In the quiet serenity of Australia’s Atherton Tablelands, a story of persistence and dedication unfolds—a story that bridges continents and generations. Lara Gillespie (who works under her maiden name Lara Wieland and is affectionately known by her patients as ‘Dr Lara’), a rural generalist doctor and humanitarian, embodies an unwavering commitment to the vulnerable, from remote Indigenous communities in Australia to war-stricken Ukraine. Most recently a big portion of Lara’s energy has been poured into the charity, Only Passing Thru (OPT), which she founded.  A big part of OPT’s mission is providing medical and humanitarian aid in Ukraine. Lara is driven by a deep sense of connection to,  and a legacy instilled by, her Ukrainian grandfather, Nikodym Pliczkowsky.

A Legacy Rooted in Strength and Service

 Lara’s early life was steeped in her grandfather’s tales of Ukraine’s struggle for independence, his vivid accounts of Cossack valour, and his lifelong determination to fight against Soviet oppression and tyranny. These stories, shared over meals and recorded by her during her teen and university years on a rickety old tape recorder, were more than family lore—they were lessons in resilience, justice, and the power of service. “You are a Cossack girl,” her grandfather, Nikodym Pliczkowsky, would remind her. These words, spoken in Ukrainian – the language of her first words – carried the weight of their family’s legacy. Nikodym, a survivor of the Holodomor and a key figure in the Ukrainian diaspora in Australia, dedicated his life to preserving Ukrainian culture and advocating for his homeland’s freedom.

This legacy became a cornerstone of Lara’s identity. As she grew into her roles as a doctor, advocate, and charity leader, she carried forward her grandfather’s ethos, blending it with her professional skills and compassion.

A Lifelong Commitment to the Underserved

 Lara’s medical career very quickly saw  a calling to work in the  remote Indigenous communities of Cape York, Queensland, Australia., Her work has always  drawn her to the under-served and it was immediate confirmation of her calling once she started working in these communities. She developed a real connection to, and love for, these communities, Kowanyama especially though became both a personal and professional journey of legendary proportions. She  promptly immersed herself within this community and on many different levels soon became a much respected and loved doctor and “Aunty” to many.  To this day, drive down any street in Kowanyama with Lara and the excited and happy voices when they realise who is in the car is a testament to her work and standing in this community.

Her philosophy is simple yet profound: that relationships, respect, and high-quality care are the cornerstones of healing. This belief has driven her to become a relentless advocate for systemic change, often at personal cost.

In the remote Aboriginal community of Kowanyama where she would eventually spend nearly 20 years (and still has enduring connections), Lara learned perhaps her most important lesson: the power of truly listening. She recalls a patient who others had written off as a “hopeless, trouble-making drunk.” But by taking the time to listen, to build trust, she discovered a person carrying the weight of profound trauma.

“Through counselling and support, the patient has moved on with their life and is a wonderful parent and now grandparent,” Lara shares. “If I had not taken the time to learn their history, I may have also just seen them as others did.”

This approach – prioritising relationships and understanding over quick judgements – became the cornerstone of her medical practice. “I’ve learned that  black and white do not exist,” she reflects. “Our lives are made up of a thousand shades of grey and brown.”

“Through every challenge and triumph in this work, my Christian faith has been what leads me and strengthens me to ‘press on’, especially when the task seems overwhelming, and what reminds me that each person we serve – from Cape York to Kherson – is infinitely precious and worthy of our very best efforts.”

Inspired by Ukraine’s Resilience

When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the stories her grandfather had shared decades ago suddenly took on new urgency. The decision to travel to Ukraine in 2023 with colleague Professor Whitehall, wasn’t just about providing medical aid – it was about honouring a legacy of resistance and compassion that had shaped her life.

In the war-torn villages of the Kherson region, Lara found echoes of the lessons she’d learned in Indigenous Australia. The importance of bearing witness. The healing power of listening. The way trauma requires more than just medical intervention.

“I have worked in remote communities for decades, and I have seen and experienced traumas and horrific things that many have not “But nothing had prepared me for this.” ,” she wrote of her time in Ukraine.

Yet even in the midst of devastation, she found human resilience.  In Bilohirka, she sat with farming couples who had survived occupation, listening to their stories as artillery explosions echoed in the distance. In Stanislav, she watched elderly patients with shrapnel wounds being treated while bearing witness to their experiences of survival.  She walked with a farmer through once wonderfully productive land, on small tracks that were thought to be safe from land mines, because he wanted her to see the utter devastation.

