PUBLIC NOTICE

The Estonian House Co-operative Society Ltd, registered at 141 Campbell Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, is hereby giving a notice to all members who have been inactive for more than 3 years, i.e. not paid their annual membership fees for financial years 2014/2015, 2013/2014, and 2012/2013, or longer. According to Rules 15 and 15A of the Co-operative, the annual subscription fees fall due on July 1st of each year (i.e. for the starting membership year in advance).

Pursuant to Rules 16 and 31 of the Co-operative (Forfeitures and Cancellations), the Board is to declare the shares of the above described inactive members cancelled. The nominal value of the cancelled shares shall be refunded to the member, less any monies the member owes to the Co-operative, such as unpaid annual fees. If the net transaction payable to an inactive member is $50 or less, and the whereabouts of the member are unknown, the Co-operative is not required to give any further notice on this matter.

To enquire about your membership status, please contact the Board of Directors at sydkoop@eestiselts.org, or the above postal address, before 10 March 2015.

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Christmas time is still the most important holiday celebrated in Estonia. For Estonians, Christmas is a mixture of the traditional, the modern, the secular, and the religious. Like in other Nordic states, Estonia’s celebration of Christmas mostly falls on Christmas Eve, however, Christmas season starts from Advent with people buying Advent calendars or lighting Advent candles. Each year on December 24, the President of Estonia declares Christmas Peace, which is a 350-year-old tradition in Estonia.

Read the article here Christmas Customs in Estonia at Estonia.eu

The XXV Eesti Päevad organising committee would like to invite you all to celebrate the end of the year in Melbourne – to meet old friends, make new ones, share the essential Estonian experience and party until 2015.
The opening church service is held on 27th December at 11am in St John’s Church, right across the road from the Estonian House. Ministers from three Estonian congregations – Phil Haar, Meelis Rosma, and Andres Palm – will be performing the opening service.

The church service is followed by the opening ceremony of the Estonian Festival at 12.30pm in the Estonian House, including finger food and a fashion show of beautiful Estonian designs. The Estonian crafts exhibition will be set up on the first floor from 2.30pm onwards and visitors are able to admire Estonian art displayed at Red Gallery on St Georges Road (open till 3.30 pm).

Moonee Valley Legends, a club at Moonee Valley racecourse near Estonian House, welcomes everyone from 8pm onwards to take part in Kohtumisõhtu. Moonee Valley Legends offers great dining with spectacular views across Melbourne’s city skyline. What’s more, it is possible to purchase Estonian beverages at the bar and Estonian music will entertain us throughout the night. Also, we will have a chance to get to know the Eesti Päevad main performers, just a couple of hours after having arrived all the way from Estonia. Ott Lepland, Tanel Padar and Jalmar Vabarna, accompanyed by some of their band members will be playing a short set, providing us with a glimpse of what to look forward to at other Eesti Päevad events. Kohtumisõhtu admission fee includes a two-course meal (drinks can be purchased separately).

What could be a better form of relaxing and recovering from Kohtumisõhtu then participating at the Family Fun Day at Queens Park on 28th December. The family day will be held at the park from 11am to 3pm. The day will be filled with lots of fun activities for all ages: organised games, novelty races and even some family folk dancing. Everyone is welcome to bring their own picnic lunch.
The art and crafts exhibitions are open that day from 11am; the official opening ceremony of the art exhibition begins at 4.30pm at Red Gallery.

Everyone is welcome to visit the Good Old Estonian Market at Estonian House from 28th December till 30th December.

The main musical attraction of the XXV Eesti Päevad – the band Vallatud Vestid from Estonia – will be giving a full concert in Estonian House at 7pm. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to listen to Ott’s, Tanel’s and Jalmar’s most-loved hits and famous songs in person.

After the concert,the good times will continue at the Bar Night; with Elmet Neumann performing his heartfelt songs and ballads about love and nature.

On 29th December it’s an early start for those playing golf, tee-off is at 7.30am at Latrobe Golf Club. The Art Exhibition at Red Gallery is open to all from 11am; meanwhile several get-togethers and meetings will be held at the Estonian House (Estonian Teachers’ meeting at 12pm in the meeting room on the second floor and poetry reading taking place at 3pm in the downstairs bar).

