Secretary

Bernardina Vana

Secretary of Autralian Slovak's Association in Victoria

I was born in Velke Bedzany, now part of Topolcany, Slovakia on the 12th of March 1930. Educated in a Catholic School, I was taken by my older sister to Rokycany in 1945 whre I sat for exams, passed and was admitted into a three year commerce course. In 1949, I had to escape from Czechoslovakia for political reasons. I was one of many seeking refuge from Communist persecution at the time. I was only 19 years old.

Prior to settling in Australia, I was temporarily housed at a centre run by the International Refugee Organization in Germany. Eventually I was provided an option to emigrate to Australia. At the time I had expected to return to Czechoslovakia after the Communists were removed. As it turned out, they held sway for over 40 long years and my hopes for a return were dashed.

In Melbourne, I worked at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital as a Nursing Aide and later at the Prince Henry hospital as a theatre assistant, preparing (setting trays) for surgical procedures and sterilizing equipment.

I married Frantisek Vana, Editor and Publisher of “Hlas Domova”, a Czech language newspaper in 1958. We had four children. From the time I married Frantisek, I became very involved in the Czech and Slovak communities that settled in Australia. The newspaper office, which took up one of the three bedrooms in our Richmond home became the social centre for compatriots. A “Linotype” machine took up the whole garage space in our backyard.

I was the secretary of the Czechoslovakian Parents Association. The Association raised funds for a Czech language school by organizing dinner dances. Money was also used to subsidise the costs of Children’s Summer Camps, St Nicholas Day Celebrations and Fancy Dress Parties.

After the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, I assisted my husband in the resettlement of over 300 new arrivals into Australia.

I am fluent in Slovak, Czech and English and have a good understanding of Russian and Polish. I have travelled extensively. My hobbies include reading, folklore and cooking.