The names behind the Lithuanian Business, Maistas continued...

Jonas Šlyteris

Jonas Šlyteris was born on 29 August 1895 in Smunkučiai village, Jurbarkas district, Lithuania.

During the First World War, Jonas was mobilised into the Russian Imperial Army and served in its ranks. After returning to Lithuania, he answered the call to serve his newly restored homeland and on 14 January 1919 volunteered to join the Lithuanian Army. He took part in the struggles for Lithuanian independence, fighting against both the Bermontian forces and the Polish army.

Following the establishment of independent Lithuania, Jonas joined the Lithuanian Postal Service. Throughout his career, he served as a postmaster in Vievys, Šėta and Vilkija. In recognition of his contribution to the country, he was awarded the Medal of the Tenth Anniversary of Lithuanian Independence in 1928.

At the end of the Second World War, as the front once again approached Lithuania, Jonas was forced to retreat westwards. Like many Lithuanians of his generation, he left his homeland behind and eventually arrived in Australia in 1949. Initially settling in Tasmania, he later moved to Sydney, where he became an active member of the Lithuanian community.

After retiring in 1960, Jonas shared his life with his former business partner and close friend, Juozas Grybas. In retirement, he enjoyed the simple pleasures of life, especially fishing and hunting.

Although he had built a new life in Australia, Jonas never forgot his family in Lithuania. From the savings he had earned through his work, he provided strong financial support to his wife and daughters, Irena and Nijolė, who remained in Lithuania.

Jonas was deeply involved in the life of the Sydney Lithuanian community. He was a committed member of the Lithuanian Veterans’ Association Ramovė, serving on its committees, and also contributed to broader community activities, including serving for a time on the district board.

Jonas Šlyteris passed away in Sydney on 7 January 1978. Until the end of his life, he waited with hope for the arrival of his daughter from Lithuania; sadly, she was only able to reach Australia after her father had already passed away.

His funeral took place on 20 January 1978. Following the service, his remains were cremated at the Rookwood Crematorium, marking the final farewell to a man whose life reflected courage, service, resilience and dedication to both Lithuania and the Lithuanian community in Australia.

1978-02-06-MUSU-PASTOGE.pdf p.2 J. Kapočius Military volunteer

The names behind the Lithuanian Business, Maistas continued...

Pranas Švarcas

Pranas Švarcas was born on 6 May 1905 in Sudargas village, Šakiai district, Lithuania, into a farming family. After graduating from the Jurbarkas Secondary Gymnasium, he was called up for military service. Following his discharge to the reserve, he remained at home for a period before joining the Lithuanian border police.

During his service in the police force, Pranas married, although the couple did not have children. When the Soviet Army advanced into Lithuania for the second time, Pranas and his wife were forced to flee their homeland and seek refuge in Germany. There, he found employment at the Wolff arms factory.

In 1948, Pranas arrived in Australia. After a short period in a migrant transit camp, he was sent to Sydney to complete his two-year employment contract as part of the post-war migrant labour program.

He worked in the water supply department, where his duties included digging trenches for the installation of sewerage pipes. After completing his contract, his dedication and reliability were recognised, and he was offered a position in the laboratory of the same organisation. He accepted and continued working there until his retirement.

Pranas was remembered as a devoted Lithuanian and a strong patriot. He had a particular love for Lithuanian history and maintained a deep connection with his homeland. Although he did not belong to formal organisations, partly because he preferred to avoid organisational disagreements, he supported Lithuanian life in his own quiet and practical way.

During the construction of the Lithuanian Hall in Bankstown, Pranas willingly volunteered his time and skills, helping with various building tasks. He took great pride and happiness in seeing a permanent home being created for the Lithuanian community in Sydney.

On 6 May 1983, Pranas Švarcas passed away suddenly at his home in Bankstown, on his 78th birthday.

His funeral Mass was held on 11 May at Lidcombe Church and was celebrated by Rev. P. Butkus, with Fr. A. Savickas playing the organ. Following the service, family members and friends accompanied Pranas to his final resting place at Rookwood Cemetery.

May he rest peacefully in Australian soil, far from the beloved homeland he carried in his heart.

 1983-05-30-MUSU-PASTOGE.pdf p.2

The names behind the Lithuanian business, Maistas

Juozas Grybas  

1909.3.13- 4 December 1995

Juozas Grybas was born in Kudirkos Naumiestis, Lithuania. After his parents moved to Jurbarkas, he spent his childhood and part of his youth there. Later, he moved to Kaunas, where he gained valuable experience working at the Lithuanian “Maistas” enterprise.

Returning to Jurbarkas, Juozas continued his involvement in community life. As an active member of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union (Šauliai), he established a Shooting Club in the town. His professional journey later took him to several locations and organisations, including four years working at Baltijos Lloyd in Klaipėda, as well as positions with “Maistas” in Klaipėda, Šiauliai and Naujoji Vilnia.

In 1944, as the Red Army advanced towards Lithuania for the second time, the Grybas family was forced to leave their homeland and seek refuge in Germany. After spending five years there, they emigrated to Australia, arriving in 1949 and being placed at the Greta Migrant Camp in New South Wales.

After completing his two-year employment contract, the family settled permanently in St Ives, Sydney.

Drawing on his extensive experience in trade and the meat industry, Juozas, together with his partners, established a meat products factory. The business became a great success, and for approximately ten years its products were enjoyed not only by the people of Sydney, but also by communities in Newcastle and Wollongong.

After retirement, Juozas enjoyed a quieter life surrounded by nature. He found happiness in fishing, gardening and spending time outdoors.

The Grybas family was a wonderful example of dedication to the Lithuanian community. They were regular participants in Lithuanian church services, cultural events, preparations and concerts. Lithuanian affairs always remained one of their highest priorities. They supported the community wholeheartedly and never passed the donation table without contributing, regardless of who was collecting funds.

Following the funeral service, Juozas Grybas’ remains were accompanied by family, friends and members of the Lithuanian community to their final resting place in the Lithuanian section of the cemetery.

 1995-12-18-MUSU-PASTOGE.pdf p.11 by AVK

Maistas: A New Lithuanian Enterprise in Australia

In 1955, a Lithuanian meat trading and smallgoods manufacturing company known as “Maistas” was established in Sydney. The company was founded by five Lithuanian community members: Jonas Šlyteris, Juozas Grybas, Gediminas Umbražiūnas, Pranas Švarcas and Vacys Ambraška.

The company began by purchasing a butcher shop in Dulwich Hill and, within a short period, successfully increased its turnover fourfold. However, selling meat was only the beginning of their vision. From the very first days, plans were underway to establish a purpose-built meat processing operation.

