Sydney Lithuanian Artists’ Group Aitvaras

On 27–28 December 1950, several former students of the Institute of Applied Arts in Freiburg, who had gathered in Sydney, established the Lithuanian Artists’ Group “Aitvaras.” The group’s principal aim was to encourage and support its members in the creation of artistic work. It was agreed that an exhibition of members’ works would be organised in Sydney within the year, and that a library would be established for the use of the group. Initially, the library would consist of publications owned by members and subscriptions from abroad, to be expanded with new publications as circumstances allowed.

The group was led by the elected chair Jurgis Bistrickas, with Henrikas Šalkauskas as deputy. Correspondence for the group was directed to: Mr Jonas Kalgovas.

In 1953, Jurgis Bistrickas organised the first Australia-wide Lithuanian art exhibition, held at Mark Foy’s Gallery in Sydney. Seventeen artists participated, exhibiting a total of seventy-four works: thirty-nine graphic works and drawings, eighteen oil paintings, thirteen sculptural pieces, three watercolours, and one tapestry (Kazokas, p. 36).

In the exhibition catalogue, Vytautas Janavičius wrote in the introduction:

“This is an exhibition of restless, striving individuals. May these works emphasise their striving and seeking. May this be a small contribution to the young Australian nation, which is still fighting for its expression in art and culture.”

The exhibition represented, in many ways, the artists’ attempt to come to terms with exile.

Contemporary reviews of the exhibition were largely favourable. One critic noted that the exhibition at Mark Foy’s Gallery was, on the whole, pleasing, with considerable variety. The juxtaposition of traditional and modern styles was welcomed, and many artists were observed to be responding to the Australian environment, offering fresh and unusual interpretations of their new surroundings. While no single masterpiece was identified, the exhibition demonstrated strong craftsmanship and a sensitivity that reflected the cultural contributions Lithuanian artists were bringing to Australia.

The reviewer expressed the hope that many people would visit the exhibition, describing it as multifaceted and accessible, with relatively few overtly problematic works. For the average visitor interested in art, there was much to learn and admire.

Vladas Meškėnas was awarded first prize for his pastel Study for the Portrait of a Family, praised for its careful balance and engaging tonal qualities. Second prize was awarded to Teisutis Zikaras for the sculpture Land of Sorrows, a work that carried elements of Byzantine tradition into a modern idiom, particularly evident in the treatment of the head. Henrikas Šalkauskas received third prize for his linocut Three Women, which, although somewhat simplified, was noted for its feeling and charm.

Other notable works included Aleksandras Marčiulionis’ swift and dramatic impression of trees; Jurgis Bistrickas’ Displaced Persons, featuring desert peas and poppies, which, while not entirely successful, was recognised for its striking and unusual use of colour; and Vaclovas Ratas-Rataiskis’ woodcut Emu, a charming work inspired by Aboriginal art.

Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), Monday 7 September 1953, page 12

Juozas Maksvytis, the first Lithuanian to graduate from the University of NSW

Juozas was the first Lithuanian to graduate from the University of NSW. Eighteenth and seventh president of the Australian Lithuanian Community.

Juozas was a person devoted to science, loved music and song, and had a sense of responsibility for Lithuanian community work, and everything was connected with a sense of the beauty of life, with undying optimism.

Juozas Maksvytis was born on November 7, 1924, in Grūšlaukė, Salanta village, Kretinga county, in the family of a pharmacist, the middle of seven children.  In 1938 he joined the scouts in Taurage and in 1944 graduated from Plungė Gymnasium.

After moving to Germany, due to the occupation of Lithuania, he gained a degree in electrical engineering, graduating from Nürtingen-Schwäbisch Gmünd Lithuanian Technical School in 1948.