The Estonian Film Festival premiering Silvi Vann-Wall’s documentary “Austonia“ begins at 5pm at Estonian House. The admission fee includes popcorn and a drink.

We’ll end the day with Bar Night, starting at 8pm. This time we have a chance to enjoy music performed by Pia Maganov and Gerrit Thomson. According to the alcohol licence in the Estonian House, the last drinks are served at 11pm. However, this doesn’t mean that the party has to stop, everyone is welcome to continue mingling and having a good time after 12pm.

Tuesday, 30th December, is an early start for go-carting enthusiasts – race comencess at 7am at Ace Karts (20 Carrington Drive Albion). Estonian guides and scouts will have a get-together in the Estonian House at 10am. The Art Exhibition welcomes visitors to admire Estonian art in Red Gallery from 11am to 4pm. This will be the last opportunity to view all the stunning displays.

Rahvapidu for all the folk singers and dancers starts at midday. Everyone is welcome to take part in the Folk Festival and enjoy the performances by the fabulous singers and dancers. The Folk Festival will be followed by the Closing Ceremony of this year’s XXV Eesti Päevad. Estonian Market will open its doors an hour before the Folk Festival and remain open till 6pm.

The last Bar Night of this year’s Eesti Päevad starts at 8pm. Hopefully we won’t run out of Estonian beverages and for an extra cost everyone can purchase light Estonian style snacks and fingerfood. And if you still happen to get hungry while enjoying the festival, there are a few cafés and restaurants close to Estonian House that offer delicious meals from 8am to 10pm daily.

We’ve left you with the chance to meet the Estonian musicians one more time at the last Bar Night. Come and have a chat and take a photo with the main performers of this year’s Eesti Päevad – Tanel Padar, Ott Lepland and Jalmar Vabarna. Their performance at the Bar Night is going to be different from their concert, it will be unplugged, this time more personal and intimate.

The final day of Eesti Päevad is not going to be less exciting than any of the previous days, however, 31st December is not packed with as many events as previous festival days. The last day of the festival is your chance to get to know and enjoy the city of Melbourne. Also, you can start your day at the sporting carnival – volleyball and basketball matches start at 10am at Brunswick Sports Stadium (4 Gardiner St Brunswick). Also, an assembly for Australian Estonian Society leaders will be held on the last day of Eesti Päevad (starting at 10am in the Estonian House). The end of the year celebration – Blue, Black and White Ball – starts at 8pm in the main hall of the Estonian House. Let’s say good-bye to the year 2014 together as one family and agree upon our next meeting time and place. And you’ve guessed it right – the entertainment of the night will be provided by the now familiar Estonian band Vallatud Vestid, singing and playing dance music until the early hours of the year 2015. What a fantastic end to the XXV Eesti Päevad!

Estonian Experience 2014 – BE THERE! Sirje Jõgi
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… päeva XXV Eesti Päevade alguseni
XXV Eesti Päevade korraldajad kutsuvad kõiki aastat lõpetama Melbourne’i, looma uusi sõprussuhteid ja kinnitama endiseid, jagama siduvat eestlaseks olemise kogemust ning tantsima üheskoos uude 2015. aastasse!

Avajumalateenistus toimub 27.detsembril kell 11 Melbourne’i Eesti Majast üle tee asuvas St John’s kirikus. Teenindavad kolme eesti koguduse pastorid – Phil Haar, Meelis Rosma, Andres Palm.

Järgneb XXV Eesti Päevade avamine Eesti Majas, algusega kell 12.30, ühes suupistete ning moedemonstratsiooniga. Eesti Maja üleval korrusel avatakse käsitöö näitus kell 14.30 ning Red Gallery’s on selleks ajaks juba avatud ka eesti kunsti näitus, mida saab St Georges Roadil külastada kuni kella 15.30ni.

