Irene Suwart is thankful every day that her parents chose to come to Tasmania after World War II.
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Ms Suwart is a member of the state's Ukrainian community, a rich culture that has been captured in new coffee table book With Ukrainian Greetings.
Ms Suwart's mother, Stephanie Fedyk, was kidnapped by German soldiers and taken as a prisoner of war when she was only 13 years old.
She met her future husband in the prison camp in Germany.
The pair fled Europe - after seeing Ukraine subsumed into Stalin's USSR after the end of the war - in 1948.
"They decided they'd get as far away from there as possible, and they spotted Tasmania," Ms Suwart said.
"They were one of the first lots to come out.
"I often say to mum: the best thing you and dad ever did was decide to come to Tasmania. It's the best place in the world."
But the young couple never saw Ukraine again.
"Mum will be 92 in September, and she hasn't been home since 1948," Ms Suwart said.
Despite that, Ms Fedyk taught her children Ukrainian language, songs, dances, and values.
The Ukrainian families mostly lived near each other at St Leonards, where a community centre was established.
Ms Suwart said all the second-generation children grew up together.
It's an upbringing captured in With Ukrainian Greetings, which includes photos of the children in Ukrainian dress learning folk traditions.
It is filled with personal stories, history, documents, a timeline of important events for the community, and artwork.
The 142-page, hardcover book is decorated with a traditional yellow pattern.
It is so named because 'With Ukrainian Greetings' is a complimentary closing remark in formal Ukrainian correspondence.
As well as a record of the Tasmanian Ukrainian community, the book is a celebration of what they have achieved.
The first generation migrants moved to a completely foreign country where everything was unfamiliar, and forged fulfilling lives for themselves.
Association of Ukrainians in Tasmania president Marina Ladaniwskyj said about 40 families moved to Launceston, working in the mines, timber industry, railway and farming.
"Community members worked hard and forged connections with other migrant communities groups, mostly Eastern European," she said.
"They believed that their hard work and their investment in their children's future through education was a mark of appreciation for the re-settlement assistance provided by the Australian government."
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Of the original group of Ukrainian post-war migrants in Launceston, Ms Fedyk is the only one still alive and living in the town.
Her daughter, Ms Suwart, was born in Launceston, and it is Ms Suwart's dream to visit Ukraine herself.
Her second cousin, with whom she speaks frequently on the phone, is getting married this year. They speak in Ukrainian, which Ms Suwart said was "just wonderful".
Ms Suwart had planned a trip for this year to see the country for the first time, visit family, and attend the wedding.
Her sons, who have also never been to Ukraine, were going to go with her.
She wept when the trip was cancelled because of COVID-19.
"[My second cousin] was crying on that end of the phone and I was crying on my end of the phone ... but it is what it is. What can you do?" she said.
"It was always my one wish to go.
"I was terribly upset that I couldn't go, terribly upset.
"And my cousin said, 'You know what I'll do? In two years time, my husband and I will renew our vows just for you and the Australian family, so you can come to Ukraine and see us get married'."
She beamed.
"So, fingers crossed," she said. "Fingers crossed."
"My son knows it's my dream, and he said if you're still OK and if you can still travel, we'll all go. It would be really nice."
- 'With Ukrainian Greetings' can be purchased for $48 + postage by contacting the Association of Ukrainians in Tasmania via email at ukesintas@gmail.com