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   Being an Australian Lithuanian   

   Everyone seems to know at least one Lithuanian in Australia   
   Find out more about our community
Community centres
We love Basketball

Sport

Played in every State
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Colourful characters

Arts

Craftsfolk and Artists
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Giving back

Community

Helping others
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AUSTRALIAN LITHUANIAN COMMUNITY

Kultūrinė veikla
Cultural activities

Australijos lietuvių bendruomenės veikla daugiausiai plėtojasi kultūros srityje. Išskirtiniu ir vienu iš didžiausių projektų galima laikyti Australijos Lietuvių Dienas. Jų programą sudaro Dainų šventė, Tautinių šokių šventė, teatro spektakliai, meno ir tautodailės parodos, įvairių atlikėjų koncertai. 

The activities of the Australian/Lithuanian community have most evolved in the field of culture. One of the largest projects are the Australian Lithuanian Days, occurring once every 2 years. The program consists of a Song Festival, a Folk Dance Festival, theatrical performances, art and folk art exhibitions along with various concert performances. Every year, we have a Sports Festival

LATEST NEWS

and blogs
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BOOKS left in your care

and blogs

As more of the older generation pass on, people are asking what to do with the Lithuanian books left in their care. These days more and more people are accessing books digitally and very few of those of Lithuanian descent born in Australia will read books in Lithuanian.

So what do you do with the books?

Here’s a great idea – read on ->

About Australian Lithuanians
Our input
From politicians to sportspeople
Lithuanian Centres
Where to find the community centres
Almost all States are represented
Scouting activities
Based on the foundations of Sir Baden-Powell, our scouting activities bring communal respect along with the traditional learnings of honesty, integrity and respect to our children.
Folk Dancing
Folk dancing is entrenched in our society
Just born and already dancing
Kugelis
A wondrous feel-good food

How many dishes can you get from
a POTATO ?

From pancakes to zeppelins, the way you cut/shred/chop a potato dictates the flavour
Recipes
Welcome to our
"Litho Club"s
A weekend getaway
Try some of the traditional recipes
Music &
Choirs
The Lithuanian Song Festival
Audio books
Education & Schooling
Open study schooling
Our language descends from 4,000 years and our little nation has fought the complete annihilation of it from years of Russian oppression, we are proud of the heritage and have schools to ensure its ongoing survival. Read further >
Free classes
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Scouting
a global phenomenon

Scouting became a wonderful way of gathering our children and teaching the principals of respect for nature, our heritage and for each other.

The Australian/Lithuanianscouting movement bases its principles on the worldwide scouting organisation instituted by Sir Baden Powell in 1908.

The mission of Lithuanian scouting is to provide children of Lithuanian descent a framework in which to build character and grow into responsible citizens through the philosophy of scouting.

With a focus on Lithuanian culture, traditions, and language, using physical as well as intellectual activities, scouting has been an integral part of our youth growing into responsible adults.

VideoScouts re-enact the era when Russia banned books in and of Lithuanian content

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Lithuanian-born L/As
Census 2011 - immigrants
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Lithuanian Australians by descent
Census result 2011
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Largest population
is in Victoria

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Further links

Historical Pathways

Documentation project of arrivals from Lithuania
Our arrivals
Passages
by boat
a work in progress
Soon
Profiles
people
Colourful personalities
Read more
Latest
News
New News!
Our eldest citizen

Our influencing light
Who and where? 

With a foreign tongue and new set of eyes, how have Lithuanians contributed to our new land?

How have we integrated into society in Australia?

Who have been some of our leading lights?

Leading Lights, amalgamating into the broader community

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About our motherland

Modern day emigres from Lithuania follow career paths and opportunities not always available back in Lithuania. They make up a new style of Australian, bringing with them new cultural connections for our local communities.

Lithuania
Where and what? 

Wedged in between Germany, Poland and Russia, Lithuania has a 99 km coastline along the South-Eastern elbow of the Baltic Sea.

Lithuania’s total land area is 65,200 sq km – not much different to that of Tasmania, yet is populated much more densely: its present population is about 3.2 million.

Lithuanians speak an ancient Indo-European tongue and is a cousin to modern Latvian. Viewed more broadly, Lithuanian is related to Ancient Greek, Latin and Sanskrit which is the oldest known member of the Indo-European family.

Visit Lithuania

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We are third generation Australian Lithuanians and support both cultures with a passion,

Mano žmona, kuri yra lietuvė, o aš australas – bendruomenė padėjo užauginti mano vaikus

Dennis and Aldona, March 12-22, 2018

As a first generation Australian Lithuanian, I am proud to say that both countries are better off having the wonderful dialogue that we now share with both our cultures.

Algis, September 04-16, 2018

We are a volunteer basis community, some response delays may occur

List of community houses throughout Australia
Email the AustralianLithuanians

Lithuanian Scouting Jamborees

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Celebrating 75 years of Lithuanian Scouting in Australia

From the series for Mūsu Pastogė by Dovilė Zduobiėnė

At the end of 1958, upon the initiative of the District Council, the first gathering of all District Scouts took place – the IV National Camp, held from December 28, 1958, to January 9, 1959, in Mornington, Victoria. The camp was led by Scoutmaster B. Dainutis, assisted by a staff composed of Melbourne scouts. About 200 scouts from Adelaide, Brisbane, Geelong, Melbourne, and Sydney attended the gathering. During the III LSS Australian Region Leaders’ Meeting held at that time, it was decided to organize larger District camps every two years.