After acquiring the necessary machinery, completing the factory facilities, and receiving approval from health and other regulatory authorities, production commenced. The machinery of “Maistas” began operating, and clouds of smoke rose from the smokehouse as traditional Lithuanian-style smoked meats and sausages were produced.

On 12 August, the shareholders, together with several invited guests, modestly celebrated the official opening of the company.

At the beginning, “Maistas” employed six people and processed more than 1,000 kilograms of meat each day. The company produced a range of European-style smallgoods, including salami, mortadella, liverwurst, frankfurts and smoked ham.

Production was supervised by Juozas Grybas, who brought valuable experience from Lithuania, where he had worked for many years in the Lithuanian “Maistas” factories managing sausage and other processed food departments.

The name “Maistas” carried a special meaning for Lithuanian immigrants. In Lithuania, the original Maistas was a major state-owned meat industry and trading company established in 1923, with its headquarters in Kaunas, operating until the Soviet occupation in 1940. The word maistas simply means “food” in English, but for many Lithuanians it represented quality, tradition and memories of their homeland.

The new Australian “Maistas” proudly continued this tradition. Its modern equipment, strict cleanliness standards and dedication to quality reflected the values of the Lithuanian company that had inspired it. The owners hoped that their sausages, hams and other products would satisfy not only Lithuanian customers but also the wider Australian community accustomed to European flavours.

To support the Lithuanian community, compatriots were offered discounts of up to 20% when purchasing “Maistas” products directly from the company, with home delivery also available.

The company operated successfully for approximately ten years, becoming another example of the determination, enterprise and cultural commitment of Lithuanian migrants building new lives in Australia.

Musu Pastoge Wed 17 Aug 1955

Lithuanian Businesses in Australia

Jonas Kedys wrote this article in Musu Pastoge in 1955 about trying to start businesses in Australia. 

Many will have read the article "On the Path of Independence" in the August 10 issue of Musu Pastoge. If we had to draw conclusions from this article, it would seem that we have already achieved something in the business field over the past few years. However, when I recall the information from the same "Mūsų Pastogė" about setting up businesses, already three or four years ago, then even then there were probably no less than all kinds of companies, workshops, stores and other businesses among Lithuanians. Unfortunately, we must admit the fact that now only a few of the previously established businesses, of which there were already a dozen at that time, remain, and others, due to their inability to adapt to the market, had to close. Thus, we come to the conclusion that it is difficult for the vast majority of us to set up businesses. Only a small part is able to overcome all the obstacles and difficulties. Where do the main reasons for this failure lie? 

Those starting a business should first of all know that we live in a country where trade and industry are well-developed, this country is full of industries and trade branches, the centers of which are usually abroad: Great Britain, America, Germany and elsewhere. These large companies dictate prices not only for Australia, but also partly for the whole world. So, in order for a newly established company to break into the market, it is necessary to maintain the competition of old companies - to produce goods not only of no lower quality than those already existing, but perhaps even cheaper. And this is not easy to achieve, and therefore many newcomers cannot jump over this competitive barrier. So, when starting a business, two main conditions are necessary: a) sufficient capital for the start-up and b) good theoretical or practical knowledge of the business branch in which one wants to start. Capital is needed to purchase modern machinery, if it is a manufacturing enterprise, or suitable premises in a good location, if a trading enterprise is being established. Production in a primitive way, or trade in the outback — in the conditions of this region, does not promise a good future for an entrepreneur.

Since our people have not yet saved up a large amount of capital, there is only one option left for creating any company: for a few or a few to throw all their resources into a common pot and only with sufficient capital to start trade or production. However, even such a company must have at least one specialist among its members who would understand both the theoretical and practical side of the envisaged business. No one will achieve good results by creating any business with the goal of "helping compatriots". Here I mean the existence of business only for Lithuanian affairs. There are so few Lithuanians in Australia, and they are so scattered over the vast country that no business can survive from them alone. It seems that our first, and indeed Europeans in general, were not successful in business only because they were based not on the majority of the country where they lived, but only on a small minority of their own. It is difficult to say what businesses to pursue more. This depends a lot on local conditions, available capital and the theoretical and practical preparation required to create the intended business. It is worth trying to go into business, because if you succeed, you can create a brighter future for yourself.

J.P. Kedys

Musu Pastoge, Thursday 8 September 1955, page 3

Kaunas Guest House, Bairnsdale

The first Lithuanian guest house near the sea was owned by Vladas and Valentina Cižauskas.

Vladas Cižauskas was born in Liepāja on 15 May 1903. While still young, he returned to Lithuania, where he worked for the Bank of Lithuania in Kaunas, Tauragė, and Skuoda.

As war approached, Vladas fled to Germany and later migrated to Australia aboard the Castelbianco, arriving in Sydney on 19 November 1948. He was initially assigned to work on the construction of the Glenmaggie Dam in Victoria. Later, he moved to Bairnsdale, where he operated a small boarding house business. When his health began to decline, he sold the business and settled in Seaford near Frankston.

The guest house itself stood on the corner of Macleod and Buchanan Streets, directly opposite the railway station. Originally known as French’s Coffee Palace, it was a substantial two-storey brick building containing 16 accommodation rooms, with 21 rooms in total including bathrooms and kitchen facilities. The building also featured a spacious balcony and verandah extending along both street frontages.

French’s Coffee Palace opened in the latter half of 1890. Although it may have been constructed with French’s niece in mind, its first proprietors were Arthur and Annie Malone, formerly of the Paynesville Hotel and the Swan Hotel in Sale. During their two-year tenure, the establishment was known as both the “Bairnsdale Coffee Palace” and “Malone’s Coffee Palace.”

In 1901, the building reopened as the new premises for Bairnsdale College. By 1907, however, it had ceased operating as a college and was subsequently advertised for sale. Its use over the following decades is unclear, but by the 1950s it had become known as St Albans House and later as “The Open Door” Guest House. Many of its residents were single men who had come to Bairnsdale seeking work. In those days, with few owning motor cars, many arrived by train.

Under the ownership of the Cižauskas family, the establishment became known as the Kaunas Guest House, named after Lithuania’s city. The family advertised the guest house in Mūsų Pastogė as “a great place to spend the weekend near a great fishing river.”

