This month’s video is the Estonians in Australia’s performance of the Estonian Dance, Tuljak at the Estonian Independence Day Picnic on the 24th of February.

Estonian Cinema in Perth, Saturday 13 March 2010

There will be an outdoor screening of Peeter Urbla’s 2005 film ‘Stiilipidu’ or ‘Shop of Dreams’ in Estonian with English subtitles,
in the gardens of the WA consulate, 11 Langsford Street, Claremont

The Movie starts at 8.00pm, but the garden will be open from 6.30pm so please bring your own food, drinks, picnic rug or low chair and socialise before the film. Remember some warm clothing in case it gets cold.

For more information: Contact Anu Van Hattem on anuvanhattem@aol.com 08 9384 2757

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Eesti Kino Perthis, L.A. Eesti Aukonsuli aias. Laupäeval 13. märtsil 2010, 11 Langsford Street, Claremont.
Peeter Urbla film ‘Stiilipidu’ algab kell 8.00pm, aga tulge juba 6.30pm. Kaasa tuua mis vaja on piknikuks: sõõk, jook ja matt või tool.

I would like to thank Iivo Tuul who has given me the opportunity to give this keynote address on such an important day in the Estonian history. What I would like to discuss is what “Vabariigi Aastapäev” means to Estonian around the world. I really am no authority on this topic. A more appropriate person, such as my father Hillar Semenov, who has lived through most of the struggles, may have been more suitable for this address. Unfortunately he is away on a cruise from South America to Antarctica at the moment. I have been involved in the Australian community from a young age and spent over nine months in Eesti while I was in the UK for ten years during my Specialist Training. This certainly gave me some insight into the culture and beliefs in Estonia.

As a member of the organizing committee for the next Australian Estonian Festival here in Adelaide, I felt obliged to study the history of this event. I found an interesting letter written by the 1966 Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt just prior to the 6^th Adelaide Eesti Päevad. “Australia was glad to receive more than 6200 Estonians as new settlers, 5280 of whom have been naturalized as Australian citizens…I thank you for keeping alive your cultural heritage through your community activities”. The importance of the event here in Australia, may have altered since the period of Estonian occupation has ceased but it’s significance for our history remains unquestionable.

The Republic of Estonia was established on the 24th of February 1918, when for the first time in the history of the state, the Salvation Committee, Päästekomitee, declared independence of the Republic of Estonia. This day was celebrated as Independence Day until the Soviet occupation of Estonia in 1940. Later, during Soviet occupation it was solemnly celebrated in Estonian communities throughout the world. Each year the American Secretary of State sent wishes to the Estonian Ambassador in the United States, Mr. Ernst Jaakson. When hope for restoring independence increased in the end of the 1980’s, people began to publicly celebrate Independence Day, still prior to the end of Soviet occupation.

On the 24th of February 1989, the red flag of Soviet Estonia, on Toompea, was replaced with blue-black-white Estonian national flag, and from that moment Independence Day is once again celebrated as a public holiday. Since the restoration of independence on the 21st of August 1991, Independence Day became not only a day of public celebration but also a day of reflection for Estonians. This year Estonia celebrated its 92nd anniversary of the declaration of independence.

In search of independence. For centuries Estonians have dreamt of establishing a state, independent of foreign rule. The Russian Revolution in 1917, and the unstable situation in Russia, created a possibility of realizing these dreams. An impulse to strive for independence was given by the National Front, the main ideological movement of Estonia, whose principles were based on the idea of self-determination. The then president of the United States Woodrow Wilson was, also preaching this idea.

On April 8th 1917, Estonian organizations, together with military personnel, 40,000 people in all demonstrated in St. Petersburg. The aim of this demonstration was to show support for the autonomy of Estonia. Such a goal was achieved when on the 12th of April when the Provisional Government of Russia signed the Estonian Autonomy Bill. Thanks to this bill the Livonian districts of Tartu, Vőru, Viljandi, Pärnu and Saaremaa became part of Estonia. Furthermore that day marked the first time, an Estonian, Jaan Poska became the District Commissar in Estonia. Temporary National Council, the Maapäev was also established, consisting of six people. The Maapäev appointed the executive branch, which began organizing and modernizing local government and educational institutions. Prior to its dissolution, due to orders by Bolshevik authority, the Maapäev took decisive steps towards sovereignty, by declaring itself the highest authority in Estonia on the 15th of December 1917.

Independence was declared. Elections to the Estonian Constituent Assembly were held on the 3rd and 4th of February 1918. Political parties, which supported national independence, received over two thirds of the popular vote. When Soviet forces started to quickly retreat, and German forces advanced into Estonia, the Maapäev chose the Salvation Committee, Päästekomitee, made up of three members. It also gave this Committee full decision-making authority to ensure the continuation of Maapäev activities. Taking advantage of the lack of government in Estonia, the Päästekomitee, drafted the declaration of independence.

