The man who preserved the Kupiškėnai dialect

Kazimieras (Kazys) Šaulys was born in the village of Juodžiūnas Šimonys, Panevėžys district, Lithuania, on 26 January 1908.   Šaulys' life is a rare example when a person, without receiving an academic education, devotes himself to science, acquires skills and leaves behind valuable works.

Kazys was a teacher by profession.  After graduating, he returned to his homeland in Šimonys, where until 1943 he was the head of the Gaigaliai-Šimonys schools and belonged to the Young Lithuanians organisation.  

In July 1944, when the Russian army arrived in Lithuania, many people were forced to leave their homeland. The fact that Kazimieras Šaulys was a member of the Lithuanian Nationalist Union, a member of the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union, alone posed a threat to him when the Russians came, and therefore he was forced to emigrate. 

The five foot six dark haired man bearing glasses stepped onto Australian soil in Melbourne, having arrived on the ship, General W M Black 27 April 1948.  He was single and forty years old. He was transported with the other passengers to the Bonegilla Migrant camp where he would await his two-year work placement. Kazimeras was assigned to work at Woomera, a town being built in the South Australian outback for the Anglo-Australian long-range weapons testing program. The town became a large military and space research testing range, but in 1948 when Kazimieras arrived it was under construction. Woomera is approximately 446 kilometres north-west of Adelaide, with a hot desert climate, with hot summers, mild winters and low rainfall year-round. 

Another Lithuanian Česlovas Dubinskas who lived in Womera wrote of his time there in his book, I was with you always. Written in Lithuania, these are some extracts from his time in Woomera, which mention Kazimieras. 

Life in Woomera was going normally. I had to meet people of different nationalities on a regular basis; many English and Australians worked there also, in addition to migrants.  The whole social life took place in our club, mostly sipping beer.  Fellow workers still lived in the Philips Pond camp. There was also Captain Bennett's camp, where several Lithuanians worked laying cables. 

In Woomera, when I arrived, the first impression was dreadful because the heat in January was awful and hard to bare, especially when during the physical work on railroad, sewer, plumbing, etc. There often were sandstorms, penetrating the mouth, eyes, nose. Cars had to stop because drivers could not see the road. When a storm struck us working outdoors, we had to hide under the floors of future buildings. Wooden houses were built on raised poles, so there was a space to hide under the floor.  Sand was blown into our rooms and administration premises.  After the storm finished, it was necessary to clean, dust the sheets, clothes, and everything else.

Among those at Captain Bennett’s camp was Kazimieras, whom I knew. He could swear very gently: ‘jęczmien’ iežis.  Australians did not understand that this, translated from Polish, meant 'barley', and they complained about it.  Later, Kazimieras was translocated to Woomera West and I used to meet with him frequently.  He read various books and studied a lot of very interesting things.  Previously we did not have a cinema, so we drove to Captain Bennett's camp where the cinema was shown for free.  Later, a territory in Woomera West was surrounded by a high tin fence and an open-air cinema was opened.  Various films were shown four times a week.  I have seen about 4,000 movies for 10 years, because I rarely missed it. When the contractor Matulevičius built a modern cinema in the town of Woomera, I visited it too, but Woomera West was much more comfortable because it was near me.

Despite the hard conditions, the pay would have been quite good and with nothing to spend it on in the Australian outback, Kazimieras became a wealthy man.  He moved to Adelaide and built a house at 38 Third Avenue, Woodville Gardens in 1955.  There were quite a few Lithuanians who also purchased land in this area at that time. He built a solid brick house with generous bedrooms, large lounge, kitchen/meals and several units at the back of the property.  Kazimieras then worked until his retirement for the Australian Postal service. 

Kazimieras was one of the first honorary members of the Lithuanian Society of Adelaide.  He donated money to the Lithuanian press, the Lithuanian community house and the Adelaide Lithuanian parish. He supported the Vasarios 16 gymnasium in Germany and left all his estate to the Lithuanian community of Adelaide. 

Kazimieras was a reticent and withdrawn person. He had almost no friends, and did not seek them out. Rarely did anyone visit him, except for Jonas Bočiulis, who was the late Kazimieras' neighbour in Lithuania and his student.  

Kazimieras died of cancer at the Philip Kennedy Center hospice on 16 December 1993, aged 86.

In his speech at the funeral, Jonas Stačiūnas said: "Today we say goodbye to a Lithuanian whom we knew so little personally. Having chosen a solitary life, he tried to manage his own affairs until the last day. Suffering from a serious illness, he neither complained nor asked for any help and passed away quietly, as he had lived quietly... Rest in peace, having left significant remnants for Lithuania; you will not be forgotten."

 

The late Kazimieras was buried in the Enfield cemetery.  He never married or had children.

