A Shared Hope

From the speech of the book launch on 15th November 2020, by Daina Pocius.

South Australia is the state of Lithuanian firsts; the first newspaper, the first theatre group, the first and only museum and archives, and the first soccer team, just to name a few.  We have a lot to be proud of and celebrate.

As someone who grew up with four Lithuanian grandparents and in the community, I was surprised that, there was a lot of history, I didn’t know.  

I knew Lithuanians love basketball and we have had basketball teams since 1949, but I didn’t know how good they were. 

The Vytis Club began playing in in C grade and they outclassed all their opponents so effortlessly to win the premiership that next year the team applied and was admitted to the A grade.

The very first rounds in 1950, showed that the Vytis boys even outclass some of the A grade team.

I didn’t know that in 1958, Juozas Baciunas, President of the World Lithuanians Community visited Adelaide with his wife.  They spent the New Year here, which was celebrated at Centennial Hall, Wayville.  The Women’s Association had spent all day preparing food for the 500 expected guests.  

I didn’t know, After the community purchased an old church in Eastry Street, Norwood, renovations were organised to extend the complex.  In 1961, to construct the front of Lithuanian House, required approximately 300 bricks, each one costing 2 shillings.  A scheme was created that if you purchased a brick you received a numbered badge.  

In the year 1961, men and women offered their time to build Lithuanian House.  They worked 2706 hours, equivalent to 339 workdays.  The men were fed with meals prepared by the 18 women in the Women's Committee.  

I didn’t know that we had a community member who was on a crusade to ensure that Lithuania was properly represented in printed material.  Juozas Riauba would write to publishers pointing out mistakes or misguided information.  In 1969, he began to correspond with the State Library of South Australia, suggesting books that the Library could purchase about Lithuania.  He had compiled a list of books that the Library held, relating to Lithuania, 40 books in all.  Juozas appealed to the Lithuanian community in Adelaide to donate books that might better represent Lithuania in the State Library.  He went one step further; writing to publishers seeking to purchase books which he would then donate to the Library.  Within a short time, the State Library increased its collection of books on Lithuania to 67.

I did know that Vitas Gerulatis, American born to Lithuanian parents was a tennis star.  I didn’t know that he followed his father’s talent on the tennis court.  Vitas senior had won the Lithuanian tennis championship in his youth. 

In 1980 while in Australia he came to Adelaide with his father.  Here they visited another former Lithuanian tennis champion, Alfonsas Remeikis.  Alfonsas had been Lithuanian tennis champion in 1929 and 1930 and won many doubles titles.  In 1938 his doubles partner was Vitas Gerulaitis senior.

I didn’t know that the tiny town of Eucla on the Western Australia/South Australia border in the middle of the Nullarbor Plain could be seen as a micro nation of Lithuania.  The small township has six streets, a Police Station, a Motel Hotel complex with restaurant and Caravan Park.  With a population of just 50, it is literally in the middle of nowhere.  

One of the streets is Patupis street, named after Gediminas. Gediminas ended up as proprietor of Eucla's Amber Motel.

There is a 20-foot-high white metal cross with stylized tulips.  Constructed on 13th October 1969, the cross is dedicated to all Christians and to those who made the highway.  Two memorials are there are dedicated to Steve.  They both feature the Gedimino stulpai (Columns of Gediminas) an iconic Lithuanian symbol.  

After discovering these stories, I got upset that I didn’t know, that the older generation didn’t tell anyone, they didn’t pass this history on.  I soon realised that they did.  They recorded these stories in publication in the newspapers, I didn’t see it because they were written in Lithuanian.  Not being my first language, I translated the stories in English, so I could tell the stories to those who were connected to the community but no longer spoke the language. 

One of the hardest parts in writing this book was to come up with a title.  I discussed this with friends and family and we couldn’t come up with something that I thought was suitable.  So, I went back to the stories, looking for a common thread.  I found one. 

This was written on the first ship carrying Displaced Persons from Europe to Australia, the General Heintzleman which docked in Fremantle on the 27 November 1947.

The fate and sufferings of the Baltic peoples are known to the greater part of the world, to the rest we shall untiringly tell them until the day our native countries regain their freedom and independence.

At the first scout camp in Adelaide in 1955, Camp fire leader Vytenis Stasiškis gave these final words at the camp.

 Do all you can for the Motherland and never give up hope for Lithuania’s future and our return there.

In the book Adelaide published book,  Blezdingėlės prie Torrenso   The Swallows by the Torrens published in 1962, a forward was written by Juozas Bačiūnas.  In it he wrote, 

Lithuanians established themselves economically and spiritually and partook in Australian life.  It is my desire to create ties and connections between Lithuanians around the world that we all share the same hope to help Lithuania and to return when Lithuania is free.

