The Voice of the Maltese No. 179

Issue 179

The Voice of the Maltese (driven by the voice of its readers )

Fortnightly mag azine for the Diaspora magazine

May 15, 2018

Two Maltese artists, Charles C. Spiteri and Raymond Agius are currently exhibiting their artworks at the House of Representatives in Malta’s capital, Valletta, entitled, Fid-Dell tal-Čitan (In the shadow of the walls). Parliamentary Speaker Dr Angelo Farrugia inaugurated the exhibition.

Pictured one of the water colour paintings on show, depicting the Church of Christ the King in Paola, by Raymond Agius (Full report on page 4)

Maltese in Canada and US cities give Malta President impressive welcome

2 The Voice of the Maltese

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he working visit to North America (Canada and the US) of the President of Malta, HE Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca has been described by members of the Maltese community currently living in the cities that she visited, particularly in London and Toronto in Ontario, and Vancouver in Canada, and San Francisco, Sacramento and Sanoma County in the US, as very successful, and most satisfying on every point of view.

The President was welcomed with great enthusiasm wherever she went. Readers of The Voice magazine who attended some of the functions in Canada and the US described her as “most charismatic” and “very down to earth”.

“A father of one of the youths in Toronto told The Voice that his son “was so impressed that the President of a country could be so approachable”. The general feeling among the people of Maltese descent that President Coleiro Preca mingled with was, “that she appeared to be as enthusiastic, if not more, than the people she met. She had a good word for everybody”.

The President met people from all walks of life and proved to be a great ambassador of Malta. On every occasion she had, be it with young students, old people, entrepreneurs and high authorities, she did her best to promote the island.

Many Maltese living abroad, be they in Australia, the UK, the USA and Canada have done well for themselves, and as she normally does wherever she goes, in meetings with entrepreneurs, particularly of Maltese descent, during this visit President Marie Louise urged them to continue expanding their operations, even to Malta.

The “Maltese” entrepreneurs in Canada, many of them considered to be small to medium enterprises employing hundreds of people offer services in the manufacturing, construction, traditional Maltese food, travel, real estate, IT, as well as transport and printing sectors.

During her meeting with them in Toronto, home to around 40,000 people of Maltese descent (including those pertaining to third and fourth generations), some 16,000 of them from the first generation, the President urged them not to remain isolationist, but to increase their contacts, both in Malta as well as in other countries.

MLCP told them, “In today’s globalised world, distance is not a problem to do business and with Malta’s geo-strategic position, it brings us closer to the African continent.” She said this is a continent that will soon become the next emerging economy.

“Those Maltese who already do business with China should be catalysts so that we can forge partnerships with other Maltese companies so that we can continue growing.”

When the President visited the Maltese-Canadian Federation she was informed of an idea to set up a network of Maltese-Canadian businesses and professionals in Toronto.

The Maltese-Canadians still also pride themselves of Maltese traditional food, and what is more traditional than the pastizzi? Therefore it goes without saying that she was also taken to a pastizzi bake shop in Dundas, where she was given the chance to savour “a taste of Malta”, and later attended a symbolic flag raising ceremony at the Malta Park, an area of historical connection to the Maltese-Canadian community.

Addressing the Maltese community, the President noted that, “The diaspora is giving Malta important visibility as the Maltese have

Tuesday May 15, 2018

gained the reputaPresident Marie-Louis tion of being hardColeiro Preca raising working and the Maltese flag at a peace-loving. Malta ceremony inToronto is so proud of you”. flanked by Joe Sherri, During her stay in President of the MalCanada, President tese Community Coleiro Preca also held meetings with the authorities, including the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Elizabeth Dowdeswell and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Dave Levac.

The President commended what Canada has done, and continues to do, to implement a successful policy for the promotion of multiculturalism.

She said the successful integration of the Maltese-Canadian community is evidence of an effective multicultural policy that Canada has adopted.

From Toronto Malta’s President crossed over to Vancouver to become the first Maltese President ever to visit the city. Here she met the small Maltese community and praised it for its successful integration in the community and for giving positive visibility to Malta by earning a reputation of being hard-working, creative, and innovative.

President Coleiro Preca’s last stop on her tour of North America where her husband Mr Edgar Preca accompanied her was in the US state of California that hosts some 20,000 Maltese descendants.

The President made stops at the state’s capital, San Francisco, Sacramento and Sanoma County.

At the San Francisco Airport Maltese residents who were experiencing a Malta President among them for the first time in 25 years gave her a rousing welcome. *Continued of page 7

The “Maltese” living in Vancouver in their meeting with President Marie Lousie Colerio Preca (centre in black) and her hisband Edgar

Dr Helena Dalli’s visit to Sydney:

Tuesday May 15, 2017

The Voice of the Maltese 3

Connecting with a community proud of its roots T he recent visit to Sydney of Dr. Helena Dalli, the Minister for European Affairs and Equality was short but impressive. The Minister talked to The Voice of the Maltese about the purpose of her visit and her interaction with the Maltese community. In the first place, she had been invited to Australia to address the Global Women’s Summit, however, she could not miss the opportunity to also meet the Maltese community.

Minister Dalli explained, “I was invited to address the Global Women’s Summit on a public-private partnership project that contributes to women’s economic advancement, as well as participate in the Summit itself. Indeed this Summit is held annually in different countries and focuses on women in leadership positions. Despite the fact that I am invited every year, I was never able to attend due to other commitments.”

Pressed further for outcomes the Minister continued: “The ministers’ panel to which I participated was presented with the various public-private partnership projects the different governments held. We were able to discuss the outcomes of these projects and learn from the different experiences.

“I presented the universal free childcare project that has been evaluated from various perspectives, for instance, that of the increase of women in the labour market since its inception; also from the perspective of mainstreaming the principle of equality to all ministries. “ Dr. Dalli further explained that the various equality institutions present at the Summit, particularly those coming from the different parts of Australia showed great interest in this project, “and we shall be working with some of them, while they are providing us advice on how to create the national machinery to address the gender pay gap, something which the Workplace Gender Equality Agency based in Sydney is already doing” she added.

Aside of the Summit, the Minister also found time to meet with the Maltese community in Sydney. It was pointed out to her that the Maltese community is always worried that not enough time is given to adequately plan a proper welcome to visiting VIPs from Malta. She explained that as had happened with previous invitations to the Global Summit, this year

too she was once again close to giving it a miss, “this time because of an important vote in Parliament.”

“Nonetheless, I received permission to travel at the last minute, and I’m glad that despite the short notice, I managed to meet several Maltese community members in Parramatta and at the Anzac Parade,” Dr. Helena Dalli said.

She added: “I feel that the community in NSW is proud of its roots and Maltese identity and wants to ensure that the Maltese connection is retained. Upon my return to Malta, I relayed the sentiment that I had about the discussions with the community, especially the issue of the history of the Maltese migration to be included in the Maltese curriculum in schools in Malta, and I’m hoping that Government will be able to support the requests shared with me.”

Consultation process

The Minister also mentioned the fact that the Maltese Government intends revising the Maltese constitution, and when The Voice asked how the diaspora could take part in the process, the Minister said, “All consultation processes are now conducted online on the gov.mt portal. Therefore, it should in principle be no different for the Maltese living in Malta or the Maltese living in Australia or elsewhere. All I can say at this stage is that Government will be very keen to receive your unique perspective on the process and what we should look at during such a revision.”

Maltese members of the EU parliament have never ventured to Australia, which is of concern as the Maltese citizens living in Australia are themselves also European citizens.

Minister Dalli replied that the matter was discussed during her visit to the Maltese Community Centre. “I sure cannot speak on their behalf, but I would believe that the fact that they spend half the time in Brussels and Strasbourg and half the time in Malta does not make it any easier for them

to visit Australia. The distance may be the main problem,” she added.

Asked about distance voting, Minister Dalli hoped it would become possible without undue delay. “We need to ensure that all those who are eligible to vote can cast their vote and partake in the democratic process of the country,” she said.

The Maltese Minister spent only a few days in Sydney. She said she was highly impressed with the experience.

She described it as “a beautiful city. It is a very good balance between nature and a modern metropolis. I don’t think I’ve seen another city that has so much greenery and water. Also the people are very friendly and there doesn’t seem to be the stress associated with other big cities”.

Profile

•Dr. Helena Dalli was appointed minister for European Affairs and Equality following the June 3, 2017 General Election.

First was first elected to Parliament in 1996 and between 1996 and 1998 she served as Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister. She was subsequently re-elected to Parliament in 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2017. That makes her one of the longest serving woman in Malta’s House of Representatives and also in the Maltese political arena. She is also the only woman to be elected from two districts in the interest of the Labour Party.

Helena Dalli holds a PhD in Political Sociology and lectures in Economic and Political Sociology, Public Policy, and Sociology of Law at the University of Malta.

LawrenceDimech

4 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday May 15, 2018

Fid-Dell tal-Ħitan

Joint art exhibition by two Maltese artists at Parliament Building

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JosephCutajar

id-Dell tal-Ħitan (In the shadows of the walls) is a collection of ink and watercolour art by the Artist and Designer Raymond D. Agius and fortification expert Dr. Stephen C. Spiteri. They are jointly exhibiting their works at the House of Representatives in Valletta, Malta. The artists took the inspiration for the title of their joint exhibition from John Spiteri Gingell’s poem by the same name and presented their works to the people to admire.

The Voice of the Maltese was invited to the official opening by the Speaker of the House, Dr. Angelo Farrugia, and not only was given the chance to review the 40 ink, pen and watercolour landscape painting exhibition but also talk to the artists.

The two artists’ current standing in life is quite inspirational. Ray’s is based on his experience as a gunsmith, a mechanic, a draftsman and a technical designer, and Stephen’s from his main professional interests evolving largely around the study of the art and science of military architecture and its conservation as built heritage.

Ray’s works at the exhibition included watercolour paintings of sites familiar to him and also rural buildings in chiaro scuro (black & white) that he is so familiar with ‘close to home’ in the Zejtun/Marsaxlokk area, chuches (like the one on the front page) and automation in the form of paintings of ‘old’ planes from WWI over Maltese landscapes.

The majority of Stephen Spiteri’s paintings, depicting rural walls or buildings are in black & white, mostly drawn on site, that bring out the art of the old Maltese builders and rubble walls in the countryside.

Raymond Agius was born in Zejtun, Malta in May 1955. He spent seven years in the British Royal Navy before emigrating to Australia where he continued his professional studies. He also worked in the International Automotive Industry

The two artists, Stephen Spiteri (left) and Ray Agius with the Speaker Dr Angelo Farrugia at the inauguration

As an automotive designer he helped design many iconic Australian automobiles finishing his career with the design of the American icon, the Chevy Camaro. In 2007 he retired from General Motors to pursue his love of Art. He studied art at Monash University in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and also continued his formal education in traditional arts, Industrial and Computer Aided Design at various universities in Europe and Australia.

Ray’s working life spans three decades and embraces three continents. He divides his time living and travelling between Europe, and specifically Malta, where he was born, Australia, where he has spent 30 years, and the USA his wife Cristina’s birthplace. He spends most of his time at his home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but also treasures the other two.

Ray is known for his realistic and semiabstract work of subjects as varied as portraiture, figuOne of Stephen Spiteri’s rative, military and historic paintings at the exhibition work, however, surprisingly, he says he does not call himself just an artist but rather a purveyor, documenter and expositor of life, from which his art bleeds and sometimes gushes forth!

Although writing, painting and sculpting are in his blood, Ray told The Voice of the Maltese, “What I expose to the world is emotion. Whether it is a piece of writing, a portrait, figurative work or military art, it

is the story behind the visual that completes the whole narrative and no piece of art is allowed to just be its own reason for being,” On his return to art Raymond has held at least seven exhibitions in Malta. After embarking on his first major exhibition, entitled Hal Niesi: The Forgotten Hamlet, at the National Library in Valletta in September last year, Stephen C. Spiteri, born in September 1963, accepted the invitation to hold this current exhibition jointly with Agius.

Throughout the past three decades Stephen, who obtained his Ph.D. degree from the University of Malta in 2006 has had three main professional interests that have revolved largely around the study of the art and science of military architecture and its conservation as built heritage.

Stephen has also published a number of books and papers on the defences of the Maltese islands and on the military organisation of the Hospitaller Knights of St John.

Foremost amongst these are, Fortresses of the Cross (1994); British Military Architecture in Malta (1996; The Great Siege – 1565 (2005), and The Art of Fortress Building in Hospitaller Malta (2008).

He is currently reading for a second doctorate at the University of Malta where he is focussing his research on the artistic aspects of military architecture.

Stephen illustrates all his publications on fortifications with his own drawings and 3D computer simulations.

He inherited his fascination with both military architecture and rural landscape and rustic architecture and a passion and love of drawing from his father, architect and landscape artist, Joseph M. Spiteri (1934-2013).

The Voice of the Maltese 5

Tuesday May 15, 2017

The art of self-defence

Another service offered by The Voice of the Maltese providing legal information to our readers

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by PaulSant

f the substantive criminal offences, personal violence offences are some of the most common that criminal lawyers deal with.

A personal violence offence is where a person physically assaults another person, or engages in a violent action against them.

Where a client is charged with a personal violence offence, there are really only two defences available. The first is the Bart Simpson, or “I didn’t do it” defence. The second is that of “Self-Defence”.

The first is as simple as it gets. You have been charged with a personal violence offence but you say you simply didn’t do it.

