Jaanipäev 2019 will be a celebration acknowledging the achievements of all the hard work put in by the successful choir and dance members heading off to Tantsipidu & Laulupidu!!
Celebrate with us at the Viking Campground for a genuine bonfire, pig on a spit, games, Scandinavian music by KUPALEJA, perhaps a little dance workshop and singing by the campfire…
Join us for the afternoon or why not camp overnight?
Cost:
$30 includes delicious roast pork, salad & dessert (drinks available for purchase)
or be one of the first 10 to sign up to “Bake & Save” – bring a home-made dessert and save $15 (one per family) – send a reply email to BES to secure your discount
Children $10 (free under 12)
Family $60
Overnight camping additional $10 or free if you volunteer to help clean up
Saturday 8 June 2019 @ midday
Viking Forest, Byrnes Road N (end of the road, past YMCA camp) Black Forest, Warner
Tan tohtiq uma lüüvi jõõvangu üles pandaq!
A big thank you to Andres Truus for sharing his creative talents with us & designing our beautiful Jaanipäev posters.
Expressions of Interest are now being sought from individuals and organisations who wish to apply for funding of projects which satisfy the objectives of the constitution of the Estonian Relief Committee (ERC).
These objectives include:
The promotion of Estonian history and culture in Australia;
The teaching and promotion of literature, design, crafts, performing arts, radio, TV, moveable cultural heritage, music, community arts, video, visual arts, film, etc which is of Estonian origin;
The preservation and promotion of Estonian language skills;
The promotion and development of cultural relationships between Estonia and subsequent generations of Estonian descent born in Australia;
To facilitate cultural exchanges between groups with similar objectives from Australia and Estonia; and
To consolidate and coordinate with like Australian organisations with cultural ties to Estonia.
Total funding for these projects during the 2019-2020 financial year will be limited to approximately $20,000, subject to the discretion of the ERC’s Board. Please note that all past recipients of funding from the ERC will now be required to make an application under this funding arrangement.
Individuals and organisations seeking funding should clearly outline the following matters in their application:
Name of individual or Organisation;
Contact details;
A detailed description of the project proposal;
The total amount of funding being sought (applicants should note that funding is for the 2019-2020 financial year only – there is no guarantee that funding will be extended into subsequent years);
All applicants should submit a program of activities and a timetable for the implementation of the Project;
All applicants will be required to submit a half-yearly progress report, due 1st November and 1st May including an Annual report which details the implementation and outcomes of their project; and
The application form, together with any supporting documentation, must be lodged by 16 June, 2019. Successful applicants will be notified by August 31, 2019.
All applications are to be submitted electronically to:
The Secretary, Estonian Relief Committee Limited
Email: Juho.Looveer@gmail.com
A Memorial Commemoration to celebrate the life of Sir Arvi Parbo AC will take place at 10am on Monday 27 May 2019 at the Melbourne Town Hall.
If you will be attending please RSVP (with confirmation and name) to mmc_sirarvi@minerals.org.au by COB Monday 20 May 2019.
Sir Arvi Parbo, who fled Estonia after the war and arriving in Australia in 1949 and was to become one of the giants of the Australian mining industry, died at home in Melbourne on the 1st May 2019 at the age of 93.
He will be fondly remembered as the most influential 20th century figure of the Australian resources industry,
Former prime minister John Howard paid tribute to Sir Arvi at a gala dinner last year, describing him as “a towering figure of the industry” who “epitomised the great migration to Australia after World War Two and did so much to build modern Australia”.
The Council of Estonian Societies in Australia pays tribute to his great moral and financial support of our Estonian organisations, including patron of multiple Eesti Päevad, over the decades.
It also pays tribute to his well-regarded leadership and vision that has made Australia a stronger and wealthier nation and helped improved the lives of thousands.
Sir Arvi is survived by his wife, Lady Saima Parbo, and his three children. Our condolences to his family and loved ones.
It is time to put our team together! Being a kid in Sõrve is learning in many ways – from making your bed to military level to confidently getting on stage in front of a crowd. This stuff will stay with you for life, and is taken to class rooms and then to board rooms.
The next step up from being a Sõrve kid is being a Sõrve leader (aka juht). Going through the leaders’ training program is not much different to an intense third year uni course work (but on steroids). This comes with all the perks of: sleep deprivation, getting to do a gazillion things at once, solving the world’s problems on a stage, and whenever in doubt, winging it . Or, if that’s not for you, you can just go with the flow, sit back and chip in your genius when called out for it.