Information from https://www.facebook.com/groups/gippslandhistory

The Sydney Chicken Farmer

Aleksandras Šalūga arrived in Australia in 1949. After trying work in a factory, he went to work part-time on a farm. The farm had a very neglected young garden and was not very profitable. Aleksandras suggested to the owner that he buy 1000 chickens as joint property and start a chicken farm. The chickens made a good profit and Aleksandras suggested to the owner to expand the chicken farm to 5000 chickens. The owner did not want to agree to this, because he was more interested in tidying up the neglected garden. Due to misunderstandings that arose, Aleksandras left the farm, and since he did not survive the time specified in the contract, he had to give up half of the chickens he owned. Then he rented a chicken farm without chickens for 4 pounds a week and, having bought 1500 chickens, began farming independently. His wife looked after the chickens, and he himself found work to earn money for chicken feed and rent. But the farm he rented did not satisfy Aleksandras. A year later he bought a 10-acre plot in York Road, Kellyville, suitable for a chicken farm. When buying the farm, it was taken into account that it would have shelter from the south, a slope to the north, and most importantly, that chickens had not been kept on that farm before, because due to the widespread diseases of chickens, one could buy a farm not only with all the amenities, but also with various diseases that have led many a chicken farmer to bankruptcy.

The farm was named "Sodyba". Having quickly arranged and renovated the farm, he moved into it with his own 1200 chickens. He gave up his job because he had to manage his farm, and besides, the chickens gave him enough income to live on and buy building materials. For example, this year Aleksandras received about 800 pounds from a hatchery of 1000 chickens. Feed cost 300 pounds. After the hatching season, he sends the eggs to the Egg Marketing Board and receives about a third less. Aleksandras says that in general, it is impossible to say that chickens are very profitable. This depends on the number of chickens, their breed and age. There are a lot of chicken diseases in Australia, and they need to be fought with dedication. 

In 1958, Aleksandras purchased an orchard farm at Cairns Rd, Glenorie, near Sydney.  He had about 1000 fruit trees, aged between 12 and 25 years old. 

Aleksandras died in July 1970, aged 66–67 of heart disease. He is buried Field of Mars Cemetery, Ryde, City of Ryde, New South Wales.

Photo from Musu Pastoge but enhanced with AI.

Sources

• 1953-11-02-MUSU-PASTOGE
• 1958-01-27-MUSU-PASTOGE
• SALUGA Aleksandras [aka SHALUGA Alexander] born 9 February 1903
• SALUGA Sigrida [aka SHALUGA Sigrid] born 25 September 1904
• Kristen Mercer Local History and Information Services Officer The Hills Shire Council

Lithuanian Bread in Benalla

The Mozūras family - owners of Baltic Bakery (Benalla)(Enhanced with AI from image in MP)

 An article written by Dr P Bačys, titled 'Delicious Lithuanian bread' was written up in Musu Pastoge 1956.

Lithuanian Bread in Benalla

While travelling around Australia, I passed through Benalla many times. It is a small town in Victoria, known for its family camp. Driving through in haste, I never noticed the modest sign on Bridge Street bearing the words “Baltic Bakery.”

One day, while attending a service, I met several Lithuanians at the family camp. They mentioned that a few Lithuanian families still lived in the town, among them the Mozūras family. I joked that a Mozūras could hardly be Lithuanian. In truth, Albertas Mozūras proved to be a sincere Lithuanian and a true compatriot.

Alvika Mozūrienė woke her husband, and we spoke warmly about life in Australia. Mr Mozūras rises at three o’clock each morning, resting briefly in the afternoon so he can begin baking again before dawn. From Albertas Mozūras’ bakery, I brought home black Lithuanian bread for the first time in Australia. Made from genuine rye flour and naturally leavened, it carried the unmistakable sour aroma of village bread from Lithuania.

Albertas was a modest man of medium build, with dark eyebrows meeting at the bridge of his nose and lively black eyes. He was forty-five years old when he told me his story, and with it, the story of Lithuanian bread in Benalla.

The Beginning of a Life

Albertas learned the trade of baker and confectioner while still in Lithuania, a craft whose secrets he fully mastered. After arriving in Australia in 1949, he worked for a time at Bandiana, in an army kitchen. His wife and children were sent to Benalla, and Albertas soon followed, finding work with a local baker, Mr Hide.

The work was hard, but he remained employed full-time while nurturing a dream of independence. Bakers were always in demand, but establishing one’s own bakery was another matter entirely. At first, Albertas had no home of his own. His wife was often unwell, and they were raising three children. Still, in 1952 he managed to buy a small house on Bridge Street, paying only a deposit.

As he settled into his home, the idea of opening his own bakery grew stronger. Many plans were made, only to collapse under financial and bureaucratic obstacles. From conversations with his employer, Albertas learned that to open a bakery he would need to join the Bakers’ Union and pay compensation to the baker operating in the same territory. This seemed an insurmountable barrier.

Yet hardship often carries its own solution.

Permission to Open a Bakery

One day, weighed down by worry, Albertas met a Benalla city official and spoke candidly about the difficulties faced by newcomers. The official explained that the government supported migrants seeking to establish themselves and suggested that Albertas apply directly to the city council for permission to open a bakery. Encouraged, Albertas submitted his application.

Some time later, the local morning newspaper announced that the council had granted him permission. That same morning, his employer paid him two weeks’ wages and dismissed him, warning that unless Albertas paid compensation of six hundred pounds, his bakery would be shut down within months.

Albertas returned home disheartened. There was no income, no wages forthcoming, and yet an oven still needed to be built. What was to be done?

A Lithuanian proverb came to mind: “Kas bus, kas nebus – dar nežinai.” Whatever will be, will be. And so Albertas resolved to try.

With his family’s support, he began building the bakery himself. A sawmill owner supplied timber without demanding a deposit, bricks were gathered where they could be found, and Albertas first constructed the oven. Before long, a modern, German-style baking oven stood in the yard.

Until the bakery was ready, his wife baked biscuits in the household oven and sold them at a nearby camp. The family survived on that modest income. Finally, production began in the real oven. There was no signboard, no advertising, and no customers. The first day’s takings amounted to five shillings. The first week brought only three shillings and faith in God’s judgment.

But good bread speaks for itself.

Anyone who bought bread or pastries once returned again, bringing neighbours with them. Soon, without signs or advertisements, people flocked to the bakery. Demand exceeded supply, yet the struggle for survival was far from over.

The Fight for Yeast and Flour

When Albertas refused to pay compensation, the Bakers’ Union declared him a “black baker.” All bakers and millers were ordered to boycott him. Once again, ingenuity prevailed. Having worked in the trade, Albertas knew which millers had themselves fallen out with the union and began purchasing flour from them. Grateful for his custom, the millers supported him.

The Bakers’ Union intervened, forbidding the millers from supplying flour. One miller advised Albertas to take the matter to the Victorian Parliament, even drafting a petition on his behalf. Albertas signed it. Parliament ruled in his favour, ordering that flour be supplied or a commissioner appointed to enforce compliance. The flour problem was resolved.

