Australian Lithuanian History

There is only one sport in Lithuania and that is basketball.   It didn’t become popular in Lithuania until 1935, when a team of American Lithuanians were invited to Kaunas.  Only two years later in 1937, Lithuania won the second FIBA European Championship.  Eight national teams took part, the defending champions Latvia hosted the tournament, in Riga. Two years later in 1939, the third EuroBasket was held, the defending champions Lithuania hosted the tournament, held in the Kaunas Sports Hall. The winning team was Lithuania, winning by a point.  The 1937 team comprised of :  Feliksas Kriaučiūnas, Pranas Talzūnas, Stasys Šačkus, Juozas Žukas, Leonas Baltrūnas, Zenonas Puzinauskas, Artūras Andrulis, Leopoldas Kepalas, Pranas Mažeika, Česlovas Daukša, Leonas Petrauskas, Eugenijus Nikolskis (Coach: Feliksas Kriaučiūnas) The 1939 team comprised of: Pranas Lubinas, Mykolas Ruzgys, Feliksas Kriaučiūnas, Leonas Baltrūnas, Zenonas Puzinauskas, Artūras Andrulis...

On June 23, 1978 the Melbourne choir, Samburys , left Tullamarine airport in Melbourne flying to Los Angeles.  There they were met by LA President, Vladas Simoliunas and billeted with local families. The following evening in St Casimir’s church hall a meet and greet was held between the local community and sports delegates and choir singers.   Disneyland was visited by many of the choir the next day.    On June 25 th the choir sang some songs at mass.   The first concert was held in the church hall amidst some trepidation and hope that their first concert on American soil would go well.   300 people came to the concert and the choir was met with a standing ovation, flowers and gifts. A few words were said by Lithuanian Consulate Vytautas Cekanauskas, ‘ We are very thankful that you came and continue to uphold the Lithuania spirit’.   LA Community President spoke, “June is a painful month for us, why did you partake on such a lon...