Australian Lithuanian History

Genė Vasiliauskienė yra daininkė iš Dievo malonės. Stasys Santvaras (Pasaulio Lietuvis 1983) Well-known singer soloist and longstanding choir mistress in Adelaide. Genovaite Stanaityte was born in Griškabūdis, Sakiai region in the south western Lithuania, on 6 April 1921.   Genovaitė gained a love of music from her mother, she began singing at a young age.   At 18 years of age she began to study singing at the Kaunas Conservatory under Professor Gedan and V. Grigaitienė.   Later she studied at Vilnius Music school with Professor Kryzanowska.   The events of WWII did not stop her studies, which she continued at Hamburg Conservatory with Professor Berger.    Upon arrival in Australia Genovaitė enrolled in the Adelaide Conservatory under Professor Howard.   She continued perfecting her voice with private tutelage A. Binkevičiutė – Gučiuvienė. In Germany she gave numerous concerts in Fensburg, Hamburg, Spackenberg and Ventorf....

Motinos diena 1970 Following mass by father Spurgis, the community gathered in the hall.  All mothers received a flower to pin to their tops, then were seated at the tables and offered refreshment by the students. A program followed.  The school principal, K Pažėra, The Parish council member B. Dičiūnas, Lithuanian Catholic women’s president T. Gasiunienė and Ateitininkas (Catholic Youth)  member A. Kubilius spoke.  A picture of the Aušros Vart ų Marija [i] (Gates of Dawn Mary) and fresh flowers decorated the stage where the children performed.  Poems were recited by Vincas Bagušauskas, Viktoras Dunda, Kristina Stankevičiutė, Andrius Vitkūnas, Brigita Paul, Edis Jučius and Aidas Kubilius.  Further poems were read by Regina Pranskūnaitė, Sietynas Kubilius, Petras Urnevičius and Saulius Kubilius.  R. Kubiliutė, one of the teachers lead the children in singing.  Regina Pranskunaitė and Ramunė Varnaitė played the piano.  O...

The Adelaide Catholic community celebrated the holy day of St Casimir over three days, 2-4 March 1961. Over those days Father J. Kungys said prayers each day. In the evenings at the St Casimir chapel mass and special prayers were offered for the persecuted church in Lithuania. A formal offering was taken up on the Sunday. On the Sunday Adelaide Auxiliary Bishop James Gleeson (Later to become Adelaide’s first priest to become Archbishop) near the altar met some Lithuanian scouts, members of the community in national costume and members of the Lithuanian Catholic Committee. The offering was given in English by Father Kungys using passages from Ecclesiastes and referring to the persecuted Catholics in Lithuania at that time, those martyred and tortured. Bishop Gleeson then took the opportunity to refer to the Lithuanian continued devotion to St Casimir and that God hears the hopes and prayers of his faithful. He declared that Lithuania will one day be free again. Bishop Gleeson en...