This may or may not be a practical defence, depending on the prosecution’s evidence in the matter. There is little point to saying this when the evidence clearly demonstrates that you did in fact “do it”.

The second, more pliable option is selfdefence. This defence is probably the most known aspect of criminal law for those not legally trained. It is both a legal and common sense position that someone who is acting in the defence of themselves should not be criminally liable.

When is self-defence an option?

Self-defence is not akin to an eye for an eye and certainly cannot be claimed in a situation where a person was to hit you and you retaliated by beating them with a hammer. It is however available where you as a person, have been assaulted or threatened by another person (or group of people) and have, as a result, defended yourself, reasonably, against that threat.

Self-defence is what is known as a total

defence. This means that, if it is successfully argued, the court will find you not guilty.

How does the Court determine self-defence?

When a person charged with a personal violence offence claims self-defence the court has to ask itself two questions: 1 Did you have a reasonable fear of an imminent attack?

2. Was your response reasonable to the threat as you perceived it?

The first question is a basic one. Did you as the defendant, reasonable fear or apprehend that you would be physically attacked?

Where an assault is already taking place against you, this question will always be answered in the affirmative. The question also considers situations where an attack hasn’t taken place yet but you fear that one is imminent. In other words, a preemptive strike is capable of being an act of self-defence.

The question is always asked from view of you as the defendant. The question is if YOU believed that you were at risk of being physically attacked. This means all that needs to be shown to the court is that you, as the defendant, held this fear. It is not viewed from the lens of an outside person assessing the situation.

The second question is a touch more complex. For the second question to be answered in the affirmative it must be shown that your response was a reasonable one for what you perceived the threat to be.

This question is not wholly answered from you, the defendant’s point of view.

The question is asked to a hypothetical third person and if that person would have responded in the same, or similar matter

PAUL SANT (SOLICITOR)

PARTNER AT LONGTON LEGAL For All Your Legal Needs

Now at: 21 George Street

Parramatta Phone: 8599 8877

Also at: Level 4, 370 Pitt Street, Sydney. Ph: 8355 9999 Email: paul.sant@longtonlegal.com.au Maltese Spoken

to how you responded.

It is important to understand that this hypothetical third person is responding to the same threat that was perceived by you. This means that if you perceived that your life was in danger, your response will be measured against that threat.

If the court finds that the answer to these two questions is yes, then you will be found not guilty.

What should I do if charged and I have acted in self-defence?

If you are charged with a personal violence offence and believe that your actions were in self-defence it is important that you make this clear to your legal representative. You should let your lawyer know the following information: • The reason that you felt threatened • Any physical acts that were made against you • Any background knowledge you have of the complainant, especially if you are aware that they are prone to violence!!!!

• What your actions were and why you thought they were necessary With this information your lawyer will be able to give you accurate advice as to if you have a good case for self-defence.

We at Longton legal always recommend that you consult with a lawyer when facing any criminal charges. We are experts in the area of self-defence and if you find yourself charged will be there to fight for you!

To get in touch with Paul or any of our expert criminal lawyers contact Longton Legal on 1800 959 999 24 Hours, 7 days a week.

We have provided you with an overview of the topic above but you should consult a professional for advice specific to your circumstances.

6 The Voice of the Maltese The Flemish Tapestries in the Conventional Church of the Order of St John in Valletta

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Tuesday May 15, 2018

uring the grandmastership of La Cassière according to Statute XXXII of the General Chapter of the Order, each Grand Master had to donate from his Privy Purse a gioia or bijou to the Church of St John within five years of his election.1 The Set of Tapestries I am going to write about in this series are the Flemish Tapestries donated by the Order’s Aragonese Grand Master Ramon Perellos (1697- 1720).

The Goia or bijou and GM Ramon Perellos y Roccaful Dr. DorisCannataci

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amon Perellos of the Langue of Aragon, Bailiff of Negrepont, was elected the twenty-first Grand Master in Malta on February 7 1697. Soon after his election he assembled the Council of the Order in order to reform the abuses that had crept into the Order.2 He watched over the management of the Order’s affairs and “is credited with having assisted the development of culture and commerce.”3 Perellos distinguished himself by his liberality to such families as had been ruined by the infidels (when the head of the family lost his life at sea, fighting the infidels); he made considerable improvements to the fortifications of the island; and made it a point to support the lustre and glory of the Order.4 Among the many treasures Perellos donated to the Order, he embellished the Church of St John with a set of magnificent Flemish tapestries as part of his gioia. Grand Master Perellos not so much moved by duty as by devotion paid at his own expense the Tapestries and Arras, manufactured in Belgium to embellish the Conventual Church of the Jerusalemitan Order in Malta, dedicated to St John the Baptist.5 “The Flemish Tapestries of the Church of the Grand Masters at Malta are, undoubtedly, the most valuable and the most interesting Gioia of that Temple.”6 It is believed that Perellos had long conceived the idea about these hangings, years before he was elected grandmaster.

In fact, he often met Mattia Preti to discuss the project with him, and even paid Preti’s expenses every time he went to Belgium to meet the manufacturers of the Flemish Tapestries.7 Perellos was able to bring to fruition his ideal when he became Grand Master.

Did Mattia Preti influence the Grand Master in his choice of subject matter? Was it Preti’s original suggestion to introduce tapestries? These

are all questions to which we do not know the answer.

These tapestries represented a new and dramatic expression that glorified the new sense of achievement of Baroque Europe in the seventeenth century. The Knights were well aware of the importance of displaying a triumphant image of the Order to show its powerful role.

During this phase the Catholic Church was fighting for supremacy over Protestantism and Islam and employed the visual arts as a means of propaganda. The visual demonstration of triumph through the visual arts became a necessity. The Knights, known as both soldiers and defenders of the Catholic Faith, required the visual means of demonstrating their power and triumph.8

Grand Master Ramon Perellos

References

1. Registro di Bolle, MS 1146 f 381; HANNIBAL P. SCICLUNA, The Church of St John in Valletta, 212213.

2. RENÉ de VERTOT, The History of the Knights of Malta, II, London 1728, 102.

3. PAWLU MIZZI, The Grand Masters of Malta.

From the Origins to modern Times, revised edition Malta 2000, 25.

4. RENÉ de VERTOT, The History of the Knights of Malta, II, 109.

5. Liber Conciliorum, vol. 134, 156.

6. FERDINAND V. INGLOTT, The Flemish Tapestries of the Church of the Grand Masters, Malta 1893, 3.

7, HANNIBAL P. SCICLUNA, The Church of St John in Valletta, 190.

8. CYNTHIA de GIORGIO, The Image of Triumph and the Knights of Malta, Malta 2003, Preface xi.

The Set of 14 Tapestries

he fourteen large tapestries hung through the length of the nave of the whole church are interpolated with the smaller monochromes. The tapestry of the Grand T Master hanging on the door of the main entrance opposite the main altar depicts him majestically sitting on his throne looking at the whole church, especially his gioia.

Scenes represented This set of tapestries consists of twenty-nine hangings: fourteen large tapestries, fourteen oblong panels, and one with Grand Master Perellos’ portrait. The fourteen large ones represent two cycles; seven, depict the life of Christ and the other seven are allegories. These are: 1. The Annunciation 2. The Nativity 3. The Adoration of the Magi 4. The Entry into Jerusalem 5. The Last Supper 6. The Elevation of the Cross 7. The Resurrection 8. The Institution of the feast of Corpus Domini 9. The Triumph of Charity 10. The Triumph of the Catholic Church 11. The Triumph of Faith 12. Time Exploring and Unveiling Truth 13. The Destruction of Idolatry 14. The Four Evangelists

The fourteen oblong tapestries represent: Christ the Saviour, the Virgin Mary, St Paul and The eleven faithful Apostles.1 These tapestries have been referred to as “the most extensive series ever woven in Brussels, making part of the twenty-nine tapestries of The Life of Christ, the Triumph of the Eucharist and the Twelve Apostles.”2 The Flemish tapestries were commissioned at the end of the seventeenth century. The seventeenth century was characterized by “the age of Baroque,” a particular ideal of style.

The origin of Baroque is obscure and until the nineteenth century it was a synonym of absurd or grotesque3 The term Baroque was coined by nineteenth century art historians for the predominant style in Western European art between the later sixteenth century4 and early eighteenth century, between Mannerism and Rococo.

(See references on opposite page

Tuesday May 15, 2017

Malta President in San Franciso

*from page 2 Malta President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca had other appointments in the city, including one with the San Francisco Mayor Mr Mark Farrell where they held a discussion on equality and multiculturalism.

The President congratulated Mr Farrell for his council’s decision to approve equal pay for equal work for men and women.

Another great welcome awaited her at a function in San Francisco organised by a number of Maltese associations based in this city. While thanking the Maltese community, the President told them that although they are US citizens, as far as she is concerned those forming part of the Maltese community were also Maltese, and that Malta would never forget them.

The Voice of the Maltese 7

Above: President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca in her meeting with the San Francisco Mayor Frank Farrell. Left: Maltese in San Francisco led by Hon. Consul Louis Vella, Hon (third from right) greeting the President at the SF Airport.

*from page 6 References

1. DOMINIC CUTAJAR, History and Work of Art of St John’s Church Valletta, Malta 1989, 103.

2. GUY DELMARCEL, The Rubens’ Tapestry set in Valletta, Malta, 309.

3. HAROLD OSBORNE, Baroque, in The Oxford Companion to Art, London 1970, 108.

4. EDWARD LUCIE-SMITH, The Thames and Hudson Dictionary of Art Terms, London 1984, 26.

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Have your say/Xi trid tghid?

8 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday May 15, 2018

Your letters/ L-ittri tagħkom ...

The Voice of the Maltese for fortnightly tnightly magazine magazine

is is a bi-lingual (in English and Maltese) fortnightly magazine that specifically targets all Maltese living abroad with emphasis on the Australian and Maltese scenes. e magazine can also be read in flipbook format online. A pdf copy is also sent via email on request.

If you require a printed copy we can also oblige.

Editors: Malta: Joseph Cutajar Australia: Lawrence Dimech: MOM, OAM, JP email address: maltesevoice@gmail.com Letters for publication in The Voice magazine, either in Maltese or English should include name and e-mail address of the writer and be e-mailed to: maltesevoice@gmail.com.

Now you can also join us on facebook: https://www.facebook. com/groups/thevoiceofthemaltese

Maltese veterans of war in NSW thank Minister Helena Dalli

Charles N. Mifsud Hon. President of RSL Maltese sub Branch NSW, writes: he Maltese Sub Branch of the RSL was very well represented in the City of Sydney Anzac Day March on April 25 when more than fifty men and women proudly and smartly marched to honour the Maltese and allied veterans of all wars as they marched behind the Sub-Branch’s banner and the Australian, British and Maltese Flags.

The members of the Sub-Branch proudly wore their new uniforms. They looked smart and happy to once again come together for this dignified occasion and march behind the Our Lady Queen of Peace Maltese Band.

The Sub-Branch was led by its President who was joined by a Senior Minister in the Maltese Government, the Hon. Dr. Helena Dalli, and Mr. Sivan Agius the Director of the Human Rights and Integration Department who happened to be in Sydney to attend the World Conference of Women.

Dr. Dalli was so generous with her time.

Before the March started she met with the group as she said she wanted to meet and talk with as many fellow Maltese as possible during her short stay in Sydney on Government business.

The members of the Maltese community were very pleased to meet and talk and listen to her.

The previous day Dr Dalli also visited the centre of the Maltese Community Council of NSW to meet members of the MCC and other leaders of the Maltese Community.

She was very approachable and everybody appreciated her presence.

People of different political view remarked very positively about her.

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For us, this was a very important and special occasion. To my knowledge this was the first time that a Maltese Government Minister actually marched with us on Anzac Day. On behalf of all the members of the RSL Maltese Sub-branch of NSW, thank You Minister for honouring us with your presence.

Not in agreement with Malta’s PM on equality

Charles Camenzuli from Parramatta NSW writes: s a long time reader of the Voice of Malta and an Australian-Born person of Maltese heritage, I feel it appropriate to voice my views on the current stance the Maltese Prime Minister, Dr. Joseph Muscat, has on “Equality”.

I am deeply ashamed of where the good Christian nation of Malta is heading.

The standard for our future children, of what is acceptable and what is not, is wilfully being degraded by mere virtue singingly by the politicians.

As human beings we have the basic human rights, which should include the right of opportunity, but not outcomes. We cannot go against all that which made us the culture that we are and then demand recognition for what we want to be rather than who we are.

It is about time that we stop demanding all sorts of rights while being oblivious of the associated responsibilities to our society that those rights entail.

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Thanks for a great read

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Sandra Borg from St Albans, Vic. writes: n behalf of the Maltese community in Australia, and also Malta, who a century ago members of their family volunteered and died for Australia at Gallipoli, I thank you for the Voice’s coverage of the ANZAC Day commemorations in Australia and Malta.

Thank you as always for a great read. You are really doing a great job and I am certain that all the readers are appreciating you voluntary work.

My only surprise is, that not enough members of the Maltese business community around Australia, who built their businesses on the back of the Maltese community, come forward to help such a cause by sponsoring this publication that is filling a great gap following the demise of The Maltese Herald.

The Voice of the Maltese 9

Tuesday May 15, 2017

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Servizz meħtieġ għall-anzjani fic-Ċentru Malti La Valette

ċ-Ċentru Malti La Valette fi Blacktown, NSW ġie mwaqqaf 54 sena ilu, fl1964. Il-bidu tiegħu kien bħala Maltese Community Western Suburbs Association iżda fl-1970 saret bidla fl-isem għal dak li hu bħalissa.

