The Discussion Club held its meetings several times on the
site of this hotel (J. Statkus participates in the Discussion Club), Astra and
Andy Šaltys, German based Lithuanian sibling folk duo, performed on the site of
this hotel.
Jonas Statkus and his family continued to live in Newcastle,
because they have bought a property there, a couple of blocks of Home Units.
Jonas married Margaret and had two children. Jonas died on 31 January 1994.
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 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.
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 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.
Jonas Statkus owner of the George Hotel sold it in November 1975. When the George Hotel was in Lithuanian hands, the Newcastle Board recei...
