The Voice of the Maltese No. 118

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

Issue 118

o on nlliin ne e m ma ag ga az ziin ne e

January 5, 2016

Two days that unite a nation

T

hroughout the year the Maltese don’t see eye to eye on a number of issues, particularly when it comes to politics, sports, local feasts or band clubs. But when it is most needed they come forward as one. They forget all controversy.

Two of the few occasions when they show their real worth and their solidarity is towards the end of every year during the two important fundraisers, the Community Chest Fund’s L-Istrina, and the Feast of Generosity for the Dar tal-Providenza.

More than ever, this year, both occasions proved to be even more successful as record sums of money, over €5 million ($A7.43 million) in all were raised to help people with special needs. (see report on page 4)

Pictured (top): the President of Malta, enthusiastically brings to an end the L-Istrina campaign for the Community Chest Fund, and (above) the presentation of a cheque towards the Dar tal-Providenza

2 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday January 5, 2016

Voting for all Changing regulations Maltese citizens wherever they live about property in Malta

A

clash of mentalities will decide the next election, determining whether citizens want to continue on the path this Labour government has chosen or opt for a government of principles, according to the Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Simon Busuttil.

Dr Busuttil stressed that the PN “wants to restore trust in politics”. In a document delivered in early December 2015 highlighted in The Sunday Times of Malta, the PN detailed amongst others, ten proposals.

Under the heading democratic scrutiny it was declared that the PN wants to allow citizens in other EU countries to vote in general elections in Malta through distance voting.

This item was confusing either because it was not explained properly or because it indicated that the PN favours only Maltese citizens residing in EU countries to vote in general elections through distance voting, excluding all those Maltese citizens eligible to vote but residing outside the confines of EU. A Maltese community leader speaking to The Voice of the Maltese said that he EU membership is becoming a pervasive obsession. This term Living Abroad is now becoming a misnomer, as it seems to be only focused on those Maltese living in the EU. The Voice has asked the Partit Nazzjonalista for an explanation and we received this reply from Matthew Bonett,the PN’s Director of Information: “Basically this proposal is in line with the principle of free movement which we signed up to when we joined the EU. You should not lose the right to vote when you exert the right to move freely and reside in another EU member state. This is the principle behind the proposal.”

The Voice of the Maltese will continue to militate for distant voting, or absentee voting as it is known in Australia, for those at present eligible to vote instead of the present method of being physically present in Malta on election days.

However, if distance voting becomes policy of either the LP or the NP we will never accept that such method of voting be extended only to those living in EU countries.

An explanation T

he December 8th issue of The Voice of the Maltese featured an interesting page 2 article by Profs Maurice Cauchi that expressed concern that if the proposed changes by the present government in Malta are enacted somebody might build on your property without your permission. As an adage to the article, The Voice added an explanation.

Now we are in a position to publish an official explanation sent to us by the Parliamentary Secretariat for Planning and Simplification of Administrative Processes about the changes that could make the situation somewhat clearer.

Re Development Planning Bill – requirement for owner’s consent, it states: The Development Planning Act as approved by Parliament has retained the current situation in terms of requirements for applicants submitting applications on land which they do not own.

The application form submitted by the applicant in-

cludes a declaration of ownership and in those cases where the applicant is not the owner he has to inform the owner of the application by registered letter (a copy of which has to be attached with the application) of his intention to apply.

The applicant must also make a declaration that the owner has granted his consent for the application.

Provisions for the revocation of permissions on the basis of false information have been improved in the new Act to provide full rights for a hearing and argumentation before the Board prior to a decision being taken and not after, as is current practice.

It is, however, not the remit of the Planning Authority to establish proof of ownership in the case of contestation, as this is a matter for the Courts.

Environment and Planning Review Tribunal Bill – time frames not realistic. A timely delivery of decisions on appeal cases must also be kept in mind when deciding time frames.

An alleged breach of intellectual property investigated

O

ur online magazine, The Voice of the Maltese was alerted to an alleged breach of intellectual property material in connection with the recent published book, Malta & the ANZACs - Malta Nurse of the Mediterranean

by Frank Scicluna, the Hon Consul for Malta in South Australia.

The two history researchers from Sydney, Mark Caruana and Carmen Baxter are claiming that their work was plagiarised without proper acknowledgement and that they were not satisfied with a lame excuse offered by the author.

Following this allegation, The Voice has repeatedly sought Mr. Scicluna’s reaction, however, our requests have been ignored.

Even worse, and quite surprisingly, The Voice has received what we regard as an abusive and threatening email from Mr. Charles Farrugia, the President of the Maltese RSL Sub Branch of SA, that if we print any material which he regards as “detrimental” to their patron, he would “instruct our members (including myself) to refuse to receive and read your

newsletter” We do not take such threats and intimidation lightly. We are also mystified how the RSL found out about this matter that has nothing to do with it. We can only assume that Mr. Scicluna might have sought Mr. Farrugia’s support when he could have simply replied to the allegation and given us his version of the matter, which we would have published.

The Voice had enough evidence to publish the story in the first place but as professional journalists do, we chose instead to communicate with Mr. Scicluna for his comments.

We have also provided him with ample time in which to reply to the allegations. However, he has not only chosen to ignore us, but instead, out of the blue, we receive this treat from the president of the Maltese RSL Sub-Branch of SA on a matter that does not concern him, let alone his association.

The Voice is interested in this matter of alleged stolen intellectual property because this is happening much too frequently.

The Voice of the Maltese 3

Tuesday January 5, 2016

Drastic changes to local councils not popular

S

ydney's councils will be reduced from 43 to 25 and regional councils will be reduced from 109 to 87 under the NSW government's plans to reshape local government.

Premier Mike Baird said he understood that change was never easy, but the government considered there were significant benefits to be had from larger councils.

“This is about some of the biggest changes we have seen in 100 years. It's about putting communities and infrastructure first,” he said.

Councils facing mergers will be offered up to $10 million toward the costs of transition and up to $15 million for community infrastructure.

Councils reacted angrily to the forced mergers. The Voice of the Maltese contacted Julia Finn, State Member for Granville, Parramatta City Councillor and former Lord Mayor of Parramatta for her reaction.

She said, “The Baird Government is gerrymandering council boundaries for their political advantage to create a Liberal stronghold in Parramatta.”

She went on to say: “In Holroyd, I know people from Merrylands to Greystanes and Pemulwuy, from Wentworthville to Guildford West want to keep a separate, stand-alone council. They certainly don't want anything to do with Auburn City Council and its constant bad publicity. Local government should stay local,” Ms Finn said.

Council amalgamations have proven to be difficult when implemented in Victoria under the Kennett Government a decade ago and also in Queensland.

Granville was established as 'Parramatta Junction' as terminus of the railway line from Central Station. In 1880 the area was renamed Granville after the British Colonial Secretary, Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville.

Shortly afterwards, in 1885, Granville Municipality was formed and continued until 1948, when it merged into Parramatta City.

Holroyd was originally known as the Municipality of Prospect and Sherwood and was established in 1872. It was renamed Holroyd in 1927 in memory of Arthur Todd Holroyd, the first Mayor of the Municipality and was proclaimed a City on New Year’s Day 1991. It has a proud history of over 140 years serving local residents.

Did you know that...? here are nearly 250 different languages spoken in T Sydney and there are 75 language groups with more than 1,000 speakers?

Language groups in Sydney are more concentrated than in Melbourne, Australia's other great home to migrants.

Well over half of Australia’s 25,000-strong Nepalese community is concentrated in Sydney?

A proud sponsor of The Voice of the Maltese website: www.breakawaytravel.com.au

Breakaway Travel 94 corner of Main & Campbell Streets, Blacktown NSW ...... for all your travel needs.

Tel (02) 9622 7799 blacktown@breakawaytravel.com.au

4 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday January 5, 2016

Jumejn li g˙aqqdu nazzjon J

g˙idu li l-Maltin jinfirdu u jinqasmu fuq kull ˙aga ta’ xejn, kemm jekk hi politika, festi, kaΩini tal-banda fl-istess ra˙al, futbol, eçç. Imma jidher çar li fejn hemm is-solidarjeta’ huma ˙aga wa˙da, xi ˙aga li r©ajna rajniha f’Ωew© okkaΩjonijiet, tul jumejn li g˙aqqdu nnazzjon. Qed ng˙id l-ewwel g˙al meta, g˙as-17-il sena wara l-o˙ra wrew il©eneroΩita’, fis-26 ta’ Diçembru, waqt listrina, u fl-Ewwel tas-Sena, meta saret il-Festa ta’ ÌeneroΩita` b’riΩq id- Dar tal-Providenza.

Fejn g˙andha x’taqsam l-Istrina, immexxija u nstigata mill-President tarRepubblika Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, g˙al darb’o˙ra nkiser kull rekord fejn g˙andu x’jaqsam il-©bir biex jissa˙˙u l-fondi tal-Community Chest Fund (MCCF). Waqt l-akbar turija ta’ solidarjeta’ ta’ kull sena, skont il-President, “il-Maltin urew li huma poplu uniku” u fil-©abra bit-tema Fidi, Tama u M˙abba (karita`) inqabΩet is-somma mi©bura s-sena l-o˙ra bi €370,000 g˙al dik totali ta’ €4.027,000.

Fl-Ewwel tas-Sena mbag˙ad, fil-Festa ÌeneroΩita` g˙ad-Dar tal-Providenza, ntla˙aq rekord ie˙or, b’©abra ta’ €1,040,855.

Il-ftu˙ uffiçjali tal-Istrina fil-Kumpless Sportiv tal-Kottonera, sar millPresident. Fil-ftu˙ ˙adu sehem ukoll il-Prim Minsitru Joseph Muscat u lKap tal-OppoΩizzjoni Simon Busuttil, li t-tnejn ˙eg©ew lill-poplu Malti biex b˙al dejjem jing˙aqad u jag˙mel ˙iltu kollha biex l-okkaΩjoni ssarraf f’turija çara ta’ solidarjeta`.

B˙al dejjem f’okkaΩjonijiet b˙al dawn, il-President kwaΩi ting˙eleb mill-entuΩjaΩmu g˙ax taf li tul is-sena minn dak li jin©abar ikun hemm xi tqassam lil dawk li jitolbu l-g˙ajnuna li jkunu jin˙tie©u, ©eneralment f’kaΩi

ta’ spejjeΩ g˙al kura medika.

Meta kkumentat dwar il-Maltin fi tmiem il-©abra qalet: “Poplu li quddiem l-g˙ajnuna u s-solidarjeta` li g˙andu bΩonn jag˙ti lil ˙utu ma j˙ares lejn xejn u jqum g˙all-okkaΩjoni, u allura rrid nag˙ti ˙ajr lill-Maltin u lillG˙awdxin kollha, lill-mijiet ta’ voluntiera, u lil tant tekniçi li kienu proprju wara s-suççess.”

Fl-istess waqt sostniet li din il-prova ta’

Fr Martin Micallef, the Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, thanking the contributors of the 2015 Marathon

solidarjeta` u ©eneroΩita` tpo©©i aktar responsabbilta` fuq il-Community Chest Fund biex tissokta tag˙ti lg˙ajnua lil min jin˙tie©ha.

Veru li l-akbar ©bir sar waqt il-jum ta’ wara l-Milied tul maratona ta’ tnax–il siegħa fuq l-istazzjonijiet TVM, TVM2, One TV, Net TV, u FLiving minn Malta u Għawdex, bit-telefonati millpoplu, imma biex telg˙et dik is-somma saru sforzi s-sena kollha, u anzi baqg˙u de˙lin l-flus anke wara, fosthom mat-€3,000 li n©abru waqt dawra ma’ Malta bilmuturi organizzata fis-27 tax-xahar mill-pulizija.

Fondi n©abru wkoll missej˙a lit-tfal fl-iskema “filKarus tal-Istrina”, “il-Fun Run”, il-kotba tar-riçetti “Tisjir mill-Qalb” (din id-darba bil-kontribut ta’ patrijiet u sorijiet li taw irriçetti tal-ikel li jippreΩentaw huma stess fil-kunventi, tag˙hom, “Rockestra 2015”, “Paqpaqli g˙all-Istrina”, “The President’s Cruise for Solidarity”, u “Solidarjeta` bl-Isports”.

Tul l-Ewwel tas-Sena l-Maltin re©g˙u wrew kemm g˙andhom g˙al qalbhom id-Dar tal-Providenza fis-Si©©iewi u grazzi g˙al ˙idma minn ˙afna voluntiera, il-Festa ta’ ÌeneroΩita` irrendiet is-somma sabi˙a ta’ aktar minn milnun Ewro. Hekk f’dawn iΩ-Ωew© okkaΩjonijiet bejniethom, il-Maltin ikkontribwew b’aktar minn €5 miljun.