L-ewwel post li kien jintuża kien f’Kildare Road Blacktown NSW iżda fl-1975 inxtrat il-blokka fuq l-għolja fejn jinsab illum.

M’hemmx dubju li dan hu l-akbar ċentru tal-Maltin fi NSW, jekk mhux ukoll fl-Awstralja. Mhux biss kien, imma għadu attiv biddiversi okkażjonjiet li jorganizza għal madwar 400 membru u wkoll għal oħrajn li jattendu b’mod regulari.

Fuq inizjattiva ta’ Lawrence Dimech u Maria Decarlo, 26 sena ilu dan iċ-ċentru nieda l-Maltese Respite Care Service u kull ħmistax beda jitlaqqa’ l-grupp magħruf bħala t-Thursday Adult Day Care Group, Over 55.

M’għaddiex wisq żmien li tant dawn il-laqgħat saru popolari li fuq għadd ta’ talbiet, il-group beda jiltaqa’ kull nhar ta’ Ħamis.

Bdew jiġu organizzati wkoll ħarġiet speċjali għall-anzjani u nħasset il-ħtieġa li ċ-Ċentru jkollu wkoll il-bus tiegħu biex ikunu jistgħu jinġabru l-anzjani mid-dar u anke jorganizza ħargiet.

Il-President tal-La Valette SC ta’ bħalissa, Antoinette Caruana qalet lill-The Voice of the Maltese li dan ilgrupp mhux biss għadu jiltaqa’ regolarment, imma hu

Ta’ 16 ... eta`li tant saret importanti

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ktar ma jgħaddi ż-żmien aktar l-eta` ta’ 16-il sena qed issir kruċjali. Wara li f’Malta ġie introdott ilvot għal dawk li għalqu s-16-il sena fl-elezzjonijiet tal-Kunsilli lokali u anke din ġie estiż’ għall-elezzjonijiet tal-UE u tal-Elezzjoni Ġenerali, fl-Awstralja wkoll jidher li resqin lejn deċiżjoni bħal din wara l-abbozz imressaq lill-Parlament Federali..

Jekk nibqgħu dwar Malta, din l-eta` issa ġiet ukoll magħżula bħala dik tal-kunsens, jiġfieri li żagħżugħ/żagħżugħa jista’/tista’ tiddeċiedi jekk jieħux/tieħux sehem f’xi attivita’ seswali mingħajr ma jitqies bħala minorenni.

Attwalment, fil-liġijiet Maltin kien hemm daqsxejn ta’ parodija.Dan minħabba li ġuvni jew xebba setgħu jiżżewġu ta’ 16-il sena, iżda mbagħad tfajliet u ġuvintur ta’ din l-eta’ ma setgħux jagħtu kunsens fejn jidħol is-sess. Hekk li jekk ġuvni ta’ 18-il sena kien ikollu x’jaqsam ma’ tfajla ta’ inqas minn 18, anke jekk bilkunsens tagħha, kien xorta jista’ jiġi mixli b’koruzzjoni tat-tfajla.

Iż-żminijiet tassew li qed jinbidlu!

l-aktar li jattira nies lejh kull ġimgħa fejn ikun hemm quddiesa, taħditiet speċjali u ikel Malti.

Għal kull tagħrif dwar il-grupp wieħed għandu jċempel 02 9622 5847.

(Ara wkoll l-avviż taċ-ċentru fil-paġna 22)

10 The Voice of the Maltese

Perspettiva

Tuesday May 15, 2018

A version of this series in kitba ta’ English may be found in IVAN the author's blog at: CAUCHI https://ivancauchi. blogspot.com

L-iffriżar tal-embrijuni u s-surrogazzjoni

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ħalissa fil-parlament Malti qiegħdin jiġu dikussi emendi tal-liġi fuq il-protezzjoni tal-embrijuni li kien għadda lgvern Nazzjonalista fl-2012. B’dik il-liġi, il-fertilizzazzjoni artifiċjali (IVF) kien ġie permess, b’dawn ir-regolamenti (fost l-oħrajn):1 • fertilizzazzjoni massimu ta’ żewġ bajdiet f’ċiklu wieħed ta’ trattament; • il-projbizzjoni tal-iffriżar tal-embrijuni; • il-projbizzjoni tas-surrogazzjoni (jiġifieri fejn mara tagħmel tqala b’embrijun intenzjonat għal ġenitur ieħor).

Il-gvern preżenti Laburista qiegħed jipproponi dawn l-emendi (fost l-oħrajn):2 • l-ammont ta’ bajdiet fertilizzati jista’ jitla’ għal tlieta fl-ewwel ċiklu u ħamsa f’oħrajn; • massimu ta’ żewġ embrijuni jiġu ttrasferiti ġewwa l-mara, l-oħrajn jiġu ffriżati; • l-ebrijuni ffriżati jekk ma jintużawx mill-ġenituri tagħhom, jingħataw lill-istat li jibda proċess ta’ adozzjoni tal-embrijuni lil ħaddieħor; • is-surrogazzjoni altruista tiġi introdotta b’regolamenti (Legal Notice) separati.

Kull fejn tidħol il-ħajja ikun hemm kontroversja sħiħa u dibattitu sħun. Dan osservajtu fl-Awstralja, u bħal mhu mistenni qiegħed isir f’Malta wkoll.

F’nofs Mejju, madwar 100 akkademiku tal-Università f’Malta esprimew it-tħassib tagħhom fuq dawn l-emendi proposti.3 Ħafna minnhom huma magħrufa sew u rrispettati fil-qasam tagħhom filpajjiż, oħrajn għallmuni meta kont student l-Università u oħrajn saħansitra kont ħbieb personali tagħhom ħafna snin ilu. Kollha għandi rispett lejhom, u b’dan li se nikteb xejn ma jnaqqas dan.

Parti mit-tħassib tagħhom huwa tiegħi ukoll, madankollu parti oħra jidhirli li m’għandux bażi soda jew huwa bbażat fuq biża’ ta’ xi ħaġa li tista’ sseħħ jew fil-fatt ma sseħx, u fl-aħħarnett hemm stqarrija li hija opinjoni li hija dibattibbli.

Waħda mill-oġġezzjonijiet prinċipali tal-akkademiċi hi li ħafna mill-embrijuni ffriżati jispiċċa ma jridhom ħadd, għax meqjusa inferjuri u ta’ età iktar għolja minn dawk li jkunu ttrasferiti ġo ġuf ta’ mara mingħajr iffriżar, u nispiċċaw b’orfanotrofju tal-embrijuni. Jien din il-biża’ ma narahiex realistika.

Hawnhekk fl-Awstralja, fejn l-IVF ilu jsir u rregolamentat issnin, hawn domanda mhux żgħira għall-embrijuni, minn koppji eterosesswali, omosesswali u anke persuni waħedhom, speċjalment in-nisa.

L-ikbar problema li jsib ġenitur li jixtieq jagħmel donazzjoni ta’ embrijuni lil ħaddieħor hija dik tal-għażla tal-aħjar ġenituri prospettivi minn kju, mhux li ma jsib lil ħadd!

Għalhekk, id-dikjarazzjoni li l-proposti tal-gvern sejrin ‘invarjabbilment u inevitabbilment, jikkrejaw surplus ta’ embrijuni’ naraha esaġerata.

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L-akkademiċi jittrattaw ukoll is-suġġett tas-surrogazzjoni, jgħidu li n-nisa jispiċċaw ikkommodotizzati, li tkun ġenitur jispiċċa ttrivjalizzat, u l-maternità fframmentata għax wild jista’ jkollu sa tliet ommijiet. Dan tal-aħħar huwa minnu, imma niskanta bil-kummenti l-oħra. Jien nistaqsi, dawn l-akkademiċi qatt fil-fatt tkellmu ma’ omm surrogata qabel ma ffirmaw din id-dikjarazzjoni?

Jien ngħid għalija matul is-snin iltqajt ma’ diversi nisa li għamluha ta’ surrogata. Dejjem bqajt impressjonat bil-ħsieb profond tagħhom fuq dak li kienu sejrin jagħmlu, bid-determinazzjoni li jgħinu lill-koppji li għandhom diffikultajiet ta’ fertilità, anki b’riskju kbir għas-saħħa tagħhom u skomdu kbir għall-familja tagħhom, bl-għarfien u l-aċċettar li t-tarbija li qiegħdin iġorru mhix tagħhom.

Nimmeravilja ruħi li hawn nies f’din iddinja li għandhom dan is-sens kbir ta’ sagrifiċċju personali, attitudni li ppermettuli nsejħilha Nisranija.

In-nisa surrogati li naf jew naf bihom jien, għandhom relazzjoni tajba mat-tarbija li ġabu fid-dinja u mal-ġenituri li għenuhom isawru familja. It-tarbija maż-żmien tingħata informazzjoni fuq dak li ġara, u jkollha l-opportunità li tara, tikkomunika u tiltaqa’ mal-omm surrogata tagħha safejn u sakemm ikun possibbli, xejn inqas minn familja estiża tradizzjonali. Altru milli jkunu ‘stranġieri’ kif kitbu l-akkademiċi.

Naturalment, mhux l-istejjer kollha jintemmu daqshekk pożittivi, u l-akkademiċi taw eżempju wieħed ta’ dan, u jien naf b’oħrajn. X’qed nippruvaw ngħidu, li l-familji tradizzjonali m’għandhomx problemi tagħhom ukoll?

Jien naraha inutli li nkomplu nżommu l-mudell tas-Sagra Familja bħala l-uniku mudell aċċettabbli għas-soċjetà. Dan ilmudell assolutament m’għandu xejn ħażin, imma l-verità hi li llum hawn forom oħra ta’ familji, u dawn jistħoqqilhom rispett u qafas legali daqs familji tradizzjonali.

Tajjeb li jkun hemm ir-regoli li s-soċjetà tasal biex taqbel li għandhom ikunu hemm, iżda li tipprova twaqqaf l-arloġġ taliżvilupp soċjali mmexxi minn ħtieġa soċjali, mhux se taħdem.

Kien hemm fejn qbilt mal-kritika tal-akkademiċi, fosthom li lgvern irid jiddekriminalizza s-surrogazzjoni sempliċement b’regolamenti u mhux bi proċess parlamentari. Naħseb li s-suġġett jirrikjedi skrutinju iktar intensiv minn daqshekk.

Ukoll l-iffriżar tal-ooċit (bajda tal-mara), bħala alternattiva għall-iffriżar tal-embrijun, hija waħda tajba għal min jixtieq jagħmel hekk.

Jien nawgura li lkoll nieħdu nifs qawwi ‘l-ġewwa!

Referenzi 1. Embryo Protection Act 2012 2. An Act to amend the Embryo Protection Act, Cap. 524 3. Embryo Protection (Amendment) Bill; Bill No. 38 (2018); Matters of Concern

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‘Il-Mogħża ttina l-ħalib’

Tuesday May 15, 2017

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in għandu l-eta` tiegħi, ta’ sittin u aktar, żgur jiftakar sewwa t-toroq dojoq Maltin miżgħuda b’merħliet ta’ mogħoż għaddejjin iserrpu minn naħa għall-oħra. Ma kinux jgħaddu mill-irħula u l-ibliet għall-gost iżda biex jagħtuna l-ħalib għax-xorb, għax f’dawk iż-żminijiet f’pajjiżna ma kienx hawn baqar tal-ħalib.

Niftakar sew in-nisa tad-dar lebsin bil-ħwejjeġ tal-faċendi fuq l-għatba tal-bieb ta’ barra tad-dar tagħhom, lesti b’bott tal-enemel vojt f’idejhom, kbir jew żgħir, ħalli xħin ir-ragħaj tal-merħla jgħaddi minn quddiemhom, iwaqqfuh biex jitolbuh jaħleb xi mogħża u jimlielhom il-bott b’ħalib kollu ragħwa u sħun ġej dirett minn sider il-mogħża magħżula (ara taħt). Bott ħalib kien jiswa xi sitt ħabbiet, sold jew forsi tnejn ... skont l-ammont.

Dan kien xenarju tassew sabiħ. Ħafna pitturi Maltin, fosthom il-magħruf Edward Caruana Dingli, esprimew dan ix-xenarju fittpinġijiet tagħhom.

Dan il-ħalib talmogħoż kien ukoll ta’ fejda għax kien is-sors ewlieni ta’ ħalib għax-xorb għall-Maltin. Illum li kbirt fl-età għadni nilgħaq xufftejja nipprova ntiehem il-kafè bil-ħalib talmogħża li z-zija Ġużeppa ta’ Zolli kienet ittina meta konna ngħaddu s’għandha biex insellmulha.

Tajjeb wieħed jgħid li l-mogħża hija annimal effiċjenti ħafna li kapaċi tipproduċi ammonti kbar ta’ ħalib għax hi annimal ġeneruż ħafna f’termini ta’ produttività.

Meta ma konniex naraw dawn il-merħliet tal-mogħoż fit-toroq tagħna konna nilmħuhom fl-għelieqi f’tarf ir-raħal, jirgħu u jomogħdu l-ħaxix. Kont niggustahom immens meta mat-tisfira tarragħaj, (raġel b’dehra xwejħa għalkemm ma kienx mgħobbi bl-età), jinġabru f’tarf l-għalqa u jimxu wara sidhom ir-ragħaj, miġbura f’merħla waħda, biex imorru dritt għar-razzett.