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Jamboree Badges throughout the years

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The first District Camp took place in Ingleburn in 1960, from December 29 to January 10. A total of 178 scouts from all District units participated. The camp was overseen by Commissioner A. Krausas.

The commemorative 45th anniversary “Vilnius” camp (additional) of the LSS took place from January 2 to 11, 1963, in Mt. Crawford, SA, with 210 participants. The camp was led by Commissioner V. Neverauskas.

The second District Camp was held in Wonga Park, Victoria, from January 2 to 13, 1965, with 165 participants. Scout Leader L. Baltrūnas was in charge of the camp.

The third District Camp, “Neringa,” took place in Ingleburn, NSW, with the participation of 132 scouts. Commissioner V. Neverauskas served as the camp leader.

The fifth National Camp was held in Mt. Crawford, SA, from January 3 to 13, 1969, with 177 participants. Dr. A. Mauragis served as the camp leader.

The fourth District Camp, “Nemunas,” took place in Wonga Park, Victoria, from January 2 to 13, 1971, with approximately 160-180 scouts. Commissioner A. Karpavičius was the camp leader until January 5, after which Vl. Stasiliūnas assumed the role.

The commemorative 55th anniversary camp and the 25th anniversary camp of the District took place from January 3 to 13, 1973, in Ingleburn, NSW, at the “Aušros” campsite. A total of 167 scouts participated, with Commissioner Dr. A. Mauragis as the camp sponsor and Scout Leader B. Barkus as the camp leader.

The fifth District Camp, “Trakai,” was held in Houghton, SA, from January 3 to 13, 1975, with Commissioner J. Vanagas as the camp sponsor and Assistant Scout Leader V. Ilgūnas as the camp leader.

The sixth National Camp took place at the beginning of 1978 in Gilwell Park, Victoria. It involved 300 scouts from all over Australia and over 100 scouts from the United States, Canada, England, and Brazil. The camp was attended by numerous high-ranking officials. Scout Leader H. Antanaitis led the sixth National Camp, with Dr. A. Mauragis as the camp sponsor. The camp was filmed by television stations, mentioned on the radio, and described in local and American press. A camp film was made, and a camp newspaper called “Miško aidas” (Forest Echo) was published. Bruce Gorney, the chairman of the World Scout Committee, came from Switzerland to congratulate the camp.

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Adelaide Scouts circa 1960

VII – The 7th Regional Olegas Truchanas Camp: January 2-14, 1979, at the “Aušra” campsite in Ingleburn, NSW. The camp had 90 participants and was led by Scout Leader A. Mauragis.
VIII – The 8th Regional “Land of Heroes” Camp: January 2-11, 1981, at the “Woodhouse” campsite in Picadilly, SA. It had 100 scouts and was led by Scout Leader B. Barkus. LSB Chief Scout V. Vidugiris also camped together. During the camp, the “Oak” – “Amber” Leader courses were held, conducted by leaders from these schools who arrived from the USA, Scout Leaders R. Fabijonas and V. Aleknienė.
IX – The 9th Regional “Our Lithuania” Camp: January 3-12, 1983, at Gilwell Park, Victoria. It had 100 scouts and was led by Scout Leader D. Čižauskienė, with the camp supported by Regional Leader A. Pocius.
X – The 10th Regional “Baublio Aid” Camp: January 2-12, 1985, near the Murumbidgee River, close to Canberra. It had 100 scouts and was led by Assistant Scout Leader M. Mauragis.
XI – The 11th Regional “King Mindaugas” Camp: January 2-11, 1987, at Mt. Keira, NSW. It had 100 brothers and sisters, and the camp was led by Sister M. Cox.
VII – The 7th National Camp: January 2-10, 1989, in the Mylor area, South Australia. It had 82 scouts and was led by Assistant Scout Leader D. Baltutytė.
XII – The 12th Regional “Revival” Camp: January 2-12, 1991, in Geelong, Victoria. It had around 110 campers and was led by Brother N. Ramanauskas.
The 75th anniversary jubilee camp of LSS : January 2-10, 1993, at Camp Coutts near the town of Waterfall, NSW. It had around 110 scouts and was led by Sister E. Žižytė-Garrick.
XV – The 15th Regional “Aušra” Camp (with the inclusion of National and jubilee camps, the numbering of camps changed): January 2-11, 1995, at Loftia Park, near Adelaide. It had 98 scouts and was led by Assistant Scout Leader A. Pocius.

The 50th anniversary camp of LSS in the Australian Region was organized from January 2-11, 1997, at Gilwell Park, Victoria. It had around 130 scouts, including a guest from the USA, the Chairman of the LSS Council, Scout Leader B. Banaitienė, and guest Scout Leader Father A. Saulaitis. On the 50th anniversary day of the region (January 5), the Chief Scout Leader of Victoria’s scouts, representatives of Polish, Latvian, and Estonian scouts, as well as a group of scout veterans from the early days of the region, visited the camp. The camp was led by Scout Leader N. Ramanauskas.

The regional camps continued, with the last one taking place in January 2023 at Pennant Hills, Sydney, under the leadership of “Aušra” wolf cub pack leader Scout Leader Kristina Rupšiene.

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December 1960, dugout table with its decorations at the Ingleburne 1st National Jamboree

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