The Voice of the Maltese No. 163

Issue 163

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

Fortnightly magazine for the Diaspora Diasp ora

On the same day (September 21) of the Prime Minister’s meeting with the US President, Malta marked the 53rd anniversary of Independence. In the absence of the President (also with commitments in NY) and the PM, Dolores Cristina and Chris Fearne (first left), stepped in to lead the official celebrations. Right: they are pictured with PN’s caretaker leader Simon Busuttil during a guard of honour in Valletta

(See also page 2)

September 26, 2017

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and his wife Michelle photographed with US President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania during the United Nations General Assembly in New York (See PM addresses UN on page 12)

2 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday September 26, 2017

Waqt il-Pontifikal f’San Ġwann: XELLUG : Il-Presidenti Emeriti Ugo Mifsud Bonnici u George Abela, Simon Busuttil u l-iSpeaker Anglu Farrugia. LEMIN: Is-Sinjura Dolores Cristina u s-Sur Cristina, Dr Chris Fearne u s-sinjura tiegħu, u l-Ministru Michael Farrugia

Imfakkra t-53 sena tal-Indipendenza N

har il-Ħamis 21 ta’ Settembru Malta fakkret uffiċjalment it-53 sena minn meta kisbet l-Indipendenza taħt ittmexxija ta’ dak li kien Prim Ministru dakinhar, Ġorġ Borg Olivier li kien irċeva d-dokumenti li bihom l-Ingilterra ma baqgħetx tqis lil Malta bħala kolonja tagħha.

Bħala parti mit-tifkira nhar ilĦamis, fl-assenza tal-President u l-Prim Ministru, l-aġenti Dolores Cristina u d-Deputat Prim Ministru Chris Fearne segwew il-gwardja tal-unur u l-banda mill-Forzi Armati fil-Belt. Wara, flimkien ma’ mistednin distinti, fosthom l-iSpeaker Anġlu Farrugia, Simon Busuttil f’isem ilPN, u wkoll Presidenti Emeriti attendew għal Quddiesa Pontifikali fil-Kon-Katidral ta’ San Ġwann li kienet iċċelebrata minn Mons. Arċisqof Charles Scicluna u Te Deum.

Iċ-ċerimonja ssoktat fil-Furjana fejn l-Aġent President ta’ Malta, l-Aġent Prim Ministru u l-Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni poġġew bukketti tal-fjuri fuq il-monumentt tal-Indipendenza.

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l-Aġent President ta’ Malta Dolores Cristina tpoġġi l-fjuri fuq il-monumnet tal-Indipendenza fil-Furjana

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Victor Grech - jingħata

The Voice of the Maltese 3

Tuesday September 26, 2017

l-Premju Kulturali NSW 2017

K

ull sena lforma parti miċGħaqda Cittadini Theatrical Kulturali Group.

Maltija ta’ NSW Huwa ħa sehem tfakkar mhux biss ukoll f’għadd ta’ Jum Maria Bamesebizzjonijiet talbina iżda wkoll arti u ddisinja ltippreżenta l-Prepannelli tal-bronż mju Kulturali li li hemm fil-Maltese ġie mogħti għallAustra-lian Bi-Cenewwel darba fltennial Monument 1991. f’Pendle Hill, Għall-ewwel NSW. darba wkoll, disVictor Grech husena ċ-ċerimonja wa wkoll sinonli fiha ġie ippremimu mal-Għaqda jat bl-Award Victal-Past Pupils of tor Grech saret Don Bosco fejn fic-ċentru La Valgħal ħafna snin ette ta’ Blacktown serva bħala PresiNSW. dent u għadu attiv Victor huwa fiha sal-lum. HuGħawdxi li twiewa miżżewweġ lil led f’Settembru Marlene u għandtal-1942. Huwa hom tifel, Adrian.

Victor Grech (l-ewwel fuq il-lemin) wara l-preżentazzjoni ħdejn Charles Mifkellu l-karriera Huma wkoll nanta’ għalliem li sud. Jidhru wkoll, mart Victor, Marlene, u binhom Adrian ma’ martu Rebecca niet ta’ żewġt itfal. bdiha fl-1965 wara li l-attenda l- beda jgħallem fid-De La Salle ta’ L-apprezzament tax-xogħol li wettaq Kulleġġ ta’ St Michael’s. Ħdax-il sena Bankstown u l-Holy Spirit College fost il-komunita’ tfisser bid-dettal fiċwara, fl-1976 huwa ggradwa BA Lakemba. Baqa’ jgħallem sa ma rtira ċerimonja tal-għoti tal-unur minn (Hons) fl-istorja u l-arti u għadda 14-il fl-2006. għadd ta’ kelliema li tkellmu dwaru u Fil-bidu tiegħu f’Sydney Victor kien dwar ix-xogħol siewi tiegħu. sena jgħallem fil-Liċeo.

Fl-1979 Victor emigra lejn Sydney u affiljat mal-Maltese Guild kif ukoll ifMatul din il-lejla gie mfakkar ukoll Jum il-Vitorja, u fid-diskors ewlieni tal-okkażjoni, il-fundatur tal-Għaqda Kulturali Maltija, Frank Zammit tkellem dwar ir-rwol tal-kavallieri fl-istorja ta’ Malta.

Wara, Charles Mifsud, il-President amfest started a few years ago with This year the Damfest Committee will be tal-għaqda, ippreżenta t-trofew lir-reba chat, a cup of coffee and some big raising desperately needed funds for the bieħ u semma wkoll l-isem ta’ kull ideas. This year will be the 13th statue for ANZAC Day in Memorial Park, rebbieħ/a li irċevew dan il-premju tul Damfest Event and it will be bigger than plus many other clubs and organisations l-aħħar 29 sena.

Tul l-avveniment, il- kor tal-Għaqda ever. throughout the year.

Damfest takes months to prepare and withDamfest will provide a beautiful fun filled mmexxi minn Marisa Previtera sebbaħ out the ongoing support of its wonderful family day for you. All you have to do is il-lejla bil-kant ta’ għadd ta’ innijiet addattati għal din waħda mill-festi Nazvolunteers and sponsors it could not take come along on the day and enjoy!!! place, it truly is a unique event that changes As you walk around the ground you can zjonali Maltin. with new ideas every year. Damfest caters buy a cup of coffee, The best family gathering of the year: for all age groups and children of all ages. something to eat and This is a family friendly event that will purchase many novelty please every member of your family, from and unique gifts from amusement rides for the children to car the stallholders who Saturday, 14th October 2017 shows and swap meets for the man and lady will be there on the day. of the family.

Don’t forget to call Mandavilla Function Centre Come along and say a big hello to Elsa and into the WSNC tent and 1788, The Horsley Drive Horsley Park Anna from Frozen who will be at Damfest say hello to the volunNSW rom 7.30 pm: Music by Joe Apap from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. teers from the WSNC Book early. Donation $65 Damfest also raises money for the local Office, Teddy Bear Contact: Marlene on 02 9631 9295 community and helps throughout the year Cottage and Wigwam with financial help for many causes, which and also pick up your Organised by the Past Pupils & Friends also includes the help and support offered pre-purchased armof Don Bosco (NSW) to the Warragamba Silverdale Neighbour- bands for the amuseAll proceeds to the Don Bosco Missions. hood Centre. ment rides.

D

A family friendly event on Sunday October 15

The 30th Annual Dinner Dance

ese t M al heMaltese t ofthe ceof Voi TheVoice 44The

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The Voice from Malta Television

The Voice of the Maltese 5

Tuesday September 26, 2017

T

Joe Dimech

he PBS (Malta) twice-weekly news programme (l-aħbarijiet) transmitted to Australia via satellite is hugely popular with the Maltese community, therefore it follows that presenter/ broadcaster Joe Dimech has become a familiar face and voice amongst the vast continent of Australia.

Joe has been a familiar face with TV news followers in Malta for more than 40 years. In fact, he first appeared on the Maltese TV screens reading the main 8 pm News Bulletin on his mother’s birthday, on April 1 1975.

Joe has held various positions and duties within the Public Broadcasting Services in Malta for the past 43 years. He spent his first 25 years at the station within the News Division where he moved from a journalist up to Deputy News Editor before moving on to another role within PBS, that of Manager in charge of Local TV productions. In 2004, following a restructuring process at PBS, Joe was assigned the duties of Radio Coordinator.

During his career as a broadcaster, Joe also produced and presented various other documentaries and special programmes. He was also awarded the BPC Award to Journalists for Broadcast Journalism.

When in the past overseas assignments for Maltese journalists were very limited, Joe was assigned some very interesting commitments, among them in August 1990 when he accompanied then Maltese Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami’s official visit to Australia as the broadcasting station’s correspondent.

Joe regards that as a very memorable event for him in his career, as besides covering a very intensive visit by the Prime Minister throughout Australia’s states, he also had the opportunity of meeting various Maltese friends living in Australia, among them one of his mentors and iconic Maltese broadcaster, Victor Aquilina and his dear wife, Rosalie. In fact through The Voice Joe wished to send his warm and best regards to this amazing couple.

Asked about his involvement with the SBSTV segments, Joe Dimech told The Voice of the Maltese, “Compiling and presenting the TV News programme for the Maltese/Australian audience twice weekly is rewarding. As added information, the News programme aired on SBS on Thursday is recorded in Malta the previous Monday, while the one aired on Sunday is recorded the previous Thursday.”

Joe regards this particular programme, during which he delivers news, social, humanitarian and cultural Maltese stories to his compatriots living in such a dis-

Joe Dimech

PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH

tant continent as a very satisfying assignment.

“I am very pleased when Maltese-Australians holidaying in Malta recognise me from the TV News and stop to talk to me”. Most of them ask to take photos with him. He also gets visits at PBS Studios in Gwardamanġa where he is always more than pleased to give them a tour of the PBS building.

Joe is now semi-retired, but he is still being of service to the national broadcasting company, PBS where he is employed on a part-time self employed contract. He still considers his work as a service to his audiences, both in Malta and in Australia.

Joe Dimech was born in Birkirkara on December 23 1951, and had his secondary education at the St Paul’s Missionary College.

He was one of the very first students of the newly established college between the years of 1964 and 1969.

He recalls those five years as the best of his youth, holding the college as his second home. He also followed a University diploma in Business Management.

Joe is married to Carmen and has two sons, Ian and Gareth. Both are now married. Ian has also made Joe and Carmen grandparents, as he is the father of three girls, Dawn aged 6years and twins Amber and Jade who are just 18 months old.

So now, besides still enjoying his broadcasting profession, grandad Joe, is also enjoying his extended family especially his three nieces.

Joe sends his warm wishes and love to all Maltese and their families living in Australia.

