Crossing the Line

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

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

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

1949.III.7 Indian Ocean

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

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

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

Snowy Mountain Eldership

Approximately 250 Lithuanians worked on this scheme, some as part of their two year Government requirement, some staying longer.

A Snowy Mountains Lithuanian Eldership was formed on the 23 November 1952 with Albertas Alyta as Elder.  The first committee consisted of Aleksas Saulius and Petras Pilka. Other members include Dr Konstatin Stancikas, Petras Burokas, Kostas Vasaros. Bonifacas Mateciunas joined the Eldership in 1952 and Petras Kerulis I 1953.  The Eldership was only active for two years.

There is a record of donations made by the group to various organisations (V-16 school in Germany, Tautinio solidarumo mok. Zenkla (National Solidarity), Stop genocide , tautos fondo zenklai (National Fund).

Most worked at Kaiser and Guthega.  At Guthega a Power station and dam was constructed.  The dam was the first to be completed in 1955, one of the sixteen major dams completed.

From this information and that gathered by Ronaldas Cesna a list of 255 Lithuanians has been compiled which contains information on where they worked, their position who they were employed with and where they went when they left. 

Series 31 Council of Snowy Mountain Scheme ALB Snieguotųjų Kalnų projekto lietuvių Seniunija

Surge tank Selmer Eng comp 1954.
Norvegas, R. Čėsna, vengras, Vytas Kranauskas, vokietys, lenas, vengras, australis, australis, airis.

Journey to Australia part II

Here continues the diary of Renoldas Cesna about his trip to Australia after WWII.

We are now traveling through Bavarija. There are a lot of crosses here or some sort of holy statues. We traveled near the aerodrome (they had over the radio that whoever gets left behind will be returned to their camp) already three from our transport had been left behind.

You could now see the Alps clothed in snow. We passed through Rosenheim, Munich where we were attached to an electric wagon. Today we received five days of butter. You could see many chapels here, the hills in winter. The snow was heavy enough for sleighs. We stopped at Kufstein where we met up with the second transport. We did not know that we could not give our tickets on the train. We were informed that only German tickets. We gave the stamps to the children who were travelling to Germany. The Railway workers and Police uniforms differ from the Germans.

Second transport arrived in Australia on the 7th of February 1949 at about 2 o’clock. We stopped for a short time at Kufstein. I was able to go into the station and onto the street, were I brought two yummy sandwiches for 3 DM. I was also able to see the Kufstein castle.

It was a beautiful view, nice hills and the trees covered in snow. At the foot of the mountain you could see the villages and small towns. The homes in the hills seem better suited to winter. They have electricity, where the train is attached to heating out train. We traveled through Innsbruck then to Turing Alps, mainly though tunnels.