This wonderful phrase, meaning  “Forever a Sõrve child”, was written across the front of the commemorative t-shirt given to every full-time camper at Sõrve 2011, the camp chosen to celebrate Sõrve’s 50th birthday. And what a birthday celebration it was with the staging of the Sõrve Suurpäev, our own Big Day Out. This day was proof positive that Sõrve holds a special place in the hearts of so many who returned after 10, 20 or 30 years and more, to see how Sõrve has changed.

In a physical sense almost everything has changed. Only 3 of the huts remain, as a contribution to preserving heritage, and they now have the addition of a small bathroom on the verandah. These huts may be of little importance to other groups who use the camp at Point Wolstoncroft, but for those of us at Sõrve who have been going there for so long, they are at the heart of many memories. The location on the Point, however, with the lake on two sides is still as beautiful as ever. And the large eucalyptus tree along with the original mealtime gong still remains, and serves as an orientation point which helps to work out where everything used to be.

As it always has, each day at Sõrve concludes with the “sõ-prusring”, the circle of friendship which unites all those at camp in a moment of quiet contemplation and gratitude. The strong sense of belonging and of being part of the Sõrve family is a unique thing to experience, and I still marvel at the easy and genuine interaction between children of all ages, from preschoolers to young adults. This engenders an environment which is safe both physically and emotionally, and the camp leadership works hard to ensure this. It is a testimony to the emotional and cultural experience that Sõrve provides that as children become young adults they are reluctant to give up their relationship with this family. Consequently the number of leaders and potential leaders is large and they are in need of more children to look after, so that they can share and pass on their love of this special phenomenon we call Sõrve.

There was a suggestion at camp of the need to revive the old slogan of “Tehke rohkem eesti lapsi”, make more Estonian children. But making these children will take time, and while we are waiting it would be great to see more of the children who have already been made! There are several grandparents who bring their grandchildren to camp to give them the opportunity to fi nd out about their ethnic background, and at the same time give their children a short break from parenting. But there is room for more. There is no shortage of “juhid” available to keep the children safe and occupied, and ensure that they sleep soundly at night. It is a relaxing and sociable time for the grandparents who can relive their own memories of Sõrve, and a good time is guaranteed for all.

This year was for me a return to the camp after 14 years and I felt proud to have been among those who attended the first camp held at Point Wolstoncroft, and therefore the fi rst ”Sõrve”, in 1962. I hope that Sõrve continues to live a long and healthy life so that one day I might have the opportunity to return again with grandchildren of my own and help perpetuate this wonderful tradition and my ethnic heritage.

Helen Cowman

Meie Kodu: 2nd Febraury 2011

The twenty-third Australian Estonian festival was held from the 27th to the 31st of December. The template for this has remained fairly constant over the last 50 years but at this most recent festival a new evening was introduced which over the last 3 years has proved to be very successful for those living in Adelaide. Did the rest of Australia take to this new evening, well the jury is still out! Which was the best night of this recent Estonian Festival?

Well I certainly believe it was the Festival Esto Pub night, December came alive and the true spirit of what Esto Pub Night is all about was truly reflected during the evening.

Photo Gallery

[slickr-flickr tag=”esto pub night festival”]

Before I give my reasons, let us look at the other possibilities! Other contenders during the Festival included the opening night. You may read articles about this, which may have certainly boasted 340 people walking through the door with less than 55 people over the age of 65 all seated…

Another night, which possibly came close was Tuesday the 28th of December. Ok the Café style concert with Estonian Operetta duo Annika and Silver Lumi concluded by receiving the first ever standing ovation at any Australian Estonian Festival by the always, critical older crowd that attended! Certainly it was well appreciated that their performance was world class.

Other evenings included Maia Barrow’s fabulous presentation along with Kristina Lupp’s fabulous cooking at the Taste of Estonia or the New Years Eve Ball with our fantastic young Estonian performers, Indrek Raadik and Eda Ines and her band. You will read articles about all these events but I certainly believe the ultimate “Must Not Miss’ night overall was the Festival Pub Night!

