Australian Lithuanian History
The events of WWII forced many Lithuanians to flee their country. Unable to return, over 10,000 came to Australia. This is their history.
Monday, 10 March 2025
Australian Lithuanian vignettes
Friday, 21 February 2025
Algimantas Plūkas
He worked in a
private company as a silversmith. His work is held by the Australian Officers'
Association in Sydney (miniature cannon valued at about $4,000), Cardinal
Gilroy of Sydney (several).
He devoted a lot
of energy, time, financial resources and energy to Lithuanian affairs, he was a
accordion player, conductor, instrumentalist, painter and decorator. He carved wood, worked in metal. He led the Sydney Lithuanian choir, Dainava
from 1955 to 1957. From 1960 to 1963 he led
a double quartet, Rožytes, a double trio, the Merry Brothers. He wrote
songs for scouts and guided groups. He illustrated Ava Saudargienė's book Sigutė
(1968). He created a national dancing group called Plūktetas.
Algis joined the
scouts in 1932 and gained his senior scout level in 1943. In Australia, he was
a long-time member of the Sydney Lithuanian scout troop, Aušra and scouter
leader. In 1952 he completed the Australian Scout Leaders Course, receiving the
rank of Scoutmaster. He participated in
the 1938 national scout camp in Panemunė, Lithuania and led the Lithuanian
scouts in the 1952-1953 Pan-Pacific Jamboree at Greystanes, NSW and almost
every Aušra camp and district camp while in Australia. Algis was an irreplaceable camp cook,
musician and artist. Camp songs composed
by him are still sung today. For several years he illustrated the scout journal
Pėdsekis.
He has been
awarded the badge of the Tėvynės Sūnaus žymeniu Son of the Fatherland
and the ordinu Už Nuopelnus Order of Merit for her services to scouting.
A notebookof his remains with his sketches and meal menus from scout camps in the 1950's.
Wednesday, 29 January 2025
Crossing the Line
Equator-crossing ceremonies evolved from a test for seasoned sailors to ensure their new shipmates were capable of handling long, rough voyages.
Lithuanians coming to Australia by ship were initiated into this rite after crossing of the Equator. The ceremony usually involved everyone onboard, King Neptune, dressing up and lots of water. This memorable event was often acknowledged with a certificate.
Eighteen-year-old Renoldas Čėsna was on board the Castelbianco bound for Melbourne in 1949. He travelled with his parents and sister, along with another 911 refugees from Eastern Europe: Balts, Polish, Yugoslavs, Ukrainians, Russians, Hungarians and Germans. Renoldas kept a diary of his journey from Naples, Italy, to Australia. This is his translated account of the equator crossing ceremony.
1949.III.7 Indian Ocean
We sailed across the equator. For that occasion, a baptism was held. King Neptune carrying a pitchfork and a few princesses came and sat down at a table, covered with white tablecloths. On the table was placed a large pot with soap-bubbled water, a bucket of water and two plates. On one plate was some sugar, the other held salt, a razor blade and a large brush.
One lady was chosen from the crowd and placed on a chair. They covered her face, eyes, nose and lips with red soap foam. Then with a large razor, began to shave. After shaving, they washed the brush in water and wiped away the remaining foam. At the end, they gave her sugar or salt. A Naval Officer was baptised, and photographs were taken with an IRO representative, senior waiter and a sailor. A bucket of foam was poured over the head of a waiter, after which all those present were wet with a hose. For the rest of the day, everyone on board sloshed each other with water. There was an ensemble of men who would catch women and throw them into the children’s swimming pool. Some men were also pushed in the children pool. The weather was windy, windier than earlier. The sky was cloudy.
Renoldas Čėsna’s diary and certificates of Equator crossings from the Australian Lithuanian Archive.
Saturday, 11 January 2025
Vardan tos Lietuvos - Canberra's memorial
The Australian Lithuanian War Veterans Association (Ramovė) comprises of former members of the previously independent Republic of Lithuania (1918-1940) armed forces. The purpose of the organisation is to encourage the camaraderie traditional among ex-soldiers and to maintain and foster Lithuanian heritage, customs and culture.
The initiator and designer of the monument is Feliksas
Borumas, who personally executed the construction work with major assistance by
LKVS Ramovė Canberra branch secretary, Liudas Budzinauskas and
other LKVS members of Canberra Ramovė organisation. The intention was that it would stand indefinitely
as a witness and proof for future generations of Lithuanians flight from
communism who, by destiny, settled in the Australian capital city, Canberra. It would reflect their efforts to assist in
the struggle for Lithuania’s freedom and warn the Australian people and government
of the menacing goal of communism, which was to conquer the world.
Built of locally sourced granite rocks, taking them six
months to construct. The monument was
constructed totally of blue granite stone blocks and cement jointing, with
steel reinforcing. The monument stood
six foot high, but the Gedimino stulpai increased its height to just
under eight feet. The monument contained
a document placed in a metal tube and concreted in the upper section. The national emblem was presented by Viktoras
Budzinauskas in 1989 from Lithuania.