Ma nafx kif ir-ragħaj, għalkemm kien ikun waħdu, kien tassew jirnexxilu jżommhom kollha flimkien. Jekk xi waħda kienet tħalli l-merħla, pront kien iġri warajha u minnufih tirritorna ma’

The Voice of the Maltese 11

PeterPaulCiantar

sħabha.

Hu impressjonanti ħafna dak ir-ritratt ta’ taħt nett f’dan lartiklu li jidher ukoll f’ħafna pubblikazzjonijiet, li juri merħla żgħira ta’ mogħoż ħierġa mar-ragħaj tagħha minn Bieb il-Belt (jaħasra llum imwaqqa’ biex ħalla postu għall-entratura tal-Belt ta’ Renzo Piano). Jekk wieħed jifli sewwa r-ritratt jara li dan jagħti stampa ċara tal-ħajja Maltija flimgħoddi.

‘F’Nisġet Artna’, pubblikazzjoni maħruġa mis-Segretarjat tal-Biedja, Sajd u Drittijiet tal-Annimali, qrajt li l-mogħża tissejjaħ ‘il-baqra tal-fqir’, u bir-raġun, għax f’dawk iż-żminijiet kien hawn faqar kbir f’pajjiżna. Barra minhekk, il-mogħoż huma kapaċi jaddattaw ruħhom għall-ambjent u l-klima diffiċli. Għaldaqstant ideali ħafna għal pajjiżna.

F’dawk iż-żminijiet il-popolazzjoni tal-mogħoż f’Malta kienet tammonta għal eluf kbar u r-razza tal-mogħża Maltija kienet popolari ħafna għall-produzzjoni tal-ħalib fil-Mediterran. Illum il-popolazzjoni tal-mogħoż f’Malta naqset drastikament għal ħafna raġunijiet.

Bla dubju li waħda mir-raġunijiet hija d-deni rqiq. Dan instab fil-mogħoż. Għaldaqstant kulħadd beda jibża’ jikkonsma l-ħalib tagħhom. Illum il-ġurnata d-deni rqiq ġie meqrud għal kollox u l-istess artiklu tal-pubblikazzjoni ‘F’Nisġet Artna’ - ‘Il-Mogħża: Vittma tal-Progress’ – jingħad ukoll li d-deni rqiq m’għadux jinsab fil-mogħoż .

Biss xorta waħda għad hawn min jipprendi l-prodotti tal-mogħoż minħabba lkwestjoni tad-deni rqiq.

Dan m’għandux ikun għax illum il-ġurnata din il-marda hija kkontrollata u lmogħoż kollha ta’ Malta u Għawdex jiġu eżaminati regolarment.

L-Ingliżi f’Malta kienu mdorrijin bilħalib tal-baqar u peress li l-ħalib talmogħoż huwa aktar xaħmi u għandu togħma aktar rustika minn dak tal-baqar, riedu li jibqgħu jixorbu ħalib tal-baqar.

Għahekk kienu għamlu pressjoni biex jibdew jimpurtaw baqar tal-ħalib lejn Malta.

Hekk twieldet il-fabbrika tal-ħalib MMU.

12 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday May 15, 2018

Roundup of News About Malta

European Commission amazed Malta continues to support Iran Nuclear Deal; hopes with Malta’s economic growth USA reconsiders decision ollowing US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Iran Nuclear Agreement F T (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action - JCPOA) that

he European Commission has said that Malta’s economic growth is continuing to amaze, with a rate of growth that reached about 7% last year.

The Commission made the comment

when the economic reports of member countries were presented in what is known as the Spring economic forecast.

The Commission is forecasting that the European economy will continue to grow, but warned of new risks.

11% increase in Airport passenger traffic (April)

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he Malta International Airport’s trend in sustained growth in passenger traffic continued at the airport more than 591,000 passengers were handled in April at an increase of 11.4% over April last year.

MIA announced a strong increase in traffic particularly from Spain, due mainly to the introduction of three other routes from Bilbao, Malaga and Seville This led to an increase of almost 40% of passengers from Spain.

More than 400,000 passengers from the UK, Italy, Germany, France and Spain used the terminal during April.

An increase of 18.4% in Tourism in March

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n March, tourism in Malta increased of 18.4% compared to the same month last year. Figures just released by the NSO show that in March there were 167,197 visitors to the Maltese islands Out of these, 137,504 visited Malta for a holiday, while 15,673 did so for work.

Compared to the same month last year, there was an increase of 17.3% (a total of 144,345) of European tourists.

The total expenditure of tourists in Malta in the same month was estimated at €116 million.

had been agreed by his predecessor Barack Obama, Malta has aligned itself with the EU member states and many other actors in the international community in supporting the full and effective implementation and preservation of the Iran Nuclear Agreement (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action JCPOA) in its entirety.

The only two countries to agree with Trump’s decision this far are the America’s closest allies, Israel and Saudi Arabia.

In a statement, Malta’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs and trade said that the continued effective implementation of the JCPOA may, moreover, increase the momentum and political will to overcome additional non-proliferation challenges, and may also help foster a climate that allows for decreasing tensions related to other aspects of Iranian foreign policy in the region.

Whilst hoping that the US reconsiders its decision to withdraw from the JCPOA, Malta said, “We need to pursue every effort in the continued construction of a frank relationship with Iran through constructive dialogue and diplomacy”.

Private sector driving Malta’s robust growth

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igures published by the National Statistic Office on the gainfully occupied population for 2017 indicate that 9,900 new jobs were created with 8,690 of them being generated by the private sector. This means that out of 10 new jobs created, around 9 were generated by the private sector.

The figures prompted Minister for Finance Edward Scicluna to say that these figures continue to confirm the Government’s belief in the private sector “as the sector which can truly sustain longterm economic growth.”

The employment trend in recent years has led to a decline in the share of public sector employment

from around 30% in 2011 to 23.8% in 2017.

The increase in private sector employment was broad-based as most sectors recorded increases in employment. The highest increases were recorded in administrative and support service, the arts, entertainment and recreation and the professional, scientific and technical activities sectors.

Other notable increases were recorded in the accommodation and food service activities reflecting the remarkable developments in the tourism sector as well as in the financial and insurance activities, transportation and storage and manufacturing, amongst others.

The annual infjorata with 100,000 plants

The floral carpet (infjorata) in this year’s fifth edition of the Valletta Green Festival at St George’s Square was the biggest ever made. The Festival that this year had the theme of The Feast, consisted of more than a hundred thousand plants of various colours.

Tuesday May 15, 2017

The Voice of the Maltese 13

Roundup of News About Malta

Roof for Valletta’s open-air theatre?

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iscussions are underway about the best way to lessen the inconvenience to residents in the vicinity of the open theatre, known as Pjazza Teatru Rjal in Freedom Square Valletta. One of the options could even be to install a roof over the structure that would also serve as sound barrier to break the noise.

From the outset, Renzo Piano’s design for the venue as part of the regeneration of Freedom Square and the new Parliament building raised controversy, and way back in 2010 in a letter to then Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, 128 artists from across the cultural scene told him they opposed

Eurovision:

Christabelle, Jessica fail to reach final; both make Malta proud

alta once again failed to make it to M the final of the Eurovision Song Contest held in Lisbon, Portugal last Saturday that was won by Israel Malta’s representative, Christabelle with the song Taboo was eliminated in the second semi-final on Thursday.

The general feeling in Malta however, was that the young singer gave her all and her professional and impressive performance have enhanced her reputation as a singer.

Another Maltese singer, who likewise gave a professional performance in the same semi-final, Jessica, who sang for San Marino was also eliminated. Austalia reached the final but finished 20 th.

Vehicles increase at the rate of 33 a day

n the first three months of 2018 (JanIinuary-March), vehicles on the roads Malta increased at a rate of 33 per day According to Transport Malta, more than 375,000 vehicles were licensed during the period under review. The figure shows an increase of 13,500 vehicles since March 2017.

Almost eight out of every ten vehicles are private cars, and almost 14% commercial. Less than 1% of vehicles on the roads are buses or minibuses.

From the statistics it emerges that 60% of the vehicles run on petrol; 15,00 are electric or hybrid.

the decision to have a roofless theatre on the site of the former opera house.

Announcing that discussions about the proposed roof would be starting soon, Justice and Culture Minister Owen Bonnici said that any form of infrastructural change to be made would respect the historic building and that it would also be in agreement with architect Renzo Piano, who had designed the area.

The venue began to be used as an openair theatre five years ago as part of the Renzo Piano project for the entrance to Valletta. It has a number of limitations, in particular that it cannot be used all the year round. Then there’s the inconvenience created by certain activities, in particular musical concerts, which create a noise inconvenience for residents in the vicinity.

Minister Bonnici said he continuously receives complaints from residents who are upset by the noise generated by the various activities are held at Pjazza Teatru Rjal.

He added that it had been an electoral promise that something needed to done to avoid about the noise inconvenience, therefore a national discussion was to be initiated, leading to some form of protec-

tion to contain the noise during activities.

Meanwhile, this year’s artistic programme at the venue, intended to enrich the contribution to Malta’s most important cultural milestone in recent history – Valletta 2018 has been launched.

The Minister said, “Culture is becoming a priority in our everyday lives. Our country’s cultural programme is enriched with numerous festivals and events for everyone to enjoy and appreciate. It is a clear sign that culture is increasingly becoming more accessible to the public and Pjazza Teatru Rjal’s artistic programme for this summer clearly fits the bill.” The season covers most genres of music and dance, film, musical theatre, educational programmes and television shows.

The planned activities include opera, drama, ballet and jazz, pop and rhythmic music concerts. They also include the opera Aida, the European Jazz Jamboree and a concert by international violinist Edvin Marton.

Over 9,000 from UK in Malta for Lost & Found weekend

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ver 9,000 youths from the UK in the weekend of May 3-6 converged on Malta to enjoy themselves in what has become an annual event of electronic, house and techno music, the Lost & Found Festival that was held on the island, that has been described as “a sunkissed electronic paradise”.

The idea of this festival, which was in its third year, basically combines the natural beauty of the surroundings with the mixture of established and upcoming performers. It introduced this summer’s musical events on the island that include the Isle of MTV, on June 27 at

the Granaries in Floriana, and Tomorrowland at the Marsa Sports Ground on July 28. At least three more such events are scheduled during the summer period.

Popular BBC Radio broadcaster and DJ Annie Mac again presented the Lost & Found music festival that has become one of Europe’s best pre-summer parties. Set across eight venues, mostly in the St Paul’s Bay (Buġibba/Qawra) area, once again it brought together the best of the UK dance sce-ne.

Beach parties followed each session.

The year’s edition, with events that ran from early

afternoon till the early hours of the next day, was sold out weeks before the actual bank holiday weekend.

It is estimated that during their stay in Malta the attendees at the event spent over €7 million.

Thanks to efforts by the Tourism Authority and Air Malta, Malta has become an all-the-year round destination and a great attraction for youths from all over Europe.

It has been revealed that since the announcement of Brexit, even more tourists from the UK (over half a million) every year are choosing Malta as their holiday destination

14 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday May 15, 2018

Każini tal-Banda fil-Periklu G

ħal ħafna snin il-każini tal-baned fl-ibliet u l-irħula Maltin kienu ċ-ċentru soċjali tal-lokalitajiet. Imma forsi ftit huma dawk li jafu li l-każini tal-baned taw sehem qawwi wkoll fl-iżvillup politiku u kostituzzjonali ta’ Malta.

Fl-ewwel nofs tas-seklu għoxrin (u wħud sa anke aktar wara) ilkażini f’ħafna mill-ibliet u l-irħula ta’ Malta u Għawdex, kellhom tendenza li jxaqilbu lejn xi naħa politika – dawk lejn naħa x’aktarx iġibu isimhom bit-Taljan u tan-naħa l-oħra bl-Ingliż.

Hekk per eżempju fil-kapitali Maltija Valletta hemm is-Societa' Filarmonica Nazionale La Valette fuq naħa u l-Kings Own Band fuq l-oħra.

Iżda l-importanza ta’ dawn il-każini toħroġ minn dik li ingħataw meta l-poplu Malti kien qed jitħabat biex jikseb kostituzzjoni xierqa għall-pajjiż.

Hekk bejn l-1918, meta twaqqfet l-Assemblea Nazionale li kellha twitti t-triq għall-għotja ta’ l-ewwel Gvern Malti (Self Government) u l-1921, kull każin tal-banda f’Malta u Għawdex ingħata d-dritt li jkun rappreżentat f’din l-Assemblea.

L-istess seħħ fin-National Assembly tal-1945 li wasslet għallGvern responsabbli tal-1947. F’din l-aħħar Assemblea l-baned kellhom 158 delegat u għadd esponenti ta’ partiti poltiċi daħlu f’din l-Assemblea bħala rappreżentanti ta’ dawn il-baned.

Fost dawn jispikka il-Perit Mintoff li ntbagħat bħala delegat talbanda Victory tal-Gżira... banda li ftit li xejn kellu x’jaqsam magħha.

Maż-żmien il-baned ippruvaw jitbiegħdu kemm jista’ jkun millpolitika. Jekk uħud irnexxielhomx jagħmlu dan għal kollox ma nafx. Biss illum f’ħafna mil-istatuti ta’ dawn il-każini ssib klawsola li fil-każin m’għandiex tiġi diskussa l-politika.

Li hu żgur li l-każini baqgħu jżommu r-rwol soċjali tagħhom u huma l-organizatturi ewlenin tal-festi fl-irħula u l-ibliet.