Esto Pub Night’s have become synonymous with a relaxed atmosphere, the formal very entertaining Folk dancing performance drew in a very appreciative audience earlier in  the afternoon. Wednesday the 29th of December was forecast as a very hot Adelaide summer day but the main hall air-conditioning was equal to the task. At the conclusion  of the dancing the hall was swiftly transformed to a café style venue by the huge team  of volunteers. Kristina Lupp fabulously coordinated the wonderful true Aussie style BBQ  meal, with a Canadian gourmet blend.

What made this the evening to remember? Some have said the great Lõke’s performance, this was delightful rendition by the 8 member choir group from Sydney. Others commented about the affordable Aussie BBQ meal coordinated by our Canadian chef, Kristina Lupp. For me it was the clearing of the main hall at 9 pm and about 25 random couples standing up to dance their favorite folkdances. The spontaneous nature was what made it memorable with all ages joining in for the appreciation of our culture. The entire Hall and club rooms were certainly full until the early hours of the morning. These certainly were reminiscent of scenes from Estonian Festivals from many decades ago.

The true spirit of what we have attempted to ingrain as the Esto Pub Night motto was clearly evident. There was no formalities, no set tables, people were free to mingle and enjoy the atmosphere of the moment. Australian Estonians from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and elsewhere all able to mix and all enjoy the evening!

The Esto Pub Night fever did hit the festival, this was an evening that had no history as a festival event. Those who were fortunate enough to experience the concept can, only judge the success of the evening. It was an opportunity to sample the Saku Kuld, the Kiss Cider or have a shot of Vana Tallinn or Viru Valge! Historic Eesti Päevad photos were shown on the clubroom video screen throughout the evening. Tom Sarapuu and his team of young volunteers worked tirelessly behind the bar, as they had for most evenings.

During some evenings during any festival, the music has been too load or too soft (depending on what generation you are from). Some evenings the food was served too late or the event did not start on time… Generally these type of complaints were few and far between in Adelaide and certainly did not exist during the Festival Esto Pub Night.

Well in 2011 the Esto Pub Night is back!

This time we are going back to a true Estonian theme. The amazing Chef Greggory is back and will highlight a fantastic Estonian dish. The UEFA qualifying series for Euro 2012 is on and we will screen a 10 minute glimpse of the highlights of the most successful Estonian campaign in it’s involvement in this tournament.

Esto Pub Night 15.5 is set for Friday April the 1st. It has been decided to go back to the grass roots of what Esto Pub Nights were originally all about. No high-powered politics, no advertising in major national or international Estonian newspapers. This will be an opportunity to get together with friendly local Estonians after work on a Friday night, to support our local hall, to meet new people, enjoy a fantastic inexpensive meal and sample our variety of Estonian and local beers, wines and spirits, which is unmatched in the Southern Hemisphere.

If this is your first time, the entire idea of these nights is to drop in for 10 minutes or 2 hours and stay for some food to say hello, support the hall and bump into old or meet new Esto friends… No need to book tables or make formal appointments, it has  become a relaxed, friendly evening for everyone. Drop in after work or some people come through on their way home after being out elsewhere. Put Friday April the 1st into your calendar it will certainly be the ultimate Esto Pub Night at Kalev On Jeffcott here in North Adelaide.

Richard Semenov
Meie Kodu: 9th February 2011

My cousin and I were walking along Tõnismägi tänav on a cool Monday night last September, on our way to the small theatre housed in the National Library of Estonia, and as we walked, she told me about the performance we were just about to see. Teater Varius, as the group is known in Estonia, is a small theatrical company which specialises in performing plays with historically-true settings.

The theatre is located in the basement of the library and seats about 70‒80 people. We walked along the corridor on the ground floor of the library and ran into a crowd of people also on their way to see the performance. The audience that night seemed to be mainly middle-aged and from all walks of life. Soon the theatre was full, the lights dimmed and the curtains parted, revealing the stage which had now been transformed into the studio of a radio station. I remembered seeing a mention that the play was set in 1944.

If you have ever seen how a magician opens his show, and how, with the wave of his wand and a sprinkle of stardust over the audience, he transforms the whole night into a totally magical experience, you will have some idea about what happened next.

The setting for the play was the studio of a radio station in Tallinn in 1944, the time when many Estonians were preparing to escape from the armies about to invade their homeland. I quickly understood,
however, that it was more of a cabaret than a serious play. The fun began as the actors sang, danced and joked their way through the opening scenes. I had the thought that my parents would really have enjoyed this play, and had they seen it, they would probably have felt both happy and sad at the same time while being transported back to the time of their youth.

