‘ESTONIA REGAINS INDEPENDENCE’, Meie Kodu, Vol. 43 Issue 29, 21 August 1991. Source: ESTER digital archives.
Estonians fleeing the aftermath of WWII and Soviet occupation found their voice in Australia via a newspaper. It continues to this day. Silvi Vann-Wall reports on Meie Kodu and the community it continues to serve.
‘ESTONIA REGAINS INDEPENDENCE’, Meie Kodu, Vol. 43 Issue 29, 21 August 1991. Source: ESTER digital archives.
In the tumultuous time after World War II, and throughout the Soviet occupation of their tiny country, many Estonians sought refuge in Australia – which for them held the promise of being as far away from the conflict zone as possible.
As war refugees, Estonians were required to live in migrant camps such as those in Bathurst or Bonegilla, before being given jobs and a chance at integration into Australian society.
Meanwhile, a small committee, formed by the Sydney Estonian Society, were hard at work acquiring authorisation to publish the first Estonian newspaper in Australia: Meie Kodu.
Come and be part of an Estonian folk dancing flashmob at the Hickson Road Reserve this Sunday from 1pm. The dance group Sydney Virmalised – Northern Lights will perform three dances with the last one open for everyone to join in.
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Tule ela kaasa rahvatantsijatele Sydney Virmalised – Northern Lights, kes esitavad ühistantsu Sydney kesklinnas (Hickson Road Reserve) sel pühapäeval kell 13:00. Kavas on kolm tantsu, millest kolmandaga saavad ühineda kõik soovijad. Too kaasa hea tuju ja miks mitte midagi sini-must-valget!
Are you Learning Estonian? Enter the SBS National Languages Competition!
Only 10 days to go…
So far, 35% of entries have come from Victoria closely followed by NSW with 34%… anyone could win and we look forward to receiving more entries from your students soon.
Entering the competition is easy:
Step 1: Log on to sbs.com.au/nlc18
Step 2: Click ‘Upload photo’
Step 3: Upload your photo or drawing showing us ‘What amazing possibilities learning a language opens for you?’
Step 4: Include a caption written in the language you are learning as well as an English translation (not required for English learners)
Step 5: Submit your entry
Advanced Classes
Wednesdays, from October 10 @ 6.30pm to 8.30pm with teacher Nele Ilves Sydney Estonian House
141 Campbell St
Surry Hills
NSW 2010
Australia
Beginners
New beginners, please register with Tiiu Salasoo, 02 9436 3844 or salasoo@ihug.com.au
The “Estonian Cooks are back” for an exciting new extravaganza of fresh produce on the menu with a twist of Masterchef flair for this year’s Spring Feast.
To raise funds for the Sõrve Childrens Summer Camp we will have the Sõrve Silent Auction and a few fun games throughout the evening, plus performances from Virmalised and Lõke are on the cards. This fundraiser will be held on Saturday October 6 at Sydney Estonian House starting from 6.00pm.
Bookings essential. RSVP Oct 1
All are very welcome!!
We would also like to thank Sydney Estonian Society for their support.
Spring Feast Menu Starters: Gazpacho with a Kick Cucumber Bites Parmesan Crisps with Pea Purée Frittata Marinated “Frikadill”
Entrée: Creamy Salmon Pasta
Mains: Roasted Chicken Thigh Cutlet with Roasted Baby Potatoes Beetroot, Pomegranate & Pistachio Salad Spring Salad
Dessert: Orange Cake with Orange Sauce
Please Note: Vegetarian options available on request
Tickets on sale now at TryBookings www.trybooking.com/YDGZ Adults $50 and Children/Students/Concession $30 Performers $25
The final schedule and details about passes for ESTO 2019 have been announced for the 12th ESTO festival held in Helsinki, Tartu and Tallinn from June 28 – July 3, 2019.
ESTO 2019 will take place one week before the National Song and Dance Festival. The international festival brings together Estonians and their friends from around the globe, to celebrate Estonian heritage, culture, sports and community in Estonia.
The festival begins with an open air event in central Helsinki on June 28. This will be followed by an opening party on the Tallink-Silja Line’s M/S Silja Europa, which will bring ESTO 2019 participants to Tallinn. The festival moves on to Tartu, where a global Estonian ESTO song festival will be held in the historic Town Hall Square. A youth congress and global fraternity get-togethers will be organized, with ESTO pub nights capping off each evening. Performers, already participating in the Song and Dance Festival, will also perform at the ESTO 2019 opening in Helsinki and the ESTO Song Festival in Tartu.
