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Queensland Latvians started to gather together in 1949 in church services. The first church service for Latvians was held on November 24, 1949 in German language by Minister Ramer. 54 Latvians attended the church service. On January 14, 1950 mixed choir was founded under the leadership of E.Kalums. In 1950 E.Kalums founded Brisbane Latvians’ choir and men double quartet. On January 28 and March 18, 1950 Latvian meetings were organised, where the participants decided to call the Brisbane Latvian Association’s foundation meeting. It took place on April 1, 1950. In the meeting 56 Latvians participated. The foundation meeting took place in the Australian Lutherans’ Bethlehem parish meeting premises Brisbane „Fortitude Valley”. The association established mixed choir „Beverīna”, library, arranged Latvians’ House. In 1950 the BLA theatre group started its work. In 1954 the theatre group was taken over by Daugavas Vanagi (Daugava Hawks). In October of 1951 the BLA founded the folk dance group “Senatne” (Olden Times) with 14 participants. Its leader was Gaida Stendere and pianist Maksimilians Sprīvulis. The number of dancers rapidly grew. “Senatne” participated in many events in Brisbane and whole Australia. With reducing of the number of participants “Senatne” ended its existence in 2000. In 1954 the BLA founded Youth Group. For many years the Youth Group organised readings about Latvian language, history, literature and music. The Youth Group does not exist anymore. Also Literates Group works in the BLA. Under the wing of the association were organised eight Australian Latvians’ Culture Days. Source: www.rlb.lv/latvian-organizations-and-schools-abroad/brisb...

This church, built in 1935, is the oldest purpose-built Orthodox Russian Church within the oldest Russian Orthodox parish in Australia. The small community who were the original members were refugees fleeing from totalitarianism and war in Russia, Europe, and China. With the Gabba becoming the settling place for Russian immigrants in the early 20th century (except for the civil war from 1918-22 when practically all Russian migration was halted), two other places of worship sprang up including the Russian Orthodox Church of St Seraphim in Hawthorne St and in the 1970’s the English language Holy Annunciation Church in Park Rd. The church was consecrated by a Greek archbishop as there was still not a Russian one in Australia and the royal gates and internal iconostasis (timber screen) were built by Russian immigrants while the icons and chandeliers came from Russia or China. Inside there can also be found a shrine to Tsar Nicholas II. There are no pews or chairs inside the cathedral and the congregation stands, as they have since it opened, while the smell of incense wafts through the air. Candles burn before the icons and on the altar and worship here is still conducted in the liturgical language, Church Slavonic. Source: www.mustdobrisbane.com/visitor-info-arts-culture-history/...

Australia To Send Medical Aid To Russia CANBERRA, Thursday. — As another measure of practical aid to Russia, the War Cabinet decided today to send a range of important medical supplies to Russia immediately. The supplies will be available either for military or civilian use. The Prime Minister (Mr. Curtin) said tonight that the Russian authorities had provided a list of. medical supplies which they wanted from outside sources. An exportable surplus of a number of the supplies was available in Australia, and a quota would be made available to Russia at once. Mr. Curtin added, that the Government had directed the Repatriation Commission to regulate and to approve whatever appeals for monetary aid to Russia it favored. Money collected in these appeals would be' used in other countries to purchase medical supplies, needed by Russia, but which could not be supplied from Australia. Source: The Courier-Mail, 31 Oct 1941 trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/41922399