Lia Looveer
Encyclopedia
Lia Looveer was an Estonian émigré political activist in Australia.
. As her mother was active in the Young Women's Christian Association
, Lia become involved with the YWCA in a very early age. Lia Saarepera graduated from the E. Lenderi Tütarlaste Gümnaasium (E. Lender Girls High School in Tallinn) in 1938 and then studied law at the University of Tartu
from 19381943. She became engaged to Robert Tasso on 31 December 1940, but he was arrested by the NKVD
and deported to Siberia
for fifteen years. She worked for the state broadcasting company at Tallinn from 1941 to 1944.
In the autumn of 1944, Lia Looveer escaped to Danzig (Gdańsk) in Germany, where she married Leonid Looveer (Looberg) in September. She worked as an announcer
for Balti Raadio, a station based depending on the war situation in Danzig, Thorn
and Rostock
. Baltic Radio relayed "Reichssender Danzig" in the languages of the Baltic countries. In 1945, the couple moved to Austria
where their daughter was born at Braunau am Inn
on 3 July of that year. They arrived in Sydney, Australia on 6 June 1949. At first they were in the Greta Army Camp
, where Looveer became general manager (1949–52).
Lia Looveer was the founder of the Joint Baltic Committee of Sydney and its secretary from 1952 to 2002. She was a member of the Board of the Estonian Society in Sydney and office manager of the Estonian weekly Meie Kodu (Our Home) from 1956 to 1966. Lia Looveer arranged a number events that introduced Baltic culture and history to the Australian public. In 1953, she joined the New South Wales
branch of the Liberal Party of Australia
. At the federal level, Looveer participated in the Liberal Party's Advisory Committee on Ethnic Affairs and similar bodies, that dealt with immigrants' issues. Looveer was part of the inaugural executive of the Liberal Ethnic Council created by the State Council of the NSW Liberal Party. She was acknowledged in the Legislative Council of New South Wales by David Clarke
. She was also secretary of the United Council of Migrants from Communist Dominated Europe in Australia which included Australian state politicians Douglas Darby
and Eileen Furley
, and Federal politician William Wentworth.
Looveer worked in the fund-raising Appeals Bureau of the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children
from 1957 to 1985. Lia and Leonid Looveer had a daughter, Hille Reet (03.07.1945 - 30.07.2004) and a son, Juho Looveer.
Biography
Lia Saarepera was born in Narva, and the family then moved to TallinnTallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
. As her mother was active in the Young Women's Christian Association
Young Women's Christian Association
Young Women's Christian Association or YWCA or YWCA Building or Old YWCA Building or variations may refer to:*World YWCA, the organization formerly known as Young Women's Christian Associationor it may refer to:...
, Lia become involved with the YWCA in a very early age. Lia Saarepera graduated from the E. Lenderi Tütarlaste Gümnaasium (E. Lender Girls High School in Tallinn) in 1938 and then studied law at the University of Tartu
University of Tartu
The University of Tartu is a classical university in the city of Tartu, Estonia. University of Tartu is the national university of Estonia; it is the biggest and highest-ranked university in Estonia...
from 19381943. She became engaged to Robert Tasso on 31 December 1940, but he was arrested by the NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
and deported to Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
for fifteen years. She worked for the state broadcasting company at Tallinn from 1941 to 1944.
In the autumn of 1944, Lia Looveer escaped to Danzig (Gdańsk) in Germany, where she married Leonid Looveer (Looberg) in September. She worked as an announcer
Announcer
An announcer is a presenter who makes "announcements" in an audio medium or a physical location.-Television and other media:Some announcers work in television production , radio or filmmaking, usually providing narrations, news updates, station identification, or an introduction of a product in...
for Balti Raadio, a station based depending on the war situation in Danzig, Thorn
Torun
Toruń is an ancient city in northern Poland, on the Vistula River. Its population is more than 205,934 as of June 2009. Toruń is one of the oldest cities in Poland. The medieval old town of Toruń is the birthplace of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus....
and Rostock
Rostock
Rostock -Early history:In the 11th century Polabian Slavs founded a settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc ; the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The Danish king Valdemar I set the town aflame in 1161.Afterwards the place was settled by German traders...
. Baltic Radio relayed "Reichssender Danzig" in the languages of the Baltic countries. In 1945, the couple moved to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
where their daughter was born at Braunau am Inn
Braunau am Inn
Braunau am Inn is a town in the Innviertel region of Upper Austria , the north-western state of Austria. It lies about 90 km west of Linz and about 60 km north of Salzburg, on the border with the German state of Bavaria. The population in 2001 was 16,372...
on 3 July of that year. They arrived in Sydney, Australia on 6 June 1949. At first they were in the Greta Army Camp
Greta Army Camp
Greta Army Camp was an Australian army camp built in 1939 near Greta, New South Wales, Australia. It was used for training soldiers of the Second AIF during World War II. The Australian army sold the site at auction in 1980....
, where Looveer became general manager (1949–52).
Lia Looveer was the founder of the Joint Baltic Committee of Sydney and its secretary from 1952 to 2002. She was a member of the Board of the Estonian Society in Sydney and office manager of the Estonian weekly Meie Kodu (Our Home) from 1956 to 1966. Lia Looveer arranged a number events that introduced Baltic culture and history to the Australian public. In 1953, she joined the New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
branch of the Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
. At the federal level, Looveer participated in the Liberal Party's Advisory Committee on Ethnic Affairs and similar bodies, that dealt with immigrants' issues. Looveer was part of the inaugural executive of the Liberal Ethnic Council created by the State Council of the NSW Liberal Party. She was acknowledged in the Legislative Council of New South Wales by David Clarke
David Clarke (Australian politician)
David John Clarke, an Australian politician, is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council representing the Liberal Party of Australia since 2003. and is considered to have conservative Christian views.-Personal life:...
. She was also secretary of the United Council of Migrants from Communist Dominated Europe in Australia which included Australian state politicians Douglas Darby
Douglas Darby
Evelyn Douglas Darby MP was an Australian politician, elected as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly...
and Eileen Furley
Eileen Furley
Mabel Eileen Furley OBE, née Llewelyn was the first woman to represent the Liberal Party in the New South Wales Legislative Council....
, and Federal politician William Wentworth.
Looveer worked in the fund-raising Appeals Bureau of the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children
Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children
The Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children is a children's hospital in Sydney, Australia. The Hospital was founded in 1880 as "The Sydney Hospital for Sick Children"...
from 1957 to 1985. Lia and Leonid Looveer had a daughter, Hille Reet (03.07.1945 - 30.07.2004) and a son, Juho Looveer.
Awards
- British Empire MedalBritish Empire MedalThe Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service, usually known as the British Empire Medal , is a British medal awarded for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown...
(1978), as a resident of the state of New South WalesNew South WalesNew South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, "for service to the community and the ethnic community". - Estonian Republic Order of the White StarOrder of the White StarThe Order of the White Star was instituted on 1936. The Order of the White Star is bestowed on Estonian citizens and foreigners to give recognition for services rendered to the Estonian state.- Classes :The Order of the White Star comprises five classes:...
, V class, "Freedom Fighter and Public Figure in Australia" - Heritage Award (Liberal Party of Australia, N.S.W. Division, 2002)
- Cross of Merit of the Estonian Ministry of Defence, 29.06.1998