Dawn il-każini x’aktarx li jokkupaw binjiet fi pjazez jew triqat ewlenin tal-lokalitajiet u ħafna minnhom tista’ tgħid huma palazzi mill-isbaħ, uħud f’binjiet antiku u oħrajn moderni.

Filwaqt li wħud mill-każini huma tas-Soċjeta` stess, hemm oħrajn li huma mikrijin... u hawn ir-raġuni għaliex hemm madwar għoxrin minnhom li jinsabu fl-inkwiet wara sentenza li nqatet fil-qrati Maltin dan l-aħħar.

Il-Qorti tal-Appell infatti kkonfermat sentenza tal-Qorti tal-Maġistrati li permezz tagħha l-binja tal-Każin tal-Banda tas- Socjeta' Filarmonika De Paule Banda Kristu Re kellha tingħata lura lis-sidien minħabb li s-Soċjeta` waqqgħet ħajt biex tniffed il-każin ma binja li tmiss mal-istess każin. Dan meta fil-kuntratt tal-kirja kien hemm li s-soċjeta` ma setgħet tagħmel l-ebda tibdil strutturali jekk mhux bil-permess tas-sidien.

Forsi għal ħafna li tniffed dar ma oħra mhix xi ħaġa daqshekk gravi... imma f’għajn il-liġi Maltija din hi. Aktar gravi minn hekk għal din il-banda l-fatt li din il-binja hija stmata li tiswa €4miljun, u żgur li s-soċjeta` m’għandiex dawk il-flejjes biex tixtri l-każin.

Skont il-gazzetta Illum, f’sitwazzjoni simili hemm għoxin każin ieħor fil-periklu li ttieħdu jew jistgħu jittieħdu l-Qorti.

Dawn huma:

Wieħed mill-każini tal-Banda... uħud huma palazzi mill-isbaħ

• Banda San Ġiljan (A.D. 1927) • Soċjetà Mużikali Spinola (A.D. 1987) • Soċjetà Mużikali King’s Own, Valletta • Soċjetà Mużikali Stella Levantina (A.D. 1984), Attard • Għaqda Mużikali Viżitazzjoni, Għarb, Għawdex • Għaqda Soċjali u Mużikali Kristu Sultan Banda Paola (A.D. 1980) • Soċjetà Mużikali Banda Marija Reġina Marsa (A.D. 1977) • Soċjetà Mużikali San Ġużepp Ħamrun (A.D. 1889) • Għaqda Mużikali San Gejtajnu Ħamrun (A.D. 1906) • Għaqda Mużikali Madonna ta’ Pompei Marsaxlokk (A.D. 1990) • Għaqda Soċjali u Mużikali Anici,Qormi • Soċjetà Filarmonika Marija Mtellgħa s-Sema L-Imġarr (A.D. 2011) • Għaqda Mużikali Marija Bambina, Banda Vittorja, Naxxar • Banda Duke of Connaught’s Own( A.D. 1865) Birkirkara • Każin San Ġużepp u Banda De Rohan (A.D. 1860) Żebbuġ, Malta • Soċjetà Filarmonika Sliema (A.D. 1923) • Soċjetà Filarmonika Santa Marija Mosta • Soċjetà Filarmonika Nicoló Isouard, Mosta • Għaqda Mużikali San Pietru fil-Ktajjen, Birżebbuġa • Soċjetà Filarmonika Stella Maris, Sliema • Għaqda Mużikali Madonna ta’ Lourdes San Ġwann Il-problema ta’ dawn mhix kollha l-istess. Uħud minnhom jinsabu f’diffikulta’ billi s-sidien qed jinsistu li d-dritt tagħhom li jgawdu l-propjeta’ qed jinkiser għax mhux qed jirċievu kera xierqa.

Xi wħud x’aktarx għandhom raġun għax il-kirjiet li jirċievu huwa dak li kienu ffissaw snin twal ilu,meta l-kirjiet kienu baxxi. U fl1995 il-Gvern kien għadda liġi biex jipproteġi li dawn il-każini fejn irregola dawn il-kirjiet.

Hemm ħjiel li li l-Gvern se jidħol fil-kwestjoni, (tal-inqas f’dik ta’ Raħal Ġdid diġa ntqal li se jsir xi ħaġa) biex il-banda ma tispiċċax bla każin.

Marisa D’Amato fost l-aqwa fil-mużika Country

G

ħat-tieni sena wara l-oħra, ilkantanta Maltija Marisa D’Amato li tispeċjalizza fil-kant Country ingħażlet fost l-aqwa talent tal-mużika Country fl-Irlanda. Ġimagħtejn ilu Marisa ħadet sehem fl-avveniment ta’ kull sena tal-mu-żika Country fl-Irlanda, magħruf bħala l-‘Hot Country Awards’ f’Cavan.

L-album tagħha “The Irish Country Collection” ingħażel bħala laqwa tal-mużika Country Irlandiża minn kantanta internazzjonali.

Is-sena l-oħra fl-istess Awards, ukoll fl-Irlanda, Marisa kienet rebħet l-unur tal-aqwa kantanta internazzjonali tal-mużika Country.

Il-kantanta Maltija tagħti diversi kunċerti fl-Irlanda u fir-Renju Unit

u tippreżenta wkoll programm televiżiv fuq SKY Freesat u Freeview, li huwa segwit minn miljuni madwar l-Ewropa. F’Malta tippreżenta wkoll il-programm Kalamita fuq One TV. F’Ottubru li ġej Marisa se tagħti kunċerti f’Sydney u Melbourne fuq stedina tal-grupp teatrali Ċittadini,

The Voice of the Maltese 15

Tuesday May 15, 2017

Fejn hi l-etika?

A

ktar ma jgħaddi ż-żmien aktar donnu li l-etika u ċertu rispett qed jitbiegħed mill-ħajja ta’ kuljum u aktar u aktar mill-qasam politiku.

Kulħadd ifajjar il-kummenti bla ma juri l-inqas prudenza, juża’ ċertu kliem li jista’ jweġġa u li attwalment lanqas jagħmel ġieħ lil min jiktbu jew jgħidu. Biex taqgħad issa żdiedet il-midja soċjali fejn ikun hemm min jgħaddi kummenti li forsi lanqas biss ikun qara, għax imexxi kummenti ta’ ħaddieħor bla ma biss ikun jaf

Sejba goffa, rari il-jiem li għaddew, uffiċjali tad-Dwana F fl-uffiċċju tal-posta f’Ħal Qormi, għamlu dik li sejħu bħala “sejba goffa u rari”

meta fkaxxa indirizzata lil persuna barranija residenti f’Malta nstabu ġlud ta’ żewġ orsijiet (bear skin u lynx skin).

L-importazzjoni ta’ dawn il-ġlud f’Malta hija pprojbita anke għax dawn l-ispeċi huma protetti mil-liġi tas-CITES, Konvenzjoni li l-għan tagħha hu li tassigura li lkummerċ internazzjonali ma jkunx ta’ theddida għal speċi ta’ pjanti u annimali selvaġġi.

Il-ġlud ġew ikkonfiskati filwaqt li nfetħet inkjesta.

Ħu ħsieb ħwejjġek

llum aktar minn qatt qabel trid Itgħum toqgħod b’seba’ għajnejn meta tmur għax wieħed ma jistax jafda ħwejjġu fuq ir-ramel jew il-blat u jinżel jgħum.

Infatti s-sena l-oħra s-serq mill-bajjiet żdied b’31% mis-sena ta’ qabel. Dan seħħ minkejja li tipi oħrajn ta’ serq, minn postijiet bħall-ħwienet, lukandi, djar u knejjes, naqsu.

Ma jfissirx li b’hekk is-serq – dak li nafuh bħala pick-pocketing m’għadux ta’ tħassib serju.

Biżżejjed wieħed jgħid li dan it-tip ta’ serq żdied b’500% bejn fl-2009 (450 każ) u l-2017 (2,144 każ). Fl-2016 intlaħaq irrekord ta’ 2,447 Oħroġ il-għaġeb l-aktar post fejn sar dan il-kwalità ta’ serq kien fejn wieħed l-anqas jistenna – dik li aħna nsibuha bħala s-“silent city” - l-Imidna. Dan probabilment huwa kaġun tal-attività turistika qawwija u allura konċentrazzjoni ta’ nies f’din iż-żona, speċjalment hekk kif ikun riesaq is-sajf.

San Ġiljan kienet it-tieni lokalità blogħla rata ta’ kriminalità flimkien ma’ lokalitajiet bħall-Belt Valletta, il-Furjana u l-Gudja (minħabba l-preżenza talajruport) u magħhom tiżdied ukoll illokalità ta’ San Pawl il-Baħar.

sewwa x’fihom.

Hekk qed jinsisti li ġralu d-deputat Nazzjonalista Ivan Bartolo meta uża ssit soċjali Facebook biex għadda filmat ta’ intervista li kellu l-Prim Ministru fuq in-network tal-aħbarijiet screenshot tal-post ta’ Ivan Bartolo (xellug) fuq il-Facebook magħruf Amerikan, ic-CNN. Imma mal- tajba hi li dawn il-paroli ftit li xejn jimfilmat ta’ Bartolo kien hemm kliem oxxen pressjonaw u aktar jagħmlu deni lil min u ta’ tgħajjir fil-konfront tal-Prim Min- jgħidhom milli lil min ikun mgħajjar.

Naħseb li wasal iż-żmien li, speċjalment istru.

Dan ġab reazzjoni qawwija b’uħud fil-qasam u l-kitba politika wieħed nkunu jistqarru li qatt ma basru li Ivan Bartolo, li aktar kawt x’jinkiteb u wieħed juri ċerta hu meqjus bħala persuna tal-affari tagħha etika u korretezza. Kif jgħid l-Ingliż meta tikteb, “attakk the message and not the tasal għal xi ħaġa bħal dan.

Malli ra din ir-reazzjoni, Bartolo għamel messenger”. minn kollox biex jiġġustifika ruħu billi qal li l-filmat tal-intervista tal-Prim Ministru irċevih u bagħtu lil ħabiba tiegħu, u li mbagħad bagħtu lil persuna żbaljata.

Skuża ruħu u ħalef li l-kliem fuq il-filmat ara li għal għadd ta’snin it-tim ma kienx rah. nazzjonali tal-futbol kien qed Forsi din ir-reazzjoni qawwija kienet jitmexxa minn kowċ barrani, sa flriżultat ta’ dak li seħħ ftit jiem qabel meta aħħar, il-Kumitat Eżekuttiv tal-MFA fil-paġna uffiċjali tal-Partit Demokratiku wasal għall-konklużjoni li jmur lura deher kumment dwar is-Segretarju Parlau jħares lejn il-lokal billi jagħżel mentari Julia Farrugia Portelli bil-kliem kowċ Malti. L-għażla waqgħet fuq “when village escorts become MPs, you l-eks plejer Malti magħruf sewwa know the country is in the pits.” fost l-emigranti Maltin fl-Awstralja Li mill-ewwel ġie interpretat li min kiteb – Ray Farrugia – li għal għadd ta’ il-kumment kien qed jgħajjar lill-Onosnin lagħab mal-Melita Eagles. revoli Julia Farrugia Portelli “qaħba”.

M’għandux jonqos li wara għadd Wara reazzjoni qawwija, saħansitra anke ta’ riżultati negattivi taħt it-tmexxija minn Theresa Commodini Cachia tal-PN, ta’ kowċis barranin, id-deċiżjoni ġiet il-kumment tneħħa mill-PD li talab skuża milqugħa ħafna mill-Maltin, allura lil din il-membru parlamentari. wieħed jawgura liż-Żażu kull Din il-kwalita` ta’ tgħajjir, li mhux lsuċċess. ewwel li darba sar – kien qajjem agħagħ Farrugia li għandu 62 sena serva sħiħ meta l-eks-Segretarju tal-GWU, Tony bħala assistent taħt it-tmexxija ta’ Zarb kien uża frażi simili għal grupp ta’ diversi kowċis. nisa li marru jipprotestaw quddiem Kas(ara wkoll paġna 24) tilja – qed jiġi wżat bla ħsieb ta’ xejn. It-

Sa fl-aħħar!

W

Dr Hugh McDermott MP

State Member for Prospect For issues concerning:

Ageing and disability - community services -education - environment health - housing - planning - Police transport - water

P: (02) 9756 4766 E: prospect@parliament.nsw.gov.au 2/679 The Horsley Dr, Smithfield NSW 2164

16 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday May 15, 2018

NZ marketed as “definite destination” by smugglers

Dual citizenship drama claims five more ‘victims’

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ustralian voters face five by-elections across the country after Labor MPs Justine Keay, Josh Wilson, Susan Lamb and Independent MP Rebekha Sharkie all became the latest parliamentarians to resign over their dual citizenship status, just hours after the High Court booted Labor Senator Katy Gallagher. The High Court ruled the Labor senator was invalidly elected under Section 44 of the Constitution.

The three Labor MPs all resigned in the House of Representatives a day after the 2018 budget was announced and after the High Court found Ms Gallagher did not take reasonable steps to renounce her British citizenship. Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie also resigned just mo-

ments before them. There will be a fifth by-election because Labor's Tim Hammond is also resigning, for family reasons.

All of the five MPs to quit are from nonGovernment parties, so unlike previous by-elections in Bennelong and New England late last year, the Government could not lose its one-seat majority.