Yeast soon became the next obstacle. Albertas sourced yeast from Melbourne until the union traced the supplier and cut him off. Undeterred, Albertas prepared to produce yeast himself, planning a small factory. When Melbourne manufacturers learned of this, the yeast supply was suddenly restored.

Following these victories, the Bakers’ Union lifted all sanctions and permitted Albertas to bake and sell freely. Though inspections continued, checking weight and quality, Albertas needed no defence. His skill spoke for itself, and the people of Benalla defended him openly.

“Thanks to you,” they told him, “we now eat good bread. Before, bakers gave us what they pleased, and we had no choice. You brought competition, and with it, quality.”

An Untimely End

Mr Mozūras later rebuilt his home, opened a shop, and modernised his bakery, hoping to ease his workload and expand production. Fifteen months after this account was written, tragedy struck. Albertas and his wife were involved in a car accident. Albertas was killed; Ludvika survived. They left behind four children.

His bread, his perseverance, and his quiet courage remain part of Benalla’s history, a testament to the endurance of a Lithuanian baker who refused to give up.

 Musu Pastoge December 20, 1956, No. 45

 

Rev. John Joseph Tamulis

Rev. John Joseph Tamulis was born on 18 March 1915 in London to John and Julia (Sarocka) Tamulis, but he spent most of his life in Lithuania. He completed his early schooling in Jurbarkis before attending the Kaunas Seminary. In 1940, he earned a degree in Theology and Philosophy from Vytautas Didysis University in Kaunas.  He was was ordained on 16 June 1940 at Kaunas.

During the first Soviet occupation of Lithuania in 1941, Father Tamulis left the country, traveling via China, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, before arriving in Queensland, Australia. He later arrived in Sydney by Pan-American Clipper.

In 1946, he moved to London, where he assisted at St. Casimir’s Lithuanian parish, before relocating to Los Angeles. In November 1948, he was appointed to serve the spiritual needs of Catholic Balts at the Bathurst Training Centre for Displaced Persons in Australia. During this time, he also served as chaplain to two schools and Australian and American army camps. Later, he became assistant priest at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Brisbane. Archbishop McGuire, President of the Federal Catholic Immigration Committee in Sydney, specifically requested him to work with Lithuanian migrants in Australia.

Father Tamulis also served in London before coming to Los Angeles in 1946 and spent four months in Chicago. In 1950, he moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he served in numerous parishes, including Carson City, Cheboygan, Ionia, Muskegon, Hastings, Cadillac, and Roscommon. He retired in Cadillac in 1991 yet continued to celebrate Mass at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Harrietta, Mercy Hospital in Cadillac, and Lakeview Lutheran Manor in Cadillac.

Father John was a Catholic priest for 70 years and served as chaplain for the Third-Degree Knights of Columbus Council 1224 and the Fourth-Degree Council 1946 for 30 years. He loved trees and enjoyed feeding wildlife on his property. A skilled woodworker, he built many of the pieces of furniture in his home.

Rev. John Joseph Tamulis passed away on 10 October 2010 at Mercy Hospital in Cadillac, at the age of 95. He is interred at Mt. Carmel Catholic Cemetery, Cadillac. 

References

Advocate Melbourne Thursday 2 Dec 1948 page 4
Catholic Weekly, Thursday 17 March 1949
Kaliforijos Lietuvis Nov 1948, Vol III

Erin Joynt Cadillac News Oct 13, 2010 Updated Oct 12, 2017

George Hotel, Newcastle

 

Jonas Statkus owner of the George Hotel sold it in November 1975. When the George Hotel was in Lithuanian hands, the Newcastle Board received all kinds of support from here, providing parties with drinks, lodging guests at the hotel, and receiving winnings for lotteries.

The Discussion Club held its meetings several times on the site of this hotel (J. Statkus participates in the Discussion Club), Astra and Andy Šaltys, German based Lithuanian sibling folk duo, performed on the site of this hotel.

Jonas Statkus and his family continued to live in Newcastle, because they have bought a property there, a couple of blocks of Home Units.  

Jonas married Margaret and had two children. Jonas died on 31 January 1994.

Sydney Lithuanian Artists’ Group Aitvaras

On 27–28 December 1950, several former students of the Institute of Applied Arts in Freiburg, who had gathered in Sydney, established the Lithuanian Artists’ Group “Aitvaras.” The group’s principal aim was to encourage and support its members in the creation of artistic work. It was agreed that an exhibition of members’ works would be organised in Sydney within the year, and that a library would be established for the use of the group. Initially, the library would consist of publications owned by members and subscriptions from abroad, to be expanded with new publications as circumstances allowed.

The group was led by the elected chair Jurgis Bistrickas, with Henrikas Šalkauskas as deputy. Correspondence for the group was directed to: Mr Jonas Kalgovas.

In 1953, Jurgis Bistrickas organised the first Australia-wide Lithuanian art exhibition, held at Mark Foy’s Gallery in Sydney. Seventeen artists participated, exhibiting a total of seventy-four works: thirty-nine graphic works and drawings, eighteen oil paintings, thirteen sculptural pieces, three watercolours, and one tapestry (Kazokas, p. 36).

In the exhibition catalogue, Vytautas Janavičius wrote in the introduction:

“This is an exhibition of restless, striving individuals. May these works emphasise their striving and seeking. May this be a small contribution to the young Australian nation, which is still fighting for its expression in art and culture.”

The exhibition represented, in many ways, the artists’ attempt to come to terms with exile.

Contemporary reviews of the exhibition were largely favourable. One critic noted that the exhibition at Mark Foy’s Gallery was, on the whole, pleasing, with considerable variety. The juxtaposition of traditional and modern styles was welcomed, and many artists were observed to be responding to the Australian environment, offering fresh and unusual interpretations of their new surroundings. While no single masterpiece was identified, the exhibition demonstrated strong craftsmanship and a sensitivity that reflected the cultural contributions Lithuanian artists were bringing to Australia.

The reviewer expressed the hope that many people would visit the exhibition, describing it as multifaceted and accessible, with relatively few overtly problematic works. For the average visitor interested in art, there was much to learn and admire.

Vladas Meškėnas was awarded first prize for his pastel Study for the Portrait of a Family, praised for its careful balance and engaging tonal qualities. Second prize was awarded to Teisutis Zikaras for the sculpture Land of Sorrows, a work that carried elements of Byzantine tradition into a modern idiom, particularly evident in the treatment of the head. Henrikas Šalkauskas received third prize for his linocut Three Women, which, although somewhat simplified, was noted for its feeling and charm.

