24th April 2020
Aged 92 years
Dearly loved wife of 70 years of Daniel (dec). Loving mother and mother-in-law of Heino and Alexanrda, Hillar and Vera, Harry and Fiona. Very much loved grandmother and great-grandmother.
A faithful servant of her Lord
In Memoriam – Leilli Ling
April Milestone Birthdays – Happy 99th Birthday August
August celebrated his 99th birthday on the 5th of April, 2020.
He celebrated at home, with not so many younger people around him, as he is used to.
He still has some Estonians living at his lovely home, giving him company and helping along with some cleaning. August spends well deserved peaceful days at his home environment, as he has assisted so much in the past – donating towards Eesti Paevad, Estonian performers, Estonian Newspaper, bus trips from Estonian House, etc. August’s meat pies (pirukad) were at every choir rehearsal, August’s cooking was at every Estonian House event. Out of Estonian House he has been strong environmentalist.
August has written his memoirs, and he has written about his life philosophy – he has a strong belief that good will, keeping positive and making other people happy by helping creates healthy living. August is the best advocate for this motto.
Happy birthday, AUGUST SIRKEL, and in 2021 we will have the big party that you love and deserve!
by: Sirje Rivers
Estonian Cultural Foundation in Australia (ECFA) Logo Design Competition
The Estonian Relief Committee (ERC) recently changed its name to the Estonian Cultural Foundation in Australia (ECFA) to clearly reflect its operating mandate in the modern era – promoting Estonian history and culture in Australia. The ECFA are now seeking a new logo to further strengthen the charity’s brand transformation, and are calling for existing and aspiring artists to submit a logo design suitable for the renamed organisation.
The successful artist will receive a $500 prize and the selected design will be used for all ECFA related correspondence and media. The winner will be announced by the Estonian Ambassador in Australia at a suitable venue (to be determined).
To assist with designing the logo, go to our website at www.erclimited.com.au for a deeper understanding of the ECFA charter and what we do.
Send your design ideas in *jpeg format by 30 May, 2020 to: board@estoniancfa.org.au
Eesti Päevad | Estonian Festival 2020 Postponed
I am writing in regards to the organisation of EP and the concerns of the executive committee regarding the current COVID-19 outbreak.We have decided it would be in the best interest of the community and the festival to postpone the event as there are too many unknowns at this time. There are many financial implications that we have concerns over if we make commitments and then are in a situation where we are unable to proceed.
We will keep you updated once we have more clarity going forward.
Raymond Laurens
Eesti Paevade 2020 Organising Committee
Announcement – Urgent travel advice for those intending to travel to Estonia
The Republic of Estonia Ministry of Foreign Affairs has put out a statement on travel advice for those intending to travel to Estonia.
Announcement from Republic of Estonia Ministry of Foreign Affairs
13. March 2020
Yesterday 12 March, the Government of Estonia declared an emergency situation in response to the pandemic spread of the coronavirus in the world. Estonia’s borders are open, however, in order to stop the spread of the virus, there are certain recommendations and measures in place.
Out of consideration for the health of international visitors as well as residents of Estonia, we recommend postponing your trips.
People coming from a risk area or who have contracted the virus/been in close contact with those affected are recommended to postpone any plans to travel to Estonia.
Anyone whose travel to Estonia from risk areas is unavoidable must remain in self-isolation for 14 days, effective from Monday, 16 March.
At border crossing points, health checks will be employed to detect the symptoms of the coronavirus in people. People will also need to start filling in forms upon entering the country in order to identify the origin of their stay.
Health will also be monitored in airports and ports. The requirement to fill in forms will be introduced similarly to the land border crossing points.
Package cruises on the Tallinn-Stockholm route are suspended. Regular ferry traffic continues but measures to limit the spread of the virus will be developed and implemented in cooperation with shipping companies.
The measures to limit the spread of the virus will be developed and implemented in cooperation with the shipping company.
Estonian residents are advised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia not to plan holiday travel for the coming months. We also ask to seriously consider the necessity of other travel (business trips, visits to family and friends, etc.). The risk of being quarantined or finding yourself in areas affected by restricted movement may arise very suddenly while travelling.