Earlier, the government had demanded all who had questions over their dual British citizenship status resign by the day's end following the High Court decision. All three MPs said they intended to run again. They are unlikely to be forced to pay back any of their salary or entitlements, in keeping with the precedent set in other citizenship cases.

n an impassioned speech to The Sydney Institue, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said States must have a say on migration intake levels because they’re on the “front line” and know “the reality” of the “growing pressures on local services and infrastructure”.

She also said an entire meeting of federal and state leaders next year should be dedicated to the divisive issue of whether Australia should cut how many people it allows in every year from overseas.

“It is the states that are on the front line of delivering the infrastructure and services that our communities and our economies need,” Ms Berejiklian said.

In her first foray into the divisive debate, Ms Berejiklian said the current levels of migration were “about right”, but added: “we cannot ignore the reality that communities are feeling growing pressures.”

It comes after former Prime Minister Tony Abbott called on Malcolm Turnbull in February to scale back Australia’s migration intake from about 183,000 annually to

110,000. Ms Berejiklian said that, "we need to prepare “rigorously for the decades ahead”.

And she cautioned NSW could not underestimate “the benefits that successive waves of immigration have brought”.

Berejiklian first foray into a divisive debate

I

T

he boatload of 131 Sri Lankans, believed to be heading for Australia or New Zealand, was intercepted when authorities halted the modified tanker off the coast of southern Johor state, Malaysia's national police chief Mohamad Fuzi Harun has said.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said the ship had the potential to reach New Zealand, and warned the country was now being "marketed as a definite destination" by people smugglers. The tanker was reportedly carrying 98 men, 24 women, four boys and five girls.

Former Australian Border Force Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg took to social media to say New Zealand was being marketed as a “definite destination” by people smugglers, as soon as Operation Sovereign Borders was established.

“There was only ever one vessel intercepted south of [Papua New Guinea] that was capable of reaching NZ physically and with an experienced crew; this one also looks like it could have," he tweeted.

New Zealand was the only country in the world where you can have a visa into Australia on arrival.

A total of 127 Sri Lankans will be charged for entering Malaysia illegally while nine Malaysians, four Indonesians and four Sri Lankans will be investigated for human smuggling, he added.

Operation Sovereign Borders began under the Abbott government in September 2013 and had turned away 32 boats carrying 800 people.

Since then, the Manus Island processing centre in Papua New Guinea has been shut while just 257 people remain in Nauru.

While visiting Malta Stay at: The Diplomat Hotel, 173 Tower Road Sliema

Email: sales@diplomat.com.mt Tel: (00356) 23497000

The Voice of the Maltese 17

Tuesday May 15, 2017

Cardinal George Pell to face two trials

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ardinal George Pell has been committed to stand trial on multiple historical sexual offences but the most serious of the charges have been struck out.

After delivering a 70-minute ruling Magistrate Belinda Wallington declared there is enough evidence to commit Australia’s most senior Catholic cleric to stand trial for about half of the offences he is charged with. Cardinal Pell has pleaded not guilty and strenuously denies the allegations.

Defence barrister Robert Richter QC said the most “vile” of the charges had been dismissed.

Cardinal Pell will stand trial on charges relating to alleged sexual offending at a pool in Ballarat in the 1970s and at Melbourne’s St Patrick’s Cathedral in the 1990s when he was Archbishop there.

Less than 24 hours later Cardinal Pell returned to court this time before a County Court judge instead of a magistrate. At a 12-minute directions hearing before judge

Sue Pullen, prosecutor Mark Gibson SC, and defence counsel Robert Richter QC agreed the allegations against the cardinal should be split and heard in two trials.

Judge Pullen said a trial date would likely be set at the next directions hearing on May 16, when it is expected prosecutors, and the cardinal’s defence team will formally apply for separate trials.

Together, the two trials would run for up to 10 weeks, including pre-trial legal argument, Mr Gibson said.

The Cardinal is on bail and has already handed in his passport, the court heard. He is unable to leave Australia as a condition of his bail. The Vatican issued a statement saying Cardinal Pell’s leave of absence would remain in place.

“The Holy See has taken note of the decision issued by judicial authorities in Australia regarding His Eminence Cardinal George Pell,” it said.

“Last year, the Holy Father granted Car-

Cardinal George Pell dinal Pell a leave of absence so he could defend himself from the accusations. The leave of absence is still in place.”

“Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart expressed his confidence in the judicial system in Australia and said that justice must now take its course,” the Melbourne Archdiocese said in a statement.

Overview of Federal Labor’s view of the Budget F Budget 2018 F

ederal Treasurer Scott Morrison has handed down his third Budget. Here’s an overview.

– Budget deficit forecast to drop to $14.5 billion in 201819, after hitting $18.2 billion in 2017-18. Projected to hit a positive balance of $2.2 billion in 2019-20, before surpluses increase to $11 billion in 2020-21 and $16.2 billion in 202122.

– Unemployment will be 5.25 per cent, down from 5.5 per cent in 2017-18 and projected to fall again to five per cent in 2021-22 – Inflation at 2.25 per cent in 2018-19, up from 2 per cent in 2017-18. Set to hit 2.5 per cent next year and remain there for the following two years.

– Total revenue of $486.1 billion in 2018-19, up from $456.2 billion in 2017-18 and estimated to reach $512.8 billion in 2019-2020 – Real GDP forecast to grow by 3 per cent in 2018-19 and continue at 3 per cent through the following three financial years.

– Net debt to peak at 18.6 per cent of GDP in 201718, falling to 18.4 per cent in 2018-19, 17.3 per cent in 2019-20, 16.1 per cent in 2020-21 and 14.7 per cent in 2021-22.

– Commitment to keeping taxes at a ‘speed limit’ of 23.9 per cent of the GDP. –Tax relief of up to $530 a year for middle and lower income earning individuals: Starts at $200 for those earning up to $37,000 a year, increasing incrementally to $530 for those earning between $48,000 and $90,000.

–Top threshold of the 32.5 per cent tax bracket to increase to $90,000, from $87,000, from July 1.

– From 2022-23 the top threshold of the 19 per cent tax bracket will be increased from $37,000 to $41,000 and the top threshold of the 32.5 per cent bracket to $120,000.

– In 2024-25, the 37 per cent tax bracket will be abolished.

– Medicare levy remains unchanged.

ederal Opposition leader Bill Shorten has vowed to oppose funding cuts to hospitals, schools and higher education in his budget in reply speech, threatening more than A$10 billion in budget savings proposed by the government.

Labor opposes the $7 Medicare cocontribution, arguing it threatens the universality of Medi-care. He confirmed the opposition opposes fuel excise and changes to pensions.

Shorten said the opposition would support “reasonable and balanced remedial budgetary measures” but would not support “the conscious development of an underclass”.

“This is a budget that will push up the cost of living for every Australian family. A budget drawn up by people who have never lived

from paycheque to paycheque.”

He said the $80 bln in funding the govt planned to take away from the states for hospital and school funding was “a Trojan Horse to a bigger GST”, and would not be supported.

On education, he said Labor would vote against cuts to university funding and student support.

“Labor will not support a system of higher fees, bigger student debt, reduced access and greater inequality. We will never tell Australians that the quality of their education depends on their capacity to pay.”

Expecting trades people, labourers, cleaners, and nurses to work to 70, while paying “multi-millionaires” $50,000 in paid parental leave was unfair, according to Shorten.

The Annual NSWFCLS T Conference 2018 18 The Voice of the Maltese

he NSW Federation of Community Language Schools held its Annual Conference and Professional Development Training Day at the University of Sydney. Several distinguished guests were presented by the MC Michael Christodoulou to the teachers and principals that numbered over 600 members from 49 ethnic languages were in attendance.

The Conference started by the singing of Australia’s National Anthem.

Mr Albert Vella OAM, the President of NWSFCLS welcomed everybody and thanked all those involved with the language teaching.

He then thanked the Government for providing funding for the schools and give the opportunity to those students who want to learn their heritage language and about their culture.

The State Government representatives, the Hon. Victor Dominello MP and the Hon. Ray Williams, delivered speeches.

Other members of Parliament and Consuls also gave their share in urging all teachers to continue with their good work in teaching ethnic languages.

There were two keynote speakers, Emeritus Professor David Nunan spoke about the role of language in educating young learners for the 21st century, and Professor Ingrid Piller spoke about the different aspects of the languages.

Tuesday May 15, 2018

All the teachers and principals then attended various workshops that were of great importance for the teaching of languages.

Maria DeCarlo, Mary Pace-Feraud, and Sandra Grech (above l to r) represented

A special school gift to President Coleiro-Preca O

San Anton Palace Malta: the Zammit family at the meeting with President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca holding the gift from Rosebank College.

the Maltese Language School of NSW.

n a recent visit to Malta, Paul Zammit FAICD, Australian businessman and a former NSW and Federal Parliamentarian in the National Parliament of Australia accompanied by his wife, Rita and their grandson Alexander was received by the President of Malta, HE Marie-Louise Preca at the Presidential Palace at San Anton.

During the meeting, his in less than 12 months with President Coleiro Preca, Mr. Zammit discussed Australian-Maltese matters relating to bilateral and trilateral trade, media issues and other related matters.

At the same meeting, Alexander made a presentation to Her Excellency on behalf of Mr. Tom Galea, a prominent Australian-Maltese community leader who is also the Principal of Rosebank College in the Inner West of Sydney. This is a Catholic College established more than 150 years ago as an independent co-educational Catholic Secondary College in the Benedectine tradition with 1300 students.

The President was particularly moved by one of the items in the presentation parcel that included a Holy Cross decorated with Aboriginal dot painting, which is something that she said she had never seen anything like it before.

Paul Zammit told the President he hoped she would visit Australia again before the end of her term. Tom Galea is also understood to have issued an open invitation to HE Marie Louise Coleiro Preca to visit Rosebank College if she ever visits Australia again.

Tagħrif dwar il-kitba Maltija

The Voice of the Maltese 19

Tuesday May 15, 2017

ktar regoli u tagħrif uffiċjali dwar kif wieħed għandu jikteb il-Malti. Dan skont Akif maħruġ mill-Kummissjoni fi ħdan l-Akkademja tal-ilsien Malti f’Malta.

TIBDIL FIL-KONSONANTI LI JIXXIEBĦU (ikompli) Il-Pronom

Il-Pronom hi dik il-kelma li toqgħod flok in-nom jew l-isem.

Il-Pronom fil-Malti, jista’ jkun: (1) Ewlieni jew magħżul.

(2) Imnissel jew mehmuż.

60. Il-pronom ewlieni jew magħżul tidher għalih kelma magħżula għaliha li tgħid u turi l- persuna.

Fil-għadd farrad dawn il-kelmiet huma: jiena jew jien, int jew inti, hu jew huwa, hi jew hija. Fil-għadd imkattar: aħna, intom, huma.

T.ċ. Il-pronom tal-ewwel persuna, għadd farrad, jinkiteb jiena u mhux jena jew iena, il-għaliex il-kelma hi mnissla mill-pronom âna (li fil-Għarbi tinħass âna jew êna) bil-ħemża ta’ j qabel. Ilvokali twila â tinqasam fil-kisra ta’ ie u mhux tal-vokali e u għalhekk nagħmlu jiena minn j-iena. (Ara l-Aċcė nt tal-Vokali – l-Ewwel Taqsima). l-pronomi ewlenin, meta qabilhom għandhom il-partiċella ma u fit-tarf il-kelma xej imqassra fl-ittra x, jinkitbu hekk: (1) M’iniex, m’intix, m’hux, m’huwiex, m’hix, m’hijiex, m’aħniex, m’intomx, m’humiex. Il-jie ta’ jiena tinxorob filvokali i (ara s-Sitta u Għoxrin Regola – l-Ewwel Taqsima); jew (2) Miniex, mintix, mhux, mhuwiex, mhix, mhijiex, maħniex, mintomx, mhumiex.

61. Il-pronom imnissel jew mehmużhu dak li jinhemeżma’ nom, ma’ verb, jew ma’ xi partiċella.

Dawn huma: Fl-Ewwel Persuna Għadd farrad -i, -j (=ja) man-nomi u partiċelli

Boroż ta’ Studju:

MCCV MALTESE CULTURAL SCHOLARSHIP 2018

l-Kunsill Malti tal- Victoria qed iniedi liskema ta’ boroż ta’ studju biex jinkoIraġġixxi ż-żgħażagħ jieħdu interess fil-kul-

tura Maltija.

Il-Kunsill qed jipprovdi fondi ħalli persuna jew persuni jżuru Malta u jieħdu sehem f’attivitajiet kulturali Maltin u biex wieħed ikun jista’ japprezza il-kultura Maltija mill-qrib.

Min irid jirċevi tagħrif u u formola ta’ applikazzjoni uffiċjali għandu jibgħat email lillKunsill Malti tal-Victoria fuq: admin@mccv.org.au Il-Kunsill Malti ta’ Victoria qed jilqa’ l-applikazzjonijiet għal-MCCV Maltese Cultural Scholarship sat-30 ta’ Ġunju liġej.

Edwidge Borg

(Maltese Language Classes Co-ordinator Maltese Community Council of Victoria)

-ni mal-verbi u xi partiċelli.

Għadd imkattar -na mal-verbi, nomi u partiċelli.

