Woodside meeting 1949

Lithuanian communities in Australia 1953
ALB Apylinkių ir seniūnijų vadovybėms

Seniunija (Elderate) small community that were founded but did not have sufficient numbers to elect executive committees.  Each elderate had an elected alderman or elder who would coordinate cultural activities and be the liaison with the Australian Lithuanian Community Federal Executive.

The larger groups called apylinkė (community) would elect its own committee to manage the local community affairs. Each committee was directly accountable to the Federal Council (Krašto Taryba).

Adelaide Apylinkės Valdyba      SA
Bankstown Apylinkės Valdyba   NSW
Bonegilla Apylinkės Valdyba     NSW
Brisbane Apylinkės Valdyba      QLD
Canberra Apylinkės Valdyba     ACT
Cabramatta Apylinkės Valdyba  NSW
Geelong Apylinkės Valdyba       VIC
Hobart Apylinkės Valdyba         TAS
Launceston Apylinkės Valdyba   TAS
Melbourne Apylinkės Valdyba   VIC
Newcastle Apylinkės Valdyba    NSW
Perth Apylinkės Valdyba           WA
Sydney Apylinkės Valdyba         NSW
Beechworth Seniūnija              VIC
Benalla Seniūnija                    VIC
Radium Hill Seniunija              SA
Mornington Seniūnija               VIC
Mount Gambier Seniūnija         SA
Wentworth Seniūnija               NSW
Sale Seniūnija                         VIC
Cowra Seniūnija                      NSW
Merriden Seniūnija                  WA
Wagga Wagga Seniūnija           NSW
Cooma Seniūnija                     NSW
Snowy Mountain Seniūnija       NSW
Albury Seniūnija                     NSW
Goulbourn Seniūnija               NSW
Lobethal Seniūnija                 SA
Woolongong Seniūnija            NSW

NSW      14
VIC        6
SA          4
TAS        2
QLD       1
WA        1
ACT       1

Six years after the first post WWII Lithuanians arrived in Australia there were 29 communities.  South Australia had 4, one large community (Adelaide) and three small ones in Lobethal/ Woodside, Mt Gambier and Radium Hill.  Radium Hill and Lobethal existed for only a short time, Lithuanians lived in those places to fulfil their two year contract and then most moved on to larger towns.  Radium Hill existed from 1953 to early 1960’s, Mt Gambier never formally established an elderate, but was most active in the early 1960’s. 

Lobethal/Woodside held a meeting on 15 August 1949 regarding the establishment of Australian Lithuanian Chapter. Thirty-six Lithuanians signed the attendance sheet and the meeting discussed established a folk dancing group so their children could learn.  They had only been in Australia a short time, many didn't speak the language, didn't know the culture, didn't know where they would work or live, and their thoughts were on retaining the culture of Lithuania.  I find that amazing.

A Lithuanian in Lobethal

As part of History Month, I decided a trip to the Lobethal Museum was in order.  The Museum has preserved the small German township's history, to the credit of Lithuanian Jonas Vanagas.  It is still a pleasure to see Vanagas' touch in the Museum almost 50 years later.  Vanagas also collected and established the Lithuanian Museum and Archive in Adelaide.

 

Entrance foyer of the Museum

 

Vanagas in the top photograph and at the opening of the Museum.  This picture hangs on the Museum wall.

 

Inside cover of the Lobethal history book

 

The Museum holds a book "Lobethal 1842 - 1954 an Historical Study" compiled by Vanagas. It contains aspects of the towns history accompanied by original documents and photographs. It is well researched and more astoundingly for me written in excellent English, not Jonas’ first language. This book was never published , the original is held in Lobethal, a copy is in the State Library and a second copy was sent to Kent State University Library, Ohio, USA.

 

The Museum has an impressive collection of photographs, documents, faming objects, even the first seminary was moved here.  More facinating are examples of craft made out of fish scales and human hair.  It is located at 48 Main Street, Lobethal, open by appointment. Its cold inside, bring warm clothes if you go in winter.

 

As to my research into the first Lithuanians who apparently arrived on the Skjold in 1842, no luck, I'm afraid.