The Voice of the Maltese 5

Tuesday January 5, 2016

wartime transport in malta I have already mentioned that during World War II in Malta, fuel was very scarce. Hence, transport became more difficult, especially public transport.

But life had to go on. How did we try to solve this problem? Most of the transport was by horses and carts, horse-driven cabs (karozzini), omnibus: horse-driven passengers’ car (nemnebus), boats, where and when possible, bicycles and on foot.

Many people used bicycles. We could see a photo of the British Governor, Lord Gort on bicycle going to his office at the Palace in Valletta. Another picture shows soldiers going for their duties on bicycles. One of my brothers, a conscript who was stationed at G˙ajn Tuffie˙a used to cycle every day, all the way to Delimara where he was to report for duty; this meant he had to go from the north to the south of the island riding his bike.

Horse drawn cabs could be seen taking people from place to place, particularly those who were evacuated to safer villages. The evacuees used to take all they could carry with them in the karozzin.

Families coming out of the air raid shelter who found part of their house demolished would save whatever they could, in order to take it with Peasant couple with a horse-drawn cart, a painting by Edward Caruana Dingli. (Heritage Malta)

MALTA: Echoes from the past DorisCannataci

them to their new destination on a horse and cart. When our house at Óamrun was damaged through

There was a time when a few passengers could avail themselves of the omnibus service that had the capacity to carry between six Travelling in the wartime days and 27 people.

Services by horse in Malta on the nemnebus became fewer and fewer as time went by. Horses we killed to feed the people when no fodder was left. Horse-driven Funeral Hearses were also attacked during air raids. Even travelling by boats was dangerous, sea vessels also attracted enemy airplanes, who used to machine gun and bomb enemy action, my eldest brother hired them. a mule and cart to carry our belongAs time went by transport service beings to our summerhouse at St Paul’s came more acute, especially when Bay. horses were fast disappearing. In 1941 a friend of mine left Sliema together with her family, to go to Óad-Dingli, a safer place in the country.

Buses were still running at the time; first they had to go to Valletta before taking another bus to Dingli. On their way to their destination an air raid was announced.

The driver fearing for life left his passengers in the bus and ran off to find a shelter. When the air raid was over the driver drove to Rabat and left the passengers half way. They had to make way on their own.

Therefore, the only means of transport left was to walk, to go on foot from place to another. When this friend of mine and her sister needed to buy medicine from a pharmacy at Rabat, they had to walk from Dingli to Rabat, and back. One of the girls was eleven and the other ten.

Today our children are spoiled because they are drive by car even for short distances.

6 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday January 5, 2016

Old Parliament House: an integral part of Australia’s immigration and refugee story BarryYork (Dr Barry York was awarded a PhD in History by the University of New South Wales in 1988.

He has authored and co-authored several books of political history and immigration history. He was awarded the Order of Australia in 2005 for his services to the recording of immigration history.)

R

efugees are in the news with the crisis in Syria resulting in a mass exodus of people to Europe, and the Australian government’s decision to take in 12,000 Syrian people in addition to the normal annual refugee intake of 13,750. In the lead up to that decision there was much discussion in the media about how Australia might respond.

As one would expect in a democratic society, there were protests in the streets urging an increased intake, and there were also voices dissenting from that view.

Migrants and refugees are an important component of who Australia is as a nation and society.

Since the end of World War II more than 700,000 refugees have been admitted into Australia and more than six million people have come here as migrants.

Of the 700,000, Australia took in 170,000 Displaced Persons from European camps between 1947 and 1952.

Australia’s population is 23 million.

Most of Australia’s migrant and refugee intake has been a product of decisions announced and debated in the Old Parliament House, when it was home to the federal parliament from 1927 to 1988. The building is inseparable from Australia’s immigration story.

Milestone decisions announced and debated in the building include: In 1938, with war clouds darkening over Europe, the announcement by the government of Joseph Lyons of a planned intake of 15,000 Jewish refugees from Europe.

Australia had taken part in the Evian conference in France, a ‘world summit’ to discuss the refugee problem attended by 32 countries. However, only 7,000 made it to Australia before the outbreak

Old Parliament House. Left: Logo of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA)

of war and there w a s some opposition to this proposal by those in government and elsewhere who saw Jews as a ‘racial problem’.

In 1945, the announcement by Arthur Calwell, Minister for Immigration in the Chifley Government, of a bold and unprecedentedly large-scale immigration program that resulted in more than two million people coming here over the following 20 years. Australia’s population was 7.5 million in 1945.

The ratification by the Menzies Government in 1951 of the United Nations Convention on the Status of Refugees.

In 1956 and 1957 the beginnings of the dismantling of the ‘White Australia policy’, with permanent residence (1956) and citizenship (1957) made possible by the Menzies Government for ‘non-whites’ for the first time since Federation.

In 1966, during the government of Harold Holt, a review of migration policy-making citizenship for ‘non-whites’ much easier, reducing the residential requirement from 15 to five years.

In 1973, the Whitlam Government removes race as a criterion in immigration policy and in 1975 passes the Racial Dis-

crimination Act, making such discrimination unlawful. The Whitlam Government also ratifies the UN Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

In 1977, the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs in the Fraser Government, Michael Mackellar, makes a landmark statement outlining the development and implementation of a comprehensive refugee policy. It is the first occasion on which a coherent and specific on-going refugee policy has been enunciated in the Parliament.

A significant aspect of the new policy relates to the humanitarian acceptance of people ‘in refugee-type situations who do not fall strictly within the UN High Commissioner for Refugees mandate or within Convention definitions’. Australian staff were stationed in Thailand to organise a regular intake of Indo-Chinese refugees, especially Vietnamese fleeing the aftermath of war.

The United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) played a key role in assisting Europe’s Displaced Persons immediately after the Second World War. Its work was continued by the International Refugee Organisation, which brought Displaced Persons to Australia between 1947 and 1952.

Source: ‘Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House in Canberra, with this link to the museum’s website:http://www.moadoph.gov.au/

The Voice of the Maltese 7

Tuesday January 5, 2016

A Flashback ...... .....

When the Maltese Community Council of NSW was finally recognised by the Malta High Commission in Canberra MarkCaruana

G

oing through old copies of The Maltese Herald, archived at the Alfred Fenech Maltese Resource Centre, Parramatta West, I came across this write-up, in the March 12, 1969 issue of the now defunct Maltese newspaper, announcing the recognition by the Malta High Commission in Canberra of the Maltese Community Council of NSW. The news item announcing a big leap forward said that this recognition was an important step of great benefit to the Maltese community, which would promote greater unity among Maltese associations in this State.

The associations that joined the MCC in 1969 were: 1. The Maltese Community Western Suburbs Association (now known as La Valette Social Centre), who regrettably pulled out from the MCC some years ago.

2. The Maltese Citizens Association (Now defunct) 3. The Maltese Guild of NSW (Also defunct) 4. Melita Eagles Soccer Club 5. Sacred Heart Association (Has since ceased to exist) 6. Maltese Ex-Servicemen Assoc. (Still an affiliated association) 7. George Cross Club of Wollongong (An affiliated association).

The Phoenician Club Ltd (that has also ceased to exist) stated that it was ready to join provided the MCC of NSW receives formal recognition by the Malta High Commissioner, who then was His Excellency Dr Anthony Pullicino, a former Speaker of the Maltese House of Representatives.

This news item elaborated that for the last 14 years, each attempt at forming an umbrella body had a short lifespan due to a lack of genuine support from the Malta representatives in Australia.

The article ended by appealing to the Maltese associations to send delegates to the MCC who were constructive in their views and able to rise above indi-

Copies of The Maltese Herald newspaper archived at the Alfred Fenech Maltese Resource Centre in Parramatta West

vidual personalities, parochialism and individualism, and to focus on the big picture that benefits the whole community.

The MCC is grateful to Lawrence Dimech, (editor of The Maltese Herald from 1961-1971), who donated the entire volumes of the newspaper in bound registers, which are an excellent source of reference in the history of the Maltese community in Australia to the MCC. I have no doubt that Lino Vella, (editor from 1971-2013), and other delegates would also donate some archival material to this resource centre, for use by researchers.

Find us on: facebook.com/groups/thevoiceofthemaltese/

Le eo o’’ss Ve Veh hiic clle e L Re en ntta allss R

Guaranteed cheapest rates All vehicles in NRMA road Service Low holding Deposit Discount for weekly rentals Shuttle service to the Airport Phone: 9622 2208 Mob: 0418 405 271 102 Kildare Rd Blacktown NSW 2148

8 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday January 5, 2016

Have your say/Xi trid tghid?

Your letters/ L-ittri tag˙kom ...

Visiting Malta for Christmas An experience hard to forget The Voice of the Maltese on nlliin ne e m ma ag ga az ziin ne e o

is is a bi-lingual (in English and Maltese) fortnightly online publication specifically targeting all Maltese living abroad with emphasis on the Australian scene. is online magazine is sent via email by request.

Subscription is free.

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

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

Joseph Caruana from Redmond, WA writes alta might be the smallest of countries, but after visiting the island again after M six years, I cannot but praise what it stands for and what it truly is. This island must really be blessed and I have been wishing that all the Maltese migrants living in Australia and other countries were here at this time of year.

I arrived in Malta with my wife, daughter and her Australian husband and her two young kids on December 13. By the time we return home on the 30th of January we would have visited and participated in most local activities on an almost daily basis. Despite its smallness, Malta is a real gem. No wonder it is claiming record tourism visits every month.

For one, watching news on television and reading the newspapers we can see the contrasting weather conditions all over.

While Malta has been basking in beautiful sunny weather, but for one day on the 20th of December when it rained incessantly for just one afternoon, many other countries, including the UK, South America and Asia are being devastated with floods that have claimed a number of victims, damaged property and left thousands homeless.

On the other hand, in Melbourne, Australia, fires have damaged a number of houses and also left many homeless, while other places either suffered from floods or suffered from heat waves with temperatures in the 40s.

I always knew that Christmas time in Malta

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

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

was special, but this time we felt as f we were in heaven. Not only us. It was a delight to watch so many tourists walking around Valletta taking photos of the sites, and admiring the Grand Harbour from the Upper Barrakka.

When we visited Mdina we met hundreds of tourists strolling along the old city’s narrow streets admiring the palaces and also the view from within the city walls.

During our stay two of us also joined the locals and managed to take a dip for charity in aid of the Community Chest Fund and the others visited the Curia where they exchanged greetings with Archbishop Scicluna … and there’s more to come.

This current visit is becoming an experience that would be hard to forget. I recommend it to my fellow Maltese migrants wherever they are, particularly during the Christmas and New Year period.

Congratulations Charles Mifsud Anth. Aquilina from Annandale, NSW writes: would like you to please let me take this opportunity to congratulate Mr Charles Mifsud for receiving the reward he so deserves after being presented with the medal for Gie˙ ir-Repubblika by Malta on the occasion of the 41st Anniversary of Republic Day. I don’t know Charles that much, but the little I know of him is that along with a few others, some of whom have also received a similar honour, and a few others who have not, has always tried his hardest to improve the well being of the Maltese community in Australia.

We should be so proud of him and all those before him who have been recognised

by Malta for their efforts, all on a voluntary basis in various fields. We should also be proud that despite living so far from our beloved country, the island that we love so much does not forget its ‘children’ and appreciates what people like Charles do. It is an example for second and third generation Maltese to follow.

I believe that such recognition helps to give a boost to others among us in the various states of Australia, and others doing similar work in other countries known for hosting Maltese migrants, to help keep alive the spirit of unity among us.

I

The Voice of the Maltese 9

Tuesday January 5, 2016

The popular English daily The Guardian recently carried an article about Malta highlighting in particular its stable political and economic environment, its solid, investor-friendly legal and regulatory system and its educated workforce. It said that Malta’s short-to-medium economic prospects are the envy of many of its fellow European Union states The Guardian’s article was headlined:

Maltese economy advances full speed ahead B

russels is forecasting the island nation’s GDP growth to come in at 3.6 percent this year, well above the average for the 28-member bloc of 1.5 percent. The current strength of the domestic economy is also witnessed in an enviable unemployment rate of below six percent.

Malta obviously was not immune to the 2007 global crisis, but weathered it better than others did. It suffered a brief and relatively mild recession before returning to growth the following year.

At the same time, it eschewed the clarion call for draconian austerity measures, the government opted instead to focus on the twin goals of prompting growth and pursuing fiscal consolidation. As a result, the budget deficit is forecast to fall to 1.8 percent of GDP this year, down from 2.1 percent in 2014.

But as a country with limited resources other than its stunning architecture, its benign southern Mediterranean climate and beaches and its welcoming inhabitants that have made tourism a mainstay of the economy, over the years Malta has had to adapt and forge a future for itself in the modern world.

