Expatriate Estonians in Australia, Film No. 3. Part 1 (1995-1996)

Monument of William Light, the founder of the city of Adelaide. The city is known for its greenery and sandy beaches. Also, one of the largest communities of expatriate Estonians in Australia lives here. Ilmar Mägraken, chairman of the board of the Association of Estonian Unions in Australia, introduces his hobby - lawn bowls. There are large tennis and lawn bowls grounds at Marryatville Club, Kensington. Men playing. Heino Sommer, chairman of the Estonian house in Adelaide, introduces the history of the building - the house was bought in 1958, it was renovated and additional buildings were constructed. The great hall of the Estonian House is viewed together with its mural. Meeting of the Association of the Estonian Unions in Australia - among the participators there are Valdek Kangur, Hillar Semenov, Ene-Mai Reinpuu, Jüri Vallo, Eduard Selge, Ilmar Mägraken. Ene-Mai Reinpuu, main secretary of the association, recalls the history. Edmund Ranniko, chairman of the Adelaide Heritage Conservation Society, recalls the year of 1988 when
the Heritage Conservation Society was established in Estonia and also expatriate Estonians were founding societies. The society has given Estonia both direct aid and supported its culture through support funds. The supporters grow older so the supporting process may not be sustainable. Christmas service at St. Stephens Church. Udo Pajuviidik is singing; Johannes Aarik, church minsiter of Adelaide congregation, is preaching; "The Holy Night" is being sung. After the service Johannes Aarik recalls the history of the congregation. Migration Museum in Adelaide. Memorial plates on the museum walls for the Baltic people who suffered the Soviet repressions. Ene-Mai Reinpuu tells about the arrival of refugees at Adelaide and their activities related to various societies in order to preserve Estonian language and culture. Out of 27 organizations, only 9 have remained active in 1995. Valdek Kangur talks about education in Estonian language, the schoolhouse under the Estonian House where children were taught in Estonian on Saturdays. Today, there is only one active group coming together in order to learn Estonian language. In 1950s, units of both boy and girl scouts were founded in Adelaide. The scouting was active for about twenty years - including holding camps and general camps. Scoutmasters Ants Ranne and Ruth Auväärt recall the years passed by.