Australian Lithuanian History

CANBERRA, Friday The Minister for Works and Housing. Mr N. Lemmon said today that 360 Poles, Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians and Yugoslavs were employed on the rocket range in Central Australia. There are also 1,909 Australian and British workmen there. Mr Lemmon gave the information in a written reply to questions by the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mr F.J. Harrison in the House of Representatives. Security screens before and after arrival in Australia were carried out by the Attorney-Generals department. Displaced Persons were employed on the rocket range because at the time they were directed int he work it was not possible to secure sufficient Australian labourers to remain on the job for any length of time. The Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday 4 June 1949, p.5 The Rocket range refers to Woomera.

M. Urbonas working on the newly purchased property which will become Lithuanian House. President V. Raginis, Father J Kungys and J Vasilauskas bless Lithuanian House 1958. Volunteers workers, J. Lapsys, S. Povilaitis, A.Merunas, M. Urbonas, V. Raginis, A. Mikeliunas Working bee, 1962 From left in wheelbarrow,A Dumcius, kneeling J Gylys, Jg Taunys, Standing, A. Morkunas, J Norkunas, V Raginis, J Pyragius, Engineer K Reisonas, K Cieminis, E.Alysaitis, V Laurinaitis, V. Petkunas, J. Ivoska, Vl. Dumcius, J. Rapsevicius, J. Zakevericius.

Many Lithuanian men were in the Army or Reserves before coming to Australia, by 1950 it was natural to form a group that recognise this. The idea arose and was enthusiastically taken up by K Taparauskas. On the 10th June 1951 a meeting was held at St Joseph’s hall and the ‘Lietuvos Atsargos Karininku Draugija’ (Lithuanian Reserve) was formed. The first committee comprised of President: A Levickas Secretary: K. Taparauskas Treasurer: A Rusktele At first they had 36 members. The group received news form the USA that they could be part of the “Ramovė’s” (Lithuanian Veterans Union). The purpose of Ramovė was to uphold traditions, provide aid to those in Lithuania who were rendered invalids during the struggle for independence and to participate in all efforts to regain Lithuanian independence form Soviet occupation. Ramovė was formed in Chicago on the 14 May 1950.