It has done so by creating an innovative, services-based economy, in which about three-quarters of its GDP comes from activities such as

One of the record number of Cruiseship that this year sailed into the Grand Harbour tourism, financial services and egaming, which have attracted increasing amounts of overseas investment.

The key has been in leveraging Malta’s status as an English-speaking gateway to the EU, its stable political and economic environment, its solid, investor-friendly legal and regulatory system and its educated workforce.

Other areas with further scope for development include, for example, in expanding as an educational desti-

nation for overseas students, whether it be to learn English or study medicine.

Given its strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, Malta might well develop into an attractive hub for the greater region. However, the biggest threats to that vision and the domestic economy lie in geopolitical concerns such as the ongoing refugee crisis, or an attack by Islamic militants in its territory.

10 The Voice of the Maltese

Perspettiva

Tuesday January 5, 2016 A version of this series in English may be found in the author's blog at: http://ivancauchi.blogs pot.com

kitba ta’

IVAN CAUCHI

L-Adozzjoni u l-Abort - Proposta

D

an l-a˙˙ar kien hemm xi a˙barijiet dwar l-adozzjoni li ©ibduli l-attenzjoni g˙alihom. Wa˙da minnhom ©iet mill-Awstralja, fejn kien hemm l'a˙bar' li l-g˙add ta' adozzjonijiet li jsiru kull sena fl-Awstralja huwa Ωg˙ir ˙afna.

Fis-sena 2014, kien hemm biss 209 millAwstralja, u 83 minn pajjiΩi barranin.1 Huwa nnotat ukoll li l-figura totali ta' adozzjonijiet tonqos sena wara sena.2 L-g˙add tant hu Ωg˙ir, u l-istennija tant hi twila (medja ta' madwar ˙ames snin!), li twassal g˙al diversi koppji li jkunu interessati fis-su©©ett li jaqtg˙u qalbhom u forsi lanqas jippruvaw.

Snin ilu niftakar uffiçjal fid-Dipartiment tas-Servizzi Komunitarji ta' NSW, li meta mistoqsi kemm kien hemm koppji jistennew fil-lista, wie©eb li din l-istatistika lanqas tinΩamm - tista' timma©ina g˙aliex!

Huwa ma˙sub li hemm ra©unijiet storiçi g˙aliex dan l-g˙add huwa baxx.

L-ewwelnett, illum m'g˙adx hija daqshekk qawwija l-istigma li jkollok tarbija qabel jew barra Ω-Ωwie©, jew li trabbi tarbija wa˙dek.

It-tieni, hemm il-possibiltà tal-abort, li huwa legali fl-Awstralja.

It-tielet, hemm l-esperjenza tal-Ìenerazzjoni l-Misruqa, fejn trabi abori©ini kienu me˙udin mill-familji tag˙hom u adottati minn ©enituri bojod fl-ewwel nofs tas-seklu g˙oxrin, g˙alhekk fl-Awstralja filfatt l-attitudni dwar l-adozzjoni hija pjuttost negattiva.3 L-Awtoritajiet Awstraljani qed ja˙sbu biex jibdlu r-regolamenti, sabiex tfal li b˙alissa qeg˙din ta˙t it-trobbija ta' terzi persuni (foster carers) ikunu iktar façilment jistg˙u ji©u adottati. Dan illum ma tantx isir g˙ax l-awtoritajiet aktar jippreferu jistennew sabiex jekk jista' jkun jer©g˙u jlaqqg˙u lit-tfal mal-©enituri bijolo©içi tag˙hom.

G˙alkemm dan huwa g˙an poΩittiv, jidher li fil-prattika s-sitwazzjoni fid-dar tal-©enituri rari tkun tali li tippermetti dan, u t-tfal jispiççaw jitilfu ç-çans li jkollhom ©enituri adottivi tag˙hom qabel ma ji©u tal-età (ta' tmintax-il sena).

Din is-sitwazzjoni ©eg˙litni na˙seb ftit jekk hemmx soluzzjoni o˙ra g˙all-g˙add baxx ta' adozzjonijiet. Ósibt fis-sitwazzjoni tad-dwejjaq fejn tfajliet u nisa jiddeçiedu li jag˙mlu abort, meta jiddeçiedu li ma jistg˙ux jew ma jridux irabbu t-tfal li qed i©orru. Ìietni din l-ideja - g˙ax ma nfittxux li minn Ωew© sitwazzjonijiet negattivi tin˙are© wa˙da poΩittiva? G˙ax ma tin˙oloqx struttura u organizzazzjoni li toffri lil dawn it-tfajliet u n-nisa li ma jridux lil uliedhom li qed i©orru fil-©uf, l-opportunità li jlaqqg˙uhom ma' koppji li jkunu lesti li jaddotawhom? PerswaΩ li mhux kul˙add ikun interessat, imma çert li jkun hemm min ikun irid.

Biex dan il-proçess ikun ta' interess g˙all-omm bijolo©ika, irid ikun garantit, ji©ifieri fl-a˙˙ar mill-a˙˙ar l-omm bijolo©ika tkun çerta li ma' tibqax iktar legalment responsabbli.

Din il-˙a©a forsi di©à sse˙˙, imma jekk iva g˙andi l-impressjoni li sse˙˙ fuq skala Ωg˙ira ˙afna. Ng˙id g˙alija, jekk teΩisti ma tantx hi viΩibbli, u niskanta bis-sitwazzjoni.

L-ammont ta' interventi tal-abort li jsiru fl-Awstralja huwa ma˙sub li huwa g˙oli, g˙alkemm ˙add ma jaf eΩatt kemm hemm. Ir-ra©uni hi li mhux l-istati u t-territorji kollha jΩommu statistika dwar dan issu©©ett. Rajt stima ta' medja ta' 75,000 proçedura fis-sena fil-perjodu 1995-2004,4 u stima o˙ra ta' 84,214 fl-2003.5 Figura iktar riçenti hija ta 57,380 fl-2014.6 Çertament, b'dawn il-figuri, il-possibiltà hemm qieg˙da. Imqar jekk 1% biss tal-interventi ta' abort tas-sena l-o˙ra ji©u ddevjati fi proçess ta' adozzjoni, Ωieda ta' 570 adozzjoni lokali fis-sena jkunu jistg˙u ise˙˙u, kwaΩi Ωieda ta' 300% fuq il-200 li jse˙˙u issa!

Jien nara opportunità hawnhekk g˙al dawk l-organizzazzjonijiet li

jg˙idu li huma kontra l-abort, b˙all-knejjes insara, li jing˙aqdu, u minflok sempliçement jitkellmu kontra l-abort u jippriedkaw ilmoralità tal-poΩizzjoni tag˙hom, ifittxu li joffru soluzzjoni prattika g˙al dawk it-tfajliet u n-nisa li jaslu jiddeçiedu li ma jridux irabbu lit-tarbija fil-©uf tag˙hom.

G˙alhekk, nipproponi li dawn l-organizzazzjonijiet jid˙lu fi s˙ab mad-Dipartiment li jie˙u ˙sieb il-proçessi ta' trobbija (fostering) jew adozzjoni tat-tfal (fi NSW illum jissejja˙ id-Dipartiment tal-Familja u s-Servizzi Kommunitarji, u f'Malta d-Dipartiment tas-Sigurtà Soçjali) u jag˙mlu ftehim biex mill-komunitajiet tag˙hom jidentifikaw nisa li lesti jçedu lit-tfal tag˙hom mat-twelid. Per eΩempju, jistg˙u jag˙mlu avviΩi waqt iç-çelebrazzjonijiet litur©içi u okkaΩjonijiet o˙ra kif ukoll kampanji fil-midja.

Min-na˙a tag˙hom, il-dipartimenti tal-gvern di©à g˙andhom l-informazzjoni ta' koppji li jixtiequ jadottaw, u jippreparawhom b˙al ma jag˙mlu llum, bid-differenza li l-g˙add ikun ˙afna ikbar milli hu llum.

Naturalment mhux kull min qed jikkunsidra li jag˙mel abort ikun konvint minn dan. Irridu nirrikonoxxu li mara li tkun qed tikkunsidra li tittermina t-tqala tag˙ha g˙andha r-ra©unijiet tag˙ha, u tista' tkun g˙addiet minn vjolenza, stupru jew sitwazzjonijiet diffiçli o˙ra.

G˙alhekk, l-g˙aΩla finali g˙andha tkun tag˙ha u tag˙ha biss, u rrispettata ming˙ajr ma' ti©i kkundannata.

Madankollu, jien na˙seb li b'din l-iskema u b'kampanja nazzjonali, jkun hemm perçentwal tajjeb li jaççettaw din is-sej˙a, u s-soçjetà tista' biss tirba˙ b'dan.

In˙e©©e© lil min g˙andu interess fis-su©©ett, speçjalment dawk li g˙andhom influwenza fl-organizzazzjonijiet involuti, biex jikkunsidra dan is-su©©eriment.

Referenzi 1. http://www.childrenbychoice.org.au/info-a-resources/facts-and-figures/unplannedpregnancy-profiles-of-abortion-adoption-and-parenting, retrieved 29/12/2015 2. Use of Routinely Collected National Data Sets for Reporting on Induced Abortion in Australia, Australian Institue of Health & Welfare, December 2005, p.32 3. http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/policy/abortion/ab-australia.html, retrieved 29/12/20152. http://www.australianstogether.org.au/stories/detail/thegapindigenousdisadvantageinaustralia, retrieved 4/11/2015 4. http://www.childrenbychoice.org.au/info-a-resources/facts-and-figures/unplannedpregnancy-profiles-of-abortion-adoption-and-parenting, retrieved 29/12/2015 5. Use of Routinely Collected National Data Sets for Reporting on Induced Abortion in Australia, Australian Institue of Health & Welfare, December 2005, p.32 6. http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/policy/abortion/ab-australia.html, retrieved 29/12/2015

Tuesday January 5, 2016

The Voice of the Maltese 11

A cultural fortnight not to be missed Teatru Manoel, a hub of activity in January number of our readers from Australia are currently visiting their also be used in Valletta, Malta’s capital Centring around the Manoel, one of the relatives in Malta and during that was built by the Knights of St John oldest working theatres in Europe which their stay are still quite keen on receiving after the Great Siege of 1565 and conse- also happens to be the only one in Euand reading The Voice of the Maltese.. quently adorned by its eight languages. rope that fulfils the role of a National As such, we recommend these readers During the years Valletta not only had Theatre, the Festival extends to the magand anybody who happens to nificence of St John’s Co-Cathbe on the island at this time of edral, the atmospheric Valletta year, to participate in the activchurches, the splendid Grandities, cultural or otherwise curmasters’ Palace, the auberges rently being held in Malta. and other baroque edifices.

One such event is the twoAn international festival week Valletta International such as this will most cerBaroque Festival 2016 mantainly continue to, not only aged by Teatru Manoel, confirm and enhance Valwhere most of the cultural letta’s prestige but also show events would be held during Europe that this small historthe January 16-30. he event is ical outpost in the MediterAs such, the Manoel Theatre ranean has over the centuries continues to abide by its curplayed a vital role in Eurorent mission, that is, to enter- St John’s Co-Cathedral pean history. tain, inform and educate, The organisers say that with thereby enriching the cultural life of the to serve as a powerful fort, but has also two very important events on the horiaudience as well as to provide a plat- become a strongpoint of culture, econ- zon namely the EU Presidency in 2017 form for artists to excel in their talents. omy and politics in the world. Embel- and the European Capital of Culture The Manoel is committed to the pres- lished at the height of the baroque the following year, plans for the Valentation of quality artistic productions, period, Valletta rose to become a city letta International Baroque Festival are to the creation of new audiences for built by gentlemen for gentlemen. The not only long-term but also ambitious, music and drama genres, and to pro- Valletta International Baroque Festival, and no stone has been left unturned in vide a principal platform for local and first held in January 2013, has been con- securing some of the best contempointernational artists. ceived purposely as a celebration of this rary Baroque exponents of the moment, However, other popular venues will baroque identity of Valletta. both from the international sphere as well as locally.

The conference hall in the Grandmaster’s Palace (now serving as the President’s Palace) in Valletta

A

LLeeoo’’ss Ve Vehhiiccllee R Reennttaallss

Guaranteed cheapest rates All vehicles in NRMA road Service Low holding Deposit Discount for weekly rentals Shuttle service to the Airport Phone: 9622 2208 Mob: 0418 405 271 102 Kildare Rd Blacktown NSW 2148

12 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday January 5, 2016

Roundup of News About Malta Document about strategy for reception of asylum seekers, irregular migrants Minister Carmelo Abela during his meeting withthe NGOs about the new strategy

Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela discussing the strategy with the NGOs

A

new strategy just published by the Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security ensures the adoption of a comprehensive approach to the reception of asylum seekers and irregular migrants, and that the rights of asylum seekers in Malta were secured without jeopardising the security of the country.

