Perth, October 27–30, 1964

The drawing in the album fragment symbolizes the Australian Lithuanian Community's desire to preserve Lithuanian identity in a foreign land and pass it on to future generations.

Australian Lithuanian Archives

December 4, 1960

Lithuanian Central State Archives, archive No. 668, summary No. 1, file No. 226, page 41

October 7, 1961

Lithuanian Central State Archives, archive No. 668, summary No. 1, file No. 226, page 46

Melbourne, December 27–30, 1964

From December 27 to 30, 1964, the IX Session of the Australian Lithuanian Community (ALC) National Council took place in Melbourne. During the session, issues concerning Lithuania’s liberation, the Lithuanian community, youth, and other matters were discussed. On the initiative of the ALC National Board, the first meeting of Lithuanian, Latvian, and Estonian community leaders in Australia was convened, leading to the establishment of the Baltic Information Center. For the 1965–1966 term, a new National Board was elected, led by Simas Narusis.

Lithuanian Central State Archives, archive No. 668, summary No. 1, file No. 226, page 53

1937

Photograph by Julius Miezlaiskis

The Lithuanian Central State Archives preserve a photograph of Major Simas Narusis of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, who later became the Chairman of the Australian Lithuanian Community (ALC) National Board (1965–1969).

Simas Narusis (1899–1969) was born in Sakiai County and served as a volunteer in the newly forming Lithuanian Armed Forces. He studied at Vytautas Magnus University and emigrated to Australia in 1948. He completed his mandatory work contract at the Sydney Water Board and quickly became involved in Lithuanian community activities. As the Chairman of the ALC Sydney Branch, he organized Lithuanian national events.

In 1965, he was elected Chairman of the ALC National Board, a position he held until 1969. He was the first National Board Chairman to visit all Lithuanian centers in Australia at his own expense. He maintained close ties with various Lithuanian cultural and sports organizations, engaged with youth, and was a supporter of the scouting movement. He wrote extensively for the press and spoke about the Lithuanian nation's tragedy—genocide.

From 1968 to 1969, he represented the Australian Lithuanian Community at the III Lithuanian World Community (WLC) Seimas in New York.

Lithuanian Central State Archives, document No. P-00229

From left: V. Patupis, Z. Vabolis, S. Narusis (speaking), D. Mazelyte, Fr. A. Kazlauskas.

In the front: V. Raginis, B. Straukas, V. Petkunas, A. Galatiltis.

Adelaide, 1965

Australian Lithuanian Archives, document No. PH0608

Speech by Z. Vabolis, Chairman of the ALC Adelaide Branch.

1965

Australian Lithuanian Archives, document No. PH0607

From left: Fr. A. Kazlauskas MLC, S. Narusis, ALC Adelaide Branch Chairman Z. Vabolis, Museum Founder J. Vanagas.

Adelaide, September 11, 1966

Australian Lithuanian Archives, document No. PH0620a

Adelaide, December 15, 1966

This certificate confirms that Martynas Pocius was elected as a representative to the ALC National Council at the General Meeting of the Adelaide Branch on October 9, 1966.

Australian Lithuanian Archives

From left: A. Mauragis, S. Narusis (ALC National Board Chairman), K. Valiunas, Fr. P. Butkus, A. Dudaitis (ALC Sydney Branch Chairman).

Sydney, 1968

Photograph by V. M. Vilkaitis.

Adelaide, 1968

Photograph by V. M. Vilkaitis

The XI Session of the Australian Lithuanian Community (ALC) National Council took place in Adelaide on 28–30 December, 1968. In addition to administrative work, the activity report highlighted the successful visit of VLIK (The Supreme Committee for the Liberation of Lithuania) Chairman K. Valiunas to Australia, the appointment of J. Lapsys as the VLIK representative to Australia, the organization of the first Australian Baltic States Conference, and the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the independence of Lithuania and other Baltic States.

From left: S. Gincevicius, V. Jaras, S. Narusis, V. Skrinskas, E. Kalakauskas, V. Patasius, K. Kavaliauskas.

[1967–1969]

Photo by V. M. Vilkaitis.

Australian Lithuanian Archives, document No. PH0896

From left: B. Stasionis, J. Ramanauskas, T. Reisgiene, Chairman A. Reisgys, V. Sliteris.

During this term, the 20th anniversary of the district was celebrated.

Sydney, 1970.

Photo by V. M. Vilkaitis.

Australian Lithuanian Archives, document No. PH0145

1970

Photo by V. M. Vilkaitis.

Australian Lithuanian Archives, document No. PH0144

The second person from the left, sitting, is the Chairman of the Board of the Australian Lithuanian Community (ALC), M. Zakaras.

Sydney, 1970

Lithuanian Central State Archives, document No. P-52047

Algimantas Petras Kabaila (1925–2021) – engineer, Australian Lithuanian activist, Doctor of Philosophy, professor. He was a member of the Australian Baltic Council, a long-time member of the Australian Lithuanian Community (ALC) National Council, and served as the Chairman of the National Board in 1977–1978. In 1974, after the Australian government recognized the legality of the incorporation of the Baltic States into the USSR, he, along with others, successfully campaigned for this decision to be reversed. He was one of the founders and the Chairman of the Press Union of the Australian Lithuanian Community.

