Sir Jack, the table tennis champion

Vic Sirjatavicius

His greatest year in table tennis was 1953, when he became the first player in Australia to beat Michael Sabados, who had held 78 national titles and 13 world titles.

 He was known as Sir Jack due to his unpronounceable name to Australians. He later went by the surname of Sirvic.  Born Vytautas on 2 July 1930 in Kaunas to Aleksandras and Barbora Frostas. He was a civil engineering student in Lithuania and in Australia became an Insurance company representative.   He arrived in Australia with his parents, brothers Jurgis and Liudvikas and sister Regina.

 He is remembered for his spectacular leaps around the table and whirlwind hitting.  During his early years he had temperamental outbursts and shows of emotions.  His formula for success was fitness and long hours of practice.  He used to practice 5-6 hours at a time, four times a week.  He played basketball until an on court accident broke his leg.  Unable to return to basketball he focused on table tennis. Vic first played in 1944 as a young refugee in Augsburg Displaced Persons camp.  As a junior player he won many tournaments, eventually playing A grade for Augsburg.  He was never coached but had the example of world class players to follow as Lithuanian was no.3 table tennis nation in 1936. 

He was selected for Victorian interstate team and held no.2 Victorian state ranking.  He also played in a team, Lithuania who in 1950 was 3^rd place in the A grade and with Krivickas was runner up for the Victorian doubles.  In 1952 he won the Footscray Championships and in 1953 was winner of City of Melbourne championships. 

 

World Lithuanian Games – Chicago 1983

As Lithuania was occupied until 1991, exiled Lithuanian communities around the world would endeavour to connect in different ways.  One of these was through sport.  Unable to meet in Lithuania at first, the first World Lithuanian Games were held in Canada in 1978. The games were organised by future Lithuanian president, Vladas Adamkus.

It was a way of uniting the youth and instilling a spirit of national pride.  In 1983, Chicago hosted the games.

The World Lithuanian Days and sport festival was held in Chicago from 25 June to 4 July 1983. A team from Australia was selected to participate and represent all the Lithuanians in Australia.

Antanas Laukaitis was the touring party leader, Treasurer and junior boys basketball coach, Don Atkinson, Men’s section leader Jurgis Karpavicius, women’s section leader Marija Atkinson, coordinator of travel and men’s volleyball coach, Jerry Belkus and Public Relations Nita Wallis.

From Adelaide went;

Basketball
Eddie Taparauskas and Men’s basketball Manager, Jonas Ignatavičius guard, Petras Urnevičius (basketball), Ramunė Grigonis (basketball), Vanesa Kalninš (basketball), Aleksas Talanskas (basketball).

Mens volleyball
Algis Laurinaitis

Women’s Volleyball
Alius Daniškevičius (Assistant coach)

Dale Laurinaitis
Mile Daniškevičius
Wendy Paulauskas
Robyn Paulauskas
Laima Visockis

Table tennis: Vilija Bone, Ona Bone, Harry Bone

Other sports: Aleksas Merūnas (Manager)

Athletics: Mikas Talanskas (athlectics)
Swimming: Irena Petkunas, Rikardas Baškus

Detroit won gold in the finals against the Australian All-Star team.

The end of 1962

A special visit was made to Parkside hospital to visit the sick and give Christmas gifts.  On December 17^th, the Women’s society gained permission to present a Lithuanian folk concert to the 14 Lithuanians hospitalised as well as the other patients.  The Lithuanian choir sang 8 songs and the dancing group danced six Lithuanian folk dances.

The auditorium had over 200 people from all different nationalities. Two Lithuanians, Stanickiene and Kalibatiene-Vasiliauskiene worked at the hospital and were astonished that this was the first time that patients had been fearless enough to watch.  It may have been the colourful costumes or the care brought by the performers.

Combined Christmas Eve

The community shared much of their lives together, so it was not surprising that 189 people gathered at Lithuanian house to share in a traditional Christmas Eve.  Prepared by the Women’s society the occasion began with a prayer and breaking of the host.  After some Christmas songs, people gathered around the Christmas tree and together decorated the inside of the hall.  Vytas Straukas with his violin accompanied by his sister Giedre on piano played Tylioji naktis.  L. Ruzinskaite recited some Lithuanian poems.

On Boxing Day, the Vytis sports club began the journey to Geelong for the annual Australian Lithuanian Sports festival, from 27 December to January 1.

December 27^th, basketball game against Geelong men, table tennis against Hobart.

December 28^th women’s volleyball against Melbourne, men against Hobart. Mens basketball against Sydney, the women against Melbourne.  Table tennis, Adelaide men against Geelong and Sydney, the women against Geelong.  Tennis men against Sydney, women vs Geelong. Chess, first round against Geelong.

December 29^th Adelaide basketball women vs Hobart, men also. Table tennis, women and men play Melbourne. Tennis played Hobart and Sydney teams, and volleyball against Geelong.

December 30^th, Womens’ basketball played Sydney.  Volleyball me vs Sydney and then Geelong.