The publication of the strategy for the reception of asylum seekers and irregular migrants followed a period of public consultation, seeks to improve procedures to identify people in clear need of international protection.

The consultation document addresses specifically the reception aspect, firstly because of its importance but also in view of the need to comply with higher standards, including those emanating from EU legislation.

Malta has been experiencing a large influx of irregular migrants since 2002, when over 1,600 persons reached Malta’s shores on board unregistered craft. This trend went on unabated although reductions in the number of arrivals were registered in 2003 and 2010.

85% believe economy doing well

esults of a survey conducted in the R spring by Barometer shows 85% of the Maltese believe that Malta’s econ-

omy is dong well, and that migration and environment are the two factors that most worry the Maltese. This is an increase of 12% over last year’s survey.

The result is double the average in the rest of the European Union member countries. Seven out of 10 persons said their job is doing well while 86∞ of families surveyed said their financial situation is good.

The only negative aspect is that when it comes to the level of confidence in the government this was down by 5% from 56 to 51%, while 60% stated they had n confidence in political parties

During 2008 and 2013 over 2,000 migrants entered Malta irregularly. The figure for 2014, although not as high, still exceeded the 500 mark. Despite the reduction in the number of irregular migrants in 2015 standing at more than 100 persons, the number of asylum applications received has been significant, given that applications were also received directly at the Office of the Refugee Commissioner. As at end October 2015 almost 1,400 asylum applications were lodged.

In the context of a country of 316 square kilometres and a population of over 400,000 such an influx has significant repercussions in terms of resources and accommodation logistics, as well as in relation to other key aspects, including international protection, integration as well as the return of those found not to be deserving of international protection.

In a meeting with a number of nongovernmental organisations in the migration field the minister entrusted with the portfolio Carmelo Abela, emphasised that the new strategy seeks to draw a balance between humanitarian needs and security requirements.

He said the measures meet the criteria required by the European Court of Human Rights in its judgements relat-

New strategy draws balance between human rights and security, Minister Abela says ing to Malta. Similarly, it is in line with the high standards deriving from EU legislation, through the European Reception Conditions Directive. It seeks to draw an adequate balance between human rights, health concerns and security.

The document provides for a system for the initial reception of recently arrived migrants, as well as for initiatives relating to detention and open centre accommodation. It meets the Government’s pledge not to detain minors and vulnerable persons.

According to the new strategy, asylum seekers would be detained for no more than nine months and would become entitled to access to the labour market in accordance with the re-cast Reception Conditions Directive, a new migration policy published by the government states.

The document is also based on feedback received from pertinent stakeholders and the public following a consultation process held during November 2015 The Ministry will now be working towards implementation, addressing the re-organisation of Malta’s reception systems, and strengthening procedures that identify those who are in clear need of international protection.

Malta restores full Schengen rules T

he Maltese government has restored full Schengen regulations after temporarily suspending temporarily the free movement agreement for the Valletta Summit on Migration and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting CHOGM in November.

The government then decided to extend the suspension until the end of the year as an additional security measure. The Home Affairs Ministry said that Malta never had any threat, therefore the government has now announced that the Schengen rules are back in force.

This means that once again, passengers may now travel without a passport to several other European countries and when it comes to Malta International Airport and the cruise passenger terminal in Valletta, there will be no passport controls to other Schengen states.

Of the 26 countries bound by the Schengen agreement, 22 are part of the EU and the other four are part of the EFTA.

The Voice of the Maltese 13

Tuesday January 5, 2016

Roundup of News About Malta End of 2015 Malta records its Italian beekeeper feeling the ‘sting’

Highest-ever employment rate A

I

n the last quarter of 2015, Malta recorded the highest-ever employment rate in history. According to the National Statistics Office’s Labour Force Survey estimates, employment stood at a record 189,565 (65.2%), with the majority (158,761), working on a full-time basis, while unemployment stood at 5.3%.

The same figures indicate that during the last quarter of 2015, when compared to 2014, there was an increase of 2.8 per cent in employment in Malta with total employment (accounting for more than half the population aged 15 and over.

Self-employed persons during the last three months of 2015 in Malta accounted for 13.7 per cent of the total employed population.

Statistic shows that on average, out of every 100 persons aged 15 to 64, 65 were employed, with the highest employment rate (78.7 %) recorded among persons aged between 25 and 54 and stood at 78.7.

When it comes to employed men, figures showed that 29.4% of them were mostly engaged in wholesale and retail trade, transportation and storage, accommodation and

food service activities; 40.8% of employed women were mostly engaged in public administration, defence, education, human health and social work activities.

An estimated 24,756 (13.1 per cent) had a part-time job as their primary employment.

A further 6,048 were working on a full-time with reduced hours basis.

The same survey showed that average annual basic salary of employees for the third quarter of 2015 was estimated at €16,634.

This being the annual basic salary and excludes extra payments such as overtime, bonuses and allowances, as explained in the methodological notes.

The highest average annual basic salary for employees was recorded in the information and communication sector. Average annual salaries varied from €29,576 among managers to €10,840 among persons engaged in elementary occupations.

Now NSO statistic shows that at the end of November, the number of persons registering for work continued to fall to only 4,760. Compared to November 2014, figures show that unemployment has gone down by 1,741

strange theft was reported in the media.

An Italian beekeeper by the name of Ermanno De Chino, the owner of Melita Bees in Gozo claimed that during last year he lost 20 percent of his bees. He reported that in a few days, in the second half of December, he discovered that somebody had stolen 22 colonies of is bees from his apiaries, 14 of them from Marsalforn and another eight from Xlendi.

The Italian, whose operation is one of the largest in Malta, described his loss as a “systematic theft”. In the spring, somebody had also stolen from him a further 20 colonies. He is convinced that somebody familiar with the place is carrying out the theft as a number of them had been carried out in broad daylight, He described the latest theft as the most damaging because the colonies contained bees that had been brought from Finland specifically to produce queens for the Finnish market.

A single colony can contain more than 30,000 bees and weighs about 25 kilograms.

De Chino said that most likely they are being targeted by some people have it in for them because they do not want them in Malta.

Nov. registers Double-digit growth in inbound tourism alta recorded a double-digit growth rate, in inbound visitors to Malta in November 2015. The total number of tourists, M 115,105 during this month, shows an increase of 11.3% over the same month the previous year, 2014.

Total inbound tourists (exclud- expenditure increasing from ing cruise passengers spending €910 in January to November overnights in Malta) amounted to 2014 to €925 in January to No113,042, increasing by 9.8% or vember 2015.

The growth also included the 10,102 more tourists, while the number of nights spent in Malta two international events held in by tourists reached 838,984, rep- Malta during the month of November. resenting an increase of 7.7%.

The figures, that also included Tourist expenditure registered the highest growth rate of the two international events held 12.2%, as the visitors spent in Malta during November, re€90.1 million, €9.77 million flect the constant positive growth experienced throughout more than the previous year.

Cumulative data for the first 11 the year, which is expected to months of 2015 (January to No- continue even during December. vember) shows that during this The majority of source markets period, the number of inbound with the exception of Libya and tourists exceeded the 1.7 million Russia recorded increases. Commark, an increase of 5.9% over pared to the previous year, the the same period last year.

United Kingdom registered the Overall, the number of tourist largest absolute increase of nights by tourists reached 13.6 36,595 more tourists. Italy folmillion, (an increase of 5.2%). lowed with 25,738. Other doubleThe tourist expenditure figure digit growth rates in inbound features the highest increase of tourists were recorded from USA, 7.7%, reaching €1.59 billion, Belgium, Ireland and Austria.

113.1 million more over same MTA CEO Mr Paul Bugeja period last year, with per capita said, the new record figures ach-

ieved throughout this year were the result of the hard work put in by all stakeholders within the industry. “These efforts amongst others included several marketing initiatives, better exposure in International travel fairs and increased connectivity to our Islands,” he added.

Meanwhile, during a visit to a number of hotels, and faced by these positive figures, Minister for Tourism Dr Edward Zammit Lewis said while the tourism industry during 2015 would be remembered as a record year from all aspects, in the coming year, along with the MHRA, and the private sector, the Government, would be seeking initiatives in order to improve the conditions of the workers in the sector.

Minister Edward Zammit Lewis (left) with Dr Gavin Gulia, chairman of the Maltese Tourist Authority (first left) and Mr Paul Bugeja, MRA’s CEO who accompanied him during his visit to the hotels.

An “employment passport”?

The General Workers Union is calling on the government to convey a meeting with the GWU and other stakeholders in order to discuss its proposal of issuing an “employment passport” for workers in the tourism industry that could weed out precarious work and other problems in the hospitality industry. It would be a virtual curriculum vitae that tracked all the places a person worked at in the tourism industry.

14 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday January 5, 2016

G˙andu Ra©un?

T

a˙sbu li ghandu ra©un dak li kiteb filblog tieg˙u: “Ktibt aktar minn darba biex nesprimi l-ammirazzjoni tieg˙i lejn il-President tar-Repubblika u l-attitudni ©dida li l-presidenza ˙adet mal- ˙atra tag˙ha....... ebda President qabilha ma kienqrib ir-Repubblika daqskemm hi hi.”

Hekk beda l-kitba ta˙t it-titlu “Karnival lejn tmiem Diçembru l-kittieb mag˙ruf, Immanuel Mifsud. Qajjem ftit tal-polemika mhux ˙aΩin.

Mifsud kien qed jikkummenta dwar dak li se˙˙ meta t˙abbret is-somma rekord ta’ flus li n©abru fl-okkaΩjoni tal-Istrina fejn fuq ilpalk quddiem il-cameras tat-televiΩjoni kien hemm il-President, ir-ra©el tag˙ha, Ωew© preΩentaturi u o˙rajn.

Mifsud jiddeskrivi x-xena hekk: “Fuq il-palk hemm il-President, Ωew©ha, membri tal-istaff tag˙ha, nies o˙rajn li ma stajtx nidentifika u Ωew© preΩenaturi televiΩivi li aktarx mexxew il-maratona. Ji©i intonat març tal-banda li jfakkrek fil-mumenti eΩatt wara t-tifsira finali tal-a˙˙ar log˙ba tal-lig f’Ta’Qali.

“Wie˙ed mill-preΩentaturi jg˙ajjat b’˙an©ra daqsiex li nkiser ir-rekord. Imbag˙ad jinstema’ kull tip ta’ g˙ajat u twerΩiq li kwaΩi jixbah l-g˙ajat ta’ xi ˙add b’attakk ta’ isterija.

Jidhru ˙afna bΩieΩaq jew blalen kbar tilg˙in u niΩlin. Ir-ra©el tal-President jidher jaqbeΩ u jog˙la u l-preΩentaturi televiΩivi u n-nies lo˙rajn ta’ fuq il-palk jarmaw jg˙annqu lillPresident tar-Repubblika tant li din ma tibqax tidher, midfuna ta˙t it-tg˙anniq qawwi ta’ dawk l-i©sma ta’ madwarha” Din hi d-deskrizzjoni minn pinna ta’ awtur li jaf i˙addem l-ilsien Malti tassew tajjeb.

Mifsud imbag˙ad jirrimarka: “L-a˙˙ar darba li rajt xeni b˙al din kien l-istadium ta’ Ta’ Qali u l-pjazza ta’ Ra˙al ©did f’Mejju li g˙adda. Imma dik kienet okkaΩjoni differenti u t-tg˙anniq ma kienx lill-President tar-Repubblika imma lil president ta’ klabb tal-futbol u l-plejers tieg˙u.”

Dak li se˙˙ xejn ma g˙o©ob lil Mifsud tant li rrimarka li waqt li l-President g˙amlet tajjeb li resqet lejn in-nies u ˙alliet in-nies jersqu lejha, xorta wie˙ed irid iΩomm quddiem

g˙ajnejh “li dik il-mara li hemm fin-nofs tal-palk hija l-President tar-Repubblika u mhux Mary ta’ ma©enbna.

U l-President tar-Repubblika, qrib kemm hi qrib in-nies, tibqa’ President ta’ Repubblika.

Il-President tarRepubblika m’g˙andekx tixte˙et fuqha tg˙annaqha kif tg˙annaq lillcaptain tat-team wara li rçieva ttrophy” Huwa tefa t-tort ta’ dan fuq il-mod li sejja˙lu delettantesk ta’ kif tmexxa l-programm imtella’ mit-televiΩjoni tal-istat li f’pajjiΩi normali huwa l-eΩempju tal-eççellenza.

