A prominent Sydney Estonian resident, Mrs Valentina Craig, has recently had her biography “Valentina, my little Russian Princess” published.
Mrs Craig, now aged 92, fled the Russian Revolution as a child and immigrated to Estonia (her father’s birthplace) and then Australia in 1927 after doctors advised of a warmer climate to treat her tuburculosis. Her father, Alexander Selg, helped with catering for the Estonia Society in Sydney and was active in Estonian community. He operated several delicatessens including one in Miller St, North Sydney.
Her story is full of poignant accounts of struggle contrasted with some very funny accounts, such as her father being thrown off Bondi Beach for indecency in 1927 – for innocently arriving in a Tarzan style lap lap. They also lived in rented rooms of a high class prostitute who worked from home -without realising her profession.
Valentina was refused entry to Sydney University to study law because the Dean felt clients would not trust a “migrant and a woman”. Valentina has led an eclectic life; she was a close friend of photographer, the late Max Dupain for whom she also modelled. Her story begins in Russia before the Communist Revolution and covers the hardships of the Great Depression in Sydney. It also touches on WWII – her first husband Jim was a bombardier on Halifax bombers during the Battle of Britain. He was killed in a crash 10 days before Germany surrendered, leaving Valentina a widow with a young daughter, Julie.
She established an orchid nursery in Sutherland Shire and helped found export cut flower industry. She was a member of the Sutherland Hospital committee and marched on Parliament house to secure funding.
When bushfires threatened homes in Loftus she passed the hat around and bought materials to make a shed to house fire-fighting implements which locals used to fight fires. This was the humble start of the Loftus volunteer bushfire brigade. From her first Ave Loftus nursery, Valentina helped pioneer the export of orchid cut flowers to USA and Europe. She became a world renowned orchid breeder and travel to China to lecture at universities, and was in Tiananmen Square just before the infamous massacre.
The biography has been compiled by former Sutherland Shire Council press officer, Jon Woodworth with assistance from Valentina’s granddaughter Mrs Melita Williams.
“This is a story of a migrant girl who as a ‘new Australian’, struggled to find her place in Australian society,” Jon said.
Copies of the book ($15) can be obtained from the Estonian Archives in Australia , Estonian House, 141 Campbell St. Surry Hills or ordered by email, archives@eesti.org.au. Please add $5 postage and handling if not collecting the book.