News from the Archive
June 2008 - EAA has received funding
from the Ministry of Education and Research,
through the Compatriot Program to restore the flag of the Estonian
Society in Sydney "Linda". The Society amalgamated with the
Estonian Society in Sydney "Eesti Kodu" in 1927 to form the current ESS "Eesti
Kodu Linda". Restoration of the hand painted silk flag will be carried
out by conservators from the National Museum in Tartu.
Blessing of the flag of SES " Linda", 1927
Three volunteers from the Archive; Maie Barrow, Reet Simmul and Jüri
Woan, and Raivo Kalamäe, Deputy Chairman of the EAA Council, will attend
an archive summer school in Käsmu, Estonia. The summer school is
organised by the Baltic Heritage Network and funded by the Ministry of
Education and Research through the Compatriot Program.
EAA gratefully acknowledges the support from the Compatriot Fund
January 2007 - "Eesti laste raamatud",
a nostalgic look at our childhood. Everyone who loves books remembers books from
their childhood, the books your parents read to you, the books you read yourself,
the book you longed to own. This exhibition of children's books covers the classics
of Estonian children's literature, the primers and children's books published in
the early refugee years. Much discussion preceeded this exhibition as everyone
had a favourite book that they were sure had to be included. The EAA holds a
substantial collection of childrens books and primers from the 1920s to the present day.
Everyone has a favourite book
February, 2006 - A new exhibition in the foyer
of Estonian House, Sydney introducing Estonian foods and drinks. Estonian cuisine
ranged from peasant cooking to fine dining but still used the same ingredients.
Estonians traditionally ate what they could grow, collect, catch or hunt. Magazines
and cook books from the early 20th century show how cooks were encouraged to become
more health concious and improve the presentation of the food.
December 2005-January 2006 - The archives were
open twice during the Estonian Festival. On Dec 28th visitors could view the
"Kalevipoeg" exhibition and listen to a talk by Juri Woan on the theme of
Kalevipoeg and its role in the culture and everyday lives of Estonians as shown by the
many books and works of art and the use of the name "Kalev" in marketing. As
well the visitors could view an exhibition "Grandma, why did you come to
Australia?" which told the story of life in the Displaced Persons camps in Germany
and the journey to and the early days in Australia after World War II. On Jan 1, in
conjunction with the Estonian Food festival, visitors were able to view the exhibitions
and discover the treasures held in the archive.
Mother and daughter arriving in Australia May 1949
February 19, 2005 - A visit by more than 50 members
of the Mosman Community College as part of the program "Travel at Home". The
Honorary Archivist, Maie Barrow welcomed the visitors to Estonian House and introduced
her colleagues Edgar Siimpoeg, Reet Simmul and Juri Woan. The programme was divided into
three parts, each one introducing a different aspect of Estonian culture and history.
Visitors enjoying the "Kalevipoeg" display
Juri Woan talked on "Kalevipoeg" the heroic epic poem,
the Gunnar Neeme mural in the hall and the new "Kalevipoeg" exhibition in the
foyer. The exhibition included a summary of the twenty chapters, in English, with
accompanying works of art and a selection of privately owned paintings on the themes
of "Kalevipoeg".
"Kalevipoeg" Derisii Woan 1978. HSC major work
Reet Simmul introduced some of our most important and interesting
collections and Maie Barrow highlighted the history of the Estonians in Australia
through the "Happily Australian but Estonian too" exhibition.
December 2004-January 2005 -
The exhibition "Happily Australian but Estonian Too" opened in the ACT Heritage
Library, Woden Library, cnr Corinna and Furzer Sts, Phillip on Saturday 4 December and
will remain open until 21 January 2005. An additional panel has been created to show
the activities of the early Estonian migrants in Canberra and the display gives an
overview of 50 years of the Estonian community in Canberra
June 2004 - The exhibition
"Happily Australian but Estonian Too" is on display at the Estonian House,
141 Campbell St Surry Hills for one month. The opening is on 12 noon, Sunday, 31 May
2004 . The display reflects the activities of the Sydney Estonian community.
December 2003 - February 2004
- The exhibition "Happily Australian but Estonian Too " opened on 7 December
at the Migration Museum, Kintore Ave Adelaide, South Australia, as part of the XX Estonian
Festival in Australia. The exhibition, which reflects the lives of Estonian Australians
and Australian Estonians in Australia, comprises panels, displays and a video which tell
the story of the Estonians who migrated to Australia from the late 1890s onwards, with
special emphasis on the activities of the Estonians in Adelaide.. The exhibition is open
Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturday and Sunday 1pm to 5pm, closes on 19 February 2004.
May 2002 - UNSW School of History and Estonian Archives in Australia
held a workshop on "Preserving the Multicultural Heritage in Australia" on
Saturday 18 May 2002 at Estonian House.
This workshop included the following speakers, Helen Trepa from the Maritime
Museum, Henry Chan from the Australian/Chinese Historical Society, Jim
Andrighetti, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Marianne Dacey, Archives
of Australian Judaica, Fisher Library, University of Sydney, Paul Convy,
Australian/Lebanese Historical Society and Maie Barrow from the Estonian
Archives.
These speakers, from different cultural communities, are involved
with programmes designed to capture, preserve, and make accessible for historical
and other research, the archives of those communities. The workshop allowed
discussion about the ways in which different communities attempt to preserve
their own archives, and included a visit to the archives of the Estonian
community in Sydney.
This event was part of Archives and Record Management Week.
An exhibition "Preserving the Estonian Heritage in Australia" was mounted
in the foyer of Estonian House to coincide with the workshop.
Minute book of the first Estonian Society in Sydney,
1912. Founding members shown in photograph, from left: J Lukats, G Einsaar and A Godberg
November 2001 - Maie Barrow visited the Melbourne Estonian Society
on November 25th to talk about the history of Estonians in Australia as
part of the history of Australia and how this is is supoorted by the documents
found in the EAA.
The Archivist, Maie Barrow, in the Melbourne Estonian
House. Photograph: Toomas Steinberg
October 2001 - The archive has been fortunate to
receive funding from the 2001 Community Heritage Grant program of the
National Library of Australia for the purchase of appropriate acid-free
packaging for photographs and papers.
The Hon. Peter McGauran, Minister for the Arts and
the Centenary of Federation presents Maie Barrow of the Estonian Archives
with a 2001 Community Heritage Grant at the National Library of Australia.
Photograph: Loui Seselja
This page is sponsored by the Council of Estonian Societies in Australia
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