In 1949 he arrived in Australia on the Svalbard 29 June 1948, his younger sister, also came to Australia a few months before him.  Juozas completed a two-year work contract at a factory in Yallourn, Victoria. After moving to Melbourne, he immediately got involved in national cultural activities, such as Lithuanian folk dancing. He enrolled into the University of Melbourne, but due to his limited English he was unable to complete the course.

In 1952, Juozas moved to Sydney, where in August 1954 he married a fellow Lithuanian.  They had two daughters.  He again enrolled into the newly opened University of NSW, Faculty of Science and Mathematics.  In 1959 he received his diploma in applied chemistry and in 1960 received a Bachelor of Science degree. 

He worked during the day and studied in the evening; he had to support his family.  It was reported that chemistry student Juozas Maksvytis, had become the first radioactive person in Australia. While studying in the chemistry labs he helped to remove from the laboratory a container with radioactive material.  It was later noticed that liquid had leaked from the leaden container that he had been carrying.   After conducting tests, it was established that his wrist was radioactive. The university took urgent measures, and he spent 14 days in hospital, where intensive blood tests were carried out.  He survived.

From 1963-64 and 1969-70 Juozas was a member of the Regional Board of Australian Lithuanian Community (ALC).  From 1973-75 Juozas was the chairman of the Sydney area of ​​ALC, and when Gough Whitlam recognised the Baltic States incorporation into the Soviet Union, Juozas was a member of the BAG (Baltic Action Group), who actively fought for the cancellation of the recognition.

In 1983-84, Juozas was again a member of the ALC Regional Board and simultaneously the chairman of the ALB Cultural Council.

He worked as a biochemist at St. Vincent's Hospital, until his retirement in 1987.  By then he was head of the hormone research department.

The following year he studied philosophy and history at Macquarie University, then 1991-92 he attended a museum management courses (graduated in November 1992), and since 1993 worked with the University of Third Age until his death.

In 1989 to 1990 Juozas again served on the ALC board as chairman.  From1995 he actively joined Sydney Lithuanian sports club "Kovas" and played golf.

Juozas had a lifelong love of music.  Since 1954 he sang in the Sydney Lithuanian choir and saw him join Algis Plukis "Rozytės", later he performed with his own group "Tie patys".  After the creation of the "Ansamblio" choir, Juozas helped this choir prepare individual voices, occasionally conducting the choir himself in concerts.  Since 1960 until 1970 for a whole decade, Juozas was a singing and music teacher at the Sydney Weekend School.

Juozas even composed a series of his own songs and hymns, such as "Longing", for which he wrote the music and lyrics.  Juozas performed in the opera "Aida" in the chorus of the Sydney Opera House.  In 1996 Juozas sang in four Australian choirs: Sydney Men's Choir, Sydney Mixed Choir, Beethoven 9th Symphony Society Choir and University of Third Age Choir.

Since 1975 he acted in the Sydney Lithuania "Atžala" theatre, in 1980 he switched to directing and theatre administration. Together with Paulius Rūtenius, he organised the first Lithuanian theatre festival in Australia.

On 2 February 1977, the sad news about the unexpected death of Juozas Maksvytis, was received which painfully shocked his large group of friends and acquaintances.

Mykolas Zakaras - Eleventh President

Mykolas was born on October 21, 1909, in the Urniežiai farmstead, Dotnuva parish, Kėdainiai county, into the family of a wealthy farmer.  He grew up with five brothers and three sisters. Mykolas was the eldest in the family.  He attended primary school in Dotnuva, continued his secondary education in Kėdainiai and Kaunas, at the Pavasaris Higher Commercial School (Gymnasium). He completed his higher education in Klaipėda, where he studied at the Institute of Trade.  He also attended the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics of Vytautas Magnus University, but was unable to complete his studies, as the University was closed during the German occupation.  He performed his military service in the Sixth Squadron of the Military Aviation, in Šiauliai. He graduated with the rank of private.  He worked as a bookeeper  for the Electrical station in Telšiai from 1938 – 1944.  In addition to Lithuanian, he was fluent in three languages, German, Russian and Polish.

