The names behind the Lithuanian business, Maistas

Juozas Grybas  

1909.3.13- 4 December 1995

Juozas Grybas was born in Kudirkos Naumiestis, Lithuania. After his parents moved to Jurbarkas, he spent his childhood and part of his youth there. Later, he moved to Kaunas, where he gained valuable experience working at the Lithuanian “Maistas” enterprise.

Returning to Jurbarkas, Juozas continued his involvement in community life. As an active member of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union (Šauliai), he established a Shooting Club in the town. His professional journey later took him to several locations and organisations, including four years working at Baltijos Lloyd in Klaipėda, as well as positions with “Maistas” in Klaipėda, Šiauliai and Naujoji Vilnia.

In 1944, as the Red Army advanced towards Lithuania for the second time, the Grybas family was forced to leave their homeland and seek refuge in Germany. After spending five years there, they emigrated to Australia, arriving in 1949 and being placed at the Greta Migrant Camp in New South Wales.

After completing his two-year employment contract, the family settled permanently in St Ives, Sydney.

Drawing on his extensive experience in trade and the meat industry, Juozas, together with his partners, established a meat products factory. The business became a great success, and for approximately ten years its products were enjoyed not only by the people of Sydney, but also by communities in Newcastle and Wollongong.

After retirement, Juozas enjoyed a quieter life surrounded by nature. He found happiness in fishing, gardening and spending time outdoors.

The Grybas family was a wonderful example of dedication to the Lithuanian community. They were regular participants in Lithuanian church services, cultural events, preparations and concerts. Lithuanian affairs always remained one of their highest priorities. They supported the community wholeheartedly and never passed the donation table without contributing, regardless of who was collecting funds.

Following the funeral service, Juozas Grybas’ remains were accompanied by family, friends and members of the Lithuanian community to their final resting place in the Lithuanian section of the cemetery.

 1995-12-18-MUSU-PASTOGE.pdf p.11 by AVK

Maistas: A New Lithuanian Enterprise in Australia

In 1955, a Lithuanian meat trading and smallgoods manufacturing company known as “Maistas” was established in Sydney. The company was founded by five Lithuanian community members: Jonas Šlyteris, Juozas Grybas, Gediminas Umbražiūnas, Pranas Švarcas and Vacys Ambraška.

The company began by purchasing a butcher shop in Dulwich Hill and, within a short period, successfully increased its turnover fourfold. However, selling meat was only the beginning of their vision. From the very first days, plans were underway to establish a purpose-built meat processing operation.

After acquiring the necessary machinery, completing the factory facilities, and receiving approval from health and other regulatory authorities, production commenced. The machinery of “Maistas” began operating, and clouds of smoke rose from the smokehouse as traditional Lithuanian-style smoked meats and sausages were produced.

On 12 August, the shareholders, together with several invited guests, modestly celebrated the official opening of the company.

At the beginning, “Maistas” employed six people and processed more than 1,000 kilograms of meat each day. The company produced a range of European-style smallgoods, including salami, mortadella, liverwurst, frankfurts and smoked ham.

Production was supervised by Juozas Grybas, who brought valuable experience from Lithuania, where he had worked for many years in the Lithuanian “Maistas” factories managing sausage and other processed food departments.

The name “Maistas” carried a special meaning for Lithuanian immigrants. In Lithuania, the original Maistas was a major state-owned meat industry and trading company established in 1923, with its headquarters in Kaunas, operating until the Soviet occupation in 1940. The word maistas simply means “food” in English, but for many Lithuanians it represented quality, tradition and memories of their homeland.

The new Australian “Maistas” proudly continued this tradition. Its modern equipment, strict cleanliness standards and dedication to quality reflected the values of the Lithuanian company that had inspired it. The owners hoped that their sausages, hams and other products would satisfy not only Lithuanian customers but also the wider Australian community accustomed to European flavours.

To support the Lithuanian community, compatriots were offered discounts of up to 20% when purchasing “Maistas” products directly from the company, with home delivery also available.

The company operated successfully for approximately ten years, becoming another example of the determination, enterprise and cultural commitment of Lithuanian migrants building new lives in Australia.

Musu Pastoge Wed 17 Aug 1955

Lithuanian Businesses in Australia

Jonas Kedys wrote this article in Musu Pastoge in 1955 about trying to start businesses in Australia. 

Many will have read the article "On the Path of Independence" in the August 10 issue of Musu Pastoge. If we had to draw conclusions from this article, it would seem that we have already achieved something in the business field over the past few years. However, when I recall the information from the same "Mūsų Pastogė" about setting up businesses, already three or four years ago, then even then there were probably no less than all kinds of companies, workshops, stores and other businesses among Lithuanians. Unfortunately, we must admit the fact that now only a few of the previously established businesses, of which there were already a dozen at that time, remain, and others, due to their inability to adapt to the market, had to close. Thus, we come to the conclusion that it is difficult for the vast majority of us to set up businesses. Only a small part is able to overcome all the obstacles and difficulties. Where do the main reasons for this failure lie? 

Those starting a business should first of all know that we live in a country where trade and industry are well-developed, this country is full of industries and trade branches, the centers of which are usually abroad: Great Britain, America, Germany and elsewhere. These large companies dictate prices not only for Australia, but also partly for the whole world. So, in order for a newly established company to break into the market, it is necessary to maintain the competition of old companies - to produce goods not only of no lower quality than those already existing, but perhaps even cheaper. And this is not easy to achieve, and therefore many newcomers cannot jump over this competitive barrier. So, when starting a business, two main conditions are necessary: a) sufficient capital for the start-up and b) good theoretical or practical knowledge of the business branch in which one wants to start. Capital is needed to purchase modern machinery, if it is a manufacturing enterprise, or suitable premises in a good location, if a trading enterprise is being established. Production in a primitive way, or trade in the outback — in the conditions of this region, does not promise a good future for an entrepreneur.

