The Mango Inquirer, Darwin (2025)

21/12/2025

My first independent aid-run to the frontline city of Kherson, with my military es**rt Ghost Echo.

Dubbed "the human safari" by Russians, foreigners are no longer permitted entry to the city, but as I'm embedded with a local unit, it was no problem at checkpoints.

The aid was family-orientated, including Chupa-Chups, porridge, Oreo's, baby wipes, two-minute noodles, soups, Coca-Cola, chocolate, and much more.

While 30 care packages doesn't go very far, I decided on quality rather than quantity; compiling these from my own pocket, as I haven't secured a funding source yet.

It's been a hard month of rejection from humanitarian organisations, and criticism in foreign volunteer chat groups by preachy 'know-betters' telling me to leave red zone work to the locals, and donate the van instead.

Needless to say, I declined that advice.

US charity World Aid Runners said I was "three-years late", warning The Mango Inquirer that I "wouldn't last a day" in Kherson, during a TikTok livestream that consistently boasted about being the only foreign humanitarian in the city.

A level of arrogance and ownership that only reinforces it's founder's concerning history before coming to Ukraine.

It might have sounded presumptuous of me to believe NGOs would easily accept foreigners without local knowledge or language skills for their evacuation teams, but many charities do market themselves through first-person volunteer stories.

I've filled out so many forms this month, while emailing organisations in my sleep; but to no avail.

The cynnical side of me understands it's more about attracting donations and funding, than the risk of a diversity hire.

I had one interview with a charity transporting evacuees to western Ukraine, but it wasn't working near red zones.

Several private messages produced a few leads; but nothing from an active team yet.

You helped me buy this van though, and I promise we will find some people to save together, very soon.

Video reports on my last three days in Kherson to follow soon.

We handed out the aid today, and the kids lining up must have been told by the house master that I only speak English, because they all said thank you in our language!!!

It was beyond amazing.

We are The Mango Inquirer.

14/11/2025

FINAL DONATIONS CALL: A heavily-redacted copy of today's NT News.

Still counts as another front page for Ukraine though.

While my CV has no degrees or referees, it will simply read: Two-time NT News front pager.

It's as good as the key to the city.

There's still time to donate to my mini-van GoFundMe, for aid delivery and village evacuations from advancing Russian forces.

Like I said, I will cover the shortfall myself and publish the proof of purchase here.

GoFundMe:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/minivan-to-evacuate-villagers-in-ukraine

Paypal:
https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/9jQiYcTr5o

PayID:
0474909614

After having a few private vehicle sellers hang up the phone on me when I ask if they speak english, someone actually rang me back this morning, and I've test-driven the vehicle already!

My Ukranian girlfriend said I should be getting her to call, but if I can't do things like this myself, then I shouldn't even be here! It's a pride thing.

Felt slightly shady meeting the two fellas up the back of a shopping centre carpark, but the van drove really well, and I wasn't kidnapped!

There is plenty of room to tie someone up in the back though, because I wanted the option to seat people or fit a lot of boxes in there.

The VIN/rego checks came back spotless, and I couldn't fault anything with the van myself.

Just the technical inspection to go. $7K USD is the asking price.

For tasks near the front, I will have dashcams and GoPro's running; obviously Ukranian military will be redacted from the video; but if a Russian FPV, mortar or 155mm shell has a go at us, I promise you'll get it in full 60fps at 4K.

Slava Ukraini. We are The Mango Inquirer.

13/11/2025

Hopefully keeping Ukraine in minds of those at home.

Thank you journalist and friend, Harry Brill.

There's still time to donate to my GoFundMe, for a mini-van, to deliver aid and evacuate villagers from advancing Russuan forces.

I viewed a few more this week, and there's nothing priced less than $6k USD that you'd want to put your life on.

The one I test drove yesterday from an actual car dealership had some hanging nylon cord as the park brake handle, and they wouldn't take a bank transfer for payment. Had to be cash.

Donations are nowhere near $6K USD, so I will cover the extra funds myself, but will still publish the proof of purchase for the benefit of those donating.

I encourage anyone bitter over The Mango Inquirer writing about you or a friend over the years to donate to my GoFundMe, because it will expedite my chances of being un-alived.

Surely that's worth $5, $10 or even $20.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/minivan-to-evacuate-villagers-in-ukraine

The joke is on you though, because in my will I will be cremated and put into water balloons and thrown from the back of a ute at pub goers along Mitchell street during knock-off drinks time.

Harder to reach rooftop bars should have my ashes mixed with cinnamon and sprinkled on their daiquiris, although I taste pretty sweet already.

Slava Ukraini. We are The Mango Inquirer.

