The Voice of the Maltese No. 175

Issue 175

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

Fo rtnightly magazine for the Diaspora Fortnightly Diasp ora

March 20, 2018

A dream come true for the Rixon family at GC2018

Rose Rixon the mother, (extreme right), along with daughters Rebecca (left) and Connie will represent Malta at the Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast. It will not only be a dream come true for them but also an unprecedented occasion for the Games.

(See Pages 23 and 24)

2 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday March 20, 2018

Commonwealth member states celebrate Commonwealth Day 2018 in Malta

‘Targeting a fairer, more secure, more sustainable, and more prosperous future’

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alta being one of the 53 independent countries that make up the diverse and unified Commonwealth community, on March 12 celebrated Commonwealth Day 2018 in style. The day was marked with the flags of the member states being flown along Republic Street in Valletta, and with a number of activities in which Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion Carmelo Abela, whose portfolio the Commonwealth falls under, playing an active part.

During the main function, a Vin d'honneur at the Ministry building that Minister Abela co-hosted with the High Commissioners from Australia, Ghana, and India, as well as the UK’s Deputy HC, he remarked how good it was that Malta’s diplomatic Commonwealth community is growing, as shown with the addition of a resident High Commissioner for India.

He also highlighted how, with The Gambia recently re-joining, the Commonwealth family has grown to 53 nations.

He said, “The renewed vigour towards a successful Commonwealth was first seen at Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2015, and since then we have seen results”. He also noted Malta’s focus on the Commonwealth’s 31 small states, especially through the establishment of the Trade Finance Facility as well as the Small States Centre of Excellence.

“As these projects progress, we continue to deepen our bond as a Commonwealth in achieving our targets set internationally, towards achieving

a fairer, more secure, more sustainable, and more prosperous future,” the Minister said.

This year’s is the last Commonwealth Day that Malta will celebrate as chairin-office, a position that it has held since November 2015. Malta will now pass the baton to the UK, which next month will be organising the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London.

While commending the UK’s commitment to continue building upon the outcomes of CHOGM 2015, he added, “we are happy to continue to actively work together for the securitisation of our Commonwealth’s future in order to be of service to the generations to come. So let us not lose sight of what we stand for. Let us keep up our positive attitude, guided by our values and vision.

He said that occasions such as The flags of the this day only Commonwealth serve to reignite member states discussions, forge along Republic stronger ties, and Street in Valletta get one steppingon March 12 stone closer in the right direction.

Earlier in the day

Malta’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion Carmelo Abela (left) at the Commonwealth Day function at the Ministry in Valletta together with (from left): the High Commissioners of Australia, (Ms Julienne Hince), Ghana’s (Mrs Mercy Bampo Addo) and India’s (Mr Rajesh Vaishnaw), and the UK’s Deputy High Commissioner (Ms Fiona Maxton) Minister Abela visited St Benedict College Ħal-Għaxaq Primary School where he addressed the school’s morning assembly. The schoolchildren and teachers joined the minister for the ‘Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth’ initiative, an activity that took place in schools across Commonwealth countries.

The students also read out the Commonwealth Affirmation and a message from the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Patricia Scotland, about coming together to celebrate a common future.

Later, the Minister visited the Institute of Tourism Studies in St Julian’s, where the Commonwealth flag was hoisted. He believed the Commonwealth needs to safeguard its future by focusing on regenerating itself, adding that it is striving to do so by focusing on what the Commonwealth’s younger generation can offer.

He said that 60% of the 2.5 billion Commonwealth citizens today is aged 29 or under.

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Tuesday March 20, 2017

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

How to claim for a motor vehicle accident (MVA) in NSW?

by PaulSant

Report the accident to the Police To lodge a claim for a MVA, you must report the accident to police as soon as you can before 28 days.

Make sure you have the details of the driver at fault and the registration of the car and if there were any witnesses, their contact details.

Photographs of the damage to your car should be taken if it is a minor accident and your car is not towed away.

Even if police do not attend at the scene of the MVA, you can telephone the police.

Retain the details of the person you speak to or go to your local police station to report the MVA within a reasonable time. Report the accident to the Police Assistance Line (131 444) as soon as possible.

If the police do not wish to accept your report, you must keep details of the conversation because if the MVA is not reported to the police, the driver at fault’s insurer may dispute your claim.

Personal Injury Claim Form If your MVA occurred prior to 1 December 2017 • Once you have reported the MVA to the police , you can make a formal claim and lodge a claim form on the driver at fault’s insurer (the CTP insurer) within 6 months of the date of the MVA if your injuries are expected to last longer than six months or cost more than $5,000. (http://www.sira.nsw.gov.au/__data/a ssets/pdf_file/0006/80862/PersonalInjury-Claim-Form.pdf ).

What can you claim?

• Past and Future Income • Pain and Suffering subject to certain criteria • Past and Future medical and treatment expenses • Past and Future Domestic assistance ( paid and / or unpaid care).

If your MVA occurred after 1 December 2017

• You must lodge a claim within three months of the date of accident.

• Note: lodge your claim within 28 days to receive early income payments if you need time off work. If you lodge it after 28 days, you will not get back pay for loss of income from the date of the accident. You will need to provide evidence of your income such as payslips or a statement from your employer.

• Your ambulance and public hospital treatment are covered by CTP Green Slip insurance. Regardless of who caused the accident, you can claim up to 6 months of: • reasonable and necessary medical and treatment expenses. Make sure you keep all your receipts for treatment.

• a percentage of your pre-accident weekly income if you need time off work. Your weekly payments will be a percentage of your pre-accident income: - for the first 13 weeks the percentage may be up to 95 percent - between 14 and 26 weeks the percentage may be up to 80 percent.

After 26 weeks your weekly payments will end if: - you were at fault or your injuries are as-

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sessed as 'minor'.

If you are still receiving payments after 26 weeks they may be 80 percent of your pre-accident income.

To continue to receive income payments after two years, the person must have ongoing work incapacity and have lodged a claim for damages.

• domestic and personal care if you need help while you recover. Those who have been severely injured may be eligible for the Lifetime Care & Support Scheme.

Seek medical treatment and request a certificate of fitness from your doctor.

It is very important that all of your injuries are included in the claim form, even if you do not have any symptoms now, we recommend you include that injury in the claim form. We will assist you complete the claim form.

Who can Claim?

The driver, passengers, motorbike riders and pillion passengers, cyclists, pedestrians, other road users even at fault drivers.

The insurer will pay for reasonable and necessary treatment expenses related to the MVA. This includes hospital, medical, pharmaceutical and rehabilitation expenses like physiotherapy and chiropractic treatment.

Reasonable and necessary treatment is defined as : • directly relates to your injuries • the treatment will get you back to your usual activities • it is provided by qualified health professionals and is cost effective/reasonable.

• You should keep a record of all medication and treatment expenses. If you require prescription medication, we suggest you attend the same pharmacist so that if a record is required at a later stage, your medication can be easily obtained from that pharmacy.

This will ensure that you receive reimbursement of all treatment expenses from the CTP insurer.

If a CTP insurer fails to pay for any treatment, we can help you challenge that decision.

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

4 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday March 20, 2018

Something magical happens each time you enter these city walls. Architectural excellence captivates your visual senses, as every step leads to a landmark of historical value. Walls and pavements that line the grid of narrow streets whisper secrets and mystics to passersby, whilst the air fills up with modern art, live music, and an array of celebrations. The Unesco World Heritage Site could perhaps best be described as a place where history meets the present.; where every explorer can find something they love. How will your Valletta story unfold?

Il-Gandlora: It-tradizzjoni Maltija I

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Tuesday March 20, 2017

x-xahar li għadda, Frar hu wieħed li ħafna jassoċjawh max-xitwa, meta dan l-istaġin ikun fl-aqwa tiegħu bil-maltemp u x-xita li tinsel, tant li hemm għadd ta’ qwiel Maltin marbuta miegħu. Imma dan ix-xahar hu wkoll marbut ma’ tradizzjoni reliġjuża, il-Gandlora, il-Festa tal-Preżentazzjoni ta’ Ġesù fit-Tempju.

Veru li ninsabu qrib il-Ġimgħa Mqaddsa u forsi aktar xieraq li wieħed jikteb dwar il-Ġimgħa l-Kbira u/jew il-festa l-kbira tar-reliġjon Kattolika, l-Għid il-Kbir. Imma dwar dawn diġa`kellna kitbiet f’artikli oħra. Minħabba li fi Frar kellna okkażjonijiet li ma kienx ta’ min jaqbiżhom ħallejt dan l-artiklu għalissa. Wara kollox din tal-Gandlora wkoll hi okkażjoni reliġjuża, għalhekk taqbel mat-tema.

Irrid ngħid li fl-imgħoddi l-okkażjoni tal-Gandlora f’Malta għandha, jew aħjar kellha, aspett differenti.

Fiha kienet issir il-preżentazzjoni ta’ xemgħa kemm lill-awtoritajiet ċivili kif ukoll lil dawk ekkleżjastiċi.

Il-qofol tal-Gandlora hu l-purċissjoni bix-xemgħa li daż-żmien, f’ħafna knejjes issir mis-sagristija għall-knisja wara li titbierek ixxemgħa u jsir xi qari mill-Bibbja. Dari din iċ-ċerimonja kienet issir differenti għal kollox. Ċert li huma ħafna dawk li jiftakru kif kienet issir fl-antik u x’importanza kellha f’pajjiżna ċ-ċerimonja tal-Gandlora. Ikun għalhekk ta’ interess, l-aktar għall-ġenerazzjoni żagħżugħa li nispjegaw x’kien isir.

Il- ħsieb wara ta’ din ix-xemgħa mbierka tal-Gandlora hu mnissel

PeterPaulCiantar

Il-Knisja kienet tagħti xemgħa lill-mexxeja tal-istat Malti

Pittura tal-preżentazzjoni ta’ Ġesu fit-tempu magħrufa bħala l-Gandlora

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mit-torċi Rumani u li lKnisja tagħti tifsira talkliem li kien qal Xmun meta fil-preżentazzjoni ta’ Ġesu`kellu f’idejh l-Bambin f’idejh, jiġifiri: “Dan Hu d-dawl li juri lill-ġentili”.

Fl-imgħoddi, f’dan il-jum, ħafna familji Maltin kienu jingħataw xemgħa tal-Gandlora mbierka, bil-fjuri miżbugħa fuqha u isfel xbieha mdiehba (indurate) tal-Madonna. Din kienet titqassam x’aktarx bħala rikonoxximent lin-nies li jew kienu għenu l-knisja, inkella bi tpattija għal xi kontribuzzjonijiet li kienu taw lill-knisja matulek ja sena.

Drawwa kurjuża fost il-Maltin hi li din ix-xemgħa kienet ukoll tiddendel fid-djar ħdejn is-sodda tal-kamra hekk imsejħa ‘tal-għamara’. L-għan kien li t-tberik tax-xemgħa jżomm kull ħażen bogħod minn dik is-sodda. Din ix-xemgħa kienet tinxtegħel biss meta f’dik il-familja kien ikun hemm xi ħadd li wasal fil-punt talmewt.

Fl-antik kien hemm ukoll id-drawwa li meta tingħata xi libsa littfal żgħar, fil-keffa t’isfel tagħha kienet titpoġġa farka xemgħa talGandlora. Dan kienu jgħidu, biex ma jgħajjnuhomx. Is-Sorijiet Franġiskani kienu jagħmlu wkoll labtijiet ċkejknin sabiex jiddendlu mal-ilbies tat-trabi u fihom ukoll ipoġġu biċċa xemgħa talGandlora.

