Lithuanian Elderships in Australia

Today there are active Lithuanian community groups in Adelaide, Canberra, Brisbane, Geelong, Sydney, with smaller communities in Hobart and Perth.

Soon after arrival in Australia there were numerous small community groups that were too small to create a society so became Elderships.  Many were located where Lithuanians completed their two year contracts soon after arrival in Australia.  Released from contract many Lithuanians migrated to larger towns and joining their groups and the Elderships closed. 

 

Snowy Mountain Eldership

Approximately 250 Lithuanians worked on this scheme, some as part of their two year Government requirement, some staying longer.

A Snowy Mountains Lithuanian Eldership was formed on the 23 November 1952 with Albertas Alyta as Elder.  The first committee consisted of Aleksas Saulius and Petras Pilka. Other members include Dr Konstatin Stancikas, Petras Burokas, Kostas Vasaros. Bonifacas Mateciunas joined the Eldership in 1952 and Petras Kerulis I 1953.  The Eldership was only active for two years.

There is a record of donations made by the group to various organisations (V-16 school in Germany, Tautinio solidarumo mok. Zenkla (National Solidarity), Stop genocide , tautos fondo zenklai (National Fund).

Most worked at Kaiser and Guthega.  At Guthega a Power station and dam was constructed.  The dam was the first to be completed in 1955, one of the sixteen major dams completed.

From this information and that gathered by Ronaldas Cesna a list of 255 Lithuanians has been compiled which contains information on where they worked, their position who they were employed with and where they went when they left. 

Series 31 Council of Snowy Mountain Scheme ALB Snieguotųjų Kalnų projekto lietuvių Seniunija

Surge tank Selmer Eng comp 1954.
Norvegas, R. Čėsna, vengras, Vytas Kranauskas, vokietys, lenas, vengras, australis, australis, airis.

Australian Lithuanian History

It has been awhile since I have posted.  It has been a busy year and now I think its time for a change.  This blog has focused on South Australian Lithuanian history, mainly because that is where I am, but its time to expand this history to include all of Australia. 

I am working more heavily in the Australian Lithuanian Archives and so hope to bring you stories and information from what we discover.

We welcome contributions from readers who have a story to tell about Lithuania and Australia.