The risk areas as determined by the government committee on 13 March, based on recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and risk evaluation, are: China, South Korea, Singapore, Iran, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Egypt. This list is subject to change.
The exact details of self-isolation are being worked out by the Ministry of the Interior in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by 16 March. Further details will be clarified in due course.
More information on measures in place during the emergency situation: https://www.valitsus.ee/en/news/government-declared-emergency-situation-estonia-until-1-may
FAQ for tourists: https://vm.ee/en/coronavirus-2019-ncov
Additional information:
Britta Tarvis
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
Communication Department
britta.tarvis@mfa.ee
+372 637 7627 / +372 5194 7045
New Estonian Movie streaming service
Hea uudis kõigile kaasmaalastele: avati uus Eesti filmide veebipõhine kino-keskkond netikino.ee, kust saab vaadata Eesti filme ka välismaal. Netikino pakub nii vana head filmiklassikat kui ka uuemaid mängufilme, samuti dokumentaale kui ka kontserte. Filme lisatakse iga nädal, nii et võimalus midagi uut ja põnevat vaadata on alati kui koduigatsus peale tuleb.
Vaata siit: www.netikino.ee
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Good news for all movie lovers! A new Estonian cinema webpage has opened, which allows users to stream old Estonian classics as well as new Estonian masterpieces. New movies added every week. See further: www.netikino.ee
Movies range from 2.90-6.90EUR with today’s exchange rates is around $5-10AUD.
NB – Not all movies have English subtitles so be sure to check if you do not speak/understand Estonian!
Update courtesy of the Estonian Embassy Canberra.
Apply to Estonian Studies MA Programme at Tallinn University
The admission 2020 to Tallinn University is now open and I gladly invite you to apply to our unique master’s programme Estonian Studies. The programme is aimed at everybody who is interested in various aspects of Estonia. Come and study with us!
Professor Piret Viires,the Head of the Estonian Studies Programme
WHAT IS ESTONIAN STUDIES?
Estonian Studies is a unique master’s programme teaching Estonian language, culture, history, societal and political topics based on English.
WHO IS THIS PROGRAMME FOR?
It is aimed at students interested in the Estonian language, culture, history and the society whose native language is not Estonian. The programme is also for people interested in Estonian literature, who have some fluency in Estonian and wish to translate Estonian literature into their native tongue.
WHY STUDY WITH US?
Tallinn University School of Humanities supports interdisciplinary cooperation and promotes international and innovative teamwork. A graduate of the programme will have good knowledge of the Estonian language, culture and society with at least a B1 level of Estonian.
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Tallinna Ülikool kutsub Eesti-õpingutest huvitatud välistudengeid kandideerima magistriõppekavale Estonian Studies. Sisseastumisdokumentide esitamise tähtajad erinevate riikide tudengitele on toodud siin: https://www.tlu.ee/en/application-deadlines.
Võimalik on kandideerida ka Dora Plus stipendiumile, rohkem infot stipendiumivõimaluste kohta Tallinna Ülikooli kodulehel: https://www.tlu.ee/en/scholarships.
Lähtuvalt kandideerimistähtaegadest, palume levitada infot oma tudengite seas, inglisekeelne veebikiri allpool.
Rõõmsat emakeelekuud soovides
COMMEMORATION SPEECH – 102nd ANNIVERSARY OF ESTONIAN INDEPENDENCE
23. February 2020, at Sydney Estonian House,141 Campbell Street, Surry Hills
I pay my respects to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation whose land this Estonian House stands, and to their elders past, present and future. Like the Estonian people who had their land invaded and occupied for many centuries, I think we must recognise the historical parallels with the Australian indigenous peoples. The desire for cultural identity and independence is a universal concept, not just exclusive to a particular Northern European tribe located on the shores of the Baltic Sea.