On 21 January 1942, Mykolas Zakaras and nurse in the Resurrection
Church in Kaunas.  A daughter was born in Kaunas. The family moved to Germany in 1944, due to the Soviet reoccupation of Lithuania. Mykolas worked in a factory at Schwopnitz, Saxonia Germany and later from 1945 as a checker in a warehouse for the IRO in Hanau Germany.   A son, was born in 1945, Germany 

After the war, they emigrated from Germany to Australia, where they lived in the Sydney suburb of Kingsgrove.

Mykolas worked hard in a glass factory, settled down nicely and took care of his children's education, and when they grew up, he joined the activities of the community. 1961-1962 Mykolas took up the position of Chairman of the Bankstown District Board, later in 1963 he was elected to the Regional Board of the Lithuanian Community of Australia.  In 1969, after the death of the then Chairman of the Regional Board of the ALB, Stasys Narušis, he briefly took over the position of the former Chairman.

In 1967, Mykolas Zakaras joined the Sydney branch of the Lithuanian Veterans Union "Ramovė". He was active in this union and a dutiful member, often elected to the branch board, he held various positions. For his exceptional kindness and merits to the Lithuanian soldiers, united in the Lithuanian Soldiers Veterans Union "Ramovė", on May 20, 1989, he was elected an honorary member of the union.

On 16 August 1985 Mykolas passed away.  On the 21st friends and acquaintances accompanied Mykolas on his last journey to the Rookwood cemetery. Mindaugas Šumskas gave a farewell speech at the grave, remembering his contribution to the creation of the Bankstown Lithuanian House and his work in the activities of the district. Juozas Dambrauskas also mentioned Mykolas' merits in sports activities, for which he was elected an honorary member of "Kovas".

Simas Narušis - All my achievements and work are for you, Lithuania

Simas was born on 13 March 1899 and passed away on 23 December 1969. He was born in Karališkiai, near Jurbarkas. In 1927, he completed his studies at a school in Kaunas, and from 1930 to 1931 he studied law at Vytautas Didysis University. He married Vanda, and they did not have children.

Simas volunteered for the newly established
Lithuanian Army and, in 1933, attained the rank of Major. During the Second World War, he organised and led independent military units in the eastern regions and fought against enemies of Lithuania.

Upon arriving in Australia, he immediately became active in Lithuanian community life. He served on the committee of the Sydney Lithuanian Society, where he worked tirelessly to organise cultural and community events. From 1965 until his death five years later, he was President of the Australian Lithuanian Community.  During this time, he visited every Lithuanian community across Australia, including the smallest branches. He maintained close ties with scouts, youth organisations, and sports clubs, and consistently encouraged Lithuanians to work not for personal gain, but for the good of the Lithuanian nation and community.

In recognition of his dedication, the Latvian community in Australia awarded him a silver medal in 1968 for his efforts and contributions to the struggle for Baltic freedom. In 1969, Simas represented Australia as a delegate at the World Lithuanian Community Parliament, where he was honoured with another medal. Despite suffering from cancer, he travelled to New Zealand to meet with the Lithuanian community there.

Simas lived by the motto: “Visi mano atsiekimai ir darbai – Tau, Lietuva!” — “All my achievements and work are for you, Lithuania.” His passion and devotion to Lithuania were deeply felt, and his death was a profound loss to Lithuanians throughout Australia. At his funeral, a guard of honour composed of Lithuanian scouts, members of the Federal Council, Ramovė, and the Sydney Lithuanian Committee stood beside his casket, which was draped with the Lithuanian flag.

Several years later, on 14 March 1971, the community gathered at Simas’s grave to commemorate his life and bless the newly placed headstone. The black granite headstone was designed by engineer A. Jakštas and features a white cross and the Gedimino stulpai carved into the lower corner. It stands in the Lithuanian section of Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney.

