Australian Lithuanian History

A special visit was made to Parkside hospital to visit the sick and give Christmas gifts.   On December 17 th , the Women’s society gained permission to present a Lithuanian folk concert to the 14 Lithuanians hospitalised as well as the other patients.   The Lithuanian choir sang 8 songs and the dancing group danced six Lithuanian folk dances. The auditorium had over 200 people from all different nationalities. Two Lithuanians, Stanickiene and Kalibatiene-Vasiliauskiene worked at the hospital and were astonished that this was the first time that patients had been fearless enough to watch.   It may have been the colourful costumes or the care brought by the performers. Combined Christmas Eve The community shared much of their lives together, so it was not surprising that 189 people gathered at Lithuanian house to share in a traditional Christmas Eve.   Prepared by the Women’s society the occasion began with a prayer and breaking of the host.   After...

Jonas RACKUS Born 1910 in Juskonis village in the Panevežys district. He wrote from a young age and published his first poem in 1936.    He and a friend Balys Gaidziunas published a book of poems Jaunyste arimuose .   A second book of poems was prepared book Laivai be Uosto . (Ships with out a harbour) From 1944 to 1949 he lived with his wife, Leokadija , also an agronomist and son in Osnabruecke DP camp. The family arrived in Australia on the Nea Hellas 24 Feb 1949. Here are some of his poems that were printed the Adelaide Lithuanian newspapers. Argi ne tu? Žmogau didybėje apakęs puikliausias žemės tvariny, nuo ko apraibo akys, kokiais keliais ir kur eini? Žmogau, pavargęs ir nubalęs tarp žemės ūkanų šaltų, ar šviečia tau dar laimės šalys, kai pūgos ūžčioja ratu? Žmogau, kurs alkanas ieškojai tiesos takeliais ir keliais kokiais balsais prabils rytojai, kokiais žiedais jie išsiskleis? Žmogau, kurs viešpati nesy...