For this year’s Estonian Independence Day commemorations I will again speak in English. Whilst it is normally essential to honour Estonia by speaking it’s language, I recognise that many of our younger generation genuinely struggle with the Estonian language, and so I do this as not to alienate them and to help them better understand their Estonian ancestry.
Today we recognise the 102nd Anniversary of the Estonian Declaration of Independence made on the eve of February 24, 1918.
Today we also remember those who fought and gave their lives for Estonia’s freedom in the subsequent War of Independence, which began on November 28, 1918. We respect those young men, women, students, farmers, workers – who all responded to the needs of the situation – and risked their lives to turn a dream – into reality.
In my speech last year I gave an overview of the events in the year following the Declaration of Independence. If you will allow me, I will refresh your memory of the events of those critical twelve months:
During most of 1918, the occupying Germans were in power in Estonia so the Independence movement of 24 February 1918 was forced to go underground. It wasn’t until the Germanswithdrew from Estonia after the formal end of WWI in mid November 1918, that Estonia truly had a very brief period of real independence.
However on 28 November 1918 the Red Army attacked the very poorly prepared new independent state of Estonia from the east, at the Battle of Narva.
Due to basic lack of arms and low morale amongst the Estonian defenders, the Russians conquered more than half of the country in a matter of weeks and almost made it to Tallinn. These were very despondent times, it very much looked like the Independence Declaration made on the evening of 23 February 1918 would remain just an aspirational statement, not a reality.
But thanks to an increase in morale and belief in nationhood, as well as unexpected help from volunteers from Finland and the arrival of vital arms from the British Navy, the Russians were eventually halted and then they were reversed.
By the beginning of February 1919, the Estonian Army had successfully pushed the Red Army back all the way to the borders of Estonia.
Of course Estonia’s War of independence did not end there. On the contrary, the leaders of the Red Army, who initially did not believe that the Estonians could mount a defence, began to take the war more seriously, and amassed far more powerful forces against Estonia.
Consequently in 1919 in the months from February through to May, a series of fresh battles were fought, on the southern front of Estonia.
The Estonian Army was forced to protect itself against a now much larger Red Army by periodically retreating – and then attacking. This tactic, together with the increasing resolve and self-belief of the Estonian volunteer soldier in a free and independent Estonia, slowly paid off. The eventual result was that over three months, by May 1919, the Red Army which again expected Estonian resistance to crumble, became exhausted.
General Laidoner, Commander in Chief of the Estonian forces, then made the decision to take the fighting into enemy territory – ie. into Russia and Latvia – and thereafter Estonia escaped any further destruction. Any future fighting would no longer be on Estonian soil.
In taking the fight outside Estonia’s borders, in June of 1919 the Estonians met a new foe – the Baltic German volunteer army known as the Landeswehr.
During the past few months, the Baltic German forces in Latvia, had gained considerable strength. By April 1919 they brought down the Latvian Government led by Kärlis Ulmanis and established a puppet government to their own advantage. In May 1919 the Landeswehr – with support from several German Freikorps and anti-Bolshevik Latvians – conquered Riga and then moved northward towards Estonia.
At the town of Cesis in Latvia (known to Estonians as Võnnu), the Landeswehr came up against the Estonian forces, who saw the Germans as an old enemy and a threat to Latvia as well as to Estonia. A war between the two sides ensued, and in a final battle on June 23 the Estonian forces took Cesis and then pushed the Germans all the way back to Riga. TheGermans were effectively routed. To this day, the anniversary of the Battle of Võnnu (or Cesis) is celebrated in Estonia as Victory Day (or Võidupüha), a national public holiday.
As a consequence of Estonia’s defeat of the German Landeswehr, in July 1919 the government of Ulmanis was returned to power in Riga. In September 1919, the Latvian Provisional Government asked for further military help from Estonia, and so two armoured trains were sent to Riga, helping to stabilise the situation and keep the Latvian Provisional Government in power.
Thus in Latvia’s hour of need, the fresh Republic of Estonia helped it’s southern neighbour to rid itself of foreign occupiers and helped Latvia to also achieve it’s independence as a new nation.