Fi żmien il-Kavallieri kien hemm id-drawwa li l-Kappillani jagħtu wkoll xemgħa ta’ ratal imbierka lill-Isqof u lill-Gran Mastru (wara Gvernatur) bħala xhieda tar-rabta tagħhom bejn il-Knisja u l-istat.

B’hekk il-kappillani kienu juru s-sottomissjoni tagħhom lejn l-istat.

Id-drawwa baqgħet issir sal-1972.

Meta wara l-Gran Mastri bdew jilħqu l-Gvernaturi, dawn ukoll kienu jingħataw xemgħa imma jekk dan il-Gvernatur ma kienx ikun kattoliku x-xemgħa ma kinetx tkun imbierka.

Iċ-ċerimonja tal-għoti tax-xemgħa kienet issir fis-Sala San Mikiel u San Ġorġ fil-Palazz tal-Gvernatur fil-Belt. Hawn il-Gvernatur kien jieħu din l-okkażjoni biex jagħmel diskors li ta’ kull sena kien iħejji lill-Maltin għall-baġit li jkun ġej. Minħabba l-importanza nazzjonali tagħha ċ-ċerimonja kienet anke tixxandar b’mod dirett fuq ir-Rediffusion.

Ta’ min isemmi wkoll li l-Gvernaturi kienu jdendlu dawn ixxemgħat li jingħataw f’waħda mill-kmamar ta’ Sant’Anton. Din il-kamra tista’ tgħid li kienet tkun miksija bix-xemgħat kuluriti u sbieħ tal-Gandlora.

Interessanti li fl-1951, fiċ-ċerimonja tal-Gandlora kienet ħadet sehem ukoll il-Prinċipessa Eliżabetta, illum ir-Reġina tal-Ingilterra.

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6 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday March 20, 2018

Feast of Christ the Redeemer at Hobsons Bay

Chev. Joseph Attard thanking the particpants

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he Maltese Association of Hobsons Bay under the leadership of Chev Joseph S. Attard celebrated il-festa tar-Redentur (Christ the Redeemer) at the St Mary Star of the Sea parish in West Melbourne in the presence of Bishop Hilton Deakin and the Parish Priest Fr Anthony Bemal who celebrated mass.

In his homily, Bishop Deakin praised the Maltese Community for being so much involved with these traditional feast days.

At the end of the Church celebration, President Chev Joseph Attard thanked Bishop Hilton Deakin, Fr Anthony, the alter boys, the choir, the other members of his committee, and all those present that helped in the success of this annual event.

The Himig Pilipino Choir, that participated in this event for the first time did a very good job. Steve Azzopardi took part in the procession as trumpeter.

The chill wind picked up as the beginning of the procession, however, most of the people who attended the church celebration, also followed the statue and procession.

During the procession John DeBrincat recited the Bishop Hilton Deakin readings of the Stations of the Cross. delivering the homily Report & photos: EmmanuelBrincat

Għal serħan il-moħħ f’ambjent indipendenti Nelsons Grove Jekk bħalissa qed issibha diffiċli tkopri mal-ħajja.

Jekk fejn toqgħod sar kbir wisq għalik u ma tistax tlaħħaq aktar, qed noffrulek alternattiva.

Kompli għix ħajja indpendenti f’ambjent ta’ komunita` familjari u attiva, fejn għandek issib serħan il-moħħ, sigurta`, kura u attenzjoni. Tirtira iżda żżomm id-dinjita’ u l-indipendenza tiegħek.

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Nelsons Grove, 2 Newport St, Pemulwuy, NSW (Wara Woollworths)

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Alterna t għal da tiva w qabżu l k li -55

A woman of substance

Tuesday March 20, 2017

F

The Voice of the Maltese 7

rom working at top offices in Malta to the SBS and the first female President of the Maltese Community Council of Victoria, Edwige Borg, our Personality of the Month for March sought and captured the best opportunities life had to offer both in Malta and Australia.

Talking to The Voice of the Maltese, it is evident that as the current President of the Federation of Maltese Language Schools in Australia she is in an excellent position to propagate the Maltese language in Australia.

PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH

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Edwige Borg

dwidge Borg became active within the Maltese Community when she joined the Maltese Historical Association and in 1968 elected Secretary. In 2000 she was elected its President. Then came her involvement with the Maltese Community Council of Victoria (MCCV), first as Assistant Treasurer, and later as Welfare Director.

In 2003 she was elected MCCV’s first female President, and during the two year tenure in the position, with the help of a very active Executive Committee, organised activities such as receptions in commemoration of Malta’s entry into the European Union (2004) and the 2Oth anniversary of the opening of the MCCV premises in Parkville; the annual Maltese MCCV Cultural Festival and the revival of the MCCV Newsletter.

It was also at this time that she took over the coordination of the Maltese Language Classes at the MCCV. From 2006 to 2008, she continued to serve on the Executive Committee of the MCCV as Immediate past President and Education coordinator.

In 2008, she was elected V/President of the newly-established Federation of Maltese Language Schools Australia (FMLS), whose main is to coordinate the work performed by the Maltese Language Schools and to assist them in working together so that the Maltese language and culture continue to grow within the Maltese Community in Australia.

Edwige was born in Attard, Malta the fourth child in a family of six. Her parents Walter and Annie Gatt hailed from Senglea. Both their family homes were destroyed during the WW11.

“We lived in a terraced house located close to the Attard railway station and a stone’s throw from St Anton’s garden. Life was semi-rural, with lots of places to easily cycle, roller-skate, hike or camp in the fields and adjoining suburbs. I attended St Joseph’s convent school first in Valletta and shortly after at Blata l-Bajda.

“When I finished school, I was eager to start working. I worked in a few private firms and corporations. For a few months worked at the Drydocks as a clerk. Later, I entered the public service and was fortunate enough to work at both the Office of the Prime Minister and the Governor’s General Office” explained Edwidge Borg.

When she got married, Edwidge went to live quite close by, in Birkirkara. A year later her husband was offered, and accepted work in Gozo. For a few months there, they

lived in Munxar and finally settled in an apartment on the outskirts of Xagħra overlooking Marsalforn. That was her first so-called immigration.

I always sought new opportunities and my last job in Malta was at the Central Bank. I worked there for nearly eleven years.”

In 1982, Edwidge emigrated to Australia with her husband and baby son. They arrived in Melbourne via London in the autumn of 1982. Their home for the next three months was a unit in Nicholson Street, Coburg. She said that her second emigration was different but not hard.

Her clerical and banking background helped, and within three weeks she found employment and childcare for her son. Her second job was with the Australian Journalist’s Association (AJA) where she was promoted to Office Manager of the Victorian Branch.

Edwidge enrolled at RMIT TAFE, and obtained a Bookkeeping Diploma. After 11 years with the Association, now called Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, she joined Special Broadcasting Services (SBS) as a Finance and Budgets Co-ordinator from 1995 to 2007.

Her Maltese colleagues at SBS were Vivienne Kost, Richard Curmi, Joe Axiaq, Marlene Scicluna and Tony Spiteri. Concurrently, she was completing evening studies at RMIT University were she obtained a B.Bus, majoring in Accounting.

“I thoroughly enjoyed working at SBS. I was heavily involved in the move of SBS from the Arts Centre premises to Federation Square. I worked with the diverse language groups, looking after their budgets and the Radio Melbourne budget” Edwidge Borg is currently, employed as an accountant with the Institute for Breathing and Sleep situated in Austin Hospital, Heidelberg. She lives 18 kilometres northeast of Melbourne, Victoria in the leafy suburb of Montmorency.

Have your say/Xi trid tghid?

8 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday March 20, 2018

Your letters/ L-ittri tagħkom ...

The Voice of the Maltese for fortnightly tnightly magazine magazine

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

If you require a printed copy we can also oblige.

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

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

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

Let’s give the Maltese PM a great welcome

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Tony Cassar from St Albans writes:

s we have done on previous occasions when Maltese politicians, whatever their alliance, or high ranking people from Malta visited Australia, the Maltese community should make it a point to welcome the Prime Minister of Malta Dr. Joseph Muscat and his delegation that will be visiting Brisbane and Melbourne.

I believe that whatever one’s political leanings, we are first and foremost Maltese and should be proud of the fact.

Therefore to have the Prime Minister of the country where we have our roots and relatives, our beloved counry, Malta, even if it would only be for a short while, it is something that we should treasure.

Citizenship, no limit

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John Wong from The Ponds NSW writes: he letter from Sam Gatt from Blacktown, “Maltese citizenship and the subsequent generations” (VOM March 6), raised an interesting subject. In the same issue there was as well a very interesting article about "Cittadinanza għall-bejgħ?"

by Ivan Cauchi.

We need to keep the two issues separate.

There is also citizenship being given to wives of Maltese and they keep such citizenship if they get divorced six months after acquisition.

Grants by subsequent generations have no end. If they keep the link they can go for ever. This is the core question. Is there a need to take stock of the situation and perhaps have another look?

Nowadays Malta has more than ever got a strong voice and much bigger nations look up to it in order to seek the reasons for its success in many sectors.

It is no secret that many of us ‘old timers’ who left the island many years ago because of lack of work opportunities, and in order to carve a future for our families, would now dearly love to return to Malta.

A few of us have managed to retire in Malta. Others, like me, don’t do it because we have raised a family in Australia and the fact that we still treasure the importance of a united family, would find it very hard to dissolve this bond. Having your children and grandchildren close to you is a bond very hard to break.

However, most of us - if not all - would not betray our roots. That is why I for one, feel very enthusiastic when some politician from Malta visits us.

If like me, there are people in the Maltese community that feels the way I do, we should do our best to welcome with open arm the Maltese delegation as thanks for their efforts to give Malta such a good name.

There is nothing political about this. It is the same when it comes to the Maltese athletes who will be representing our native country in the upcoming Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast. I feel so strongly about all this and wish that the rest of the maltese community feels the same way.

Grazzi u awguri

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Tony Decelis minn Fawkner Victoria jikteb: ixtieq minn qalbi nifirħilkom u fl-istess waqt nawguralkom għal li ġej għax-xogħol li qed twettqu b’dan il-magażin, The Voice of the Maltese. Qed turu li tassew tirrispettaw lill-qarreja.

Dan wieħed jista’ jarah mil-fatt, li ta’ kull gimagħtejn, aħna l-qarrejja dejjem nirċievu din il-pubblikazzjoni unika fil-ħin, u għax safejn niftakar jien, qatt ma kellna bħala fl-Awstralja fejn għandha x’taqsam il-komunita`Maltija.

Il-fatt biss li m’hemmx ikkupjar sfernat, u li sa anke stqarrijiet ma jiġux ikkupjati kelma b'kelma u mingħajr sens, iżda jiġu editjati b’mod li minnhom toħorġu ttagħrif siewi, juri xeħta gurnalistika professjonali u mhux delentanteska.

Grazzi ħafna għax b’hekk qed iżżommu livell għoli ħafna ta’ ġurnaliżmu li minnu nistgħu nitgħallmu aħna u wkoll uliedna.

Aktar ħeġġa għal xogħlijiet letterarji Maltin Tuesday March 20, 2017

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oranne Vella, awtriċi magħrufa waslet Sydney minn Malta u dlonk irnexxielha tiltaqa’ mal-komunita’ Maltija f’nofstanhar interessanti li ġie organizzat fir-Resource Centre tal-Maltese Community Council ta’ NSW f’West Paramatta.