“Il-karnival li rajt fil-˙ames minuti finali ta’ L-Istrina mhux biss i˙ammarli wiççi imma jikkonvinçini kemm tassew g˙andna bΩonn – u bΩonn imminenti – li naraw x’hawn tajjeb u NARMU dak li hu r˙is u ta’ eΩempju ˙aΩin. U g˙andna bΩonn imminenti li nag˙rfu li Mary u Raymond tal-flat ta’ fuqna huma l-©irien u l-President hija President ta’ Repubblika li suppost g˙andna rispett kbir lejha.”

Il-kitba ta’ Mifsud ©abet reazzjoni minna˙a tal-President, Marie Louise Coleiro Preca li waqt intervista fuq One Radio, g˙alkemm ma semmietx il-blog ta’ Mifsud kummentat hekk: “Saret tal-mist˙ija li tifra˙ b'xi ˙a©a tajba?

Mela fil-Karnival biss tista' tifra˙? Anke g˙ax xi ˙add ©ie jg˙annaqni, g˙amel ˙aΩin?

“F'daqqa wa˙da l-Istrina, li ilha tittella' g˙al 17-il sena, ©iet karnivalata,” qalet ilPresident Coleiro Preca, b'ton ta' dispjaçir, filwaqt li sa˙qet li kull meta ng˙alqet is-

Il-President ta’ Malta MarieLouise Coleiro Preca flimkien ma’ Ωew©ha Edgar f’tannieqa li wriet il-fer˙ li ˙assew fi tmiem il-maratona tal-©bir ta’ fondi, l-Istrina

somma dejjem kien hemm sens ta' fer˙.

“Imma na˙seb li dan m’huwiex karnival.

G˙aliex il-fer˙ espress dak il-˙in ma kienx dwar is-somma, imma g˙al dawk in-nies li se ji©u bΩonn din is-sena u qed ji©u bΩonn b˙alissa,” Il-President issoktat tg˙id li l-interess tag˙ha huwa n-nies. “Jiena omm ta' familja, u kont bint. G˙alhekk nifhem it-tbatijiet talfamilji. G˙alhekk nid˙ol fihom dawn l-affarijiet, b˙all-kura tal-mard."

Il-President qalet li wasal iΩ-Ωmien li f'pajjiΩna nistaqsu x'tip ta' Presidenza jrid ikollna.

Sa˙qet li g˙aliex hija President ma tistax tinsa l-fatt li hija dejjem kienet man-nies. “Jien Marie Louise tan-nies,” qalet il-President, filwaqt li sostniet li l-ma©©oranza tal-Presidenti kollha madwar l-Ewropa g˙andhom fondazzjonijiet filantropiçi tag˙hom.

Sa˙qet li l-poplu Malti jixtieq li l-Presidenza tkun qrib il-poplu, g˙aliex l-iskop talPresidenza dejjem kien li jkollha responsabilità morali kbira.

Jien nifhem ir-reazzjoni tal-President g˙al dak li kiteb Mifsud meta ˙afna kienu dawk li nterpretaw dak li qal Mifsud b˙ala kritika lillPresident, b˙ala kritika g˙all-fatt li tidher li tiddedika ˙afna ˙in g˙al g˙anijiet filantopiçi.

Na˙seb li Mifsud kompla g˙arraq is-sitwazzjoni bl-uΩu biex il-qtil jitwaqqaf. Qajjem il-punt jekk l-awtori- kemm-il darba tal-kelma ‘karnitajiet kellhomx id-dritt li joqtlu l-bhejjem ming˙ajr val’, li ma na˙sibx li kienet f’lokha. IΩda jien n˙ares lejn dak li ma jittestjaw jekk dawn humiex morda jew le.

Sintendi, fuq ordni tal-Qorti l-qtil kellu jitwaqqaf kiteb b˙ala messa©© lill-poplu Malti biex ma japprofittax ru˙u sakemm tiddeçiedi dwar dan il-punt. IΩda min-na˙a mill-©enoriΩita` tal-President, milll-o˙ra l-istess awtoritajiet ˙adu passi biex jaraw li fatt li l-President tqis ru˙ha b˙ala prodotti minn dawn in-ng˙a© ma jaslux g˙and il- “Marie Louise tan-nies” biex ma konsumaturi. Sintendi, biex jag˙mlu dan kellhom jibqg˙ux juru r-rispett u l-istima li ipo©©u g˙assa (lejl u nhar) ma dan ir-razzett. jixraq lill-Presidenza li hija l-g˙ola Din l-g˙assa s’issa swiet lill-poplu €600,000. istituzzjoni tal-pajjiΩ.

Hu veru kaΩ ta’ “Time means money”!! Id-dnub (Ara rapport ©enerali tal-attivita’ li li f’dan il-kaΩ il-flus ˙er©in u mhux de˙lin!!! tg˙aqqad nazzjon f’pa©na 4)

er˙la ng˙a© qed tqum lillM poplu Malti eluf ta’ Ewro ... u l-Poplu j˙allas fis-sena. U fuq kollox minn dawn in-ng˙a© il-poplu mhu qed jie˙u xejn.

It-tort hu tal-Qrati Maltin. Fl- 2012 l-awtoritajiet Maltin kienu saru jafu b’razzett b’ammont kbir ta’ ng˙a© li ma kienux re©istrati mad-Dipartiment tal-Biedja, u bhejjem li ma jkunux re©istrati jitqiesu b˙ala annimali morda u ming˙ajr ma jsiru testijiet fuqhom biex jikkonfermaw jekk humiex tassew morda jew le, dawn jinqatlu.

F’dan ir-razzett fl-G˙arb G˙awdex, Ganni Attard kellu 500 ng˙a©a. L-awtoritajiet imxew skont il-li©i u bdew joqtlu dawn in-ng˙a©. Meta kienu nqatlu madwar 200 minnhom is-sid feta˙ kawΩa fil-Qrati

The Voice of the Maltese 15

Tuesday January 5, 2016

Mix-xena tal-˙ajja Maltija 2

Qatt kilt Abori©inu?

J

ekk lit-twe©iba tieg˙ek g˙ar-ras tal-artiklu hi ‘le’ g˙andek çans tag˙mel dan f’Malta jekk tmur tiekol f’çertu restorant fi Strada Stretta, il-belt Valletta. G˙al abori©inu mixwi (grilled) trid tordna is-South Street Salad g˙ax skont se ssib ‘grilled aborigines’ (ritratt fuq).

Imma l-istorja tal-‘aborigines’ minflok ‘aubergine’ (brun©iel) mhix xi ˙a©a ©dida.

Darba ristorant f’Paceville offrieli ç-chickentights avolja kont kuntent bil-kalzetti s˙an

li kont liebes.

Mort Bugibba u b˙ala frott talba˙ar offrewli ‘Seafood Pizza with muscles’ u b˙ala deΩerta spiççjat bi ‘sweat loaf’. B˙ala xarba offrewli kemm ‘Hopeles Ale’ (hopleaf) u ‘Impoted Beer’. Meta kont sejjer id-dar rajt stabbiliment enormi li fisshowroom kellu il-’Bathroom Suits’ .

Stennew ftit g˙ax fil-kantin tal-Universita` ta’ Malta l-istudenti sa˙ansitra ©ew offruti ftira li fost l-ingredjenti kellha

Il-pastizzi Maltin jisirqu l-attenzjoni tan-NYT!

M

eta dan l-a˙˙ar rajt a˙bar dwar ilpastizzi wara artiklu li deher flistampa Amerikana, ˙sibt li fl-a˙˙ar mill-a˙˙ar, kif sabu ru˙hom fi ˙wienet f’diversi bliet fl-Awstralja u lKanada, il-pastizzi Maltin issa sabu wkoll xi suq tajjeb ukoll fl-Istati Uniti. G˙alkemm jing˙ad li hemm ftit ˙wienet tal-Maltin li jibieg˙uhom.

IΩda mort Ωmerç. G˙ax l-a˙bar kienet titratta dwar artiklu li deher f’wie˙ed mill©urnali ewlenin tal-Istati Uniti – in-New York Times – fejn ippubblika artiklu ta’ James Kanteredec dwar id-dieta... jew a˙jar in-nuqqas ta’ dieta... tal-Maltin Skont l-artikolista (li g˙amel Ωball li ©©eneralizza), waqt il-kolazzjon il-Maltin jin©abru biex jixtru l-pastizzi, imbag˙ad jirritornaw f’nofsinhar g˙al xi “timpana mimlija g˙a©in u l-la˙am - u ˙afna kaloriji.”

U xi hamburger jew tnejn ukoll, qal.

L-artiklu sa˙ansitra jfakkar fil-mod kif ittenur Malti Joseph Calleja kien iddefenda l˙obΩa Maltija, u li din tibqa’ kif inhi ming˙ajr ma jintmess il-livell ta’ mel˙ li jintuΩa fl-g˙a©ina.

Mhux ta’ b’xejn li skont rapport tal-G˙aqda Dinjija tas-Sa˙˙a jirriΩulta li l-Maltin huma ˙oxnin aktar mill-©irien tag˙hom f’Çipru, il-Greçja, Spanja u l-Italja, u li flobeΩita’ (il-˙xuna) qeg˙din fl-ewwel post mill-Istati Membri tal-Unjoni Ewropea.

Imma talinqas l-artikolista ta’ dan il-

©urnal kellu jammetti li ras g˙al ras, il-piΩ tal-Amerikani huwa aktar minn dak talMaltin.... avolja g˙adna ma rnexxilniex inda˙˙lu daqstant il-pasitizzi Maltin fl-Istati Uniti.

l-‘cow slow.’ Ma nafx hawnhekk kienux qed jirreferu g˙all-pass li bih jimxi s-servizz jew inkellha g˙all‘Coleslaw’ Na˙seb li menus b˙al dawn jinsabu f’kull rokna tad-dinja.

Qed ng˙id min jaf kieku kull wie˙ed mill-qarrejja kellu joqg˙od b’g˙ajnejh miftu˙in u jibag˙tilna xi Ωelqa b˙al din, possibilment b’xi ritratt?

Na˙seb li l-edituri tal-Voice ikollhom xalata s˙i˙a.!!!!

Interessanti!! afu min hi d-dentista tal-Prim Ministru Malti Joseph Muscat? Óadd ˙lief Marlene Farrugia T li dan l-a˙˙ar irriΩinjat minn deputat Laburista u ˙adet postha fil-Parlament b˙ala Indipendenti.

Dan sar mag˙ruf minn fomm il-Prim Ministru nnifsu waqt il-programm televiΩiv “Skjetti” fejn il-pubbliku seta' jistaqsi dak kollu li jrid lill-Kap tal-OppoΩizzjoni sakemm il-mistoqsija ma tkunx dwar il-politika.

Temp tassew Sajfi g˙all-festi

awk it-turisti li g˙addew il-btajjel tal-MiD lied f’Malta, l-aktar u l-aktar dawk ©ejjin mir-Renju Unit, Ωgur ˙ar©u sodisfatti.

G˙alkemm qeg˙din fix-xitwa t-temp kien tassew ˙anin billi ftit li xejn g˙amlet xita u ttemperatura, l-aktar matul il-jum, baqg˙et aççettabli. Kellna Milied u l-Ewwel tas-Sena mill-isba˙.

It-temp sabi˙ irrifletta wkoll fuq l-g˙add ta’ nies li Ωaru G˙awdex fil-jiem tal-festi.

BiΩΩejjed ng˙id li fi tmiem il-©img˙a tal-Milied (26 u 27 ta’ Diçembru) qasmu minn Malta g˙al G˙awdex aktar minn 21 elf persuna.

Minn çifri tal-Gozo Channel u m˙abbara millMinistru g˙al G˙awdex Anton Refalo, jirriΩulta li s-Sibt biss (fis-27) qasmu lejn G˙awdex aktar minn 10,500 passi©©ier u 2,500 karrozza. Din ix-xejra kompliet l-g˙ada l-Óadd fejn b’kollox ivvja©©aw 10,700 passi©ier u 2,300 karozza.

Dan kollu jfisser li meta mqabbel mas-sena l-o˙ra, f’dan l-istess perjodu, din is-sena kien hemm Ωieda ta’ aktar minn 81% fuq il-passi©©ieri li telg˙u G˙awdex, u aktar minn 65% aktar fl-ammont ta’ karozzi li qasmu bejn iΩΩew© gΩejjer.

Sintendi b’dan l-influss hekk kbir ta’ nies li marru G˙awdex Ωdied sewwa l-kummerç f’G˙awdex u marru tajjeb ˙afna l-istabilimenti turistiçi fil-gΩira G˙awdxija.