It was every Lithuanians shared hope, that they could return home to a free Lithuania.

Again and again I was astounded by the dedication, sacrifice, and perseverance that members contributed to the community.  The time, money and effort that so many people willingly gave to see their beloved homeland free, is extraordinary.

Lithuania is free once again.  This shared hope of returning to a free Lithuania bound the community in its early years and instigated many of the clubs and events that transpired over the past 70 years.  

Now it is time to honour their hard work and celebrate their successes.

The money for the printing of this book, has been provided by the Australian Lithuanian Fund.  All proceeds from this book and going back into the Archives so we can print more about our history.  

I want the community’s history to be remembered, each of us have a story to tell, one that is unique and will be lost if it is not recorded.  I look forward to working with you in preserving our community’s history.

You can purchase the book online  for $25.00, plus $6.50 postage from the Australian Lithuanian Archive Facebook page.  https://www.facebook.com/australianlithuanianarchives/ 

A few outstanding years - Adelaide Vytis Soccer Team

From left kneeling, J. Songaila, V. Sinusas, V. Lazauskas, B. Langevicius.
Standing: J. Lelys, M. Ciplys, A. Kitas, A. Petruska, V. Martusevicius, S. Sidabras

The formation of a Soccer team was initiated by Eddie Taparauskas and Jonas Abromas.  The first team captain was Anatolius Kitas with outstanding players such as Jonas Sadauskas, Alexandras Sabaliauskas, Aleksas Merunas, Vincas Pledzinsksas and Juozas Čizauskas.   The team increased with players Bronius Langevičius, Stasys Darginavičius, Jonas Baškus, and Vladas Sneideris and Robertas Sidabras. 

In March 1952 Vytis Soccer team became officially registered with the South Australian Soccer Association.   The uniform was a yellow top and green shorts, with a red Vytis embroided onto the pocket.

Initially Vytis was allocated to the third division.  In one match in 1952, against ETSA team they won with a record 14-0 result.  Vytis finished the season in third position.  Vytis was placed in second division which they won.  Vytis was invited to pay in the summer season where games were held in the evenings under electric lights at Norwood Stadium.  They reached the finals which was played against Budapest, losing 1-2.

A new committee was formed in 1953, Anatolius Kitas as Presidenet, Edmondas Daniškevičius as vice-president, Edie Taparauskas, Juozas Kleinauskas and Otas Ungurys. 
For the 1954 season, Vytis was placed in the top division.  Vytis now had two teams were playing.  In that year a Baltic soccer competition was established with Latvian teams from Adelaide and Melbourne.  It was held on July 8th, weekend with Vytis wining.  

About this time some members chose to move onto other clubs.  Eduardas Virba went to Juventus and played as their centre, Robertas Sidabras transferred to Enfield.  Due to a shortage of players, trainer Edmondas Daniškevičius, not having competed for 14 years dressed in the Vytis uniform. Vytis ended that year in fifth position. 

In 1955 the South Australia soccer league became a semi professional sport and players were being brought in from overseas.  The best players were recruited to other teams.  Vytis did not have enough younger players coming up through the ranks and sank to seventh position that year. 

After a few outstanding years, the soccer team folded.  Kitas went on to play with a centre for Juventus and only Edis Virba (Virbickas) had a career as a soccer player for Juventus.

The reserve team consisted of  A. Afanijasevas, Algimantas Rusinas, Edie Taparauskas L. Jaciunskis, Algimantas Ignatavičius, Robertas Ramonaitis, V. Motuzas, Leonardas Žierdavičius. 

Adelaide Soccer Star, Tony Kitas

The name Kitas is a war cry for Vytis soccer team.  Anatolius Kitas  became a centre forward soccer player for Adelaide Vytis Sports Club.  Born on 27 March 1927, arrived in Melbourne on 18 August 1950.  He worked by day as a porter with the SA Railways.  He excelled at soccer but was also a first class basketballer and table tennis player.  In the DP camps of Germany he played soccer for Lithuanian in international games against several European countries.  For a short time he was a German professional soccer team.

He was fast, had perfect dribbling skills and could be all over the oval. He kicks goals from either foot and any angle.  During 1953, in 15 league matches he scored 65 goals, in one game scored 10 gaols.

From 1952 to 1957, Kitas was chosen to be part of the South Australian Soccer team, and an Australian XI which the team which included six new Australians.

In 1954, he scored more goals than any other player in the summer series.  When the Vytis soccer teams folded, Kitas joined Adelaide’s Polonia team, first as a plyer and then as a coach.

