Lithuanian Rotarians thank Aussie members for help during freedom struggle

Baltic nation Lithuania lost its Rotary clubs when occupied by the USSR, but it came back into the fold decades later with some help from Australia.

Lithuanian Rotary leader Jurgita Turuliene with from left Melbourne Rotarians Greg Ross, Balys Stankunavicius and Ron Payne. Picture: Ray Vysniauskas

When Baltic nation Lithuania was fighting for its freedom in the early 1990s it had big problems rejoining international organisations such as Rotary.

But it got help from Australian Rotarians who intervened in an international dispute with the USSR which was trying to stop countries like Lithuania from going their own way.

More than 30 years after Lithuania won its independence from Moscow, the small nation’s Rotary leaders are here in Melbourne to give thanks to local members who helped them.

Lithuanian Rotary leader Jurgita Turuliene with from left Melbourne Rotarians Greg Ross, Balys Stankunavicius and Ron Payne. Picture: Ray Vysniauskas

Over the weekend they met up at the Rotary International Convention and also were hosted at the Lithuanian community centre in North Melbourne by local Rotarian Balys Stankunavicius.

In 1990, Mr Stankunavicius was asked by then Lithuanian PM Kazimiera Prunskiene to lobby for her country to rejoin Rotary after the Soviet occupiers had banned the organisation for 50 years..

Mr Stankunavicius said that global Rotary leaders, under pressure from the USSR, were initially reluctant to give the green light to Lithuania for fear of offending Moscow.

“It was outrageous because the things that Rotary espouses were destroyed by the Soviet Union, and when Lithuania wanted to go back in it was Moscow controlling whether Lithuania could join or not,” he said.

“I spoke to my Rotary mates in Melbourne about what was going on and they were furious.”

“Australian District Governor Greg Ross and Toorak Rotary president Les Goldman led a vigorous campaign on Lithuania’s behalf, bombarding Rotary International headquarters with supporting letters.”

Former Lithuanian PM Kazimiera Prunskiene speaking to the nation's then president Vytautas Landsbergis during the independence struggle. Picture: Supplied

It paid off because in 1992 Rotary returned to Lithuania for the first time since World War II.

Mr Ross, who starred in the TV show Cop Shop, said he had felt compelled to help Lithuania in its time of need.

“It’s wonderful to know that something you just did that you thought was right had this wonderful impact,” he said.

“And to see that for a small population, Lithuania,is so strong in Rotary.”

Rotary Lithuania district governor Jurgita Turuliene said that Mr Ross and Mr Stankunavicius had played a key role in her nation’s Rotary history.

“So it’s amazing to be be here in Melbourne to thank them,” she said.

“We are proud because Rotary in Lithuania is growing and we have a high percentage of young members.”

Incoming local district governor Ron Payne said he wanted to maintain links with Lithuanian Rotarians and help develop projects to benefit both countries.