Then the first act was over, and I was doubtful that the magic spell that had been cast by the actors in the first half could be repeated in the second half. They had talked, joked and argued with each other in such a realistic and totally believable way, and at times had been mischievous too ‒ a rare talent indeed! Later, when I discovered the pedigree of the performers, I understood how they had been able to do it.

So the second half began, and to my surprise, I saw even more magic ‒ but this you would have to see for yourself to begin to understand! I have seen many plays and cabaret shows, and this one was equal to the best. A short way into the second act, the setting changed from life in Estonia to life in Sweden. And then, sitting in this little theatre in Tallinn, I then heard Arthur Caldwell’s announcements, and they were a huge surprise to me. I shook my head in wonder. I felt as if I was in the past of my parents, in their life, hearing their songs, asking their questions… Wow!!Then the performance ended.

The audience clapped, and clapped, and clapped. The cast took many curtain calls. What more is there to say? If you look at my photo with the cast you will see the stardust on me.

Helisev Viis is the name of the play, and  Teater Varius is the name of the group. In the words of an old favourite song ‒ ‘life is a cabaret’ for them. Reviews of the performance are on the internet. I recommend the one in the  Eesti Päevaleht  newspaper from Sweden.

Lots of fun and laughter, song and dance, and memories from our past. Bravo to an exceptionally talented cast and thank you for a night of magic.

Rex Urmas Rattur
Memories of a wonderful night in Tallinn
Meie Kodu: 19th January 2011

For a short time only, every SES member has a chance to win a FREE RETURN AIRLINE TICKET TO ESTONIA! Every time your name is written as the nominator (soovitaja) on someone’s membership application (attached), which is received by SES and fully paid between 4 and 24 of March, you get one entry into the Big Draw.

• Download Membership Form

Not a member yet, but want a free ticket to Estonia? You can quickly join before 14 March and still have time to recruit other members and participate in the draw.

Act now! The more members you nominate, the bigger your chances to win!

Everybody Wins

It’s not just you who has a chance to win big. The new member who joins wins a membership in one of the oldest, largest and most prestigious Estonian Societies in the world for a $20 annual fee and $0 joining fee. That’s less than 40 cents a week… amazing! (The fees are bound to go up at the next AGM on 26/3/11, so make sure you pay your annual fee before the meeting).

Estours Travel

Affordable airline tickets from Australia to Estonia and around   the world. Package tours, Cruise holidays etc. Estours Travel has been looking after the travel needs of the Estonian community for decades! Visit Estours Travel

Estravel
When in Estonia and in a need of a travel related service, you can’t go wrong with Estravel, the largest travel agency in the Baltic States. Founded in 1988. Member of the Finnair Group. Offices in Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu, Jõhvi, Haapsalu, Kuressaare, Riga and Vilnius.
Visit Estravel.

Meie Kodu
Meie Kodu is the national Australian Estonian weekly newspaper, published since 1949. Meie Kodu comes to your mailbox every week in a convenient paper format, with interesting photos and local content. We are looking for new subscribers to please and impress! Please  email meiekodu@eestiselts.org to subscribe or to place an advertisement.
Visit Meie Kodu

Estowear
Our mission for the company is simple – to share our passion for all things Estonian through the visual medium of fashion. We have created a range of sportswear and streetwear apparel all featuring unique Estonian imagery. So we invite you to browse the Estowear collection –www.estowear.com to wear our clothing with pride and to join us in celebrating all things Estonian!
Visit Estowear

CONDITIONS

Every membership application filed with SES and paid to SES between 4/3/11 and 24/3/11 gives one entry to the prize draw for the current SES member who signed as the first nominator (Soovitaja) on the form. Seconder (Teine soovitaja) does not count. The draw is carried out live in front of SES members on 26/3/2011 at the AGM in Sydney Eesti Maja. The winner, if not present, is notified by email or phone on the same day. The net value of this prize is limited to max $1900, which, at the time of publishing these conditions, buys a return ticket with Finnair from Sydney to Tallinn, in subclass O, on AY-coded flight numbers. The winner may choose to use a credit of $1900 towards any other airline ticket to Tallinn, Helsinki, Riga or Stockholm. The ticket must be issued by the Authorised Travel Agent before 31/12/11 and the departure must be before 30/6/12. No refunds. No cash exchange. Transfer of the prize or credit to another member of SES is allowed for a fee of $190.00, payable to SES. Organised and guaranteed by: Estonian Society of Sydney, Incorporated (Sydney Eesti Selts), 141 Campbell St, Surry Hills, NSW 2010.