Since our people have not yet saved up a large amount of capital, there is only one option left for creating any company: for a few or a few to throw all their resources into a common pot and only with sufficient capital to start trade or production. However, even such a company must have at least one specialist among its members who would understand both the theoretical and practical side of the envisaged business. No one will achieve good results by creating any business with the goal of "helping compatriots". Here I mean the existence of business only for Lithuanian affairs. There are so few Lithuanians in Australia, and they are so scattered over the vast country that no business can survive from them alone. It seems that our first, and indeed Europeans in general, were not successful in business only because they were based not on the majority of the country where they lived, but only on a small minority of their own. It is difficult to say what businesses to pursue more. This depends a lot on local conditions, available capital and the theoretical and practical preparation required to create the intended business. It is worth trying to go into business, because if you succeed, you can create a brighter future for yourself.

J.P. Kedys

Musu Pastoge, Thursday 8 September 1955, page 3

Kaunas Guest House, Bairnsdale

The first Lithuanian guest house near the sea was owned by Vladas and Valentina Cižauskas.

Vladas Cižauskas was born in Liepāja on 15 May 1903. While still young, he returned to Lithuania, where he worked for the Bank of Lithuania in Kaunas, Tauragė, and Skuoda.

As war approached, Vladas fled to Germany and later migrated to Australia aboard the Castelbianco, arriving in Sydney on 19 November 1948. He was initially assigned to work on the construction of the Glenmaggie Dam in Victoria. Later, he moved to Bairnsdale, where he operated a small boarding house business. When his health began to decline, he sold the business and settled in Seaford near Frankston.

The guest house itself stood on the corner of Macleod and Buchanan Streets, directly opposite the railway station. Originally known as French’s Coffee Palace, it was a substantial two-storey brick building containing 16 accommodation rooms, with 21 rooms in total including bathrooms and kitchen facilities. The building also featured a spacious balcony and verandah extending along both street frontages.

French’s Coffee Palace opened in the latter half of 1890. Although it may have been constructed with French’s niece in mind, its first proprietors were Arthur and Annie Malone, formerly of the Paynesville Hotel and the Swan Hotel in Sale. During their two-year tenure, the establishment was known as both the “Bairnsdale Coffee Palace” and “Malone’s Coffee Palace.”

In 1901, the building reopened as the new premises for Bairnsdale College. By 1907, however, it had ceased operating as a college and was subsequently advertised for sale. Its use over the following decades is unclear, but by the 1950s it had become known as St Albans House and later as “The Open Door” Guest House. Many of its residents were single men who had come to Bairnsdale seeking work. In those days, with few owning motor cars, many arrived by train.

Under the ownership of the Cižauskas family, the establishment became known as the Kaunas Guest House, named after Lithuania’s city. The family advertised the guest house in Mūsų Pastogė as “a great place to spend the weekend near a great fishing river.”

Information from https://www.facebook.com/groups/gippslandhistory

The Sydney Chicken Farmer

Aleksandras Šalūga arrived in Australia in 1949. After trying work in a factory, he went to work part-time on a farm. The farm had a very neglected young garden and was not very profitable. Aleksandras suggested to the owner that he buy 1000 chickens as joint property and start a chicken farm. The chickens made a good profit and Aleksandras suggested to the owner to expand the chicken farm to 5000 chickens. The owner did not want to agree to this, because he was more interested in tidying up the neglected garden. Due to misunderstandings that arose, Aleksandras left the farm, and since he did not survive the time specified in the contract, he had to give up half of the chickens he owned. Then he rented a chicken farm without chickens for 4 pounds a week and, having bought 1500 chickens, began farming independently. His wife looked after the chickens, and he himself found work to earn money for chicken feed and rent. But the farm he rented did not satisfy Aleksandras. A year later he bought a 10-acre plot in York Road, Kellyville, suitable for a chicken farm. When buying the farm, it was taken into account that it would have shelter from the south, a slope to the north, and most importantly, that chickens had not been kept on that farm before, because due to the widespread diseases of chickens, one could buy a farm not only with all the amenities, but also with various diseases that have led many a chicken farmer to bankruptcy.

The farm was named "Sodyba". Having quickly arranged and renovated the farm, he moved into it with his own 1200 chickens. He gave up his job because he had to manage his farm, and besides, the chickens gave him enough income to live on and buy building materials. For example, this year Aleksandras received about 800 pounds from a hatchery of 1000 chickens. Feed cost 300 pounds. After the hatching season, he sends the eggs to the Egg Marketing Board and receives about a third less. Aleksandras says that in general, it is impossible to say that chickens are very profitable. This depends on the number of chickens, their breed and age. There are a lot of chicken diseases in Australia, and they need to be fought with dedication. 

In 1958, Aleksandras purchased an orchard farm at Cairns Rd, Glenorie, near Sydney.  He had about 1000 fruit trees, aged between 12 and 25 years old. 

Aleksandras died in July 1970, aged 66–67 of heart disease. He is buried Field of Mars Cemetery, Ryde, City of Ryde, New South Wales.

Photo from Musu Pastoge but enhanced with AI.

Sources

• 1953-11-02-MUSU-PASTOGE
• 1958-01-27-MUSU-PASTOGE
• SALUGA Aleksandras [aka SHALUGA Alexander] born 9 February 1903
• SALUGA Sigrida [aka SHALUGA Sigrid] born 25 September 1904
• Kristen Mercer Local History and Information Services Officer The Hills Shire Council