As part of the formal leadership training and being a member of the leadership team you’ll get to:
know what you are really really good at and what are the things you can work on
apply your creativity
make up games and coming up with lots of wild ideas
inspire kids because they look up to you
train in basic first aid to manage risk of allergy and asthma
go through a crash course in Estonian
sing like Maria von Trapp at the top of a mountain (don’t worry that is optional)
have an excuse to wear folk clothes and be cool
Leaders’ meetings are compulsory for all leaders to attend on the following dates:
4-25 August 2019, Colo Vale
5 October 2019, Colo Vale
1 December, Estonian House
Fourth leaders’ meeting to be confirmed
Please note: Working with Children’s Check (in Australia) must be completed (or renewed if expiring before 12 January 2020) by 31 July 2019! Please contact Rhys Maidla at rhys.maidla@hotmail.com if you have any questions.
Submit your expression of interest by 31 May 2019.
They have put in months of work to prepare for XXVII Laulupidu – the epic singing festival that marks 150 years since the first “party of singing” was held in 1869 to celebrate 50 years from abolishing slavery. This was initiated by the choir “Vanemuine” at the instigation of Johann Voldemar Jannsen.
Estonians may not have big soccer stadiums but the Tallinn singing stadium is pretty impressive drawing in tens of thousands of viewers (photo by Andres Tarto)
Before Kooskõlas singers head off to Estonia, there will be one more get-together to perform the full repertoire they have been learning – note by note, vowel by vowel.
Everyone is invited to come along and experience the XXVII Laulupidu getting a taster of songs that will be heard at the singing festival in Estonia.
Choir Kooskõlas (which means harmony) has been practicing in the Sydney Estonian House every month
When: Saturday, 25 May 2019 Doors open at 3.00 pm 3.30 pm start
Where: St Stephen’s Church 197 Macquarie Street, Sydney
Tickets:
At the door (cash only) $25 general / $15 seniors / $10 12yo and under
Pre-book $20 general / $15 seniors / $10 12yo and under
Highlights of the 2019 Eurovision semi-final from Tel Aviv
Recap of winners of the past
Performances & games
Frankfurt hot dogs, seljanka, dessert & euro beer
Dress code: classic euro, winner takes it all, with love from Israel (50% off entry fee for a serious effort)
All proceeds go towards fundraising for the 2020 Sõrve Children’s Camp in Australia to promote Estonian culture, language, customs, traditions and community
Join us for a Mothers’ Day celebrations at the Sydney Estonian House. There will be folk dance and singing performances. Snacks, tea and coffee will be served and you’re welcome to bring along some home-baked goods.
Date: Saturday, 11th May Time:11am-1:30pm Address: 141 Campbell St, Surry Hills, NSW Entry: Free
In 1950 the Soviets are trying to crush a budding resistance movement in the countryside of Estonia. A girl doesn’t understand why her mother was arrested or why her father was upset when she cheered on the young pioneers as they marched.
Lights go out at 5pm at the Estonian House (141 Campbell street Surry Hills)
or may be found on our website www.sorve.org.au or by calling 0452 581 120.
Nominations for the Sõrve Sõbrad 2020 Committee election are to be received by the Secretary, Barbara Howard Kalamäe PO Box 9 Balmain NSW 2041 or may be emailed to admin@sorve.org.au
Proxy nominations are to be received by the Secretary, by 10.00am Saturday 23rd March 2019.
This coming summer the XII Global Estonian Cultural Festival, otherwise known as ESTO 2019, will cross the symbolic “Finnish bridge” between Finland and Estonia and arrive on Estonia’s shores. The festival, which is part of the Republic of Estonia’s 100th anniversary celebration and carries the theme “Our Future”, will focus on youth. Registration for performers has begun and discounted passes are available until February 28. ESTO 2019 will take place from June 27 to July 3.
Image courtesy of Esto 2019
For the first time in ESTO’s history, the festival will start out in Finland and the opening events in Helsinki will be organized by Estonians in Finland. According to head of the ESTO 2019 Executive Committee Sirle Sööt, Finland was the obvious choice.
“Currently the largest population of Estonians outside Estonia is in Finland, with over 60 000 Estonians permanently residing there. Estonian cultural days give people a chance to acknowledge their identity and show how we are always developing and moving towards the future, emphasizing the Estonian identity as a whole. There are no longer Estonian-Estonians and foreign Estonians – we’re all the same, we are global Estonians,” Sööt emphasized.
