The demographics of the Lithuanian Community in N.S.W. indicate that the vast majority of Lithuanians reside within the Sydney Metropolitan area and its surrounds. The next larger groupings are located in Newcastle and Wollongong and within their geographic areas. Firm statistical data on the Lithuanian Community in N.S.W. is difficult to compile. Address lists held by the Chaplain, the Sydney Lithuanian Club Ltd, subscribers lists held by the publishers of the Lithuanian Weekly "Musu Pastoge", and organisation membership lists etc. are but a guide.
The only firm statistics available on the size of the Lithuanian Community are those obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1991 Census. The Census data indicates that there were approximately 1387 respondents indicating Lithuania as their Birthplace. These statistics do not include those who are born in other countries, such as Poland, Russia, Germany and so forth. Knowledge of the community profile suggests that the numbers are swelled when these people are included. A number of the community members were born outside of Lithuania during the war years; how they are treated within the statistics is an unknown.
Data on offspring is difficult to interpret, however, if the offspring by father of a mother born in Lithuania are reviewed, 3325 offspring are found. Conversely, if offspring by mother of a father born in Lithuania are reviewed, 2715 offspring are found. If offspring from both mother and father born in Lithuania are reviewed the figures decrease to 1997. (Source - 1991 Census data). This would suggest that the nominal size of the Community is in the order of 4102 to 4712 offspring plus the given 1387 original immigrants. A total of over 6000 people. Ultimately, the lack of heritage data makes it particularly difficult to arrive at an accurate figure for the size of the Community. Though the ABS has been pressed to include the heritage question into the next Census it has declined to do so. The Lithuanian Community Executive regrets this decision. The Community itself lacks the resources to effect a survey that could lead to a more accurate determination of target Community size.
A principal characteristic of the original Lithuanian migrants to Australia is their rapid ageing. This is not only resulting in a decline of Community size, but also has a significant impact on the mainstream life and activities of the Community. The issues raised by the ageing of Community members are discussed below.
A further characteristic of the Community is the declining and weakening language base. Inter-marriage within the broader Australian Society results in language loss or weakening. The numbers of Community members who have strong to medium Lithuanian language skills is still significant, but is being rapidly eroded. This has significance on the operation of the Community. Apart from making it difficult to fill positions where strong language skills are required, (SBS Radio, Language Teachers, Translation Services, Trade areas etc.), it impacts in areas such as subscription rates for Lithuanian Newspapers, and is changing the internal operation of Lithuanian Community organisations. Continuing weakening and loss of language skills can ultimately be disadvantageous to Australia.
Active participation within the Lithuanian Community structures in N.S.W. is estimated to be roughly in the order of 20% to 25% of the estimated total size of the Community. The participation rate is measured by, and reflected within, attendance's at Community functions, Church services, Club memberships, subscriptions, and similar.
There are some 29 active organisations within the Lithuanian Community in N.S.W. The majority of these organisations operate under the umbrella of the Australian Lithuanian Community - Sydney. An extensive, though not necessarily comprehensive, listing of these organisations is attached as Appendix A. These organisations provide services, cultural, social, sporting, and recreational opportunities for, as well as attempting to meet the needs of, Community members.
The majority of the organisations enjoy strong membership, the size of which is dictated by their particular field of activity. The Sydney Lithuanian Club has the broadest range of membership, spanning across many age groups and independent of language skills. The Club provides facilities for Community organisations to meet and pursue their objectives. It also provides, through annual donations, some of the funds required by the organisations to meet their operating expenses.
Folk dance groups, the Choir, Lithuanian Scouts, and the Sports Club are also strongly supported by the Lithuanian Community. These organisations participate actively within the functions organised for the Lithuanian Community by the ALC Executive Committee. These organisations also participate actively in the cultural and sporting life of N.S.W. Excluding the Choir which has some younger members, the above organisations primarily draw their membership from the youth of the Lithuanian Community. The work of these organisations receives active and financial support from the ALC Executive Committee.
The weakest of the listed organisations is the Lithuanian Saturday School. This School caters for the teaching of the Lithuanian language and culture to the younger members of the Community. Though reasonable enrolments can be arranged, difficulties with finding Teaching staff and obtaining resources often results in the non-operation of this vital grass-roots level School. Funding is purely from donations and grants from the ALC Executive Committee. Current issues relating to the Saturday School are discussed in more detain in section 5.2.1 below.
From the initial days of their arrival as migrants to Australia, the Australian Lithuanian Community has effectively been self-funding. Through self-help and donations from savings, the Community has developed its facilities infrastructure and financed the working of its organisations, cultural and sporting festivals, schools, scout movement, publications and other areas of life. This has been underpinned by the work, saving, self-help and donation ethic that they brought with them on their arrival from Lithuania. There has been, and has survived to this day, a strong belief in their identity, culture and value systems. None of these run counter to the main stays of Australian life. Recognition of the way the Community has effectively look after its own needs over the past 47 years needs to be recognised at all levels of Australian government and society. This is an exemplary model that many other migrant groups should attempt to emulate.
It goes without saying that the period when the community members arrived in Australia was not at all times favourable to the maintenance of an ethnic identity. There was a distinct period in Australian life when the principles of rapid assimilation, rather than integration, were espoused. Funding of ethnic life, of community needs, was not all that readily available. Changing attitudes within Australia did not have a major impact on the way the Community continued to finance its activities. It has been a sore point with the community that at various periods in time their personal thrift in relation to demands on the funding infrastructure of Australia has not been recognised and given appropriate weighting.
Examples of the efforts the N.S.W. Lithuanian Community put in are seen in the construction of its primary social and cultural centre, the Sydney Lithuanian Club Ltd in Bankstown, the construction of its retirement centre for the aged at Engadene. The establishment and maintenance of the weekly newspaper "Musu Pastoge", the development of the Credit Union "Talka" (in association with Lithuanians residing in other States), and support of the "Australian Lithuanian Foundation" the primary function of which is to finance cultural ventures through its investment income.
The Sydney Lithuanian Club Ltd. houses the Community Library, Credit Union, Newspaper, Museum, and the Sydney Consulate of the Republic of Lithuania. The Club also provides the facilities for the Lithuanian Saturday School, meeting rooms and auditoria for Community functions, and contributes from profits some of the funding requirements that underpin organisational activities.
Regardless of the substantial efforts made by the Community over the years, the ageing of the original migrant group and the changing demographic profile of the Community now introduces new challenges for the Community. These issues are discussed in section 5.4 below.