Academic Scouts Adelaide Chapter

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 two members.

Adelaide Chapter of the Academic scouts association was established in 28 May 1950, primarily on the initiative of Vaclovas (Vacys) Ilgūnas.  Vacys had been an Academic scout, and talking to another former scout, Mockūnienė, thought a reunion of Academic scouts was in order.  This turned out to be the formation of the only branch of Lithuanian Academic scouts in Australia.  The first committee comprised of;

President:         Vacys Ilgūnas
Vice-President: Bronė Mockūnienė
Members:         Tadas Žurauskas, Jonas Vildžius

By the end of 1950, the Adelaide chapter had 18 members.  The chapter was active for well over 30 years.  The total number reached was 22.

The scouts organised outings, picnics, lotteries.  The guides visited the sick in hospital, in particular psychiatric hospital.  They met regularly and held an annual outing.  They celebrated their patrons, St Casmir and St George and had a series of lectures on various topics, presented by their own members or invited speakers. 

The cop instigated a literature competition with a $500 prize. Numbers declined as people emigrated from Australia to the USA, a tragic death of a prominent member Jurgis Naujalis occurred.

On November 10^th 1974, celebrations of 50 years of Academic Scouts was held at Lithuanian House.

Rūta Bielskytė                            1975
t.n                      Laisvė Daugalienė                     1981
fil. Ps.                Česlovas Dubinskas                   1975 - 1981     
fil. S.                  Vaclovas Ilgūnas                        1950 - 1981
fil. Ps. Dr.          Janina Maželienė                       1950 - 1981
fil. Ps.                Jonas Mikužis                             1975
                           Birutė Mikužienė                        1975
fil. Ps.                Jonas Mockūnas                        1975 - 1981
                           Brone Mockūnienė                    1975 – 1981
                           Jurgis Naujalis
fil. V.s.               Vytautas Neverauskas              1975 - 1981
fil.                      Vytas P Neverauskas                 1975 - 1981
                           Stasė Pacevičienė                      1975 - 1981
fil. Dr.                Nemira Ratkevičienė                1975 - 1981
senj.                   Viktoras Ratkevičius                  1975 - 1981
                           Auksė Stankevičienė                 1975
t.n                      Genė Striaukienė                       1975 – 1981
                           Jonas Vildžius                             1950
fil.                      Alfredas Vitkūnas                       1975 - 1981
fil.                      Tadas Žurauskas                        1950 - 1981

The years are not an indication of their time in the Corps.  It is from two main lists one from 1975 and one 1981.

Seniors Oath

Valuing your honour, I promise to be faithful to God, the Almighty Creator of the world, which is the highest truth, beauty and goodness are the source of my beginning and end;

I promise

To be true to suffering mother Lithuania, working for her freedom and well-being wherever  I am, full of spirit and body, sacrificing their life, including administering the remedy to their national solidarity and love for everyone in Lithuania;

I promise

To serve one's neighbour, in accordance with the principles of love Christianity;

I promise

Be faithful to the Corp’s discipline and traditions and to maintain fraternal relations among members of the Corp now and in the future.

God, help me.