On Sunday the 21st of April, the Melbourne Estonian Society held a small gathering at the Estonian House. There were two good reasons to celebrate. The society’s much loved treasurer of 30 years, Milvi Vaikma, received a lifetime contribution award. The members of the Melbourne Estonian Ladies Choir together with conductor Hilja Toom were also recognised for their ongoing commitment to sharing their love of Estonian music with audiences across Australia. Both the choir and the ladies’ folk dance group “Sügislilled” contributed with great performances. There were champagne, tasty food, and interesting chats around the tables.
– Kristel Alla, Melbourne Estonian Society
Event Speech
“Milvi, Thank you for your 30 years of service as Treasurer to the Melbourne Estonian Society. And no doubt there were many years preceding that when you became involved in the community with Taevo.
You met Taevo in Adelaide and moved here after marrying him, where you became an energetic duo – vibrant, creative and builders of a repertoire of Estonian performing arts. The pair of you, with your friends, set the cultural marker, when it came to performance through drama, comedy, cabaret, singing and dancing. Taevo was not only a performer with you, but a creator of songs and choreography, who also designed and built the sets, along with the design and production of advertising posters for the shows.
You were both members of the choir and the folk dancing group, a member of Käsitöö and then you became the folk dancing teacher for the women’s group. As a group we have enjoyed ourselves immensely, not only through dancing, but sharing stories, differences of opinion and lots of laughter. But today we give recognition to your greatest contribution as Treasurer of Ühing.
You have kept the books for the Society in pristine order. You have always been able to give pertinent, important financial information when asked, often on the spot without prior notice. You have always reported objectively on the effects of any decision on the financial progress of the society. You have always been able to satisfy members, through the annual auditor’s report, that their funds have been managed honestly and effectively.
In recent years you have needed to learn the ins and outs of internet banking. A stressful, but necessary experience at times (given Covid) but you achieved it with success, and I think confidence. Milvi hands over the books, in the black, to the new 2024 Treasurer Ingrid Provan and Gaby Mikkor.
Thanks, Milvi for your dedication and all your work.”
–– Bernadette Pilli, Melbourne Estonian Society
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