He  passed away in 1989 aged 62.

 

 

Adelaide Vytis Soccer team, 1950's. A. Kitas is standing second from left

100 Aciu - Eddie Gudelis

Eduardas Gudelis

Eddie (Dad) was born May 4, 1940 in Kaunas.  His biological father, Jonas Kondrotas, was an officer in the Lithuanian army.   He was arrested, sent to Siberia and later died there.  Juze, dad’s mother, never knew what happened to her husband.  Antanas Gudelis was there for her at this difficult time.  She married him and adopted dad.

As a family, they lived in refugee camps until 1949 when they arrived in Australia.  The family first lived in a share house in the city (Kintore Avenue) whilst having a house built at 8 Princes St, Prospect.

From a young age he was involved within the Adelaide Lithuanian Community – scouting, as a member of the Žilvinas Dancing Group and he also played basketball for the “Vytis” Sports Club.  In his later years he was an ALB and Vytis Sports Club member.

In his formative years, he was an altar boy and also had a private Catholic education at the Christian Brother’s College.  He was quite rebellious and enjoyed wagging school and going to the movies or playing football with his mates.

His love of sport included playing and watching basketball which he was passionate about.  He instilled the love the game into me.  He drove me to basketball games as a teenager and was a vocal supporter from the sidelines.  Later on we had season tickets for Adelaide 36’ers games for years.

His first love was basketball until he met mum and they had two daughters Kristina and Natalie.  Dad was very family orientated and every weekend we visited “Babytė” and “Senelis” and went to Sunday mass.

He was a quiet, selfless and caring person always thinking of others before himself.  He also had a dry sense of humour.

He instilled in me an interest in the Lithuanian community of which I am still involved.

Dad made sure both Nat and I worked hard for what we wanted and instilled in us the value of being humble about our achievements.

Submitted by his daughter, Kristina.

100 Aciu - Julija & Algimantas Grigonis

Julija & Algimantas GRIGONIS

As is true for most of us, the biggest influences in my life as an Australian born Lithuanian, were my parents Julija and Algimantas Grigonis.

Most of my generation typically started school in Australia with no English but went on to become very articulate in English and to do well academically.

Mum and Dad's generation were all bilingual as a minimum, but many were multilingual before they even came to Australia with English becoming their 3rd, 4th or more language. Hearing a variety of languages from an early age may well have sparked my interest in later language study.

Going to Lithuanian school on Saturdays at Lithuanian House was not always what we wanted to do as some of the classes were not easy and we needed help with homework which was often very hard especially for History as I struggled to understand what we had to read.

How Lithuanian grammar works did not fall into place for me until I started Latin in high school when it all became abundantly clear.  I can still decline and conjugate much better in Latin than in Lithuanian, but I understand that this kind of thing is often typical of native speakers of almost any language when it comes to grammar.

We had to catch two buses each way to Lithuanian school which was quite an undertaking back in the 1950s when I was only 9 and taking my sisters with me on the bus.  Luckily, we sometimes had Mr Kubilius, Mr Pakalnis, or other Lithuanian drivers kind enough to let us out at Eastry Street past the actual bus stop and not always ask us to buy a ticket.

Dad had taken us the first couple of times to show us the way.  After that we got used to the going back and forth.

At some stage Dad bought a car and drove us there.  I still often take the same route along Payneham and George Streets to Sydenham Road and Gray Street.

My family had little by way of material goods, but Dad was a good musician and we grew up with lots of books and music.

Packages of books from Lithuania, especially from Senelis Matas Grigonis were special as were the postcards he sent. I still have several of mine on which he wrote poems and stories. His language was beautiful but then he was a known wordsmith with a lot of his work having been published in Lithuania.  Dad told us a lot about him and we had books such as Žemuogėlės, Algimantelio Metai, volumes of children's poetry.   Senelis Matas was Lithuania's first poet who wrote specifically for children.  He wrote many letters and articles for magazines.  I learned much more about his work as an adult but as a child I knew that Dad's Dad was someone special and that fostered my own interests in words, languages, translation and being a bookworm.   At age six I decided I wanted to be a teacher and Senelis wrote that I had made a good choice. Although it did not come to pass I have always been interested in education and have pursued language studies along the way.

I finished Lithuanian school in 1962 and still have the certificate.

Many of us still have friends from those days. We might not meet that often, but we remain friends.

I am also very glad to have had Ponia Jurgelionienė teach me how to weave and I still know how.

Dad played music every day.  He played violin, accordion, ocarina, mandolin but we mostly heard the accordion.

