Cecilija Valančiūnaitė – Protas
Cecilija in Lithuania
in the AWA radio factory in Sydney (1951)
On 11 November 1908 Cecilija was born to Ona Zabulionytė – Valančiūnienė and Juozas Valančiūnas in the Galeliai village, in the district of Utena. Her parents were well-to-do farmers. Cecilija was the youngest of four children. Her brother Pranas was the eldest, followed by another brother, Motiejus, and then her sister Ona. Her sister Ona Valančiūnaitė – Čipkuvienė and her family were deported by the communists to Siberia in the mass deportations of Lithuanian citizens on 14 June 1941. Although Mrs Protas is not quite sure, she thinks that Ona and her family returned to Lithuania in 1948.

During her 100 year anniversary celebration
with her family and members of the Lithuanian choir
In November 2008, her 100th birthday was celebrated in the Lithuanian Club “Dainava” in Bankstown, Sydney. The celebration was organised by the Sydney Lithuanian Choir “Daina”, of which she was a leading soprano for many years. Her late husband, Povilas, a tenor and her daughter, Birutė, also sang in the choir for many years. Son, Kęstutis, a baritone, is still singing in this choir and also taking solo parts. A truly long family tradition. Instead of presents, the 120 guests were asked by Mrs Cecilija to make a donation to the choir, if they wished to do so. What a wonderful gesture.
Mrs Cecilija received many written congratulations - among them from Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth II, the Governor General of Australia Quentin Bryce, the Governor of NSW Professor Marie Bashir, President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus, the Prime Minister of Australia the Hon. Kevin Rudd, Federal parlamentarian Tony Abbot MP, the Premier of NSW the Hon. Nathan Rees, her local State member Kevin Green MP, the Mayor of Hurstville, and the Mayor of Bankstown Tania Mihailuk, who also presented a floral arrangement. Many other well wishers and representatives from Lithuanian organisations wished her good health, happiness and unlimited energy. She hardly misses an event in the Lithuanian Club “Dainava”.
Cecilija’s primary schooling was in Vyžuonos and her high school in the district town of Utena. Her favourite subject was history. (It should be mentioned that students were taught world history in all years of high school). The history course included ancient history, the history of the middle ages, modern history and, of course, Lithuanian history. Cecilija also liked sport, especially running and athletics.
Cecilija with husband Povilas
At her 80th birthday celebration with daughter Birutė (on the
right) and son Kęstutis and daughter-in-law Laima (on the left)
When she came to Kaunas (the temporary capital of Lithuania, as Poland had occupied Vilnius and its hinterland, a sizable part of Lithuania), the 18 year old Cecilija joined Home Guard sports club “Kovas” in Kaunas. Her talent for running was discovered and she participated in 100, 200 and 400 metres events. Her favourite distance was the 400 metres and she was rated as one of the best athletes in Lithuania in that distance. She was also highly rated in the 100 and 200 metres.
Cecilija meeting President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus
during his State Visit to Australia in February 2006
In 1927 she met her future husband, Povilas, at the Home Guard sports club “Kovas” in Šančiai (a suburb of Kaunas). They were married in 1933 and had two children, a son Kęstutis and a daughter Birutė. Before her marriage Birutė was a senior comptometrist in a bank. She gave up work after having twins, Kristina and Povilas. Both died early, followed by their mother soon afterwards. It was a very sad time for the entire family. Cecilija’s son Kęstutis and his wife Laima also had two children: a son Antanas and a daughter Venta. Kęstutis studied chemistry, majoring in organic chemistry at the University of NSW. He obtained ASTC (Chemistry) and BSc (Appl Chem). He retired holding the position of the Head of Studies at the Sydney Institute of Technology.
Cecilija’s granddaughter, Venta, studied education at the University of Sydney and graduated with B. Ed. She is teaching science at the Jesuit College St Ignatius in Riverview. Cecilija’s grandson, Antanas, graduated in Health and Building Surveying from the Sydney Institute of Technology. He and his wife, Carolyn (a graduate of the University of Western Sydney), have a Building Consulting business. Antanas and Carolyn have a daughter Claire, 11 years old, and a son, Aaron, who is 9 years old.

Speaking to the interviewer Isolde Ira Poželaitė – Davis AM, Mrs Protas said:

Singing with the “Daina” choir during a Lithuanian Mass televised
by Channel 9. Cecilija is in the first row on the right.
“To answer your question of why we left our homeland, Lithuania, and fled to the West - we were like thousands of other refugees trying to escape from the Communist regime and the Red Army, who was again reoccupying our country. My husband had been a senior lieutenant in the Lithuanian army, and as such, was in danger of being deported with his family to Siberia. Germany was the only country that had a common border with Lithuania and had not yet been occupied by the Red Army. In Germany we lived near Hamburg, which was in the British zone after the war. We chose to migrate to Australia because it was rather difficult to migrate to the USA.“
“We reached Sydney on 9 March 1949 on the ship “Wooster Victory”. Our journey was very difficult, as the ship was rather small and nearly all the way we had inclement weather with big waves. My daughter Birutė and I were seasick all the way to Sydney. When I was able to spare some time from family duties, I got involved with Sydney Lithuanian community organisations, and from its inception, with the choir “Daina”. I also sang in the Choral Ensemble “Meno Ansamblis”. For a number of years I was the secretary of the Sydney Lithuanian Community Executive.“
“I like to spend my spare time with my family and friends. I also like to read Lithuanian newspapers and good Lithuanian books. I visited Lithuania twice, in 1992 and in 1994. I was particularly happy to see my sister Ona, whom I hadn’t seen for 50 years, and also visit my realatives. In 1994 I attended the “Dainų Šventė”. This song festival reminded me of my youthful years in Kaunas, when my husband Povilas and I sang in the first such festival.“

Interviewer: Thank you, Mrs Cecilija Protas, for this interview, and once again please accept my cordial congratulations on reaching 100 years so gracefully.

Isolde Ira Poželaitė – Davis AM Sydney, NSW January 2009