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+38044-4969171
"We are grateful to the agency for our introduction and assis-tance in Kiev and Australia.
Tina's adaptability and quick learning has meant we have had very few problems so therefore we have required very little assistance from you since Tina came to Australia. However prior to this, you were invaluable to both of us, especially in Kiev. Without Val & Era's assistance, it would have been nigh impossible to have met and brought Tina to Australia."
D. & T L - Mackay (1996)
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Partner mart: Iryna Torchinska and Val Girilovich with their folder of potential
Russian brides. Picture: Paul Scambier
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Tasmanian men are
reportedly keen to
find Russian brides,
says ALYSSA
CURTAYNE.
STAFF from a Brisbane-based introduction agency have been in Tasmania for a fortnight looking for potential husbands for Russian brides.
Husband and wife Val Girilovich and Iryna Torchinska advertised in Tasmanian newspapers and received more than 200 calls from lonely Tasmanian men.
The couple have been in contact with up to 150 genuine callers and are hoping to extend their stay to see more clients.
Not all of the calls have been genuine, but all the callers were looking for a way to meet women, said Mr Girilovich.
Mr Girilovich was born in Russia and grew up in Australia. In 1993 he returned to Russia to see where he had been born and came across introduction agencies.
He was approached by a woman who represented a Russian government introduction agency, and things snowballed from there, he says.
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The company claims an 85 per cent success rate for long-term relationships.
Mr Girilovich said this was because of his and his wife's communication skills and ongoing support of the newly matched couple.
Only one-third of the women on their books spoke English, but the others had no trouble picking it up, he said.
The women come from Russia, Belarus or Ukraine and are single mothers, divorcees or professional women aged from 18 to 50 who are frustrated about the lack of available men in their home countries.
The company has more than 2000 Russian women on its books and access to more than 10,000 via its partner agencies in Russia.
Mr Girilovich said that Russian women were capable ladies who made good wives and were better than an unknown voice on a 1900 number.
The men who contact the couple are generally farmers from Australia and New Zealand who cannot find a mate because of their isolation in the countryside.
They were looking for someone who was into old-fashioned relationships where loyalty was valued, Mr Girilovich said.
"Unfortunately in Australia, women are encouraged to separate rather than work things out. Russian women are used to hardship and are not frightened of dealing with things instead of running away," he said.
The client is able to select his prospective bride from a catalogue with help and advice from Mr Girilovich.
The couple travel to Russia and Ukraine twice a year and get to know the female clients.
They also give the Russian women an opportunity to select Australian partners through e-mailed pictures.
"We just guide people and support the best way we can," Mr Girilovich said.
Once the Australian and Russian clients have found a compatible match they start corresponding.
In an ideal world the woman would visit Australia for a short period, Mr Girilovich said. But that is not possible in most cases, and the man usually travels to meet the partner.
This may happen in as little as three weeks, but the average time is three months, he said.
Once there the man
applies for sponsorship of
the woman through immigration, and once approved
the pair are able to return
to Australia to live.
The company has had no trouble with immigration, because there are only three conditions of acceptance, according to Mr Girilovich.
The woman must be healthy, the man must have a stable background, and the relationship must be proven genuine.
He said that the company tried to eliminate unstable people from its books as best it could - and the Immigration Department would not entertain the idea if either applicant had a criminal history.
Once in Australia, the women are given opportunities to network with "healthy" couples to give them support. They could fall back on the networks if things were not going well.
The company also offers Russian husbands, but has found they are in low demand.
"Introduction agencies have their place. We're here to help people," - he said.
The SUNDAY EXAMINER, April 14, 2002
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