6 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday September 26, 2017

Il-Maltin ta’ NSW jingħaqdu għall-festa tal-Vitorja K

ull sena l-komunita’ Maltija fi NSW timbarka f’pellegrinaġġ ta’ talb u ringrazzjament li jwassal sal-Katidral majestuż ta’ St Mary’s fil-qalba tal-belt ta’ Sydney. Il-festa tattwelid tal-Verġni Mqaddsa Marija, il-Vitorja hu l-jum li għadu jgħaqqad lillkomunita` Maltija, forsi iktar minn kull jum ieħor.

Din is-sena l-Katidral, tliet kwarti mimli sema’ lil Fr Charles Brincat (imwieled lAwstralja) jagħmel eloġju dwar din il-

festa. Huwa anke għamel appell biex inżommu sħiħa l-familja Maltija quddiem listħarrig li se jsir bil-posta dwar iż-żwieġ bejn dawk tal-istess sess.

Għadd ta’ saċerdoti Maltin iċċelebraw ilquddiesa mal-prim celebrant Fr Tarcisio Micallef MSSP. Saret ukoll is-solita purċissjoni bl-istatwa ta’ Marija Bambina

akkumpanjata mill-għaqdiet Maltin, li wħud minnhom ġarrew l-istandardi tagħhom, u l-Kavallieri ta San Gwann (SMOM). Bħas-soltu, Dr. Ġorġ Boffa kien il-kummentatur. Ħa sehem ukoll il-kor ta’ La Valette immexxi minn Victor Floridia.

Wara, fil-Mons Depiro House li tinsab qrib il-Katidral sar riceviment li għalih kienu mistiedna wħud minn dawk li attendnew fil-knisja għall-manifestazzjoni ta’ fidi u għaqda nazzjonali. (ara aktar ritratti f’paġna 20)

The Maria Bambina statue in East Sydney

T

he statue of Maria Bambina venerated at Mons. Depiro House, Saint Paul’s chapel in Stanley Street, East Sydney, NSW is the main focus in the celebration of Il-Vitorja at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

The statue was made in Italy at the expense of the Maltese community in the Metropolitan area of Sydney and brought to the city on the initiative of Fr Publius Cassar OFM. Cap. Cardinal Gilroy blessed it on July 14 1963. A small inscription in relation to the blessing can be found on the statue’s pedestal.

This statue was commissioned so the feast could be celebrated with great devotion at St. Mary’s Cathedral every year on the second Sunday of September.

During the year this artistic statue, along with other equipment and costumes used during the feast, was normallystored in a secluded place at the Franciscan Capuchins’ convent of Leichardt. Fathers Cassar and Busuttil, the two Franciscan Capuchins were residents at this convent.

When Fr Publius Cassar was transferred to Halifax, he asked Fr Busuttil to take charge of the organisation of the feast and to look after the statue, the equipment and costumes.

In turn, Fr Busuttil approached Fr George Scerri MSSP, then in charge of the Mons. De Piro House at Stanley Street, East Sydney, to see to the organisation of the feast of Il-Bambina, and he

and his successors to look after the statue.

At the time, until it ceased to exist, an organisation by the name of Maltese Clergy Association, was formally accepted to be the organisers of the celebrations marking the popular feast.

During that time Fr George Scerri, used to live in the old house, that was later demolished. A new chapel, the current one, was then built. An adequate niche made of timber for exposing the statue to the devotion of the faithful throughout the whole year was also built in a spot where it could be seen from the chapel and also from the street.

The halo on the head of the statue used to belong to the statue in Senglea, Malta. It was a gift from the Senglean clergy on the request of Fr Publius Cassar who hails from that city. When a new silver halo was made the old one was stored in a safe place.

The chapel also houses a statue of the Risen Christ that dominates the presbytery, and a crucifix. An Italian artist who used to live in Sydney made both from timber.

The chapel also houses a statue of Saint Paul, also sculptured from timber made at the same place as that of the Maria Bambina, and a painting of our Lady of Sorrows, a painting by Carmelo (sieve Charlie) Grech. John Xuereb who lives in Botany, NSW, made other works in metal.

Tuesday September 26, 2017

Fr Dennis Carabott celebrating Mass assisted by five other priests from the MSSP

The Voice of the Maltese 7 The statue of Maria Bambina being carried ouside the chapel for the procession

The Maria Bambina feast in Melbourne celebrated at St Paul’s Chapel, Parkville

T

he feast of Maria Bambina organised once again by the Reskeon Maltese Association Seniors Group Inc. on behalf of the Missionary Society of St. Paul was celebrated in Melbourne with a Mass at St. Paul’s Chapel, next to the Maltese Centre in Parkville.

On the eve of the feast, on September 7, Fr Victor Shields, who was on a visit to Melbourne from Malta celebrated Mass for the Maltese community. Two more MSSP priests, Fr Edwin Agius, Rector at Parkville, and Fr Lonnie Borg acted as concelebrants.

Singer Kimberly Grech organised a special CD with hymns for the occasion, among which was “O Marija Bambina” music by Mro Carmelo Muscat, lyrics by Keith Zammit. Fr Shields delivered the homily.

Among the attendees were the President and members of the Executive committee and members of the female section of SDC. At the conclusion of the Mass, Fr

Edwin thanked all those who helped make the occasion a successful one. They included the Reskeon Group and Mr Alfred Asciak who decorated the chapel.

After Mass, everybody was invited to the Maltese Centre for refreshments.

On Saturday, 9th, Reskeon organised the Vittoria Dinner Dance for which around 200 members and friends attended, and then on September 11, on behalf of MSSC, Reskeon organised the Feast of Maria Bambina at St Mary Star of the Sea Church in West Melbourne.

Among those present was Chev. Joseph Borg who, with another member of the Order represented the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, Sisters from religious orders and members of the Society of Christian Doctrine.

A large number of Maltese Associations also attended along with their banners, and the banners of the four villages and towns in Malta and Gozo where the Bambina is celebrated, namely Senglea, Mellieħa, Naxxar and Xagħra in Gozo.

Fr Dennis Carabott celebrated Mass along with Fr Edwin Agius, Fr Victor Shields, Canon Fr Emmanuel Bonello, Fr Karm Borg, and Fr Lonnie Borg, who also delivered the homily.

The Maltese Choir of Victoria under the direction of Mr Charles Schembri and Ms Lydia Gusman provided the music and singing.

During Mass two collections were made, one on behalf of the Missionary Society of St Paul and the other for Church of St Mary Star of the Sea. After Mass, Fr Edwin thanked all those attended the celebration, the people who helped in the organisation of the event and the participants that included the Maltese Own Band that this year is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its foundation. The MSSP and Reskeon were also celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Feast. The benediction followed and a procession with the statue of the Bambina took place in the streets around the church.

Later refreshments were served.

- PaulVella

The procession behind the Mellieħa banner

The Maltese Own Band playing marches during the celebration

Have your say/Xi trid tghid?

8 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday September 26, 2017

Your letters/ L-ittri tagħkom ...

The Voice of the Maltese for fortnightly tnightly magazine magazine

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

If you require a printed copy we can also oblige.

Editors: Malta: Joseph Cutajar Australia: Lawrence Dimech: MOM, OAM, JP email address: maltesevoice@gmail.com

Letters for publication in The Voice magazine, either in Maltese or English should include name and e-mail address of the writer and be e-mailed to: maltesevoice@gmail.com.

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

An Aussie’s impressions of Malta I

Eugene Calleja from Harvey WA writes: n the past two years, I have read so much about Malta on The Voice magazine, which I regularly also forward to an Australian family neighbours scribed as treasures, the likes of which Ausof mine, that I managed to convince these tralia does not have. same friends to spend their holiday this They were also full of praise for the way year in Malta with my family. I myself had they were looked after in tours to the isnot visited the island since 2012 and at land’s National Museums and sites organtimes I was a bit concerned about what I ised for them by Malta Heritage. They said could find. As such, at times I asked myself it was money well spent. Unfortunately the whether I was taking too much of a risk by duration of their holiday proved to be too ‘inviting’ these friends along. short for them to visit all the attractions and I should never have doubted my decision. try to mix with the locals in activities, culAfter three weeks in Malta, because they tural or social organised almost daily by could not stay more, while I spent a whole local councils around Malta. two months with relatives, my friends were They also had the chance to visit Gozo and so excited with their stay that they assured to walk around the Cittadella. But again, me they would visit again next year, and they said that a day trip to Malta’s sister iseven do their utmost to participate in the land is much too short. Therefore they are Valletta 2018 celebrations. determined to make up for it in their next Perhaps I could be biased to laud Malta’s visit, when they would also probably spend exceptional attractions. However, I wish to at least a week there. point out that what I am about to say is what my friends related to me about their impressions after describing it as, “a pleasant adventure” At the end of the holiday my friends said Concetta D’Amato minn Sunshine Victoria to me, “For such a small island, Malta is re- tikteb: ally big”. When I asked for an explanation l-Gvern federali tassew ħawwadna filthey explained that for its size Malta has każ taż-żwieg bejn persuni tal-istess sess. enough attractions and goings-on to keep a L-ewwel ma ridux referendum, imbagħad visitor busy all the time, and for somebody sabu li plebiscite mhux se jgħaddilhom like them who are interested in history it mis-Senat. Fl-aħħar ħarġu bil-infamuża could be “heavenly”.

Marriage Law Postal Survey li ftit ilu It was only in the first week that I tried to show them round. After that I left them on rcevejna bil-posta.

Ikun xi jkun ir-riżultat dan l-istħarriġ xorta their own during the day and met most evenings for a beer or a meal. They kept me jrid imur lura fil-Parlament għad-deċiżjoni finali tal-membri. Kif inhi x-xena fil-Parlaposted about their ‘adventures”.

They visited many interesting sites (some ment min jaf kif se jivvutaw? Veru taħwida of them I am sorry to say, were new to me. waħda sew.

Grazzi għal The Voice li ippruvat tispjeThey were most impressed with the contents in Malta’s museums, which they de- galna xi jkun ghaddej għax ħadd mis-suppost kapijiet tal-komunita` ma jindenja ruhu jispjegalna x’qed isir.

Taħwida nobis

I

Il-kant tal-Innu Malti

N

George Agius minn Glebe, NSW jikteb:

aqbel perfettament mal-kampanja dwar il-kant tal-Innu Malti. Nittama li l-għaqdiet kollha jagħtuh importanza.

Iżda dan l-aħħar smajt min jargumenta li l-Innu Malti għandu jitkanta/jindaqq biss meta jkunu preżenti r-rappreżentanti talGvern Malti.

Jekk inhu hekk, mela zgur ftit se nisimgħu dan l-innu tant sabiħ taghna l-Maltin għax rari naraw rappreżentanti tal-Gvern Malti f’okażżjonijiet important li jiġu organizzati mill-għaqdiet tagħna. Tant hu hekk li ħafna minna qed insejħulhom fantażma.

