Basilius Suosaari | |
---|---|
![]() Basilius Suosaari in 1907 | |
Member of the
Finnish Parliament for Vyborg East | |
In office 22 May 1907 – 31 July 1908 | |
In office 1 June 1909 – 28 February 1910 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Impilahti, Grand Duchy of Finland | 4 April 1861
Died | 4 July 1939 Bli Bli, Queensland | (aged 78)
Nationality | Finnish, Australian |
Political party | Social Democratic |
Basilius Suosaari (born Vasili Tichanoff, 4 April 1861 - 4 July 1939) was a Finnish-Australian politician and farmer. He was a Member of the Parliament of Finland for the Social Democratic Party in 1907-1908 and 1909-1910. [1]
Suosaari was born to a poor peasant family in Karelia, next to the Russian border. He was sold in a child auction for 13 years and worked later as a carpenter and a miner. [1] In 1911, Suosaari emigrated to Australia where he settled Bli Bli, Queensland and ran a sugarcane farm. He was also active in a local utopian socialist community founded by the followers of Matti Kurikka. [2]
Suosaari died in Bli Bli at the age of 78 in July 1939. He was buried to the Nambour Old Cemetery. [3]
Basilius Suosaari was married to Anna Brita Nupponen (1869-1958) with 11 children. Their son Axel Suosaari (1908-1934) was a talented swimmer who was the Australian Champion of 100 yards freestyle swimming in 1930-1931. The Finnish Olympic Committee asked him to compete in the 1928 Summer Olympics, but Suosaari refused as he wanted to swim for Australia. [4] [5]
Basilius Suosaari | |
---|---|
![]() Basilius Suosaari in 1907 | |
Member of the
Finnish Parliament for Vyborg East | |
In office 22 May 1907 – 31 July 1908 | |
In office 1 June 1909 – 28 February 1910 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Impilahti, Grand Duchy of Finland | 4 April 1861
Died | 4 July 1939 Bli Bli, Queensland | (aged 78)
Nationality | Finnish, Australian |
Political party | Social Democratic |
Basilius Suosaari (born Vasili Tichanoff, 4 April 1861 - 4 July 1939) was a Finnish-Australian politician and farmer. He was a Member of the Parliament of Finland for the Social Democratic Party in 1907-1908 and 1909-1910. [1]
Suosaari was born to a poor peasant family in Karelia, next to the Russian border. He was sold in a child auction for 13 years and worked later as a carpenter and a miner. [1] In 1911, Suosaari emigrated to Australia where he settled Bli Bli, Queensland and ran a sugarcane farm. He was also active in a local utopian socialist community founded by the followers of Matti Kurikka. [2]
Suosaari died in Bli Bli at the age of 78 in July 1939. He was buried to the Nambour Old Cemetery. [3]
Basilius Suosaari was married to Anna Brita Nupponen (1869-1958) with 11 children. Their son Axel Suosaari (1908-1934) was a talented swimmer who was the Australian Champion of 100 yards freestyle swimming in 1930-1931. The Finnish Olympic Committee asked him to compete in the 1928 Summer Olympics, but Suosaari refused as he wanted to swim for Australia. [4] [5]