Kazys while living in Adelaide wrote a book on the "Juodžiūnai Dialect", from the region he grew up in. The research began as a pensioner in 1968. It is a large work, containing over 500 pages.  It presents phonetic data and a study of the dialect of the village of Juodžiūnai, located 17 km south of Kupiškis.  This is not a detailed description of the dialect, but a certain accumulation of its phonetic data with conclusions and generalisations.  It accurately conveys the sounds of the speech.  Kazimieras did not forget his native speech, but he retained it so perfectly that in his old age he could use it as an object of research.   The linguistic observation of the self-taught researcher is surprising.  The book contains a lot of factual data on the Kupiškis dialect, and beautiful examples of speech. The manuscript was published by the Adelaide Pensioners' Club in 1988.  

Kazimieras was not only interested in dialects, but also encouraged teachers to collect - place names, describe native villages, their customs, and jobs. In Šimonis, the curious teacher has a lot of free time - he devotes it to learning languages, teaching himself Russian, English, German and French.

A memorial will be unveiled today at 13:00 in Šimoniai Church, to honour the native educator and folklorist, who preserved the Kupiškėnai dialect, and who did this far from his homeland. 

 

Building a home

Linas and Elena arrived in Australia in 1948.  They had two young children. Linas worked in the Bathurst camp for 18 months assisting new arrivals.  Accommodation at that time was scarce and he had heard there was accommodation available in Adelaide.  The accommodation being a caravan at Semaphore.  He requested permission to transfer to Adelaide.  It was granted so Elena and the children went first. 

Even renting a caravan was expensive, about £4-5, a quarter of your wage.  Linas and Elena began saving for their own place. The banks wouldn’t lend you money for land, but once you had this then you could apply for a loan to build a house. Released from his two-year compulsory employment, Linas found a job was working at the General Motors Holden’s factory at Woodville.  

 They found a block of land at Fifth Ave, Woodville Gardens for £150.   Woodville Gardens and the surrounding area was a new land development, the land was affordable and close to work. They had saved £50 and another £100 was loaned by Lithuanian friends.  At first, they lived on the block in a caravan. The caravan was just an empty shell.  They had brought with them from Germany a wooden box that someone had discarded.  This became their table where the primus stove was placed for cooking.  Elena would walk to Cheltenham racecourse about 1.5 km away and ask for straw, to be used for bedding.  With her broken English, she had trouble conveying that she needed straw to sleep on. They told her she needed a mattress to sleep on but delivered the straw to her anyway.  They had to be extremely careful that the straw did not catch fire.  Water was put on the block when they purchased it.  Council permission was needed to live in a caravan which was reviewed in six months.

 In June 1951, Linas received approval to erect a dwelling on their land.   A wooden house was built halfway down the large ¼ acre block.  They were able to construct it quickly giving them more time to save for a brick home.   A Lithuanian friend was able to make the frames for the house.  More friends would come to work on Saturdays and in the evenings after work.  In turn they would help each other build their houses.

 A small two roomed wooden house was built, with a kitchen and bathroom.  The floor of the house was made from wooden packaging boxes from Holden’s.    They lived there for a year before they could afford to start building something more permanent.  Once in their new house they rented out the wooden one to migrants.  It was common for people to rent out rooms for extra money.  They would receive £2 per week for the wooden house, and Linas would earn £6 a week working at Holden’s.

 The house was built of bessa blocks, with wooden sash windows and a red tiled roof.  It has three bedrooms, lounge and dining room and kitchen.  The bessa block was rendered and painted a pale green.  The main bedroom was to be larger, but with post war restriction, building material was restricted and the Council wouldn’t allow a larger room.   

Other Lithuanians also settled in the Woodville area.  There was little time for socialising as much of their efforts went into trying to establish themselves and their new homes.

T
heir back yard became a vegetable and fruit garden.  They planted a mandarin, pear, Granny apple, apricot, olive, grapefruit, lemon, walnut, almond and mulberry tree.  A large vegetable garden grew all year round.  Capsicums, cucumbers, beetroot, potatoes, sorrel, tomatoes and carrots.  Fruit and vegetables were preserved to be enjoyed all year round.  Elena would preserve fruit in glass jars, pickle cucumbers make jams with excess produce.  Linas built a chicken coup which stood along the back fence, providing fresh eggs daily.

 

Albinas Pocius, the Lithuanian Minor Activist

Albinas was born on December 13th 1918, not far from Sėda. His parents were farmers. He finished Sėda Primary school and then the Sėda middle school. He first joined the scout movement  in 1930, as a 12 year old, an interest that he retained throughout his life.  Albinas attended high school in Mažeikas, but finished high school in Klaipėda.  He studied journalism at the Vytautas Didysis school.  During the soviet occupation Albinas worked on the railways.

In August 1944 he fled the Russian front and fled to the west.  He found himself in the Montomery camp in Dorverdene camp and later Seedorf, the British zone.   It was in a Seedorf Displaced Persons camp in Selsingen that he met Ruta Pociute whom he later married on the 23 March 1947.  

On February 1949 they left Naples on the boat Nea Hellas, bound for Australia.  Albinas spent his two work contract planting pine trees and later working in Housing Trust building homes.  The skills he learnt on the job allowed him to build his own home in Warragul. In 1949 he was actively involved in the Lithuanian scout movement and helped V.s B. Dainutis organise the Australian district.  He had been in Australia only one month before he sought out other Lithuanian scouts, corresponding with them.  