The Voice of the Maltese 9

Tuesday September 26, 2017

Challenging a Will: Are your children’s step-children counted as your grandchildren?

Legal information:

M

by PaulSant

ost people would feel fairly confident that they have a strong understanding of who is and who is not a “grandchild”.

Ask yourself these questions: 1. Does your grandchild have to be a descendent by blood?

2. If not, do children that have been formally adopted by your children count as your grandchildren?

3. Taking the line of questioning one step further, do your child’s step-children count as your grandchildren?

The NSW Supreme Court was recently asked to consider the third question, in the case of Re Staughton; Grant v McMillan [2017] VSC 359.

In this case, Mr and Mrs Staughton each made wills leaving the residue of their estate to their “grandchildren”. Mr and Mrs Staughton had two children, a daughter and a son.

At the time that they made their Wills, in 1997, their daughter was married and had two children. Their son, Nigel, was not married and did not have any children. In 2007 Nigel married.

Nigel’s new wife had two children from a previous relationship, being Nigel’s step-children and effectively, the Staughton’s step-grandchildren.

Both Mr and Mrs Straughton died in 2014. Mrs Straughton was the last to pass away, and therefore it is her will which is under scrutiny in this case. The biological grandchildren of Mrs Straughton applied to the Supreme Court of Victoria, asking the Court to interpret the word “grandchildren”.

In other words: 1. Did the word “grandchildren” include Nigel’s step-children?

2. Does it matter that the Mrs Staughton had a close relationship with her step-grandchildren and treated them as biological grandchildren?

The Court held that yes it did matter, and hugely so. It was held that step-grandchildren were included in the will by reason of Mrs Straughton’s family circumstances.

When deciding how to interpret the deceased’s Will, the Court emphasised the importance of the testator’s intentions, and stated that “the task of the court when construing a will is to discover the testator’s intention by examination of the words used in the will, having regard to the will as a whole” and the surrounding circumstances.

As plain and simple as this sentence sounds, carrying out this task is difficult and complex. Unless there are special circumstances, evidence regarding the testator’s individual subjective intention is not allowed. The Court must begin by considering the plain and ordinary English meaning of the word “grandchildren”.

If this does not produce a satisfactory result, the Court must consider the word in the context of the will read as a whole, and in the surrounding circumstances of the deceased.

The Court closely examined on older case of Morgan v Moore. In this case, the testator had children from a previous marriage and a later marriage. Both relationships produced grandchildren.

The testator did not know his biological grandchildren from this first relationship.

In Morgan v Moore, the Court was faced with a slightly different situation, where the Court was asked to exclude some biological grandchild (with whom the deceased had no relationship) from the interpretation of the word “grandchil-

PAUL SANT (SOLICITOR)

PARTNER AT LONGTON LEGAL For All Your Legal Needs

Now at: 21 George Street

Parramatta Phone: 8599 8877

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

dren”. In Morgan v Moore, the Court allowed evidence to prove the meaning that the deceased is considered to have attributed to the phrase “my grandchildren”.

The relevant factors were that: 1. when making her will, the testator did not inform her solicitor about her prior marriage, and identified only grandchildren of the second marriage; 2. although aware of grandchildren from her first marriage, the testator did not maintain a relationship with those grandchildren; and 3. the testator referred to only the grandchildren of her second marriage as her grandchildren.

The judge decided in Morgan v Moore that the testator adopted the phrase ‘my grandchildren’ in her will, in a manner that excluded grandchildren from her first marriage. Given the circumstances, the Court accepted a definition of “grandchildren” that was different to the ordinary or literal meaning of such an expression.

In the case of Re Estate of Wright, the judge made the following salient comment, that “notwithstanding adherence to what might be seen as the traditional meaning of the word ‘children’, the Court has no doubt that in today’s society in particular cases its meaning readily extends to stepchildren”.

Overall (and confirmed in Straughton), there is general agreement that in the ordinary sense the phrase “my grandchildren” does not include step-grandchildren, however the cases have now shown that the surrounding circumstances of the deceased’s family can alter the interpretation of the phrase to include step-grandchildren.

Conclusion

The lesson learned here is that clarity is key. When making a will, going the extra step and defining the words “children” and “grandchildren” can save the will from future litigation regarding constitution of its terms. Adding a simple clause to the following effect will have a profoundly reduce the chances of having your will challenged: “In this Will, the word ‘grandchildren’ includes (or excludes) biological, adopted and/or step grandchildren”.

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

Perspettiva

10 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday September 26, 2017

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

Ejja nirrispettaw lill-mexxejja

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Għalfejn?

għidilkom iddritt, iktar ma jgħaddi ż-żmien aktar qed insibha diffiċli biex nirrispondi għallmistoqsija.

Issa jien minn meta kont tifel kont imdorri u mgħallem li nirrispetta lis-superjuri tiegħi u nies fl-awtorità, kemm jekk huma ġenituri, għalliema, kapijiet politiċi (bl-awra messjanika tagħhom), il-kleru u lmexxejja tal-knisja (dawk li huma flok Alla), persunaġġi magħrufa fix-xena Dan Rowe soċjali eċċ.

L-ideja kienet, nimmaġina, li kelli wisq x'nitgħallem millgħaqal, il-ġudizzju, l-għażliet u l-filosofija tagħhom.

U maż-żmien, sibt li kelli wisq x'nitgħallem, veru, imma mhux kollu kien onorevoli jew aċċettabbli. Kultant dak li tgħallimt kien diżgustanti u aborrenti. Dan l-eżempju li rridu li jieħdu ttfal?

Ikkunsidraw każ li għadni kif smajt bih hawn fl-Awstralja. Ġej minn NSW, fejn president passat tal-organizzazzjoni talkarità ta' nies irtirati tas-servizzi RSL, Dan Rowe li rtira millpożizzjoni fl-2014, illum ammetta li uża l-flus tal-organizzazzjoni biex fost l-oħrajn jixtri mobajls lill-familja, isifirhom u anke jħallas id-dejn tad-dar tiegħu. Investigazzjoni tallega li l-ammont ta' flus involuti huwa ta' kważi nofs miljun dollaru.1 Każ simili kien ta' Eman Sharobeem, li kienet il-kap ta' żewġ NGOs, Immigrant Women's Health Services u Non-English Speaking Housing Women's Scheme. Hi kienet magħrufa għaxxogħol tagħha kontra ż-żwiġijiet sfurzati tal-minorenni (li qalet kienet ġrat lilha), il-mutilazzjoni ġenitali tan-nisa u l-vjolenza kontra n-nisa.

Din is-sena ħarġu allegazzjonijiet li kienet barmet żewġ terzi ta' miljun dollaru mill-NGOs, inkluż xiri ta' ġojjelli u trattamenti ta' sbuħija għaliha; li hemm dubju dwar l-istorja ta' żwieġ sfurzat tagħha; u anke dwar it-titlu akkademiku ta' Dr. li kienet tuża.2 Fl-arena politika, kellna lil direttur tal-partit Liberali f'Victoria, Damien Mantach, mixli b'miżapproprijazzjoni ta' $1.5 miljun mifruxin fuq diversi snin, allegatament jinkludu ħlasijiet lejn kumpanniji li ma kinux jeżistu għal xogħlijiet li ma sarux, flejjes li spiċċaw fil-familja.3 Fuq in-naħa l-oħra tal-ispettru politiku, kellna lil Michael Williamson, li kien kap tal-Health Services Union u wkoll president tal-partit Laburista Awstraljan, ikkundannat għal ħames snin ħabs għal frodi ta' kważi miljun dollaru li kienu jinkludu ħlas ta' dejn fuq proprjetajiet u ħlas ta' miżati ta' skola privata, u wkoll li pprova jfixkel lill-pulizija fl-investigazzjonijiet tagħhom.4 Kellna lill-eks-ministri Laburisti ta' NSW Ian McDonald5 u Eddie Obeid6 misjuba ħatja ta' aġir kriminali u ssentenzjati għall-ħabs.

U xi ngħidu għallorganizzazzjonijiet reliġjużi Awstraljani ta' diversi tipi li tant tlajna mgħannqin magħhom u li ffurmawlna l-ħsieb u lkarattru tagħna tul ħajjitna kollha, li qed insiru nafu b'kemm membri ordnati u mexxejja tagħhom kienu involuti direttament, jew indirettament, b'abbuż sesswali ta' minorenni, xi kultant għal ħafna snin?

Eman B'disgrazzja liema Sharobeem bħalha, il-knisja li jien assoċjat magħha, dik Kattolika Rumana, hemm allegazzjonijijiet kontra madwar 7% tal-kleru.

Nista' nibqa sejjer hekk.

Tiskanta li l-fiduċja fil-kleru niżel minn 59% għal 34% f'għoxrin sena, u li l-fiduċja fil-politikanti, kemm statali kif ukoll federali, huwa ta' inqas minn 20%7?

X'tistenna, meta tant minn dawn il-persuni li suppost jispiraw fiduċja jidher li jkunu qed jistennew is-siegħa u l-mument biex ibillu subgħajhom (jew forsi jimlew il-barmil), jistennew l-opportunità li jabbużaw mill-pożizzjoni tagħhom?

Jien inkun minn tal-ewwel biex ngħid li ma tistax titfa 'l kulħadd f'keffa waħda. Madankollu, meta wieħed jara dan kollu, kif tispjega li hemm partiti li huma kontra li jkun hemm kummissjoni federali għal kontra l-korruzzjoni? Kif mhux kull stat għandu liġi kontra d-donazzjonijiet ta' zviluppaturi tal-art, ta' donazzjonijiet minn barra l-pajjiż, ngħid jien anke ta' donazzjonijiet ta' iktar minn $1000, lil kandidati u partiti politiċi?

X'konsegwenzi se jkun hemm għall-istituzzjonijiet reliġjużi għall-imġieba ħażina ta' min qed jaġixxi f'isimhom, u ta' min qed imexxihom u naqas li jagħmel dan?

Il-fiduċja, meta titnaqqar, qajla terġa' tintrebaħ, u din xi impatt se jkollha.

