Townsville beekeepers plant sunflowers to help keep war in Ukraine on people's minds

North Queensland beekeepers are planting the national flower of Ukraine to help remind the public about the war. (ABC News: Eden Hynninen)

It has been five months since Townsville veterinarian John Carr escaped Ukraine in the early days of Russia's invasion, but the sights and sounds of war are hard to get out of his mind.

"You shake your head because it's so unreal. I was in war, now I'm not in war. The world is very bizarre," he said.