by A festive concert dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 was held in Wellington (New Zealand) with great success.
The gala event, organized by the Wellington Russian Club, was attended by dance groups “Smuglyanka” and “Volga” from Auckland, performers of folk and modern songs – Olga Panasenko from Auckland, Alexei Medvedev from Christchurch, Vladimir Zvegintsev from Wellington.
In the concert hall gathered Russian-speakers from Russia and republics of the former Soviet Union and New Zealanders interested in Russian culture and history.
To the solemn march “Holy War” the national flag of the Russian Federation and the Victory Banner were brought into the hall. Documentary newsreels and short films with English subtitles were presented to the guests. A minute of silence honored the memory of the heroes who fell in the fight against Nazi Germany. The “Immortal Regiment” action was held in memory of the veterans. All guests took part in the “St. George Ribbon” action.
Georgy Viktorovich Zuev, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to New Zealand, addressed the audience. He congratulated all the guests on Victory Day, noted the importance of preserving the historical memory of the Great Victory and the terrible price that the world and our country had to pay to eradicate the Nazi threat.
Victor Gaiduch, President of the Russian Club of Wellington, congratulated everyone present on the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory and presented certificates of appreciation to the Club activists for their many years of work and active participation in the preparation and holding of the festive concert.
In the wonderful concert program brought by the dance group “Smuglyanka”, there were not only great folk dances, but also songs – from folk to modern. The hall applauded with delight. The collective “Volga” amazed the audience by flanking with sabers to Cossack songs. The concert included songs of the war and post-war years, songs of modern authors performed by Olga Panasenko and Alexei Medvedev, as well as songs by Vladimir Zvegintsev.
For the guests of the holiday the club of military-historical reconstruction “10th Rifle Stalingrad Division troops” (Hamilton) organized an exhibition of weapons, ammunition and awards of the Great Patriotic War.
The Russian Club would like to thank the dance group “Smuglyanka” (leader Alexandra Pavlyuk), the ensemble “Volga” (leader Irina Petropavlovskaya), singer Olga Panasenko, musicians and song performers Alexey Medvedev and Vladimir Zvegintsev.
Many thanks to all participants of the military-historical group “10th Stalingrad Division” and personally to its leader Oleg Maximov.
Russian Club of Wellington expresses its gratitude to the Embassy of the Russian Federation in New Zealand for support in holding the festive event and sumptuous culinary dishes provided for a friendly buffet after the event.
Many thanks to our sponsors: Pub Charity Ltd and The Ethnic Communities Development Fund.
Special thanks for the help of our volunteers: Natalia and Ksenia Platov, Svetlana and Lyudmila Ksantopulo, Anna and Vladimir Sokach, Marina Moore, Olga Skladchikova, Ksenia Loseva.
In conclusion, I would like to confess that the preparation for this important event did not go very smoothly. And at some point it was even on the verge of failure. Thus, a week before the celebration, the Club was refused to rent the hall it had already paid for. A day before the concert another landlord refused to provide the room, also already paid for on the eve of the concert. As a matter of urgency, steps were taken to find a new hall. And the hall was found, though not as big as planned.
But we managed! And the concert took place!
Victor Gaiduch,
President of the Wellington Russian Club
PS. See more photos in the Wellington Russian Club Facebook photo album