Other notable works included Aleksandras Marčiulionis’ swift and dramatic impression of trees; Jurgis Bistrickas’ Displaced Persons, featuring desert peas and poppies, which, while not entirely successful, was recognised for its striking and unusual use of colour; and Vaclovas Ratas-Rataiskis’ woodcut Emu, a charming work inspired by Aboriginal art.

Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), Monday 7 September 1953, page 12

Juozas Maksvytis, the first Lithuanian to graduate from the University of NSW

Juozas was the first Lithuanian to graduate from the University of NSW. Eighteenth and seventh president of the Australian Lithuanian Community.

Juozas was a person devoted to science, loved music and song, and had a sense of responsibility for Lithuanian community work, and everything was connected with a sense of the beauty of life, with undying optimism.

Juozas Maksvytis was born on November 7, 1924, in Grūšlaukė, Salanta village, Kretinga county, in the family of a pharmacist, the middle of seven children.  In 1938 he joined the scouts in Taurage and in 1944 graduated from Plungė Gymnasium.

After moving to Germany, due to the occupation of Lithuania, he gained a degree in electrical engineering, graduating from Nürtingen-Schwäbisch Gmünd Lithuanian Technical School in 1948.

In 1949 he arrived in Australia on the Svalbard 29 June 1948, his younger sister, also came to Australia a few months before him.  Juozas completed a two-year work contract at a factory in Yallourn, Victoria. After moving to Melbourne, he immediately got involved in national cultural activities, such as Lithuanian folk dancing. He enrolled into the University of Melbourne, but due to his limited English he was unable to complete the course.

In 1952, Juozas moved to Sydney, where in August 1954 he married a fellow Lithuanian.  They had two daughters.  He again enrolled into the newly opened University of NSW, Faculty of Science and Mathematics.  In 1959 he received his diploma in applied chemistry and in 1960 received a Bachelor of Science degree. 

He worked during the day and studied in the evening; he had to support his family.  It was reported that chemistry student Juozas Maksvytis, had become the first radioactive person in Australia. While studying in the chemistry labs he helped to remove from the laboratory a container with radioactive material.  It was later noticed that liquid had leaked from the leaden container that he had been carrying.   After conducting tests, it was established that his wrist was radioactive. The university took urgent measures, and he spent 14 days in hospital, where intensive blood tests were carried out.  He survived.

From 1963-64 and 1969-70 Juozas was a member of the Regional Board of Australian Lithuanian Community (ALC).  From 1973-75 Juozas was the chairman of the Sydney area of ​​ALC, and when Gough Whitlam recognised the Baltic States incorporation into the Soviet Union, Juozas was a member of the BAG (Baltic Action Group), who actively fought for the cancellation of the recognition.

In 1983-84, Juozas was again a member of the ALC Regional Board and simultaneously the chairman of the ALB Cultural Council.

He worked as a biochemist at St. Vincent's Hospital, until his retirement in 1987.  By then he was head of the hormone research department.

The following year he studied philosophy and history at Macquarie University, then 1991-92 he attended a museum management courses (graduated in November 1992), and since 1993 worked with the University of Third Age until his death.

In 1989 to 1990 Juozas again served on the ALC board as chairman.  From1995 he actively joined Sydney Lithuanian sports club "Kovas" and played golf.

Juozas had a lifelong love of music.  Since 1954 he sang in the Sydney Lithuanian choir and saw him join Algis Plukis "Rozytės", later he performed with his own group "Tie patys".  After the creation of the "Ansamblio" choir, Juozas helped this choir prepare individual voices, occasionally conducting the choir himself in concerts.  Since 1960 until 1970 for a whole decade, Juozas was a singing and music teacher at the Sydney Weekend School.

Juozas even composed a series of his own songs and hymns, such as "Longing", for which he wrote the music and lyrics.  Juozas performed in the opera "Aida" in the chorus of the Sydney Opera House.  In 1996 Juozas sang in four Australian choirs: Sydney Men's Choir, Sydney Mixed Choir, Beethoven 9th Symphony Society Choir and University of Third Age Choir.

Since 1975 he acted in the Sydney Lithuania "Atžala" theatre, in 1980 he switched to directing and theatre administration. Together with Paulius Rūtenius, he organised the first Lithuanian theatre festival in Australia.

On 2 February 1977, the sad news about the unexpected death of Juozas Maksvytis, was received which painfully shocked his large group of friends and acquaintances.

Mykolas Zakaras - Eleventh President

Mykolas was born on October 21, 1909, in the Urniežiai farmstead, Dotnuva parish, Kėdainiai county, into the family of a wealthy farmer.  He grew up with five brothers and three sisters. Mykolas was the eldest in the family.  He attended primary school in Dotnuva, continued his secondary education in Kėdainiai and Kaunas, at the Pavasaris Higher Commercial School (Gymnasium). He completed his higher education in Klaipėda, where he studied at the Institute of Trade.  He also attended the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics of Vytautas Magnus University, but was unable to complete his studies, as the University was closed during the German occupation.  He performed his military service in the Sixth Squadron of the Military Aviation, in Šiauliai. He graduated with the rank of private.  He worked as a bookeeper  for the Electrical station in Telšiai from 1938 – 1944.  In addition to Lithuanian, he was fluent in three languages, German, Russian and Polish.

On 21 January 1942, Mykolas Zakaras and nurse in the Resurrection
Church in Kaunas.  A daughter was born in Kaunas. The family moved to Germany in 1944, due to the Soviet reoccupation of Lithuania. Mykolas worked in a factory at Schwopnitz, Saxonia Germany and later from 1945 as a checker in a warehouse for the IRO in Hanau Germany.   A son, was born in 1945, Germany 

After the war, they emigrated from Germany to Australia, where they lived in the Sydney suburb of Kingsgrove.

Mykolas worked hard in a glass factory, settled down nicely and took care of his children's education, and when they grew up, he joined the activities of the community. 1961-1962 Mykolas took up the position of Chairman of the Bankstown District Board, later in 1963 he was elected to the Regional Board of the Lithuanian Community of Australia.  In 1969, after the death of the then Chairman of the Regional Board of the ALB, Stasys Narušis, he briefly took over the position of the former Chairman.

In 1967, Mykolas Zakaras joined the Sydney branch of the Lithuanian Veterans Union "Ramovė". He was active in this union and a dutiful member, often elected to the branch board, he held various positions. For his exceptional kindness and merits to the Lithuanian soldiers, united in the Lithuanian Soldiers Veterans Union "Ramovė", on May 20, 1989, he was elected an honorary member of the union.

