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.

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.

University graduates

Juozas Riauba compiled a list of Lithuanian's who had graduated from University (Adelaide, Flinders and SA Institute of Technology).  Apparently he was a man who read the death notices every day to see if any Lithuanian's had passed away.

The list is from 1954 to 1974.  In that period he recorded 81 Lithuanian names.  The most obtained degree was a Bachelor of Arts (17 people) followed by Medicine (14 people), the next Science (12), then Engineers (10). One completed a Music degree at Adelaide University.

A few of the students undertook their degrees to to be able to practice their profession in Australia, mainly those with a medical background.  Australia would not recognise degrees obtained oversees, or studies were interrupted because of the war.

Twenty five of the graduates were women and 26 moved away from Adelaide once graduated.  Some probably returned.  Riauba included a notes column where he recorded where they moved to.