Head of the Organizing Committee of Estonia 100 Jaanus Rohumaa stated that it is important for Estonians living far from Estonia to also take part in the centennial programme.
“The ESTO festival taking place in 2019 is a wonderful opportunity for them to participate in the Estonia 100 celebration and visit Estonia. I’m especially pleased that this year’s ESTO is focused on children and youth, who are also at the heart of the Estonia 100 programme,” he noted.
ESTO 2019 will take place from June 27 to July 3 in Helsinki, Tartu and Tallinn. ESTO passes will be sold at discounted prices until February 28 and single tickets will be sold prior to the start of the festival if spots are available. You can find the programme on the ESTO 2019 website estofestival.com/en/
Chairman of the Estonian World Council Aavo Reinfeldt affirmed how vital it is to value ESTO and carry on the tradition. “It is unbelievably important that the ESTO legacy is treated respectfully. ESTO played a vital cultural and political role in the past, and Estonians all around the globe should remember its history,” Reinfeldt stated.
Head of the Department of International Relations on Integration Issues at the Ministry of Culture Anne-Ly Reimaa said that this year is of notable importance.
“To this day, ESTO is an important part of the identity of Estonians around the world. It is important for the Republic of Estonia to recognize and support efforts by Estonians abroad to preserve the Estonian language and culture,” Reimaa emphasized.
The first global Estonian gathering, later dubbed ESTO, took place in Toronto in 1972, and since then ESTO has taken place every four years. Estonians that fled Soviet-occupied Estonia and their descendants joined together at the festival to tell the world about Estonia and work to preserve the Estonian language and culture. In addition to cultural preservation, ESTO’s goal was also to deliver political messages. The programme of this year’s ESTO has includes the traditional National Congress, gala ball, and singing and folk dance events.
ESTO 2019 would like to thank its partners and sponsors: Estonia 100 and the Government Office of the Republic of Estonia, Tallink, Estravel, Estonian Ministry of Education and Research, Estonian Ministry of Culture, Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hedman & Partners, City of Helsinki, Estonian Embassy in Helsinki, Enterprise Estonia in Helsinki, Helsinki Cathedral, the Estonian-language congregation of Helsinki, the congregation of Kallio, Helsinki Estonian House, Tuglas Society, Finnish Association of Estonian Societies (SVYL), Anni kindergarten, Helsinki Central Library OODI, City of Tartu, National Archive, Museum of Estonians Abroad (VEMU), Baltic Heritage Network, Gunpowder Cellar, University of Tartu, Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, Estonian National Museum, Widget Factory, Tartu Song Festival Museum, Tartu Nature House, City of Tallinn, Kesklinna municipal government, Telliskivi Creative City, Estonian History Museum, Seaplane Harbour, Estonian Song and Dance Festival Foundation, EstDocs, Estonian Institute, Estonian Association of Culture Clubs, Estonian World, Enterprise Estonia, Gambling Tax Council, Rakvere Theatre, and the Estonian Academy of Sciences.
In late 2018 a special edition of Azuria, Geelong’s own literary journal, was published to mark the centenary of the declarations of independence by the three Baltic republics. It was launched at the 19th Baltic Studies Conference at Deakin University.
The initial print run of 140 has been sold or donated to libraries.
Following many request for more copies, a further 50 have been printed in time for Easter.
The following articles & stories will be of especial interest to Estonian community:
Tania Lestal, ‘The road back to Nõo’: tells of her visit to Tallinn, the author was raised in Australia, but now lives in Germany.
Sylvia Macneal, ‘Flight from Carlsbad’: a detailed account of how her father brought the family safely into the West.
Anu Mihkelson, ‘Estonia’s Islands’: an interesting travelogue.
Sandra Buchert, ‘Estonia is a beautiful country’: a lyric tribute to her motherland.
The collection also contains memoirs, short stories & poetry by writers from the three Australian communities and the Baltic republics. There is also supplement of student writing.
Each copy costs $AU25 (posted).
Payment by cheque: “Geelong Writers Inc.”, PO Box 1306, Geelong VIC. 3220.
Payment by direct deposit: CBA “Geelong Writers Inc.”, BSB 063 551,
Account No. 1015 7327, Reference /you r surname/
For further enquiries, contact the editor, Dr. E (Ted) Reilly by email tedreilly100@hotmail.com, or call him on 0421 559 592.