On 16 August 1985 Mykolas passed away.  On the 21st friends and acquaintances accompanied Mykolas on his last journey to the Rookwood cemetery. Mindaugas Šumskas gave a farewell speech at the grave, remembering his contribution to the creation of the Bankstown Lithuanian House and his work in the activities of the district. Juozas Dambrauskas also mentioned Mykolas' merits in sports activities, for which he was elected an honorary member of "Kovas".

Simas Narušis - All my achievements and work are for you, Lithuania

Simas was born on 13 March 1899 and passed away on 23 December 1969. He was born in Karališkiai, near Jurbarkas. In 1927, he completed his studies at a school in Kaunas, and from 1930 to 1931 he studied law at Vytautas Didysis University. He married Vanda, and they did not have children.

Simas volunteered for the newly established
Lithuanian Army and, in 1933, attained the rank of Major. During the Second World War, he organised and led independent military units in the eastern regions and fought against enemies of Lithuania.

Upon arriving in Australia, he immediately became active in Lithuanian community life. He served on the committee of the Sydney Lithuanian Society, where he worked tirelessly to organise cultural and community events. From 1965 until his death five years later, he was President of the Australian Lithuanian Community.  During this time, he visited every Lithuanian community across Australia, including the smallest branches. He maintained close ties with scouts, youth organisations, and sports clubs, and consistently encouraged Lithuanians to work not for personal gain, but for the good of the Lithuanian nation and community.

In recognition of his dedication, the Latvian community in Australia awarded him a silver medal in 1968 for his efforts and contributions to the struggle for Baltic freedom. In 1969, Simas represented Australia as a delegate at the World Lithuanian Community Parliament, where he was honoured with another medal. Despite suffering from cancer, he travelled to New Zealand to meet with the Lithuanian community there.

Simas lived by the motto: “Visi mano atsiekimai ir darbai – Tau, Lietuva!” — “All my achievements and work are for you, Lithuania.” His passion and devotion to Lithuania were deeply felt, and his death was a profound loss to Lithuanians throughout Australia. At his funeral, a guard of honour composed of Lithuanian scouts, members of the Federal Council, Ramovė, and the Sydney Lithuanian Committee stood beside his casket, which was draped with the Lithuanian flag.

Several years later, on 14 March 1971, the community gathered at Simas’s grave to commemorate his life and bless the newly placed headstone. The black granite headstone was designed by engineer A. Jakštas and features a white cross and the Gedimino stulpai carved into the lower corner. It stands in the Lithuanian section of Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney.

The Engineer and the President, Balys Daukus

Balys Daukus was born on 23 November 1900 in Samanių village, Južintai region, Rokiškis district, under the surname Dobkevičius. During Lithuania’s struggle for independence, he restored his great-grandfathers’ original surname, Daukas.

After completing elementary school, he enrolled at the Daugavpils Gymnasium. With the outbreak of World War I, he left for Tashkent to stay with his uncle, where he witnessed the Bolshevik Revolution and the mass killings carried out by the Soviets. After the war, he returned to Lithuania, continued his studies at the Rokiškis Gymnasium, and later at the Panevėžys Men’s Gymnasium, from which he graduated in 1923. He then studied engineering at Kaunas University. During his studies, he supported himself by teaching adult courses and working at the Kaunas railway workshops, as well as serving as a technician in peat bogs. At the university, he joined the student organisation Corp! Neo-Lithuania, becoming one of its earliest members when it was founded in 1922.

He married Pajauta Linartaitė, who was also a student at the time. In 1931, he graduated with a degree in technological engineering. 

From 1932 to 1934, he headed the railway workshop in Virbalis. In 1934, on the recommendation of Minister of Transport Vytautas Vileišis, he moved to Klaipėda to serve as head of the port mechanics department and port dredging operations. He managed a staff of 450 employees, was frequently invited as an expert to other organisations, and travelled abroad to England, Sweden, and Germany on official assignments. In 1938, he was also appointed head of anti-aircraft defence for Klaipėda city and the Klaipėda region.

While living in Klaipėda, he actively participated in sports activities, helped organise Lithuanian football players, and often accompanied teams traveling between Klaipėda and Kaunas.

After Klaipėda was seized by Germany in 1939, he briefly served as deputy director of the Pavenčiai Sugar Factory. In 1940, he became director of the Panevėžys Sugar Factory. Under his leadership, the company—employing 2,000 workers—completed construction of the new plant.

During this time, he also witnessed the murder of twenty high school students from Kupiškis. Through his efforts, a temporary memorial—a large wooden cross—was erected to honour the victims. In the summer of 1941, after the Bolsheviks were expelled from Lithuania, numerous resistance groups emerged in Panevėžys. Recognising the continued danger posed by the new German occupation, Balys organised a joint meeting of resistance leaders to coordinate future activities.

In October 1944, he left for Germany, where he worked for a time as an engineer at a sugar refinery near Leipzig. By late 1945, he was living in the Lithuanian camp in Kempten.

From Kempten, he emigrated to Australia, arriving in June 1949 aboard the General Langfitt. He worked under a two-year contract at the Army workshops in Bandiana, Victoria. The family later moved to Sydney, where he worked as a factory mechanic in a ceramics plant, and later as a design engineer for the New South Wales Electricity Commission until his retirement.

Prior to emigrating, he had founded the Lithuanian Engineers and Architects Society and served as its head. After settling in Sydney, he established a branch of the World Lithuanian Engineers and Architects Society on 22 July 1951, led the branch, and kept its yearbook of professional activities. He maintained close ties with branches in Melbourne and Adelaide, founded a new branch in Canberra, and kept contact with engineers across Australia and New Zealand.

In Sydney, he was an active contributor to Šviesa and regularly participated in Lithuanian Community meetings. In 1951, at the Regional Council session in Melbourne, he was elected vice-chairman of the presidium. In 1956, at the session in Sydney, he was elected chairman. He chaired the session effectively and was re-elected to the Regional Council for the 1957–1958 term, again serving as vice-chairman. He also took part in the 1958 session held in Melbourne. At the end of 1960, he was once more elected to the Regional Council for the 1961–1962 term, this time as chairman. During his term, the Provincial Government published the monumental 290-page Australian Lithuanian Yearbook, which remains an important source on Lithuanian life in Australia.

Balys Daukus died on 9 January 1968 and was buried in the Lithuanian section of Rookwood Cemetery.