L-awtriċi Maltija, li ilha tgħix fi Brussel,

The Voice of the Maltese 9

Dawk li attendew biex jisimgħu lil Loranne Vella li taħt tidher waqt il-qari)

fil-Belġju bħala bħala tradutriċi għal għaxar snin, tkellmet fit-tul dwar ix-xogħol tagħha biex tkompli tippromovi mad-dinja l-ħeġġa lejn l-ilsien Malti. Aktar minn hekk hija wkoll ix-xewqa tagħha li tħeġġeġ lill-artisti Maltin u oħrajn barranin biex flimkien jieħdu sehem f’attivitajiet letterarji.

Loranne tkellmet dwar il-kotba li ħargu mill-pinna tagħha, bħal Rokit, rakkont immaġinarju, in-novella Magna TM Mater u t-trioloġija li kitbet ma’ Simon Bartolo, Sqaq l-Infern, Wied Wirdien u Il-Ġnien tadDmugħ. Hija wkoll qallbet għall-Malti diversi xogħlijiet u kotba għat-tfal taħt l-isem ta’ Rumanzini.

Hija qalet li ilha madwar 14il sena tikteb iżda bdiet bħala attriċi meta kienet għadha lUniversita ta’ Malta. Loranne Vella twieldet Għawdex u għexet Birzebbuġia. Iż-żjara tagħha fl-Awstralja fejn se Austin Bartolo (standing left) with teħodha wkoll f’South AusPaul Vella and Mario Sammut (front). tralia u Victoria hija mgħejjuna mill-Arts Council Malta.

Għal aktar tagħrif wieħed jista’ fidħol fuq : arly this month a movie by Maltese filmmaker, Austin Bar- facebook.com/Maltese-Literatolo was screened at the Sunshine Village Cinema in Mel- t u r e - i n - A u s t r a l i a bourne. The film, in the Maltese language, “Qlub Imweġġgħa” 154831541811676/ (Broken Hearts) with English subtitles was a huge success as members of the Maltese community packed the cinema. Austin now plans to also screen the movie in other cinemas.

Prior to the showing Austin Bartolo was interviewed on Melbourne’s Community Radio 3ZZZ on the request programme Inservik where he promoted the movie with presenters Mario Sammut and Paul Vella.

The film, starring Charles Meli, Joe Tanti and Sarah Camilleri among others, was written, produced and directed by Charles Meli.

It is an emotional story about a man who rediscovers love after his wife suddenly and mysteriously leaves him. The plot further develops in an intriguing insight into their separate lives.

Maltese film Qlub Imweġġgħa

E

10 The Voice of the Maltese

Perspettiva

Tuesday March 20, 2018

Dilettanti daqshekk!

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

B

ħalissa jidher li għaddejja ġlieda ġmielha fl-Istati Uniti, fejn bdiewa qed jiġġieldu għad-dritt li jsewwu t-trakters tagħhom. Fl-industrija tal-biedja, it-trakter sar għodda essenzjali u kumplessa, li jinkludi t-tħaddim kompjuterizzat b’softwer sofistikat. Waħda mid-ditti kbar f’dan is-suq, John Deere tal-Istati Uniti, saret tobbliga lil min jixtri l-makkinarju tagħha li jimpenja ruħu li ma jista’ jagħmel l-ebda tiswija fuq is-softwer.1 Il-kumpannija John Deere tgħid li l-modifikazzjoni mhux awtorizzata tas-softwer tista’ twassal għall-makkinarju li ma jibqax jimxi ma’ standards industrijali, ambjentali jew ta’ sigurtà.

Min-naħa l-oħra, il-bdiewa huma inkwetati li l-persuni li l-manifattur irid li jwettqu x-xogħol jista’ jkollhom dewmien inaċċettabbli biex jaslu fuq il-post ħalli jwettqu x-xogħol, jew li l-prezz li jitolbu jkun għoli wisq. Jistaqsu għalfejn, wara li ħallsu dawk il-flejjes kollha biex jakkwistaw dan il-makkinarju, m’għandux ikollhom id-dritt li jagħmlu t-tiswijiet huma, jew nies ta’ fiduċja tagħhom li jqabbdu huma stess?

Tassew, għaliex?

Dan hu biss każ ieħor, f’xejra li qiegħda tieħu l-manufattura u l-konsum ta’ prodotti elettriċi u mekkaniċi, fejn ix-xerrej qisu m’għadux jixtri l-prodott, imma qiegħed biss jixtri (jew kultant jikri) d-dritt li jużah.

Għalhekk per eżempju, jekk jixtri mowbajl, li jiġrilu l-ħsara waqt li għadu taħt garanzija, jekk ma jużax ċentru awtorizzat mill-manifattur għat-tiswija, dan tal-aħħar jispiċċa jaħsel idejh minn kwalunkwe responsabbiltà. Ħafna snin ilu, meta kont qed nibni dar f’Malta, kont għaddejt il-wajering tad-dar jien bi ftit għajnuna minn ħaddieħor, xogħol li ġie ċċertifikat minn elektrixin li kellu l-liċenzja. Hawnhekk fl-Awstralja, darba fettilli nitlob kwotazzjoni ta’ mogħdija ta’ kejbil tal-kompjuter minn kamra għall-oħra. Il-kwotazzjoni ġiet bi prezz ta’ barra minn hawn, u biż-żieda ta’ twissija utli ferm li jekk ix-xogħol nagħmlu jien inkun qiegħed nesponi ruħi għal multa iktar għolja mix-xogħol innifsu!

Id-dinja iktar qed tmur, iktar qed issir ikkumplikata, u diġà ħafna nies qegħdin jaqtgħu qalbhom mill-kumplessità u jqabbdu lil min huwa professjonali. Ma din ix-xejra, qegħdin jinkitbu liġijiet u regolamenti li mhux biss jnkoraġġixxu, imma wkoll jikkmandaw li jsir dan.

Kważi għadda ż-żmien li meta jkollok xi ħsara f’xi magna tmur tfittex it-turnavit jew spanner biex tara jekk jirnexxilekx issib tarf il-problema, li kultant tkun trivjali biex tissolva. Illum, tmur tiftaħ il-magna, u ssib li lanqas jirnexxilek tiftaħha, għax ikollha ras tal-vit li qatt ma tkun rajt bħalu, l-hekk imsejjaħ vit ta’ siġurtà, u li naturalment għodda għaliha ma jkollokx.

Forsi dak li jkun jonqsok biex taqta’ qalbek kompletament, u jew tqabbad lil xi ħadd ieħor jew tarmi l-magna u tixtri oħra.

Għaliex din id-diffikultà kollha?

Jekk se tqabbad lil xi ħadd jagħmel ix-xogħol ta’ tiswija, dan se jkollu l-introjtu tiegħu. Il-gvern jieħu t-taxxa fuq id-dħul tiegħu, u t-taxxa fuq il-bejgħ tas-servizz tat-tiswija. Apparti hekk, dak li qed jagħmel ix-xogħol issa għandu mpjieg (allura l-gvern jista’ jiftaħar b’qgħad inqas), u ta’ min hija l-magna li għandha tiswija

jrid imur jaħdem biex ikun jista’ jħallas għat-tiswija (il-qgħad jonqos iktar!). Ħeqq, viva l-ekonomija!

Jekk minflok issewwi, tarmi u tixtri l-ġdid, manifattur ġdid għadu kif żdiedlu l-bejgħ, tal-ħanut jieħu tiegħu, u l-gvern idaħħal it-taxxa mid-dħul tal-kumpannija u mill-pagi tal-impjegati, u taxxa oħra fuq il-bejgħ. Mill-ġdid, viva l-ekonomija.

Jekk min għandu l-problema jipprova jsolviha hu, dawk l-attivitajiet ekonomiċi kollha ma jsirux. Huwa faċli li tara għaliex kemm l-industrija u kemm il-gvern m’għandhom assolutament l-ebda interess li jħallu lill-konsumatur bil-libertà li jagħmel l-aħjar għażliet fiċ-ċirkustanzi tiegħu, imma jippruvaw jilwulu idejh biex jaġixxi skont l-interess kummerċjali jew politiċi tagħhom.

Jien il-problema li nara b’danakollu, apparti li n-nies qed jispiċċaw jonfqu iktar fuq terminu twil, hu li qegħdin isiru iktar speċjalizzati, u inqas lesti jmiddu idejhom u jitgħallmu xi ħila jew sengħa ġdida.

Tinduna meta titkellem man-nies, kemm hawn nies li anke madwar id-dar jafu jagħmlu ftit li xejn, anke l-iktar biċċa xogħol sempliċi jispiċċaw iġibu ‘l xi ħadd.

Naturalment, min huwa dgħajjef jew marid ma tistax tistenna lmirakli minnu, imma minn oħrajn li jarmu s-saħħa kultant tiskanta kif ma jagħmlu xejn ħlief ix-xogħol ewlieni tagħhom u xi qadja żgħira ‘l hawn u ‘l hemm.

L-ispeċjalizzazzjoni tirrikjedi organizzazzjoni kbira u dipendenzi profondi. Jien ninkwieta li dan apparantement ikun kollu sew, imma jekk issir xi taqliba f’daqqa, jekk is-sistema tieħu daqqa ta’ ħarta, per eżempju jkun hemm xi diżastru naturali li jolqot reġjun ġeografikament kbir, fejn din l-organizzazzjoni ta’ servizzi ma tlaħħaqx mal-bżonn li jkun żdied drammatikament, jew il-mezz ta’ telekomunikazzjoni jitfarrak, imbagħad x’isir?

Minn fejn se jsibu l-ħiliet neċessarji minn qatt ma qabad turnavit f’idu jew medd idejh barra mill-ispeċjalizzazzjoni tiegħu?

Jien inħoss li l-ħiliet li jħaddnu n-nies barra mill-impjieg primarju tagħhom mhux meqjus ta’ valur u lanqas stmat minn min jagħmel ir-regoli, u dan naħseb li huwa żball.

Referenzi

1. http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2018-03-11/farmers-spearheadright-to-repair-fight/9535730?smid=Page:%20ABC%20News-Facebook_Organic&WT.tsrc=Facebook_Organic&sf184200843=1, retrieved 13/3/2018

The Voice of the Maltese 11

Tuesday March 20, 2017

I remember, I remember… years gone by A book review:

(an autobiography)

A personal diary ... without keeping one O

JosephCutajar

n February 15 this year, she was 86… yet she is still learning, and enjoying life. Dr Doris Cannataci, the author of what she would describe as her autobiography that she wrote at the age of 82, is an example for all to follow. In fact she tells The Voice of the Maltese that she wanted to show that “in spite of the ups and downs of life you can always achieve your goals”.

Doris’s downs started at the age of seven when she lost her father and then experienced the horrors of World War II. In spite of this and other downs, she also had the courage to take full advantage of her ups. She is very spiritual and oozes such positivity.

In the 314 pages of her autobiography, I remember, I remember… years gone by, Doris she reveals the life of a Maltese Christian family during the 20th Century. She delves into her childhood, her life as a married woman, her travels and her busy life in such detail that like me, one would venture to ask if she ever kept a per-

sonal diary or go back on notes she might have written.

She tells me that she never had kept a diary or had any notes t o look at.

She wrote her book as she remembers the events. That is why I chose to describe her book as a Personal diary without keeping one.

Besides her native Maltese language, Doris speaks fluently English, Italian and French… and she is currently availing herself of the Lifelong Learning and Innovation programme courses within the Ministry for Education by taking a course in the Spanish language. Once or twice a week she attends U 3A lectures and once a week a course about Saint Augustine.

No wonder her motto in life is, that “It is never too late to learn”, and that “where there is a will there is a way.”

But learning another language is just a drop in the ocean for Doris. In September 2014, at the age of 82, she graduated in absentia at the North West University, South Africa. She gained her Ph.D. in Theology. Three weeks later at the South African Embassy in London, the degree was conferred by the Greenwich School of Theology.

