Australian Lithuanian vignettes

For thousands of years, history was seen as the story of kings and aristocrats, their wars, victories and defeats. We know little about what life was like for ordinary people then. Even if fragments of such knowledge survive, ordinary life is seen through the perspective of others. Imagine if our lives today were told only through the prism of presidents, ministers or academics. Would future people get a true impression of our lives from reading such a description?

The Australian Lithuanian community is no different. So much written material that comes to the Archive from our community centres around official matters like reports from boards and committees of various organisations, minutes of meetings, and official letters. Yes, all these documents tell the story of our community, but only the official side. What was daily life like? What did people do and feel in their ordinary lives? Would you not like to preserve real life for future generations?

Members of the Australian Lithuanian community were asked to tell their own stories. Our team wanted funny, weird, delightful or interesting stories from a wide range of people, with a Lithuanian flavour, of course. It may have been an interaction with others, an event, an incident of note that has remained in family- or community-lore and still evokes strong memories. This would provide shades of grey, colour and the infinite variety that makes a community. 

This book, ‘Australian Lithuanian Vignettes’, with more than 65 stories, is the result. You will read about the sword swallower, the Lithuanian-inspired strike in Canberra, the journey of a doll from a DP camp to Australia via USA, life in the jungle, the family calmly and methodically going about their business in their own garden only to be censured by a snippy neighbour, and many many more. We are very grateful to those who have been willing to share their stories with us. Some are funny, some are sad, some are unbelievable, some are heartbreaking – the same as our lives. We hope you enjoy our book.

Birutė Beal, Edita Meškauskaitė and Daina Pocius

You can purchase the book through the link to the Archive shop or from the Australian Lithuanian Archive facebook page. 

 

Algimantas Plūkas

Algimantas Plūkas was born on New Year’s Day 1922 in Kupiškis. He is the son of Ignas and Julija Aleknaite.  He attended primary school in Kupiškis from, 1936-1942. studied at Kupiškis gymnasium.  In the summer of 1944, he left Lithuania for Germany, he had been studying electronics and residing in Vilnius before he left.  He had hoped to migrate to Cleveland. On 30 October 1949 emigrated to Australia on the Nelly and settled in Sydney.

He worked in a private company as a silversmith. His work is held by the Australian Officers' Association in Sydney (miniature cannon valued at about $4,000), Cardinal Gilroy of Sydney (several).

He devoted a lot of energy, time, financial resources and energy to Lithuanian affairs, he was a accordion player, conductor, instrumentalist, painter and decorator.  He carved wood, worked in metal.  He led the Sydney Lithuanian choir, Dainava from 1955 to 1957.  From 1960 to 1963 he led a double quartet, Rožytes, a double trio, the Merry Brothers. He wrote songs for scouts and guided groups. He illustrated Ava Saudargienė's book Sigutė (1968). He created a national dancing group called Plūktetas.

Algis joined the scouts in 1932 and gained his senior scout level in 1943. In Australia, he was a long-time member of the Sydney Lithuanian scout troop, Aušra and scouter leader. In 1952 he completed the Australian Scout Leaders Course, receiving the rank of Scoutmaster.  He participated in the 1938 national scout camp in Panemunė, Lithuania and led the Lithuanian scouts in the 1952-1953 Pan-Pacific Jamboree at Greystanes, NSW and almost every Aušra camp and district camp while in Australia.  Algis was an irreplaceable camp cook, musician and artist.  Camp songs composed by him are still sung today. For several years he illustrated the scout journal Pėdsekis.

He has been awarded the badge of the Tėvynės Sūnaus žymeniu Son of the Fatherland and the ordinu Už Nuopelnus Order of Merit for her services to scouting.

     Algis passed away on 11 June 1976 in Sydney. He has been interned in the Lithuanian section of Rookwood cemetery, Sydney. 

A notebookof his remains with his sketches and meal menus from scout camps in the 1950's.

