Australian Lithuanian History

From left kneeling, J. Songaila, V. Sinusas, V. Lazauskas, B. Langevicius. Standing: J. Lelys, M. Ciplys, A. Kitas, A. Petruska, V. Martusevicius, S. Sidabras The formation of a Soccer team was initiated by Eddie Taparauskas and Jonas Abromas.  The first team captain was Anatolius Kitas with outstanding players such as Jonas Sadauskas, Alexandras Sabaliauskas, Aleksas Merunas, Vincas Pledzinsksas and Juozas Čizauskas.   The team increased with players Bronius Langevičius, Stasys Darginavičius, Jonas Baškus, and Vladas Sneideris and Robertas Sidabras.  In March 1952 Vytis Soccer team became officially registered with the South Australian Soccer Association.   The uniform was a yellow top and green shorts, with a red Vytis embroided onto the pocket. Initially Vytis was allocated to the third division.  In one match in 1952, against ETSA team they won with a record 14-0 result.  Vytis finished the season in third position.  Vytis was ...

Written by A. Auga Published in Australis Lietuvis 1950 sausio 23 p.11-14 Twenty years earlier and far from Lithuania the first arrivals were pioneers.   There were nine first initiators of the group, J. Vedrinaitis, A. Skerys, P. Kazlauskas, V. Dapkus, J. Jasiukevi č ius, J. Geryba, M. Marcinkevi č ius, O. Marcinkevi č ien ė and J. Z eleniakas.     On 27 October 1929, the ALD (Australijos Lietuvi ų Draugija) was formed.   The society kept ties with Lithuania, organised various national celebrations and family gatherings and tried as much as possible to strengthen the name of Lithuania and Lithuanian matters in local Australian press.   They attempted within the community to maintain the Lithuanian language and keep the ties with Lithuania alive.   ALD from its very early years involved itself in Lithuanian press, books and newspapers.   It created ties with the American Lithuanian society and press.   In 1933 a society library was esta...