The fate and history of 80,000 displaced Estonians was suppressed for 50 years with slanderous accusations by the Soviet authorities. In order to remind the new generations, both in the diaspora and Estonia, the year 2024 was commemorated as the 80th anniversary of the Mass Flight of 1944 (Suurpõgenemine ’44).
For several years, the members of the 1944 Mass Flight Committee of the Estonian World Council worked hard to ensure that the sacrifices and struggles of those who embarked on the perilous journey of the Mass Flight are never forgotten: a memorial statue, Puudutus (Touch), was commissioned. This was unveiled 21 September 2024, next to the Pärnu River from where thousands fled in boats and ships.
To make this memorial a reality, funds were raised from the Estonian worldwide diaspora. Many Australians, individuals and organisations, made generous donations to this project.
AUSTRALIA WE DID IT!
We raised over $23,000!
Organisations that donated
- Council of Estonian Societies in Australia (AESL)
- Estonian Cultural Foundation in Australia (ECFA)
- Melbourne Estonian Society
- Brisbane Estonian Society QLD
- Adelaide Estonian Society
- Estonian Society of Sydney
- Western Australian Estonian Association of Perth
- Sydney Eesti Seltsi Kunsti Käsitöö ja Etnograafia Ring
- Sõrve Sõbrad Kids Summer Camp – Friends and Parents
- Eesti Naisüliõpilaste Selts (ENÜS) Austraalia koondis
Individual donors (in alphabetical order)
Kristi Barrow
Maie Barrow
Helve Beale
Matthew Bendt
Urve Black
Michael Both
D&M Eden
Helve Farrell
Maie Hansen
Marin Hicks
Karin Ignetik
Arved Jalast
Allan Johanson
Aivi Juske
Ene Juurma
Barbara Howard & Sulev Kalamäe
Ivo Kauniste
Madli-Kai Kool
Viivi Kuru
Maia Lauterbach
Aet Lees
Robert Lipping
Thomas Lipping
Juho Looveer
Jaan Lowi
Jaak Mardiste
Heino Meipalu
T&L Meiusi
Anu Mihkelson
Peter Muttik
Ene Noack
Malle Nõgeste
Esmée Okamoto
Jaan Oks
Gitta Opassi
Hiie Pank
Saima Parbo
Michael Payne
J & A E Piirlaid
Maie Pikkat
Marissa Pikkat
K Poulton
Toivo Rosenwald
Imbi Semmelweis
And 11 anonymous donors
Read our Pärnu memorial appeal publications
- Join Estonians worldwide in creating a place of Remembrance
- Why I donated towards the Mass Flight Memorial – Esmée’s story
- A Sea of Fire: Fleeing Estonia in 1944 – Saima’s story
- Homage for my Estonian father and grandmother – Rory’s story
- From running a dairy co-operative to a new life in Australia – Hillar’s story
- AESL Pärnu funding update
- Digital exhibition: The Great Escape 1944
- The journey to Ilmalõpu – Jaak’s story
- As far from Europe as possible – the Talmet family story
- Video interview — Viido Narustrang’s story
- Update on funding for the Pärnu memorial to the 1944 refugees
- Taken in the middle of the night — Silvia Lass’ story
- Separated from his family in the tragedy of war – Aksell Keert’s story
Thank you for keeping Estonian memory alive at home and throughout the world!
- Council of Estonian Societies in Australia (AESL): aesl.eesti.org.au
- Estonian World Council (ÜEKN): uekn.ee/en/