He also had a lot of records including Lithuanian 78s. Some are now collectors' items.

We often stayed late after Lithuanian School on Saturdays as Dad played music for folk-dancing practice which I loved to watch.

I got to know the music and dances well but was never in the dancing group as we did not have tautiniai rubai/national dress.

Dad taught us songs at Lithuanian school and at home, which was not always fun, but I still remember most of the melodies if not all the words.

It was also usually Dad who scolded us for not speaking Lithuanian at home. "Nesuprantų!" (I do not understand!)

We attended Vasario 16, Motinos Diena, Tremimo Minejimas, Tautos Šventė , Tevo Diena, Kariuomenės Švente and other events for many years.  Some of the speeches were very long but we loved the 'meninė dalis' especially the dancing.

Later on, we also joined ALSK Vytis and played basketball for quite a few years.
Volunteers took us to training and games as Dad did not have a car at the time.

Dad told us about living in Panevežys and his Dad being school principal at the various towns in which they had lived such as Rožalimas, Anykščiai and Panevežys.  Today there are plaques on the walls of the houses indicating that Poet, Author, Teacher, Pedagogue Matas Grigonis had resided there and the dates.

Dad hardly mentioned anything of his time as a Plechavičiukas. All we heard from him was that he was in and out of three armies within a year; Plechavicius for which he volunteered, German (conscripted) and Red (conscripted).  He deserted the Red Army and never went back to Lithuania even when it was possible, as the Red authorities had long memories and he was sure that they would lock him up. That was really sad as he had left home for the war effort at age 16 and never saw his family again.

Dad was part of the group in Adelaide who started the local Lithuanian radio program. He worked on it for 15 years and created a complete archive of all the programs on tapes.  After his death a selected few ended up in the Mortlock Library in South Australia while his lifelong friend Vytas Patupas sent the rest (over 700) to Martyno Mažvydo Biblioteka in Lietuva/Lithuania. I heard the late Gabrielius Žemkalnis mention that they were there during one of his programs in which he spoke about the Mazvydo library.  Dad also sang in the choir for several years and was very involved with Adelaide's Lithuanian theatre group Vaidila, for which he prepared sound effects for many years.

Mum's maiden name was Žiukelytė. She told us about being born in Žiukeliškes (there were so many Žiukeliai that there was even a village named after them!) and growing up in Dūsetos.  When the lake froze over in winter she and her brothers watched horses in harness racing on the ice.  That event happens every year on the first Saturday in February even now and is know as Sartai.  Dusetos is on the shores of Sartu Ežeras/Lake Sartai.

Winters were very cold and Mum and her siblings had to cover up very well to prevent frostbite on the tips of their noses.

We learned about her older sisters Karūte and Marytė, brothers Vladas and Rapolas plus sister Elenutė who had died at age 20 from TB. Among the few possessions Mum had brought all the way from Lithuania via Germany was a photo album which she showed us. We learned about the people in them and what our grandparents looked like.  They both died just before WWII.  During our childhood the names and faces were only in photos and we never knew if it would be possible to meet our extended family.  We learned that Dusetos is in pretty countryside, very green and a lovely town. Mum went to live and work in Kaunas.  She worked in a bookshop and devoured books all her life.

Mum was a member of Moterų Sėkcija for several years.

One of my earliest memories of both Mum and Dad is from when we had moved from the city to Hillcrest.  I was not quite four years old . Mum taught me how to dance Suktinis while singing Bitutė Pilkoji, plus Klumpakojis and its song, with Dad's accompaniment on the accordion.

We also knew songs like Ant kalno murai, Ant kalno karkliai siubavo long before singing them at school.  Tautos Himnas was also in my head long before I really understood it but that happens with many songs and poems. When Dad took us for drives, we sang in the car. A favourite was Išėjo Tevelis į miška.

Childhood rhymes are still in my head eg. Lyja lietus per karaliaus pietus, Karalienė verkia, Karaliukai knarkia. (like It's raining, It's pouring).

I tried hard to speak Lithuanian but it wasn't easy when English dominated at school and with neighbours.  Plus when our brother Algiukas was little, those who supposedly 'know' advised that two languages in the home were delaying his speaking.  English had to take priority which was very disappointing for Mum and Dad. We all know that "Bilingual is beautiful"! Ironically when Algis grew up he understood Lithuanian quite well. The psychologist's advice was wrong.

Reasonable proficiency in Lithuanian language was a huge help on my first trip to Europe in 1975 when I met Mum's brother Vladas in Munich and spoke Lithuanian with him and his friends.  My German was limited.  Uncle Vladas took me to Lietuva where I met many people who had till that time simply been faces in photos.  Being able to communicate with them was wonderful and even though I made mistakes, Močiutė Jadvyga Grigonienė was amazed that I could speak the language at all.  She also remarked that I spoke old fashioned Lithuanian as the language over there had changed over the previous 30 years.