Referenzi 1. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-18/former-rsl-nsw-presidentadmits-to-misuse-of-charitys-money/8957590, retrieved 18/9/2017 2. http://www.news.com.au/finance/work/at-work/eman-sharobeems jawdropping-deception-documented-as-her-colleague-prepares-to-giveevidence/news-story/501c02679de4ed88575c4095bcebd51c, retrieved 18/9/2017 3. http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/damien-mantach-liberal-party-inshock-after-15-million-fraud-allegations-20150820-gj442z.html, retrieved 18/9/2017 4. http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/former-union-boss-michael-williamsonloses-his-appeal-to-have-jail-sentence-reduced-20150916-gjntf9.html, retrieved 18/9/2017 5. http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/ian-macdonald-found-guilty-of-misconduct-in-public-office-20170307-gushfa.html, retrieved 18/9/2017 6. http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/eddie-obeid-loses-appeal-over-misconduct-conviction-20170912-gyg9wd.html, retrieved 18/9 7. http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/7244-roy-morgan-image-ofprofessions-may-2017-201706051543, retrieved 19/9/2017

The Voice of the Maltese 11

L-akbar pittura ta’ San Pawl fir-Rabat

Tuesday September 26, 2017

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l-Knisja Kolleġġjata ta San Pawl fir-Rabat għandha għadd ta’ tifkiriet li, naturalment, ifakkruk fl-Appostlu tal-Ġnus (San Pawl). Fost dawn wieħed isemmi s-saqaf tal-korsija ta’ din il-knisja ewlenija ta’ dan il-lokal sabiħ u arjuż.

Li ftit jafu hu li x-xbiha ta’ San Pawl impittra fis-saqaf tal-korsija ta’ din il-knisja huwa l-akbar San Pawl impitter fil-Gżejjer Maltin. Din il-pittura hija ta’ Eliodoro Coccoli.

F’din il-pittura Coccoli kien oriġinali għax warrab fil-ġenb lidea tal-kwadri kif is-soltu nafu lil San Pawl. Coccoli, li f’din il-knisja għandu xogħlijiet oħra, pitter lil San Pawl fil-glorja tiegħu fit-tul kollu tas-saqaf tal-korsija. Anke d-dehra ta’ San Pawl hija waħda maestuża.

Fil-ġnub ta’ din id-dehra ta’ San Pawl, il-pittur Coccoli daħħal ukoll bosta personaġġi li kellhom rabta mal-ħajja ta’ San Pawl u l-aktar mal-missjoni evanġelika tiegħu.

Insemmi wkoll li d-dekorazzjoni sempliċi izda sabiħa li ddawwar dan is-saqaf, xogħol id-dekoratur Rabti Mikiel Fsadni li għamilha wara li konsultazzjoni mal-Isqof ta’ dak iż-żmien, Mons. Mauro Caruana u wkoll mal-pittur Coccoli.

Tajjeb ukoll wieħed isemmi li meta sar dan ix-xogħol, firRabat kienet inħolqot ħafna polemika argumenti dwar din ilpittura u l-kompożizzjoni tagħha. Fil-fatt, l-abbozz tal-pittura, li jinsab fil-Mużew Wignacourt, huwa bil-bosta isbaħ u aħjar minn dak li jidher fis-saqaf tal-korsija.

Hawn wieħed jistaqsi: mela għaliex il-pittura tas-saqaf mhix bħal tal-abbozz? Naħseb li r-raġuni hija l-flus. Wieħed irid jiftakar fil-faqar li kien hawn f’pajjizna f’dawk iż-żminijiet, allura naħseb li l-pittur Coccoli gie mġiegħel ibaxxi l-prezz u għalhekk għamel il-pittura aktar sempliċi u tefa’ lil San Pawl qalb ħafna sħab.

PeterPaulCiantar

Din il-pittura ta’ San Pawl fis-saqaf tal-Knisja ta’ San Pawl fir-Rabat saret fi żmien il-Kappillan Buħaġiar li kien ħabib kbir tal-Isqof Mauro Caruana li kien bis-saħħa tiegħu li Coccoli ġie Malta mill-Italja.

Naturalment l-Isqof Caruana ġab lil Coccoli għall-Knisja tiegħu (San Girgor f’Tas-Sliema), fejn il-pittur Taljan għandu verament xogħlijiet tajbin. Xogħlijiet oħra ta’ dan l-isess pittur jinsabu wkoll fil-knisja parrokkjali ta’ Birżebbuġa.

Ta’ min jgħid ukoll li Eliodoro Coccoli kien pittur u dekoratur Taljan ta’ importanza. Huwa twieled fi Brescia fl-l880 u miet fl-1974 fl-eta’ ta’ 94 sena. Ħadem ħafna fl-Italja u anke barra minn pajjiżu, fosthom fl-Isvizzera u naturalment f’Malta fejn fil-Knisja ta’ San Pawl fir-Rabat speċjalment, tana diversi xogħlijiet, fosthom kif semmejt, l-akbar pittura ta’ San Pawl f’pajjizna.

12 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday September 26, 2017

Roundup of News About Malta

Malta can be beacon of political courage for others - PM Muscat tells UN

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Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat addressing the UN General Assembly in New York

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altese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told the 72nd UN General Assembly in New York that despite its size Malta can now serve as a beacon of political courage that inspires others to introduce concrete measures and reforms.

In the general debate, he said that there can be no peace while poverty, especially extreme poverty, still exists, adding: “Peace is not just the absence of war or conflict. It is rather, managing and addressing climate change, migration, and food and water insecurity”.

He dealt with a number of key issues, including waters, saying that Malta has registered a voluntary commitment of 30% of all the waters under its jurisdiction as Marine Protected Areas, and that it has internationally been at the forefront of maritime and marine related issues and would continue contributing towards the good governance of the oceans by hosting the next ‘Our Ocean 2017 Conference’ next month.

Likewise, Malta wholeheartedly welcomes the

entry into force of the Paris Climate Accord.

He said that together with all the EU partners, it is strongly committed to the Paris Agreement.

Muscat said that as a government, “we base our policies on four overarching principles: social mobility, social justice, equality, and unity”.

He said Malta has put human rights, equality, and empowerment at the forefront of its political agenda, and in particular on the priority issues of LGBTIQ rights and gender equality.

As a member state of the European Union, the PM said Malta is part of a wider European response to tackle human trafficking networks in the Mediterranean Sea. It also welcomes the progress registered on the development of a global compact on migration.

He wrapped up his address by saying, “We are strong believers in the overarching power of multilateralism. We do not believe the UN is simply a sum of its parts, but rather a force that grows exponentially when we think and act as one, rather than alone.”

Hectic time for government delegation in New York

uring his visit to New York, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who is accompanied by Foreign Minister Carmelo Abela, joined other world leaders at the UN headquarters in signing the declaration on Reforms of the United Nations.

The declaration includes a call for more transparency, the better use of resources, and that the UN becomes an organisation that implements its mission while cutting on extra bureaucracy.

The Maltese delegation also participated in various meetings that centred on a number of topics, including the Libya situation, the 17 UN targets for Sustainable Development and a conference discussing LGBTIQ persons’ rights.

Meanwhile, as Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth of Nations, Joseph Muscat addressed the Global Citizen Live, which is part of the Global Citizen Festival in New York that brings together citizens and world leaders advocating an end to extreme poverty.

He said that in the remaining months that Malta would be leading the Commonwealth, it would continue working to convince more leaders to commit more resources to the elimination of Polio. He urged cooperation to eradicate polio, that in spite of today's "technological world we have not yet managed to eradicate.”

He was pleased that Commonwealth countries like Australia, Canada, Nigeria, the UK and Malta committed resources to address the 1% of cases that remain.

As Chair of the Commonwealth, together

with the UK, Malta also organised a meeting for member countries at the UN building.

During it, British PM Theresa May said that with Malta as Chair the organisation has begun an important regeneration process. She added that the UK, which follows Malta in the position, will ensure the process to continue.

Earlier, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said he is proud that over the last two years with Malta as Chair, thanks to the involvement of youths and organisations in Commonwealth activities, the organisation has become more relevant and more impor-

tant. He said the Commonwealth should strive to achieve greater equality at different levels in order to obtain more common rights and to lessen discrimination.

The Maltese delegation also took the opportunity to hold various bilateral meetings aimed strengthening Malta’s relations with a number of countries, and with Joseph Muscat saying that Malta is open to more investment and that it is in the interest of the country to reach agreements that could facilitate investments.

hile congratulating the new PN leader Adrian Delia, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that on his return from the US he would invite him for a meeting to determine how they could work together over the course of the legislature.

At a PN mass meeting on Thursday Delia said he would be accepting the invitation to meet.

Muscat also hoped there would be a change in the PN Leader’s attitude even if he disagreed with the government’s decisions, and said the initial test could be whether Delia would reverse a PN decision not to participate in a waste-to-energy technical committee tasked with evaluating a process to transform Malta's waste management options.

However, Delia said the government

would not be allowed to dictate the Opposition's agenda. The decision was taken by the party and not by just one person, adding that it was unfair of Labour to request the change of the decision.

Later Delia said if the Government explained what its role in the committee would be the PN would be ready to reconsider the proposal internally.

The government is set to introduce a waste management project expected to cost between €100 to €150 million to be completed within six to seven years and formed a committee giving it a deadline for the end of the year to present a final proposal.

The committee consists of technical individuals, experts and representatives from eNGOs. Foreign experts from the EU commission will also be giving their input.

PM Muscat hopes for a change in new Opposition Leader’s attitude W

The Voice of the Maltese 13

Tuesday September 26, 2017

Roundup of News About Malta US Insurance company, Starr, chooses Malta to operate its EU business

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S international insurance entity Starr Companies has chosen Malta as the place from where it would be implementing its commercial activities for the EU. The investment was sealed during a visit Prime Minister Joseph Muscat made to the company’s offices in New York.

The investment is the result of negotiations started in November last year by the PM at a meeting with Starr officials at their offices in New York.

PM Muscat said both sides had immediately understood the benefits of this agreement, which would allow Starr companies to operate and penetrate European markets, particularly following Brexit, Britain’s exit from the European Union.

The Government said that for Malta the agreement means that more President MLCP presenting‘Everyday Hero’ award to than ever, the country would be on the international insurance map as Ms Latifa Ibn Zaiten at the Global Hope Coalition a prime player. It also meant that Malta has become more attractive to strong investment from US companies that are now looking at Malta “as a small but flexible jurisdiction”. t the same time that the Maltese del- was organised in Malta by Missing ChilMuscat said that Starr Companies' investegation led by PM Muscat was at- dren Europe and the President’s Foundation ment was a solid vote of confidence in tending the UN General Assembly, for the Wellbeing of Society, last January.

Malta and the Maltese economy.

Maltese President Marie Louise Coleiro President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca was The US company vice-President Bertil Lundqvist expressed satisfaction at the ex- Preca was also in New York to participate also a guest of honour at the Global Hope cellent process of the investment, including at an international conference on child pro- Coalition launch by UNESCO, at the New tection and the implementation of the inter- York Public Library, where, on behalf of the Maltese financial services regulators. the people of Malta, she said she was proud Starr Companies previously used a Lon- national convention on children’s safety.