Albinas continued writing for various Lithuanian newspapers over the years.  He wrote “Po Svetimų Dangum” (Under a foreign sky) about scouts in the Sydney Lithuanian newspaper, Mūsų Pastogė.

Later Ruta and Albinas moved to Melbourne where they spend many years.  They became heavily involved in the Lithuanian community, Albinas in scouts, Ramovė even become president of the Australian Lithuanian and regional director of the Lithuanian Scout Association.  Albinas was Ramovės secretary and for six years was Vice-President of the Melbourne Lithuanian Club from 1968 to 1972.  For many years he was the Scouts Ramovė president and also held position of President of the Melbourne Lithuanian community for eight years and in 1980 was elected to the Australian Lithuanian community as President.  He was awarded the World Lithuanian community Karaliaus Mindaugas and Vilnius Universitetas 400m medal.  

Albinas became heavily involved in the fight with the Whitlam government acknowledgment of the Baltic states as being incorporated into the Soviet Union.  He joined the Australian Baltic Committee & Captive Nations and served on both as vice-president.

Albinas was very concerned with the plight of Mažoji Lietuva (Lithuania Minor) and wrote many articles and booklets on the situation.  He lectured extensively throughout Australia and Melbourne. In 1951 he organized the Mažosios Lietuvos Bičiulių Draugija, (Friends of Lithuanian Minor) and became the President.  

After retirement, the couple moved to Adelaide, as Ruta had family there.  Albinas involved himself in the Adelaide community and continued writing. 

In 1997 Albinas and Ruta celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.  Family and friends gathered at Lithuanian House in Norwood for a lunch.  He passed away two years later in 1999. Mass was held in the Lithuanian chapel and later at the Centennial Park where he was cremated.  

Albinas was a big bulky bear of a man with a gentle soul.  He was softy spoken, well educated and a true Lithuanian patriot.  He dedicated many years of his life to the Lithuanian community, in the hope of seeing his country free again. 

A Shared Hope

From the speech of the book launch on 15th November 2020, by Daina Pocius.

South Australia is the state of Lithuanian firsts; the first newspaper, the first theatre group, the first and only museum and archives, and the first soccer team, just to name a few.  We have a lot to be proud of and celebrate.

As someone who grew up with four Lithuanian grandparents and in the community, I was surprised that, there was a lot of history, I didn’t know.  

I knew Lithuanians love basketball and we have had basketball teams since 1949, but I didn’t know how good they were. 

The Vytis Club began playing in in C grade and they outclassed all their opponents so effortlessly to win the premiership that next year the team applied and was admitted to the A grade.

The very first rounds in 1950, showed that the Vytis boys even outclass some of the A grade team.

I didn’t know that in 1958, Juozas Baciunas, President of the World Lithuanians Community visited Adelaide with his wife.  They spent the New Year here, which was celebrated at Centennial Hall, Wayville.  The Women’s Association had spent all day preparing food for the 500 expected guests.  

I didn’t know, After the community purchased an old church in Eastry Street, Norwood, renovations were organised to extend the complex.  In 1961, to construct the front of Lithuanian House, required approximately 300 bricks, each one costing 2 shillings.  A scheme was created that if you purchased a brick you received a numbered badge.  

In the year 1961, men and women offered their time to build Lithuanian House.  They worked 2706 hours, equivalent to 339 workdays.  The men were fed with meals prepared by the 18 women in the Women's Committee.  

I didn’t know that we had a community member who was on a crusade to ensure that Lithuania was properly represented in printed material.  Juozas Riauba would write to publishers pointing out mistakes or misguided information.  In 1969, he began to correspond with the State Library of South Australia, suggesting books that the Library could purchase about Lithuania.  He had compiled a list of books that the Library held, relating to Lithuania, 40 books in all.  Juozas appealed to the Lithuanian community in Adelaide to donate books that might better represent Lithuania in the State Library.  He went one step further; writing to publishers seeking to purchase books which he would then donate to the Library.  Within a short time, the State Library increased its collection of books on Lithuania to 67.

I did know that Vitas Gerulatis, American born to Lithuanian parents was a tennis star.  I didn’t know that he followed his father’s talent on the tennis court.  Vitas senior had won the Lithuanian tennis championship in his youth. 

In 1980 while in Australia he came to Adelaide with his father.  Here they visited another former Lithuanian tennis champion, Alfonsas Remeikis.  Alfonsas had been Lithuanian tennis champion in 1929 and 1930 and won many doubles titles.  In 1938 his doubles partner was Vitas Gerulaitis senior.

I didn’t know that the tiny town of Eucla on the Western Australia/South Australia border in the middle of the Nullarbor Plain could be seen as a micro nation of Lithuania.  The small township has six streets, a Police Station, a Motel Hotel complex with restaurant and Caravan Park.  With a population of just 50, it is literally in the middle of nowhere.  

One of the streets is Patupis street, named after Gediminas. Gediminas ended up as proprietor of Eucla's Amber Motel.