The Engineer and the President, Balys Daukus

Balys Daukus was born on 23 November 1900 in Samanių village, Južintai region, Rokiškis district, under the surname Dobkevičius. During Lithuania’s struggle for independence, he restored his great-grandfathers’ original surname, Daukas.

After completing elementary school, he enrolled at the Daugavpils Gymnasium. With the outbreak of World War I, he left for Tashkent to stay with his uncle, where he witnessed the Bolshevik Revolution and the mass killings carried out by the Soviets. After the war, he returned to Lithuania, continued his studies at the Rokiškis Gymnasium, and later at the Panevėžys Men’s Gymnasium, from which he graduated in 1923. He then studied engineering at Kaunas University. During his studies, he supported himself by teaching adult courses and working at the Kaunas railway workshops, as well as serving as a technician in peat bogs. At the university, he joined the student organisation Corp! Neo-Lithuania, becoming one of its earliest members when it was founded in 1922.

He married Pajauta Linartaitė, who was also a student at the time. In 1931, he graduated with a degree in technological engineering. 

From 1932 to 1934, he headed the railway workshop in Virbalis. In 1934, on the recommendation of Minister of Transport Vytautas Vileišis, he moved to Klaipėda to serve as head of the port mechanics department and port dredging operations. He managed a staff of 450 employees, was frequently invited as an expert to other organisations, and travelled abroad to England, Sweden, and Germany on official assignments. In 1938, he was also appointed head of anti-aircraft defence for Klaipėda city and the Klaipėda region.

While living in Klaipėda, he actively participated in sports activities, helped organise Lithuanian football players, and often accompanied teams traveling between Klaipėda and Kaunas.

After Klaipėda was seized by Germany in 1939, he briefly served as deputy director of the Pavenčiai Sugar Factory. In 1940, he became director of the Panevėžys Sugar Factory. Under his leadership, the company—employing 2,000 workers—completed construction of the new plant.

During this time, he also witnessed the murder of twenty high school students from Kupiškis. Through his efforts, a temporary memorial—a large wooden cross—was erected to honour the victims. In the summer of 1941, after the Bolsheviks were expelled from Lithuania, numerous resistance groups emerged in Panevėžys. Recognising the continued danger posed by the new German occupation, Balys organised a joint meeting of resistance leaders to coordinate future activities.

In October 1944, he left for Germany, where he worked for a time as an engineer at a sugar refinery near Leipzig. By late 1945, he was living in the Lithuanian camp in Kempten.

From Kempten, he emigrated to Australia, arriving in June 1949 aboard the General Langfitt. He worked under a two-year contract at the Army workshops in Bandiana, Victoria. The family later moved to Sydney, where he worked as a factory mechanic in a ceramics plant, and later as a design engineer for the New South Wales Electricity Commission until his retirement.

Prior to emigrating, he had founded the Lithuanian Engineers and Architects Society and served as its head. After settling in Sydney, he established a branch of the World Lithuanian Engineers and Architects Society on 22 July 1951, led the branch, and kept its yearbook of professional activities. He maintained close ties with branches in Melbourne and Adelaide, founded a new branch in Canberra, and kept contact with engineers across Australia and New Zealand.

In Sydney, he was an active contributor to Šviesa and regularly participated in Lithuanian Community meetings. In 1951, at the Regional Council session in Melbourne, he was elected vice-chairman of the presidium. In 1956, at the session in Sydney, he was elected chairman. He chaired the session effectively and was re-elected to the Regional Council for the 1957–1958 term, again serving as vice-chairman. He also took part in the 1958 session held in Melbourne. At the end of 1960, he was once more elected to the Regional Council for the 1961–1962 term, this time as chairman. During his term, the Provincial Government published the monumental 290-page Australian Lithuanian Yearbook, which remains an important source on Lithuanian life in Australia.

Balys Daukus died on 9 January 1968 and was buried in the Lithuanian section of Rookwood Cemetery.