On a rainy day on December 28th, 1948, the Pan
Pacific Jamboree began, 30 km from Melbourne at Wonga Park.
11,000 scouts gathered for the twelve-day
camp, representing over 20 countries. Amongst
them were a contingent of 30 Lithuanian scouts who hadn’t been in Australia for
more than a year.
Borisas Dainutis leader of Lithuanian scouts in Australia,
had kept in touch with scouts and guides by correspondence since arriving in
Australia. It was the first time many of them had seen
each other since they left Europe. Special permission was granted to the
Lithuanian contingent to participate as a separate unit. Vytas Neverauskas who later settled in
Adelaide, acted as contingent leader.
The Lithuanian camp at the Jamboree was described as ‘one of
the finest’. The gateway, decorated with
gum tree sprays held a carved name plate with the word ‘Lietuva’ and a sun
symbol. Inside the camp two flag poles
were erected, flying the Lithuanian and Australian flags. A wooden cross housing a carved ‘Rupintojėlis’
(Pensive Christ) was carved by Jonas Urbonas, who was working in South
Australia. Close to the flag poles, red
bricks pieces, small stones and sea shells were styled into a Vytis.
In the scout tradition, each scout made their own bed from
wood and rope. An altar was constructed as
were benches, crockery stand, shoe rack and towel rail. A scout table was dug around which all meals
were taken.
One tent was set aside to display traditional Lithuanian
folk craft, symbols, dolls in traditional dresses and amber. Also included was literature about Lithuania,
scout literature, Lithuanian money and postage stamps. This was organised by Vytas Neverauskas, and
received between 2-3000 visitors per day.
Dainutis presented a doll dressed in Lithuanian national
costume to Australia’s governor General, His Excellency Mr W.J McKell at the
official opening of the Jamboree.
In the evenings the Lithuanian camp came alive with singing,
dancing and skits performed around a camp fire.
Jonas Mockunas and Algis Grigonis played the accordion.
The camp ended on January 9th, 1949.
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