Expatriate Estonians in Australia, Film No. 4 (1995-1996)

The Southern coast of Australia, beginning with Wollongong, is one of the most beautiful places on the continent. People can hang glide and go surfing here. Lembit Lainela from Wollongong recalls his past events in life. Before visiting Mr Lainela, the interviewers visit the office of Estours Travel that is owned by Mr Lainela. Lembit Lainela arrived at Australia in 1948; he was in the resettlement camp; for 13 years he worked for his own small transportation company; afterwards he studied to become a geodetic engineer and worked in the field for 20 years. His occupation took him to various beautiful places in Australia even if he still missed the pine and fir forests in Estonia. As a tour operator, he met his future partner Linda Holtzheimer; together they visited Estonia and participated in the song celebration. Linda Holtzheimer, a music teacher and a choirmaster, recalls her deepest emotions related to the song and dance celebration in Estonia. She had always wanted to learn more about her roots and the national culture of Estonia. The married couple Oser has numerous landscape paintings and paintings depicting Tallinn in their home. Jüri Oser has painted after photographs. People have especially enjoyed his paintings with the motifs of Kiek in de Kök. Winifred Oser worked as a teacher in the educational system in Australia, she describes the organizational work at school in details. Estonian language as a foreign language can be studied at the upper secondary school since 1979, this being the result of long-term negotiations. She recalls teaching Estonian language in further education school, for instance in Wollongong Estonian classes took place every Saturday. She shows two Estonian textbooks, she has compiled one of the textbooks together with Tiiu Salasoo. Elderly Linda Kalasim, living in Launchester in Tasmania, was also a teacher at the further education school. Iivi Raadik from Melbourne tells about the history of the further education institutions of expatriate Estonians in 1951-1982. Since 1974, annual youth festivals were organized that became very popular. She introduces the youth magazine "Elagu!". Interesting sculptures in the park in Perth. Kalju Palmoja recalls the further education school "Tarekool". Well-known views and sights in Sydney. Inno Salasoo highlights two important aspects that helped to sustain and develop Estonian language and mentality - summer camps and the annually held Forest University, established in 1972. Inno Salasoo himself was the founder and initiator of the folk university that was held in the middle of silent forest environment.