There is a 20-foot-high white metal cross with stylized tulips.  Constructed on 13th October 1969, the cross is dedicated to all Christians and to those who made the highway.  Two memorials are there are dedicated to Steve.  They both feature the Gedimino stulpai (Columns of Gediminas) an iconic Lithuanian symbol.  

After discovering these stories, I got upset that I didn’t know, that the older generation didn’t tell anyone, they didn’t pass this history on.  I soon realised that they did.  They recorded these stories in publication in the newspapers, I didn’t see it because they were written in Lithuanian.  Not being my first language, I translated the stories in English, so I could tell the stories to those who were connected to the community but no longer spoke the language. 

One of the hardest parts in writing this book was to come up with a title.  I discussed this with friends and family and we couldn’t come up with something that I thought was suitable.  So, I went back to the stories, looking for a common thread.  I found one. 

This was written on the first ship carrying Displaced Persons from Europe to Australia, the General Heintzleman which docked in Fremantle on the 27 November 1947.

The fate and sufferings of the Baltic peoples are known to the greater part of the world, to the rest we shall untiringly tell them until the day our native countries regain their freedom and independence.

At the first scout camp in Adelaide in 1955, Camp fire leader Vytenis Stasiškis gave these final words at the camp.

 Do all you can for the Motherland and never give up hope for Lithuania’s future and our return there.

In the book Adelaide published book,  Blezdingėlės prie Torrenso   The Swallows by the Torrens published in 1962, a forward was written by Juozas Bačiūnas.  In it he wrote, 

Lithuanians established themselves economically and spiritually and partook in Australian life.  It is my desire to create ties and connections between Lithuanians around the world that we all share the same hope to help Lithuania and to return when Lithuania is free.

It was every Lithuanians shared hope, that they could return home to a free Lithuania.

Again and again I was astounded by the dedication, sacrifice, and perseverance that members contributed to the community.  The time, money and effort that so many people willingly gave to see their beloved homeland free, is extraordinary.

Lithuania is free once again.  This shared hope of returning to a free Lithuania bound the community in its early years and instigated many of the clubs and events that transpired over the past 70 years.  

Now it is time to honour their hard work and celebrate their successes.

The money for the printing of this book, has been provided by the Australian Lithuanian Fund.  All proceeds from this book and going back into the Archives so we can print more about our history.  

I want the community’s history to be remembered, each of us have a story to tell, one that is unique and will be lost if it is not recorded.  I look forward to working with you in preserving our community’s history.

You can purchase the book online  for $25.00, plus $6.50 postage from the Australian Lithuanian Archive Facebook page.  https://www.facebook.com/australianlithuanianarchives/ 

Adelaide's Community Photographer

100 Aciu 100 Thankyou's

 

February 16th is the most significant date in Lithuania’s history. On this day, we celebrate the restoration of an independent state of Lithuania. In 2018 it will be 100 years since the Independence Act was signed. It is a reason to celebrate and reflect the significance of the past.

The Lithuanians who came to Australia became the guardians of their tradition and culture. They were the family members, teachers, friends and leaders who instilled in the younger generation a little bit of Lithuania. They’re our community heroes. They may not have been famous, but they should be remembered.

In 2018, the Adelaide Lithuanian Community would like to celebrate at least 100 people who inspired pride in their heritage. We are asking community members to nominate a person who shared their love of Lithuania with you. They must have an Adelaide connection and can be a living or deceased. You are welcome to submit multiple entries.

To participate, write a short biography of the person followed by how they shared their love of Lithuania with you. It can be in Lithuanian or English. Include a photo or two. This need not be more than an A4 page. 

We will share these stories throughout the Lithuanian community.  

For further information or to send your completed person please email Daina Pocius on riverhorse at internode.on.net or call on 0427617214.

Say thankyou! Padėkok!

Adelaidės Lietuvių Bendruomenė
Adelaide Lithuanian Community

  

 

 

 

The dissident Professor visits Adelaide

Vytautas Skuodis (b. March 21 1929, Chicago) - Lithuania geologist , natural sciences, associate professor, dissident movement participant. Although born in Chicago, his parents returned to independent Lithuania in 1930.

In 1988, Professor Skuodis visited Australia. From September 9 to 26, he visited the larger Lithuanian communities. He arrived in Adelaide on the 15th, and gave his first appearance on Saturday 17th. At Lithuanian House he gave a presentation followed by an opportunity to speak to him. The following day he attended mass at St Casimir’s, and was free after lunch to mix with people. He flew out from Adelaide on the 20th.

From 1941 - 1948 he studied at Panevežys Gymnasium. Following which he furthered his education at the Vilnius State University where he gained geologist qualifications, 1948 - 1953. From 1964 – 1969, he studied for his PhD at the manufacturing-scientific engineering research building institute in Moscow.

Vytautas was a member of the Helsinki Group, a Catholic Committee, 1978 - 1979 m. He was initiator and editor of the illegal underground magazine " Outlook ". In 1980 he was arrested for anti-Soviet activities and sentenced to 12 years imprisoned. Skuodis had been arrested for signing the Baltic 45 memorandum, which on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, demanded that the Baltic states be granted their guaranteed right to self-determination. However Skuodis' signature was not among the 45.