Õhtul peame Kohtumisõhtut. Kell 20.00 avab uksed Moonee Valley Legends klubi – Eesti Maja läheduses, Melbourne’i uhes kuulsas hobuste võiduajamiste keskuses, kauni öise vaatega linnale. Baar müüb eesti jooke, mängib eesti muusikat, tutvustuseks esinevad mõni tund varem lennujaamast saabunud eesti muusikud. Sissepääsu pilet sisaldab kahekäigulist õhtusööki.

Järgmisel hommikul 28.detsembril on mõnus Kohtumisõhtu peost taastuda Queens pargis. Perepäev algab pargis kell 11 ja kestab 15.00ni. Tegevust leiavad kõik – korraldatakse mänge lastele ning rahvatantsu vanematele. Võta kaasa piknikukorv lõunaks.

Kunsti ja käsitöö näitused on avatud alates kella 11st, kusjuures toimub ka kunstinäituse ametlik avamine kell 16.30 (Red Gallerys).

Eesti Majas seab end samaaegselt üles Hää Eesti Turg. Algusega kell 19.00 astub lavale XXV Eesti Päevade tõmbenumber – kuueliikmeline ansambel, kus solistideks Tanel Padar, Ott Lepland ja Jalmar Vabarna. Esinetakse „Vallatute Vestide“ kontserdi kavaga nagu see on juba Eestis tuntuks saanud – kolm erinevat armastatud lauljat oma parimate paladega.

Pärast sellist elamust ei ole kindlasti võimalik koju minna. Jääme edasi baariõhtule, kus kuulame rahulikku eesti muusikat Elmet Neumanni esituses.

Loodetavasti golfimängijad ei jää baariõhtule liiga pikalt, kuna golfi alguse ajaks on 29.detsembril juba kell 7.30. Red Gallerysse kunstinäitusele saab taas alates kella 11st. Eesti Majas toimuvad koosviibimised – kolmandal korrusel alates kella 12st nendele, kes huvitatud eesti keelest, ning lava all baaris luulehuvilistele alates kella 15.00st.

Eesti Maja saali rõdul algab kell 17.00 Eesti Filmi Festival. Esmaesitlusele tuleb Silvi Vann-Walli dokumentaalfilm „Austonia“. Popkorn ja jook on sissepääsu hinna sees.

29.12 baariõhtul, algusega kell 20, esinevad oma kavaga Pia Maganov ja Gerrit Thomson. Muuseas võib baariõhtute kohta teadmiseks võtta, et alkoholi müük lõpeb vastavalt litsentsile kell 23. Keegi ei keela aga pikemalt baaris aega veeta ja pudelit veini lauale valmis osta enne alkoholi müügi lõppu.

Teisipäev, 30.detsember on kardisõitjate kord vara ärgata – sõiduks valmis olla kell 7.00 Ace Karts kardirajal (20 Carrington Drive Albion). Eesti Majas kohtuvad skaudid-gaidid algusega kell 10. Red Gallery avab uksed viimast korda eesti kunstinäituseks kella 11st 16ni.

Suur tantsude ja laulude Rahvapidu algab südapäeval ning kogu Rahvapeo vältel on avatud ka Hää Eesti Turg. Lisaks saab turgu külastada ka tund enne ja peale Rahvapidu.

Rahvapidu päädib kell 17.00 XXV Eesti Päevade lõputseremooniaga.

Kella 20st ootame kõiki viimasele baariõhtule. Loodetavasti jätkub ikka veel eesti õlut ning, nagu igal baariõhtul, pakume ka kerget eestipärast sööki (eraldi tasu eest). Kui aga kõht peaks Eesti Majas end mõnusalt tundes siiski tühjaks minema, asub Eesti Maja vahetusläheduses paar restorani ja toidukohta, mis pakuvad maitsvaid roogi iga päev kella 8st 22ni.

Viimaseks baariõhtuks jätsime võimaluse oma käega katsuda eesti muusikuid  – Tanel Padarit (kes 2001.aastal võitis Eurovisiooni lauluga „Everybody“), Ott Leplandi (kes 2010.aastal oli Eesti Superstaar ning kelle laul „Kuula“ võistles 2012.aasta Eurovisioonil) ja Jalmar Vabarnat (tuntuim folkmuusik Eestis, kes 2014.aasta laulupeoks seadis ning kooridega esitas setu laulu „Velekese’ noorõkõsõ’“). Ei esineta sama kavaga, mis oli juba 28.detsembri kontserdil, vaid toimuv on unplugged, isiklikum, lähedasem.

