Welcome
The Latvian Association of South Australia (Adelaides Latviesu Biedriba) was formed on January 15, 1949 by more than 40 Latvian immigrants, many of whom had arrived on the former WWII troop carrier, the Nea Hellas.
Inspired by the Latvian Association of Riga (1868) the aim of the "Association" in SA is to keep alive Latvian culture and traditions, while at the same time providing help for those who need help doing it.
Originally called the Latvian Club of South Australia Incoporated, the name was changed to the Latvian Benevolent Society in 1985 and then in 1987 changed again to its current name.
Membership peaked in the 1980's with more than 300, but now numbers around 190.
Latvian Community centre
The ALB Flag
The ALB motto
Activities
The Latvian Association of South Australia organises a range of activities through its numerous associate organisations.
On November 13 and 14th, the Latvian Community marked its Independence Day and Proclamation Day anniversaries with two functions at the Latvian Hall in Wayville.
You can watch a video of the occasion here.
Independence Day Nov 2009
VIPS @ Independence Day
Independence Day performance
A date for your diary:
Rosme Christmas Lunch: Tuesday December 1, from 11am in the ALB Meeting room.
36 Rose Terrace, Wayville. Bookings essential. Please call 817 20 820 to reserve your place.
The Latvian Hertiage Mueum has been a part of the Association for almost 37 years and its current curator is Mara Kolomitsev.
It is open to the public on the final Saturday of each month from 10am-2pm or by appointment, and features national costumes, jewellery, and of course a history of Latvian settlement in South Australia.
Rosme is a sub-secton of the Latvian Women's Auxiliary committee which meets monthly to provide social support for the elderly.
Click on the link above or at the top of the page to see what activities Rosme provides for its elderly members.
LAIMA performs one of the most imporant functions of the Latvian Association of South Australia.
Its core activity is the Home and Community Care program which offers support, information, advice, referral and advocacy services to enable elderly members of Adelaide's Latvian community to live at home.
Click on the link above or at the top of the page to see what activities LAIMA provides for its elderly members.
Formed in 1951, the Adelaide Latvian mixed choir has been instrumental (yes it is a bad joke!) in preserving Latvian culture.
Numbers have diminished in recent years but the choir still numbers around 40 and most recently performed at the Latvian Proclamation Day celebrations on November 14.
"Latviesu Gramatnica" is the name of the Latvian bookshop, but if you visit it, you will see there are more than just books for sale.
Offering a range of Latvian books, music, greeting cards, newspaper and magazine susbcriptions, at "Latviesu Gramatnica" you can also buy Latvian Arts and Crafts.
WIth a collection of more than 3,500 books, the library offers a range of literature including newspapers and magazines.
The Library is open each Saturday from 9:30am--noon and the bookshop from 10am-2pm each Saturday.
There are numerous other Latvian organisations that are not directly linked to the ALB SA but we consider them "partners."
These include The Latvian Hall, the Church, The Latvian Saturday School and the Latvian Relief Society.
Click on the link above to find out more.
