Australian Lithuanian History

Akademinis Skautų Sajudis, Adelaidės Skyrius (ASS) Student Corp “Vytis” ASS was established in October 16, 1924, at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas. This was the first university-level scout organization.  A member was required to hold a university degree but otherwise carried out scouting activities like any other scout.  The Corp’s motto is "Ad Meliorem" an old saying in Latin, "ad meliorem vertamur". This can be translated to "improve, let's do better!". The Corps has its own band colour, blue for the sky, meaning dignity,  yellow - the colour of gold, meaning chivalry, purple  for rocks, which means strength.  The  band is worn over the right shoulder, blue on top.   The logo depicts a golden lily, blue diamond, worn on the left lapel. The criteria for membership was; you must be a scout, you must hold a higher degree and be nominated by ...

HOW A MIGRANT ARTIST SEES AUSTRALIA Anthony Rūkštelė, a new Australian who has formerly exhibited in several 'mixed' shows in Adelaide, now has a one-man exhibition of his water colours at Curzon Gallery, Gawler place. It is chiefly interesting as an example of how one European reacts to the' Australian light and scene and his subjects, mostly of places in and round Adelaide and a few in Sydney, make easy one's assessment of Rūkštelė’s first impressions of his adopted country. He has recorded them with a strictly matter-of-fact approach, as though feeling his way into the new and strange conditions.   Further familiarity with them will no doubt afford enhanced perception and greater facility of expression.   The most successful of the local subjects are 'Preparing for the Race' and 'Kingston Park Beach.' There are others of King William street, St. Peter's Cathedral, and the City Bridge.   Several European studies give a truer idea of Rūkšte...

Pleasing Art Exhibition by New Australian The exhibition of watercolours by Anthony Rūkštelė, to be opened this afternoon by Mrs. T. Slaney Poole at the Curzon Gallery, will confirm the widely expressed opinion that the influx of New Australians from Eastern Europe will prove to be a valuable asset in the cultural life of this State. Anthony Rūkštelė hails from Kaunas, Lithuania, where he was an art teacher in the National Museum. Although he has only been here for something less than a year he has already assimilated the Australian atmosphere and bids fair to becoming a leading artist. He has the true artist's eye for beauty, and his subjects in both oils and watercolours are selected with confidence and experience. His work is clean, and decisive, restrained where necessary, and always delightful in composition and colour.  Though the exhibition under review is confined to watercolours, he is equally good in oils and more in this medium will no doubt be seen at some f...

Antanas Rukstele Born 22 October 1906 in Degučiai, Zarasai district, Lithuania.   Died 5th October 1990 California, USA. Painter, art historian,ethnographer and founder of an art school in Germany. President of the Adelaide Lithuanian Community Council 1950-52. In 1928 he finished school in Kaunas. In 1929 he graduated from Kaunas Art School. Later he studied painting privately with J. Kalpokas and J. Mackevičių.  Between  1928 - 1929 he studied  Advanced information technologies. Between 1926 - 1936 studied history and philosophy  at Kaunas‘ Vytautas Magnus University. In 1934 he receives Swedish Baltic Institute (Stockholm), scholarship, graduated in ethnology and museology courses. 1926 to 1936, was MK Čiurlionis gallery and museum curator. Between 1936 - 1944 he was Vytautas the Great Museum of Culture board member of the Lithuanian National History Museum instructor. Antanas with his wife Elena and three children fled the Soviet occupiers o...

Šv Jurgis Saint   George   (c. 275/281 – 23 April 303) was a Greek who became an officer in the Roman army. He became an officer in the Roman army in the Guard of   Diocletian . He is venerated as a Christian martyr.   Saint George is one of the most venerated saints in the   Catholic  , Anglican ,   Eastern Orthodox , and the   Oriental Orthodox  churches. He is immortalized in the tale of   Saint George and the Dragon  and is one of the   Fourteen Holy Helpers . His memorial is celebrated on 23 April, and he is regarded as one of the most prominent   military saints . In memory of her husband, B. Zilinskiene. 1974 Šv Antano vitražas. St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231), the most celebrated of the followers of Saint Francis of Assisi, was born at Lisbon on the 15th of August 1195. In his fifteenth year he entered the Augustinian order, and subsequently joined the Franciscans in 1220...

Suvalkiečių vitražas. Marijampolės bažnyčia. Dievo Tarnas arkiv. J. Matulaitis. Paiminklas Rainių miškelio kaniniams. Rimšos vargo mokyklą. Suvalkietis region stained glass.  Marijampole church and J. Matulaitis. Suvalkija is the smallest of the five cultural regions of Lithuania. Its unofficial capital is Marijampolė. Jurgis Matulaitis, born 13 April 1871 in the village of Lūginė, near Marijampolė, was a Roman Catholic Bishop of Vilnius from 1918 to 1925 and founder of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On 28 June 1987, Pope John Paul II beatified him as the Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis. Petras Rimša (November 3, 1881 in Naudžiai, Vilkaviškis district (Suvalkija) – October 2, 1961 in Kaunas) was one of the first professional Lithuanian sculptors and medalists. Rimša's early works are highly patriotic and realistic. His early work The Lithuanian School (Lietuvos mokykla also Vargo mokykla) depicts a mother teaching her child to...

Aušros vartų Mergelės vitražas. Iruoštas Kun J. Kungio atminimui. Blessed Virgin Mary and the gates of dawn.  In memory of Father J. Kungys. The Gates of Dawn is the only remaining of the nine city gates built in Vilnius, built in 1503. The Chapel in the Gate of Dawn contains an icon of The Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of Mercy, said to have miraculous powers. Sanctified 6 September by Father A. Spurgis. This window is above the side entry door to the church.  It is in memory of Elija Lazauskiene who died 19 April 1971.