Ann used Google Translate and her English language skills to draft a translation, but asked our Lithuanian-speaking, Rosebery expert, Jonas Mockūnas, to clean up her efforts and thanks him for the result.
Aleksandras' story
The journey [to Australia] and the impressions it left were interesting for us, but they were not yet life in Australia itself.
Today, it has been two and a half months since we came to Australia, but we only started working on January 17. Until then, we lived in Bonegilla, 600 miles north of Victoria’s capital city, Melbourne, in an Australian Army camp, which in appearance did not differ much from the DP camps in Germany.
Only the nature is a bit different. There are so-called "gum trees" and other trees that look like willows. There are no spruces, pines, birches, maples, or other European trees here. Maybe they are grown as ornamental trees in gardens, parks, or near houses.
We were constantly visited by various journalists, bishops, photographers, filmmakers, ministers, and all sorts of people in the Bonegilla camp. During that time, we learned English, swam, had scout bonfires, played basketball, held swimming competitions, sailed, gave concerts, organized a three-nation show, and, most importantly, ate and dressed well.
At the beginning of January, they began to divide us into work groups. I, along with 6 other Lithuanians and 5 Latvians, ended up with the Tasmanian zinc mining company, Electrolytic Zinc. On January 17, we 12 were sent to Tasmania in planes as there was a seamen’s strike going on.
They settled us in northwestern Tasmania, about 12 miles from the Rosebery zinc mining town, in the middle of forests and wild mountains. The only road here is the railway. Rosebery is the only town that has no other communication than the railway, which is also run by a private company.
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| Uncredited, but highly likely to be Aleksas Gabecas' mind map of his trip to Rosebery Source: Skautu Aidas |
Currently the newspapers here write a lot about the use of emigrants for new road construction work.
As I mentioned, we live in the mountains and in impenetrable forests. Our camp is on the slope of a mountain and consists of 8 cabins and 2 tents. We live in pairs in the cabins, which really are only tin shacks as it is not cold here and the snow melts as soon as it falls in winter.
I happen to live with Romualdas Krausas, who is our camp cook and who also says hello to you. At the moment he is making Lithuanian pancakes and suggests that I try them. All right!
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| This drawing was captioned, 'Mūsų brolių stovyklos vartai Tasmanijoj', which can translate as 'The entrance to our camp in Tasmania' Source: Skautu Aidas |
Each day we travel 2 to 4 miles from our camp into the mountains to our workplaces. Here we cut, dig, clear, blast or burn the forest to build a new road to future large zinc mines. We work 40 hours a week. Every other week on Fridays, we get a free day to go shopping in Rosebery. We get paid for that day as well. Saturdays and Sundays are free from work. After all the deductions, we get five pounds and 15 shillings in our hands each week. Compared to others, we are quite well provided for.
The food is good, especially since one of us cooks it according to our preferences in a European way, because the Australians, despite having so many good things, don't really know what to do with them. In general they are backward, in music, in art, in clothing and in other areas. Everything that is modern and new comes from America or England.
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| Given the ladle crossed with the pickaxe, this looks like Aleksandras' rendition of the hut he shared with the group's cook, Romualdas Krausas -- note that the chimney is freestanding although approached from inside the hut, which is to offer the hut some protection if the chimney catches fire Source: Skautu Aidas |
In general, Australia is a land of great extremes and a new future. Even in the wild grasslands, forests and mountains you can see modern trains, buses, cars, etc.
Food here is quite cheap. You can live for a week on a pound. A man's suit costs from 4 to 10 pounds. If made by a tailor, the price would be from 10 to 20 pounds. Only those things that are imported from overseas are expensive here. For example, take musical instruments: an accordion costs from 20 to 100 pounds, a radio from 20 to 30 pounds. Watches are priced from 20 to 100 pounds, if they are gold, of course. Simple ones only cost from 10 to 30 pounds.
The only problem here is with accommodation. We and many mountain workers live in blocks or tin shacks, because the government does not allow the construction of any slum dwellings and cannot keep up with the demand for modern houses. However, the climate here is warm and many Australians are happy to live in tents during the summer.
If you met me, you wouldn't recognise me. Living far from the city, I have grown a beard, bought two guitars even, and a radio. In my free time I draw, play or write letters.
Tomorrow, is 16 February [Lithuania’s Independence Day]. With that day's earnings, we will send a parcel to Germany for other DPs and remember our homeland with those struggling there.
The most senior people in the zinc company have promised to come and listen to our songs and music. This evening we will rehearse.
In closing, I wish all fellow scouts fair winds and can report that the 12 Vyčiai [Rover Scouts] scattered throughout Australia have not forgotten their scout promise, no matter where they are.
I am always prepared!
Aleksandras Gabecas
SOURCE: Gabecas, Aleksandras (1948) '4. „Pažadėtoj Žemėj“ Australijoj' ('4. In the "Promised Land", Australia', in Lithuanian) Skautu Aidas (Scouting Echo), Augustdorf bei Detmold, Germany, 15 June, pp 30-31 https://www.spauda2.org/skautu_aidas/archive/1948/1948-Nr05-06-SKAUTU-AIDAS.pdf, accessed 24 July 2026.