At a meeting she had with UNICEF offi- to support the Global Hope Coalition. don company for EU operations but in sumThe President said that the Global Hope mer last year it started seeking other cials, the President said that children are the alternatives. He said that after meeting the present and future of the global society. Coalition would send a powerful message Maltese Prime Minister, the company re- “We do our utmost to invest in their skills to all people of goodwill - “a message that alised that Malta offered the best environ- because we will be preventing also the pos- should encourage all people to understand ment for the company to establish itself in. sibility of terrorism and extremism. When that each and every one of us has a role to He added that after Brexit, more compa- you have traumatised children who end up play, to nurture, and to work for sustainable nies would realise that Malta is the ideal in the periphery of society, there is greater peace.”

She explained that this is also a message chance that the risk exists,” she said. place to operate from in the EU. She spoke about of “our united commitment” to stand up for the situation be- universal human rights and fundamental ing faced across freedoms, for the benefit of all humanity.

During the launch, the President presented Europe and the world and the two ‘Everyday Hero’ awards to Ms Latifa outcomes of the Ibn Zaiten and Mansour Al-Nogaidan.

In New York President Coleiro Preca also survey of 43 professionals matically’ over the next five conference entiworking in Malta’s finan- years and a further 68% antici- tled ‘Lost in Mi- found time to meet with the Maltese comcial services industry reveals pate some sort of improvement gration’ which munity in New York. that the clear majority expect the here. sector, that currently contributes The main driver behind this trend just over 12% of Malta’s GDP, would be more financial services to enjoy strong growth over the companies locating to Malta next five years. while others believe the country’s ove in Paradise, the film shot entirely in Malta by direcAbout 87% of the respondents flexible legislative and regulatory tor-producer Julian Galea (that was featured in the last of the Managing Partners Group system would also help. survey believe that by 2022 this The chairman of the Malta issue of The Voice of the Maltese magazine) has won the best would be higher, with 70% an- Stock Exchange, Joe Portelli, film award at the Malta Film Festival.

The film that brings the everyday life of Malta and its main ticipating it would account for also welcomed the results, 15% or more. adding that as more companies attractions on the big screen was released last month in AusThe asset management group consider their Brexit options, it tralia and is also currently being shown in theatres in Malta.

Julian, whose father emigrated to Australia in the sixties said that one of the key reasons is anticipated that Malta’s qualbehind this growth would be an ities as a well-regulated, Eng- wanted to rediscover his roots in Malta through this film. He increased focus on innovation. lish-speaking financial centre intends to film more productions on the island that, he says, is Some 16% expect product inno- with a hardworking and edu- the “perfect production landscape to shoot a film” Julian said with Love in Paradise he wanted to show Malta vation in the Maltese financial cated workforce would prove to for its culture, its vibrancy and aesthetic. services sector to increase ‘dra- be very attractive to them.

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UNICEF, UNESCO meets for President in NY

Malta’s financial sector could grow to 15% of GDP A

Love in Paradise wins Best film Award at Malta Film Festival

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14 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday September 26, 2017

Delia jagħmilha għal kap, imma ...

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ħal darb’oħra l-istħarriġ li sar minn ċerti ġurnali, u oħrajn, dwar l-elezzjoni tal-Mexxej tal-Partit Nazzjonalista laqtu l-musmar fuq rasu, għax kif bassru, l-Avukat Adrian Delia ħareġ rebbieħ f’din it-tiġrija. Tiġrija li għalkemm ġiet imsejjħa bħala waħda bejn il-ħbieb, fil-fatt spiċċat f’attakki sottili, u kultant mhux daqshekk sottili bejn il-kontestanti u aktar u aktar bejn dawk li jappoġġjawhom.

Ir-rebħa ta’ Delia hija impressjonanti minħabba l-kampanja qalijla li tqajjmet kontra tiegħu, kultant, saħansitra minn dawk nidħla sewwa tal-Partit Nazzjonalista. Attwalment filwaqt li għadd konsiderevoli ta’ membri parlamentari Nazzjonalisti ħarġu jappoġġjaw b’qawwa lil Dr Chris Said, dawk li wrew appoġġ lil Delia kienu waħdiet. Said kellu wkoll l-appoġġ ta’ The Times, li oriġinarjament kienet appoġġjat lill-Avukat Perici Calascione u ma tantx għaddiet kummenti sbieħ dwar il-kontestanti l-oħra.

Iżda mbagħad meta Perici Calascione ma għaddiex, dan il-ġurnal intefa’ wara Said. Min-naħa l-oħra The Malta Indipendent, għalkemm b’mod sottili kienet qed tappoġġja lil Delia.

Delia rebaħ b’marġini konvincenti billi kiseb madwar 52% talvoti mitfugħa.

Il-votazzjoni nnifisha qajjmet xi ftit tal-polemika wkoll, fejn kien hemm min allega li ċerti membri tal-Partit Nazzjonalista li kellhom id-dritt tal-vot ġew imċaħħda minn dan, fosthom uħud li huma membri tal-Partit Nazzjonalista għal għomorhom (life-members).

Biss il-Kummissjoni, li kienet qed tmexxi l-elezzjoni, insistiet li kull min kellu dritt għal-voti ngħatalu.

Li hu żgur huwa li l-għadd ta’ dawk li zjoni.. li huwa vot qawwi meta tqis li din attwalment ingħataw il-vot kien il-bogħod kienet l-ewwel darba fl-istorja Maltija li mit-23,000 membru li kien intqal inizjal- partit politiku ħatar il-mexxej tiegħu perment mil-Partit Nazzjonalista, għax dawn mezz ta’ votazzjoni minn fost il-membri tniżżlu għal madwar 18,000, u attwalment, kollha tiegħu.

U sintendi meta tagħmel xi ħaġa għallfinalment kienu ftit aktar minn 15,000 li ewwel darba ma jistax jonqos li jkun ġabru l-vot u kellhom dritt li jivvutaw.

Minn dawn 95% ivvutaw waqt l-elez- hemm xi nuqqasijiet.

Kien hemm min feraħ u min sfoga

- imma żgur għadma iebsa għal Delia hux xi sigriet li r-rebħa ta’ Delia fil- li dan kien il-bidu tat-tmiem tal-Partit NazM waqt li ġiet milqugħha b’ewforija zjonalista. kbira, ma niżlitx tajjeb mal partitarji nazGħalija din hi reazzjoni eseġerata. L-

zjonalisti kollha. Saħansitra kien hemmm kandidati tal-partit stess li meta wieħed jaqra kitbiethom ma jemminx li dak li kitbu kien ġej minn xi ħadd minn ta’ ġewwa. Saħansitra kien hemm min sostna

Simon Busuttil

ewwelnet għax partit bi storja hekk twila – l-eqdem partit politiku f’Malta – mhux għalkemm jitlef is-saħħa tiegħu għax inħatar mexxej li lil xi wħud ma jogħġobomx. It-tieni għax fuq kollox x’jiswa Delia kważi ħadd ma jaf, għax dan qatt ma deher fix-xefaq politiku.

Nistgħu ngħidu li hu kaxxa magħluqa.

Li hu żgur li Delia għandu għadma iebsa xi jgerrem, mhux biss għax ilPartit Nazzjonalisti ġarrab żewġ telfiet elettorali umiljanti, u Jason Azzopardi mhux biss għax

Adrian Delia fuq il-Fosos

jinsab f’diffikultajiet finanzjarji, iżda lagħar ħaġa għax fl-elezzjoni għal mexxej tal-partit ħarġu fil-beraħ firdiet interni li ma jawgurawx tajjeb għall-Partit Nazzjonalista. Allura l-ewwel biċċa xogħol ta’ Delia hija li jrid jara x’jagħmel biex iġib mill-ġdid l-għaqda fil-partit, li mhux ta’ b’xejn bħala l-logo li ntuża fil-festi tal-Indipendenza hemm: “il-Bidla li tgħaqqadna”.

Għalkemm anke fl-istess mass meeting tal-festi tal-Independenza, kien hemm membri parlamentari nazzjonalisti li m/attendewx, fosthom l-ex-mexxej tal-PN Simon Busuttil u Jason Azzopardi u Karol Aquilina, għalkemm kien hemm oħrajn bħal Karl Gouder, Marthese Portelli, Frederic Azzopardi, Ivan Bartolo, Therese Commodini Cachia li wkoll ma dehrux.

Ikompli f’paġna 15

Tuesday September 26, 2017

L-aħħar żviluppi

The Voice of the Maltese 15

It-Tnejn sar magħruf li Jean Pierre Debono li ġie elett għall-ewwel darba u bħalissa hu l-assistent segretarju tal-PN, offra li jirriżenja hu biex Delia jidħol minfloku fil-Parlament. Issa l-kandidati l-oħra li ħarġu fis-7 distrett jinħtieġ ma jikkontestawx f’elezzjoni każwali.

Delia Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni

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elia għad għandu wkoll diffikultajiet personali. Fuq quddiem kif se jsib ruħu fil-Parlament biex ikun jista’ jmexxi l-Oppożizzjoni. Dan minħabba li għalkemm fil-kampanja elettorali sostna li kien sab min lest iċedilu postu biex jidħol fil-Parlament, u li kienet kwestjoni magħluqa, jidher li fil-fatt ma kien hemm xejn assigurat.

Tant li qrajna storja wara l-oħra kif il-bibien tal-Parlament kienu qed jidhru aktar iebsin biex jinfetħu għal Delia minħabba li diversi membri parlamentari qalu li ma ridux iċedulu posthom.

Hawnhekk tajjeb ngħidu liema huma t-toroq biex Delia, li ma kkontestax l-elezzjoni ġenerali li għaddiet jista’ jidħol fil-Parlament.

L-eħfef triq kienet dik li xi wieħed mill-ħames membri Nazzjonalisti eletti permezz ta’ elezzzjoni każwali jirriżenja, għax fil-każ il-PN kien ikollu dritt jinnomina lil xi ħadd biex jieħu post l-MP li jkun irriżenja... u ma jistax jonqos li kien jagħżel lil Delia.

It-tieni triq, u li jidher li se tkun hi wara li Jean Pierre Debono tTnejn ta r-riżenja tiegħu, hi li jirriżenja membru Parlamentari. Dan issa jwassal għal elezzjoni każwali fis-seba’ distrett b’dawk li jistgħu japplikaw jirrinunzjaw li jikkontestaw. Jekk ħadd ma jikkontesta, jew f’każ rarissimu ħadd minn dawk li jikkontesta ma’ jġib nofs il-voti +1 tal-kwota, il-Partit Nazzjonalista xorta jkun jista’ jinnomina lil Delia. Ħadd mill-ħames kandidati eletti f’elezzjoni każwali, fosthom Godfrey Farrugia tal-PD (elett bħala membru tal-PN) ma kien lest iċedi postu lil Delia. Lanqas laħħar tentattiv, biex l-Għawdxi Frederick Azzopardi jċedi postu ma rnexxa. Issa l-unika triq li l-partit jikkonvinci lill-kandidati fuq l-istess distrett ma jikkontestawx. Diġa` qalu li lesti jaċċettaw dan.