He spent six years in a concentration camp and six years in Siberia until his release in 1987. He was then exiled to the United States.

He has written a many books and articles about geology and devoted many to the issues of genocide in Lithuania and Lithuanian independence.
Vytautas Skuodis now 87, lives in Lithuania.

Australian Lithuanian Student Assembly 1958

The third Australian Lithuanian Student Assembly was held in Adelaide in December 1958.  It opened on December 27^th by T. Žurauskas.  Present was Pulgis Andriušis, Kristina Česnaitė (Melbourne), V. Martišius (Canberra) and I. Venclovas (Sydney), Secretary Daina Maželytė (Adelaide).

Žurauskas in his address stated that in 1958 in all of Australia and New Zealand over 100 Lithuanians were studying at University level.  In 1957 13 students finished, Sydney 5, Melbourne 5 and Adelaide 3.

Pulgis Andriušis took the stage and gave an interesting reading about ideas and values in life and its place in the English world.   The first day finished with singing of the Lithuanian National Anthem, followed by dinner and fellowship.

The 28^th featured an outing to the beach where several hours of swimming and games was allowed.  In the evening participants gathered at the Giruckus home at Richmond.
The following day, there was an outing to the Art Gallery, Museum and other cultural institutions.  At 3:00pm the delegates regathered at Lithuanian House to continue discussions. That evening the Reisonas home was open.

In all, 19 students from around Australia assembled and 25 from Adelaide. J. Mikužis, dr E.  Petrikaitė, Dr N. Šurnaitė, Dr V. Aleksandravičienė, and Aldona Navakienė spoke.  

December 30 and 31 was left open to visit friends while others organised a trip to the Barossa Valley.

New Year’s Eve was celebrated with a ball organised by the Adelaide Community.

The following year the Student gathering would be held in Canberra.

Šaruno Marciulionio Basketball Academy

Basketball to a Lithuanian is known as the second religion.  Australian Lithuanians also embraced the love of this sport, so much so that when a youth basketball team from Šaruno Marciulionio Basketball Academy came to Australia in 1990 it was a big deal. 

A boy’s youth team arrived in Adelaide on 11 March with their sponsors and Zita Mačiulionyte, Šarunas’ sister.  They arrived to Adelaide heat, maybe not hot for those who grew up here but coming from Lithuania the 35 degrees would have been felt.  Aged between 16-18 years the team played several games in Adelaide against the SA Sports Institute.  The first game was won by the Lithuanians by 4 points, 71-67. The second game held on the 13^th at Seymour College which they won, 90-79.  The third and final game began poorly for the Lithuanians, being 14 points behind before they scored.  They pulled together and again managed to win 78-69.  The Lithuanians played a friendly match against Adelaide Vytis again winning.  Following the game, the players returned to Lithuanian house for a meal and camaraderie with the Adelaide community members.

On the 15^th, Adelaide bid goodbye to the team as they caught a bus to Sydney. 
I can remember the tshirts and pendants given out by the players, orange and black featuring an eagle. Like the one below for the Academy’s opening in Vilnius.  The Academy is still running. http://www.krepsinioakademija.lt

Š. Marčiulionis is one of the best Lithuanian basketball players of all time. He was a first player to go to the NBA from the Soviet Union, and one of the first European players to enter the NBA. Šarūnas is a cavalier of the 1st, 3rd and 4th Order of Vytautas the Great, and Order of the Badge of Honour.

 

 

Genocide memorial in Klaipeda

 

 

On the crossroad of I. Kanto and Simonas Daukanto streets in Klaipeda a memorial to victims of Nazi and Soviet occupation during 1940-1990 was unveiled and blessed in 1997.  On the other side of Simonas Daukantis street you will find a building that during communist occupation was used to torture Lithuanian men and women.  Prisoners could not stretch out, nor lie down, they were held down in water until they passed out.  The building was the KGB offices.  The memorial is located in a square named for those exiled, shielded by a wide canopy of leaves from the 200 year old oak tree that grows there.  By the tree political prisoners and exiled people erected a statue from a large stone, in memory of those who perished between 1940 – 1990.  Near this memorial another was erected from Lithuanian stone with the names and dates of those who were killed or died. 

Many fathers, brothers, sisters of those who fled Lithuanian were tortured or died in Siberia or in the Partisan war.  To memorialise your family you needed to write their details and send it to Lithuania along with $50 US.  The Adelaide President at that time was collecting payment for anyone from Adelaide who wished to participate.

In the square also stands a statue, "Kančia" ("The Suffering") created by Juozas Genevičius.   It depicts a sitting prisoner with steel wire around his head.  It is similar to the old Lithuanian symbol - Pensive Christ; the difference is that instead of crown of thorns, a steel wire is strapped. In front of the sculpture are plaques with the names of the victims.

The survivors from all Lithuania – deportees, prisoners or their relatives brought black granite and field stones with carved names of martyred persons. There are about 500 such stones.

The plaque reads:

teprimena
šie krauju ir ašaromis aplaistyti
vardiniai akmenys žiauria komunistine ir nacistine
lietuvos okupacija 1940-1990 m.