The decisive victory over the Landeswehr initially produced unprecedented enthusiasm for the war amongst Estonians. While the Red Army was fought against out of a patriotic sense of duty to protect the homeland, the war against the Baltic Germans was driven by a desire by Estonians for payback for imagined or real injustices that had lasted for centuries.
However, now that the Germans were defeated, and the Estonians had expelled the Red Army well out of Estonia, this enthusiasm had started turning into fatigue, as after a year of fighting ordinary Estonian volunteer soldiers were increasingly yearning to return home to their families and their former lives.
So, following Estonian Army’s final battles in late 1919 against the Red Army outside the gates of St. Petersburg, Estonia was relieved that Lenin’s government for the first time expressed serious desire to make peace with the Estonians. Negotiations proceeded, and on 31 December a ceasefire was signed, and on 2 February 1920 – just over 100 years ago – Soviet Russia formally signed a peace treaty with the Republic of Estonia, recognising Estonia’s independence and it’s sovereign borders “for perpetuity”.
The Peace Treaty of Tartu ended Estonia’s War of Independence, which ultimately cost the Estonian side over 6,000 lives, 3,558 of them killed in direct combat, and many times that number seriously wounded and maimed. In terms of percentage of population this was a very high price to pay for a small, fledging nation of a million people to achieve independence. As a comparison, this would be the equivalent of modern day Australia losing over 80,000 souls in war.
The common saying is that history is written by the winners. In the case of Estonia, we are indeed lucky to be in a position today to tell our story, because we won our war of independence and we won our nationhood.
A big danger to us today are world leaders who are history revisionists who will readily employ false news and misinformation to seed doubts, with the objective of denying us legitimacy and generally confuse the minds of younger generations.
As example, last week Vladimir Putin made the argument that poor Russia was forced to enter into it’s infamous secret pact with Hitler just before WWII (whereby Estonia was illegally occupied by the Soviet Union) only because of the actions (or inactions) of Poland. Yet again, someone else is to blame. This ridiculous new version of history is clearly an insult to the memory of the brave Poles, whose country never really threatened anyone, and was subsequently divided in half and cannibalised by these two heinous regimes. A clear case of the winner trying to re-write history.
Say these mistruths often enough, and sadly, people start believing it. So, we must remain vigilant and never stop telling people our history, our proud story.
Thank you to the young team here today – Marju, Ella, Felix, Kristjan, Peeter, Oskar, Andrew, Rhys, Sandra, the ‘Kooskõlas’ choir, ‘Lõke’ choir, folkdancing group ‘Virmalised’ – who have together here staged a wonderful and unique version of the events of over a century ago.
Like the proud indigenous people of this land, we Estonians also have our own aspirational dreamtime stories that are thousands of years old, except in our case 102 years ago we were lucky enough – despite our small size and location in Europe – to finally see our dream of independence and nationhood come to reality.
Long Live the Estonian people! Long Live the Estonian Republic!
Sulev Kalamäe
Honorary Consul of Estonia
Estonian Embassy is Visiting Sydney, Friday 6th March
Due to a high number of people showing interest to apply for a a passport/ID card in Sydney, Embassy is coming to Sydney on 6 March. If you would like to apply Estonian passport and/or ID card, please contact us asap consular.canberra@mfa.ee to book an appointment.
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Viimastel nädalatel on meie poole tihti pöördutud sooviga uuendada oma passi ja/või ID kaarti Sydneys. Seetõttu tulemegi juba 6. märtsil Sydneysse, eesmärgiga pakkuda kõigile huvilistele võimalust oma passi/ID kaardi taotlus Eesti Majas sisse anda. Palun kõigil passi ja ID kaardi soovijatel võimalikult kiiresti ühendust võtta consular.canberra@mfa.ee.
Consular Contact Information
Phone: +61 (0) 409 798 474
E-mail: embassy.canberra@mfa.ee
Location: 12 Darwin Avenue Yarralumla ACT 2600 Australia
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/estemb.canberra/
Estonian Eurovision 2020 Artist decided -Uku Suviste
Uku Suviste will represent Estonia at the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest with his song, “What is Love”. Uku Suviste was born in Võru, Estonia in 1982.
