Mykytenko Vira and Peter

Unknown artist

Although Peter Mykytenko was born in Ukraine and joined the Ukrainian Geelong community in Australia in the 1950s, Peter and his parents wanted to migrate to England. Peter and his parents left Ukraine for Germany and hoped to migrate to England after the Second World War. Unfortunately, his parents were informed that they could not go to England because they were too old. On the other hand, Australia welcomed them and they emigrated to Geelong, Australia. In Geelong, Peter joined the Hromada, Plast, Ukrainian Scouting Organisation, and the Autocephaly Church. His wife, Vira, joined the Ukrainian Women’s Association in Australia (UWAA) Geelong Branch and also worked in the community. Peter explained how creative his wife, Vira, was and she would often paint landscapes Then one time, Peter decided to make this big pysanky and what did Vira do; but paint the pysanky. Peter commented about pysanky making and how Ukrainians carried their Ukrainian traditions, wherever they migrated. Pysanky or Easter egg decorating is a traditional Ukrainian custom of writing designs on chicken eggs with beeswax and dipping the egg into numerous colours to decorate the egg. The completed pysanky is presented to loved ones and friends over the Easter period. The writing of the pysanky usually occurs during Lent in preparation for Easter celebrations. However, in this instance, Peter made an Easter egg out of wood and it stood higher than his garage. Of course, this prompted Vira to take out the Dulux house paint and brushes to paint the egg. Normally, she would decorate pysanky in the traditional way with wax. Peter and Vira were very delighted with the final pysanky artwork that they decided to move it to the Plast camp near Geelong, in Victoria.