Blood and tears wet the named stones
as we remember the cruel Communist and Nazi occupation of Lithuania 1940-1990

 

http://www.vanderkrogt.net/statues/object.php?webpage=ST&record=lt211

Military Academy celebrates 50 years

First President of Lithuanian Antanas Smetona's Military Academy

The Military Academy began to operate on 8 March 1919. Due to the shortage of officers in the emerging Lithuanian army, courses were short lasting only several months. The first graduates of Lithuanian officers were in July 1919. In 1920 the course lasted for one year, then from 1921 it increased to two years. From 1935 it became a three year course.  

Initially the school was in Kaunas then during the Soviet occupation of Lithuania the School moved to Vilnius in September 1940.

50 years after the schools creation, members of the Adelaide Lithuanian Community commemorated the occasion. Graduates of the Lithuanian Military Academy honoured those who died and living graduates. They vowed to continue to battle with all their strength to assist their homeland and fight for its freedom.

Donations were collected that would go towards Lithuania’s fight for independence.

A beautiful hand written and decorated document featuring a Vytis in the background was created for the occasion.

Adelaide and Lithuania, closer than you think

While in Lithuania I was very excited to find several links with Adelaide. The first time was in Siauliai visiting the Rūta chocolate Museum.  In 1913, Antanas Gricevičius established Rūta, a tiny sweet workshop. As foreigners owned most of the companies in Lithuania at that time, Mr Gricevičius called the shop, Rūta, after a plant found in Lithuania (Rue), in a bid to highlight its national character.

Rūta gradually established a reputation for itself and, by the 1930s, the factory had more than 100 employees and produced around 300 different types of chocolate. In 1929, Mr Gricevičius built a new factory with shop premises to the design of the famous architect, Kārlis Reisons. Since 2012, the building has been a museum.  

The above mentioned architect is actually Karolis Reisonas, who ended up living in Adelaide and was instrumental in refurbishing the current Adelaide Lithuanian House. 

Further into the Museum, there was a display on the Rūta chocolate boxes over the years. I was rather bewildered to see a familiar one.  The tin with Darius and Girenas on it is used in the Adelaide Lithuanian Museum to keep the keys to the display cabinets in.  The tin was produced in the 1930's.  I now look at it with different eyes, and wonder if it was donated by Reisonas?

In Kaunas, I met a friend who works in the Vytautas Magnus University.  She took me to see her work place. As it was holidays there were few people around, but I did get to meet a staff member working on the Adamkus archives.  Former president of Lithuania, Valdas Adamkus has donated many personal items which will be kept at the University and hopefully one day become a museum.  Amongst the items was this plate presented to Adamkus when he came to Adelaide with the American Lithuanian basketball team in 1964.  It's hand made and painted with the places and dates visited.





On my last day in Vilnius, I went to visit the Museum of Genocide Victims (KGB Museum).  Under Soviet occupation mail from outside the Union was closely scrutinised.  One display showed publications issued abroad which had been confiscated by the sensors.  To my surprise it was a program from the Australian Lithuanian Days held in Adelaide in 1962.

I was never far away from home. 


Museum of Genocide Victims http://genocid.lt/muziejus/en/  
Ruta Chocolate Museum   http://www.sokoladomuziejus.lt/en/exposition/chocolate-in-ruta/ 
Adamkus Archives Library http://adamkuslibrary.lt/biblioteka/?lang=en 

In memory of Romas Kalanta

Romas Kalanta (February 22, 1953 – May 15, 1972) was a Lithuanian high school student known for his public self-immolation protesting Soviet regime in Lithuania. Kalanta's death provoked the largest post-war riots in Lithuania and inspired similar self-immolations.

Kalanta became a symbol of the Lithuanian resistance throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

At noon on May 14, 1972, Kalanta poured 3 litres of petrol on himself and set himself on fire in the square adjoining the Laisvės Alėja in front of the Kaunas Musical Theatre, where in 1940 the People's Seimas declared establishment of the Lithuanian SSR and petitioned the Soviet Union to admit Lithuania as one of the soviet socialist republics.  He died about 14 hours later in a hospital.  Before the suicide, Kalanta left his notebook with a brief note on a bench. Its content became known only after the declaration of independence in 1990 and opening up of secret KGB archives. The note read "blame only the regime for my death.

After his death rumours spread that a few of his classmates formed a patriot group, and that they held a lottery to determine which of them would have to carry out the mission. The official Soviet propaganda claimed that Kalanta was mentally ill.

In 1982, an advertisement was inserted into the Advertiser by  V. Stalba, a member of the Adelaide Lithuanian community.

Kalanta Romas: In memory of Romas Kalanta who 10 years ago, died in Kaunas Lithuania, in protest of Soviet Russia’s oppression of all human rights of his people.  Your sacrifice has not gone unnoticed and will always be remembered.

The Adelaide Lithuanian community produced a small brass plaque in Kalanta's honour, which was blessed by the priest in a ceremony that brought together many members of the community. The plaque is located in the Adelaide Lithuanian Museum. The plaque can be seen in the photograph above.