I am the only grandchild born in Australia who met Močiutė albeit for just 7 days.  While I was there, Uncle Kastytis organised a phone call to Adelaide and Močiutė got to speak with Dad once again.  Many years later Dad rang his brother Kastytis when Lithuania had regained independence in 1991.

I was so glad that I went to Lietuva back in 1975 and met so many members of the extended family on both sides.  I made a few more trips too, the last one having been in 2000 so I must go again.  Contact with relatives continues and quite a few are on Facebook!

I will forever be grateful to Mum and Dad for telling us so much about their lives and families before they came to Australia. They fostered my love and interest in my Lithuanian heritage, language, history, people and our culture, including great food.

Happily, Mum was able to see her sister Marytė again after 49 years when my sister Dana took her to Lietuva in 1993.

Much of my appreciation of being Lithuanian grew as I became an adult, but the seeds were sown right from the start as in the few examples I have outlined.

It is a major part of what makes me who I am.

An Australian friend once told me that I was so lucky to have this special cultural identity with its traditions.

I know! 

AČIU MAMA IR TĖTĖ!

Juratė Grigonytė

Šaruno Marciulionio Basketball Academy

Basketball to a Lithuanian is known as the second religion.  Australian Lithuanians also embraced the love of this sport, so much so that when a youth basketball team from Šaruno Marciulionio Basketball Academy came to Australia in 1990 it was a big deal. 

A boy’s youth team arrived in Adelaide on 11 March with their sponsors and Zita Mačiulionyte, Šarunas’ sister.  They arrived to Adelaide heat, maybe not hot for those who grew up here but coming from Lithuania the 35 degrees would have been felt.  Aged between 16-18 years the team played several games in Adelaide against the SA Sports Institute.  The first game was won by the Lithuanians by 4 points, 71-67. The second game held on the 13^th at Seymour College which they won, 90-79.  The third and final game began poorly for the Lithuanians, being 14 points behind before they scored.  They pulled together and again managed to win 78-69.  The Lithuanians played a friendly match against Adelaide Vytis again winning.  Following the game, the players returned to Lithuanian house for a meal and camaraderie with the Adelaide community members.

On the 15^th, Adelaide bid goodbye to the team as they caught a bus to Sydney. 
I can remember the tshirts and pendants given out by the players, orange and black featuring an eagle. Like the one below for the Academy’s opening in Vilnius.  The Academy is still running. http://www.krepsinioakademija.lt

Š. Marčiulionis is one of the best Lithuanian basketball players of all time. He was a first player to go to the NBA from the Soviet Union, and one of the first European players to enter the NBA. Šarūnas is a cavalier of the 1st, 3rd and 4th Order of Vytautas the Great, and Order of the Badge of Honour.

 

 

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.

Petriukas

Petras Andrijaitis

When I think of growing up in the Lithuanian community and going to Lithuanian House, it is always with the memory of this man. We all knew him as Petriukas.

Petras was born in 18 September 1925, not far from Raseinis.  The war interrupted his schooling, when he was forced to flee Lithuania for Germany where he spent years in Displaced Persons camps. He arrived in Melbourne onboard the General M B Stewart on 13 April 1949.

Petras loved sport, he played basketball and volleyball.  He was very active in the Adelaide Vytis sports club, all his life in Adelaide and was made an honorary member.  He held several positions in the Club, sports manager, basketball manager and treasurer.  He would spend several nights per week in sports halls watching Vytis teams play.  If a player was missing, he would also been known to don a uniform to fill in. Twice he went to USA with Australian Lithuanian players.

Petriukas lived in the house on Grey street, Norwood and acted as caretaker to Lithuanian House.  You would see him every Sunday helping out in the kitchen, locking and unlocking doors, cleaning up.  He often made Sunday lunches, he was there to make lunches for the Saturday school children.  For his hard work and dedication he was made an Adelaide Lithuanian life member. 

Petras was a bachelor with no family in Australia.  In Lithuania he had a sister whom he was very close to. His nephews came to visit him in Adelaide at some point.

Prior to his death, Petras moved into the Baltic homes.  His last wish was that this would be written on his headstone. Čia ilsisi lietuvos sūnus toli nuo tėvynės. (Here lies a son of Lithuania far from his homeland).  Petriukas passed away on the 17 February 2007.

