The Voice of th Maltese No. 186

Issue 186

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

Fortnig htly magazine for the Diaspora Fortnightly

Carnival in Summer In a more relaxed atmosphere free from concerns they normally entertain in the February wintry conditions, Carnval enthusiasts in the Maltese islands enjoyed three days of revelry; on Friday and Saturday in .

Bugibba and on Sunday in Marsaskala. The event will be repeated in Gozo on September 9.

Pictured: some of the Carnival floats See more on page 12

August 21, 2018

2 The Voice of the Maltese

Il-Festa tradizzjonali ta’ Santa Marija mfakkra bi kbir fi stati fl-Awstralja

Tuesday August 21, 2018

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u fatt magħruf li l-Maltin, huma fejn huma, fosthom m’għandux jonqos fl-Awstralja, iħobbu lfesti li tradizzjonalment trabbew fihom f’Malta. M’hemmx dubju li l-aktar festi li jiċċelebraw bil-kbir huma dawk konnessi mal-Madonna. Ewlenin fost dawn, f’dan ix-xahar ta’ Awwissu, hemm ta’ Santa Marija Assunta.

F’Malta u Għawdex hemm madwar għaxar parroċċi, li għandhom lil Santa Marija Assunta bħala l-patruna tal-belt jew raħal tagħhom, u fil-fatt nhar ilĦamis li għadda, il-15 ta’ Awwissu, eluf ingħaqdu fil-brijju tal-festa.

Fl-istati ewlenin tal-Awstralja, l-aktar f’dawk ta’ Victoria, u NSW, din is-sena wkoll kien hemm festi tal-massa li fihom ħadu sehem għadd ta’ Maltin li kellhom iċ-ċans jiftakru fi żmien tfulithom f’Malta fil-jiem ta’ din il-festa tant popolari.

F’Victoria, u preċiżament f’Melbourne, il-kumitat tant ħabrieki ta’ Santa Maria Assunta Association Inc organizza bl-akbar pompa l-festa ta’ Santa Marija Assunta f’St Peter Chanel f’Ballarat Road Dear Park. Minbarra il-festi reliġjuzi ta’ ġewwa u barra, dawn jorganizzaw ukoll il-ballu talfesta f’North Sunshine.

Din l-Għaqda wkoll tippublikaw ktejjeb utli ta’ 75 paġna b’tagħrif dwar listorja tal-festa, kif ukoll il-festi li jsiru Malta, b’għadd ta’ ritratti mill-isbaħ.

Fi NSW, il-Grupp Festa Santa Marija ta’ Sydney, iċċelebraw il-festa ta’din

Il-purċissjoni bilvara ta’ Santa Marija fi Blacktown, NSW

is-sena fil-kappella taċ-Ċentru La Valette fi Blacktown b’purċissjoni bilvara fil-kumpless stess. Wara, bħal dejjem komplew b’varjeta` fis-sala ewlenija tal-istess Ċentru.

Is-Sibt sar ukoll ballu tal-festa fil-Balmoral Centre Blacktown fejn attendiet folla sabiħa. Ta min jinnota li għal dawn il-festi f’Sydney attendew anke nies minn Mackay Queensland u cCentral Coast.

Ta’ Central Coast żanżnu l-vara l-ġdida ta’ Santa Marija

Fl-inħawi tas-Central Coast ukoll issir il-festa ta’ Santa Maria li għalija jinzlu ħafna Maltin minn Sydney biex jiċċelebraw ma’ dawk tal-post. Dissena stess imtlew tliet coaches b’dawk minn Sydney li għamlu l-vjaġġ.

Hawnhekk għandhom kumitat tassew ħabbrieki u għal dis-sena introduċew statwa gdida. Il-festi ta’ ġewwa għamluhom fil-knisja ta’ St Mary MacKillop f’Warnevale. Għall-okkażjoni kien hemm ukoll il-logħob tannar li tassew impressjona. Kien fost l-aqwa li rajna fil-festi Maltin.

Don’t forget...

Father’s Day this year is on Sept. 2

any in Australia observe Father’s M Day on the first Sunday of September. Therefore remember that September 2 is FATHER’s DAY. This is a day for people to celebrate fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. It is a day when we show our appreciation for fathers and father figures. They may include stepfathers, fathers-inlaw, guardians, and family friends.

The occasion complements similar celebrations honouring family members, such as Mother's Day, Siblings Day, and Grandparents' Day. An behalf of all our readers, we at The Voice magazine wish all fathers a Happy Father’s Day.

Tuesday August 21, 2018

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The Voice of the Maltese 3

his is a monthly service offered by The Voice of the Maltese $75,000 per annum. On the 1st August I received a in which Marie Louise Muscat from the Fiducian Finanbonus of $30,000 from my work and this will mean cial Services helps our readers understand the complexities that I will be pushed into a higher tax bracket this fi- associated with financial planning. If you need more advice nancial year. Is there anything I can do to reduce my send an email to Marie Louise via: maltesevoice@gmail.com. tax liability?

A. Yes you should consider salary sacri- other hand will not ficing some of your salary so that you will be entitled to any reduce your taxable income. The maxi- of the disability mum amount of concessional contribu- pension whilst livtions this financial year is $25,000. You ing overseas. Once should calculate the amount of superan- you turn age-pennuation that your employer contributes sion age at 67 you on your behalf and salary sacrifice the re- can then apply for maining amount. the age pension You will be paying contributions tax of even if you are still 15% rather than the 38.5% on this living overseas. amount, which is a good reduction in tax.

