
140km north
of the capital
Kiev.
Back in
Tony
Connell
with his
mother
Moyra at
Russley
Village, with
knitted
goods for
Ukraine.
Christchurch for a holiday, he
gave a talk to rest home residents
where his mother Moyra lives.
Connell is the Ukraine
country director for the Swiss
Foundation for Mine Action, a
non-governmental organisation
which clears mines and
unexploded munitions around
the world.
While Connell has done the
actual removal in the past, he
now works in administration,
overseeing fundraising and
financing and liaising with other
agencies in the area.
For the first time in 22 years,
Connell attended the Christchurch
Anzac Day dawn service.
He was in the New Zealand
army for 24 years, finishing up in
1999 at Burnham.
Connell said he was surprised
by the cost of living in New
Zealand.
“I was shocked when I paid $6
for a coffee, in Ukraine $1 would
be an expensive coffee,” Connell
said.
“Some of the supermarkets in
Kiev are better stocked than the
ones here in New Zealand.”
Connell believed the Ukranians
would never give up, no
matter how hard the Russians
FORMER SOLDIER: Connell has been helping clear
landmines in Ukraine since 2016.
PHOTOS: GEOFF SLOAN, NZ HERALD
pushed. He said the Russians
targeted anything that produced
energy to make it harder for the
Ukrainians in winter.
“I think Putin made a mistake
doing that because it just made
them (Ukrainians) fight harder.”
• Watch the video on
starnews.co.nz
We’re
strengthening
our electricity
network
Orion is installing a new 66kV underground power
cable on Ferry Road, as part of a major project we are
undertaking in Christchurch city to replace old cables.
From 1 to 5 May, Ferry Road will be closed at night, between
Hopkins Street and Hargood Street. The road will be closed
between midnight and 6.00am. During the day, two lanes will be
open past the work area on Ferry Road.
These are essential upgrades, to enhance the resilience and
security of the network. Please allow extra time for your journey
and follow all signage and instructions from our team on site.
Thank you for your patience.
Find out more about this essential project:
haveyoursay.oriongroup.co.nz