Lara’s visit to Ukraine in 2023 deepened her understanding of her heritage and galvanised her humanitarian efforts. Unable to reach her ancestral lands near the frontlines due to the ongoing war, she witnessed firsthand the devastating impacts of conflict and the indomitable spirit of the Ukrainian people. From churches to local NGOs, she saw communities uniting to support each other, defying the chaos with courage, compassion and a resilience that seems almost impossible to imagine elsewhere.

The Work Continues

These experiences reinforced her mission. Through Only Passing Thru (OPT), Lara partners with Ukrainian NGOs to provide life-saving aid, while raising awareness in Australia about Ukraine’s struggle. Her efforts are anchored in not just well informed and trustworthy information and personal experience  but also by an excellent understanding of the  historical narrative at play—a reminder that a big part of Ukraine’s current fight for freedom is part of a continuum stretching back generations.

OPT also support a development NGO in remote Bangladesh, and OPT continues its founding work with Indigenous youth  and community projects in Kowanyama (started as OTK – www.otk.org.au of which Lara was a founding board member from which many of its founders have followed her through to the board of OPT.)

For nearly two decades, she and her husband Ron have opened their home to boys from Kowanyama, providing educational opportunities while maintaining their  connections with the community. This long-term commitment reflects her belief that real change happens through sustained relationships and persistent presence.

“The best I had to offer my community, my patients, was my relationship with them, my love and respect for them and my professional skills,” she says. “I was not going to be the struggling  doctor who came here as a last resort and left when things got tough. I was going to be here by choice.”

This same philosophy guides her work in Ukraine and elsewhere – a commitment to ‘showing up’, staying the long haul, and building trust through consistent care and attention.

It’s one of the factors that drew her to partner with the Christian Medical Association of Ukraine (CMA). “Their approach resonated deeply with everything I’d learned about healing,” Lara explains. “They understand that medical care isn’t just about treating symptoms – it’s about seeing each person as inherently valuable, worthy of the highest standard of care regardless of their circumstances. In fact that is one of their mission statements.” In CMA’s work, she recognised the same principles that had proven so vital in Indigenous healthcare: the importance of building trust, of showing genuine compassion, of taking time to listen to each person’s story. “When you’re working with people who’ve experienced trauma, whether in remote communities or war zones, they need to know you see them as more than just another patient. CMA gets that. They understand that true healing starts with recognising each person’s fundamental dignity and worth.”

A Living Legacy

When Lara sits down to write about her experiences now, she often thinks about her grandfather at that old Ukrainian typewriter in Brisbane. His stories of resistance and resilience, once seemingly distant history, now feel startlingly relevant to her own work.

Whether she’s working from home on the Atherton Tablelands, working in a clinic in remote Cape York, coordinating aid efforts in Ukraine, fundraising, writing blogs, or being an “aunty” to youth from Kowanyama, Lara carries forward her grandfather’s legacy of standing up for the oppressed while adding her own chapter to the story – one of healing, hope, and unwavering commitment to human dignity.

Building Bridges of Trust and Hope

Lara’s charity work reflects her integrity and dedication. Every dollar donated to Only Passing Thru goes directly to supporting the cause, with none spent on wages—a rarity in the world of nonprofit organisations. Her transparency and integrity, coupled with a lifetime of selfless service, inspires trust and confidence among her supporters.

As editor of her grandfather’s historical novel, Under Black Banners, (read more about it HERE) Lara has created a bridge between past and present. All of Lara’s years of work spent editing, translating, and refining the book were donated. All proceeds from the book directly support humanitarian aid in Ukraine, blending storytelling with tangible impact. It’s a project reflecting her belief in narratives’ power to inspire action and foster understanding

Join the Journey

Through OPT, she invites others to join this journey of sustained impact. “We’re not just providing aid,” she explains. “We’re building bridges between communities, creating connections that can transform lives on both sides of the equation.”

For those inspired by Lara’s work, supporting OPT offers a way to participate in this vision of helping through relationship, understanding, and persistent presence. To learn more about joining this mission of sustained impact in Kowanyama, Ukraine, or Bangladesh visit www.passingthrough.net/about

Lara’s journey offers a powerful reminder: change begins with showing up, listening deeply, and committing to the long haul. Through OPT -Only Passing Thru, supporters can join this mission of sustained impact, helping to write new stories of hope in communities from Cape York to Kyiv. This is why we are so especially grateful to those donors who give regularly – many ‘only’ give $5-$20 a month – but it’s that commitment, it’s that relationship, it’s being there for the long haul and that makes all the difference.  If they wish, donations are able to be directed to the area of the donor’s choice.

And remember all donations over $2 are TAX DEDUCTIBLE.