“The ESTO tradition started in 1972, when Estonians from around the world gathered in Toronto to celebrate their culture. These events were critically important to maintaining our language, culture and community during the Soviet occupation, outside of Estonia,” explains ESTO 2019 chairman Sirle Sööt. “It’s just as important now for our global Estonian community to come together and be connected with our culture and each other in Estonia in 2019.”
ESTO 2019 programm on paigas ja passid varsti müügis ESTO 2019 pressiteade 16. septembril 2018
XII ülemaailmsete eesti kultuuripäevade ESTO2019 programm 28. juunist 3. juulini Helsingis, Tartus ja Tallinnas on üldjoontes valmis ning passide hinnad peakomitee poolt kinnitatud. Piiratud arvul passe eelmüügi hinnaga tuleb müüki oktoobris.
ESTO2019 toimub nädal enne laulu- ja tantsupidu, tuues kokku eestlased ja nende sõbrad üle maailma, et tähistada üheskoos Eesti Vabariigi 100. juubelit.
AVAMISESEST HELSINGIS ESTO pidulik avamine toimub Helsingis 28. juunil. Toomkirikus toimuvale aktusele järgneb avakontsert Senati väljakul. Ärimehed, noored ja esinejad kogunevad Helsingisse aga juba päev varem, et laiendada oma kontaktvõrgustikku Soome lahe majanduspiirkonnas, värskendada teadmisi Soome ja Eesti suhetest ning valmistada ette suurt avatseremooniat. Noorte tulevikukonverentsile Helsingi ülikoolis jõuavad ka need estolased, kes saabuvad Helsingisse avapäeva hommikul. Õhtul suundutakse Tallink Silja laevaga M/S Silja Europa Tallinnasse, laeval on pidulik õhtusöök ja ESTO avapidu tantsu ja muusikaprogrammiga. Hommikul viivad ESTO bussid ja rong estolased Tartusse.
MILLEKS ESTO? “ESTO traditsioon pärineb aastast 1972, kui eestlased Läänes kogunesid Kanadasse Torontosse, et üheskoos au sees hoida Eesti kultuuri ja traditsioone. ESTO-de tähtsus on seisnenud kriitilises vajaduses hoida alal eesti keelt, kultuuri ja eestlust Nõukogude okupatsiooni ajal, kui ei olnud võimalust Eestit kül astada,” selgitab ESTO2019 juht Sirle Sööt Rootsist. “Sama oluline on ESTO traditsioon ka täna, et alal hoida üle ilma laialipillutatud eestlaskonnas eestlust ja ühtsuse tunnet, seda nii omavahel väljaspool Eestit kui ka suhetes Eestimaaga”.
The XXVII Eesti Päevad Estonian Festival will take place in Sydney 27 – 31.December 2018.
This Eesti Päevad in Australia is a special one as it is also part of the official EV100 birthday program. Just another reason to celebrate and add it to your calendar!
The program consists of a wide range of events including theater, choir music & folk dancing, activities for kids, sports challenges, arts & crafts exhibition and concerts by popular musicians from Estonia.
Headliners are: beloved Estonian musician Tanel Padar with his new band, electronic pop act Noëp and female pop trio La La Ladies.
For detailed program and information please open the FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
In 2018 the Baltic Sates are celebrating the 100th anniversary of their declaration of independence. The Burgundian Consort are performing “The Spheres”, featuring work from Estonian composers Tormis and Sisask featuring in “The Spheres”.
The Spheres
Location:Sir John Clancy Auditorium UNSW Tickets: $15/$8
The Burgundian Consort has existed as an elite arm of the Collegium Musicum Choir for many years (since about 1985). The ensemble includes only a small number of singers (12-18), mostly (but not exclusively) undergraduate music students and sings challenging, unaccompanied repertoire. The Burgundian Consort presents a small annual recital in September of each year as well as being part of some concerts of the Collegium Musicum. In recent years, the Burgundian Consort’s repertoire has included Copland’s In the Beginning, Britten’s Sacred and Profane, Palestrina’s Missa Aeterna Christi Munera, Wesley-Smith’s Who Killed Cock Robin? and Debussy’s Trois Chansons de Charles d’Orleans.
In 2018, The Burgundian Consort will explore the realms of the Nordic and Baltic states, with works from Estonian composers Tormis and Sisask, and Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo. Arensky’s Three Quartets will include guest cellist Paul Stender, the Consort rounding out the program with some traditional English madrigals from Byrd and Purcell. The program will also include the premiere performance of the winner of the Willgoss Choral Composition Prize 2018, Owen Elsley’s the stars.
We are raising funds for new women’s’ summer costumes that are in end of the planning stage.
Come down and mingle, play some games, drink and eat. But of course do some DANCING!