This month’s video features a collection of performers and attendees at the 2011 Independence Day Ceremony in Adelaide.

Estonian Society Of Sydney (SES) is proud to present MEN WITHOUT SHADOWS
by Jean-Paul Sartre, on 6 March 2011.

This play is directed by Hendrik Elstein, a young member of the Estonian Community in Sydney. The cast is young NIDA graduates from the HOBO Collective.

France, July 1944: the pro-Nazi Vichy government is still in power. An attic in an abandoned school holds six young resistance fighters waiting for their ordered execution. A floor below, their three executioners face imminent death from the approaching Allied forces. Neither side will escape, but this isn’t about life and death, it’s about winning the game.

Written by Jean-Paul Sartre, one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century, MEN WITHOUT SHADOWS is a rarely performed gem that challenges the audience to consider what people are capable of once stripped of the things that make them human – freedom, dignity, even hope.

Tickets at the door:

• Adult $28
• SES member $23
• full time student $23

Sunday, 6 March at the Estonian House, 141 Campbell St, Surry Hills.

• The pre-show Cafe opens at 2.00pm
• Performance starts at 3.00pm
• The post-show Cafe stays open 1h after the performance ends (perfect time to head out to a dinner in nearby Surry Hills or Darlinghurst!)

***
This is a special fundraiser performance. All proceeds go towards further renovation of the Estonian House – our community home at a perfect location. Please come yourself and bring your friends!

Friday the 11th of February was the first opportunity for the Estonian community here in Adelaide to get together and reflect on the intense activity over the last few months. Yes the Esto Pub Night phenomena has continued into the new year and this time the team wanted a relaxed evening and invited a new group to ‘Kalev on Jeffcott’ to provide a different but professional treat!

Yes again it was a Friday night and it happened exactly a week before the start of the very famous Adelaide Fringe Festival. Hence there were no excuses. On arrival at our small clubrooms in North Adelaide, Allan gave every entrant a ‘Lei’, to embrace the theme of the evening, welcoming the guests. Before the scheduled start of the evening, the Ukulele’s already started to dominate the scene!

With their Lei’s in position our guests took the aromas produced by our new but very shy Master Chef with a sense of anticipation. The promise was made to make a formal introduction of the new Culinary Mastermind but the appreciation and the aromas he produced and his efficiency needed no fanfare. Greggory Hill is here from Washington DC in the US but has a close affiliation with our local Estonians. Our critical community has now verified his appreciation of the local cuisine. The barbequed chicken was a simply spectacular dish that had all the regulars rushing to the kitchen for more. Those that were fortunate enough to attend are looking forward to his next this time Estonian treat!

The evenings performing group, which has a number of members with a very close connection with our community, was the Adelaide Ukulele Appreciation Society. This is an organisation, that have played at many state and national events, with more than 50 members. Over twenty of their team entertained us with two fantastic brackets. They raised the standard of the Esto Pub Night’s entertainment to a level that will be difficult to repeat. My personal favorite was Flowers on the Wall, by the Statler Brothers a well known to most from the Pulp Fiction soundtract. The entertainment was spectacular, it was fantastic to also see a new team of Estonian backpackers enjoy the enthusiasm.

A regular Esto Pub Night attendee who wishes to remain nameless left her hospital bed for two hours, to witness the fantastic entertainment. It was fortunate that there was 4 doctors and 3 nurses present to supervise her IV line. Peter Helm, another Pub Night regular, was in total disbelief in seeing the amazing entertainment, his wife eventually dragged him home. Many other Pub Night regulars recorded and appreciated a fantastic evening at Kalev on Jeffcott.