When the Reform Movement of Lithuania (Sajudis) began, he participated in the Baltic Way in 1989 while in Lithuania, together with his brother Vytenis. Invited by V. Landsbergis, he took on the role of the Sajudis representative in Australia. From the beginning of 1990, he spread information about Lithuania’s independence aspirations through the media in Australia, New Zealand, and the USA. He served as Honorary Consul of Lithuania in Australia from 1991 to 1994.

In 2003, he was awarded the Commander’s Cross of the Order for Merits to Lithuania.

More about this exceptional personality: https://www.australianlithuanians.org/education/kabaila-algis/

The Lithunian Yearbook of Australia. Volume I. Sydney, 1961

Seated from left: E. Dainiene, V. Neverauskas (Chairman of the ALC National Board), L. Pociene.

Standing from left: V. Aleksandravicius, V. Baltutis, D. Dunda, A. Galatiltis.

Adelaide, 1973–1974

Australian Lithuanian Archives

Date unknown.

Vytautas Neverauskas (1921–2001) was born in Kalniske, Krosna district. From 1941 to 1943, he studied history at Vilnius University. In 1944, he emigrated to Germany, and in 1948 to Australia. He settled in Adelaide in 1948, where he completed studies in accounting. He married Maryte Vitkauskaite, whom he met during his travels. He was an active member of the Australian Lithuanian Community, serving as the Chairman of the ALC National Board in 1971–1974, 1979–1980, and 1985–1986. From 1989 to 2001, he served as the Chairman of the Adelaide Lithuanian Union.

According to V. Neverauskas, “The Australian Lithuanian Community is on the right path, striving to unite all Lithuanians in Australia under its wing. We operate on democratic principles, electing our leadership. We have a well-edited statute, although at times its interpretation causes unrest where it’s least needed.”

Australian Lithuanian Archives, document No. PH0457

Adelaide, December 1974

Photo by Alfonsas Budrys.

The XIV session of the Australian Lithuanian Community (ALC) National Council took place in Adelaide from December 28 to 30, 1974, at the Lithuanian House. During the 1973–1974 term, the National Board's attention and efforts were primarily focused on political events in Australia. In August 1973, the Australian government recognized the occupation of the Baltic States. Working together with Latvians and Estonians, efforts were made to revoke this recognition. The self-immolation of Romas Kalanta in Kaunas also provided new opportunities to raise awareness of Lithuania’s struggle for freedom and to bring attention to the issue in Australia. During the session, the chairman of the ALC National Council presidium, Professor A. Kabaila, spoke extensively about the efforts of the Australian Lithuanians to overturn the recognition of Lithuania’s occupation.

Australian Lithuanian Archives, document No. PH1205

Australian Lithuanian Archives

Seated in the front row from left: J. Meiliunas, Liubinas, K. Mieldazys, A. Simkus, A. Pocius, J. Petraitis, N. Butkunas.

Standing in the second row from left: J. Petrasiunas, Balciunas, P. Baltutis, G. Zemkalnis.

Date unknown.

Australian Lithuanian Archives, document No. PH1219

Date unknown.

Australian Lithuanian Archives, document No. PH0635

January 31, 1979

Lithuanian Central State Archives, archive No. 668, summary No. 1, file No. 226, page 73

Seated from left: J. Stepanas, G. Vasiliauskiene, J. Vaboliene, L. Gerulaitis.

Standing from left: J. Lasys, M. Pocius, J. Jonavicius, V. Neverauskas (Chairman of the ALC National Board).

1979–1980

Australian Lithuanian Archives

Adelaide, December 29–31, 1980

The XVII session of the Australian Lithuanian Community (ALC) National Council took place in Adelaide from December 29 to 31, 1980, at the Lithuanian House. That year, the Australian Lithuanian Community celebrated its 30th anniversary. During the session, an Honorary Presidium was formed, which included A. Mauragis and Father P. Butkus, the only remaining living members of the first ALC National Board.

In his report, the Chairman of the ALC National Board, V. Neverauskas, highlighted that during the term, the Board focused on defending the cause of Lithuanian freedom and promoting Lithuania's name among other communities. The visit of Simas Kudirka to Australia was also mentioned. With 1980 declared the Year of the Australian Lithuanian Community, a special issue of "Pasaulio Lietuvis" (World Lithuanian) was published, edited by V. Baltutis.

Lithuanian Central State Archives, archive No. 677, summary No. 1, file No. 147, page 54

Sydney, December 29–30, 1986

Lithuanian Central State Archives, archive No. 673, summary No. 2, file No. 262, page 32

Clipping from the newspaper “Musu pastoge”.

Australian Lithuanian Archives

From left: V. Baltutis, J. Jonavicius, J. Vaboliene, V. Neverauskas (Chairman of the ALC National Board), N. Alvikiene, I. Gerulaitis, J. Mockunas.

1988

Australian Lithuanian Archives