Polina Bilinsky Mycak

Polina Bilinsky Mycak’s story is deeply rooted in the rich soil of Ukraine. It is a life dedicated to her family heritage, and reverence for the resilience and culture of her ancestral Ukrainian people.

Born in Sydney to Ukrainian-Australian parents, Polina embodies the spirit of her namesake great-grandmother, a survivor of immense historical hardships. She channels this heritage into her life’s mission as a cultural leader.

At 15, Polina made her first pilgrimage to Ukraine. She visited Masheve, her great-grandmother’s ancestral village. The trip was an emotional reckoning with the past.

The family home, once a prosperous farm surrounded by an abundant apple orchard, had been seized during Soviet rule and turned into a post office.

“We ate an apple from the trees my grandmother always talked about,” Polina recalls.

“It was almost a spiritual experience. My mother fell to her knees and clutched at the soil.”

Some of that soil, carried back to Australia in a jar, became a tangible symbol of their connection to the land and its history.

Polina’s great-grandmother lived through the brutal Holodomor genocidal famine of the 1930s, a tragedy that claimed millions of lives, including two of her children.

She endured these hardships and migrated to Australia as a refugee after World War II with three of her surviving children.

“My great-grandmother went through a lot. She lived to 108 in good health and passed away peacefully at home.”

“I really do see her as my guardian angel,” Polina says.

This legacy of family resilience profoundly shaped Polina’s identity.

Whilst her maternal heritage traces back to rural Ukraine, her paternal lineage stems from the cultural hub of Lviv, providing Polina with rich and diverse traditional origins.

Growing up in Sydney’s beachside suburb of Coogee, Polina lived a dual identity life.

While her friends spent Saturdays at sports or surf lifesaving programs, she attended Ukrainian Central School in Lidcombe, learning the Ukrainian language and traditions.

“Sometimes it felt inconvenient,” she admits.

“But I gained lifelong friends and a family of role models – teachers, poets, and singers who taught me how to be an Australian with Ukrainian roots.”

Her parents, Andriy and Sonia, are pillars of the Ukrainian community in Sydney. Andriy, a retired engineer, has led the Ukrainian Association of Sydney for 30 years, while Sonia, an academic, advocates for Ukraine.

Their example of cultural pride and service inspired Polina’s dedication to her heritage.

From the age of four, Polina immersed herself in Ukrainian arts, particularly folkloric dance.

Now, as a mentor, she teaches dance at the Ukrainian Central School. She shares traditions with a new generation of Ukrainian children, some of whom are refugees fleeing the ongoing war.

“Many of my students have recently arrived,” Polina says.

“Children whose mothers have left their husbands, sons, and brothers back in Ukraine.”

She takes great joy in teaching her young students the traditional Hopak dance. The men dress as Kozaks and the women in colourful traditional dress.

Through dance, she provides joy and a sense of belonging.

“Dance links those who do and don’t have language – it’s a connector,” she says.

Her own experiences as a dancer with the Veselka Dance Ensemble highlight the power of cultural expression.

“In high school, dance was my favourite part of Ukrainian culture,” Polina explains.

“The costumes are beautiful, and you get to perform at festivals and events.”

Her trips to Ukraine have revealed a surprising dynamic. Her extended family view her as a cultural torchbearer.

“Even though our family lives in Ukraine, they didn’t know a lot about Ukrainian traditions because the Soviet authorities suppressed them,” she shares.

This responsibility deepened Polina’s passion for cultural preservation, fuelling her academic pursuits. At Macquarie University, she studies psychology and cultural anthropology to explore how communities maintain traditions across generations.

The 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine brought Polina’s connection to her homeland into sharp focus.

A cousin in the army stationed on the northern border called her family on the eve of the invasion, fearing it might be their last conversation.

He asked Polina to sing a folk song and she chose Zelene Zhyto, performed in the bilyi holos style – a vocal tradition from her ancestral region she has been singing since the age of 10.

“That night was unforgettable,” Polina says.

“We didn’t hear from my cousin for weeks, but he survived.”

Polina channels her grief and ‘survivor’s guilt’ into action, raising funds and supporting displaced Ukrainians in Australia.

“I have a real sense of guilt that I’m safe while my family is in war-torn areas,” she shares.

“Even something as simple as walking across the street without fear feels like a privilege.”

Among Polina’s cherished traditions is pysanky, the intricate art of Ukrainian Easter egg decoration. Passed down from her mother, this practice connects her to her ancestors.

“I draw a lot of sheaves of wheat, which symbolises health and prosperity,” she explains.

Another heirloom is her great-grandmother’s vyshyvanka – embroidered blouses representing regional Ukrainian artistry.

“When I wear them, I feel spiritually connected to her,” Polina says, a sentiment captured in her poem Childhood Ghosts.

The poem, featured at a Macquarie University exhibition, explores her bond with her great-grandmother through shared traditions.

Polina’s cultural leadership extends beyond her Ukrainian community.

As a member of the Multicultural NSW Advisory Board, she advocates for diversity and inclusion.

“Being on the board feels like my greatest achievement so far,” she says.

“It’s important because everyone deserves to be comfortable expressing their culture.”

Her work allows her to represent Ukrainian culture on a broader stage, from attending the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards to participating in multicultural festivals.

“What an experience, seeing how Multicultural NSW helps people like my family,” she says.

Polina Bilinsky Mycak’s journey is rooted in gratitude, heritage, resilience and cultural preservation.

“I love being an Aussie. It’s amazing the opportunities Australia has given my family while allowing me to be a proud part of the Ukrainian community,” she explains.

“It’s a chaotic mix at times but it’s a beautiful combination.”