First scout camp continued

The final camp day, January 2^nd was visitors day, the day where group results were presented.  Strong hot winds meant the planned activities couldn’t go ahead. The majority of campers went back into Lobethal for mass, while a few stayed to guard the camp from the stormy winds.  Dust, smoke and wind coming from one of the biggest bush fires South Australia had ever seen ripped through the camp. The camp leaders quickly decided that the camp was at an end and transferred camp materials to a Mr Dičiunas’ truck.  That day became known as 'Black Sunday'.  The bushfires swept through the Adelaide Hills, blackening 600 square miles of country from One Tree Hill in the north to Strathalbyn in the south.

The camp met its objectives, which were to foster the Lithuanian language and culture among its youth.   The scouts learnt many new Lithuanian songs and got to experience living in the bush.

The camp participants were still owed a last camp fire after the camp ended earlier than anticipated. 

An evening with a camp fire was organised for the evening of February 16^th, 1955.  The guides and scouts gathered at in the bush near Blackwood.   After the program the Women’s association organised food.  The camp fire leader V. Stasiskis gave the final words, ‘Do all you can for the fatherland and never give up hope for Lithuania’s future and our return there’.  All scouts and visitors then linked arms for the final song before dispersing, ‘Ateinant naktis’. Labanaktis!

First Lithuanian scout camp in SA

From 27 December 1954 through to the new year, Lithuanian scouts and guides gathered for their first camp in the State. On the morning of December 27th about 25 scouts and 23 guides boarded a specially hired bus from St Joseph’s church in the city to make their journey to the camp site at Lobethal in the Adelaide hills.  Thirteen tents were erected, with a wooden cross in between.  A kitchen, a dug in table that was decorated with a tower and cross with “rupintojelis’ in the middle.  Across the small creek the scouts build some steps to a site where the fire was built. 

Early the next morning the scouts arose for exercise which was followed by a quick tidy of their uniforms and tents before inspection.  Following this all marched to the cross for the flag raising where the scout prayer was said and the Lithuanian and Australian anthem sung.   After a hearty breakfast the days activities began. Sport, scout games, and camp improvements . After lunch followed some free time, then more activities.  As evening settled in the flag was lowered, a prayer said and the hymn ‘Marija Marija’ sung.  Once dark a fire was lit where campers would sing, perform skits or other performances.  The evening ended at 10:00pm and, only those on night duty were allowed to wander. 


Special guest, Mr E.W Dearman, the Country Fire Service area commander came to speak to the scouts.  He spoke of bush fires, how they occur, and how to avoid them. He lent the camp several fire extinguishers which was kept  outside the kitchen or by the campfire, or sometime used by the scouts for water fights.   Other speakers included P. Jasevičius spoke of the phenomena of folk meteorology.  Mrs Pacevičius spoke to the girls on hygiene and Stasiškienė taught the girls weaving, while some of the boys tried their hand at shooting a small calibre gun.

The camp was visited by distinguished ‘aunts and uncles”.  One evening Pulgis Andriušis visited and demonstrated how he could light a fire with one match.  He then spoke of his childhood.  Pakalnis sang  a moving ballad about the devil who tried unsuccessfully to build a bridge across the river Nemunas. Australian scouts leaders also paid visits, Mrs Trimble, Miss M Sullivan (SA District Commissioner) and Miss May Douglas (State Commissioner) and Mr W.R Thompson (Adelaide Commissioner).
Miss Douglas wrote a message to the scouts;


It is a great pleasure to see a such a good camp, particularly in conditions which are new to you all.  Congratulations on it all, good layout and most of all the evidence of real Scouting and Guiding spirit.


On another day the campers marched into Lobethal where they viewed the country town, then set about tidying up the war memorial and even sang a few songs to the hospital patients.