Adelaide's own 'The other Dream Team' member

In 1990 Basketballer Romas Brazdauskas came to work and live in Adelaide with his wife, Rasa and son, Lukas.  Romas had come to Australia previously and had attended the Australian Lithuanian scports festival in Melbourne.   He came to Adelaide to play with West Adelaide.

The Other Dream Team, 1992 bronze medal winners in Barcelona. Romas is far right.  

Romas was born on 20 February 1964 in Kretinga.  At 204cm tall, he wasn’t someone to miss.  Previous to coming to Australia he  played for Panevėžys "Lietkabelis", Vilnius "Statyba",. Ryga "ASK" (Latvia), Vilniaus "Statyba", and Kaunas"Žalgiris".  He was awarded the ‘All Stars Five’ medal here and had a 76% shooting rate.  

In 1992, while still in Australia, Romas was selected to play for basketball for Lithuania at the Barcelona Olympics.  This was the first time Lithuania had a national team since the restoration of independence in 1990.  The team went on to win a bronze medal, defeated by Croatia and the American ‘Dream team’.  Wearing their ti-dyed, yellow green and red t-shirts the Lithuanian team included some of the greatest Lithuanian players Valdemaras Chomičius, Rimas Kurtinaitis, Arvydas Sabonis, Šarūnas Marčiulionis.  Upon his return to Adelaide, Romas was proud to show off his medal at Lithuanian House.  He even made a special appearance at the Saturday school where all the children wanted to be included in a photo with Romas and his medal.

Romas and family lived in the caretakers house on Grey street.  He also took care of the Lithuanian hall.  Romas also played for the Adelaide Lithuanian team ‘Vytis’ and on Saturday would coach the younger team.  Another son was born while in Adelaide, Tadas. 

On his return to Lithuania he played for Plungė Olimpas, then a year in Slovakija with Inter.  He finished his basketball career playing for Kaunas ‘Atletas’ in 2001.  

With a basketballer father it is no surprise that Lukas is following in his father’s footsteps.   A centimetre taller than his father, Lukas is now playing for Alytaus ‘Dziūkija’.

American All Stars program

American All Star team arrive in Adelaide
Jonas Jonavicius (Organiser) in light grey suit, Standing on first step is Vladas Adamkus (Tour Manager), next to him is Martynas Pocius (President of the Adelaide Lithuanian community)

USA Lithuanian All Star Basketball team in Australia 1964

The idea of the American Lithuanian team was born in 1962 during the Sports festival by J Bačiunas (President of the World Lithuanian Communities) who was touring Australia at that time. Early in 1963 the Lithuanian Athletic Union of North America contacted the Federation of Australian Sports Clubs and these two bodies began planning a tour.  

The Manager of the USA team was Mr Vladas Adamkavičius (Adamkus, recent President of Lithuania) who had led them on a successful South American tour in 1959.  Adamkus was an all round sportsman but his successes were in athletics.  In 1949 he migrated to the USA and partook in Lithuanian community sports events.  He retired from sports in 1954 and turned his interests to sporting administration.  

The coach, Vytautas Grybauskas grew up playing basketball in Lithuanian and while he attended Vilnius University.  While in exile in Germany he was selected for a Lithuanian All Star Basketball Team that toured France in 1948.  He played exceedingly well and was given an opportunity to stay in France to play and coach.  In 1953 he moved to the USA and participated in basketball, tennis, table tennis and soccer.  He coached the South American tour of 1959.

Eleven players formed the All Star team, ageing from 18 to 28 years.  The tour to Australia lasted for a month with matches played in Newcastle, Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth and Tasmania.  

The Adelaide organising committee consisted of Jonas Jonavičius (Chairman), S. Urnevičius (Vice-Chairman), J. Pyragius (Vice-Chairman), Viktoras Baltutis (Secretary), and Robertas Sidabras (Treasurer).  Members were: A. Šliužas, G. Rakauskas, Balys Nemeika, A. Merūnas, Mrs Bronė Lapšys, Juozas Doniela, Juozas Lapšys, J. Jaunutis, Petras Andrijaitis, S. Milaknis, P. Lukošiunas, V. Jankauskas. 

To be continued.....

SA Basketball part III final

The 1951 season was Vytis’ best.  Last year they lost only three games throughout a 23 game championship, plus the Adelaide Baltic Cup tournament, plus the championship of Australian Lithuanian clubs and plus interstate friendly matches.

In the championship Vytis started with a loss to OBI, which left the Lithuanians trailing a new ALS (Latvian) team until the end of the first round, when they met ALS and beat them.

In the second round the Latvians turned the tables and let the field until the last match of the third and final round with one loss only.