Lithuanian Days, Adelaide 1968

The most important event in the life of an Australian Lithuanian is the Australian Lithuanian Days, where as many as one fourth of Lithuanians living in Australia attend.  The five day event was held in Adelaide, South Australia, ending in the New Year of 1969. Parallel to the Lithuanian festival is the Lithuanian National Council session, during which a new National Executive is elected.

In Adelaide, one will quickly notice that our community holds the historical and material culture in the form of the Lithuanian Archive and Museum. It is the only such institution in Australia and of great pride for all.

Lithuanian Days and the XIX Sports festival opening ceremony was held at Forestville stadium.  The presence of the community’s youth emphasised the importance of the Lithuanian Days.  Young and old attended the literature and song evening.  10 of the 23 participants in Adelaide’s theatre group ‘Vaidila’ were of the younger generation.   A youth Concert was prepared by the youth with participants from Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney district.  Single and joint choirs, performed a song feast in the Adelaide town hall.

Some countryman, travelled a thousand miles and more for the Lithuanian Days.  Outstanding events included a performance of ‘A fragment of Lithuanian wedding' by Melbourne parish youth, and a joint choir that consisted of six district concert in Adelaide city hall.  Melbourne youth sang and danced at a professional level the wedding performance.  The wedding was prepared by E. Karazijienė and directed by H. Statkuvienė.

The choir was made ​​up of 250 singers from six states, Sydney, Melbourne , Adelaide , Geelong , Canberra and Newcastle.  One after another the choir was conducted by six conductors. Lithuanian songs rose in the hands of J. Juška and from Geelong and K. Kavaliauskas from Sydney. The combined women’s choir touched your heart, under the direction of S. Žukas from Newcastle.

Lithuanian Days is a joint effort by all the Australian Lithuanians, and after 25 years in a new country it still shines with Lithuanian pride.

Lietuvių Dienos Adelaideje 1968

Nėra šnekos, svarbiausias įvykis Australijos lietuvių gyvenime yra Lietuvių Dienos, kurias atšvęsti susirenka kiek vienas ketvirtas Australijoje gyvenčių lietuvių.

Penktosios Lietuvių Dienos įvyko pavyzdingiausioje lietuvių apylinkėje – Adelaide mieste, Pietų Australijoje ir atžymėjo Lietuvos Jubiliejinių Metų pabaiga ir Naujų 1969 Metų pradžią.  Lygiagrečiai su Lietuvių Dienomis vyko Lietuvių Bendruomenės Krašto Tarybos XI-ji sesija, kurios metu buvo išrinkta nauja ALB Krašto Valdyba.

Nuvykęs į Adelaide, lietuvis žmogus greitai pastebi, kad mūsų bendruomenės veikla yra aukštinama, nepraeina nepastebėta, ir kad pastarųjų metų darbas šįmet jau vertinamas kaip istorinis duomuo. Mat, dvasinės ir medžiaginės kulturos palaika yra renkamo, rūšiuojami ir ilgainiui patalpinimai Lietuvių Archyve Muzėjuje.  Tai vienintėle tokia įstaiga Australijoje ir tai yra didelė patrauka ir pasididžiavimas visiems. Archvo-Muzėjaus įkūrejas  ir valdytojas – Jonas K Vanagas. 

Muzėjuje užlaikomi kultūros palaikai iškelia lietuvio žmogaus tapatybę parodo jo sąmoningumo laipsnį ir pabrėžia vieną labai svarbų veiksnį; tautinį pranašumą galima išreikšti ne vien tik politikavimu bet ir kūrybos darbais, tautinės kultūros apraiška.  Ir Lietuvių Dienos yra Australijojs Lietuvių kūrybinės pastangos!

Lietuvių Dienų ir XIX-sios Sporto Šventės iškilmingas atidarymas ivyko Forestville stadione.  Visus nustelbė jaunimas ir svarbu pastebėti, kad jaunimas charakterizavo 1968 metų Lietuvių Dienas.  Tačiau pastangos buvo jungtinės, Lieteraturos ir Dainos vakare dalyvavo ir jauni, ir seni; Adelaide’s teatro ‘Vadila’ pastatyme 10 iš 23 buvo jaunosios kartos atstovai; Jaunimo Koncertą suruošė jaunimas iš Adelaide, Melbourne ir Sydney apylinkių; pavieniuose ir jungtiniuose choruose, kurie suruošė Dainų Šventė Adelaide miesto rotušėje, dalyvavo ir senimas, ir jaunimas.  Bet XIX-ji Sporto Šventė, kuri vyko lygiagrečiai su Lietuvių Dienomis, buvo jaunimo arena pilna ta žodžio prasme.

Nevienas tautietis, keliavęs tūkstantį ir daugiau mylių į Lietuvių Dienas, buvo įspūdžių priblokštas, ir nevieno atmintyje ilgainiui telieka pačios pagrindinės akimirkos.  Tai (1) Fragmentas iš Lietuviškų  Viestuvių’ kuri patiekė Melbourne apylinkė Jaunimo Koncerto metu ir (2) Jungtinio Choro, susidejusio iš šešių apylinkių chorų, koncertas Adelaide miesto rotušėje.