It-Tieni Persuna -k (= ak, ek, ok) mal-verbi, nomi u partiċelli -kom mal-verbi, nomi u partiċelli It-Tielet Persuna -h (= u), -ha mal-verbi, nomi u partiċelli -kom mal-verbi, nomi u partiċelli 62. Jekk f’kelma ta’ żewġ sillabi mal-hemiż jew żieda ta’ ittra waħda jew iktar: (1) It-tieni vokali ta’ bla aċcė nt, tieħu l-aċcė nt, l-ewwel ittra mehmuża jew miżjuda tkun konsonanti. (Ara l-Wieħed u Tletin Regola, T.ċ. u T.ċ. (1) – l-Ewwel Taqsima).

Nieħdu qábad, séraq, li jsiru qabàdna, seràqna, qabàdni, seràqni, qabàdkom, seràqkom. Terġa’ qátel, féraq, ġíbed li jagħmlu qatìlna, qtìlna, feràqna, fràqna, ġibìdna, ġbìdna.

Għalhekk, ngħidu aħna, minn xórob ma jistax ikollna xoróba, iżda xoròbha, xoròbhom u mhux xoróbom.

(2) Jekk dik it-tieni vokali tgħib, dak il-pronom ikun jibda b’vokali. (Ara d-Disgħa u Għoxrin Regola – l-Ewwel Taqsima).

Ara: qábad li ssir qàbdek, qàbdu, qàbdet. Ara: ġísem li ssir ġìsmi, ġìsmek, ġìsmu.

Għalhekk ukoll naraw illi meta ma’ qátel, ġíbed, eċċ. u ma’ dawn ix-xorta ta’ verbi ta’ sura ewlenija nehmżu l-pronom imnissel tat-tieni persuna k (jew ak, ek, ok = k bil-vokali fonika qabel), it-tieni vokali tgħib għalkollox u flok qatlk, ġibdk niktbu qatlek, ġibdek.

Hekk ukoll meta mal-kelma nehmżu l-pronom imnissel tat-tielet persuna ta’ ġens raġel li hu h, il-vokali tat-tieni persuna tgħib għalkollox u ż-żieda tal-pronom għandha tibda b’vokali. Minn qátel, télaq, sílet niktbu qatlu, telqu, siltu u mhux qatlhu, telqhu, silthu.

Il-Maltin qed jgħixu aktar u ferm aħjar

K

Aktar regoli u tifsir fil-ħarġa li jmiss

ull jum li jgħaddi nkunu qed nixjieħu b’24 siegħa, u għalhekk aktar ma jgħaddi ż-zmien aktar Maltin qed jixjieħu sewwa tant li fl-aħħar għaxar snin l-eta` medja tal-popolazzjoni żdiedet b’sitt snin u nofs.

Filwaqt li fl-1994 l-età medja kienet dik ta' 34.1 sena, fl-2017 telgħet għal 41.8 sena. Mhemmx dubju li ż-żieda hija riżultat tal-mod kif il-poplu Malti qed jgħix ħajja aħjar u l-avvanz fil-qasam tal-kura. Jirrifletti wkoll li l-familji llum m’għadx qed ikollhom l-għadd ta’ wlied li kien ikollhom qabel.

Biss dawn il-fatturi qed ukoll joħolqu problemi, l-aktar fil-qasam finanzjarju.

Dan billi aktar ma’ jgħixu n-nies aktar hemm il-ħtieġa ta’ finanzi biex jingħataw il-pensjonijiet, kif ukoll, fost kollox, biex tingħata l-għajnuna medika meħtieġa.

Minħabba li l-popolazzjoni fil-faxx t’isfel fl-eta` qed tkompli tonqos kien ifisser ukoll li qed ikun hemm inqas nies li jħallsu dik li hija magħrufa bħala l‘bolla’ biex jagħmlu tajjeb għall-ħlas tal-pensjonijiet lil dawk li qed jirtiraw.

Imma kif spjega għal aktar minn darba l-Prim Ministru Joseph Muscat, u kif jintwera mill-figuri li kontinwament jiġu svelati, grazzi għall-għexieren ta’ eluf ta’ barranin (43,000 bħalissa) li jiġu attirati biex jaħdmu f’Malta permezz ta’ investiment kontinwu minn investituri kbar barranin, dawn qed jgħinu mhux ftit biex itaffu l-ispiża għax grazzi għat-taxxi, fosthom “il-bolla” qed jgħinu titjieb l-ekonomija Maltija, allura l-Gvern jibqa’ jkollu xi jroxx.

F’Malta l-poplu tassew għandu biex jifraħ li aktar nies qed jirnexxielhom jilħqu mhux biss l-eta` tal-pensjoni, imma wkoll jingħataw l-għajnuna biex jersqu aktar qrib li jlaħħqu mal-ħajja u jgawduha għal ħafna snin.

20 The Voice of the Maltese

OBITUARY: Victor Grech 1942-2018

Innovative, crafty, multi-talented, witty

A

mass for the repose and thanksgiving for the life of Victor M. Grech who died on Sunday April 29, was held at St John 23rd Parish Church at Stanhope Gardens. A full church was no doubt evidence of the respect and admiration the community had towards Victor who lived a full and productive life but eventually, at the age of 76, he lost his three-year struggle with cancer. Fathers Carmelo Sciberras and Fr John Briffa officiated while Joe Apap was in charge of the music.

A celebration of Victor’s life was held after the burial at The Fiddler - Rouse Hill.

Victor Grech, the second of six siblings, was born in Rabat Gozo on September 22, 1942. After attending the primary school and the Lyceum in Victoria Gozo, he began his teaching career at the age of seventeen as a temporary teacher. After that he spent two years at St Michael’s Training College graduating as a schoolteacher in 1965.

He also studied art at the Government School of Art in Msida and pottery and clay modelling at STS. Paola. In 1976 he obtained a BA Hon (Lon) degree in the History of

Victor’s widow, Marlene, with granddaughter Chloe, son Adrian holding Blake and other mourners at the funeral

Star of Strait Street

A new musical play in English, under the auspices of the Valletta 2018 Foundation, a V18 project, is to be held on Sunday May 20 at La Valette Social Centre Blacktown NSW at 2 pm Other performances are set to take place in Melbourne on May 24, and in Adelaide on May 27.

Polly March and Larissa Bonaci star in this new musical play that retells a true love story from the Second World War. With apologies to the readers of The Voice of the Maltese but this is all the information we received from the Maltese authorities in Australia.

Tuesday May 15, 2018

Art. He spent three years teaching at Primary level, and for 14 years Art at the Lyceum.

Victor took part in several exhibitions such as the Community Chest Fund, Sacred Art and other charitable fund raising activities. Among these was an underwater Nativity crib he made at Villa Rosa, St Julian’s in 1978.

In 1979 Victor and his family migrated to Sydney looking for a new life. Three months later he reverted to teaching art at De La Salle Bankstown and later Holy Spirit College at Lakemba until his retirement in 2006.

Victor’s first contact with the Maltese association was through Virgilio Zammit and Fred Fenech (both deceased). He became a member of the Maltese Guild. In Sydney he met Virgilio and soon after, along with his wife Marlene, joined the Cittadini Theatrical Group and helped the group for several years.

Besides being a committee member of the Maltese Guild, he also sat on the committee of the Maltese Cultural Association and was representative on the Maltese Community Council. For a number of years he served with distinction in the role of President of the Maltese Past Pupils of Don Bosco (NSW), and in fact was the first Gozitan member of the Association. When he retired he was honoured by being made life member.

Victor participated in meetings and activities and helped groups with his art on an honorary basis. He designed the bronze panels for the Maltese Australian Bicentennial Memorial in Pendle Hill, and in recognition of his valued contribution to the Maltese community, in 2017 he was awarded the Maltese Cultural Award.

A close friend, of Victor, John Cassar, told The Voice of the Maltese, “Victor was a true gentleman (raġel fuq l-irġiel). I always admired his behaviour, like always on hand to open the car door for his wife, Marlene. Victor was very intelligent, innovative, crafty, multi-talented and witty.

“Victor was clumsy. As a result, one can recall many instances of mishaps that he was involved in. Despite all that he had been through, Victor had his way of always finding the goodness in everything. He broke all stereotypes and lived his life according to his own choices. He always held high standards and fought for his principles”.

Victor has left to mourn him, his wife Marlene, son Adrian and his wife Rebecca, his two grandchildren, Chloe and Blake, other family members, and many friends.

The Voice of the Maltese 21

Tuesday May 15, 2017

IL-BBQ tas-sena tal-Grupp Letteratura Maltija l-BBQ tas-sena li jorganizza l-kumitat tal-Grupp Letteratura u lanqas ma naqas l-inbid u x-xorb minerali Iminħabba Maltija tal-Victoria kull sena li normalment isir f’Marzu, Wara sar il-qari minn Michael Xuereb, John Muscat, Manwel il-Ġimgħa Mqaddsa, din is-sena sar fl-aħħar ta’ April, Cassar, Ray Anastasi, Marie Louise Anastasi u Dr Victor Sammut

jum sabiħ tal-Ħarifa għand il-koppja membri tal-għaqda, Frank u Draga Bonett, li ta’ min jiżżihom ħajr.

Salvina Vella, Draga Bonett Joe Lofaro u Charles Attard ħadu ħsieb it-tisjir tal-ikel li mbagħad tqassam lit-30 membri li attendew. Ħafna wkoll ġabu magħhom ħafna kejkijiet u ħelu ieħor,

fost l-oħrajn.

Saret ikoll preżentazzjoni żgħira lil Frank u Draga bħala ħajr li laqgħuna għandhom.

Il-jum kien ta’ suċċess grazzi għal għadd ta’ membri li b’xi mod jew ieħor taw is-sehem tagħhom.

-PaulVella

Maltese for (Italian) foreigners

D

ue to Malta’s accession to the European Union and other reasons, such as economic prosperity, an ever-increasing number of foreigners have chosen to live on the Maltese islands. This has led to a demand for Maltese-language courses and resources for foreigners to learn Maltese. For this reason, Gozitan author Charles Daniel Saliba from 2013 to 2017 published a Maltese/English book series entitled Maltese for Foreigners, consisting of 14 books, three syllabi and an audio CD/USB. The number of Italians and Sicilians living on the Maltese archipelago (some of whom are also readers of The Voice of the Maltese magazine) is also increasing and with it the demand for language courses and resources for Italian nationals.

For this reason Daniel Saliba has translated Level A1 of the Maltese for Foreigners series into a Maltese-Italian version titled Maltese per Stranieri. The three books found in this level (Principianti-Elementare) are Le Mie Prime 750 Parole in Maltese, Grammatica Maltese Essenziale e contestuale 1 and Parlo Maltese 1. They

When you live on an island, the horizon always holds the promise of new and exciting connections to be made, while the shore draws you back to a wealth of detail that’s just waiting to be explored.

are perfect for beginners and suitable for individuals, groups or in a school setting.

Since Maltese is a Semitic language, it has been taught in Italian and Sicilian universities for comparative purposes. Thus, these resources could be a helpful tool to organise Maltese-language courses for Semitic-language students studying for those purposes in Italian universities.

Saliba has also updated the CD containing the audio files linked to the books so learners can listen to native Maltese speakers reading the text and acting out the dialogues. In addition, he has translated the syllabus for this level based on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), which can be downloaded for free: Programma del Corso https://www. bdlbooks.com/files/programma_del_corso _A1.pdf Daniel Saliba received a doctor of philosophy degree from the University of Sheffield in 2015, specialising in teaching Maltese as a foreign language. His study was sponsored by the Malta Government Scholarship Scheme Grant (MGSS).

For more information about each book one should visi: www.charlesdanielsaliba.com

Ticketing system to be used for Isle of MTV

I

sle of MTV one of the biggest free events to ever hit Malta, that is probably the first time many young Maltese were able to see some of their favourite artists will this year be held on June 27.

The festival has been held in Malta since 2007 - but this year, for the first time ever, there will be a ticketing system for anyone who wants to attend this year's event.

Fans will have the option to pre-register for the event, which will be open for two weeks prior to the official ticketing launch.

Fans that choose to pre-register will be able to apply for ticket registration 48 hours before the official launch, and will also enter into a ballot for the opportunity to win a pair of VIP tickets to the event. A maximum of four tickets per individual can be applied for.

While the event will remain free of charge, anyone who wants to attend must go to the Isle of MTV website and register.

A ticket will be issued that can be printed or brought on one’s smartphone.

In case anyone doesn't have access to the Internet, there will be a ticket booth set outside the entrance in the days before the event and one would be able to register there and get a ticket on the spot.

Anyone visiting Malta from abroad for the event can register from their countries.

The new ticketing system is being introduced to ensure health and safety regulations are enforced.

22 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday May 15, 2018

The Ċittadini

C Co om mm mu un ni it ty y N Ne ew ws s

Community Wheels Inc.

Connecting you with your community

Community Wheels is your local community organisation that provides door-to-door transport services to eligible people (+65 years old etc.) to: * attend medical appointments * go shopping (including assisting clients with their shopping bags) * meet a friend for a chat or coffee, and *go on bus tours etc.

Available in the Parramatta City Council and parts of Cumberland Council areas For information call 88681400

L-MCCV qed jilqa’ applikazzjonijiet għal għalliem/a tal-ilsien Malti

Present direct from MALTA

Malta’s Queen of Country

SHOWS IN Sydney and Melbourne In Sydney: October 14

Min japplika jrid ikollu għarfien sew tal-Malti, miktub u mitkellem.

Dan hu xogħol volontarju, bla ħlas.

Min hu interessat jibgħat l-applikazzjoni bid-dettalji akkademiċi lil: edwigeborg@hotmail.com Għal tagħrif ieħor ċempel fuq 0412 115 919. Ħalli nnumru tattelefon u nċemplulek lura

Brilliant Comedy from The Ċittadini

When: Sunday October 14. At: 2.p.m.