16 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday January 5, 2016

A quick glimpse at Australia

Subsidies major obstacle rade Minister Andrew Robb T (right) said the abolition of subsidies would make Australian producers

Two MPs stand aside

rime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's GovernP ment has been rocked after two scandal-hit MPs stood down from their frontbench just after

of sugar, meat, dairy, grain, wine, fruit, processed foods and cotton more competitive. "For decades, export subsidies have threatened the livelihoods of Australian farmers," he said in a statement from Kenya. Ending the subsidies has "been a major objective of Australian trade policy since the 1970s".

Under the 1995 Uruguay Round agreement, World Trade Organisation members were allowed to use more than $15 billion of agricultural export subsidies. More than 90 per cent of these are held by Europe and North America. An agreement by all 163

members of the World Trade Organisation to end agricultural subs i d i s e s should make Australian farmers more competitive in dairy, sugar, grain and wine.

In a deal that coincided with the first day of the Australia-China trade agreement operating, which triggered tariff cuts, the WTO decided to phase out $15 billion of export subsidies.

Christmas. Liberal MP Mal Brough (above) will stand aside, pending a police investigation, while Jamie Briggs MP has tendered his resignation.

Briggs (below) resigned as Minister for Cities and the Built Environment following a latenight incident involving a female public servant in a Hong Kong bar during an official overseas visit last month. Mr. Briggs the Liberal Member for Mayo in South Australia, is expected to remain in Federal Parliament as a backbencher Mal Brough, Member for Fisher in Queensland was the Special Minister of State and Minister for Defence Materiel and Science has been under investigation by the Australian Federal Police over the alleged copying of the diary of former speaker Peter Slipper

Meet the Nippers ippers is a junior programme that N introduces children aged 5 to 14 to surf lifesaving. Unlike senior surf lifesavers, the majority do not patrol the beaches. It is a fun outdoors activity that grows a child’s confidence, teaches

valuable life skills and knowledge.

The focus for Nippers is for it to be on fun and surf awareness. Nippers learn about safety on the beach, about dangers such as rocks, also about surf conditions, including rip currents, sandbars and waves. .

They say it was first stared at Nambucca Heads NSW in 1961. Since then Nippers have evolved into Australia’s biggest youth movement combining activities with community services.They even eclipse their land based rival the Scouts, though Baden-Powell’s organisation had a 50-year head start. It is a great way for children to make friends, be active and enjoy the beach in a safe environment.

Surf Life Saving Australia, claimed a national reach of 166,923 members and nearly 40 per cent of them, 62,866 are Nippers aged between five and 14.

Pictured above: Harley Dimech (waving), the U/8&9 yrs club champion, North Avoca Beach NSW Nippers

Tuesday January 5, 2016

The Voice of the Maltese 17

A quick glimpse at Australia

History of bushfires in Australia - deadliest and largest in Victoria

B

ushfires in Australia are frequent events during the current hotter months of the year, due to Australia's mostly hot, dry climate and the increasing effects of climate change.

In Victoria Christmas Day fires destroyed 118 homes in the Wye River (located more than 150 km south of Melbourne) and Separation Creek. No lives were lost in the fire.

We had the Sampson Flat bushfires in South Australia. Some 26 homes have been destroyed, which is the worst since the Ash Wednesday blaze in 1983 that killed 28 people. In Western Australia lives and homes were under threat from bushfires burning in Perth Hills. Each year, such fires impact extensive areas.

While they can cause property damage and loss of human life, certain native flora in Australia have evolved to rely on bushfires as a means of reproduction, and fire events are an interwoven and an essential part of the ecology of the continent.

For thousands of years, Indigenous Australians have used fire to foster grasslands for hunting and to clear tracks through dense bush.

Major firestorms that result in severe loss of life are often named based on the day on which they occur, such as Ash Wednesday and Black Saturday.

Some of the most intense, extensive and deadly bushfires commonly occur during droughts and heat waves, such as the 2009 Southern Australia heat wave, which precipitated the conditions during the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in which 173 people lost their lives.

Other major conflagrations include the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires, the 2003 Eastern Victorian alpine bushfires and the 2006 December Bushfires.

Victoria has seen the majority of the deadliest and largest bushfires in Australia, most notably the 2009 Black Saturday fires, where 173 people were killed, around 2,000 homes and structures were destroyed, towns were gutted, and some, such as Marysville, were destroyed.

MICHELLE ROWLAND MP FEDERAL MEMBER FOR GREENWAY Proudly serving the areas of: Acacia Gardens, Blacktown*, Girraween, Glenwood, Kellyville Ridge, Kings Langley, Kings Park, Lalor Park, Parklea, Pendle Hill, Prospect*, Quakers Hill*, Riverstone, Rouse Hill*, Schofields, Seven Hills, Stanhope Gardens, The Ponds, Toongabbie*, Vineyard *Parts of

230 Prospect Hwy, Seven Hills 2147 Ph: 9671 4780 Email:

Michelle.Rowland.MP@aph.gov.au

www.facebook.com/mrowlandmp Twitter: @mrowlandmp

The fire left behind it a trail of destruction, including wrecked buildings

Who is paying taxes? lmost four in 10 large companies in Australia paid no tax last year, according A to the first release of tax transparency data by Australian Tax Office. The Turnbull government has been urged to shift its focus to “the top end of town” to combat the worsening deficit amid evidence billions of dollars are being lost to corporate tax.

Tax campaigners said evidence that nearly 600 of the 1500 largest companies operating in Australia did not pay a cent tax in tax in 2013-14 raised a question over Treasurer’s Scott Morrison’s repeated claim that the government has a spending problem rather than a revenue problem. It is hard to sell more cuts to health and welfare when there are sections of the very big end of town not paying a cent to government revenue.

The ATO revealed such household names like Qantas, Lend Lease, Virgin Australia, General Motors, Vodafone, Hutchinson Australia, Chevron Australia and ExxonMobil Australia paid no tax in 201314. Transfield, the company that holds multibillion-dollar contracts to run Australian dentation centers, paid zero tax on a turnover of 2.8 billion and taxable income of just $16 million.

New Corp, which had a turnover of $3.9 billion, declared $97.2 million in net income and paid $4.2 million in tax while Fairfax Media had a turnover of $1.6 billion, taxable income of $315 million and paid $16 million tax.

ATO Commissioner Chris Jordan (right) who has 30 years of experience in the tax profession, said a company not paying tax did not necessarily indicate tax avoidance. “Tax should matter to these companies. It is not something to be taken lightly” he said.

18 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday January 5, 2016

t was no secret that in the early forties, fifties and sixIgrants ties, one of the activities those who left Malta as mito make a new life for themselves and their families in Australia their future residence, missed, was football, a sport that the Australians did not care much about. Therefore thanks to their survival instinct they decided to so something about it, and they formed the their own football clubs, in Victoria and NSW. Sunshine George Cross say on their website, that “whenever there was a gathering of Maltese migrants in Melbourne in the 1940’s, the reoccurring topic that kept surfacing was about forming a Maltese sponsored football team in Victoria”. But it took some time for the idea to come to fruition as Maltese migrants in Victoria launched George Cross Football Club on March 12, 1947.

Then in 1955 Green Gully Soccer Club (nicknamed the Cavaliers) now known as Green Gully SC, a football club based in Melbourne, Victoria was formed.

Eleven years later, in 1956, the Maltese migrants who settled in NSW formed the Melita Eagles club after the amalgamation of two Maltese clubs the Malta Eagles (est. 1952) and the Melita Soccer Club (est. 1955).

A lot of water has passed under the bridge and all three clubs have had their best moments. However, though they have lost a number of supporters, they have managed to survive, not in the top echelons of the game, but in lower divisions.

All three clubs and a few others spread around the country soldier on, but it depends largely on a few people who keep their faith in their clubs who, for better or worse, hope on and still, whole-heartedly support them, perhaps hoping for better times.

One such supporter is 37-year-old Anthony Theuma.

The Wentworthville-born, son of Maltese parents who arrived in this small town in the state of NSW in 1974 to make a life for their future family, is a staunch supporter of the Eagles, now renamed Parramatta Eagles.

To say that he is a supporter would be saying it mildly.

He told The Voice of the Maltese, “Supporting the Eagles has been in my family's blood for the past four generations, with my grandfather, my father, my five-year-old daughter, barracking for the team in red-and-white and now myself.”

The Voice has decided to let Anthony tell his own story.

Eagles 'Till I Die...’ My Story AnthonyTheuma

F

rom a very early age I was taught about Maltese traditions and values, and to this day I continue to hold these close to my heart. My way of showing this love for my heritage has been through participation in the Maltese Community as a volunteer trumpeter for the Our Lady Queen of Peace Maltese Band, New South Wales, for the past 28 years, and also currently running the Parramatta Melita Eagles Football Club Facebook page voluntarily for the past nine months.

As a football-lover, my love for the Eagles club was instant. From as far as I can remember, I started out as a three-year-old playing soccer (as we called it back then) in the backyard with my father, and my pet dog.

A supporter of the Eagles for a good 30 years now, I was greatly influenced by Eagles' legend Ray "Zazu" Farrugia. He arrived at the Eagles in August of 1978, as a rising star from Maltese football club, Floriana at the age of 22. In his twelve years playing in the Eagles, he won the hearts of every Melita supporter, and became a cult hero.

My late grandfather, Anthony Theuma Snr. (Tat-tazzez), knew Farrugia well. He was a junior player with the “Irish Greens” but made his mark playing for Luqa Saint Andrews.

During his three visits to Australia, my grandfather was a dedicated Melita supporter, who expected that my father (who didn't mind at all) not organise anything on game day in order to take us to watch every game during his stay. That is how

Anthony Theuma

my love for the Eagles was born.

I have great memories of the socalled ‘Young hoodlums’ standing on the hill in front of the original Melita Stadium scoreboard, and the oldies swinging their cuqlajta (wooden clapper) over their heads.

The distinctive click-and-swirl sound of this instrument, together with the powerful melodical sound of the trumpet echoing around the Donald Agius Stand, and the chorus of ‘ma tag˙mlu xejn’ sung in unison, would give me chills of joy down my spine.

It had always been a dream of mine to play for Melita one day, so at the age of five I began playing soccer for the Under 6's team at St. Patrick's Soccer Club in Blacktown. Unfortunately, that season would be my last. It was too difficult for my hard working dad, and it took its toll on my poor mother who did her best to

walk me to and from training in the cold winter carrying a one-year-old baby in her arms.

Soon after, influenced by the same grandfather, who was regarded as one of the best trumpeters to ever come out of Malta, I commenced playing the trumpet. This would mean the end of my dream, as at the age of seven, and in future years, I would not have the time to enjoy both activities.

Although my dream of playing for the club I loved so much was over, I continued to follow the Eagles religiously. Throughout the 1980's and 1990's, my father would take me to Melita Stadium and, whenever he had the chance, sometimes also to other grounds where the Eagles enjoyed many successful seasons to claim numerous honours and trophies in both the NSW State League and Australian National Soccer League (NSL).

The two main highlights of the club's existence would definitely be winning the 1990/1991 and the 1993/1994 NSL Cup titles, but also up there with these two titles, would have to be grabbing the historic treble set in 1997, when the Eagles won all three New South Wales Premier League grand finals in the Under 18s, 21s, and 1st grade sides.

Our Eagles also featured in the NSL Finals Series on two occasions, and were runners up in the 1992/1993 NSL Cup Final. It was a great period for Melita and all its supporters to witness some of the greatest footballers ever to grace our shores, locally and from abroad, and to proudly play in the red-and-white. *Continued on page 7

The Voice of the Maltese 19

Tuesday January 5, 2016

The Eagles had some unfortunate periods *From page 6 I experienced so many of those memorable moments in the club's history, but I think my favourite Eagles' moment would have to be the epic 1988 NSW State League grand final win over Blacktown City (0-0, 7-6 on pens), for the simple fact that it was the last time that my grandfather, father, and myself would watch a Melita match together.

Sadly, the club wasn't without its unfortunate periods. The Eagles only lasted one season in the National Soccer League in 1984, after placing second from last in the competition.

At the end of the 1994-1995 season, after returning to the National Soccer League in 1989-1990 and playing out six seasons, for no apparent reason, the Eagles were cruelly relegated even though they had placed third from last in the final league ladder, and won two appeals in court to be reinstated back into the National Soccer League for the 1995-1996 season.

It was for this reason that for the first time back in 1995, I stood on the ‘holy turf’ of Melita Stadium. That was when the members of the Our Lady Queen Of Peace Maltese Band (myself and my father included) along with a large turnout of Melita supporters and MP John Aquilina, in a rally to save our beloved club from relegation of this country’s premier footballing competition pounded out the “Innu Melita Eagles” (“Ma tag˙mlu xejn”). Together we proudly voiced the words to this nostalgic theme song, In 1999, through the support of their major sponsor Parramatta Leagues Club, the Eagles supporters (myself included) were given some hope of believing that the club would be reinstated back into the National Soccer League for the 1999/2000 season. Sadly, once again, our hopes were dashed as the Leagues Club decided to create their own football club named as Parramatta Power Soccer Club.