That wasn’t her only graduation.

Way back in 1998 when she was already 66, after five years at University she graduated B.A. in Religious Studies. Four years later, now aged 70, she had her second graduation and obtained a Master of Arts degree. In 2010 she gained a second Master of Philosophy at the Malta University.

Doris also spent 35 years as a tourist guide. That is where her knowledge of languages came handy.

Doris lost her husband Richie on July 9, 2013. He died aged 84, after 14 years courageously fighting three cancers and for eight years and an amputation of his left leg, “without ever complaining”. After 56 years of marriage Doris describes him as having been and perhaps she still has him in her heart, as the love of her life, a man with a heart of gold.

The way she writes about her husband leaves no doubt as to their excellent relationship. She says, “He is still a point of reference” and is comfortably seated on the throne of her heart.

He was a great loss for her, but as she said in her book, life had to go on and found solace in the support her two children, her first born, Joseph Andre`, the father of three girls, and Marisa, a nun for 23 years who left the convent and now works as a social worker at Mater Dei, and other family members and friends have given her. Marisa has always been her mother’s closest companion and are now inseparable.

On a personal note I must admit that another reason why I enjoyed reading Doris’ book is the way she recalls her visits abroad, which were many, and her description of such places. I have visited some of them. I enjoyed every trip I made but it is not always that easy to name the interesting places I visited.

With her eye to detail, Doris has managed to take me back to those places.

One cannot help but feel emotional about reading some of the chapters in this book that I highly recommend, both to the old times who lived “through the horrors of war,” the subsequent years and also the last few years.

Nowadays, Doris, who regaled The Voice of the Maltese readers with a very interesting series about how Malta lived during the War (Issues113-122), spends time accepting invitations to talk about her experiences.

However, she is also preparing for the readers of The Voice a series of articles about The Flemish Tapestries in the Conventual Church of the Order of St John.

I remember, I remember...years gone by 314 pp. Publishers: Horizon.

Price: €13.00-€15.00.

12 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday March 20, 2018

Roundup of News About Malta Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in discussions with British PM Theresa May

Pa rliam ent g ives 16s r ight to vo te

t was history in the making when on Imously March 5, Maltese Parliament unanivoted in favour of amending the

constitution, lowering the official voting age from 18 to 16, making Malta the second state in the EU after Austria to lower its voting age to 16 As of now, 16-year-olds have the right to vote in general elections, the European Parliament election and national referenda.

The first occasion they would be able to use their vote would be for the European Parliament election in May next year.

PM Muscat tells BID Conference Malta ideal relocation point for after Brexit

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ddressing a conference in London organised by the British Institute of Directors, BID Malta’s Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told representatives of a number of British companies, that Malta would be an ideal relocation point for them to retain their British advantage in the products market while also continuing to be able to enjoy the free market when, in a year’s time, the United Kingdom formally withdraws from the European Union.

He talked about the future relationship between the UK and the EU and said that the chances of a free market continuing to operate the moment the UK no longer conforms to EU Regulations could become remote. At the same time, he felt it was

rather exaggerated to say that because of Brexit there existed the possibility of British companies relocating from Britain.

Just when negotiations between the EU and Britain are surrounded by a number of difficult problems, during his visit to London, Dr Muscat also had a crucial meeting with British PM Theresa May and along with over 2,000 guests, that included Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Family and Theresa May attended a ceremony at Lon-

don’s Westminster Abbey to commemorate Commonwealth Day. He said that Brexit will lead to losses being experienced by both sides and efforts should be concentrated on finding solutions that will cause a minimal amount of damage to the relationship.

Dr Muscat currently chairs the Commonwealth Office, a position that he will relinquish next month when a new chair will take over.

BOV opens new office on London

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ank of Valletta has increased its chain of offices abroad with a bank office at the financial heart of the English capital, London. Its aim is to serve as a bridge to attract investment and businesses towards Malta and the United Kingdom.

During the inauguration of the office, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat praised the fact that a local bank is joining the Government efforts to attract foreign direct investment.

Bank of Valletta chairman, Deo Scerri, stated that the office should serve to encourage new investment towards Malta.

He said that previously the bank opened offices in countries of Maltese migrants – such as Australia and Canada – however they are now looking at financial centres as the ones with offices in Milan and Brussels. He said the London office comes at a time when it is crucial that Malta increases its presence in the UK, due to Brexit

One-off event that unites the four Valletta communities A

one-off event, as part of the celebrations for Valletta 2018, the four parishes of Valletta will participate in a great feast, titled ‘Il-Festa l-Kbira’. The event, embracing the main four feast and the capitals’ two band clubs, the King’s Own and La Valette BC is to be held over three days, April 6-8.

The event will be held with the participation of the Parish Church of Porto Salvo and Saint Dominic, the Parish Church of St Paul’s Shipwreck, the Parish Church of

St Augustine and the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The respective parishes will start their processions from St George’s Square and proceed along with the bands through Republic Street to City Gate Freedom Square and City Gate to finish at their respective churches.

On April 8, two other bands, one each from Żejtun and Żurrieq will also take part.

The programme also includes the Freedom Day Regatta to be held on Saturday 7th April

The Voice of the Maltese 13

Tuesday March 20, 2017

Roundup of News About Malta

Tourism industry keeps flourishing – 20% increase in arrivals in January

T

ourism figures just announced by the National Statistics Office indicate that in January this year Malta registered a 20% increase in tourist arrivals over the same period last year. The total number of visitors to Malta reached 124,769.

A large number of the visits, 106,114, were by holidaymakers, while 14,889 were for business purposes.

There was an increase of almost 18% over last year from EU member states, the total being 106,631.

According to statistic, during the month under review, tourists spent a total of 848,314 nights in Malta (an increase of 15% over the same month last year), while expenditure in the same period rose by 16%, with tourists spending more than €82 million. The majority of inbound tourists, 39%, were aged 25 to 44, followed by those aged 45 to 64, at 34%.

UK tourists constituted the highest number of foreigners coming to the island, with more than 27,000 visitors, followed by Italy, around 23,000, Germany 14,000 and France 8,000.

Meanwhile, the Minister responsible for tourism, Dr Konrad Mizzi has revealed that last year, the English language teaching school industry, registered a 13.6% growth over the previous year, with total

Malta Transport to offer free Wi-Fi on buses by year’s end

B

y the end of the year, all public transport buses in Malta and Gozo are to be equipped with free Internet access. The 4G service is to be offered for commuters free of charge.

Transport Minister Ian Borg explained that in the first phase of the pilot project Travel Made Easy, Wi-Fi is being introduced on fifty buses, but by

year’s end, the service will be extended to the full fleet of 400 buses.

Transport Malta said that the service would improve the quality of public transport without any increase in fares.

Passengers will be able to access free Wi-Fi through a simple registration system every time that a passenger on board a bus wishes to use the Internet.

Malta registers highest job increase among 28 EU member countries

I

n the last quarter of 2017 (October-December), Eurostat figures show that Malta registered the highest increase in jobs among the 28 European Union countries. Malta’s increase was 1.8% compared to the EU countries’ average increase of 0.2%.

The next highest increase in the EU was registered in Estonia, Finland and Luxembourg, while Poland, Greece and Lithuania registered a drop in employment.

Malta currently enjoys almost full employment.

bed nights registered by students studying English in Malta amounting to 1.7 million, or 10.3% of total bed nights.

The main generating markets are Italy, Germany, France, Russia, Spain, Austria and Poland. New long haul markets, such as markets from the South American and Asian regions, have also registered strong growth.

The Minister further mentioned that according to 2017 MTA market profile surveys, English language students additionally practise the following activities: - 46% visit temples/archaeological sites - 74% visit historical buildings - 41% visit museums - 10% practice scuba diving - 14% engage in spa/wellness activities.

These positive figures come as the Malta Tourism Authority has been celebrating results achieved in 2017, whereby inbound tourist trips from January to December 2017 reached almost 2.3 million (+15.7%) while total nights spent surpassed 16.5 million nights (+10.3%).

Minister Mizzi, held that Malta’s success in sustaining such a positive performance in collective accommodation undoubtedly compliments the strong expansion in its air connectivity. Eight new airline routes from seven different countries began operating last year, adding to the already extensive network linking Malta with its source markets and bringing more tourists to the accommodation facilities in Malta and Gozo.

Malta classifies third in EU Index of Quality of Life 2016

A

European index covering the 28 European Union member states regarding Quality of Life 2016, focussing on a number of public services has placed Malta in third place after Luxembourg and Austria in first place, and Finland in second. Malta gained an average 7.1.

In childcare Malta gained first position, and placed second in education and health care services. The perception of State Pensions was in seventh place and public transport fared worst in 22nd place.

Malta’s Principal Permanent Secretary

Mario Cutajar said that this was further recognition of the great work undertaken over the past five years to improve public services.

The work includes the opening of five servizz.gov centres for the community, gathering about 800 government services and related documents in a one-stop shop servizz.gov.mt.

He pointed out that 21 mobile apps covering government services have been introduced and these provide accessibility on a 24-hour basis.

14 The Voice of the Maltese

Anniversarji

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i ma nbidlux l-affarijiet kieku f’Malta bħalissa x’aktarx li bdiet il-kampanja elettorali għallelezzjoni ġenerali. Dan billi nhar id9 ta’ Marzu 2018 għaddew l-ewwel ħames snin mill-elezzjoni tal-2013 li poġġiet Gvern Laburista fit-tmexxija tal-Gżejjer Maltin.

Biss kif tafu l-elezzjoni ta’ wara saret qabel żmienha, u għalhekk issa rridu nistennew sas-sena 2022/3 biex tisssejjaħ elezzjoni ġenerali – sintendi dejjem jekk ma jinqalgħux xi ċirkustanzi li jibdlu s-sitwazjoni.

Sintendi, il-Gvern Laburista xorta fakkar għeluq il-ħames snin minn meta, wara kważi 25 sena fl-Oppożizzjoni, irnexxielu jirbaħ bi kbir l-elezzjoni tad-9 ta’ Marzu 2013. Ħames snin minn meta għall-ewwel darba Joseph Muscat inħatar Prim Ministru ta’ Malta.

Iżda, kif kiteb tajjeb, Albert Gauci Cunningham fil-gazzetta Illum, id-9 ta’ Marzu mhux marbut biss marrebħa Laburista tal-2013, imma wkoll ma avvenimenti oħra marbutin malħajja poltika tal-Gżejjer Maltin.

Infatti kien ukoll fid-9 ta’ Marzu li sar ir-referendum dwar jekk Malta tibdiex tifforma parti mill-Unjoni Ewropea jew le. Attwalment kien fid9 ta’ Marzu tal-2003 li l-poplu Malti qabel mal-proposta tal-Gvern Nazzjonalista ta’ dakinhar u ivvota ‘IVA’ biex pajjiżna jsir parti mill-Unjoni Ewropea.

Dakinhar il-kamp tal-‘IVA’ rebaħ irreferendum b’143,094 vot (53.6%) distakk ta’ 19,466 vot.

Id-distakk ma kienx ġie aċċettat mill-Oppożizzzjoni Laburista, minħabba li din il-maġġoranza kienet biss meta wieħed kellu jxebbaħ l-għadd ta’ dawk li vvutaw “IVA” u dawk li “Le”. Il-Partit Laburista rraġuna xort’oħra, billi waqt il-kampanja tar-referendum listess partit kien ukoll ħeġġeġ lil dawk li ma jaqblux li Malta tkun sieħeb sħiħ tal-UE, imma li jkollha biss “partnership” mal-EU, biex

dawn jew jivvutaw “Le” , iħassru lvot jew jastjenu.

