Worry Over His Hands

Adelaide, thirty-one year old Pranas Matiukas, Lithuanian migrant musician and law student has been worried about his hands.

He was brought to Australia from a displaced persons' camp in Germany, when he agreed to do whatever work the Government told him for a year. In return, his wife and child were to be allowed to come here to live with him.

There is more in it than that for Pranas.
If allotted work which would harden his hands too much he would never again be able, to give violin recitals; or play in a symphony orchestra as he used to at the Mozart festivals in Salzburg.

He wants to go back to his music when he can pick his job.
He hopes by then Adelaide will have its permanent symphony orchestra that perhaps he can play in it.

Pranas has been fruit-picking at Renmark. After that job he asked for work that would, not be too hard on his hands. He has got his wish, though authorities: say the work is just as hard and just as important to the nation.
His worries about his hands are over.

Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW : 1888 - 1954), Monday 3 May 1948, page 7

Pranas did go on to play for the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.