In January 2011, the Sydney Estonian Parent’s Committee will be holding their 50^th year of Sõrve at Point Wolstoncroft, Lake Macquarie, NSW. On the 9th January we will be celebrating this momentous occasion with a large scale outdoor afternoon, culminating in a large scale concert. We are calling the day, “Sõrve Suurpäev”. The weekend is open to all persons who have an interest in the future of Sõrve, either as former residents, parents or like community members.

Sõrve Suurpäev will revolve around the following activities

• Opening and closing ceremony
• Archive displays of Estonian heritage and past Sõrve activities
• Performances by various groups from within Sõrve Summer Camp
• Folk dancing and other Estonian groups
• Food stalls
• Merchandising

A number of Estonian musical stars will headline the concert. These include Ines and her band. Ines represented Estonia in the 2000 Eurovision contest and continues as a significant recording artist today. Also joining the tour is Indrek Raadik, who was better known by the stage name of Summer. Indrek was the lead singer with the seminal band The Tuberkuloited. As our final guest we have been able to lock in Ott Lepland. Ott started singing at an early age and in 2009 won Estonian Idol.

Visitors are welcome to come and share in the days activities with those attending normal Sõrve Suvelaager. Visitors will have an opportunity to camp overnight in the Point Wolstoncroft site or use other external accommodation if they require.

For enquiries and bookings please contact:

• Ron Cowan cowan54@bigpond.com 0448 284 046
• Pille Pűvendi pille_p@bigpond.com 0438 545 060
• Maie Pikkat maie@austarnet.com.au 0409 820 472
• Juhan Lűbek lubek2@optusnet.com.au 0423 149 733
• Mick Nelson micknelson1@bigpond.com 0428 645 128

We are proud to announce our Kűld Lõvi sponsor  Peacock Hill Vineyard. George and Silvi Tsiros have been long supporters of Sõrve and we are happy to have them join us in celebrating the 50^th Sõrve.

Peacock Hill Winery – http://www.peacockhill.com.au/

Tõnu Aav will be perform his show on the same dates and times as the play was to be shown.

20 February 2010 Melbourne Estonian House 3pm – Estonian independence day and Tõnu Aav autoriõhtu
28 February 2010 Sydney Estonian House  2pm –  Tõnu Aav autoriõhtu
02 March 2010  Thirlmere 2pm – Tõnu Aav autoriõhtu
06 March 2010 Brisbane  4pm – Estonian independence day and Tõnu Aav autoriõhtu

***

Teated – TÄHELEPANU

Vabariigi aastapäeva tähistamisele pidi järgnema lavastus Viimane sigar, nelja näitlejaga Eestist.
Paraku viidi 12 veebruaril Estonia Teatri proovist kiirabiga minema neist üks, Agu Endrik Kerge. Tegu on tõsise kopsupõletikuga, ning Kerge peab viibima haiglas pikemat aega.

Tõnu Aav on Eestis kuulus oma rollidega lavastustes, kui ka tuntud sooloesineja. Näidendi asemel esitame Tõnu Aava Autoriõhtu.
Ootame rohkearvulist publikut nüüd vaatama teistsugust etendust, kui algselt välja kuulutatud. Haigused ei küsi. Kvantiteedis kaotasime, jah – aga mitte kvaliteedis! Saame pigem ainulaadse õhtu  – paljut näha Tõnu Aava karjääri jooksul etendatust.

20.02. kell 15.00 Vabariigi aastapäeva tähistamine Melbournes ja Tõnu Aava autoriõhtu
28.02 kell 14.00  Sydneys  Tõnu Aava autoriõhtu
02.03 kell 14.00 Thirlmeres  Tõnu Aava autoriõhtu
06.03 kell 16.00 vabariigi aastapäeva tähistamine Brisbanes ja Tõnu Aava autoriõhtu

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TÕNU AAV – 48 hooaega draama teatris.

Saame katkeid näha, huumorit nautida Tõnu Aava soolo esinemisel – Tõnu Aava autoriõhtu.

Tõnu Aav on pärit Tallinna Riikliku Konservatooriumi Lavakunstikateedri esimesest lennust 1961. aastal. Ta on tänaseks ainus lõpetajatest, kes on veel koosseisulisena teatris palgal. Seega läheb tal Eesti Draamateatris neljakümne kaheksas hooaeg. Tema õnnestumateks töödeks peetakse Colas Breugnoni, Kihnu Jõnni, Ärni monoloogi “Suvitajad”, Jourdaine Moliere’i komöödiast “Kodanlasest aadlimees”, mille eest on talle antud aasta parima meesnäitleja preemia. Sama autasu sai ta veel Colas Breugnoni ning Mangani osa eest Shaw’ näidendis “Südamete murdumise maja”. Kaheinimese näidendit “Rita koolitus” mängisid nad ka Los Angeleses ja San Franciscos. Mononäidendiga “Laatsaruse lugu” käis Tõnu Aav esinemas ka Soomes.

