A talented ballet dancer; Regina Plokstis

Regina Plokštytė (Plokstis)

A promising young Lithuanian student of classical ballet at Madam Agnes Babicheva’s school, Miss Regina Plokstyte, is about to leave for London to join Saddler’s Wells ballet school for further ballet studies.

To farewell the young talent a concert has been arranged in which Madam Agnes Babicheva’s ballet school students will present the ballet ‘Asta’, in which Miss Plokstyte will dance the leading part.  The concert will be held at the Freemasons Hall, North Tce, Adelaide, 24^th August 1956, commencing at 8.pm.

The concert will be supported by well known Lithuanian singers living in Adelaide, Mesdames A. Guscius, and G. Vasiliauskas. 

Advertiser and News 24 August 1956

A well known Lithuanian expressive dancer, Miss Elena Kepalaite will give an expressive dancing recital at the Freemason’s Hall, North Terrace, Adelaide on Saturday 21^st July 1956 at 8.pm.  Miss Kepalaite was born in Vilnius, studied ballet dancing there and later concentrated on expressive dancing.  Miss Kepelaite is now living in Melbourne and has come to Adelaide especially for this recital.  She has also given several recitals in the other capital cities of Australia which were warmly met by the critics.

Advertiser 21 July 1956

Regina was born on 25 February 1939 in Kaunas to Bronius and Antanina.  On July 15^th 1958, Regina graduated from the Royal Ballet School in London, Saddlers Well school under Madame Legat and Medame Nordi.  Regina returned to Adelaide where her parents have resided since 1949.

After graduation, Regina followed her dream of dancing.  She was born to dance and did so from a very young age.  Her first performance was in Germany in 1948 after Father Šarkas gathered the children in the Displaced Persons camp and got them to perform for Christmas.  Adelaide was fortunate to watch her performances during various Lithuanian community concerts and festivals. While living in Adelaide growing up she attended the ballet school of Madam Agnes Babicheva.  Madame Babicheva performed with the Latvian state Ballet from 1925 to 1931. 

While studying in London she was part of the Rambert Ballet troupe and Convent Gardens ballet ‘ Fire Bird’ show.

Upon returning to Adelaide, Regina became a dancing instructor.

Vytas Serelis - Artist

Born on February 10, 1946 in Memmingen Refugee camp. He immigrated to Australia with his parents Antanas and Jadvyga in 1950.

In 1963 Vytas graduated from Woodville High school and enrolled in the South Australian school of Art, where he graduated in 1966.

In 1963 Vytas was awarded the Sands & McDougall Prize for drawing, and the Osborne Art Gallery Prize.

At that time abstract art especially hard edge and colour painting was the prevailing style. Vytas preferred figurative and realistic art. He stopped painting and turned to music because he felt pressed to paint a certain way.

Vytas held his first solo exhibition in 1967 at the North Adelaide Gallery. That same year, Vytas in the generation of flower children, travelled to India, studying Indian music and mystical life. At the invitation of Akbar Khan school of Music in Calcutta he studied there. He explored several different types of sitar and decides to make himself one of them.

He returned to Australia for a short time, before heading off to London. While there, he married a fellow Australian. The newlyweds both earned a living from graphic design, and Vytas still played the sitar in various clubs. They toured North Africa with a popular music group. He designed posters for various musical groups and performers who sprang up in London at the time . His illustrations featured in magazines such as Time Out, Rolling Stone, newspaper "Oz" and others. Vytas began to paint seriously, in 1969, but did not break completely from the music business.

After an illness that finds Vytas hospitalised, he and his wife decide to return to Australia.

In 1970 Vytas in began studying photography.

In 1971, he was commissioned to produce a large mural for the Adelaide Festival Theatre. He becomes a freelance photographer and still playing the sitar.

In 1972 along with his friends from art school Vytas participated in a collective exhibition in North Adelaide as well as a solo exhibition. In 1973 the artist holds an exhibition in Sydney. Following a successful exhibition, Vytas receives a grant of $5000 from the Visual Arts Board and acquires 18 acres of land at Carey Gully. Here he constructs a tin hut, the council called it a shed, but Vytas call it home.

The year 1974 is significant, in particular, he participated in the festival city of Perth, then organised a solo exhibition. Later, the painting "Father and the Son” is awarded the 1974 Alice Springs Prize. Vytas was absent for the award presentation. He does not need the glory. "I do not have time to become famous or get rich," - says the artist. In 1975, he received first prize in the prestigious Robin Hood Art award for "old lady with a fox fur" .

In 1976, during the Adelaide Festival of Arts he constructed Giant Face, Spider Web "and" Flying Eyeball for the Fun Palace at the Carclew Arts Centre. His works can be seen everywhere from the famous 'Greenhills' gallery, and the University of Adelaide, and in private collections.

Since the late 1980s Vytas again surprised the world with new works, as well as teaching at the University of Adelaide. On the 12 September the Adelaide University Union gallery opens his solo exhibition. In addition to paintings, graphic works, posters, pictures and drawings of all the works exhibited here Vytas make musical instruments, nature and photos of interiors and unique scientific inventions - technology works: "sunertinis wing," flying motorcycle ", ‘electric helicopter’ and others.

Vytas has shown work in the Australian Lithuanian community art exhibitions. The Adelaide community held a solo exhibition of his work. He has donated a painting "Christ on the cross," and ‘the matadors” to Lithuanian house.

Balt found dead after accident

Kazys Smilgevicius, 27, welder, of Childers street, North Adelaide, was found dead in his bed early yesterday morning.

The dead man received a broken wrist and bruises to the head when his motor cycle came into collision with a taxi at the corner of O'Connell and Ward streets, North Adelaide, shortly after 6 pm on Thursday. He was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he was examined by two doctors.

Alter having his wrist X-rayed, Smilgevicius was told to go home and report back at the hospital yesterday morning for the result.

The cause of death is being investigated by police who will prepare a report for the City Coroner. Smilgevicius was employed at General Motors Holden's as a spot welder.

Saturday 21 May 1949 The Advertiser

Kazys was born in Telsiai, Lithuania on 18 December 1922. He was a tailor and single when he arrived in Australia on board the General Stewart Heinzelman on 28 November 1947. After a short time in Bonegilla he worked as a labourer for the EWS at Port Lincoln. He lies buried in West Tce cemetery with a headstone erected by the Lithuanian community.

LIthuanian school Director V. Statnickas

School Director 1949 – 1962, 1969 – 1982 Vladas was born on the 9th November 1909 in Asteikiai, Katrena district. He finished his schooling at Siauliai in 1932. He was called to undertake military service in the Army which he completed in 1935 with the rank of junior lieutenant. He was then assigned to the Calvary regiment as Platoon leader. During WWII he fled with his family to Germany, and lived for a time in the Displaced Persons camp at Hanau. Vladas made use of this time by undertaking numerous training opportunities to further his job opportunities. He studied accounting, English and Spanish commerce and driving heavy vehicles. He later worked as an accountant for the IRO in Frankfurt camp. In 1947 he arrived in South Australia on the ship, Oxfordshire. Soon after arrival Vladas became involved with the formation of the school and actively participated in its life. He also sat on the SSABSA board for Lithuanian Language exams. In 1992, Vladas received an Order of Australia medal for his services to the Lithuanian Community. He passed away in 1995, at the age of 85, survived by his wife and two sons.