The timing of the next Adelaide Esto Pub Night has become a slight mystery. Everyone is looking forward to this years Estovision Night! With Estonia in the second semifinal we are proud to announce that Esto Pub Night is moving to a Saturday Night. Stay tuned for more details about this which will be sometime in May, but prior to this a very quiet EPN has been scheduled in for early April.

In Adelaide it is difficult to keep the Estonians away! Vikerkaar the Adelaide Eesti Folkdancers have returned to their Sunday practices, Eesti Selts has a new female President, Naisring has had their AGM, the EM Board has been overwhelmed by internet searches and Hapu Koor is back! Who would have ever expected this delightful choir to survive post Estonian Festival. Well membership is increasing and all camps are insisting on another Friday night get together. Esto Pub Night 15.5 is set for Friday April the 1st. It has been decided to go back to the grass roots of what Esto Pub Nights were originally all about. No high powered politics, no advertising in major national or international Estonian newspapers. This will be an opportunity to get together with friendly local Estonians after work on a Friday night, to support our local hall, to meet new people, enjoy a fantastic inexpensive meal and sample our variety of Estonian and local beers, wines and spirits, which is unmatched Southern Hemisphere.

If this is your first time, the entire idea of these nights is to drop in for 10 minutes or 2 hours and stay for some food to say hello, support the hall and bump into old or meet new Esto friends… No need to book tables or make formal appointments, it has become a relaxed, friendly evening for everyone. Drop in after work or some people come through on their way home after being out elsewhere. Put Friday April the 1st into your calendar it will certainly be the ultimate Esto Pub Night at Kalev On Jeffcott here in North Adelaide.
Richard Semenov

For the past few years, Estonian Independence Day Picnics on Shark Island have been a great success. We’ve had around 100 participants each year, young and old, visitors from Estonia and life-long Aussies, everyone having a good time together.

This year, on Thursday, 24 February, Sydney Eesti Selts (SES) is proudly hosting the event, and it’s going to be better than ever.

We depart at 4.30 pm from Circular Quay, from the Commissioner’s Steps (on the bridge side), on a chartered Matilda Ferry. The return departure from the Island is at sunset 7.45pm, to be back at Circular Quay by 8pm. This gives us 3 hours of quality time on the island that once a year turns into an exclusive “Estonian territory”.

Muusikateater VARIUS, a popular musical theatre group from Tallinn is in Sydney on that day and they are joining us on the island. There are several well known actors and opera singers in the group. Which ones exactly, you will find out on the day.

NO NEED TO MISS WORK OR CARRY ESKIES
All you need to do is leave work early and catch the train to Circular Quay. It only takes 1 minute to walk from the train station to the Ferry (look for the big Estonian flag).

BIG NEWS… This year, there’s no need to carry your food and drinks with you, because we have our own catering team selling affordable snacks and drinks. It’s the same young people who bring us Estonian Club nights every Thursday at Eesti Maja.

But if you want to bring your own food and drinks, you are welcome to do so.

PRICING
Adult 16y and older … $28.00
SES Member … $23.00*
Child 5-15y … $15.00
Child 4y or younger … FREE

Booking required at http://haisaar-11.eventbrite.com.
Tickets available on the boat, payment in cash.

The price includes…

• private ferry transfers to and from the island
• Estonian music on the island
• National Park admission fees

Please note that Shark island has toilets and water, but no gas, electricity or BBQ. It’s a world famous national park, so please make sure to leave no rubbish on the island when you leave.

Teater Varius are in Australia to perform Helisev Viis.  Teater Varius have taken some of the most painful moments in our national consciousness and transformed them through song and dance and a dash of humour into something memorable.

Dates

Melbourne
Sun 19th Feb 2011 -3pm
Concert

Sydney
Fri 25th Feb – 7pm
Caberet

Sun 27th Feb – 3pm
Play

Thirlmere
Tue Mar 1 – 2pm
Concert

For more information, read Rex Rattur’s review below.

A Night of Magic – Teater Varius

My cousin and I were walking along Tõnismägi tänav on a cool Monday night last September, on our way to the small theatre housed in the National Library of Estonia, and as we walked, she told me about the performance we were just about to see. Teater Varius, as the group is known in Estonia, is a small theatrical company which specialises in performing plays with historically-true settings.