Where: Wentworthville Leagues Club For tickets phone: Monica Ledger: 9896 0712 or 0414 859386 Joe Borg: 96 242280; Julie Farrugia: 96 367679; Dorothy Gatt: 96 361834.

Donation of $20. Kids: $12

ta’ Malta L-aħbarijiet PBS (Malta) Il-PBS tforni lill-SBS fl-

Australian High Commission on facebook; HC on twitter

Il-website hija aġġornata tul il-jum kollu għalhekk wieħed jista’ jieħu stampa ċara tal-ġrajjiet li anke jkunu qed iseħħu f’dak il-waqt

Commissioner a Twitter account that could both be accessed by the readers.

Awstralja bis-servizz tagħ-ha, imma l-qarrejja xorta qed jiġu mħeġġa biex x’ħin iridu jistgħu jidħlu fil-website tal-istazzjon Malti kemm bil-Malti u bl-Ingliż: www.tvm.com.mt.

he Australian High Commission’s in Malta now has a new T Facebook page, and the High

La Valette Social Centre

Activities throughout the year

La Valette Social Centre Inc. 175 Walters Road, Blacktown Tel. 96225847’ Email: lavalette@bigpond.net.au

Every Thursday: Maltese Respite Care Service

10.15 a.m.: Mass in Maltese in the Main Hall Morning Tea and Lunch, Bingo and Boċċi Everybody is wlecome Every Saturday: Kitchen and Bar open from 5.00 p.m.

Taditional Maltese cuisine, rabbit, ravioli and pastizzi; Boċċi from 6.00 p.m. Live Dj from 6.00 p.m.

Bingo starts at 8.00 p.m. with jackpot from $100 to $500 DJs Emanuel Grech and Sam Mifsud (alternate Saturdays) Last Saturay of month: Għana Night with Saver Bonanno and friends ___________________________________

MASS TIMES: Saturday: St Francis Chapel: 4.45 p.m. and 6.15 p.m. Sunday: St Dominic’s Chapel: 9.00 a.m.

The High Commission’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AusHCMalta/ The Commissioner’s Twitter handle: https://twitter.com/AusHCMalta

Saint Nicholas Festa Committee Main events for 2018

Sunday July 1: Lejla fil-Buskett Sunday October 14 : Fete Saturday Nov. 10: Dinner Dance Sunday Dec. 2: St Nicholas Feast

Events are held at the Good Shepherd parish hall, 130-136 Hyatts Road, Plumpton NSW

Please Note

Anybody interested in advertising on The Voice of the Maltese magazine in order to reach the widest audience possible, partcularly among the Maltese diaspora is requested to write to: Maltesevoice@gmail.com

The Voice of the Maltese 23

Tuesday May 15, 2017

C Co om mm mu un ni it ty y N Ne ew ws s

Tu n e i n t o Ra d i o a n d Te l e v i s i o n

Maltese Radio Programmes

MELBOURNE: on 3ZZZ 92.3FM or on www.3zzz.com.au. Mondays 5-6 pm, Fridays 5-6 pm and Saturdays 10-11am.

MELBOURNE: on 98.9 North West FM, every Friday 6.00 - 7.00p.m. and Mondays 7.00 to 8.00pm. Presenter: Emmanuel Brincat.

MELBOURNE: STEREO 974 (93180930): 97.4FM Wed (Maltese Magazine) & Thursday (Merħba): 6.00pm to 8.00 pm Co-ordinator – Ray Anastasi On SBS Radio Day Time Analogue and Digital Tuesdays and Fridays: 12:00-13:00

(On Demand: Ethnic Maltese Council 11am)

Il-Ħadd 11.00 am: l-aħħar aħbarijiet minn Malta, mużika, tagħrif, kultura, avviżi u suġġetti ta’ interess.

UNCLE SAM DJ (Maltese Radio) tune in to link: www.unclesamdj.com

97.7fm SBS 2.

To tune into digital radio you need a receiver or device with a DAB+ chip.

Tuning in is by station name not frequency. Digital radio can also be heard via digital TV. SBS MALTESE NEWS: L-Aħbarijiet on SBSTV twice a week nationwide; Sunday 8.00 am on SBS2 (Chan. 32) Thursdays at 8.00 am on SBSTV32.

SYDNEY: listen to the MCC radio programmes on 2GLF FM 89.3.

Isma’ l-programm tar-radju bil-Malti mill-Kunsill Malti ta’ NSW minn fuq listazzjon 2GLF 89.3FM. (Jista’ wkoll jinstema’ On Demand minn fuq l-Internet: www.893fm.com.au)

Maltese Seniors Social Welfare Day Groups

Fairfield Active Maltese Seniors month at the Llandilo Community Hall, Meets on the last Tuesday of the Month. Seventh Avenue, from 11am to 1 pm.

Group meets in Parish Hall, cnr of Stella Street & The Boulevard, Fairfield Heights at Maltese of Bankstown 10 am.

Group meets 3rd Wednesday of month

in the Bank-stown CBD area.

Maltese Seniors Central Coast Every other 3rd Thursday an outing.

Have to contact our Welfare Officer for Enquiries call: Sam 9534 2357 an appointment. For all information and referral matters call Censina Cefai: 02 Greystanes Maltese Seniors 439 000 12 or 0414 267 652 Meets on the second Monday of each month at the George Preca Centre of OLQP Church, 198 Old Prospect Road, Meets the last Wednesday of the mon- Greystanes from 10 am to 12 noon th in the Meeting Room One, No. 3 GenThe Sutherland & St George eral Bridges Crescent, Daceyville.

Daceyville Maltese Seniors

Note: The Groups also arrange regular Bus Trips

Maltese Group

Join us and make new friends.

Meets every First Wednesday of the Month from 10:00am-1:00pm.

Llandilo Maltese Seniors

Charles Mifsud J.P.Phone (02) 9501 5525 – mobile 0421 662 298.

Merrylands Social Maltese Seniors Meetings/Get Togethers are interestMeets every second Friday of the ing, informative & entertaining, so month: Miller Room, Memorial Av- come Join us and make new Friends enue Merrylands from 10.30am to For more information contact our Co12.30 am ordinator:

Meets on the first Wednesday of each

*(All Groups are co-ordinated by The Maltese Community Council of NSW) with a sponsorship from Multicultural NSW. Please contact the MCC Welfare Officer: Marisa Previtera JP on 0414 863 123. The MCC offices are at 59b Franklin Street (corner with Young St) Parramatta West NSW (next to West Parramatta Primary School).

SBS Radio 2 on Channel 38.

Programmes can be accessed online (live or catch up) at sbs.com.au/maltese and via mobile phone, using the SBS Radio app.

For television news from Malta SBS2 TV 32 ( (Viceland) on Thursdays and Sundays at 8am.

VIVA MALTA on COAST FM 96.3 Community Radio in Gosford Central NSW. Aired on Thursdays every fortnight from 6 pm -7 pm.

Presenter: Nathalie Gatt.

Web streaming: www.coastfm.org.au BRISBANE listen to the Maltese Programme on 4EB on Tuesdays 6.00 -8.15am; Sundays 4.15pm to 5.15pm

MALTESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL OF NSW A Division of the Maltese Community Council of NSW Inc.

Learn Maltese!

Classes are available for students from six years to adults at all levels of ability in the Maltese language. We have trained and experienced teachers qualified in language teaching and with Maltese study credentials.

Learn the Maltese language, the culture, lifestyle, cuisine, traditions and about the amazing history of the island.

Teachers urgently needed - Paid positions

For more information and enquiries Phone 9601 2189 or Email: malteselanguageschoolnsw@hotmail.com Supported by the Minister of Education and Training and the NSW Community Languages Schools Programme.

Member of the NSW Federation of Community Language Schools of NSW; Member of the Federation of Maltese Language Schools of Australia; Supported by 16 Maltese associations affiliated with the MCC of NSW. The Maltese Language School of NSW is a Not-For-Profit organisation.

24 The Voice of the Maltese

S po r ts.. on 2 pages

Tuesday May 15, 2018

Ray Farrugia gets his dream job as Malta’s National coach

R

ay “Zazu” Farrugia’s ultimate dream came to fruition when he was appointed Malta’s National Football team coach. He replaces Belgian Tom Saintfiet, whose position was terminated by the MFA six months into his contract.

Ray, 62, still very much loved in Australia from his days starring for Melita Eagles steps up from his role as national team assistant coach, under several coaches since 2014. He served under Josif Ilic and Pietro Ghedi, and Saintfiet. He has also had two spells as Malta U/21 coach. His appointment has been welcomed as the right choice by everybody who is invloved in the game in Malta.

In a statment the MFA President Norman Darmanin Demajo said that the association felt that it should hand the reins of the national team to a Maltese coach who is already part of its technical sector, “has a sound knowledge of Maltese football as well as the experience to prepare and lead the team in international matches.” He added that the MFA is confident that Ray Farrugia “has the ability and experience to fulfil this role in the best possible manner.”

Andrew Cohen named Malta’s Footballer of Year for a record fourth time

he Malta and Gzira United T footballer, Andrew Cohen, has been named the MFA’s Footballer

M

elbourne Victory are again the Hyundai ALeague Champions as for the fourth time in the club’s history, they won the Grand Final edging Newcastle Jets 1-0 in front of a fervent capacity crowd at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Kosta Barbarouses sealed it for Victory, scoring after nine minutes, the earliest ever goal in a Grand Final.

G

Valletta have done it again

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n the year that Malta’s capital is celebrating the title of European Capital of Culture, the football club pertaining to the city seemed to have set themselves the task of being part of the celebrations as after winning the Premier League title, nine days ago added the FA Trophy to the clubhouse’s showcase to make the 2017/18 season another

of the Year for 2017/18 to become the only player in Malta to ever win the award on four occasions.

The former Hibernians player added this year’s title to the ones he had already won in seasons 2004/05, 2005/06 and 2014/15

Melbourne Victory A-League Champions

Farrugia will take charge of the men’s senior team with immediate effect. His first task is to prepare the squad for its upcoming commitments, including the training camp in Austria, the friendly matches in the May-June period, and the UEFA Nations League starting September.

In his reaction Ray said he was proud and honoured to be appointed national coach as this had been his lifelong ambition. Therefore he was “naturally delighted to have been given the priv- Ray Farrugia ilege to lead my country.” He promised, “I will in the Melita be giving my all to repay this trust and take our Eagles strip national team forward”.

Saintfiet was appointed national coach in October last year, and sacked on April 25 following reports in the international media that while he was supposed to be preparing the Malta footballteam for the upcoming UEFA event he had “applied” to beconsidered for the vacant post as coach of Cameroon.

Last-gasp goal denies Parramatta victory

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t the weekend in one of the best Eagles performances of the season, Parramatta FC conceded a 92nd minute equaliser to break the hearts of the passionate Eagles faithful at Melita Stadium to draw 1-1 with Canterbury Bansktown. Yasser AlTaay gave the home team the lead on seven minutes but Canterbury levelled with a controversial goal. * In the previous reound Parramatta suffered a 3-1 away defeat to Western Sydney W. If it is any consola-

NPL Vic: Green Gully v Heidelberg U 1-3 Sth Melbourne v Green Gully 0-3 reen Gully received a severe setback to their aspirations for the title when they suffered a 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Heidelberg in Round 11 and are now 11 points behind the leaders, Bentleigh Greens.

After an even opening Green Gully scored hrough Joshua Barresi (8th min.); Heidelberg drew level within 2 minutes and then took a 2-1 lead at the break. Gully tried hard to get back into the game but all to no avail. *The previous week the Greens defeated

tion for the Eagles, who have yet to win an away game, they played some good football.

The hosts opened the scoring on 16 minutes through Mohamed Adam.

The Eagles levelled through Neram Yalda on 42, but their joy was short lived as the WSW regained their lead to lead 2-1 at half time.

The Wanderers wasted a number of chances in the second half, but John Roberts sealed it for them with a third tally on 86 minutes.

Mixed bag forGG, SGC

South Melbourne 3-0. It was level pegging at the break with neither side able to break through but the Gully took complete control after the break to score through Joshua Barresi (57th min) Nick Krousouratis (67th), and Kieren Dover (in added time).

NPL 2 West: Dandenong v Sunshine GC 2-2 Moreland C v Sunshine GC 3-1 unshine George Cross earned a well deserved point away at league leaders Dan-

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one to remember by achieving the double. In the FA Trophy final they beat Birkirkara by 2-1.

It is the fourteenth time they have won the Trophy and managed it in their 27th final appearance. It is also their second double success in five years.

Their success against Birkirkara was most deserved. They were clearly the better team from start to finish and the only reason their victory was not more pronounced was the performance in the Birkirkara goal of goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski.

Valletta built up a two-goal lead with tallies by Kyrian Nwoko on 41 minutes and Santiago Malano in the 78th minute. Birkirkara pulled a goal back three minutes from the end when Ognjen Rolovic’s freekick was deflected into goal.

denong in a thrilling 2-2 draw with the goals in the second half. David Younan put SGC ahead (52 mins), City levelled on 56 mins) and then took the lead in the 80th. Jungho Kim equalised for SGC (83rd) minute. * In Round 11 SGC lost 3-1against Moreland after conceding two early goals. They tried to make a game of it and pulled a goal back on 29 minutes from a Jungho Kim freekick. In the second half they had Danny Barakat sent off after 78 minutes and then received a further setback with by suffering a third goal.