In a dramatic last round match Vytis defeated ALS by one point.  Vytis trailed for most of the game but won by paralysing burst of attack in the last 10 minutes, a feature which has characterised many of their matches against first class opposition.

Even on wins with ALS (19-2), Vytis was declared minor premier on percentage of won and lost goals.  During the minor round Vytis shot 1103 points (a record for SA), losing 575, the second team ALS, show 1011, and losing 528.

In the semi-final Vytis beat Estonians and in the final downed ALS boys, who were evidently dejected after their unfortunately defeat in the last game of the minor round.

Throughout the season Ignatavicius scored 343 and Urnevicius 305 points, a splendid tally which was surpassed only by 6ft 5in Latvian Juris (George) Dancis, who shot 380.  Peter Sutton (OBI), fourth on the list with 287.

In 1950 Vytis, although premier, had been defeated by Latvians in the Baltic Cup competition.  In 1951 the Lithuanians made sure to score a double victory.  They played copy book basketball to defeat Estonians 58-37 and then overwhelmed Latvians in a trilling match by 49-42.

This last match was a classical example of Vytis variable style and excellent powers of adaption.

In the first half the tall Latvians watched the fast dangerous Vytis forwards closely.  Gurskis used to score eight points with surprising long distance shots, a remarkably tally for a guard.

In the second half Latvians neutralised Gurskis, still maintaining a few points lead.  Then Urnevicius, seeing that everything was orthodox had failed, produced some beautiful hook shots that he had seldom done before.  

This brought the Latvians off balance and in the ensuing confusion the untiring Jaciunskas clinched victory by fast breaks.

Four Lithuanian teams from Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide held a carnival in Adelaide and Vytis won again, defeating Melbourne in the final, although the Victorians fielded all Australian team player Dargis.

Owing to the split with SAMBA early in 1951, none of Vytis players were considered for the SA side in 1951, as they were registered with the ABL.

That was why they missed out on the Perth carnival, where an inferior SA team did not have a hope of seriously troubling either Victoria or NSW.

When the SAMBA has finally affiliated ABL, Vytis will not be overlooked by the State selectors when they start looking for a State side, 1952.

Having plenty of speed and stamina, Vytis usually play the man to man defence.  They can employ the zone defence, but it is not their favourite.

Looking superficially, it might appear that only speed and accurate shooting account for Vytis victories, yet the interwoven team spirit must not be overlooked.  Without it a great team may finish on the rocks. 

It is not enough to merely have five good payers together – only when they cease to be five separate men and become one team will they start on the road to success.

Vytis has that team spirit and the boys are also thorough sportsmen to other players.  They could hardly be more popular both with their adversaries and the public.

That is perhaps the most important thing which makes Vytis a great credit to South Australian basketball.  Even though the idea of ‘fair play’ was not invented in Lithuanian, the Lithuanians have adopted it quickly enough.

Sport Novels June 1952 Vol 13 no.3

SA Basketball part II

Most of the Vytis players have known each other since 1947, when they played in Wuerzburg, Germany.

Stasys (Stan) Urnevicius, the captain (who at 31 is the oldest of the team), learned basketball in Lithuania in his early teens, played in his college team, later for the Vilnius University and finally in the renowned LFLS team.

In Germany he lived in Wuerzburg, where Kestas Jaciunskis (born 1926) was captain of the junior team.  Virgilius Gurskis (now 21) was also there, but just learning to play.  Later Algimantas (Algis) Ignatavicius (now 20), from Schweinfurt, joined the juniors.

In Adelaide those four, although having arrived at different times. Met each other again and formed a team. By 1951 they had been joined by Nikolaj (Nick) Brovcenko (22), Vitas Merunas (30), Edvardas Kurauskas (32), Anatolijus Kitas (25) and Eugenius Pyragius (20).

The first five are; Urnevicius (right forward), Ignatavicius (centre), Jaciunskas (Left forward), Gurksis (left guard), Brovcenko (right guard).

Urnevicius (5ft 10in) is the brain of the team.  He has the onerous job of being playing coach.  He commands remarkable respect, not only form his own boys, but also from players of other clubs.

What he says goes.  His court craft is excellent.  He knows all the tricks of the trade and also how to keep the team together; when to take time outs and when to decide on fresh tactics.

His medium distance one handed shots from the shoulder are deadly.  Yet he feels that are is gradually catching up with him and that he has no more than one or two competitive seasons left.  Then he will switch to coaching alone.

Ignatavicius (5ft 10in) is the youngest and most admirable player.  His improvement has been unbelievably rapid.  In 1947 he could hardly get a place in a junior team.  In 1950 he was chosen in the all Australian team.  He plays a very elegant, fast game, dealing out quick passes and shooting goals effortlessly form anywhere over the centre line.

