Independance Day 1965

Lithuanian Independence Day is celebrated annually on February 16. Some form of concert usually takes place at Lithuanian house. Here's who participated in the 1965 celebrations.

Contribution by youth, sisters Julija and Rima Germanaitis (acordean, solo and duet), Dalia Viliunaite (recital), Ramune Klimaite (piano), Vytas Straukas (fiddle), Nemira Masilyte (piano) and Adelaide Youth chouir directed by Vytas Straukas who performed three folk songs. Choir members, Nijole Beinoraviciute, Laima Kuncaitte, Valdone Mikeliunaite, Maryte Damasevicius, Maryte Kersyte, Vida Urneviciute, Aldone Urneviciute, Dana Brazauskaite, Alma Krivickaite, Rima Serelyte, Ramune Klimaite, Alfredas Barauskas, Vytas Vanagas, Leonas Vasiliunas, Antanas Stepanas, Leonas Macpanas, Gintautas Kaminskas, Algis Bernaitis, Klevas Rudzinskas, Eugenijus Brazauskas.

Also the final year Lithuanian school students for the year were acknowledged.
Kristina Baskute
Alma Krivickaite
Nijole Bataityte
Aldona Tugaudyte,
Grazina Bagdonaite
Dalia irvaite
Dalia Viliunaite
Julija Germanaite
Edmundas Rapsevicius
Algis Radzevicius
Vytautas Levickas
Nemira Masiulyte

Chess champ dies

Romanas Arlauskas was born 11 June 1917 in Kaunas, Lithuania.

Arlauskas played at sixth board (+4 –7 =7) in an unofficial Chess Olympiad at Munich 1936. He tied for 1st-3rd, with Birmanas and Leonardas Abramavičius, ahead of Povilas Vaitonis, Povilas Tautvaišas. At the end of World War II, Arlauskas, along with many other Baltic players escaped to west, just before the advancing the Soviet forces arrived, to avoid deportation to Siberia. In 1947, Arlauskas tied for 6-7th in Kirchheim. He arrived in Fremantle onboard the General Stewart on the 12 February 1948. In 1949 Arlauskas won the South Australian championship.

He finished 3rd in the 4th World Correspondence Championship (1962–1965) and was awarded the Correspondence Chess grandmaster in the world in 1965. He is the third Australian to hold the title.

You can actually view some of his chess games on line, by going to http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=82351

Romanas passed away at his home this week aged 92 years.

Community house begins

On October 19th 1985 the Adelaide Lithuanian Community Committee celebrated 30 years. In 1955 the organisation was registered, but the community began years earlier. The community was not flushed with funds, money was needed to established themsleves in their new home, but the community was full of hope.

A meeting held on 8 February 1953 formed a committee to look into the establishment of a community centre.

The first committee consisted of
V Raginis President
J Kalvaitis Vice President
J Pyragius Secretary
A Sliuzas Treasurer
L Garbaliauskas
K Reisonas
S Cibaras

On August 24th 1957 the old church at Eastry St, Norwood was purchased. To purchase the property the bank required guarantors, who were K Reisonas, V Raginis, Jonas Lapsys, J Arminas, L Martinkus, and Antanas Morkunas.

The property then went through many changes, building, renovating and decorating.

Honoured Lithuanians

SA Lithuanians awarded Australian medals

DAVIS, Isolde Ira
Award: Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
Date granted: 26 January 1995
Suburb: Henley Beach
Citation: In recognition of service to the Lithuanian community and to education

DICIUNAS, Algirdas Petros
Award: Conspicuous Service Medal CSM
Date granted: 08 June 1992
Citation: In recognition of service to the RAN as the Fleet Marine Engineering Officer servicing on the Maritime HQ staff

DICIUNAS, Algirdas Petros
Award: The Order of the British Empire - Member (Military) MBE(M)
Date granted: 31 December 1977
Citation: RAN - Postwar Honours List