The Eurovision song contest will be held in Rotterrdam on the 12th-16th May.
Estonia has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 25 times, debuting in 1994. Estonai’s best result was in 2001, when Tanal Padar, Dave Benton and 2XL won with “Everybody”.
Watch and listen to Uku Suviste’s performance
Eesti Päevad 2020 Melbourne
The Eesti Päevad 2020 festival will be held in Melbourne from 27-31 December 2020.
EP 2020 ART EXHIBITION: ‘aWay’
27th – 30th December 2020, Melbourne
The EP 2020 Art Exhibition will be held at an inner city Melbourne gallery from Sunday 27th December, 2020 to Wednesday 30th December, 2020.
The exhibition theme is ‘aWay’.
The exhibition will comprise two key parts:
- Contemporary Art – showcasing original two dimensional (2D), three dimensional (3D) and moving image artworks by Australian based artists with a personal Estonian connection. Artists may submit up to two (2) artworks completed between 2018 and 2020. There is no entry fee. The exhibited artworks will be independently judged with a single prize of $250 awarded. Artists may offer their artwork for sale, with a small commission paid to EP 2020.
- Historic Photography – comprising a curated exhibition of up to 30 photos of artistic merit that capture post WW II Estonian refugees and migrants as they transitioned to their new lives in Australia, from the late 1940s through to 1959. Of particular interest are those photos taken by semi-professional or professional photographers. Up to four (4) photos may be submitted per person. There is no entry fee. No prizes will be awarded. Selected photos will be printed, framed and hung in the exhibition by the EP 2020 Art Exhibition subcommittee. Photo owners may agree to copies of their exhibited photo being offered for sale as framed and unframed prints, with the sale proceeds being used to offset the operating costs of the EP 2020 Art Exhibition.
Key Dates
- End March, 2020 – Entries Open –the Entry Form, Terms and Conditions will be available via EP 2020 website and Facebook site
- End October, 2020 – Entries Close – Entries to be submitted via email, including a copy of the artwork or photo according to the technical specifications included in the Entry Terms and Conditions
- Mid November, 2020 – Contemporary Artists and Photo Owners advised that their item has been selected for inclusion in the exhibition
- Late November, 2020 – Deadline for Contemporary Artists to submit a videoed Artist Talk for inclusion in the Artist Talk video loop to be continuously screened during the exhibition
- Tuesday 22nd December, 2020 – Artwork drop off at gallery
- Sunday 27th December – Wednesday 30th December, 2020 – exhibition open to the public
- Monday 28th December, 2020 – 4.30pm – 6.30pm – Official Opening
For more information, please contact Chairperson of the EP 2020 Art Exhibition subcommittee: Bernadette Pilli via email: pilli@internode.on.net or phone: 0412 472 557.
EP2020 HANDCRAFTS – KÄSITÖÖ
EP2020 is happening in Melbourne!!! We are hoping to showcase Estonian talent through a display of handcrafted and paraded items. The parade was a great success at EP2014.
Knitted, crocheted, embroidered and sewn works can all contribute to a theme of Estonian Inspired Style.
Be inspired by functional and non-functional craftwork
• Knitted beanies and head bands with Estonian patterns
• T-shirts embroidered with Estonian symbols,
• Scarves, socks, shawls,
• Bags, purses,
Join us to make this celebration of Estonian – ess a SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!
CONTACT: Maret: mwocaldo@gmail.com and Gabri: gmikkor@bigpond.net.au
Website (coming soon): Festival.eesti.org.au
E-KLUBI VASTLAPÄEV (SHROVE TUESDAY) – Fri Feb 28, Sydney
E-Klubi is back!
Join our E-Klubi 2020, kicking off the New Year with an important day, well known for the cream-filled ‘vastlakuklid’ (see recipe here).
Traditionally, this day is known as Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, which starts seven weeks before Easter.
Tradition of Shrove Tuesday.
