This is a recent picture of me (centre) with two good friends Peter McNamara(left)
and Wally Burford (right) on our way home from a social weekend at Busselton
in the south west of Western Australia.
I and a group of my workmates and friends have been going on this weekend every year since 1975.It began as a fishing trip to Jurien Bay and has now become a general social weekend which includes touring the Margaret River wineries.
My name is Arvydas Jonas Pisarskis, I was born in Panevezys, Lithuania, and migrated with my parents to Australia at the end of WWII (1949). Originally we settled in Porepunkah (near Bright in Victoria). In 1952 we moved to Geelong where my Father gained employment with Ford Australia, and then entered into his chosen occupation as a carpenter with numerous building contractors. I went to school in Geelong until 1963 when I started work in Melbourne with the Crown Law Department of Victoria (Titles Office).
Hearing about the great progress and expansion occuring in Western Australia I decided to try my luck and in 1968 moved to Perth. I began my employment with PMG (now Telstra) within the Country Exchange Installation Section. This gave me the opportunity to see this beautiful State.
I met June Haagensen at the end of 1969. June is of Danish and English decent and is an absolutely wonderful person. We were married in January, 1972 and have raised 3 fantastic children, Kathy (born in 1973), Matthew (born/deceased 1975), Steve (born in 1976) and Mark (born in 1981) who does most of the work on this website.
Since 1973 I have worked with the Police Department, Department of Motor Vehicles, Police Licensing, now the Department of Transport, Licensing Division. June works as a Medical Scientist at Royal Perth Hospital's Transfusion Medicine Unit. Kathy works for the Commonwealth Government, while Steve works in the Department of Transport at Midland Licensing Centre. Mark is studying for his University Entrance Exams.
Having lived in Western Australia while my parents and Brother Algy and his family remained in Geelong has meant that I have had to make numerous trips to Geelong via the Nullarbor. Many people still fear this journey, but as the road is now totally sealed and there are many Road Houses (hotels and motels) along the way, it is no longer such an arduous trip. I recommend this drive to everybody. The scenery in places is spectacular, especially across the Great Australian Bight.
On one of these trips eastward in 1975, June and I took a ten day holiday to Tasmania and were captivated by our island state. We have made two subsequent trips with our children in 1985 and in 1989. On both of these trips we travelled around Tasmania in a large motor home, staying at many caravan parks. At the end of this year (1998) we are going to return to Tasmania for a three week trip. This time we will be travelling over on the Spirit of Tasmania and taking our own vehicle (Toyota Tarago). We will be staying in self contained family accommodation at nine different locations. See my Touring Tasmania page for more details.
I hope you enjoy my website. Any questions or comments please forward to this e-mail address - pisarskisa@hotmail.com