North Shore Living finds out how local James Spenceley went from not knowing what to do to help people in Ukraine, to fundraising and supplying ambulances to the areas that need it most.
North Sydney Councillor, James Spenceley, says he knew he wanted to do something to help Ukrainians following the Russian invasion but wasn’t sure how. After seeing the demand for ambulances, he conducted research and came up with a plan.
“I knew I wanted to do something, but it was really hard to find a way to actually help,” the Cremorne local says.
“I was just searching for ways to do stuff and then I read that the biggest issue that they’ve got was ambulances, because obviously ambulances get destroyed at a time when they need them more than ever.
“So yeah, I kind of started thinking, ‘How do you get ambulances?’”
Research led him to discover there is a place in France that sells second hand ambulances. James raised the funds needed and embarked on the journey to France to pick up the ambulances and deliver them to Ukraine himself.
“One of the things I really wanted to do was make sure it got to the people who needed it,” he explains.
“That’s why we ended up driving 2,500 kilometres within Ukraine to deliver them.
James and his friend, Ed, who helped drive one of the ambulances to Ukraine.
“2,500 kilometres in a war zone. When I say it like that it sort of hits home.”
James tells North Shore Living that within 12 hours of delivering the ambulances, two soldiers had already been evacuated using the emergency vehicles.
One of the biggest problems they encountered was fuel. James recalls fuel stations in certain areas had been bombed and there was limited fuel due to the army also using it.
“We bought fuel containers so we could carry about 50-60 litres in each car extra, which saved us at least twice and drove across the border,” he says.
After spending time seeing firsthand the destruction and devastation in Ukraine, James said it is worse than expected.
“It’s far worse than what you see on television.
“We went to a nice suburb in Kiev – the equivalent of from North Sydney to Chatswood, so like 15-20 kilometres out of the CBD – and I would say every three out of four houses, buildings, shops, and apartment blocks were destroyed.
“75 per cent of every building was just destroyed. There were almost more holes than metal on some cars,” he says.
Through the destruction, James says that being in their community and hearing the Ukrainians’ stories was meaningful every time they met someone.
“We were talking to residents who were coming back to try and take anything from their apartments, and they got to tell us their stories. They were thanking me for being there and I’m like, ‘Thank you for being so strong.’”
James has also expressed his appreciation to everyone who has donated and the people who helped support his journey by commenting on social media.
“That’s something Australia does really well, you know it comes together when there’s something in need.”
At the time of speaking with James he had raised $250,000 which will help supply 10 more ambulances to the places that need it in Ukraine.
If you would like to donate, visit gofundme.com/f/ausukraineaid.