Li wieħed kellu jgħodd dawn kollha tal-aħħar kien isib li attwalment dawk li qalu “IVA” kienu biss madwar 48%.

Dan wassal għal battibekk bejn iżżewġ naħat bit-tnejn jinsistu li rebħu huma. Imma fl-aħħar donnu bħal sar qbil li kollox kien iħoll u jorbot fuq irriżultat tal-elezzjoni li kien imiss, u lGvern għaġġel isejjaħ din l-elezzjoni.

B’dan il-mod laħaq l-iskop tiegħu għax xorta għaddiet tal-“IVA” billi flelezzjoni li saret 35 jum wara r-referendum, fit-12 ta’ April 2013, il-PN rebaħ l-elezzjoni b’51.7% tal-voti. Allura issa, u kif ammetta l-istess mexxej tal-Partit Laburista ta’ dakinhar, Dr Alfred Sant, ma kien hemm ebda l-ebda dubju dwar ir-rieda talpoplu Malti li jidħol fl-Unjoni Ewropea.

Iżda l-istorja tad-9 ta’ Marzu ma tieqafx hemm, għax mal-għeluq talħames snin mill-elezzjoni li semmejt, tħabbret id-data tal-elezzjoni ġenerali li kellha ssir wara x-xoljiment tal-Parlament... u din kellha issir propju fid9 ta’ Marzu 2008.

Din id-darba t-tellieqa bejn l-partit politiċi l-kbar kienet qrib sewwa. Ħafna kienu bassru li l-PL kellu ċans tajjeb li jirbaħ, iżda l-maġġoranza ddeċidiet mod ieħor u bi ftit voti tat mill-ġdid rebħa lill-PN, issa mmexxi minn Dr Lawrence Gonzi. Id-distakk bejn il-partiti kien biss ta’ 1,580, liżgħar distakk għall-ħafna snin.

Imma permezz ta’ dan id-distakk ilPN irnexxielu jikseb siġġu aktar millPL, għalhekk ħa l-Gvern f’idejh.

Tgħid x’wassal biex dawk li kienu qed jiddeċiedu li f’temp hekk qasir – 15-il sena – għażlu l-istess jum u xahar – biex jagħmlu votazzjonijiet daqshekk importanti għall-pajjiż? Tgħid ittmexxija Nazzjonalista rraġunat li “non c’e’ due senza tre” billi fiddarbtejn li għamlet votazzjoni fid-9 ta’ Marzu kienet ħarġet rebbieħa?

Tuesday March 20, 2018

Tassew Tal-Mistħija

i twassal l-aħbar tal-mewt ta’ xi L ħadd, speċjalment lill-familjari ta’ dak li jkun, mhix ħaġa sabiħa u żgur li kulħadd kieku jista’ jevita’ li jagħmilha.

Iżda jidher li fejn jidħlu dawk li jmutu fl-isptarijiet Maltin, kultant hemm eċċezzjoni għax mhux darba u tnejn smajna li xi familjari ta’ wħud li jmutu fi sptar jilmentaw li l-aħbar tal-mewt ta’ twasslitilhom mill-kummisjonanti talfunerali - dawk li jorganizzaw il-funerali.

Sintendi dan jagħmluh mhux għax iħobbu jwasslu l-aħbar tal-mewt, iżda għax ikabbru ċ-ċans li jkunu huma li jieħdu ħsieb il-funeral ta’ dak li jkun.

Min jieħu ħsieb il-funerali – u llum jagħtuk servizz komplut - jaqlagħha tajjeb.

Iżda dan l-aħħar din id-drawwa, li kin ilha snin isseħħ spiċċat fl-aħbarijiet meta raġel ilmenta mal-awtoritajiet dwar il-fatt li kien irċieva l-aħbar talmewt ta’ missieru minn aġent li jorganizza l-funerali u li dan kellu d-dettalji kollha tiegħu. Sostna li kien ċar li ttagħrif inħareġ mill-isptar talOnkoloġija fejn miet missieru.

Wara li l-ilment ġie rrappurtat ukoll fil-midja lokali. Wara li sar rapport uffiċjali msaħħah minn dak li deher flistampa, malajr ittieħdu passi u wara stħarriġ mill-Pulizija ħaddiem tal-Isptar ammetta li kien hu li għadda ttagħrif lill-aġent.

Sintendi, dan l-impjegat flimkien malkummissjonarju tal-funerali nvolut spiċċaw imtella’ l-qorti... issa naraw ilQorti x’se tiċċieda għax il-każ ħadu għaddej.

Interessanti l-fatt li f’November li għadda kien hemm każ ieħor fejn żewġ kummissjonarji tal-funerali spiċċaw filQorti wara li spiċċaw jiġġieldu dwar funeral. Dak nhar, il-Maġistrat ilmenta mid-drawwa tal-kummissjonarji li meta jsiru jafu b’xi mewt malajr jmorru jibbumbardjaw lill-qraba tal-mejjet/mejta biex joffru s-servizzi tagħhom.

Ninabu fuq quddiem sew fl-impjiegi alta issa għaddiet fuq quddiem fejn jidħlu tas-sena li għaddiet, b’1.8 fil-mija Malta kellha M l-impjiegi. Infatti statistka li għad kif ħareġ l-akbar rata ta’ tkabbir fl-impjiegi, segwita milll-Uffiċċju tal-Istatistika tal-Unjoni Ewropea turi Estonja b’1.6 %, il-Finlandja b’1.2% u l-Latvja li bejn Ottubru u Diċembru li għadda Malta kellha l-akbar rata ta’ tkabbir fl-impjiegi fost ilpajjiżi kollha tal-Unjoni Ewropea.

Skont l-Eurostat iċ-ċifri juru li fir-raba’ kwart

b’1.1%. Dan meta mqabbel mal-istess kwart tassena ta’ qabel.

L-Italja u l-Polonja rreġistraw l-akbar tnaqqis fl-impjiegi b’0.3%.

The Voice of the Maltese 15

Tuesday March 20, 2017

Inqas dħul għan-nisa

Ċ

ifri tal-Eurostat juru li matul l-2016, bħala paga medja fissiegħa n-nisa Maltin 11% inqas mill-irġiel. Dan hu anqas millmedja ta’ 16%. tal-EU. Fl-2011 irrata ta' Malta kienet ta' 7.7% u telgħet għal 10.4% fl-2015 u għal 11% fl-2016.

Sintendi din l-istatistika wasslet għall-kritika, l-aktar minn NGOs tan-nisa, li fuq kollox ikkumentaw dwar il-fatt li f’dawn l-aħħar snin iddifferenza fil-paga medja flok naqset żdiedet.

Quddiem dawn il-figuri, il-Prim Ministru nnifsu qal li xejn mhu kuntent b’din l-istatistika. I nsista li jridu jittieħdu l-miżuri biex ma jibqax ikun hemm każi fejn ikun hemm differenza fil-pagi u s-salarji li jingħataw lin-nisa u l-irġiel għall-istess xogħol.

Attwalment, f’Malta s-sistema talequal pay for equal pay ilha li ddaħlet, imma xorta għad hemm ħaddiema (mhux tal-Istat) fejn ilpagi mhumiex l-istess. Iżda qabel wieħed jikkumenta jrid jara sewwa x’qed tgħid din l-istatistika.

Ta’ min jgħid li għalkemm jistgħu jeżsżtu każi fejn hemm id-differenza fil-pagi bejn in-nisa u l-iġiel għallistess xogħol, dan ma jirreflettix dak kollu li tgħid l-istatistika. Dan billi l-istatistika tieħu n-nisa bħala grupp u ma jagħmlux’ dan għall-irġiel bħala grupp imma tqabbel iż-żewġ gruppi ma xulxin.

Għalhekk jekk il-grupp tal-irġiel fih aktar persuni li jokkupaw karigi għoljin, u allura għandhom dħul għoli, meta dan id-dħul jiġo mxebbah mad-dħul tal-grupp tan-nisa fejn hemm inqas nisa li jokkupaw l-istess livell ta’ karigi, jispiċċa biex juri li l-medja taż-żewġ gruppi tpoġġilillirġiel bi dħul aktar minn tan-nisa.

Dan jgħodd ukoll għall-fatt li f’dawn l-aħħar snin id-differenza kibret, minħabba li aktar nisa daħlu fis-suq tax-xogħol u numru mhux ħażin daħlu f’tip ta’ xogħol fejn iddħul huwa moderat. Allura għandek aktar irġiel fin-naħa ta’ fuq tal-iskala ta’ pagi minn dik tan-nisa. U dan bilfors għax tal-inqas fl-ewwel snin, ikabbar id-differenza medja ta’ dħul bejn l-irġiel u n-nisa.

Fost l-aktar kuntenti

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l-Maltin jidhru li huma fost dawk li laktar kuntenti fid-dinja. Infatti, skont rapport maħruġ mill-World Happiness Report, Malta kklassifikat fit-22 post minn156 pajjiż minn madwar id-dinja. Issena li għaddiet kienet fis-27 post u s-sena ta’ qabel fit-30 post.

Malta kklassifikat qabel pajjiżi bħal Franza, Spanja u l-Italja fost oħrajn. LAwstralja kklassifikat fl-10 post, Il-Finlandja kien il-pajjiż li kklassifika flewwel post bħala l-aktar b’persuni kuntenti. It-tieni hemm in-Norveġja u t-tielet id-Dannimarka. L-Istati Uniti marru lura mis-sena l-oħra u issa jinsabu fit-18-il post.

L-aktar tliet pajjiżi bl-inqas nies kuntenti huma l-Burundi, ir-Repubblika Afrikana Ċentrali u n-naħa t’Isfel tas-Sudan.

M

Żnażan

ara minn Birkirkara tellgħet dan irritratt fuq ilmezzi tal-midja soċjali, facebook fejn staqsiet dwar x’kellha tagħmel biex tkun tista’ tidħol fil-garaxx tagħha minħabba żnażan li nġemgħu f’ammont kbir.

Issa weħilna ma’ Trump a nafx kemm l-elezzjoni Istati Uniti kien l-aktar pajjiż M ta’ Trump bħala Presi- li minn Malta kien jieħu nies li dent tal-istati Uniti laqtet lil kienu jispiċċaw bħala refuġjati Malta. Imma li laqatna żgur, u dan fin-negattiv, kienet iddeċiżjoni tiegħu li jirregoa bi sħiħ id-dħul ta’ barranin fl-istati Uniti.

Sa qabel l-elezzjoni tiegħu u anke l-ftit taż-żmien wara, l-

f’pajjiżna. Tant li bejn l-2016 u l-2017 l-Istati Uniti aċċettaw 1,605 refuġjat minn Malta.

Iżd’issa, wara li d-deċiżjoni ta’ Trump dwar id-dħul ta’ barranin fl-Istati Uniti ġiet approvata, waqaf.

Jum il-Ħelsien se jitfakkar kmieni is-sena, fil-31 ta’ Marzu li ġej, Malta laħaq bil-Prim D tfakkar id-39 sena minn Jum il- M i n i s t r u Ħelsien, Jum Nazzjonali li kien seħħ fl- Joseph Muscat

1973 meta Malta, dakinhar immexxija mill-Perit Dom Mintoff minn Prim Ministru, ħelset mill-qawwiet kollha barranin u l-aħħar stakkament tal-qawwiet Ingliżi ħalla Malta. Imma minħabba li din is-sena l-jum uffiċjali se jaħbat jaħbat is-Sibt, meta l-Knisja tkun qed tfakkar il-jiem talĠimgħa Mqaddsa, iċ-ċelebrazzjoni sinifikanti ta’ din il-ġrajja storika se ssir nhar l-Erbgħa li ġej, 21 ta’ Marzu.

