Ačiū Petras Bielskis

Petras BIELSKIS

 

Petras was born March 23, 1927 in Biržiai, Lithuania.  There he attended high school, as well as business college.

In 1944 he moved to Germany, and after the war, he finished Lithuanian High School, and belonged to the Lithuanian scouts and the Christian Youth (Ateitininkai) groups.

In 1948, Petras arrived in Australia on the General Sturgis, landing in Sydney. He joined the Sydney Australian Lithuanian Draugija.

In 1950, after finishing his compulsory work requirement, he arrived in Adelaide in March.

In 1952 he married Valė Jureviciutė.  After that, four daughters were born – Rūtą, Dalė, Audrė and Ireną.

Over the years, he became very involved in Adelaide and Australian Lithuanian community activities:

Firstly in 1950 – Petras became an Australian Lithuanian Community member and started fundraising funds to build the Adelaide Lithuanian House in Norwood.

In 1962-63 he joined the ALB Weekend (Savaitgalio) Lithuanian school parent committee.

In 1964-65 he joined the ALB Lithuanian Union (Sajunga) as treasurer. This was the organisation that looked after Adelaide Lithuanian House and its affairs.

1965-89. Then for the next 24 years, he was the president of the ALB Lithuanian Sajunga Inc.  He was responsible for negotiating the purchase of the house and land next to Lithuanian House that Petriukas Andrijaitis (caretaker in that era) lived in for many years.

1972-79 Petras also joined the Adelaide Vilniaus Scout Parents Committee and was its president for 7 years.

1971-90 Also for 19 years, Petras became the editor of the local Adelaide Lithuanian News (Adelaidės Lietuvių Žinios) newsletter. This was published regularly and distributed throughout the community to share the local news, upcoming events and write-ups of the many activities that occurred in the community. 
He wrote it up back then on a typewriter, cut and pasted it together by hand, before printing it with a small team of helpers in his home in a room especially set up to be a small publishing press.  It was then moved to Lithuanian House where a new photocopy machine was set up! 

From 1966, Petras also became a board member of the Australian Lithuanian (ALB) Council, and an ALB Honorary Judiciary member and then its president. 

In 1980-81 and 1999-2000 he was the president of the ALB Australian Lithuanian Council (Taryba) which is the official Australian Lithuanian Governing body that makes all the decisions for the Australian Lithuanian Community and links Australia and Lithuania.
In 1999-2000 Petras also became the vice-president of the Australian Lithuanian Board of Directors (Krašto Valdyba.)

Petras was also chosen as one of Australia’s representatives to attend the World Lithuanian Parliament in 1988 in Montreal, Canada, and in 2000 and 2003 in Vilnius, Lithuania.

In 2000-03 he was a member of the World Lithuanian Honorary Judiciary.
Finally, in 2010-14 at the age of 82, Petras became the president of the ALB Adelaide District Control Commission (Apylinkės Kontrolės Komicija).

Now in 2018, Petras Bielskis has turned 90 years old, and still is an active participant in Adelaide Lithuanian Community life and functions. 
His passion for the Lithuanian Community, his active involvement in many organisations over the years in Adelaide, Australia and Lithuanian earnt Petras Bielskis the V16 Order and Medal “Už Nuopelnus Lietuvai “from the Government of the Republic of Lithuania in 2003.

My father Petras Bielskis demonstrated a deep feeling for Lithuania. His involvement within the Adelaide, Australian and Lithuanian communities helped instil a strong bond for myself, and the rest of my family. We have, as a result, maintained strong links with the Lithuanian communities in South Australia, Australia and Lithuania.

Ačiū Tėtę!

Submitted by his daughter, Ruta.

Petras with Vladas Adamkus in centre