He seldom touches an opponent.  Most of the time he is on the move, having developed a dislike of congested places on court. However, when the going gets real close, he can fight like a tiger at the basket and he can leap high to snatch rebounds from opponents much taller than himself. 

In 1950 he was the most successful goal sneak in the association and second best in 1951.  Shortly after the 1951 season ended, Algis left for Melbourne to play with a Lithuanian team. However, it seems that he has not found things entirely to his liking there, and will be back in Adelaide before the 1952 season is over.  Just as well, otherwise his team might find it difficult to get a substitute for the vacant centre forward post.

Jaciunskas (5ft 10 in) is the team ‘tank’ but a mighty fast one.  His stamina is seemingly inexhaustible.  At the final bell he will going just as strongly as during the first minute.  His control of the ball is enviable, his fighting spirit unquenchable.

He is always where the ball is, following it in the roughest tumble.  He is an excellent medium distance goal shooter and from underneath the basket will score with his eyes closed.  His fighting heart sometimes earns penalty shots against him, but that is his only blemish.

Gurskis (6ft) is one of the staunchest and stablest SA guards.  He is Vytis vice-captain and it is amazing that at his age he should display such coolness, anticipation and presence of mind in the firmest battle.  He knows exactly where to expect a rebound form his own board and once he has put his fingers on to the leather he will never let go.  It just sticks to him.

Most feared are his accurate long distance shots, which often force a defending team to send a man forward just to prevent Gurskis from making what would be ‘pot shot’ for most players but is a  2 to 1 on certainty for Gurskis.

Brovcenko, at 6ft 1 in, the tallest man in the team, has also developed remarkably.  In 1949 he provided the spectators with tons of fun because of a little cap he wore which would inevitably fall off during a scramble.

Within 12 months he had turned into a fully fledged guard, strongly supporting Gurskis and shattering the early conception that Vytis was playing a ‘four men’s game’.

The solid veteran Kurauskas, the tall agile former Western Australian Merunas, the fast footballer Kitas, the quick witted, technically flawless Pyragius, constitute Vytis first reserve who may soon gain a permanent place if Urnevicius retires or studies compel Brovcenko to withdraw.

But when they move up, others will take place of first reserves as Vytis has a second team and many youngsters keen to improve.

The organised 1960's!

The Lithuanian community in South Australia had by 1960 established numerous groups that brought people together with similar interests and fostered the passing on of Lithuanian traditions and language to the youth.

ALB Women’s committee

Adelaide Lithuanian organisation
Lithuanian Atgimimo sajudis
Ateitininku Sendraugiu Adelaide Skyrius (Catholic Youth)
LKF Adelaides Skyrius (Soccer)
Scouts
Caritas (Catholic charity)
Vytis (Sports)
Theatre
Choras ‘Lituania’ (Choir)
Teisininku Draugijos Skyrius (Lawyers Association Chapter)
Svietimo Tarybos Prezidiumas (Education Council Presidium)
Saturday school parents committee
Lietuviu Akademinis Tautinis Sajudis (Academic Lithuanian National Revival)
Mazosios Lietuviu Biciuliu Draugija (Friends of Lithuanian Minor)
Ramove (Returned Soldiers League)
Zilvinas (National Dancing group)

The year is 1962

Programme of events for the Lithuanian community in Adelaide

1961 – New Years Eve ball held at Centennial Hall, Wayville

January 15 Vytis Club dancing party
29 Women’s Committee children’s party
February 11 Catholic Council Carnival Ball
12 Adelaide Lithuanian Community party
19 Independence Day
26 Adelaide Lithuanian Association Yearly meeting
March 5th Scouts “Kaziuko Mūgė”
19 Adelaide Lithuanian Community yearly meeting
April 5th Adelaide Lithuanian Association ball
29th Vytis Sports club ball
May 7th Mothers Day concert
13th Adelaide Lithuanian Community ball
27th Students Ball
June 18th Baltic deportation memorial
24th Vytis sports club ball
July 8th Adelaide Lithuanian News balls
29th Women’s committee ball
August 12 Šventadieno Balso Ball
26 Scout ball
September 10th Lithuanian National Day memorial
23rd Saturday school Parents committee ball
October 14th Adelaide Lithuanian Association Ball
22 Lithuanian Catholic Council Party
28th Vytis Sports Club Ball
November 18th Women’s Committee Ball
26th Adelaide Lithuanian Association Ball
December 3rd Sports group outing
27th Women’s Committee Christmas
31st Adelaide Lithuanian Committee New Years Eve ball