DICIUNAS, Algirdas Petras
Award: National Medal
The National Medal is awarded for diligent long service to the community in hazardous circumstances, including in times of emergency and national disaster, in direct protection of life and property.
Date granted: 14 July 1977

DICIUNAS, Rimgaudas Adolfas
Award: Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
Date granted: 11 June 1990
Suburb: WOODVILLE SOUTH
Citation: In recognition of service to the RAN, particularly in the field of Marine Engineering HMAS Brisbane

JONAVICIUS, Jurgis George
Award: Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
Date granted: 26 January 2006
Suburb: Croydon Park
Citation: For service to the Lithuanian community, particularly through administrative roles in a range of sporting organisations.

KANAS, Sofija
Award: Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
Date granted: 13 June 1993
Suburb: Hyde Park
Citation: For service to multicultural organisations and to women’s health issues.

NEVERAUSKAS, Vytautas Stasys (OAM)
Award: Medal of the Order of Australia
Date granted: 26 January 1998
Suburb: St Marys
Citation: For service to the Lithuanian community, particularly as President of the Adelaide Lithuanian Association.

STATNICKAS, Vladas
Award: Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
Date granted: 08 June 1992
Suburb: South Plympton
Citation: (GENERAL DIVISION). For service to the Lithuanian community

VABOLIS, Janina
Award: Centenary Medal
Date granted: 01 January 2001
Suburb: Glenelg North
Citation: For service to the Lithuanian community, particularly through social and welfare services

VABOLIS, Janina
Award: Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
Date granted: 26 January 2001
Citation: For service to the Lithuanian community.

VASILIAUSKAS-VASKAS, Genovaite
Award: Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
Date granted: 26 January 1993
Suburb: Torrens Park
Citation: For service to the Lithuanian community

www.itsanhonour.sa.gov.au

Baltic Corps III

The corps was made up of 6 squads of three grades each. Each grade had 12 men. There was also a farmers squad, they were chauffers, cooks, sanitary works, interpreters. The head of the corps held the rank of Captain. Each corps had 240-250 men. The first corps was lead by Captain Drabišius and later Sukys. The second corps was captained by Andrašiunas and later Kriksčiunas.

Once training was over, the men went to Furth near Nurenburg. Both corps resided in one barracks. They guarded the dynamite factory, prison, motor pool, journalists and high ranking US army officer’s homes and other army objectives. The motor pool held tanks and jeeps.

From Furth both corps was moved to Zindorf. They guarded US general Taylor and Watson.

There were several excellent sportsmen among the corps. They had basketball, soccer and volleyball teams, as well as boxing and table tennis. Furth had a Baltic club, which also needed guarding. The club held dances and various programmes. Beer and other drinks could be brought with dollars or ‘scripts’ which were special money of the occupying army. It held the same value as American dollars. They would receive the scripts after five months. Some of the wages were in marks and also P.I.X ‘pieksa’ items such as toiletries, chocolate, lollies, biscuits etc.

The first corps was named after king Vytautas and the second after king Algirdas. Each corps had their own flag. Each corps also had their own number. Corps I was 4204, and II- 4129. The Baltic headquarters was in Heidelberg. February 12, 1947, corps II was transfer to Wurzburg, corps and later transferred to Bamberg. In Wurzburg the DP prison was guarded and received a new number 4065. December 17th, 1947 transferred to Bad-Kissingen.

The corps moved again and was renumbered 4200, June 26th 1948, a secret place in the French zone, not far from Kaiserslautern. They lived in a tent town.

Dogs were introduced into he corps, they underwent training, guards and dogs would only go on night duty.

Once immigration began, the corps underwent screening process. The majority of men from the corps immigrated to the USA. The corps in Germany was then filled by older Lithuanians and Germans.

Written by Balys Nemeika and printed in
Mūsų Pastogė Nr 13 1996.4.1 page 5 & 7
Nr, 14 1996.4.8 page 6
Nr 15, 1996.4.15 page 4