05/11/2025

The Mango Inquirer asks for your help to fundraise $5,000 AUD for a second hand mini-van, to evacuate Ukrainian villagers and deliver aid to those refusing to leave, in the face of advancing Russian forces.

I went and saw a few mini-vans this morning, and unfortunately one was missing VIN numbers so I couldn't do a documents check, and the other had a flat battery so I need to return tomorrow when it's all charged up.

It's back on again with my Ukrainian girlfriend, and she's found a few private sellers with high kilometres for me to test drive, so it's all hands on deck.

I'll be partnering with a volunteer organisation that needs drivers with their own cars. I'm advised you're never sent on a task without a co-driver.

If you can't afford or justify a donation of a few dollars, please consider sharing around your networks.

Click through to my GoFundMe link for more details on my proposal.

Slava Ukraini. We are The Mango Inquirer.

https://gofund.me/78fdf397c

11/10/2025

Russia has targeted energy infrastructure in Ukraine to freeze us out this coming winter, with electricity out across Kyiv for a number of hours and no water for most of the day in my district.

It's reported that part of a shot down shaheed drone hit this apartment block I volunteered to help clean up.

About 12 people injured with some hospitalised in Kyiv.

Local news reports a child was killed in a drone attack further south in Ukraine.

10/10/2025

I can now say I've bled for Ukraine, after cleaning up more broken glass in one day, than a Northern Territory glazier would see in a year, following drone and missle strikes on Kyiv last night.

No trade skills here, so it was glass duty for me in the volunteer work party; while the handymen were cutting up boards for the windows to keep the affected apartments warm tonight.

No power this morning for a few hours, nor running water for most of today in my district of Kyiv, as Russia successfully targeted energy infrastructure to freeze us out this coming winter.

I did knock-out a few windows frames deemed unsalvageable; but generally it was sacks and sacks of glass.

Lessons learned today: Will definitely buy PPE tomorrow, including gloves for handling glass, and eye-protection.

Could you imagine being the little old lady in the second apartment I cleaned up, and being woken up at 2.30am as your windows are blown-in?

About 12 locals injured in the strikes across Kyiv with some hospitalised; but one child died in a drone strike in the south of Ukraine.

Video log to follow tomorrow.

Slava Ukraini.

07/10/2025

My heart dropped when first seeing this photo of our boy fighting in Ukraine, in the news this morning.

Thankfully he's not been captured or killed.

Just sentenced by Russia as a foreign fighter in "absentia".

Watch his reasons for fighting for Ukraine since 2022 in our video interview link below:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1ACXKskUdK/

30/09/2025

All-set to embrace my middle-aged overweight Slavic future, after an Adidas tracksuit shopping spree in Perth over the weekend.

Winter is coming to Ukraine, and while I've seen no one dressed in multi-coloured Tracksuits over there, bro has stocked up and is happy to cosplay a character from a Guy Ritchie movie script.

Looking forward to my 11-hour Qatar flight because the alcohol is free and unlimited like water, so I've been hydrating for a week just to survive the two-day sleepless journey from Perth to Kyiv (includes buses)

If some viral video drops in your newsfeed showing an irate Aussie in a tracksuit doing kung-fu on an airplane, please understand it was the flu medication.

Picked up a horrible bug in Darwin and considered rescheduling my flights, but I'd lose $900 and that's not cool.

Ukraine needs me, so it's no more talk of opening an Aussie bar, Ukranian dating, or other distractions. No woman, no cry.

Still have an apartment in Kharkiv but thinking about relocating to Kyiv as a base to travel from, as that's where it's all at.

The plane is pretty empty, which is the best way to fly.

Here's to doing it properly, second time around.

Slava Ukraine.

21/09/2025

Drinking at the cav tonight, if anyone's interested in a chin wag.

All is forgiven. Water under the bridge.

Second last night in Darwin.

Faint memory of being shoulder-barged last night outside, or on the way home from Mayberry's, and have some f**ked-up fingers.

Thanks for that. Perks of the job.

If there's video, I'd love to see it.

Quiet one at the Cav feels like the best option for now. Don't make it a noisy one.

We are The Mango Inquirer.

20/09/2025

General managers of ABC Darwin and NT News came up and said hello tonight at the NT Media Awards tonight.

NT Independent's Owen Pike stood his distance, but he's a stubborn one.

Nods and awkward glances between us at the Cav and Sweethearts are ok, for now.

I know there's love.

Darwin's own media Game of Thrones.

After welcome to country, I was acknowledged as the furtherest traveller for these awards.

After that, two minutes inside Sweethearts bar people are saying they're loving the Ukraine content without context on who they are, or who I am.

We are The Mango Inquirer.

The Mango Inquirer

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