Peale teatritööde on ta esinenud veel kolmekümnes filmis ja sõitnud ringi mööda Eestit estraadikavadega kokku üle kuuesaja korra. Huumoriga tegelemise eest omistati Tõnu Aavale 1992. aastal “Meie Matsi” auhind. Ka on ta andnud välja paarkümmend heliplaati ja kassetti, millest tuntuimad on “Onu Remuse jutte” ja “Karupoeg Puhh”. KUi juba lennukipiletid olid ostetud, selgus teatris, et ta oleks pidanud mängima hakkama John Gabriel Borkmani Hendrik Ibseni samanimelises näidendis, aga veeta kuu aega Austraalias on erakordselt huvitav.

Teleseriaalis “Õnne 13” mängib Tõnu Aav kaasa juba viiendat aastat. Rolli nimeks on Feliks Viss. Nii et tegelikult on Tõnu Aav juba tuttav ka Austraalias.

Kristina Smigun-Vaehi has won a silver medal in the Womens 10Km Freestyle race at the Vancouver Winter Olympics 2010. Smigun-Vaehi previously won two cross-country skiing golds at the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics.

Read more here at the Washington Post,
A mom and a medalist: Smigun-Vaehi wins 10K silver

To follow the Estonian team, check out Postimees Winter Olympics Site.

Esto Pub Night 9, Paks Teisipäev, what it really means!

Esto Pub Nights are always greeted with great anticipation and have developed a tradition, which is second to none, but you may ask what does Paks Teisipäev really mean? Paks Teisipäev is a new concept, which is a natural evolution for Australian Estonians. A visit to Kalev on Jeffcott on February the 19th, will answer all queries.

Mardi Gras, literally “Fat Tuesday,” has grown in popularity in recent years as a loud, sometimes elaborate event. But its roots lie in the Christian calendar, as the “last hurrah” before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. That is why there is an enormous party in New Orleans, in Australia in Sydney and now also in Adelaide at Kalev on Jeffcott with the subtle Estonian flavour.

In Estonia it is known as Vastlapäev, this day is associated with hopes for the coming year. On this day, families go sledding and eat split pea and ham soup. A toy is made from the ham bone by tying the bone to a string and spinning it around to make a whistling noise. From the French term “Mardi Gras”, literally “Fat Tuesday”, has come to mean the whole period of activity related to the events, often called Mardi Gras Day or Fat Tuesday.

Here in Adelaide in the Southern Hemisphere summer, it does not really seem appropriate to go sledding or eat pea and ham soup! We have arranged an evening appropriate to the time of the year and the relaxed traditions of Kalev on Jeffcott will make this an evening that no Australian Esto should miss!

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. For those people brave enough to be on “Facebook” visit ESTO PUB NIGHT 9

There are always inexpensive drinks from the Bar, including Viru Valge, a great pool table, fabulous selection of Estonian music and the “show” is always well worth waiting for! See the history at www.estopubnight.com

This month’s video is the Estonian Dance, Tuljak. Make sure you spend some time learning the dance if you are going to the Estonian Independence Day Picnic on the 24th of February. We are attempting a new Southern Hemisphere Record in Mass Dancing of TULJAK!

SOLD OUT*

The next Estonian Dinner will be held on the 5th February at the Estonian House, 141 Campbell St, Surry Hills from 6.30pm.

The chefs are Katre Ulmas and Kadri Stamos and the theme will be VASTLAPAEV (Shrove Tuesday). This is a big event in Estonia every February. Their pea soup and vastlapaev-buns have always been a big success. This big night is a big tradition for all estos.

Hope you can attend, please RSVP by 28th January.

Regards
Mick Nelson

* SOLD OUT

Please note this event is now sold-out.  To put your name on the waiting list, please cotact Juahan Lubek on lubel2@optusnet.com.au

Happy 92nd Birthday Estonia

Last year, the first Estonian Independence Day Picnic on Shark Island was a great success. We had around 100 participants, young and old, visitors from Estonia and life-long Aussies, everyone having a good time together.

This year, we know how to make it even better, so please join us at the 2nd Annual Shark Island Picnic on Wednesday, 24-FEB-2010.

We depart at 4.30 pm from Circular Quay, Wharf 6, on a chartered Capt. Cook Ferry. And the return departure from the Island is at sunset 7.45pm, to be back at Circular Quay by 8pm.

Want to meet someone famous?

