Australian Lithuanian History

Lithuanian Independence Day is celebrated annually on February 16. Some form of concert usually takes place at Lithuanian house. Here's who participated in the 1965 celebrations. Contribution by youth, sisters Julija and Rima Germanaitis (acordean, solo and duet), Dalia Viliunaite (recital), Ramune Klimaite (piano), Vytas Straukas (fiddle), Nemira Masilyte (piano) and Adelaide Youth chouir directed by Vytas Straukas who performed three folk songs. Choir members, Nijole Beinoraviciute, Laima Kuncaitte, Valdone Mikeliunaite, Maryte Damasevicius, Maryte Kersyte, Vida Urneviciute, Aldone Urneviciute, Dana Brazauskaite, Alma Krivickaite, Rima Serelyte, Ramune Klimaite, Alfredas Barauskas, Vytas Vanagas, Leonas Vasiliunas, Antanas Stepanas, Leonas Macpanas, Gintautas Kaminskas, Algis Bernaitis, Klevas Rudzinskas, Eugenijus Brazauskas. Also the final year Lithuanian school students for the year were acknowledged. Kristina Baskute Alma Krivickaite Nijole Bataityte Aldona Tugaudyte, Grazi...

Romanas Arlauskas was born 11 June 1917 in Kaunas, Lithuania. Arlauskas played at sixth board (+4 –7 =7) in an unofficial Chess Olympiad at Munich 1936. He tied for 1st-3rd, with Birmanas and Leonardas Abramavičius, ahead of Povilas Vaitonis, Povilas Tautvaišas. At the end of World War II, Arlauskas, along with many other Baltic players escaped to west, just before the advancing the Soviet forces arrived, to avoid deportation to Siberia. In 1947, Arlauskas tied for 6-7th in Kirchheim. He arrived in Fremantle onboard the General Stewart on the 12 February 1948. In 1949 Arlauskas won the South Australian championship. He finished 3rd in the 4th World Correspondence Championship (1962–1965) and was awarded the Correspondence Chess grandmaster in the world in 1965. He is the third Australian to hold the title. You can actually view some of his chess games on line, by going to http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=82351 Romanas passed away at his home this week aged 92 years.