The Estonian House Co-operative Society was excited to announce to the members at the AGM on the 24th November that long time community member Maud Kaljot (1926-2024) left an extremely generous bequest to the Co-op to ensure that the stage 2 kitchen and bar renovations could be completed for the benefit of our community.
The Board unveiled a portrait of Maud which now hangs in the upstairs Multi-function Meeting room at the house and toasted her memory and generosity.
MAUD EVELYN KALJOT
Maud Evelyn Kaljot was born in Tallinn, Estonia on 215t January, 1926,
to parents Bertha & Herbert.
Maud had one older brother and the family lived happily in Tallinn until Estonia was invaded, then they moved to Austria and then emigrated to Australia in 1949.
After time at the Bathurst Migrant Camp, the Kaljot family moved to Newcastle where they were heavily involved in establishing an Eesti Selts.
Maud married twice but sadly had no children. She moved into an apartment in Summer Hill, Sydney in 1980, where she lived for the rest of her life.
Maud worked professionally as a private secretary and various clerical positions in Sydney. Maud was a very well read and educated person who spoke many (at least 5) languages fluently. She had many interests and attended various events, concerts, performances locally and internationally.
Over the years Maud was an active member of many Estonian activity groups including Laulukoor, Naisring, Seniors, Sõrve, Muinsuskaitsering as well as attending almost all Estonian and Baltic functions during this time. The Estonian community was like Maud’s family to her.
Maud was totally lucid and sharp as a tack to the very end and stayed in her home till she died at the age of 98.
She will be remembered as a vibrant, outgoing lady and generous supporter of the Estonian community.
Presented to the AGM by Hillary Ranniko