Juris Ruņģis

1942
Physicist, significant public and culture worker

Juris Rungis was born on 6 May 1942 in Latvia. He started his school studies in Germany and continued them in Canberra, Australia. He studied physics at the Australian National University, obtaining a bachelor’s degree (1963) and then a Master's degree (1965) in physics. In 1969 he was awarded a PhD in Physics from the University of Western Australia. He worked for many years at the National Measurement Institute in various senior positions. In the professional field, he has represented Australia in international organisations and has received several International Electrotechnical Commission awards.

At an early age Rungis discovered his love for dance – he started dancing folk dances in Canberra dance group “Sprigulitis”, and in 1970 he took over the leadership of Sydney Latvian folk dance group "Jautrais paris" (the Merry Couple) together with Sane Upeniece. In 1976, Rungis together with his companions founded the ensemble “Saules josta”, with which he staged dozens of performances, successfully completed seven foreign tours, taking part in various concerts, song festivals and song days organised by exiled Latvians as well as song festivals in Latvia (1990 and 1993). By preparing dance performances, Rungis has helped hundreds of young people to enter the world of Latvian folklore, creating and fostering in them a deep sense of Latvianness.

Under Rungis’ direction, “Jautrais paris” has participated in all Australian Latvian Culture Days and Youth Days, numerous folklore festivals at the Sydney Opera House, joint performances with other Latvians, and has also performed in countless Latvian events in Sydney.

Rungis has talked about Latvian folklore at seminars and courses in Australia and Latvia and has choreographed about forty folk dances.

In 1971 he founded and until 1983 directed the magazine “Pa Dejas Celu” ("On the Path of Dance"). In 1981 he started and for ten years led the 3x3 movement in Australia.

In addition, Rungis has been actively involved in the work of Latvian public organisations in exile, assuming leading positions. He was the Chairman of the Latvian Association of Australia and New Zealand (LAANZ) Cultural Fund (1982–1984 and 2000–2003), Chairman of the LAANZ Presidium in Sydney (2009–2011), Board Member of the World Association of Free Latvians as well as a long-standing representative of the Latvian Foundation in Australia.

Rungis has also been involved in the management and organisation of the Australian Latvian Culture Days - he was the chairman of the organising committee of the 42nd Australian Latvian Culture Days in Sydney (1992) and the leader of folk-dance performances at the 29th, 46th and 49th Culture Days in Sydney (1979, 1997, 2002). He received the Certificate of Appreciation of the Latvian Association of Australia and New Zealand (1992). Awarded the Order of the Three Stars, IV Rank (2007).


Information sources

Austrālijas trimdas latviešu sabiedriski kulturālās dzīves kopsavilkums faktos un skaitļos. (b.g.). statistika.pdf (historia.lv)

Dariusa, S. (2007, jūnijs). Latvijas valsts atzinība Dr. Jurim Ruņģim. Ritums, 639, 25.–26. Ritums, Nr.639 (01.06.2007) (periodika.lv)

LAAJ vēsture. (b.g.). LAAJ vēsture – Latviešu apvienība Austrālijā un Jaunzēlandē