Arvi Parbo interviewed by Rob Linn [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 3917000
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Parbo, Arvi, Sir, 1926-, interviewee
- Online Access:
- National Library of Australia digitised item
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 2007
- 3 sound files (ca. 165 min.)
- Technical Details:
- Mode of access: Internet via World Wide Web.
- Summary:
-
Arvi Parbo speaks about his childhood in Estonia; family and upbringing on farm; Estonia in the 1930s, his education; Estonia under Soviet rule; description of household and life; theatrical interests; role of religion; Christmas traditions; Soviet and German division of nations; Germany and USSR invading Poland; rapid change in Estonia; June 1940, coups in Baltic States, Soviet rule, imprisonment and murder of community leaders; mass deportations, June 1941; evading Soviet forces, confiscation of portion of family farm; German invasion; retreat of Germans and replacement by Soviets; attempts to escape during second occupation; his separation from family; deportation of family members among 20,000 Estonians; arrest of brothers under KGB; family under amnesty and return to Estonia; fleeing Estonia to Germany; end of WWII; Australia as a destination for emigrants; studying mining engineering and working as a miner in Germany.
Parbo speaks about migration to Australia; arriving in Melbourne (1949); working for government for two years; learning English from government issue books; dealing with new culture and surroundings; moving to Adelaide for work; meeting his future wife; his work at the quarry; studying at the University of Adelaide (1951); vacation employment and work experience; his marriage and family; discusses Australian mining in twentieth century; his first job interview; Western Mining, first appointment; moving to Corinthian Mine; family life in mining communities, working relationships; transfer to head office in Melbourne; expansion of Western Mining and his involvement in major projects; foundation of Alcoa Australia; his return to Western Australia and rise in position; Western Mining nickel discoveries, exporting iron ore from Australia; the search for copper; his retirement as Managing Director and as an executive; researching family history.
- Biography/History:
-
Arvi Parbo was born 10 February, 1926 in Tallinn, Estonia. He was a business executive and chairman of three of Australia's largest companies and was made a Knight Bachelor for services to industry in 1978. Parbo fled from his homeland during the Soviet occupation in 1944. Between 1946 to 1948 he attended the Clausthal Mining Academy in Germany and in 1949 migrated to Australia. He graduated from the University of Adelaide with a Bachlor of Engineering degree in 1955.
- Notes:
- Recorded on February 15, 2007 at Vermont South, Vic.
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (6 p.) and corrected transcript (typescript, 54 leaves)
- Subject:
- Occupation:
- Company directors
- Other authors/contributors:
- Linn, Rob, interviewer
- Copyright:
-
In Copyright
You may copy under some circumstances, for example you may copy a portion for research or study. Order a copy through Copies Direct to the extent allowed under fair dealing. Contact us for further information about copying.
- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2077 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2007
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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