I had a brief affiliation with the Power, winning the Sydney-wide logo competition carried out by the Leagues Club. They used my logo design and features to finalise the

club’s logo.

While the only reason for entering the logo design competition was a practice exercise for my university degree, I most certainly made a great impression on Mr. Sam E. Vella (at the time Parramatta Melita Eagles president). He approached me in our corporate box at the Power’s inaugural National Soccer League match in October of 1999, gave me his business card and asked me to strongly consider joining the Eagles’ committee.

Regrettably I wasn’t able to join the Eagles’ committee that season, as my university studies were my first priority. In 2012 I was again encouraged to consider joining the committee by then Eagles president, James Chetcuti, who was impressed with my passion and ideas to push the club forward, as well as the many Eagles’ articles and programmes I had collected over the decades.

I am sad to say that once again nothing eventuated as James later scored a dream position in the Football New South Wales Organisation, leaving me without a contact to pursue this exciting journey.

Then in October 2014, I came across a Facebook Page named “Australian Football Before The A-League”, which as a football fan, I found very interesting. I was certainly able to contribute to this page, adding all my Parramatta Melita Eagles articles, programmes, photos, etc. for all football lovers to enjoy. A few months went by, and in February of this year, I again came in contact with James Chetcuti, who noticed I was still keen on the Eagles.

James asked if I would like to run the Parramatta Melita Eagles Face-

Top: The Sep. 21, 1999 TMH issue announcing Anthony as winner of Parramatta Power’s logo competition. Logos (above) book page. I gladly accepted, and it was organised for me to commence running the Eagles’ page.

Over the past nine months, throughout the 2015 New South Wales Premier League and State League season, I have kept all Eagles followers up-to-date with posts, fixtures, reports, and results of all our men’s and women’s teams gaining almost 500 new likes, and almost 2,000 likes in total. Historical items, articles, photos, and videos are also posted on the page for all the nostalgic Eagles supporters to enjoy.

Continued in the next issue

20 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday January 5, 2016

Biex tikteb Malti tajjeb Aktar dwar il-Verb: forom, modi u tempijiet (4) L-IRQAQAT Fil-Perfett i) Verbi li jibdew bil-g˙ iΩommu lvokali ta’ warajha.

Ez.: g˙aΩilt mhux g˙Ωilt b˙al ˙dimt (˙adem). ii) Verbi bl-(‘) jew g˙ siekta fit-tarf jibdluha f’j meta jkunu fl-ewwel jew fit-tieni persuna.

EΩ.: qata’ iΩda qtajt mhux qtag˙t iii) Il-Verbi Torox jiΩdiedu b’ej meta jkunu fl-ewwel u fit-tieni persuna.

EΩ.: ˙abb mela ˙abbejt, ˙abbejna.

Filwaqt li fit-tielet persuna plural inΩidu ew minflok u.

EΩ.: ˙abb iΩda ˙abbew mhux ˙abbu.

Fin-Negattiv il-verbi jie˙du l-partiçella ma quddiemhom u (x) li

tinhemeΩ f’tarf il-verb.

EΩ.: huwa sab iΩda huwa ma sabx Fin-Negattiv ukoll: (i) il-verbi li jispiççaw b’a jbiddluha f’ie.

EΩ.: beda = ma bediex; ˙adha = ma ˙adhiex. (ii) il-verbi li jispiççaw bl-(‘) iwaqqg˙uh.

EΩ.: qata’ = ma qatax; baqa’ = ma baqax. (iii) il-verbi ta’ Ωew© sillabi li jkollhom (ie) fil-Mamma jbiddluha f’i jew f’e EΩ.: bierek = ma berikx; siefer = ma sifirx.

Meta xi verb fin-negattiv ifixklek biex tiktbu, qieg˙du l-ewwel fl-affermattiv.

EΩ.: ma riedx g˙ax huwa ried mhux rieç (Fil-˙ar©a li jmiss nibdew bil-konjugazzjoni tal-verbi)

Qwiel popolari Óadd wara Óadd tasal ta’ kul˙add.

Il-flus imorru u ji©u.

Mis-saba’ jie˙u l-id.

Il-bniedem jipproponi u Alla jiddisponi.

Il-˙uta Ω-Ωg˙ira qatt ma kielet ilkbira.

Skont iz-zokk, il-ferg˙a.

Min jid˙ol bejn il-basla u qoxritha jibqa’ b’ri˙itha.

Bniedem avΩat nofsu armat.

Bin is-seng˙a g˙andu nofsha.

Il-kelb il-mismut kull ilma ja˙sbu mis˙un.

Iddardarx l-g˙ajn li trid tixrob minnha.

Isma’ bilfors u emmen jekk trid.

Min jobΩoq fis-sema ji©i f’wiççu.

It-tfal jikxfu l-g˙awar.

L-ilbies jag˙mlek nies.

Il-fsied i˙assar l-ulied.

Bog˙od mill-g˙ajn, bog˙od millqalb.

Il-˙uta minn rasha tinten.

Dak li tiΩra’ ta˙sad.

IΩ-Ωejjed ˙u n-nieqes.

Il-qattusa g˙a©©elija frie˙ g˙omja tag˙mel.

Mal-mag˙mul m’hemmx kunsill.

Kelb li jinbaÓ ma jigdimx.

Ix-xog˙ol salmura tal-©isem.

Ebda warda bla xewka.

Skont id-daqqa niΩfnu.

Tg˙oddx il-flieles qabel ifaqqsu.

G˙al kull g˙adma hawn mitt kelb.

Il-kliem iqanqal u l-eΩempju jkaxkar.

L-ikbar trux min ma jridx jisma’.

The ANZAC plaque at the Bi-Centenary Monument here is an interesting addition at T the Maltese Bi-Centenary Monument at Civic Park Pendle Hill

NSW. The plaque to honour the 54 Maltese heroes who served with the ANZACs during World War One that was unveiled on November 15 last year, has now been affixed to the monument (see photo).

A smaller copy of the plaque is also to be affixed at the MCC Centre at Parramatta West. and plans are afoot for another copy to be affixed to the Anzac Monument at the Argotti Gardens in Floriana Malta.

Kull qalb trid o˙ra

iex tipproduçi magazine b˙al dan, li wara kollox hu frott tal-passjoni li g˙andna biex inwasslu t-tag˙rif BBiexlill-Maltin barra minn art twelidhom, ma jin˙tie©x biss xog˙ol u ˙in, imma wkoll spejjeΩ. jittaffew u˙ud mill-ispejjeΩ nippruvaw insibu sponsors ˙alli jg˙inuna. G˙ad m’g˙andniex biΩΩejjed

minnhom, imma bdejna, u ta’ min jag˙tihom ˙ajr.

Kull qalb trid o˙ra, g˙alhekk in˙e©©u lill-qarrejja biex i©ibu dan quddiem g˙ajnejhom u kemm jista’ jkun juΩaw is-servizzi u/jew jixtru l-prodotti ta’ dawk li qed jirreklamaw/jisponsorjaw fil-magazine.

The Voice of the Maltese 21

Tuesday January 5, 2016

Community TV station TVS goes off-air s of December 2015 Sydney comA munity Television station Sydney (TVS) has ceased broadcasting, but

says it is actively looking at potential video on demand (VOD) platforms to continue the service.

GDay MaltaAussie Show was broadcasting on this station every Saturday with repeats on Monday and Tuesday, therefore this is indeed another blow for the Maltese community.

Earlier this year then Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the end of access to broadcast spectrum for community television, arguing that in this digital era the stations should be broadcasting online rather than on terrestrial television, giving all stations until December 31 on air.

Rachel Bentley, TVS’ CEO said “After extensive discussions with Govern-

ment and other CTV stations, the board of TVS has decided to focus our resources on the best possible outcome for TVS and the distribution of community content.

“We are developing plans for the establishment of a robust Video on Demand (VOD) platform and an alternative mode of business operations for TVS.” Other community TV stations in Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide, which are broadcast on Channel 31, are understood to be continuing into the New Year with both a terrestrial and VOD offering.

Bentley said it would aim to relaunch the station, which is funded by Western Sydney University and the soon to be defunct Metroscreen, and is seen as a valuable training ground for people

Ag˙ti rigal g˙as-Sena l-Ìdida 2016, lil ˙biebek li forsi s’issa ma jirçevux The Voice of the Maltese online billi tabbonahom u jibdew jirçevuh huma wkoll

wanting a career in TV, in the new year.

“We are working on refocusing our programming strategy and developing a strong digital infrastructure to deliver a functional platform for the future era of community content dissemination,” Bentley said.

“To do this effectively TVS will cease free to air broadcasting on the 20th December 2015 so that we can efficiently continue to finalise our online plans further and relaunch in 2016.”

Community News Whom will you nominate this year?

Maltese Welfare (NSW) Inc.

The 16th Annual - Quiet Achievers Night of Recognition (To be held during Seniors’ Week 2016)

The Maltese community extends recognition and gives thanks to our seniors once a year.

Ask for a nomination form. Tel 02 9631.9295.

This event is being sponsord by

Readers can also request a printed copy of The Voice of The Maltese magazine by post

I

n response to a number of inquiries, The Voice of the Maltese wishes to advice that we can now supply hard copies in colour of our magazine to our readers at a price. So anybody interested in acquiring copies of the magazine can communicate with us personally or by email to: maltesevoice@gmail.com.

The magazine can also be delivered by post. As the cost of postage varies one is kindly requested to get in touch with us to work out the details.

at a Dinner Dance on January 23, 2016

The Voice issa ipprintjata wkoll

G˙alkemm il-PBS ta’ Malta tforni lillSBS fl-Awstralja bis-servizz tag˙ha, ilqarrejja huma m˙e©©a biex x’˙in iridu jid˙lu fil-website: www.tvm.com.mt u jsegwu l-a˙barijiet ta’ Malta minn hemmhekk.

Il-website tkun a©©ornata l-˙in kollu bi stejjer li jkunu qed ise˙˙u.

Mhux biss, imma min irid isegwi dak li jkun g˙addej, kull filg˙odu ˙in ta' Malta fuq il-website jittellg˙u wkoll l-a˙barijiet tal-jum ta' qabel.

Jekk trid tixtri kopja ipprintjata bilkulur ta’ kull ˙ar©a tal-magaΩin The Voice of the Maltese, g˙andek tmur persunalment filMaltese Resource Centre f’59b Franklin & Young Street Parramatta NSW (˙dejn Parramatta West Primary School) nhar ta’ Erbg˙a u nhar ta’ Ìimg˙a mid-9 am sa nofsinhar. Çempel 0409 744 376

The Xag˙ra Association of NSW Inc. INVITES YOU TO COME & CELEBRATE:

Australia Day

Venue: Mandavilla Function Centre1788 The Horsley Drive, Horsley Park Food: 3-Course Meal, beer, wine, soft drinks, tea, coffee, pastizzi; also antipasti plus fruit platters Entertainment: provided by Joe Apap Contact: Josephine/Ray: 9627 4182, Mob: 0439 974 182; M'Anne Teuma: 9627 4641

L-a˙barijiet tal-PBS (Malta)

22 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday January 5, 2016

Community News Tune In to Radio and Television

Maltese Radio Programmes MELBOURNE, on 3ZZZ 92.3FM or on www.3zzz.com.au. Mondays 5pm, Fridays 5pm, Saturdays 10am.; Last Wednesday each month at 1pm.

MELBOURNE on 98.9 North West FM, each Friday 6.00 - 7.00p.m. Presenter Emmanuel Brincat.

MELBOURNE: STEREO 974 (93180930): 97.4FM Wed (Maltese Magazine) & Thursday (Mer˙ba): 6.00pm to 8.00 pm Co-ordinator – Ray Anastasi In SYDNEY, listen to the MCC radio programmes on 2GLF FM 89.3. Saturdays 6 to 8 a.m. Martese Caruana presents Nostalgia Music; Sundays from 10.00 11.00 am: Il˙na Maltin. Both available on demand. Follow same procedure as for MCC programmes, except select programe in reference.