On February 18th 1918, the Council of Elders in the Maapäev confirmed this manifesto and on the 24th of February the Päästekomitee publicly declared Estonia an independent and democratic state.

Independent Estonia finally became a reality but Estonians immediately had to take up arms in defense of their newfound freedom. Ten days after the establishment of the Provisional Government in Estonia, Soviet Russia attacked and so The War of Independence began. The Red Army quickly pushed small, and poorly armed Estonian defense forces to the outskirts of Tallinn. However, soon Estonians under the orders of Commander and Chief Johan Laidoner carried out a successful counter-offensive. On the first anniversary of the Republic general Laidoner proclaimed that the whole territory of Estonia has been freed from enemy forces.

However another year of battle awaited the Estonian defense forces. Landeswehra, the armed forces of the Baltic Germans, together with the so-called Iron Division of the German army tried to annex all the Baltic countries in Germany’s name. After gathering forces, the Estonian army crushed German forces in northern Latvia on the 23rd of June 1919. In the meantime units of the Russian Red Army renewed their offensive. Only in December of 1919 were Estonian forces finally able to fight off the last Russian attack. On the 2nd of February 1920 the Russo – Estonian Peace Treaty was signed in Tartu. The Treaty of Tartu strengthened national borders between the two countries and also contained guarantees from Soviet Russia, which acknowledged Estonian independence “for all eternity”. The Republic of Estonia was internationally recognized as an independent state and became a member of the League of Nations in 1921.

Building an independent state had already begun during times of war. In 1919 The Constituent Assembly was chosen, gathering soon thereafter. It passed a Constitution as well as a radical Land Bill, according to which enormous properties were enfranchised and given over to Estonians. Estonia became a democratic, parliamentary republic, where the highest legislative authority was in the hands of the people, through the institution of a referendum and the election of a Riigikogu, which consisted of 100 representatives.

During the first twenty years of independence Estonian economy was completely reformed and although agriculture was still the main sector of economy it was not favored above all the other sectors. The most popular Estonian export products were: butter, bacon, wood, cellulose, and textiles. The financial system was regulated and was based on a stable currency – the Estonian kroon. Very good results were achieved in the development of national culture and in Estonian-language educational and scientific works. There was visible improvement in the overall level of culture, Estonians proved there worth in sport, bringing medals from Olympics and from other international competitions. By the end of the 1930’s a new generation of Estonians, who grew up in an independent country, had their say. Their activity was apparent in all aspects of social life.

As a young, geopolitically susceptible nation, Estonia went through a number of crises, which were unavoidable. On the 1st of December 1924, a communist coup took place. It was financed, armed, and supported by Soviet Russia. The coup was carried out by a few hundred of conspirators but it did not receive any wider public support. Later the international economic crisis of the 1920’s and 30’s turned out to be a painful shock for Estonia and worsened internal political tensions.

However a sudden stop was put to all these achievements when World War II turned Estonia into a victim of the ambitions of world superpowers once again forcing Soviet occupation upon the country. This occupation lasted half a century and brought with it much damage and suffering. Estonians survived however, drawing hope from three main sources. One of these was their long history, the second was the short period of independence, which was long enough to keep the faith hidden inside and the third was the knowledge that small communities existed in Canada, USA, Sweden, Norway and Australia so at the right moment something could be achieved. On the evening of August 20th 1991, this moment finally came, a decision was made, and the rebirth of the Republic of Estonia began.

What was the function of the Estonians in these foreign countries?

The USSR illegally annexed Estonia in June 1940. Soviet authorities arrested President Konstantin Päts and deported him to the USSR where he died in prison in 1956. Many members of the current and past governments were deported or executed, including 8 former heads of state and 38 ministers. Those that survived went underground.

Jüri Uluots was the last constitutional prime minister at the time of Soviet occupation. With the loss of Päts, Uluots, as the head of the Estonian government, became acting head of State. He immediately attempted to appoint a new Estonian government in July 1941, at the beginning of the German occupation, but German authorities refused to recognize Estonia as a sovereign state.

In June 1942 political leaders of Estonia who had survived Soviet repressions held a meeting hidden from the occupying powers in Estonia where the formation of an underground Estonian government and the options for preserving continuity of the republic were discussed. On January 6^th, 1943 a meeting was held at the Estonian foreign delegation in Stockholm. In order to preserve the legal continuation of the Republic of Estonia, it was decided that the last constitutional prime minister, Jüri Uluots, had to continue to fulfill his responsibilities as prime minister. On April 20, 1944, the Electoral Committee of the Republic of Estonia held a covert meeting in Tallinn.