The theatre is located in the basement of the library and seats about 50–60 people. We walked along the corridor on the ground floor of the library and ran into a crowd of people also on their way to see the performance. The audience that night seemed to be mainly middle-aged and from all walks of life. Soon the theatre was full, the lights dimmed and the curtains parted, revealing the stage which had now been transformed into the studio of a radio station. I remembered seeing a mention that the play was set in 1944.

If you have ever seen how a magician opens his show, and how, with the wave of his wand and a sprinkle of stardust over the audience, he transforms the whole night into a totally magical experience, you will have some idea about what happened next.

The setting for the play was the studio of a radio station in Tallinn in 1944, the time when many Estonians were preparing to escape from the armies about to invade their homeland. I quickly understood, however, that it was more of a cabaret than a serious play. The fun began as the actors sang, danced and joked their way through the opening scenes. I had the thought that my parents would really have enjoyed this play, and had they seen it, they would probably have felt both happy and sad at the same time while being transported back to the time of their youth.

Then the first act was over, and I was doubtful that the magic spell that had been cast by the actors in the first half could be repeated in the second half. They had talked, joked and argued with each other in such a realistic and totally believable way, and at times had been mischievous too – a rare talent indeed! Later, when I discovered the pedigree of the performers, I understood how they had been able to do it.

So the second half began, and to my surprise, I saw even more magic – but this you would have to see for yourself to begin to understand! I have seen many plays and cabaret shows, and this one was equal to the best. A short way into the second act, the setting changed from life in Estonia to life in Sweden. And then, sitting in this little theatre in Tallinn, I then heard Arthur Caldwell’s announcements, and they were a huge surprise to me. I shook my head in wonder. I felt as if I was in the past of my parents, in their life, hearing their songs, asking their questions…. Wow!!

Then the performance ended. The audience clapped, and clapped, and clapped. The cast took many curtain calls. What more is there to say? If you look at my photo with the cast you will see the stardust on me.

Helisev Viis is the name of the play, and Teater Varius is the name of the group. In the words of an old favourite song – ‘life is a cabaret’ for them. Reviews of the performance are on the internet. I recommend the one in the Eesti Päevaleht newspaper from Sweden.

Lots of fun and laughter, song and dance, and memories from our past. Bravo to an exceptionally talented cast and thank you for a night of magic.

By Rex Urmas Rattur Memories of a wonderful night in Tallinn

Learning Estonian? Why not listen to this video to help with your pronunciation!

Elections for the Estonian Parliament will take place in Estonia on 6 March 2011.

Estonian citizens living permanently or temporarily in a foreign state may vote electronically (Internet voting), by post or in person. This includes holders of Estonian passports.

Internet voting is available on the web-page www.valimised.ee from 9:00 on 24 February 2011 until 20:00 on 2 March 2011.

Postal voting first requires an application to the Estonian representation by the 4 February 2011.

An application for a postal vote must include

1) a copy of the personal detail page of an identity document;

2) the voter’s residential address in Australia;

3) the voter’s last residential address in Estonia or if the voter has never had a residence in Estonia, the last residence of the voter’s parents or grandparents in Estonia.

Voters who apply on time will be sent a ballot paper, candidate list and 2 envelopes. You will need to fill in the ballot paper. The ballot paper must then be placed in the smaller (inner) envelope. Then put the smaller envelope into the larger (outer) envelope. On the outer envelope write your name, ID code and electoral district number. Then send the completed ballot paper by post to the Estonian representation:

Consulate of the Republic of Estonia

40 Nicholson Street

Balmain East NSW 2041

The completed ballot paper must arrive at the Estonian representation by 18 February 2011.

Voting in person. It is possible to vote in person after presenting a valid identification document at:

Sydney Estonian House, 141 Campbell Street, Surry Hills NSW, or

Perth Estonian Consulate, 11 Langsford Street, Claremont WA

20 February 2011, 10:00 – 14.00

21 February 2011, 14.00 – 19.00

Contacts:

Honorary Consul of Estonia in Sydney: (02) 8014 8999, Sydney@estonianconsul.org

Honorary Consul of Estonia in Perth: (08) 9384 2757, anuvanhattem@aol.com

Estonian National Electoral Commission: www.vvk.ee

For future elections you may apply for an electronic voting card from www.eesti.ee/est/kodanik .