We are proud to announce that this year’s celebrity guests joining the picnic, are four REALLY big name actors from Estonia: Helgi Sallo, Tõnu Aav, Ago-Endrik Kerge, and Marika Korolev. This is an exciting and rare opportunity to meet them off-stage/off-screen.

No need to miss work!

All you need to do is leave work early and catch the train that takes you to Circular Quay by 4.25pm.

Pricing and Conditions

Adult 16y and older … us$23.00
Child 5-15y             … us$13.00
Child 4y or younger … FREE

Book your tickets online here – Estonian Independence Day Tickets

• The registration site is located in the USA, and the payment is by credit card only, that is why the prices are in US dollars. To get the AU$ amount, just add 10% (for information only).
• A small, third party, online booking fee is added to the above prices and collected by the online service provider.
• Refunds for cancellations are possible until midday Monday 22 FEB only. 3rd party Booking Fees (as per order) and admin fees of $5 per adult ticket are deducted from the paid amounts before refunding.

The price includes…

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

Please note this is a BYO picnic and no catering is included. Everyone brings their own food and wine, just as you do with your normal picnics. Shark island has shelters, toilets and water, but no gas, electricity or BBQ.

More information on Shark Island is available here.

TERVE VALD OLI KOKKU AETUD, KÜLA KOKKU KUTSUTUD…

Do you want to be a part of our cultural history, while being patriotic and having fun at the same time? Then join us in attempting a new Southern Hemisphere Record in Mass Dancing of TULJAK – the iconic, hugely popular Estonian folk dance, guaranteed to put a smile on every Estonian face.

No need to take your national costume with you, but please watch this video (click on the button above) and learn the moves of this beautiful dance (if you don’t master it yet).

It may look simple, but it’s gets quite demanding towards the end. While the whole thing is good fun, please be serious in rehearsing at home, so we can all look good in the future video clip.

We at the Organising Committee are looking forward to seeing you all on Shark Island. But the space is limited and not everybody will be able to join us. Please book your tickets now to avoid dissappointment.

Loodan teid kõiki peatselt näha Haisaare piknikul, et ühiselt ja lõbusalt tähistada meie kodumaa 92. sünnipäeva!

Parimate tervitustega,
Aivo Takis
EV aukonsul Sydneys

STOP PRESS

The performances of “Viimane sigar” have been cancelled due to the illness of Agu Endrik Kerge.

Instead we will be treated to a one man show ”An intimate evening with Tõnu Aav”.

Tonu Aav will present excerpts, in Estonian, from a selection of plays.

The times and places of the performances remain as before.

Last Cigar

The play, “ Viimane Sigar” (“Last Cigar”), will be touring Australia in February and March. It will be presented in Estonian, with 4 talented actors from Estonia. Last Cigar is a comedy, even though it is about real problems encountered along life’s journey. Where does love go? After forty two years of marriage, the school principal confides to his friend that he should have separated when the children left home. Now it would be embarrassing. His pastor friend thinks there must still be something left that would keep them together.

20 February 2010 Melbourne Estonian House 4pm
28 February 2010 Sydney Estonian House 2pm
02 March 2010 Thirlmere 2pm
07 or 08.03 Brisbane (to be announced)

VIIMANE SIGAR

LAVASTUSE TUTVUSTUS

“Viimane sigar” on tegelikult komöödia, kuigi räägib meile tõsistest probleemidest, mis saadavad meid pikal eluteel. Kuhu kaob armastus? Nelikümmend kaks aastat on abielus oldud ja endine koolidirektor pihib eluaegsele sõbrale, et oleks pidanud lahku minema siis, kui lapsed kodunt läksid. Et nüüd oleks juba piinlik inimeste ees. Kirikuõpetajast sõber on aga kindel, et küllap on veel midagi alles, mis neid seob. Naine oli ju ometi kena, kui raamatukogus töötas. Pastori enda naine on juba siitilmast lahkunud, täiskasvanud tütrel on oma mehega lahutusplaanid ukse ees. Tütre silmad lähevad lahti etenduse lõpus, kui kirev suhete virrvarr haripunkti jõuab ja segaseid suhteid klaarima hakatakse. Koolijuhataja vehib püstoliga, aga oma ainsa kuuli on ta õnneks juba lakke tulistanud. Koolijuhataja, kelle hobiks on lindude vaatlemine, on jätnud abikaasa lausa üksi ja mees süüdistab ikkagi ennast, et pole julgenud elada nii nagu tahtis. Tema salajaseks motoks on kusagilt loetud lause: “Ainult kodustatud linnud tunnevad igatsust. Metslinnud lendavad.”

Estonian tennis player Kaia Kanepi made the 2nd round of the Australian Open this year, 2010. Unfortunately a tough draw meant she went down in the second round to the Number 19 seed Nadia Petrova, 6-4 6-4.