Melbourne jaunimas vykusiai iškėlė lietuvišką savitumą bei vestuvinį nuotaikingumą.  Dainos buvo mielos.  Tautiniai šokiai – iškilmingi; merginos pasiekė profesionalių lygį.  Jos dvelkė meilumu ir orumu, ir visad skaistumu.  Vestuvių tekstą paruošė E. Karazijiene, o režisavo H. Statkuvienė.

Taip kaip ‘Fragmentas iš Lietuviškų Vestuvių’ parodė nevieną subtilią lietuvio žmogaus savybę, taip Jungtinis Choras parodė mūsų bendruomenės pranašumą.  Chorą sudarė apie 250 daininkų iš šešių apylinkių; Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Geelong, Canberra ir Newcastle.  Vienas paskui kitą Chorui dirigavo šeši dirigentai.  Ir lietuviška daina pakilo į aukštybes, kai Chorą paėme į savo ranką J. Juška is Geelong apylinkės ir K. Kavaliauskas iš Sydney.  Kuteno širdį ir vėrė akį Jungtinis Moterų Choras, kuriam vadovavo S. Žukas is Newcastle apylinkės.

Lietuvių Dienos yra bendros visų Australijos lietuvių pastangos.  Tai kūrybinės pastangos.  Ir kad po 25 metų užsienyje ta kūryba yra lietuviška, tai keikvieno lietuvio žmogaus pasididžiavimas.

National Student gathering, adelaide 1958

Australijos Lietuvių Studentų Sąjunga (ALSS)Australian Lithuanian Student Association (ALSS) 

III National gathering, Adelaide 1958

On the first day, all participants met at Lithuanian House.  At the opening were present, 10 students from Sydney, 4 from Canberra, 4 from Melbourne and about 30 from Adelaide.  ALSS President T. Žurauskas stated the purpose of the gathering.  He said that of the 100 students in the ALSS, 17 had finished University in Australia.  People were studying at Adelaide, Armidale, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth and Sydney. 

Well known Adelaide author, Pulgis Andriušis gave a reading. He explored ideas and the importance of the students place in an English world.  This was followed by a meal and time to socialise.

The second day was spent relaxing at Sellicks Beach, and then a tour of Adelaide.  The evening was spent as guests at Girukas house.  The third day before lunch was spent taking in the sights of the art and history precinct on North Terrace in the city.  They visited the Adelaide University, Art Gallery and Museum.  Following lunch was the formal part of the meetings. They discussed all sorts of issues.  It was decided the following national gathering would be held in Canberra.

The final evening was spent at the Reisonas’ home.

Extracted from ‘Studijuojant Australijoj, ALSS 1952-1967

Australian Lithuanian Students

Australijos Lietuvių Studentų Sąjunga (ALSS)

The Australijos Lietuvių Studentų Sąjunga (ALSS) was formed in 1952.  Members were university students or those studying at a higher professional level who have completed a diploma.  Branches were formed in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, Canberra had a eldership.  An informal group met in Brisbane, Newcastle and Perth.

Tertiary students in Adelaide began to appear soon after post WWII arrival, in the early 1950’s.   Stasys Čibiras instigated the establishment of a group in Adelaide. Officially began in 25 August 1951.  The group rose in number to 13 members by the time the first formal gathering was called on 19 April 1952.  On this day a committee was elected which consisted of Stasys Čibiras as president, Algis Navakas and Nemira Šiunaitė.

The group aimed to actively participate in the Adelaide Lithuanian community and to keep ties with other Australian Lithuanian students.  A two shilling membership fee by each member was invested so dance evenings could be held.  Ten years later the number had risen to 50 students and 24 graduates.

Adelaide instigated the first Australian student gathering which was held in Sydney in 1956.  Others were held in 1958 and 1962.

ALSS Adelaide Branch Committee

1957

Romas Urmonas                        President
Dalia Levickaitė
Sigitas Martinkus

1958

T Žurauskas      President

J .Arminas, V. Giruckas, D. Varoneckaitė, Antanas Lapšys.

This committee formed the central committee and organised the ALSS gathering.  12 new students enrolled in university that year.

1962

Antnas Stepanas                        President

J. Martinkutė, Rimas Daugalis, and Ramunas Dunda.

1964
Juratė Naujalienė                      President
Laima Radzevičiutė, Violeta Vasilauskaitė, Rimas Daugalis ir Gytis Šimkus

1965
Vytautas Straukas                      President
Emilija Matiukaitč, Laima Radzevičiutė

1966

Gytis SImkus    President
Rasa Pacevičiutė, A. Radzevičiutė

1967

Vytas Straukas                            President

A. Tugaudyte, A. Radzevičiutė, K. Baškutė, V. Vanagas

This committee became the national  committee and organised the Adelaide national gathering.

The committees organised Initium and Finis Semestri, Žirnius ir aluti, outings to the countryside and readings and discussion evenings.

The committee pushed the Kūlturos Fondo (Cultural Fund) to instigate a Lithuanian course in Adelaide.  The students donated copies of the groups newsletter Lituanus to the Barr Smith Library.