Olavi Saarikko
| First name | Olavi |
|---|---|
| Last name | Saarikko |
| Country of Origin | Finland |
| Date of Birth | 10/8/2026 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1969 |
| Submitted by | Heli Wellington |
Story
Olavi Ensio Saarikko was born in Padasjoki, Finland on 8.10.1926. After returning home from the army, he met Elsa Vappu Anna Korte (b.9.3.1930 in Kaukola, Finland.) on 29.7.1949 while she was nursing at a psychiatric hospital in NyystšlŠ, near Padasjoki. They were married 7 months later on 12.2.1950 at Suolahti, Finland.
They lived in Suolahti for five years, where Olavi worked various jobs ranging from a maintenance fitter, tugboat operator and truck driver to support their growing family.
In 1955 Olavi and Elsa, along with their 4 children: Kari, Ilpo, Riitta and Tero, moved to Loimaa. Olavi worked there as the driver for a timber company for the next 5 years during which time they had another two sons; Hannu and Matti and a daughter, Heli.
In 1960 the family moved to a town called Urjala, where they lived for the next 9 years. During this time Olavi worked as a wood machinist and builder while Elsa went back to nursing before they had another two sons; Jari and Jouni.
Due to the harsh Finnish winters and the lack of work in the building industry it was very difficult for such a large family to survive so Olavi and Elsa started planning a move to Australia so as to create better opportunities for their children They had already discussed moving there 15 years earlier but due to circumstances were not in a position to do so then. In the 1960\’s many Finns were migrating to Australia with financial assistance from the Australian Government.
The family left Finland on 29.12.1969, in the middle of winter with the temperature at 36 below zero and arrived in Australia 2 days later to 40+ degree heat in the middle of summer to start their new life. The family arrived in Sydney on QANTAS CHARTER FLIGHT QF176/345 on 31.12.1969. This was the first Qantas flight to come to Australia without a stopover in the UK. Before their departure the family had been interviewed and photographed by several Finnish and Swedish newspapers.
After a short stop-over in Sydney they flew to South Australia where they spent the first few days in a Hostel before flying down to Mt.Gambier. They spent the first 6 months in Nangwarry, where Olavi and the four older boys worked in a sawmill, before moving to nearby Mt.Burr where they worked at pine forest logging.
The family then moved to the east coast in early 1971 and lived in Oak Flats, south of Wollongong, for the next 4 years before settling in Canberra. During this time the family started growing and moving to different states. Some of the children married and moved back to South Australia while others moved to Queensland with their families. Olavi and Elsa loved their new country and never regretted moving here. Sadly Elsa passed away in Canberra on 1.08.1982 but Olavi lived for another 16 years before passing away in Brisbane on 9.11.1998
Today the children of Olavi and Elsa live with their children and grandchildren in many states of Australia embracing everything that it is to be Australian while remembering their humble beginnings in a small town in a country so far away.