Crossing the Line

Equator-crossing ceremonies evolved from a test for seasoned sailors to ensure their new shipmates were capable of handling long, rough voyages.  

Lithuanians coming to Australia by ship were initiated into this rite after crossing of the Equator.  The ceremony usually involved everyone onboard, King Neptune, dressing up and lots of water.   This memorable event was often acknowledged with a certificate.

Eighteen-year-old Renoldas Čėsna was on board the Castelbianco bound for Melbourne in 1949.  He travelled with his parents and sister, along with another 911 refugees from Eastern Europe: Balts, Polish, Yugoslavs, Ukrainians, Russians, Hungarians and Germans.  Renoldas kept a diary of his journey from Naples, Italy, to Australia.  This is his translated account of the equator crossing ceremony.

1949.III.7 Indian Ocean

We sailed across the equator.  For that occasion, a baptism was held. King Neptune carrying a pitchfork and a few princesses came and sat down at a table, covered with white tablecloths.  On the table was placed a large pot with soap-bubbled water, a bucket of water and two plates. On one plate was some sugar, the other held salt, a razor blade and a large brush.  

One lady was chosen from the crowd and placed on a chair.  They covered her face, eyes, nose and lips with red soap foam.   Then with a large razor, began to shave. After shaving, they washed the brush in water and wiped away the remaining foam.  At the end, they gave her sugar or salt. A Naval Officer was baptised, and photographs were taken with an IRO representative, senior waiter and a sailor.  A bucket of foam was poured over the head of a waiter, after which all those present were wet with a hose.  For the rest of the day, everyone on board sloshed each other with water.  There was an ensemble of men who would catch women and throw them into the children’s swimming pool.  Some men were also pushed in the children pool.   The weather was windy, windier than earlier. The sky was cloudy. 

Renoldas Čėsna’s diary and certificates of Equator crossings from the Australian Lithuanian Archive.

Vardan tos Lietuvos - Canberra's memorial

 

The Australian Lithuanian War Veterans Association (Ramovė) comprises of former members of the previously independent Republic of Lithuania (1918-1940) armed forces.  The purpose of the organisation is to encourage the camaraderie traditional among ex-soldiers and to maintain and foster Lithuanian heritage, customs and culture.

Canberra veterans chose to construct a monument dedicated to honour the victims of terror of communism for wanting to rebuild independent Lithuania.  It was built in the garden of the Canberra Australian Lithuanian Club, when it was located at 64 Wattle Street, Lyneham, an inner northside suburb of Canberra.

The initiator and designer of the monument is Feliksas Borumas, who personally executed the construction work with major assistance by LKVS Ramovė Canberra branch secretary, Liudas Budzinauskas and other LKVS members of Canberra Ramovė organisation.  The intention was that it would stand indefinitely as a witness and proof for future generations of Lithuanians flight from communism who, by destiny, settled in the Australian capital city, Canberra.  It would reflect their efforts to assist in the struggle for Lithuania’s freedom and warn the Australian people and government of the menacing goal of communism, which was to conquer the world.

Built of locally sourced granite rocks, taking them six months to construct.  The monument was constructed totally of blue granite stone blocks and cement jointing, with steel reinforcing.  The monument stood six foot high, but the Gedimino stulpai increased its height to just under eight feet.  The monument contained a document placed in a metal tube and concreted in the upper section.  The national emblem was presented by Viktoras Budzinauskas in 1989 from Lithuania.

This monument was consecrated by Father Povilas Martužas who also celebrated Mass, during the commemoration ceremony of the Lithuanian Armed Forces on 25 November 1990.  A ceremony by the monument was held annually to commemorate Lithuanian Armed Forces Day, 23 November 1918.

The monument was demolished along with the club building.  The maquette, brass Vytis plate, the nameplate and large marble plaque with 'Vardan tos Lietuvos', that were attached to the monument was given to Felisksas’s stepson, Ron Cameron, after Feliksas died in 2009. He donated the items to the Australian Lithuanian Archive in 2024. 

Written with assistance from Ron Cameron