Kuno Toivo Mikkor was born on 22 April 1952 to parents Arnold and Asta. He was the oldest of three children with younger brother Alan and then sister Inga.
Kuno’s parents arrived in Australia from Estonia, just after the Second World War in 1949, and were sent to the Bonegilla migrant camp in Wodonga. They met the first day Asta arrived in Victoria and were married at Bonegilla six months later.
Kuno’s parents eventually settled in Pascoe Vale and when Kuno was old enough he attended Pascoe Vale Primary School before heading off to Oak Park High School.
At the completion of Year 12, or HSC as it was known back then, Kuno attended RMIT to complete his Article Clerk course and did so well he was offered a scholarship to complete a Law Degree at Melbourne University, which he accepted. Due to a number of extenuating circumstances Kuno never completed the course, instead opting to join the workforce starting with the Department of Civil Aviation and then a tannery in Northcote.
Kuno then went and worked at Maglia Clothing and Manufacturing before commencing work at CHL Apparel in Brunswick, where he worked for more than 20 years. When his career in the “rag trade” ended, he started his own small catering business – Esto Catering – that he ran for a number of years.
Kuno’s involvement with the Estonian community commenced with his love of sport, particularly basketball. He joined the local Estonian Sports Club “KODU” and played in their basketball teams through the 1970’s until they ended playing. In 1971 he joined the Sports Club Committee, moving on in 1972.
He returned in 1979 as the president of the sports club. Together with Matti Ainsaar and a revitalised Committee, he helped drive a resurgence in the fortunes of the sports club with increased participation in Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Team and a return of the Men’s Basketball Team. Membership in the sports club grew to about 80 people. During the period 1979 to 1989 the club experienced success in a number of competitions as well as organising fundraisers, themed balls, awards nights and major sporting events. Kuno held the president’s role until the 2000’s. During the time, he was the lead organiser of the 1979 XXIII Eesti Spordipäevad, 1981 XXIV Eesti Spordipäevad, and one of the main organisers of the sports program at ESTO88 in Melbourne.
Kuno Mikkor joined the Estonian House Co-operative Ltd Board in 2008 upon the retirement of his father Arno. He served as the secretary from 2015 to 2022. Kuno was also a key player in the Estonian House Social Club from 2013, serving behind the bar at every major event in the hall and Social Club gatherings. Kuno also spent some time in the Estonian Society of Melbourne leadership group in 1981/82 and 2017/18.
For his work in the community, Kuno Mikkor was awarded the Austraalia Eesti Seltside Liidu (Council of Estonian Societies in Australia) aukiri in 2023.
Kuno passed away quietly at home on 24 November 2025, aged 73. He leaves behind his wife Gabry, daughters Kylie and Rhia, son-in-laws James and Paulo, and grandchildren Alexandra, Elora, Ethan, Elijah, Isabelle and mother Asta Mikkor, 101 years.