Eestlane ju ei väsi! Kuid igaks juhuks oleme 31.detsembri päeva vabaks jätnud, et Melbourne’i külalised saaksid ka linna nautida. Eesti Päevade albumisse oleme pannud põneva soovitusliku nimekirja kohtadest, kus võiks olla huvitav käia. Kell 10 hommikul mängitakse võrk- ja korvpalli (Brunswick Sports Stadium) ning toimuvad mõned koosolekud ja lõunad meie Eesti kogukonna juhtidele.

Kogu rahvast ootame kokku kella 20ks, riietuse toonideks sinine ja must ja valge, et ühise perena oma lipu värvide all südaööl šampuse klaasid kokku lüüa ning järgmiste Eesti Päevade asukoht ning kohtumispaik kokku leppida. Ja muusikat mängib – arvasite juba? – Eestist saabunud 6-liikmeline „Vallatud Vestid“, taaskord erineva kavaga, sedapuhku tantsumuusikaga. Alustades vaiksemast, taustamuusikast, ning järjest hoogsamates taktides hommikutundide poole liikudes. Kuni korraga keeratakse seda nuppu, mis kõik vaikseks teeb. Jõuad vaid pilgutada, kui juba läbi ta ongi, XXV Eesti Päevad.
Estonian Experience 2014 – BE THERE! Sirje Jõgi

Foresight and Perseverance by Sylvia McNeall
Published by Short Stop Press, Sydney, 2014

There have been many memoirs written by Estonians who fled Estonia in advance of the Soviet invasion in 1944 and arrived in Australia after World War ll. Most of them had similar but not the same stories, a hazardous journey to Germany, constantly fleeing west away from the advancing Red Army, years in the Displaced Persons camps and finally the voyage to Australia. There they were confronted by a strange land, strange flora and fauna, a foreign language and a need to start their lives all over again. Most succeeded, some failed.

Foresight and Forbearance is a variation on that story. The Parret family, having Baltic German connections, moved to Germany in 1941 to escape the Soviet threat. With their family background, the threat of deportation was very real.

Throughout the war Georg Parrett managed to keep his family safe by blending in and finally moving them out of Berlin. In 1945, as the Soviet Army pushed further into Europe, it was time to move again. With great courage and perseverance the family moved west again but this time the journey was much more difficult and dangerous. This book tells how George Parret led his family to safety, overcoming setbacks, never giving up and using his talents to enable his family survive in post war Germany. From there they came to Australia to start a new life.

Readers who have experienced wartime in Germany and the long voyage to Australia will share many of the special memories that the author describes in this book. I was too young to remember much about my life in Germany but I, too, will never forget my first taste of golden corn flakes, nothing since has ever tasted so good. The description of the voyage to Australia will strike a chord with all who undertook that journey. The initial impressions of life in Australia, finding a job, setting up home, the first day at school, the lack of familiar food are experiences shared by all the newcomers.

This book will resonate with those people who have had similar experiences and will bring back many memories. But this book is really for our children and grandchildren and friends to help them understand how and why we came to Australia. The extensive appendices put the personal story into the context of the time and provide essential background information for anyone who is interested in the lives of Estonian Australians.

The book, hard cover $39.99, paperback $29.99, e-book $9.99 is available from Short Stop Press email admin@aampersanda.com
Maie Barrow
Archivist
Estonian Archives in Australia

The Estonian government has become the first country in the world to offer e-residency to non-citizens.

Successful applicants will be issued a digital ID card with a computer-readable chip which, in combination with authentication PIN codes, will allow them to access a number of the country’s e-services and conduct business online.

Read the entire article from the aBC http://abc.net.au/news/2014-11-25/estonia-to-offer-e-residency-online-to-non-citizens/5917240

Registrations are now open for Sorve 2015!

Email: admin@sorve.org.au

Website: http://www.sorve.org.au/

Mobile: 0458 140 662

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