Il-PN worta għandu problema, għax f’kull distrett taħt l-isem tal-PN ikkontestaw ukoll membri tal-PD u Marlene Farrugia, li mexxiet il-PD fl-elezzjoni qalet li mhix lesta tikkopera mal-PN f’din il-materja.

Dan stqarritu ċar u tond fuq il-facebook:a Saħansitra tat struzzjonijiet biex jekk issir elezzjoni każwali l-kandidati tal-PD kellhom jikkontestawha.

Dan jista’ jikkomplika s-sitwazzjoni, għax ikun meħtieġ elezzjoni każwali li tieħu ż-żmien, u tista’ twassal biex il-PD jirbaħ l-elezzjoni każwali.

Marlene Farrugia ħarġet ukoll qatta bla ħabel kontra Delia. Fost kollox ġiet ikkwotata ssostni skont il-ġurnali taħt ir-ras: “Marlene Farrugia: The PN has sunk deeper in the quagmire, DeliaPN will snuff out any life left to it,” u waslet tgħid li ma kienetx se taċċetta lil Delia bħala kap tal-Oppożizzjoni.

Sadanittant iż-żmien qed jagħfas, għax fit-2 ta’ Ottubru jiftaħ il-Parlament u tkun daqqa ta’ ħarta kbira għal Delia li jispiċċa li ma jkunx hu li jmexxi l-Oppożizzjoni, iżda din tkun immexxija minn Dr Simon Busuttil.

Fil-fatt Delia diġa` tilef l-ewwel appuntament tiegħu..... dak li bħala Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni jieħu sehem fiċ-ċelebrazzjonijiet uffiċjali tal-Festi tal-Independenza, fosthom billi jattendi għall-Pontifikal fil-

Kon-Kattidral ta’ San Gwann u t-tqegħid tal-kuruni f’riġlejn il-monument tal-Indipendenza fil-Furjana.

Għal dawn iċ-ċerimonji attenda Dr Simon Busuttil, li uffiċjalment għadu l-kap taloppożizzjoni.

Delia xorta attenda għall-Potifikal ta’ San Gwann, (stampa fuq) iżda ma kienx fost il-mistednin distinti għax il-protokoll ma jippermettix dan.

Insomma kull bidu huwa iebes, iżda nispera li l-affarijiet jiċċarraw ma jdumux għax barra Gvern tajjeb, il-pajjiż jinħtieġ ikollu wkoll Oppożizzjoni b’saħħitha u mhux imfixxkla minn diffikultajiet interni.

16 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday September 26, 2017

Australia stands with US against N. Korea

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eferring to US President Donald Trump’s fiery language on North Korea at the UN General Assembly last Tuesday, saying “the whole country would be destroyed” and “many, many thousands of innocent people will die,” the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, said Australia was ready to assist the United States.

“It's stating the reality. It's very important that North Korea understands that if it attacks the United States or its allies, as the President said, the United States would respond and respond in a way that would end the North Korean regime.

“I mean, it is a situation of increasing gravity and risk, and it is vital that the UN - and this is where the President was speaking - increase the economic sanctions on North Korea so that it can be brought to its senses without conflict.”

Mr Turnbull again invoked the ANZUS Treaty, saying if America is attacked by North Korea “we will come to America's aid. If we are attacked, under that same treaty, America comes to our aid”.

“I don't think this guy will commit suicide, because that's the truth. I mean President Trump and I have said exactly the same thing: if he attacks the United States that is a suicide note for his regime.

Now, it is a disaster because many, many thousands will die. But the reality is, if North Korea decides to attack the United States or it's allies, that will be the end of the regime.”

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was in New York for the UN General Assembly and spoke with Mr Trump following his speech. “I spoke to the President about his speech and his comments on North Korea,” Ms Bishop told reporters.

“The President's speech was about call-

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ing out this illegal behaviour and calling on the international community to continue to condemn North Korea and ensure sufficient pressure is put on North Korea so it returns to the negotiating table,” she said.

“We had a rather detailed discussion on what options are available to the international community and what is Kim JongUn's end game.”

Elder abuse epidemic Drug testing is an O absolute disgrace

ur society seems to be all care, and no responsibility when it comes to fixing the growing elder abuse epidemic writes Greysafe founder Michael Riley in The Age. If I told you that right now, while you read this article, 200,000 Australian women were being abused, bullied or kept in social isolation you'd be outraged. Correct? What about if a new report came out that the same number of children was being sexually abused both at home and in supposed safe institutions? Or if we read a news article that told us the same number of animals were being physically mistreated and left shaking in fear from those that “own” them?

Quite rightly, we'd all be angry, shocked and pretty in much in agreement that something needs to be done right away.

So, if I tell you that 200,000 is the estimated number of Australians aged over 65 that are subject to abuse, does it upset you as much as what I described above?

We as a society seem to be all care and no responsibility when it comes to fixing this growing elder abuse.

While visiting Malta Stay at:

P

rofessor Patrick McGorry, medical health expert and former Australian of the Year is the latest prominent Australian to voice his concern about the measure, which will see 5000 welfare recipients drug tested at three trial locations.

He has warned the policy fails to understand the intersection between mental illness and drug and alcohol addiction.

The consequence will be to drive vulnerable Australians with a mental

The Diplomat Hotel, 173 Tower Road Sliema

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

health issue away from the welfare system, and most likely into homelessness.

Professor McGorry’s criticisms come after the former Australian federal police commissioner Mick Palmer delivered a scathing assessment of the plan.

Mr Palmer, who was responsible for implementing strong Howard-era drugs policies, told the ABC the plan would simply not work, would harm those least able to change, and risk pushing people into crime to support their addiction. The bill has been pushed back in the Senate for mid-October.

Join us on Facebook:

https://www.facebook. com/groups/thevoiceofthemaltese

The Voice of the Maltese 17

Tuesday September 26, 2017

Same-sex marriage postal vote

Religious freedom is assured - PM Turnbull

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he Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull in promoting the postal vote regarding same-sex marriage encouraged all Australians to have their say freely and respectfully, but he also defended the right of religious churches to refuse to marry same-sex couples.

“Churches are free to marry whoever they like, that is part of religious freedom. There are many churches including my own church the Catholic Church, who will not marry someone who has been married before. There is no conflict, churches aren’t forced to marry all comers, and people aren’t forced to have church weddings,” he said.

The Prime Minister promised any same-sex marriage bill facilitated by his government would contain “strong” protections for churches and religious groups. He also made the point that the NO case would vote no against any legislation of same-sex marriage regardless of protection there are for religious freedom.

eBay user attempts to sell vote for $1500

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ollowing a Sydney eBay user’s attempt to hawk his postal vote for the same-sex marriage survey for at least $1500, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has warned that people who seek to pass on their postal votes for the survey could face jail time.

The listing on eBay titled “buy my vote”, asks bidders: “What is the plebiscite worth to you?”

“The reason I’m selling my vote is because either way I don’t care but thought there are people who do,” the user writes in the product description.

The seller assured part of the auction proceeds would go to “help kids battling cancer”, but the charitable act has hit a snag

as ABS, the agency in charge of the vote, has warned that a response that has been bought or sold “would likely an offence against the Census and Statistics Act 1905 or the Commonwealth Criminal Code”.

The offence against the Census and Statistics Acts could carry a maximum penalty of $2100, while a potential criminal offence could see offenders jailed for up to 12 months.

The agency also said it had contacted several sites about the possibility of people selling their ballots, and eBay and Facebook had confirmed any votes for sale would be blocked and removed from their sites.

ABC familiar with fairness says, Fifield

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Ban the burqa motion rejected he Nationals have rejected renegade T MP George Christensen's motion to ban the burqa - but only by a few votes.

Mr Christensen says he will continue to push for the Turnbull government to adopt the policy of banning the face covering from government buildings and public spaces despite his own party's decision.

The urgent motion came to a vote at the Nationals federal conference and was defeated 55 to 51. Mr Christensen said the ban was needed for security reasons but also noted the party was "bleeding to the right" on such issues.

The motion comes just weeks after One Nation leader Pauline Hanson caused a firestorm by wearing a burqa to Senate question time as part of her bid to ban it.

National’s leader Barnaby Joyce (pictured above) voted against the motion, despite disliking the burqa, citing Australia's trade with countries such as Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

he Turnbull government insists a push to legislate the ABC must be “fair and balanced” will not change anything about the public broadcaster’s existing editorial policies. The change to the ABC Act – yet to be brought to Parliament – is part of the deal the Government did with the One Nation Party in exchange for passing its overhaul of media laws.

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield points out that the ABC existing editorial policies talk about the importance of fair treatment. “There’s been a lot of uproar about that proposed change, but there

shouldn’t be,” he said. “These are not new or strange journalistic concepts.”

The ABC’s editorial policy says it is guided by “hallmarks of impartiality” that include “a balance that follows the weight of evidence” and “ fair treatment”.

The One Nation senators have previously offered up examples of topics where they think ABC coverage hasn’t been appropriately balanced, including climate change and giving equal time to the views of anti-vaxxers.

Other parties in the Senate, including the Nick Xenophone Team, may yet stymie the changes.

18 The Voice of the Maltese

NSW Local Council Elections after the amalgamations

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early three million voters, a total of 1938 councillor and 61 mayoral candidates stood for seats in the 45 council elections managed by the NSW Electoral Commission, with Maitland City Council managing its own election held on September 9.

In Parramatta, the Liberals once again dominated the council with seven seats going their way. But in a historic first, the Greens got two seats on the council – with 14 per cent in Parramatta ward and 11.84 per cent in Rosehill ward.

Labor gained five seats while former councillor and independent Lorraine Wearne could hold the balance of power with the final seat in the Epping ward.

In Cumberland, formed from a merger of parts of Auburn, Holroyd and Parramatta councils, there were 74 candidates vying for 15 seats. Labor has won eight of them.

In the Greystanes ward, Greg Cum-

Tuesday September 26, 2017

mings topped the most votes. Talking to The Voice of the Maltese the ex-Mayor of Holroyd said his profile amongst the Maltese community was an advantage. His team were the only contestants to advertise on The Voice of the Maltese though this facility was available for all the candidates.

“We never received so many votes in Greystanes ward. We missed electing the second candidate by 17 votes,” said Greg Cummings.

Local Council elections were held in Bayside, Burwood, City of Canada Bay, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland,

Greg Cummings ... he pulled most votes in Greystanes

Georg-es River, Hornsby, Hunter’s Hill, Inner West, Ku-ring-gai, Laane Cove, Mosman, North Sydney, Northern Beaches, City of Parramatta, Randwick, City of Ryde, Strathfield, The Hills Shire, Waverley, Willoughby and Woollahra.