It is a traditional winter festivity celebrated in many countries – including the Fatty Tuesday or Mardi Gras carnival in New Orleans with it origins in 1699. The English tradition involves eating pancakes, playing mob soccer and holding parliamentary races.
This day was related to entertainment, games and dancing and anticipation of spring. In northern countries like Finland and Estonia, the most important activity was sledging down hills – the longer the slide, the better the crop of flax in the next summer.
Getting to the end of winter meant that food reserves were near the end too – in Estonia not much meat would be available so hence the tradition of eating peas and the less tasty parts of pigs, including its feet. The bones were used to make a toy, whirlgig, and competitions held for the best whirl. See here how to make one yourself.
It was forbidden to light a fire or to spin wool. Instead it was important to comb and cut hair.
Shrove Tuesday was a holiday for women. They went to inns to have a drink to ensure long flax fibres. It was customary to drink from the bottle to symbolise the length of flax.
It was advisable not to lick the fat from the fingers and not to clean your face after eating fatty pigs’ trotters (pig’s feet). This protected you from being cut with sharp instruments.
Sledging down the hills is still popular today. People still speak about the length of flax but flax is not as common as it was back then in Estonia. Children are taught to make whirlgigs using big buttons. Buns with whipped cream are eaten, also pigs’ trotters with pea or bean soup.
Come enjoy traditional ham & pea soup, salted beans, homemade bread and vastlakuklid
Date: Friday, 28th February
Starts: 7 pm
Location: Estonian House, entry from the side door downstairs
Address: 141 Campbell St, Surry Hills
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E-Klubi avab taas uksed!
Ühine meiega E-Klubis, alustades uut aastat traditsioonilise vastlapäeva pidamisega ja hõrgutavate vastlakuklitega (vaata retsepti siit). Traditsiooni kohaselt peetakse tänapäevalgi vastlapäeva, päev enne tuhkapäeva ehk seitse nädalat enne lihavõtteid.
Vastlapäeva kommetest
Paljud rahvad tähistavad vastlapäeva karnevaliga, tuntuim on New Orleansi ‘rasvane teisipäev’ ehk Mardi Gras, mida tuntakse juba 1699. Anglosaksi tava on vastlapäeval pannkooke süüa ja võistlusi pidada. Isegi Briti Alam- ja Ülemkoda tähistavad pannkoogipäeva võistlusega.
Vanasti oli vastlapäev seotud meelelahutuse, mängude ja tantsudega, eelkõige kevade ootusega. Põhjamaades oli eriti oluline liu laskmisel ehk kelgutamisel – mida pikem oli liug, seda paremini kasvas lina.
Talve lõpp tähendas ka, et toit oli otsakorral. Nii söödigi hernesuppi seajalgadega. Seakontidest meisterdati vurrid ja valiti välja parim vurr. Vaata siit, kuidas ise seakondist vurr valmistada. Vurritamisel arvatakse olevat algselt olnud maagiline funktsioon.
Tule süütamine või villa keerutamine oli keelatud. Soovitav oli juukseid kammida ja lõigata.
Vastlapäev oli naiste püha. Mindi kõrtsi, et tagada pikad linad, selleks tuli pudelist juua.
Vastlarasva sõrmedelt ära ei lakutud ja palgeid rasvaläikest puhtaks ka ei nühitud – muidu pidavat suvel terariistad kõik kergesti sõrme hakkama.
Tänapäeval käiakse ikka kelgutamas. Ikka räägitakse liugu laskmisest ja vaadatakse, kel tulevad pikad linad. Kuid lina kasvatatakse meie põldudel harvemini. Lastele õpetatakse suurte nööpide abil vurre tegema. Süüakse hernesuppi, tanguputru ja vahukoorega vastlakukleid.
Tule meki hernesuppi, soolaoad, värskelt valmistatud leiba ja vastlakukleid.
Kuupäev: reedel, 28. veebruaril
Algab kell: 19:00
Asukoht: Eesti Maja, külguks allkorrusel
Aadress: 141 Campbell St, Surry Hills