F’dan il-jum, l-Għolja tal-Monument talĦelsien u l-madwar fil-Birgu mistennija jospitaw il-folol li s-soltu jattendu għal din l-okkażjoni. Fost kollox se jkun hemm ukoll spettaklu ta’ żfin, imma l-qofol jint-

jindirizza lfolla.

Fid-diskors tiegħu hu mistenni jagħti tifsira għal dan il-jum, li hu ieħor importanti fl-istorja ta’ Malta u anke jitkellem dwar ir-relevazzjoni tiegħu għal dawn iż-żminijiet.

Fl-istess lejla, u kif ukoll jiġri dejjem, għadd ta’ għaqdiet mistennija jpoġġu bukketti tal-fjuri f’riġlejn il-monument.

16 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday March 20, 2018

Spying on Coalition plan will migrants? affect 110,000 kids

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ome Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has denied the government is planning new laws that would allow 'covert' intelligence-gathering operations to screen would-be migrants before they leave their home countries for Australia.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper ran a front-page story claiming the government was planning “covert overseas missions to ensure migrants are really true blue.”

The story was based on an interview with the top bureaucrat in Mr Dutton’s new Home Affairs department, Michael Pezzullo. The Home Affairs Minister said any new policies on vetting migrants would be announced “in due course,” but suggested the government’s future efforts would be focused on using technology.

“There's a lot of technology, as that rolls out and as we can exchange information more freely with partners, that we'll be able to build on. We'll explore whatever means possible to find ways to keep Australians safe.” Mr Dutton said.

Alan Tudge MP

T

he Turnbull government hopes to save $1.2 billion by making new migrants wait three years instead of two before they can access certain government payments, including family tax benefit, paid parental leave, and carers’ allowance.

The changes would hurt those arriving on family and skilled visas, but would not apply to humanitarian visas.

The Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) has condemned the measures as harsh. The delays threaten to push migrants into poverty and hardship, creating a new “underclass of migrants”, ACOSS says.

Senate estimates yesterday heard the measure would affect 110,000 children between July 2018, when it takes effect, and 2021. It would also affect 50,000 families eligible for family tax benefit part A, and 30,000 individuals waiting for other payments.

The government says the changes are designed to help new migrants become “self-

sufficient” when they first arrive in Australia.

But new Labor senator Kristina Keneally questioned how denying people government support would achieve that aim.

Celebrating 40 years of the Sydney Mardi Gras t was June 24, 1978, the start a, joyful dynamic to the celeIpeaceful of what was supposed to be a bration. movement that ended Every day was difficult for in violent clashes with police, 53 arrests and public shaming for many of those involved.

Sydney's first Mardi Gras was far from the hugely popular flesh-and-sequins extravaganza it has become. It was a rag tag bunch of activists from the gay community who were tired of being treated as secondclass citizens.

And with the 2018 parade marking not only the 40th anniversary, but also the first Mardi Gras since Australians voted overwhelmingly to legalise gay marriage, there was

Robyn Kennedy

us,” recalled '78 march participant Robyn Kennedy who was 24 at the time. “There was overt hostility and oppression and discrimination. You couldn't walk down the street holding your partner's hand.”

“We have moved in almost 50 years from being pilloried, electrocuted, aversion therapy with court sanctions with medical support. we've moved from that to plying our troth,” Mr Robert French, who launched Sydney’s 1984 Mardi Gras parade said. “That’s an extraordinary journey.”

Multiculturalism cannot be taken for granted

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lan Tudge MP, who recently took over the citizenship portfolio, delivered a speech to the Menzies Research Centre warning Australia needed to work harder to ensure migrants integrate into broader so-

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

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

ciety. “More people from more countries have come here to start a new life than almost any other nation, and we have generally been able to maintain strong social cohesion in the process,” Mr Tudge said.

“But I want to sound a note of caution: Australian multiculturalism is not Godgiven and cannot be taken for granted. “Indeed, there is emerging evidence that we are not integrating as well as what we have done in the past.” Mr Tudge said the government wanted migrants to “integrate” but not to “assimilate” and lose their home culture.

He also warned against allowing a ‘separatist’ version of multiculturalism, where people come with “little desire to share or mix with their local community”. “They live side by side, rather than merged with, the existing population. While not the stated policy intent of Europe, the impact of its policies has been precisely this in some places,” Mr Tudge said in his speech.

Tuesday March 20, 2017

Cardinal Pell committal hearing opened to public

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ollowing a month-long preliminary hearing in which the complainants have finished giving their evidence, the committal hearing of Australia's most senior Catholic George Pell who is facing multiple charges of historical sexual offences against multiple complainants is again open to the public and the media for the first time since it began on March 5.

The hearing had been closed to allow the complainants to give their evidence, which is standard practice in Victoria for cases involving sexual offence charges.

Building bridges to peace

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he Toowoomba Interfaith Working Group and Pure Land Learning College Association, jointly organised the National Interfaith Peace Conference with the theme, “Is religion and culture a source of strength in today’s Society?”.

In a statement, the Toowoomba Diocese said such conferences have become an “important connector and bridge builder in strengthening social cohesion and promoting greater social harmony in Toowoomba”.

“Australia is exceptionally rich in both religions and cultures. Everywhere you look, one can find a diverse community of different faiths and cultures sharing a common space – we may eat different food, yet we share the same table," the statement said.

“Key aims of the conference were promoting religious and social harmony, provide a better understanding of each faiths’ core values and cultural practices, as well as providing a crucial network for future collaboration in interfaith and multicultural dialogue.”

The conference included a youth panel discussion with representatives from local high schools and Southern Queensland University.

Pell is fighting historical sexual offence charges involving multiple complaints.

For the past 10 days, a security guard had been stationed by the door to court room 22 at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court to ensure no one but Cardinal Pell, his support person, legal team, prosecutors and a magistrate made it inside.

Over five days, multiple complainants gave their evidence via video link before being cross-examined by Cardinal Pell’s barrister Robert Richter QC. It is expected up to 50 witnesses will have given evidence when the committal hearing concludes. If Magistrate Belinda Wallington sends the case to trial, Cardinal Pell will be required to enter a plea to the charges.

The hearing is expected to remain open for the rest of the committal hearing, which is set down for another fortnight. After that, a magistrate will decide if there is enough evidence to commit the Cardinal.

During the hearing, complainants in the case will be cross-examined by the Cardinal’s high-powered legal team.

It is estimated those cross examinations — to be held in a closed court, as with all complainants in sexual assault hearings — could last up to two weeks.

The exact charges being faced by Cardinal Pell remain unknown, but involve multiple

The Voice of the Maltese 17

Cardinal George Pell outside the Melbourne Magistrates Court, March 5 complainants. On Friday, prosecutors confirmed they had dropped a charge following the death of one complainant.

After being charged last year, Cardinal Pell vehemently denied any wrongdoing and vowed to clear his name. “I’m innocent of these charges. They are false. The whole idea of sex offences is abhorrent to me,” he said.

He added that news of the charges strengthened his resolve, and court proceedings now offer him an opportunity, to clear his name and then return to his work in Rome.

“I am looking forward finally to having my day in court,” he said.

Cardinal Pell is the most senior Catholic to ever be charged with sexual offences. At the time he was charged he was working as the Vatican’s finance chief.

Since returning to Australia from the Vatican, the Cardinal has been living in Sydney but has twice appeared in court in Melbourne.

On both occasions, he was mobbed by the media as he entered court.There has been a string of subsequent hearings but Cardinal has not been required to attend.

Redress scheme on child abuse

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he Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull revealed the agreement with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian that puts each state on the line for costs that will run to hundreds of millions of dollars over a decade. This agreement offers practical services and

compensation of up to $150,000.

The new pact intensifies pressure on churches and other groups to submit to the scheme and help victims recover from abuse that dates back decades, putting the primary responsibility on the institutions to fund the payments and support services.

The Church’s Truth Justice and Healing Council chief Francis Sullivan has urged other states to sign up and noted that Catholic leaders are on the record saying they will join the national scheme.

Those involved in the new agreement expect Tasmania, Western Australia and Queensland to follow the two biggest states over time, while federal powers will also ensure the Northern Territory and the ACT are covered.

South Australia has its own redress policy and appears unlikely to submit to the federal program, although it could refer some powers to the commonwealth to help the smooth operation of the national scheme.

“Redress isn’t compensation. The process is about healing and moving forward while accepting the system failed every single person in Australia who suffered sexual abuse in an institution that was meant to protect them,” Mr Turnbull said in a joint statement with Mr Andrews and Ms Berejiklian.

Tagħrif dwar il-kitba Maltija

18 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday March 20, 2018

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

KELMIET IL-GĦADD (ikompli) 49. Isem il-Għadd Malti, minn tlieta sa għaxra, jispiċċa bilvokali a tal-femminil u għalhekk bħan-nom jiġi li jibdel littra a ta’ tarf il-kelma fil-konsonanti t meta din taħbat quddiem vokali tal-leħen jew vokali b’żewġ konsonanti warajha. (Ara Għadd 35 – it- Tieni Taqsima).

Għalhekk insemmgħu u niktbu: tlitt itfal, ħamest ibniet, sitt irġiel (flok sittt irġiel), tmint ibwieb.

Hekk ukoll minn erbgħa, sebgħa, disgħa, nagħmlu erbât, sebât, disât minflok erbgħt jew erbagħt, sebgħt jew sebagħt, disgħt jew disagħt. Il-vokali tal-leħen tidħol qabel il- konsonanti likwida għ; il-għ tgħib kif f’ħafna kelmiet oħra li jingħaqdu ma’ żieda ta’ ittra konsonanti f’tarf il-kelma.

(Ara: ma tistâx flok ma tistagħx, eċċ.), u għalhekk ngħidu u niktbu: erbât oqsma, sebât isqra, disât iġmla, erbât ijiem.

T.ċ. (1) Il-kelma wieħed (minn wâħed), għalkemm tista’ tispiċċa bl-a tal-femminil (ara waħda), qabel in-nom ma tieħu qatt it-te marbuta. Ara: waħda omm, waħda għarfa, waħda armla.

(2) Il-kelma waħda, qabel in-nom, ma għandha l-ebda tifsir ta’ għadd, imma ta’ pronom, bil-plural waħdiet, wħûd.

(3) Il-kelma wieħed fit-tifsir ta’ għadd hija aġġettiv, waqt li kull għadd ieħor huwa nom. Wieħed bil-femminil waħda, bħala aġgė ttiv, jimxu wara n-nom u miegħu jaqblu fil-ġens.

Ara: raġel wieħed, mara waħda.

(4) Il-kelma żewġ tidħol flok tnejn meta rridu nfissru lgħadd ta’ ħaġa li nsemmuha. Għalhekk fuq il-għamla ta’ tlitt, ħamest, eċċ., ngħidu wkoll żewġt iħbieb, żewġt irġiel.

50. Kliem il-Għadd minn tnejn sa għaxra, qabel nom, ibiddel is-sura tiegħu. Il-vokali a ta’ tarf il-kelmiet, minn tlieta sa għaxra, quddiem in-nom li jibda b’konsonanti waħda, tintilef u flokha ma tidħol qatt it-te marbuta.

Għalhekk niktbu: żewġkotba, tliet kotba (u mhux tlitt kotba),

erba’ kotba (flok erbgħ kotba), ħames kotba (flok ħams kotba), sitt kotba, seba’ kotba (flok sebgħ kotba), tmien kotba, disa’ kotba (flok disgħ kotba), għaxar kotba (flok għaxr kotba); ħames ġimgħat, seba’ ġimgħat; ħames ħabbiet, disa’ ħabbiet.