Izidorius Jonaitis

Seventh and nineth President of the Australian Lithuanian Community, Sydney, 1959 - 1960, 1963-1964

Izidorius Jonaitis was born on 3 May 1909 in Paežeriai Šeduva, into a large farming family of five brothers and two sisters. With the support of his elder brother, he completed his primary and secondary education in Radviliškis and Šiauliai before enrolling at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, where he graduated with a degree in civil engineering and architecture.

From an early age, Izidorius was deeply inspired by the ideals of scouting. His enthusiasm continued during his university years, culminating in the founding of the scout corporation “Vytis” at Vytautas Magnus University, of which he served as president in 1931–1932.

After completing his engineering studies, he also graduated from the Military School and served for a time in the Lithuanian Air Force, where he learned to fly. Later, he worked professionally as an architect and construction contractor, and for a period he was employed in the Ministry of Education in Vilnius within the engineering department.

In 1944, Jonaitis was forced to leave Lithuania due to the war. He moved to Austria, and from 1945 to 1949 lived in a displaced persons camp in Ravensburg, Germany. There he taught at the Lithuanian Gymnasium and conducted construction courses for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA).

On 31 May 1949, Izidorius and his wife Whilemina arrived in Australia aboard the Skaugum. He first worked for the New South Wales Railways in Sydenham and, from 1951 to 1971, served in the New South Wales State Architect’s Office, where he helped design hospitals and other public buildings.

Jonaitis remained deeply committed to community life. He served twice as Chairman of the Regional Board of the Lithuanian Community of Australia, dedicating great effort to restoring unity and harmony within the organisation. He was also a long-time member of the Advisory Editorial Board of “Mūsų Pastogė,” an avid chess player, and an active scout leader. Through his initiative, the “Vytis” academic circle of scouts was established in Sydney.

One of his most enduring contributions was the organisation of the first Australian Lithuanian Days in 1960 — a milestone cultural event that strengthened the bonds of the Lithuanian diaspora in Australia.

Izidorius Jonaitis passed away on 7 June 1995, leaving behind a legacy of leadership, service, and dedication to Lithuanian culture and community life.

Stepas Kovalskis - a true aristocrat of spirit

 

Fifth President of the National Council, Sydney 1957 – 25 October 1958

Stepas Kovalskis was born on 28 May 1905 in Bern, Switzerland. After graduating from Ukmergė State Gymnasium in 1925, he studied law at the Faculty of Law, Vytautas Magnus University, in Kaunas. During his studies, he was an active member of the Lithuanian student organisation L.S.T. Korp! "Neo Lithuania."

Upon completing his legal studies, Kovalskis began his career as a bailiff in Kaunas and later worked as a notary in Molėtai, Panevėžys, and Šakiai.

In October 1944, the turmoil of war forced him to leave his homeland. He lived in various German cities—Dresden, Ravensburg, Ulm, Schwäbisch Gmünd, and Stuttgart—before emigrating to Australia in 1949 with his wife, Gražina, and their children. They arrived aboard the ship Nelly in November 1949.

Initially, the family settled in Sydney, later moving to Canberra, where Stepas spent the last seven years of his life.

Stepas left an enduring mark on the Australian Lithuanian community. A man of great administrative talent and exceptional intellect, he served as President of the National Council from 1956 to 1958. Under his leadership, the National Board revitalized the community by launching new cultural initiatives. One of his most significant achievements was the establishment of the Council of Culture and its inclusion in the Community Statute. He is remembered as the founder and chief architect of the Council’s activities and as one of the most devoted supporters of the first Lithuanian Art Days in Australia.

Kovalskis was known for his forward-thinking vision in both social and cultural spheres. His guiding principle was: “Everything needs to be planned at least ten years ahead.”

Those who knew him admired not only his intellect and deep erudition but also his integrity, tolerance, and genuine kindness. As Izidorius Jonaitis, a long-time colleague, once said: “He was a true aristocrat of spirit.”

His untimely passing was a great loss not only to the Lithuanian community in Australia but also to Lithuanians around the world. He left behind the example of a noble personality and a creative Lithuanian who deeply believed in the immortality of the nation. His life was guided by respect for others and love for his fellow human beings.

More than 150 friends and relatives gathered to pay their final respects when Stepas passed away on 5 November 1964. His funeral took place in northern Sydney, where an open casket allowed mourners to bid him farewell. His ashes rest in the Lithuanian section of Rookwood Cemetery, inscribed with the words: “Respect for others was your strength.”

His beloved wife, Gražina, passed away on 21 April 1995 and rests beside him.

References

Mūsų Pastogė 9 Nov 1964 p1
Mūsų Pastogė16 Nov 1964
National Archive of Australia
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Arlosen Archive

Vytautas Skrinska

Fourth President of the National Council Sydney 1955 – 56

Vytautas was born on 24 June 1917 in Poltava, Ukraine. He completed his secondary education at Rygiškių Jonas High School in Marijampolė. After earning the rank of junior lieutenant in military school, he entered university and graduated from the Faculty of Law. He went on to work as a qualified lawyer at the Kaunas City Municipality and later at the Kaunas District Court.

A talented public speaker, Vytautas also worked for a time as an announcer at the Kaunas Radiophone. He married Kaunas ballet dancer Tamara Pagodinaitė, and they had two sons.

During the second Sviet occupation of Lithuania, Vytautas and his family fled the country. They first lived in Austria, where their second son was born, and later moved to Germany, residing in a displaced persons (DP) camp in Reutlingen. There, Vytautas actively participated in Lithuanian community and cultural activities.

On 13 April 1949, the family arrived in Australia aboard the General Stewart and eventually settled in Sydney. From the Uranquinty transit camp, Tamara and the children were moved to the Scheyville family camp, while Vytautas worked in a Sydney factory under a two-year contract with NSW Railways at Darling Harbour. After saving enough to begin a new life, the family settled in the suburb of Homebush. Vytautas later secured permanent employment at the Sydney Central Post Office, where he worked until his retirement.

From his earliest days in Australia, Vytautas became an active figure in the Lithuanian community. He was a member—and later president—of Šviesa Sambūris, a Lithuanian youth organisation, and a member of the Sydney Lithuanian Feather Club. Known for his eloquence, rich voice, and dignified presence, he was often invited to lecture both publicly and privately. Between 1956 and 1966, he served on the Australian Lithuanian Community National Council, including two years as chairman and several as vice-chairman.

Vytautas was also a writer and cultural contributor. He published several short stories and collaborated with Mūsų Pastogė, the Sydney Lithuanian newspaper, where he wrote on literary and cultural topics. Fluent in five languages, he occasionally translated works from foreign authors.

Tragedy struck when his son Sigitas disappeared in Australia. Deeply affected, Vytautas withdrew from public life and spent his later years in solitude.