The Committee determined that the Soviet-era appointment of Johannes Vares as Prime Minister had been illegal and that Uluots had assumed the President’s duties from June 1940 onwards. In June of 1944, Jüri Uluots appointed Otto Tief as deputy prime minister. Unfortunately Uluots suffered from cancer and so named Otto Tief as the Acting Prime Minister and appointed a Government, which consisted of 11 members. On September 20, 1944, Uluots, in failing health, departed for Sweden. Tief assumed office in accordance with the constitution and took the opportunity with the departure of the Germans to declare the legitimate Estonian government restored. Most of members of this government left from Tallinn on September 21 and Tief on September 22. As reported by the Royal Institute of International Affairs: on September 21 the Estonian national government was proclaimed, Estonian forces seized the government buildings in Toompea and ordered the German forces to leave. The flag of Germany was replaced with the Estonian flag, on Toompea. Tief’s government, however, failed to keep control, as Estonian military units led by Johan Pitka clashed with both Germans and Soviets. On September 22 the Soviets took control of Tallinn and took the Estonian flag down.  The second unspoken period on Estonian Independence lasted less than Twenty-four hours!

The Tief’s government fled Tallinn. The last meeting was held in Põgari village on September 22. However, the boat, which was to rendezvous to evacuate them across the Baltic developed engine trouble and failed to arrive in time. Most of the members and officials, including Tief, were caught, jailed, deported, or executed by the advancing Soviets. Tief managed to survive a decade in Siberia and died back in Estonia in 1976.

After Uluots died on January 9, 1945, August Rei, as the most senior surviving member of the government, assumed the role of acting head of state. The surviving members of the Tief’s government, in Sweden, supported Rei. Rei was the last Estonian envoy in Moscow before the Soviet annexation and had managed to escape from Moscow through Riga to Stockholm in June 1940.

Rei declared an official Estonian government in exile on January 12, 1953 in Oslo, Norway. Oslo, not Stockholm, was chosen because Norway did not have bans on such political activity. The position of acting head of government continued to be assumed by succession following Rei’s death in 1963. From 1953 to 1992, five governments in exile were formed.

Of the three Baltic States, only Estonia established a formal government in exile. In the cases of Latvia and Lithuania, sovereign authority had been vested in its diplomatic legations. Even with regard to Estonia, the legations were the primary instrument for the conduct of diplomacy and for administering the daily matters of state.

Under the Stimson Doctrine, USA, and under similar doctrines, the legitimacy of the Soviet occupation of Baltic States was never recognized. As the Estonian consulate in New York exercised the primary diplomatic authority, the government in exile’s role from Oslo was, to a great degree, symbolic in nature.

However, the Estonian government in exile did serve to carry the continuity of the official internationally recognized Estonian state forward. The last prime minister in the duties of the president, Heinrich Mark, ended the work of the government in exile when he handed over his credentials to the incoming President Lennart Meri on October 8, 1992. Meri issued a statement thanking the Estonian government in exile for being the keepers of the legal continuity of the Estonian state.

To conclude, the history of our very small nation as an independent state has been short, but we can be proud of the achievements and distinctive culture that has evolved. I hope to have given you some insight into the struggles of the last 92 years. The purpose of today’s gathering may have changed from a preservation role of an occupied country to a celebration of a countries birth. With this in mind we should celebrate our achievements and look forward to carrying on with an appreciation, celebration and respect of the past.

Dr Richard Semenov

Address to the Adelaide Estonian Community in Celebration of Vabariigi Aastapäev

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, 12 Hawthorne Street, Woolloongabba,  4pm – Estonian independence day and Tõnu Aav autoriõhtu

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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.

A 92nd Estonian Independence Day celebration will be held in Perth at 3pm on Saturday, 20th of February.

Everyone is welcome!

Rivervale Community Centre
Cnr of Francisco St and Surrey Rd, Rivervale.

View Larger Map

Learn the Estonian langauge

If you are in Australia and want to learn Estonian, please contact any of the following teachers:

Adelaide: Tiiu Hoile, (08) 8326 0737, dhoile@optusnet.com.au

Canberra: Reet Bergman, (02) 6166 0573, reetberg@grapevine.com.au or  Michael Churchman, michael.churchman@anu.edu.au

Sydney: Ingrid Kaupuzs,  ingridzs@hotmail.com

Skype (For online classes over Skype): Tiiu Salasoo, (02) 9436 3844,  salasoo@ihug.com.au

For information on learning Estonian in other locations, including the formation of new classes, please contact Tiiu Salasoo,  (02) 9436 3844, E-post: salasoo@ihug.com.au .

