AUSTRALIAN LITHUANIAN FOUNDATION INC
AUSTRALIJOS LIETUVIØ FONDAS


Front row (from left): B.Staugaitis,
A.Ðimkus OAM (President), Dr. A. Butkus
Back row : A. Balbata, R.Samsonas
The Australian Lithuanian Foundation was incorporated in the State of Victoria on 1st December 1977. It succeeded the previously unincorporated "Australijos Lietuviø Fondas", which was formed by the Australian Lithuanian Community Federal Council in 1972. The Foundation's principal objects are defined in section 2(a) of its Memorandum of Association:

TO ENCOURAGE, SPONSOR AND FOSTER LITHUANIAN NATIONAL CULTURE, EDUCATION, ART, SCIENCE AND OTHER CULTURAL ACTIVITIES.


Initially, it was directly responsible to the Australian Lithuanian Community Federal Council and its Federal Executive. In its early years of activity, it encountered difficulties relating to bequests from estates as well as other issues. Hence the Community's Federal Council resolved that the most suitable solution to overcome such difficulties was to incorporate the organization. The most suitable laws for such action at the time appeared to be in the State of Victoria and thus it was incorporated on 1st December 1977.
Once incorporated, the Foundation legally became a totally independent organization, its Executive responsible to the members of the Foundation, providing accountability of its activities during Annual General Meetings in accordance with the provisions of its Constitution and the provisions of the Laws of Incorporation. It furnishes all the relevant annual reports of its activities to ASIC.
The Foundation's Executives have rigidly adhered to its objects over the years and has supported a very varied field of Lithuanian Cultural Activities. In particular Lithuanian choirs, folk dancing groups, theatre groups, fine arts and other forms of Lithuanian art have been the beneficiaries. It is difficult to imagine how some of these activities would be able to function at the present level without the Foundation's support. The Australian Lithuanian By-annual Cultural Festival is always supported by way of interest free loans to the organizing committees and in fact the operation of the committees is unofficially underwritten by the Foundation. In the case of the 2000 Festival in Sydney, it covered the losses incurred. It should be noted that donations to the Foundation of two dollars or more may be tax deductible.
The Foundation is administered by five elected honorary directors, for a period of two years - three one year and two the next. The present Board is as follows: Mr A. Ðimkus OAM - Chairman, Mrs B. Staugaitis - Vice Chairperson, Dr A. Butkus - Secretary, Mr A. Balbata - Treasurer and Mr R. Samsonas - Member.

Australian Lithuanian Foundation
c/o Melbourne Lithuanian Club
44 - 50 Errol Street
NORTH MELBOURNE VIC 3051.
Tel: (03) 9578 4319
Email: simkus@ozemail.com.au

Sydney Representative:
Mr V. Ðliogeris
51 Tallawalla Street
BEVERLEY HILLS, NSW 2209
Tel: (02) 9502 4263.

Text prepared by A.P. Ðimkus OAM Director - Chairman