Vytautas was known for his warmth, calm temperament, and respect for others. In conversation and debate, he was logical, fair-minded, and always considerate of differing opinions. He appreciated art and maintained close ties with painters, writers, and musicians. Though life often tested him, he remained kind-hearted and dignified.

On 20 February 1981, at the age of 63, Vytautas passed away suddenly. He is buried in the Lithuanian section of Sydney’s Rookwood Cemetery.

Leonardas Karvelis

Leonardas Karvelis

Third President of the National Council

Sydney, 1954 – June 17, 1955

Leonardas Karvelis was born on 11 March 1907 in Šiauliai. During the First World War, he attended the Martynas Yčas Lithuanian Gymnasium in Voronezh, a city on the Voronezh River in southwestern Russia. By the end of 1917, Voronezh had become a cultural and educational centre for Lithuanians living in Russia.

In 1925, Leonardas graduated from the Šiauliai State Gymnasium and went on to study economics at Vytautas the Great University in Kaunas for four years. After completing additional examinations, he qualified as a lawyer.

From 1934 to 1940, he served as the legal affairs representative for the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture. Between 1941 and 1944, he worked as a legal advisor for the General Directorate of Forestry in Kaunas.

After the Second World War, Leonardas settled in Freiburg, Germany, where he joined the Lithuanian Lawyers’ Association. He also served as head of affairs for the Lithuanian National Committee and as secretary of the gubernatorial government under the French occupation authorities.

On 27 June 1949, Leonardas arrived in Australia aboard the Skaugum, together with his wife Halina and their son Kęstutis. From his earliest days in Australia, he became actively involved in Lithuanian community life.

Between 1951 and 1955, he served in several key roles: Member of the Court of Honour of the Sydney District (1951–55), Vice-Chairman of the Regional Board (1953–54), and Chairman of the Regional Board (1955). Beginning in 1957, he was repeatedly elected Chairman of the National Control Commission of the Australian Lithuanian Community.

Beyond these national roles, Leonardas was deeply involved in a number of community organisations. He was a long-standing elder of the Sydney branch of the Lithuanian Lawyers’ Association and a legal advisor to various Lithuanian groups. He drafted constitutions for the Sydney sports club Kovas and the Women’s Social Welfare Society, and also prepared the working rules for the Cultural Council of the Australian Lithuanian Community.

Leonardas was well known among Sydney Lithuanians as a charming gentleman, an eloquent speaker, and an engaging conversationalist — particularly on political subjects. A proud and conscious Lithuanian, he was a staunch anti-communist, a defender of conservative values, and a passionate advocate for the restoration of Lithuania’s independence.

When some within the community questioned the relevance of celebrating 16 February — Lithuanian Independence Day — given the realities of the time, Leonardas firmly rejected such views. He reminded them:

“The Lithuanian nation declares to the whole world, to all mankind, to its friends and enemies, that it will not agree to the enslavement of Lithuania. The Act of the Sixteenth of February is a sacred and final decision for a free and independent life, and the independence of the state is essential for the development of national culture and the survival of the nation.”

Leonardas Karvelis passed away suddenly at his home in Bankstown on 28 March 1987. He is interred, together with his wife Halina, in the Lithuanian section of Rookwood Cemetery.

References

Mūsų Pastogė No. 14 1987. 4. Page 13 obituary by J. Véteikis
National Archive of Australia
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Arlosen Archive

Vytautas Simniškis - Second President of National Council - Sydney 1953 – 1954

 Second President of National Council - Sydney 1953 – 1954

Vytautas Simniškis was born on 2 October 1918, in Marijampolė, into a large family of a wealthy farmers. 

Like many Lithuanians, Vytautas ended up in the Seedorf camp after the end of the war in Germany.  He did not rest here but took up work and was appointed warehouse manager.

Vytautas arrived in Australia on the first transport at the end of 1947.  He served his government required employment in the brown coal mines of Yallourn, Victoria.  At the beginning of 1950, he moved to Sydney, where Vytautas put down his roots and devoted himself wholeheartedly to Lithuanian activities.  He bought a grocery store, which he modernized and expanded.  It was his livelihood until he retired.

In 1955, Vytautas married a fellow Lithuanian.

Since the beginning of 1953 to 1958 Vytautas was a member of the board of the Lithuanian Community of Australia, serving for three terms, and in 1953-4 he was elected chairman of the board. During his leadership, the board established close links with exile organisations of other nations and with Australian political parties. The case of Lithuania was raised everywhere.

In his position as head of social care, he called together the more active women of Sydney in early 1956 with the aim of establishing an aid society.  From this nucleus grew the registered and capable Sydney Lithuanian Women's Social Care Association of which Tanja was a member and served as President.  In the third term of the board, as the treasurer, Vytautas many efforts to improve the difficult financial situation of Mūsų Pastogė, the Sydney Lithuanian newspaper.  Vytautas was the initiator of establishing a united Baltic committee.

For the next two terms, Vytautas served in the National Control Commission. His acquired practice in trade and his extraordinary endurance and stubborn personality, which makes the impossible possible, gave us the community the registered Lithuanian club and one of the most beautiful Lithuanian houses in the entire diaspora. In 1960, Vytautas was elected to the board of the Lithuanian House of Sydney and was immediately appointed to be chairman. He remained in that position without any break until 1983, when he retired from the board.

The path from the old Club at Redfern to the newer licensed club with new buildings was winding and full of obstacles. It was necessary to go to courts with lawyers, handle municipal bureaucrats, construction workers, and to study mainly the laws of this land.  Vytautas overcame all this.  He had neither magical power nor supernatural abilities, but he was straight-thinking, and after patiently listening to mutual arguments, he said with light humour: "...let's get back to work, men, because we have to do it now."

On 8 July 1987 about two hundred Sydney Lithuanians gathered in St. Joseph's Church, in Lidcombe, to accompany Vytautas Simniškis, on his last journey on earth.  Mass was offered by Fr. Povilas Martūzas and after, a long motorcade escorted the coffin to Rookwood Crematorium.

Chairman Vytautas Bukevičius spoke on behalf of the Board of the Lithuanian Club. He urged those present to continue the work of the deceased by committing to maintain the Lithuanian Club and leave it for future generations as an eternal monument. 

Vytautas, you deserve our greatest thanks. Rest in peace, far from your birthplace, and at the same time rejoice in being so close to the creation of your earthly life.

References

Mūsų Pastogė 1978, 10 September, V. Siminiskis, 50 years

Mūsų Pastogė 1987 July 20, Obituary by Anskis Reisgys p,3

National Archive of Australia

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