Fil-kliem: erba’, seba’, disa’, innuqqas ta’ konsonanti għ f’tarf ilkelma jiġi mfisser bl-appostrofu.

(Ara Għeliem fil-Kitba Maltija – lEwwel Taqsima). Il-vokali tal-leħen tidħol fil-kliem erba(għ), ħames, seba(għ), disa(għ) u għaxar. (Qabbel erbgħ, ħams, sebgħ quddiem nom filGħarbi).

51. Kelmiet il-Għadd minn wieħed sa għaxra, meta jaħbtu wara verb, nom, pronom jew kelma oħra, jieħdu s-sura ewlenija ta’ isem il-għadd.

Ara: huma l-għaxra; saru s-sitta; kien wieħed; kienu tnejn, tlieta, tmienja. Hekk ukoll saru l-erbgħa; kienu s-sebgħa; ġew iddisgħa u mhux saru l-erba’; kienu s-seba’; ġew id- disa’; mill-erbgħa sad-disgħa.

52. Kelmiet il-Għadd mill-ewwel għadd sal-għaxar għadd (110) bl-artiklu quddiemhom, meta jiġu qabel jew wara verb, nom, pronom jew prepożizzjoni biex ifissru l-ħaġa wara kemm taħbat jew titqassam, ibiddlu wkoll il-għamla tagħhom.

Ara: l-ewwel hu; kien minn tal-ewwel; it-tieni ktieb; ġie t-tielet, il-ħames, is-sitt, it-tmien wieħed. Hekk ukoll ir-raba’, is-seba’, id-disa’, l-għaxar u mhux ir-rabgħa, is-sebgħa, id- disgħa.

Malta's achievements for and by women

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n International Women's Day (March 7), it was worth reflecting on Malta's achievements for and by women.

In 1947, the first woman elected to Malta's parliament was Agatha Barbara (1923-2002). Her election came as a result of women and men struggling for the right of women to vote.

At the time this was opposed by the Church, so it was quite a victory when parliament voted, narrowly, in favour of the vote for women.

The Malta Labour Party, which Barbara had joined, was active in this campaign. As an MLP member, she had played a leading role in setting up the Women's Political Movement in Malta after the War. Agatha Barbara also became Malta's first female Cabinet member and Deputy Prime Minister. This was in

Aktar regoli u tifsir fil-ħarġa li jmiss

the 1950s and 1970s. A former schoolteacher, it was fitting that she should be Minister for Education, though she later held the portfolio of Labour, Culture and Welfare.

She introduced a law on equal pay for women and men, paid maternity leave, a 40-hour working week and retirement and unemployment benefits. She also set up a number of national museums.

Not bad for a woman who, in 1958, had been imprisoned for participation in anti-British demonstrations.

In 2006, a monument in her memory was unveiled by the then Prime Minister, Edward Fenech-Adami, in her hometown of Żabbar.

I had the honour and privilege of meeting her in Malta in 1985.

BarryYork

The Voice of the Maltese 19

Tuesday March 20, 2017

School is “in” at the Maltese Embassy in Beijing T

he Embassy of the Republic of Malta in Beijing took on the semblance of a school for half a day to entertain students from some of Beijing’s most elite schools, including the Tsinghua University Middle School.

The students visited the Embassy at the invitation of Malta’s Ambassador HE John Aquilina who welcomed them, their teachers and staff to the Embassy by explaining to them Malta’s geographical location, as well as some aspects of Malta’s culture.

A number of the students had already travelled to Europe with their parents, and several had studied about Malta by exploring

the Internet. The students asked several questions about Malta’s history and culture, showing particular interest in the Maltese language and enjoyed practicing to speak some Maltese phrases in unison.

A number of the senior students raised questions about the development of technology in Malta and were especially curious about Malta’s development of computer programming and technology.

In return, a number of the primary students

European Eyes on Japan exhibition in Valletta (2018)

F

or a whole month, between March 30 and April 29, the Spazju Kreattiv in Malta will be hosting an exhibition entitled European Eyes on Japan that will consist of photographs taken

by Alexandra Pace (pictured right), from Valletta 2018 and another photographer from twin European Capital of Culture, Leeuwarden-Fryslân 2018.

The exhibition, organised by Valletta 2018, Fondazzjoni Kreattivita` in collaboration with EU-Japan Fest Japan Committee, and created by artistic director Mikiko Kikuta. This visual arts project has toured over thirty European Capitals of Culture since 1999.

As part of the project, and in anticipation of the European Capital of Culture year, last year an invitation was extended to the two photographers to live and work in Japan, looking to capture the country’s lifestyle through a European lens.

After Malta, the project will also travel to Leeuwarden and Japan.

made presentations, including a nine-yearold who recited from memory, in a strong voice, the traditional Chinese poem “Wo shi Zhong Guo ren” (I am Chinese). Another girl gave a clarinet recital, while a young boy showed his athletic prowess in the ancient martial art of Kung Fu”.

At the end of the performances, each student made a presentation of a small gift that they had personally prepared for the occasion to Ambassador John Aquilina.

As we are still in the New Year Festivities of The Year of the Dog, drawings and watercolour paintings of dogs of all shapes and sizes featured prominently, although curiously, one girl presented a framed painting of a rabbit. Some presented miniature lanterns, while others produced small ceramic creations.

The Embassy then presented the students with local items of Malta, including brochures about Malta printed in Mandarin, as well as a souvenir coin of the island, and badges with the Maltese and Chinese flags, in a specially printed bag prepared by the University of Malta.

Asked by The Voice of the Maltese about the reaction of those who attended the event, Ambassador Aquilina said, “Everyone had an enjoyable, educational experience, and already the teachers are asking for when they can arrange the next event”.

20 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday March 20, 2018

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

Quiet Achievers Night of Recognition You are invited to say THANK YOU to the volunteers, most deserving in our community.

Wednesday, 21st March 2018

St Dominic’s Home for the Elderly 171 Walters Road, Blacktown NSW 2148 From 7.30 pm.

Entertainment by top tenor

Ludwig Galea (Direct from Malta)

Light refreshment served.

Free admission.

Organised by Maltese Welfare (NSW) Inc. This annual event is supported by the Fiducian Financial Services Tel 02 9231 2133

Lejla Mġarrija

organizzata minn Horsley Park Community Social Group, Horsley Park

Għall-iMġarrin u l-Ħbieb

Din se ssir Nhar is-Sibt 14 ta’ April Fil-Mandavilla Events Centre Horsley Drive, Horsley Park.

Id-divertiment se jiġi pprovdut minn: The Falcons Ħlas: $65.00 kull persuna. Jinkludi antipasti Maltin, ikla ta’ tliet korsi, birra, inbid, soft drinks, te` u kafe`.

Se jkun hemm: “Lucky Door Prize”, “Raffle”, wirja ta’ ritratti u ħafna aktar.

Biex tibbukkja ċempel lil: Theresa Quattromani 0402-178-781, Josephine Borg 0402-040-954

Ejjew ħa niddervertu flimkien Il-qliegħ kollu minn din il-lejla jmur għall-Cancer Council

Saint Nicholas Festa Committee Main events for 2018

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

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

Good Friday Activities 2018 at Our Lady of Victories Parish, Horsley Park

reparations for the Good Friday Procession in Horsley Park, NSW P are already well underway and the Organising Group is taking this opportunity to advise the readers of The Voice of the Maltese of upcoming important dates and activities: Sunday March 18, from 3.00pm: Children and youths are invited to try on and collect costumes for the procession in the Church Presbytery From Monday 12 to Wednesday March 14, at 6.30pm: Lenten mission in Maltese with Fr John Taliana Thursday March 22, from 7.00pm: Reconciliation in the Church Friday March 23 from 7.00pm: The Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. It begins with a mass, followed by the Stations of the Cross outside and a procession with the statue of Our Lady

of Sorrows back into the Church.

Friday March 30 – Good Friday: Help is greatly needed early in the morning to install outdoor equipment necessary for the procession such as PA systems, lights and barricades.

Church service begins at 1.00pm.

The Church can only hold a certain amount of people, so come early.

At 2.30pm: the Maltese Cultural Association NSW Choir begins performing traditional dirges and hymns, alternating with Our Lady Queen of Peace Maltese Band that will play funeral marches.

The procession begins at 3.00pm. All participants should be present by 2.00pm to prepare for the procession, rain, hail or shine.

The possibility exists that there would be costumes available to wear, es-

pecially for adults.

More information about anything one should call Fred Cauchi on 0407 914 051.

The Voice of the Maltese 21

Tuesday March 20, 2017

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

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

Maltese Radio Programmes

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

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

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

(On Demand: Ethnic Maltese Council 11am)

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

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

97.7fm SBS 2.

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

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

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

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

Maltese Seniors Social Welfare Day Groups

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

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

Group meets 3rd Wednesday of month

in the Bank-stown CBD area.

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

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

Daceyville Maltese Seniors

Note: The Groups also arrange regular Bus Trips

Join us and make new friends.

Merrylands Social Maltese Seniors

Maltese Group

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

Meetings/Get Togethers are interestMeets every second Friday of the ing, informative & entertaining, so month: Miller Room, Memorial Av- come Join us and make new Friends enue Merrylands from 10.30am to For more information contact our Co12.30 am ordinator: Charles Mifsud J.P.Phone (02) 9501 Llandilo Maltese Seniors Meets on the first Wednesday of each 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).

SBS Radio 2 on Channel 38.

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

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

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

Presenter: Nathalie Gatt.

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

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

Learn Maltese!

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

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

Teachers urgently needed - Paid positions

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

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

22 The Voice of the Maltese

Community Wheels Inc.

Connecting you with your community

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

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

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

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

Dan hu xogħol volontarju, bla ħlas.

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

Tuesday March 20, 2018

Community Community News News

THE MALTESE CULTURAL ASSOCIATION OF NSW Proudly Presents one of Malta’s most popular vocalists!

Ludwig Galea in the “V18 Concert” Celebrating Valletta as the EU Capital of Culture 2018 Sunday March 25 at 2.00pm “Startlight Room” - Wentworthville Leagues Club Supported by the popular and talented Young Australian/Maltese singers James Cassar and ALEE FOR BOOKINGS CONTACT Dorothy Gatt: 9636 1834; Charles Mifsud 0421 662 298; Monica Ledger: 9896 0712 Donation: Adults $22; Children u/12yrs: $10 PROUDLY SPONSORED BY Contact: George Vella Ph: 9622 7799 94 Main Street, Blacktown

50 Smith Street, Wentworthville Ph: 02 8868 9200

La Valette Social Centre- Programm tal-Għid 2018

• Il-Ħamis 22 ta’ Marzu: 10.30am: Via Sagra fis Sala taċ-ċentru. Wara ċ-ċentru jkun miftuħ għall-ikel u ttombla.

• Il-Gimgħa 23 ta’ Marzu - il festa tad-Duluri. 6.30pm: quddiesa fil-kappella. Wara l-purċissjoni bil-vara tad-Duluri għas-sala fejn tibda l-Via Sagra bil-għana tal fatt.

• Ħamis Ix-xirka 29 ta’ Marzu: 7.00pm quddiesa fejn isir il-ħasil tar-riġlejn. Wara l-quddiesa s-Seba’ Visti u addorazjoni fis-sala taċ-ċentru.

• Il-Gimgħa l-Kbira 30 ta Marzu: 3.00pm tibda l-funzjoni fis-sala taċ-ċentru.

• Is-Sibt il-Għid 31 ta Marzu: 4.30p.m. Iċ-ċentru jiftaħ kmieni għall-ikel. 8.00p.m. tibda l-funzjoni tal-Għid ilkbir bil quddiesa.