Celebrating the romance of history

Jonas Vangas has been credited with the founding of the Lithuanian Museum, but as well he established the Lobethal Museum. He was the son of a former Lithuanian Director of Railways. During WWII Vanagas left Lithuanian making his way to Copenhagen where he worked as a book binder. With his wife and young son he immigrated to Australia in 1949. Vanagas settled in Lobethal where he worked as a shift worker in the local woolen mill. Lobethal meaning Valley of Praise was settled by Silesian Germans in 1842 about not far from Adelaide. Vanagas was able to speak German which helped him accumulate information from the towns inhabitants, many of whom still spoke German. His work culminated into a book Lobethal 1842 - 1954 an Historical Study. This book was never published, the original is held in Lobethal, a copy is in the State Library and a second copy was sent to Kent State University Library, Ohio, USA.

While researching for this book, Vanagas also collected artifacts and documents. With the support of the local doctor C.C Jungfer they arranged for the collection to be displayed in the Lobethal Institute which was opened to the public. The Lobethal Archives and Historical Museum was opened on the 6th of May 1956. Plans were made to construct a separate building to house the collection, on the grounds of the St. John's Lutheran College. On October 22nd 1961 the Premier of S.A, Sir Thomas Playford and the Minister of Immigration Mr A.R Downer were present for the official opening.

The Lobethal Museum has been given special attention because it was South Australian first local history museum.

Vanagas also had a passion for history which was described by Colin Thiele “Jonas Vanagas is one of those who feels the romance of history, its magic, majesty and beauty: all documents make him excited, historical places are breathing with life, stones are writing history, graves are talking and the dead are living".

The work of Jonas Vanagas became a model of inspiration for other communities interested in preserving their past.

The Varno family

As mentioned in an earlier blog, it is believed that the Varno family was the first Lithuanians to arrive in South Australia on the ship the Skjold in 1841. Their names do not appear on the shipping list, but as the list is not complete its not surprising.
Today i found an entry in the Lobethal Register of Baptisms for 1848 while in the Lutheran Archives.
The entry reads:
Maria Elisabeth WARNAS, born 15 March 1848 at Light Pass, parents of August Ernst Warnas and Johanne Luise Warnas nee Schilling.

Could this be the Varno family? In German a W is pronounced as a V in English and because the reference to the family from Vanagas was in Lithuanian the way the surname was written was in a singular genitive (Not sure if that is correct) case and so appeared with an O ending rather than the nominative 'AS'.
The names are very German sounding as well, but if they were Lutherans it is possible that this would be the norm.
Will keep looking.

Early arrivals

Records reveal that there are over 1500 Lithuanians who arrived and settled in SA just after WWII. The first Lithuanians were single males as that was what the Australian government wanted at the time. The men were employed in the Engineering and Water supply department, coal miners at Leigh creek, salt processing plant at Price, in the Onkaparinga Woollen Mill at Lobethal, in the forest industry at Nangwarry, SA Railways, Woomera Rocket Range, General Motors, Chrysler, Phillips factories. So far i have managed to find 800 Lithuanians, just over half way there.

The Onkaparinga Woollen Mills at Lobethal employed many Balts after the war. The workers were housed at the Woodside Army camp. The Mill asked for 15 single women to be housed in the hostel. The government alloted 17 all of whom were married. There husbands were employed by the Railway department and would return on weekends to visit their wives. The husbands were later offered employment in the Mill. Amongst the Lithuanians employed there were Barauskas, Bernaitis, Brazauskas, Cepliauskas, Damasevicius, Diciviene, Jankunas, Jokubaitis, Matikulas,Merliunas, Palukaitis, Vitkus, Vanagas, Vikas.

For more information on the Mill I recomend reading "Onkaparinga: The story of a Mill" by Carol Brockhoff (1992)

First SA Lithuanians

Research conducted by Jonas Vanagas reveals that the first Lithuanians to SA were the Varno family, consisting of parents a son and two daughters. They arrived on the ship the Skjold in a group of 275 from Prussia. The family settled at Lobethal in the Adelaide Hills. I have searched the BDM's for any mention of the Varno family and have found none. The shipping list available online also reveals no Varno family for the ship the Skjold. I have no doubt that Vanagas found some reference to the Varno family but as yet have not been able to trace the source. I have tried variations on the spelling of the name also with no luck. Did they move interstate? anglicise their name? I won't give up seeking though, there must be a reference.