Background information In December 2015 the Baird State Government of NSW laid out plans for 35 mergers which would have reduced the state’s 152 councils to 112. However, that blueprint was last year watered down to just 19 mergers.

The Liberal Government’s decision was deeply unpopular especially in regional areas and with the more wealthy councils. The Gladys Berejiklan government abandoned forced council amalgamations, ending an 18-month war with the state's local municipalities.

Therefore Metropolitan Local Governments, including Mosman, Willoughby, North Sydney, Lane Cove, Hunters Hill, Ryde, Strathfield, Canada Bay, Burwood, Ashfield, Ku-ring-gai, Hornsby, Woollahra, Randwick and Waverley were not forced to join leaving the others like Cumberland and Parramatta to an election that was held on the September 9.

The Voice of the Maltese 19

Tuesday September 26, 2017

Festa bla ikel x’festa hi? T

l-festi reliġjuzi u anke l-oħrajn b’laqta nazzjonali li jiġu ċċelebrati flIli jiftakru Awstralja mill-komunita` Maltija, minbarra li jagħtu ċ-ċans lill-Maltin minn fejn telqu u huma timbru li minkejja li ‘l bogħod minn art twelidhom għadhom jgħożżu dak li hu Malti, fosthom ir-reliġjon li trabbew fiha, huma wkoll okkażjoni li fihom jiltaqgħu fi gruppi kbar, xi ħaġa li mhux faċli jagħmlu ta’ spiss f’pajjiż ta’ dan il-kobor.

F’dawn l-okkażjonijiet, ukoll bħal ma jsir f’Malta, jispikka wkoll l-ikel tradizzjonali Malti u jinsew id-dieti u x’inhu l-ikel tajjeb u dak li jinħtieġ joqogħdu ‘l bogħod minnu. Kif jgħidu l-Ingliżi, “for once they let their hair down”.

Ir-ritratt t’hawn taħt meħud quddiem it-taraġ tad-daħla tal-Katidral, juri l-Maltin, qabel u wara li attendew għaċ-ċeremonja tal-festa ta’ Maria Bambina f’Sydney, jixtru l-ħelu Malti, il-qubbajt, il-kannoli, ilpastizzi eċċ. ...u jekk ma tiċċelebrax bl-ikel...? Ħafna jgħidulek li festa mhix festa jekk ma jkunx hemm l-ikel. Min se jmerihom?

Deserving of a mention

he Voice of the Maltese being a fortnightly publication often runs out of space to accommodate articles or photographs that deserve exposure. Some prefer the “echo chamber” of Facebook to publish photos without an adequate or proper explanation.

In the last issue we missed out on a couple of photographs of people whose sterling work results in activities that reminds the Maltese community what they have missed by leaving their island of birth.

So today we are publishing these photos: Above (left): Gejtu Deguara and his wife Mary with Councilor Dr. Victoria Borg enjoying themselves at the festa of San Gejtanu in Melbourne; and (right): six prominent members of our Maltese community in Melbourne at the festa ta’ Santa Elena. From left: Paul Sammut, Fred Sammut, Reno Grima, Victor Bartolo, Paul Borg and Emanuel Brincat.

20 The Voice of the Maltese

No major changes to Maltese SBS radio programmes T

Tuesday September 26, 2017

he much-awaited decisions by Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) to changes to its services to reflect Australia’s rapidly changing and increasingly diverse society were announced late last week.

Based on the findings of the 2016 tent was one of the most researched Census, more than 1.3 million people and best argued. have migrated to Australia in the past In this recent reshuffle by SBS, the five years, and nearly 4.87 million peo- Maltese programme will continue ple speak a language other than Eng- with two radio programmes per week lish at home including Indigenous with some improvements. languages.

The programmes are currently on The revised services will include consecutive days. From November 20, seven new languages, including six the programmes will be broadcast on ‘high needs’ languages and one ‘large’ Tuesday and Friday, in order to pro- be published in the next issue. language supporting new communi- vide a better spread of news and inforFor further information on the SBS ties who need news and information mation across the week.

Radio Services Review 2017 and for all in their language as they navigate life They have streamlined the broadcast current broadcast times and frequenin Australia. times. Currently, the programmes are cies, one should visit sbs.com.au/radio.

During a four-week consultation at midday and 2 pm. In future, they process (November 14 – December 11 will both be broadcast from 12 pm, To tune in to SBS Radio anytime, anywhere: 2016), which gave people and organi- which is easier for audiences to re- Download the free SBS Radio App available sations the opportunity to provide member and finally, the Friday pro- now at the iTunes App Store and Google feedback on the Selection Criteria that gramme has been added to the Play; Analogue radio programs – AM / FM; was being proposed, SBS Radio re- National Radio Network, enabling au- Digital radio (DAB+) and digital television; ceived more than 600 submissions rep- diences right across Australia to tune Online live streaming and On Demandl Podcasts. resenting 85 languages. in via their local radio station.

The submissions received were taken As these announcements reached The into consideration in finalising the Se- Voice of the Maltese practically on our Is-sensiela dwar Tagħrif dwar il-kitba lection Criteria, which in conjunction deadline, comments and analyses will Maltija nkompluha fil-ħarġa li jmiss with the 2016 Census data has determined the revised language services to be provided by SBS Radio. The last review of SBS Radio was conducted Belt il-Bniedem (City of Humanity) is an educational/artistic venture, enduring 2012-2013, after the 2011 Cendorsed by Valletta 2018 Foundation leading to the production of the first ever Maltese opera cycle. The artistic concept underlying the series of operas is sus. the concept of a siege. This project will span two years, running from SepThe Maltese Community Councils of tember 1, this year 2017 until November 31, 2019.

NSW and Victoria on behalf of the This project intends to widen the Maltese opera audience through the integraMaltese community in Australia pretion of local artists, through the use of the Maltese language and through the sented a very strong submission, fact that the operas’ subject matter is closely intertwined with Maltese history. which according to Mandi Wicks, SBS More information about the event in the next issue Director of Audio Language and Con-

City of Humanity, Malta over 2 years

Se tiġi rrestawrata l-eqdem mitħna f’Għawdex

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I-Mitħna tax-Xewkija f’Għawdex, ikkummissjonata mill-Granmastru Perellos fil-bidu tas-seklu tmintax, se terġa’ tingħata l-glorja oriġinali tagħha għax se tiġi rrestawrata, bixxogħol isir taħt is-superviżjoni tal-uffiċjali tal-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar Din hija l-eqdem mitħna fil-Gżira Għawdxija, kif ukoll l-unika mitħna filGżejjer Maltin b’bażi ottagonali (għandha tmien faċċati).

Il-mitħna kienet bdiet topera fl-1710 minn Ġanni Scicluna għal ħafna snin, imbagħad fl-1956 bdiet tintuża mill-Banda tax-Xewkija bħala l-ewwel każin tagħha, iżda fl-1965 ġiet abbandunata meta lbanda mxiet fil-każin tagħha.

L-uniku użu li kien sar matul is-sittinijiet kien biex isir sfreġju tagħha billi ntużat ħalli jitpittru slogans politiċi u jitwaħħlu ritratti ta’ kandidati matul il-kampanji elettorali ta’ dak iż-żmien. Ġewwa tal-mitħna wieħed isib intrata kbira, żewġt ikmamar paralleli u kċina fuq wara. Fin-nofs hemm ukoll garigor li

jwassal għall-bejt tat-torri. Fuq id-daħla hemm ukoll birth room.

Issa sa fl-aħħar nistennew li narawha mill-ġdid fl-istat oriġinali tagħha.

Bħala parti mir-restawr se tinħoloq

pjazza madwar il-Mitħna, jitneħħew xi partijiet tal-ħadid u konkrit, u jinbidel issaqaf tal-konkrit ma’ wieħed tradizzjonali bi travi tal-ġebel. Se titnaddaf ukoll ilġebla u jinbena mill-ġdid il-mekkaniżmu.

The Voice of the Maltese 21

Tuesday September 26, 2017

C Co om mm mu un ni it ty y N Ne ew ws s MALTESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL OF NSW

A Division of the Maltese Community Council of NSW Inc.

Learn Maltese!

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

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

Teachers urgently needed - Paid positions

For more information and enquiries Phone 9601 2189 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.

Kemm taf dwar: Iċ-ċittadinanza doppja, il-visa, passporti u t-tibdil enormi li sar filħajja ta’ kulħadd fl-Awstralja?

Int mistieden/a tattendi laqgħa ta’ informazzjoni nhar l-Erbgha, 4 ta’ Ottubru fis-7.30 pm fis-sala San Gorg Preca OLQP Parish Church Old Prospect Road Greystanes NSW Kelliema: Rita O’Dwyer (Mill-uffiċċju tal-Konsolat Generali) Kulħadd mistieden. Dħul b’xejn Titilfux din l-okkażjoni ta’ tagħrif important.

La Valette Social Centre Għana Night

La Valette Social Centre 175 Walters Road, Blacktown Tel. 96225847 SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 30: The Centre will be organising an Għana Night with Saver Bonnano. Also be a special guest from Malta, Joe Bonello. Everybody is welcome.

Also Saturdays (winter): Bingo: 8.00pm Winter. Boċċi, Raffle, members’ lucky door prize - dinner for two Membership is only $7 a year.

We also have other activities that we advertise on the radio, church bulletins and The Voice of the Maltese.

ST HELENA MALTESE/AUSTRALIAN S.C. Events: October - December 2017

Oct. 14 – Sat.: GM meeting at Albion (2.p.m).

Oct. 22 – Sun.: BYO Function at Errington Hall, St Albans.

Nov. 12 – Sun.: BYO Function at Errington Hall, St Albans.

Dec. 16 – Sat.: Xmas Function at Melrose Tullamarene.

Bus tour to Canberra

On Sunday October 1 the Maltese Community Council of NSW is organising a bus tour to Canberra, visiting the National War Memorial. Bus departs 8.00 a.m. from the MCC Centre, 59b Franklin Street Parramatta West.Tickets: $40 per person. Lunch not included.

Lunch stop will be at the Hellenic Club.

Saint Nicholas Festa Committee Main events for 2017

Sunday October 15: Fete Saturday Nov. 11: Dinner Dance Sunday December 3:

St Nicholas Feast For more information: Joe Fenech 0412 009 957 or PRO Emm. Vella 045 677 064

Horsley Park Community Social Group & Friends 10-day Adelaide Tour

Mon. October 9 - Wed. October 18 Tour includes: 10 days 5 star coach touring travelling through three States: NSW, Sth Australia and Victoria; 9 Nights accommodation; 9 Breakfasts; 3 Lunches; 9 Dinners; Morning or Afternoon Tea; two Cruises; Wineries For further information and itinerary contact: Theresa 0402 178 781 or Josephine 0402 040 954

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

For issues concerning:

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

22 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday September 26, 2017

C Co om mm mu un ni it ty y N Ne ew ws s Tune In to Radio and Television

The SBS MALTESE NEWS: 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

Maltese Radio Programmes

MELBOURNE, on 3ZZZ 92.3FM or on www.3zzz.com.au. Mondays 56 pm, Fridays 5-6 pm and Saturdays 10-11am.