This monument was consecrated by Father Povilas Martužas
who also celebrated Mass, during the commemoration ceremony of the Lithuanian
Armed Forces on 25 November 1990. A
ceremony by the monument was held annually to commemorate Lithuanian Armed
Forces Day, 23 November 1918.
Tuesday, 15 October 2024
For you - Lithuania!
Simas Narušis
Born 13 March 1899 – 23 December 1969
Born in Karališkiai, not far from Jurbarkas. In 1927 he
finished Kaunas school and in 1930-31 studied at Vytautas Didysis University,
law faculty. He married Vanda. They had
no children.
Simas volunteered for the newly formed Lithuanian Army. In 1933, Simas rose to the rank of Major. During the second world war he organised and
led separate military units in the east and fought with Lithuanian enemies.
From his first arrival in Australia, Simas joined in with Lithuanian
activities and was a member of the Sydney Lithuanian Society Committee, where
he tirelessly organised community events.
From 1965 until his death five years later, he served as the
President of the Australian Lithuanian community. He visited every Lithuanian community around
Australia, even the small branches. He
maintained strong links with scouts, youth and sports clubs. He encouraged Lithuanians to work not for themselves
but for the Lithuanian nation and the community. In 1968, the Latvian community in Australia a
silver medal for his efforts and merits in the fight for the freedom of the
Baltic nations. In 1969, Simas was a
delegate at the World Lithuanian Community parliament where he was presented
with another medal. Ill with cancer, Simas
travelled to New Zealand to meet with the Lithuanian community there.
His motto was Visi mano atsiekimai ir darbai - Tau
Lietuva! All my achievements and
work – For you Lithuania!"
His enthusiasm
and work for Lithuania was felt by all and his death was a tragic blow to all Lithuanians
in Australia. A guard of honour made up
of Lithuanian scouts, Federal Council members, Ramovė and members of the
Sydney Lithuanian Committee stood by his casket which had been draped in a
Lithuanian flag.
Several years later on 14 March 1971, the community gathered
at the gravesite of Simas to remember him and bless the headstone placed there.
Engineer A. Jakštas designed the headstone of black granite with a white cross
and the Gedimino stulpai carved into lower corner. It stands in the Lithuanian section of
Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney.
Monday, 8 April 2024
Kudirka gifts Australian Doctor his artwork
Our 28 February post about artist Algirdas Kudirka, 1915–1980, caught the eye of Beth Robertson in Adelaide, who has shared this photograph and information.
This poker work ‘Australia’ by Algirdas Kudirka has had pride of place in our family home for 60 years. It is dedicated to my father ‘Dr. S. Robertson’, Thorburn Stirling Brailsford Robertson, 1925–1966.My father was a doctor who achieved sobriety after being admitted to Northfield Mental Hospital (later Hillcrest Hospital) in 1960 as a certified patient for alcohol and drug addiction. He came under the treatment of Dr Bill Salter, whose therapeutic approach included an Alcoholics Anonymous group at the hospital. Dr Salter supported my father’s appointment as a medical officer and he worked with addicts and AA groups at both Hillcrest and Yatala for the six years until his death aged 40. He was known as ‘Doc Robbie’ to most people.
My late mother told us that the artist was one of our father’s patients. I understand that Algirdas Kudirka is remembered as suffering from alcoholism. With the poker work dated 1963, he was probably a patient at Hillcrest Hospital at that time.
The poker work’s dimensions are 63cm x 50.5cm x 1cm. It is very striking with the adoption of Aboriginal motifs, the curious shaping of the continent of Australia (with the artist’s name worked into Tasmania) and the inversion of fishes over the landmass.
I would love to know whether anyone in the Lithuanian community has knowledge of Algirdas Kudirka’s time/s at Hillcrest (or Yatala). This could be by commenting on this post or sending me information privately via Daina. It could add to the story of the artwork as well as my father’s legacy.
Friday, 26 January 2024
The songs my father sang
Paulius Rutenis (Rutkauskas)
19
March 1919 – 28 August 1983
Singer,
soloist, actor, director, journalist.
A
man who was seen on and off stage in Adelaide, Melbourne and later Sydney.
He was born in Liepaja, Latvia, to Lithuanian parents who travelled there to work. When he was around three years old, the family returned to Lithuania. His father loved to sing and would encourage the whole family to sing together. They would open the windows and hear the applause from their neighbours. His father was tenor, his brother was a strong bass, his mother an alto and sister soprano, in a word, a full choir. Friends, all singers would gather and sing, Lithuanian folk songs in their home.
In 1977 he moved to Sydney and joined the Sydney theatre group, Atžala where he acted and directed plays. Shortly before his death, he formed the Sydney Lithuanian women’s ensemble Sutartinė. He commenced teaching them the songs he had learnt as a child from his father, long forgotten folk songs.
References
Australijos
Lietuvis December 6th 1948 Nr.7
The Argus Thu 17 Jun
1948, page 3, Three Baltic artists to
give concert
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