In BRISBANE listen to the Maltese Program on 4EB on Tuesdays 6.00 -8.15am; Sundays 4.15pm to 5.15pm UNCLE SAM DJ (Maltese Radio) tune in to link: www.unclesamdj.com Listen to John Borg & Glenn Cassar every Saturday at 1.00 p.m. on RADIO 2RRR 88.5FM or on the Internet - www2rrr.org.au ON DeMAND

The SBS MALTESE NEWS

Isma’ l-programm tar-radju bil-Malti mill-Kunsill Malti ta’ NSW minn fuq l-istazzjon 2GLF 89.3FM. Jista’ wkoll jinstema’ On Demand minn fuq l-Internet www.893fm.com.au (On Demand >Ethnic >Maltese Council 11am) Il-programm ta’ sieg˙a nhar ta’ Óadd fil11.00 a.m. ikun fih l-a˙˙ar a˙barijiet minn Malta, muΩika, tag˙rif, kultura, avviΩi u su©©etti ta’ interess g˙all-Maltin On SBS Radio Day Time Analogue and Digital Friday: 12:00-13:00 97.7fm SBS Radio 2 Saturday: 14:00-15:00: 97.7fm SBS Radio 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 Radio 2 is on Channel 38.

The radio 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 - SBS 2 TV on Thursdays and Sundays at 8am.

VIVA MALTA VIVA MALTA on COAST FM 96.3 Community Radio in Gosford Central NSW. Aired every fortnight from 6 pm -7 pm (Next is January 4).

Presenter: Nathalie Gatt.

Web streaming on: www.coastfm.org.au.

L-A˙barijiet on SBS TV twice a week nationwide Sunday at 8.00 am on SBS2 (Chan. 32); Thursdays at 8.00 am on SBS2

Meetings of Day Care Maltese Groups in NSW Fairfield Active Maltese Seniors Meets on the first Tuesday of the Month from10:00am to 12 noon.

The group meets in the Parish Hall, cnr of Stella Street & The Boulevard, Fairfield Heights.

Daceyville Maltese Seniors Meets on the last Wednesday of the month in the Meeting Room One, No. 3 General Bridges Crescent, Daceyville.

Note: The Groups also arrange regular Bus Trips Come and join us and make new friends.

Merrylands Social Maltese Seniors Meets every second Friday of the month; Miller Room, Memorial Avenue Merrylands from 10.30am to 12.30 am

Llandilo Maltese Seniors

Friendship Group Men and Women 45 and Older Single The Friendship Group is a social group for people who would like more friends at times.

We arrange activities that suit our needs and likes.

For more information ring Wendy on 9809 3957 or 0415 946 296

Saint Nicholas Festa Committee Events in 2016 Sunday March 13 Fete Sunday July 3 Lejla Fil-Buskett Sunday October 16 Fete Sunday December 4 Festa

Join us on The Voice of the Maltese facebook page: https://www.facebook.co m/groups/thevoiceofthemaltese Greystanes Maltese Seniors Meets on the second Monday of each month at the George Preca Centre of OLQP Church, 198 Old Prospect Road, Greystanes from 10 am to 12 noon

The Sutherland & St George Maltese Group Ongoing: We meet every First Wednesday of the Month from 10:00am-1:00pm Our Meetings/Get Togethers are interesting, informative & entertaining.

Come Join us and make new Friends For more information contact our Coordinator: Charles Mifsud J.P.Phone (02) 9501 5525 – mobile 0421 662 298.

Maltese Seniors Central Coast

Meets on the first Wednesday of each month at the Llandilo Community Hall, Seventh Avenue, from 11am to 1 pm.

You need to contact our Welfare Officer for an appointment.

For all information and referral matters one should call Censina Cefai: Tel: 02 439 000 12 or 0414 267 652

*(All Groups are Sponsored by The Maltese Community Council of 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)

The Voice of the Maltese 23

Tuesday January 5, 2016

Community News The Voice: the most popular by far

T

he Voice of the Maltese online magazine is by far the most widely read publication among the Maltese Diaspora, with subscribers from Australia, Canada, the UK England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ieland), Ireland Rep., Belgium, France, Italy, India, the Caribbean island of St Kitts & Nevis. But not only.

It is also gaining popularity in Malta and it keeps growing with every issue.

Maltese RSL (sub Branch): Call for SERVICE/EX-SERVICE MEN/WOMEN to join the Maltese RSL sub Branch The Maltese RSL sub-Branch needs more Service/Ex-Service members in order to continue as a sub-Branch.

If we don’t have enough Service members we will not be allowed to march on ANZAC Day as a sub-Branch under our own banners.

If you are interested in joining, you can write, call or email Doris Pocock (details below) who will send out the application form to you and the additional information required for joining.

Maltese RSL sub Branch PO Box 8280 Baulkham Hills NSW 2153 Mobile: 0419 420 915.

Email: maltesersl@live.com.au

VOM Readers please note

If you are not receiving the Voice of the Maltese regularly you are kindly requested to let us know. Do the same if you have changed your email address. Keeping your addresses updated is very important to us.

E-mail us with the details at: maltesevoice@gmail.com

The Maltese Community Council of NSW is conducting a computer class at Maltese Resource Centre 59b Franklin Street, Mays Hill 2145 NSW every Friday between 10.00 am-12.00 For more information contact Em. Camilleri: 0409 744 376

FRIENDS OF PROVIDENCE HOUSE NSW

CHRISTMAS 2015 FUND RAISING APPEAL Id-Dar Tal-Providenza Malta, looks after over 100 residents with disability and requires over $4 million annually which is raised through sponsors, activities and public donations.

The Friends Of Providence House NSW was founded in October 2011 and have so far raised over $46,000.

We are the official Ambassadors in Australia.

Donations can be made at any Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY – donations are acknowledged A/C Name : Friends Of Providence House NSW BSB: 062-416 A/C No. 10199448 or contact the CoOrdinator: Jim Borg (02) 9636 7767

Proudly supported by: Cnr Main & Campbell Sts, Blacktown.

Contact George Vella Tel (02) 9622 7799

Tin te re ssa k il-kit ba?

Id-direzzjoni ta’ The Voice t˙e©©e© lill-qarrejja li j˙ossu li, jew g˙andhom talent g˙all-kitba, l-aktar bl-Ilsien Malti, imma mhux biss, inkella li ja˙sbu li bi ftit g˙ajnuna jistg˙u jrabbu l-kunfidenza g˙all-kitba, biex jekk u meta iridu, jew jitolbu l-g˙ajnuna tag˙na, inkella sempliçement jibag˙tu x-xog˙ol tag˙hom lil: The Voice of the Maltese biex narawh.

Email address: maltesevoice@gmail.com Jekk tkunu tridu wara nippublikaw il-kitbiet tag˙kom.

La Valette Social Centre

Celebrating feast of St Paul Sunday February 7: 5.00 p.m.: Mass in the main Hall of the Centre at 175 Walters Rd Blacktown accompanied by the La Valette Choir under the direction of Victor Floridia.

Afterwards procession with the statue to the chapel accompanied by Our Lady Queen of Peace Maltese Band DJ for entertainment: Bar and kitchen will be open IL-ÓADD 14 ta’ Frar:4.00p.m.: G˙ana bis-sehem talg˙annejja minn Malta, France Mifsud (Ta’ Vestru) u ibnu Ionut kittarrist prim. Jie˙du sehem ukoll l-aqwa g˙annejja u kittaristi min Sydney D˙ul $10 kull persuna. Biljetti millbieb. Il-bar u l-kçina jkunu miftu˙in. Ejjew u gibu l-˙bieb.

G˙al aktar tag˙rif: La Valette: 9622 5847

The Maltese Language School of NSW The Maltese Language School of NSW invites applications for Maltese language classes at the Alfred Fenech Maltese Resource Centre located at 59b Franklin Street (corner with Young Street) Mays Hill (next to Parramatta West Public School).

Both young and adult students may apply.

For more information contact Mary Pace-Feraud on 9601 2189

or email: malteselanguageschoolnsw@hotmail.com

Learn Maltese!

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

Classes are available for students from 6 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.

Classes at: HORSLEY PARK - SEVEN HILLS - LUDDENHAM For more information and enquiries Phone 0433 091 788 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

Tuesday January 5, 2016

Sports Malta’s Premier League Football

Birkirkara replace Italian coach with a Croat - Valletta determined to hang on to 5-point lead

B

irkirkara started the current season with a bang after beating English Premiership side West Ham United in the Europa League. With a new coach at the helm, Italian Giovanni Tedesco, and former Italian international striker Fabrizio Miccoli in the side they looked full of promise.

They weren’t doing badly and went 10 matches without defeat, but things turned sour when they were thrashed 4-0 by Valletta.

Before this match, Miccoli had already decided to cancel his contract to return to Italy, and following the defeat against Valletta, Tedesco was sacked.

So after two league matches without a coach, and the two-week recess for the festive season, Birkirkara will kick off the New Year with a new head coach altese Champions Hibernians will be hosting Dutch giants from Croatia. He is DraPSV Eindhoven, in a friendly at the Hibernians Stadium zen Besek (above) who Tuesday evening. PSV are currently in the UEGA Champions will make his debut the coming weekend in the League and are due to meet Atletico Madrid in the coming.

The Dutch champions are one of sixteen foreign teams that will be game against Qormi.

To become serious title, visiting Malta from now until the end of March to conduct training camps either at the MFA training grounds or the Hibernians stadium. contenders again BirkirkaThese teams have chosen Malta as part of an initiative by SLFC, ra need make up the fivea European travel agencies in Europe that organises training camps point deficit with leaders for clubs and national teams.

Valletta who finished the

year three points ahead of champions Hibs.

Birkirkara have also lost the services of one of their best players, Rowen Muscat. He has been released to join Italian Serie B side Ascoli. If Ascoli retain their status and are happy with Muscat, they have the option of buying him outright at end of the season.

In 2014, Muscat also played for Hungarian top division side Dunaujvaros, but he was released due to the club’s financial problems.

Leaders Valletta are determined to make this their year, and have strengthened their rearguard with the signing of Brazilian defender Diego Douglas Balbinot.

After a splended first round, Balzan have slipped from first to sixth and have even been overtaken not only by the title challengers Valletta, Hibernians and Birkirkara, but also

by Floriana and Tarxien.

Balzan have managed only won four points in their five second round games. Compare that to their points tally of 11 from the same number of games and opponents in the first round. No wonder they felt they needed to strengthen the side that was hit by injuries, by recruiting Brazilian striker Pedro Henrique dos Santos Calcado

US yacht takes line honours in Sydney to Hobart yacht race

Champions Melbourne V. return to winning ways

16 Euro clubs in Malta training camps M

espite suffering rudder D damage, American yacht Comanche took line honours in the 71st edition of the world famous Hobart yacht race, the 628nautical-mile race held in Sydney on Boxing Day. with a time of two days, It finished the race ahead of 108 boats including 27 international boats in eight hours, 58 minutes and 30 seconds.

An estimated 1500 sailors including 175 women of whom four are skippers took part in this even that stops the nation.

The supermaxi left behind fellow American yacht Rambler 88 to take advantage of southerly winds as it swept up the Derwent River finishing in front by more than 50 nautical miles.

The first ever Hobart race was held in 1945 when

The Comanche crew celebrate their line honour win in the 2015 Sydney to Hobart race

Capt. John H. Illingworth steered Rani, a 34 foot 8 inches cutter, across the finishing line in six days 14 hours, 22 minutes and 35 seconds.

In 2014, Wild Oats X1 made it in 2 days, 2 hours, 3 minutes, 26 seconds.

In 1998, in the Sydney to Hobart race six people died and five yachts were lost

when hurricane-force winds ripped sails to bits like they were plastic bags and left yachts stricken, to get smashed by 24-meter waves. Of the 115 starters, 66 yachts had to retire and 55 sailors had to be airlifted to safety. Only 44 yachts would limp past the finishing line in Hobart on that fateful race.

Australia A-League

F

ollowing a dismal period during which they slipped down the ladder, Melbourne Victory snapped their five-game winless streak by beating Newcastle Jets 1-0 away on the 13th day of the A-League. In so doing they also ended their Hunter Stadium hoodoo but they still need to improve in order to successfully defend their title.

They currently stand seven points behind joint leaders Brisbane Roar and Western Sydney Wanderers, the latter after losing sole leadership by being held to a scoreless home draw by Adelaide in an entertaining game.

Brisbane Roar have celebrated the New Year by moving into top spot with a 2-1 win over Perth Glory at Suncorp Stadium.

Melbourne City stay third six points behind after dropping Latest results Day 13 five points from Brisbane R. v Perth Glory 2-1 their last two West. Sydney W v Adelaide 0-0 matches. In their Melbourne C. v Sydney FC 0-0 latest outing Newcastle J. v Melbourne V. 0-1 3-1 they were held Central Coast v Wellington P. Day 12 to a goalless FC v Central Coast 4-1 draw by Sydney Sydney Melbourne V. v Perth Glory 1-1 FC. Both jointly West. Sydney W v Newcastle 2-0 occupy third po- Brisbane R. v Melbourne C. 3-1 Adelaide v Wellington Ph 3-0 sition. *Parramatta Eagles FC season in the forthcoming PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 1 this year kicks off on March 12/13 with an away match against Blacktown Spartans.