Australian Lithuanian History

Lithuania’s Independence day on February 16th 1949 was celebrated in the Indian Ocean. A group of Lithuanians onboard the Nea Hellas organized themselves into preparing a festival for the occasion. On the morning of February 16th mass was held in the hall, near a prepared Lithuanian flag, crosses and a picture of Aušros Vartai (Gates of Dawn). Mass was conducted by a Ukrainian priest from the Greek Orthodox faith. Throughout the service Lithuanian hymns were sung.  The main commemoration was held on the Sunday. On that day at 9pm by a decorate flag, gathered the leaders of the ethnic groups, soldiers, sailors and the ships crew. The opening words in Lithuanian, German and English were spoken by Aleksandras Stulpinas. The Lithuanian and Greek national anthem was sung ,after which salutations were heard from the Latvian, Estonian, Polish, Ukrainian, Yugoslavian, and Hungarian delegates. The Latvians in particular gave a very moving greeting and an octet sang a Latvian song a...

Brone Lapsys was leader of the National Dancing group in Adelaide for many years. The group formed in 1953 from students attending the Saturday Lithuanian school. The group would perform at Lithuanian concerts, Australian festivals and occasionally on t.v. In 1964 for the Australian Lithuanian festival in Melbourne there were 30 dancers, with the groups accordion players, Julija and Rima Germanis. Female dancers V Brazauskas L Daugalis M Danisevičius M Keršyte Emilija Matiukas V Mikeliūnas R Pacevičius I Pečiulis Elzbieta Pocius Rūta Pimpė L Radzevičius M Šiukšteris V Vasilauskas Male dancers E Brazauskas A Jonavičius Rimas Daugalis Jonas Morkūnas P Kanas V Maželis Jonas Mikužis Eugene Pocius Gintaras Pimpė A Radzevičius A Stepanas G Šimkus Vytas Staukas A Vasiliauskas Algis Zamoiskis

Sventadienio Balsas (Sunday Voice) the newsletter of the Adelaide Lithuanian Catholic community first edition was released 29 March 1953. It was written by Father P Jatulis who resided at the Archbishops House West Terrace. The two page newspaper contained articles on the Catholic faith on the first page followed by news about the community life, sports, events. The paper contains information on baptisms, marriages and deaths. The deaths would usually give information on how they died, the next of kin, children, where buried. Before a church was purchased for the community, Father Jatulis would give mass in numerous places, Royal park, Albert Park, Woodville Gardens, Lobethal. Every few months Father Jatulis would travel to Mt Gambier. By 1953 there had been in the Adelaide Lithuanian Catholic community 26 christenings (12 boys, 14 girls) 11 marriages (6 with other nationalities) 3 deaths all men SB 1/54 In May 1954 it was announced that the community had a Lithuanian hymn book fe...