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Eesti Keelt Õppida soovijad

Palun pöörduge järgmiste õpetajate poole:

Adelaide’is pr Tiiu Hoile, tel: (08) 8326 0737, E-post: dhoile@optusnet.com.au

Canberras pr. Reet Bergman, tel: (02) 6166 0573, E-post: reetberg@grapevine.com.au
hr. Michael Churchman, E-post: michael.churchman@anu.edu.au

Sydneys pr Ingrid Kaupuzs, E-post: ingridzs@hotmail.com

Skype’i kaudu õppida soovijad: pr. Tiiu Salasoo, tel: (02) 9436 3844, E-post: salasoo@ihug.com.au

Tiiu Salasoo võib nõu anda ka mujalt õppijatele, võimalusega uus klass moodustada.

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

In how many places across the world have “Silent Night” in Estonian and the Estonian National Anthem sounded devotedly over these 65 years?

65 years ago were the first holidays spent in exile; far from home, homeland, relatives and, for many, also from one’s family members who were dwelling somewhere in the shadows of the unknown. Estonia was, once again, occupied by its Eastern neighbor and many, who hadn’t the opportunity to head secretly towards Sweden, had to reconcile themselves with conditions in wartime Germany. One can only imagine, and still not fully understand, the feelings of these people caught in the unknown, unable to make plans for the future, but who did not lose faith that their Estonia someday would be free again.

The future was dark, but hope persisted in the victory of the Western Alliance, following which the rights of all nations would be restored. Exiles, prisoners of war, soldiers and forced laborers would return to their homelands to begin the necessary reconstruction in both freedom and peace. This was the hope.

During the Christmas season and new year of 1944, people were happy simply in the existence of the possibility to gather in small groups with one’s compatriots, sing Christmas carols, listen to the Christmas liturgy or even poems and children’s Christmas verse, which had to be taught from memory, because there was a nearly complete lack of Estonian language literature. Many marked the holidays together with war-exiles, prisoners of war and forced laborers of other countries, if at all.

Everything progressed differently from expectations. After that armistice, one was required to battle against extradition to the Soviets, to live through the problems of DP (Displaced Persons – a.k.a. refugee) camps, UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration) screenings and demeaning attitudes of their operatives. All of this while at the same time attempting to pass on an Estonian-language education to one’s children and to preserve the “Estonian mind” and culture, until it began to become evident that the hope of a prompt return to the homeland, for a longer term, would remain only a hope. It would be necessary to find new opportunities for arranging one’s life and circumstances, to locate roads, to find work even farther from home. Even the majority of the intelligentsia had to accept whatever work was offered to provide for their subsistence and their children’s schooling. Although the expatriates were hurled everywhere across the globe, with tenacity, persistence and will-power, they achieved, in a relatively short period of time, a new life while simultaneously founding organizations for political battle as well as for the purpose of preserving Estonian-mindedness and Estonian culture; to bring into the future that culture and that spirit in which they had been raised and had grown. From which, in fact, they had built the very Nation [Eesti].

65 years is a long time and many generations have sprouted and grown abroad in the interim. The larger portion of the former expatriate population has, already, left he physical world. Even those who, at the time were in toddlers shoes are now seniors and grandparents themselves. Many have found the complete return to their beloved homeland unsuitable, due to the length of elapsed time and the progression of concepts and notions along their varying routes. For the younger generation, who aren’t burdened as heavily by war-time experiences and exile life, the return seems easier and yet, few of them have returned to reside in their forefathers’ land either, especially when compared to the outflow of youth from Estonia. And we know all too well what it means to acclimate to a new culture even if the individual’s roots spring from it.

We must honor and give great credit to the generation who has raised its children as Estonian-minded progeny and preserved the Estonian language as well as possible in the midst of another culture. To them belong our thanks who on the tenebrous [dark] nights, wherever they happened to be at the time, never lost faith and remained determined; to those who were devoid of the spirit of surrender.
With gratitude, I wish all of those who have lived through the war-exile experience, their expatriate descendants and estophiles; once more, a pleasant end of the year and the will, desire and strength required to take action for the good of Estonian ideals and customs (the Estonian Mind) and for continued and even increased activities in the interest of the Estonian nation; in the spirit of our Grandparents and in the firm belief of a better Estonia in the coming year. Also to the newly arrived Estonians immigrants, the fortitude to preserve and advance the Estonian language and Estonian culture, at large, as the expatriate generation had and did.

by Aime Andra,
Vaba Eesti Sõna#51, 2009
Translated by: Tenno Andra

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!