Fil-31 ta’ Marzu ma jkunx hemm quddies fil-Kappella.

• Ħadd il-Għid 1 ta April: Festa tal-Irxoxt bl-istatwa. Fl10.15 am ninġabru ħdejn iċ-ċentru, għal quddiesa u wara ssir il purċissjoni bil-marċi

Kulħadd huwa mistieden għall-attivitajiet.

Il-Kummitat jixtieq L-Għid it tajjeb lil kulħadd.

•Għal tagħrf ċemplu ċ-ċentru 9622 5847; Kappella 9622 5850

Dr Hugh McDermott MP

State Member for Prospect For issues concerning:

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

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

Australian High Commission on facebook; HC on twitter

he Australian High Commission’s in Malta now has a new FaceT book page, and the High Commis-

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

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

The Voice of the Maltese 23

S po r ts.. on 2 pages

Tuesday March 20, 2017

A dream come true for the Rixon family

I

n a rare feat, certainly the first for the Commonwealth Games, the Rixon family, Rose the mother, and her two daughters Connie and Rebecca from Buderim, an urban centre on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, are set to embark on an "experience unlike any other”, by standing side-by-side on the Commonwealth Games stage as after being named in the Malta bowls team, they will make their milestone debut at the Gold Coast.

This will be an opportunity that the whole family relishes, particularly Connie who told the Sunshine Coast Daily: “It's quite an honour and it's a very exciting time for all of us. But to be able to share it with Bec and mum is going to be an amazing experience unlike any other. (see the Rixons threesome front page).

She went on to say that this is something that everybody who participates with their family in any type of sport dreams of, and now for it to become a reality “is kind of a bit like 'holy cow!'”

The trio will be joined by Sharon Callus from Victoria in the Malta squad and will combine forces to play in both fours and pairs events.

Connie has already achieved success for Malta on the world stage.

Last year she won a Gold Medal and as reported in the last issue of The Voice, this year teamed up with Namibia's Cobous Olivier, to win bronze at the World Youth Championships at Broadbeach.

Rebecca has also impressed of late, claiming gold medal success in the girls’ singles, open triples, and open fours disciplines at the

Junior State Championships in Bundaberg in January.

According to Connie, Rebecca is in top form at this stage and has been training really hard so she's definitely going to perform well (at the Games).

Connie is hopeful a rigorous training schedule would help build further success at the Commonwealth Games.

“At this stage we're doing as much training as we can in order to prepare for it and hopefully we do well,” she said.

“Obviously there's going to be a lot of tough competitors and competitive countries out there but as long as we go out and train our hardest and then perform well during the Games I think that's all we can really aim for as a team.”

She hopes the family affair would come with added advantages.

“We'll just be continuing to go along with our drills that we've been set but seeing as we're all part of one family we do have the opportunity to train with each other and play with each other as well, which makes it special,” she said.

(See also page 24)

Balzan’s defeat of Mixed fortunes for “Maltese” clubs in Victoria State his early in the season, the two clubs closely associated with the Maltese community in B’kara strengthens Tthe state of Victoria are having mixed fortunes. Whereas Green Gully seem to be paving the way for a most satisfying campaign, Sunshine George Cross have still not managed to hopes for title win get themselves off the ground. They have been at the wrong end of thrashings in three of

alzan are giving indications that after B 81 years of existence, season 2017/18 could be the one in which they will join

their first five matches. They have now conceded 24 goals in the opening five matches. .

NPL 2 West : Ballarat C. v Sunshine GC 5-0 tion in NPL2. unshine George Cross suffered their NPL Vic: Dandenong v Green Gully 1-2 the elite in more ways than one by winthird loss of the season and were once reen Gully secured all three points with ning the top honour in Maltese football, a come-from-behind win at Dandenong. the League Championship. A 3-1 emphatic again humbled at Ballarat City losing 5-0. win over Birkirkara on Dat 22, that ended It followed the 0-7 thrashing in the previous The home team took the lead after 15 mintheir neighbours’ run of 10 matches with- match at St Albans and now occupy bottom utes. Gully equalised before half-time place in the league table. Unless major through Kieren Dover. The game remained out defeat increased the belief. changes occur the club could will find itself in the balance until Alex Caniglia popped up On Saturdaythey RESULTS – DAY 23 to score the winner for Gully on 86 minutes. easily defeated relegated from NPL.2.

Before this match, and following a series Green Gully v FC Bulleen L. 2-0 Balzan v Mosta 2-0 Mosta 2-0, to reValletta v St. Andrews 1-0 tain a one point of inconsistent results, SGC coach Tony *Green Gully got their first win, an easy 2-0 Gżỉra v Senglea Ciantar had tendered his resignation.

4-1 success over the FC Bulleen Lions in front Birkirkara v Tarxien 3-1 lead over Valletta St Albans v Sunshine George Cross 7-0 of its own home fans. They were in total conHibernians v Lija 7-0 with three match*In the previous match S.G.C. had suffered trol and never looked likely to drop any Floriana v Naxxar 2-0 es to go.

Valletta kept up another big hiding going down to 7-0 at St. points. They took the lead on 44 minutes Sliema v Ħamrun S. 3-2 the challenge after Albans. The team put up a feeble perform- through Nick Krousoratis, and the same DAY 22 two a 2-1 win over ance against a Saints side that took an early player scored again in the 83rd minute.

Balzan v Birkirkara 3-1 against Hibernilead and was never challenged.

Valletta v Hibernians 2-1 ans, and 1-0 over The home side ran up a 3-0 half-time lead Gżỉra v Mosta 5-3 and rammed home their advantage in the Floriana v Senglea 0-0 St Andrews.

After just one second half with another four goals.

Sliema v St. Andrews 1-0 ollowing two draws in the first two Unless quick and drastic action is taken the Ħamrun S. v Naxxar 4-1 season, Lija have rounds of the 2018 football season in the Tarxien R v Lija club will have trouble retaining their posi- NPL NSW2, Parramatta Melita Eagles suf4-0 been relgated. fered a great setback to their hopes of continuing their good run when Second successive defeat for leaders Rugby: they were defeated by Rydalmere alta’s national rugby team defeated Israel 24n the A-League Sydney FC suffered their Lions in their third outing last Sun17 away Netanya on Saturday and are now day at the Melita Stadium by 4-1. second sucRESULTS - DAY 23 within reach of finishing on top of the Conference cessive defeat, Sydney FC v Brisbane R. 1-2 Rydalmere led 2-1 at half time and South 1. Malta who led 14-7 at half-time. their third of Wellington P v Newcastle J 0-1 were quite deserving of their vicThe Maltese won with two tries by Luke Watts and the season, so Adelaide U v Melbourne C 1-1 tory ad they did most of the running another by Anthony Harvey and three conversions their lead at the Melbourne V v CC Mariners 5-2 throughout the 90 minutes. and a penalty, all by James O’Brien.

In the previous round, Parramatta top has now DAY 22 3-1 FC and Hills Brumbles shared the Malta will end its commitments this Saturday with been reduced Perth G v CC Mariners a home match against Andorra. to five points. W Sydney W v Wellington P 4-1 points in a scoreless draw

S

G

First loss for the Eagles

M

Malta almost home and dry

I

F

24 The Voice of the Maltese

S po r ts.. on 2 pages

Tuesday March 20, 2018

Nine Australia-based athletes in Malta squad for GC2018 N ine of the 25 athletes representing Malta in the 21st edition of the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, in Queensland are Australia based. For 12 days, they will be among 6,600 from 70 nations and territories taking part in the upcoming event, April 4-15. The athletes, from Commonwealth countries that in total have a population of 2.1 billion will perform in 18 different sports disciplines (23 categories).

During the Opening Day ceremony at the Carrara Stadium on April 4, in the presence of Malta’s Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion Minister Carmelo Abela and the Parliamentary Secretary for Sport, Youth and Voluntary Organisations, Dr. Clifton Grima, Team Malta will march behind flag-bearer Gary Giordimaina, who has been chosen for the task for his consistent performances and results achieved in recent international competitions.

Team Malta will participate in eight of the sports disciplines, namely Athletics,

Cycling, Gymnastics, Lawn Bowls, Squash, Shooting, Wrestling and Weightlifting. Six of the Australiabased athletes (including three from the same Rixon family), will compete in Lawn Bowls, two in Cycling and another in squash (below marked in bold) Team Malta will be made up of: Athletics: Andrew Cassar Torregiani, Ian Paul Grech, and Charlotte Wingfield. Official: James Hillier Cycling: David Treacy and Alexander Smyth. Official: Etienne Bonello Gymnastics: Sana Grillo. Official: Antonina Uzinova Lawn Bowls: Brendan Aquilina, Sharon Callus, Shaun For Rose Rixon the mother, and daughters Re- Parnis, Connie-Lebecca and Connie (pictured front page), it will be a igh Rixon, Rebecca dream come true as they will represent Malta at the Rixon and RosemaCommonwealth Games at the Gold Coast. It will ry Rixon. Officials: also be an unprecedented occasion for the Games Rex Johnston and (See Story on page 23) Joe Saragozza Shooting: Marlon At-

Rixon trio to represent Malta

Blacktown City midfielder awaits the chance to make Malta debut

M

itch Mallia, the 25-year-old NSW NPL club Blacktown City midfielder, formerly of A-Legue club Perth Glory is eagerly awaiting the chance to make his international debut for Malta’s national football team after he was named by national coach Tom Saintfiet in a 25-man strong squad for the upcoming friendlies, the home match against Luxembourg (March 22) and Finland four days later in Turkey.

Mitchell, recently granted Maltese citizenship is one of six foreign-based players, the others being Luke Gambin, Jean Paul Farrugia, u Andrè Schembri. However, Mitchell is still awaiting clearance from FIFA as he has played for Australia at Under-17 and Under-23 level.

Mitchell said he was excited at the prospect of joining up the team. He said, “For me, it's a great opportunity to maybe play in some Euro qualifiers and friendlies against some of the world's top teams.”

tard, Eleonor Bezzina, William Chetcuti, Brian Galea, Nathan Lee Xuereb. Officials: Francis Bugeja, John Mary Bugeja Squash: Bradley Hindle, Dianne Kellas, Colette Sultana, Daniel Zammit Lewis. Official: Joe Zammit Lewis Weightlifting: Yazmin Zammit Stevens. Official: Jesmond Caruana Wrestling: David Galea, Gary Giordmaina, Adam Vella. Official: Jesmond Giordimaina.

Announcing the GC2018 team Malta that would also include 18 officials, Chef de Mission Paul Sultana said that Maltese participation meets the quota allocated to it by the Commonwealth Games Federation.

NOC Director of Sport Ivan Balzan said the selection process was carried out by means of Minimum Qualifying Standards that each Federation was expected to meet in order to be considered for Games qualification.

Sultana said that following an onsite visit, he can attest to the high level of preparation that went into the venues and the athletes’ village, which augur well for a spectacular Games.

MOC President Julian Pace Bonello, will act as Head of Delegation. He expressed his gratitude towards athletes and Federations who have shown their commitment towards the Games and said the MOC is confident that the preparation put in by Maltese athletes will produce some positive results.

He further encouraged the general public to follow and support Team Malta through the various social media channels of the Maltese Olympic Committee.

The other officials in the group include MOC Secretary General Mr. Joseph Cassar, the Director of Sport, Mr. Ivan Balzan, Dr. Kirill Micallef Stafrace, head of the Medical team, and Ms. Charlene Attard, Mr. Mario Micallef and Ms. Maria Vella-Galea.

The Maltese delegation will leave Malta for Australia on March 29