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

MELBOURNE: STEREO 974 (93180930): 97.4FM Wed (Maltese Magazine) & Thursday (Mer˙ba): 6.00pm to 8.00 pm Co-ordinator – Ray Anastasi On SBS Radio Day Time Analogue and Digital Friday: 12:00-13:00 97.7fm SBS 2 Saturday: 14:00-15:00: 97.7fm SBS 2 To tune into digital radio you need a receiver or device with a DAB+ chip. Tuning in is by station name not frequency.

Digital radio can also be heard via digital TV. In SYDNEY, listen to the MCC radio programmes on 2GLF FM 89.3.

Isma’ l-programm tar-radju bil-Malti mill-Kunsill Malti ta’ NSW minn fuq 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-Ħadd 11.00 am: l-aħħar aħbarijiet minn Malta, mużika, tagħrif, kultura, avviżi u suġġetti ta’ interess.

UNCLE SAM DJ (Maltese Radio) tune in to link: www.unclesamdj.com SBS Radio 2 on Channel 38.

Programmes can be accessed online (live or catch up) at sbs.com.au/maltese and via mobile phone, using the SBS Radio app. For television news from Malta - SBS 2 TV on Thursdays and Sundays at 8am.

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

Presenter: Nathalie Gatt.

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

In BRISBANE listen to the Maltese Programme on 4EB on Tuesdays 6.00 -8.15am; Sundays 4.15pm to 5.15pm

L-aħbarijiet tal-PBS (Malta)

ħalkemm il-PBS ta’ Malta tforni lill-SBS fl-Awstralja bis-servizz tagħha, G il-qarrejja huma mħeġġa biex x’ħin iridu jistgħu jidħlu fil-website tal-istazzjon Malti: www.tvm.com.mt. Din bil-Malti u bl-Ingliż.

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

Maltese Seniors Social Welfare Day Groups

Fairfield Active Maltese Seniors

Meets on the last Tuesday of the Month.

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

Maltese Seniors Central Coast

Have to contact our Welfare Officer for an appointment. For all information and referral matters call Cen-sina Cefai: 02 439 000 12 or 0414 267 652

Daceyville Maltese Seniors

Meets 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

Join us and make new friends.

Present

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

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

Maltese of Bankstown

Group meets 3rd Wednesday of month at New BCRG offices 15 Kitchner Parade, Bankstown NSW (opposite RSL Club). Every other 3rd Thursday an outing. Enquiries call: Sam 9534 2357

29 ta’ Ottubru

Wentworthville Leagues Sunday 2pm

For tickets phone: Monica: 98960712 or 0414 859386 Joe Borg: 96242280; Julie: 96367679 DONATION of $12.00 Kids: $6.00

Australian High Commission on facebook; HC on twitter

he Australian High CommisT sion’s in Malta now has a new Facebook page, and the High

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

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

Meets every First Wednesday of the Month from 10:00am-1:00pm. Meetings/Get Togethers are interesting, informative & entertaining, so 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.

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

The Voice of the Maltese 23

Sports on two pages

Tuesday September 26, 2017

Gżira’s dream start continues

T Madison Conwell (centre) flanked by her mum Tania (left) and grandma Rose Sacco

Maddie does nanna proud M alta born Rose Sacco is such a proud grandma after her granddaughter, Madison Conwell not only represented Queensland Under 18 mixed team in the 2017 National Indoor Netball competition held at the Springvale Indoor Netball Centre in Melbourne recently, but also won two gold medals in both the 6s competition which is a New Zealand indoor netball game and the Australian game of 7s.

Maddie played with a broken finger. She showed grit, determination and maturity throughout.

In the 6s, she was in the U/18 mixed team that played U/18 and

U/23 teams from all over Australia losing. They won the U/18 grand final.

In the 7s she helped her team go through the competition unbeaten to win the Under 18 grand final, and to cap a successful week, she was also selected in the All Stars Australian Under 18 mixed team for 2017.

he initial stages of the current Premier League in Malta is unearthing quite a few unexpected results, particularly for the teams that normally challenge for the title. However, the surpise team of the campaign, newly-promoted Gżira United keep marching on as the only team to enjoy maximum points from five games after Sunday’s win against St Andrews.

Day 4 registered quite a few DAY 5 RESULTS shock results, but things retunred Gżira U v St Andrews 3-2 3-0 Hibernians v Mosta to normal on Day 5.

2-1 Champions Hibernians had lost Balzan v Valletta to a last-gasp goal against Gżira Floriana v Ħamrun S. 1-0 v Naxxar L. 3-2 United; Birkirkara (back under Birkirkara 2-0 Sliema W. Lija Ath coach Paul Zammit) came a crop- Senglea v Tarxien R 1-1 per against Senglea, while Balzan L. v DAY 4 dropped two more points in a Naxxar Gżira U. v Hibernians 3-2 scoreless draw with Ħamrun and Floriana v S. Andrews 4-0 had two players red carded.

Balzan v Ħamrun S. 0-0 Balzan and Hibernians s also Valletta v Sliema W. 1-0 Senglea v Birkirkara 1-0 missed crucial penalties.

3-1 At least Valletta’s game went to Mosta v Tarxien R form when they beat Sliema 1-0 in Naxxar L. v Lija Ath 1-1 STANDING P W D L Pts a balanced game.

On Day 5 last weekend, Balzan Gżira U 5 5 0 0 15 Floriana 5 3 2 0 11 beat Valletta in the top match, on Hibernians 5 3 1 1 10 Sunday, while Gżira defeated St Valletta 5 3 1 1 10 Andrews in a hard fought game.

Sliema W. 5 2 2 1 8

Gold Coast 2018 Queen’s Baton Relay in Malta

T

he past weekend Malta and Gozo hosted the Gold Coast 2018 Queen’s Baton Relay that is 71 countries before the official opening of the Commonwealth Games on April 4 next year. On Friday it was on show at the residence of the Australian High Commissioner in Malta, HE Ms Julienne Hince. Report and ocitures in the next issue.

Balzan 5 Senglea A 5 Ħamrun S. 5 Birkirkara. 5 Mosta 5 S. Andrews 5 Naxxar L. 5 Lija A. 5 Tarxien R. 5

2 2 2 2 2 1 0 0 0

2 2 1 1 0 0 2 1 1

1 1 2 2 3 4 3 4 4

8 8 7 7 6 3 2 1 1

How Manly United did the historic double Q

uite simply we all agree that Parramatta FC’s disastrous season in the PS4 NPL NSW MEN'S needs to be forgotten, and quick. But Manly United's dynamic on field performances during the campaign will certainly never be forgotten as the club from Sydney's northern beaches ensured they will forever be in Football NSW's record books after snaring a jaw dropping club double.

The victory on September 10 over APIA Leichhardt Tigers on penalties in the Grand Final of the competition followed the success of Manly's women winning their big dance versus Macarthur Rams on August 27.

No wonder Manly’s CEO David Mason was so enthusiastic in his reaction. He said they were so proud to be the first club in Football NSW history to be crowned champions in both the men’s and women’s competitions in the same season. Both teams were full of local juniors, which shows they are developing tremendous pathways at Manly United for all local kids.

It was also a big reward for the club’s technical directors, Warren Grieve and Sharon Egger. Manly's men's squad had finished fourth in the season proper. Then they faced Sydney Olympic FC and beat them 2-1 in their elimination semi-final, and triumphed 2-0 against Blacktown City FC in their next match.

Rockdale City Suns then were left pondering what may have been after losing their qualifying final 4-3 on penalties, with APIA the final hurdle at Leichhardt Oval where goalkeeper Dylan Mitchell again was the hero, producing big time for the second time in just over a week in a shootout to secure the silverware.

Manly United’s women who finished second after 18 rounds,

Manly United’s Men’s and women’s teams

entered the finals series in a confident mood. They had a 3-2 win in the major semi-final against highly fancied Macarthur and moved straight into the decider.

The Rams were their opponents once again, and Norm Boardman's squad looked in ominous touch, taking an early 2-0 lead.

But Manly refused to panic, and a Siemsen hat-trick saw them win an absolute belter of a grand final, 4-3.

24 The Voice of the Maltese

Sports on two pages

Tuesday September 26, 2017

A most successful season for Parramatta’s U/17 and U/15 ladies teams T

he Parramatta FC (Melita Eagles) Under 17s and Under 15s ladies made up for the disappointment of the Men’s football team by enjoying a most successful season, with the Under 17s achieving double honours and the Under 15s narrowly losing out.

Having already claimed the Minor Premiership after a strong campaign, and defeating second placed University of NSW in their Major Semi Final Parramatta’s Under 17’s side were on a high, keen to defeat the Lions in the NSW Women's State League Grand Final to take out double honours. They managed it with a 2-0 victory.

It took the Eagles only six minutes to forge ahead through Ellen Berios. Then for the remainder of the first half they dominated play leaving their opponents starving for possession.

The Eagles also started the second half in confident mood and went on the attack from the word go in search of a second goal to safeguard their position. Though the Lions charged forward to get the leveller it was the Eagles who sealed the win 13 minutes from the end with a well-deserved second goal again scored by Ellen Berios.

The University pressed on to get back into the game but the Eagles’ defence held out for the win.

As the final whistle was blown, the victors’ players hugged each other in joy and along with coach Jeff Perry and manager Judy Tomlin received their medals and the Premiers and Champions trophies.

A

fter a stellar 2017 season that included finishing only one goal shy of taking out the minor premiership, plus grinding out two tough Finals victories, the Under 15’s went into the Grand Final with high expectations against University of NSW; unfortunately they lost it by 1-0.

A nervous start paved the way for a wellcontested match. In their best chance, of the first half Parramatta’s Brooke Hastie struck the crossbar. The Univ. had few chances, and at half time the score stood at 0-0.

After all the hard work and attacking plays from the Eagles early in the second half,

The Under 15s with their coaches happy after a successful campaign

against the run of play it was their opponents who broke the deadlock 20 minutes from time with the all-important goal.

The Eagles’ ladies went searching for an equaliser, but in spite of their efforts it they failed to get it. It asn't their day losing 1-0.

Although the Eagles, led by coach Andrew Vicary and manager Brendan Byrne, just fell short on the final day of the season, they should be proud of this year's achievement and by laying a strong foundation for the future.

AnthonyTheuma