Collection of V.D. Reetov donated to the 1st Russian Museum in Australia
A large collection of books and artefacts that used to belong to one of the oldest representatives of Australian Cossacks, Victor Dimitry Reetov, has been recently donated by his daughter, Larissa Victoria to the 1st Russian Museum in Australia.
Merits of V.D. Reetov for the Cossacks of Australia cannot be underestimated. Throughout his life, Victor Dimitry treasured love to his homeland and collected relics that reminded him of it in many ways. Victor Reetov was a true Cossack - a man for whom the ultimate values in life were not all the trappings of a Cossack (such as the "right" uniform and epaulettes), but loyalty to the Motherland and real deeds for its good.
More than 50 boxes of artefacts will now be stored at the 1st Russian Museum in Australia, and are currently waiting their turn to be displayed in the halls. Among the artefacts are objects brought from Russia, China, as well as purchased already in Australia.
Some of the artefacts transferred by Larissa Victoria.
As the museum director, Mikhail Moiseevich Ovchinnikov revealed, he was deeply touched and impressed by the fact that there are still people nowadays for whom the history and culture of Russia mean so much.
"Very often people throw these objects into garbage. They say, what would I do with them? Why would I keep them? What do you mean why? It is memory, history... ", laments the director of the 1st Russian Museum in Australia.
Daughter of V.D. Reetov, Larissa Victoria did not want her father's collection to be forgotten. Instead, she donated valuable exhibits still containing pieces of distant but so beloved by Victor Dimitry Russia, to the museum. Moreover, Larissa Victoria personally collected all objects, carefully packed them and put them in boxes for the museum.
More than 50 boxes of relics collected by V.D. Reetov throughout his life.
Touched by such generosity and love for the Motherland, director of the museum, M.M. Ovchinnikov sent the following a letter to Larissa Victoria:
"Dear Larissa Victoria,
Please let me express my deepest gratitude for your submission of exhibits from the collection of your father and mother to the fund of the 1st Russian Museum in Australia.
We were friends with your father, Victor Dimitry.
I am very pleased to encounter people these days with such a strong desire to preserve the history and culture of Russia for posterity. If it were not for you, all these unique exhibits, books, photographs - all this would have been completely lost.
Your donations now occupy a special place in the museum. These things and the names of your entire family will forever remain in history, for future generations. In addition, from now on you are an honorary member of our museum."
Official letter of gratitude on behalf of the 1st Russian Museum in Australia will be presented to Larissa Victoria later. In the meantime, the museum is preparing for new exhibits to take their places on the shelves. Detail article with photos of the objects will be presented to our readers very soon. Please follow updates on our website.
Committee of the 1st Russian Museum in Australia.
31 October 2017