Make sure that you do not contribute Q. My husband has been in hosmore than the $25,000 limit. pital for the last Q. My husband and I have lived in three months. I Australia for 26 years. He is 70 years was told last week that he is not able to that your assets are low and that your old, is on the full age pension and re- return home as he needs high care, husband needs to go into care, you will ceives a carer allowance. I am 62 and which he can only receive in an aged be offered a subsidised package. You will on a disability pension. Our two chil- care facility. Apart from our home, not be asked to sell your home, as while dren have moved to Spain with their which is unencumbered, our financial you are still alive this will not be considfamily and we are planning to move assets are very low. I am worried that ered an option. there also. Will we still be able to re- I may be asked to sell our home to pay Q. I am 72 years old and married with ceive these entitlements from Centre- for the refundable accommodation de- no children. I have an account based link while living overseas? posit to the facility. Can you help? pension and my husband is the benefiA. As your husband is age-pension age he A. Prior to moving into aged care your ciary. I do not wish him to receive this will be entitled to continue to receive part husband will go through an ACAT assess- money and would like my sister to be of the age pension. You have lived in Aus- ment. They will establish the amount of my beneficiary. Am I able to do this? tralia less than 35 years, therefore he will care he requires and whether it should be A. Unfortunately you cannot leave your be entitled to a portion of the age pension. done at home or in an aged care facility. sister as your beneficiary of the account He will also lose all the supplements as Once this is done, you will be asked to based pension. You need to nominate the well as the carer allowance. You on the give details of all your assets. If they find estate or your legal representative as your beneficiary and then make sure that in your Will you mention that you would like your sister to receive the proceeds of your account based pension. Just fill in a new binding nomination form and review your Will so that both ends will be covered.

Q. I am a widow and a self-funded retiree. I have a daughter who has just gone through a bitter divorce and struggling to keep up with the mortgage repayments on her own. I am planning to gift her $80,000 to help her along as I know the pressure she is under. My friends have advised me that I am limited to gifting only $10,000. Is this correct and what are the tax implications on gifting?

A. As you are a self-funded retiree you have no restrictions on the amount of gifting that you do. The $10,000 limit is only for those who are pensioners or part pensioners. There are also no tax implications on gifting and therefore both you and your daughter will have no tax to pay if you gifted her the $80,00.

Q. I am 50 years old and working full time earning

Q&A

This document contains factual information only and is not intended to provide any recommendation or opinion in relation to the topic/s discussed.

Fiducian recommends that you seek advice from a professional to address any issues that may be raised by this article. Fiducian accepts no liability for any loss suffered by anyone who has acted on any information in this document

4 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday August 21, 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?

From Meilak to York ... from London to Canberra

Tuesday August 21, 2018

The Voice of the Maltese 5

he Personality of the Month for August is a historian T of Maltese descent who has made a great contribution to Maltese-Australian historiography by penning several books and hundreds of articles over the decades about it.

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Barry York

arry York was born in London in 1951. His mother, Olive, was a Londoner and his father, Loreto, was Maltese. Loreto ended up in London after the Second World War. He joined the Royal Air Force in Malta in 1940 and served overseas.

Loreto’s parents and siblings were all from Għajnsielem, Gozo, but Loreto was born in Sliema, Malta, in 1918 after the family moved there.

Barry has written several books and hundreds of articles over the decades. He says he feels very fortunate to have been able to make a contribution to Maltese-Australian historiography.

When he began his doctorate in 1984, there wasn’t much written about the Maltese in Australia. He met two active researchers in the field at that time, Mark Caruana and George Griffiths, and is particularly grateful to Mark Caruana for his support and occasional collaboration.

Like Mark, he undertook oral history interviews to learn directly from those who made the Maltese-Australian story.

In the 1980s, he was able to record some who had migrated in the 1910s and 1920s. He probably has recorded about 300 interviews with Maltese people, following a ‘question guide’ based on three main components: memories of the homeland, the voyage, and settlement experiences in Australia.

These interviews have been preserved for posterity, many at the National Library of Australia.

In the 1990s, Barry worked as a researcher at the Centre for Immigration & Multicultural Studies at the Australian National University in Canberra. His career was going very well until the Howard government came to power in 1996 and slashed funding to multicultural research.

The Centre very unhappily had to let him go. As the main breadwinner and faA young Barry York ther of a two-yearin Brunswick with old son and his cat Snowy

PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH

Barry York today, holding a portrait of his parents seven-month-old daughter, this was devastating.

It took ten years of casual and contract work for various employers, with periods out of work between contracts, before his dream came true and he obtained a permanent full-time job. This was as a Historian at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House in Canberra. He retired from that position in 2016 and is today semi-retired.

Barry is often asked why his surname is York when his father was born as Loreto Meilak. The answer lay in his dad’s decision, made in London in 1947, to change his surname from Meilak to York by deed poll. Barry was born in 1951 and thus has always been York.

The family migrated to Melbourne in 1954 and initially resided with Loreto’s brother, Joe Meilak, who had migrated in 1925 and worked on the waterfront.Barry says that the house, in Hawke Street, West Melbourne, is still there.

Barry became aware of his Maltese background through stories told to him by his father but also, at a very young age, he wondered why a neighbour, the mother of one of his friends, had angrily called him a “black bastard” one day.

He was probably ten at the time. He figured the epithet must have had something to do with the ‘funny’ language his dad would speak over the phone with Maltese family members in Melbourne.

Barry had no idea that he would go on to graduate from university and write a doctorate – and books – about the history of the Maltese in Australia. In 2005, he was awarded the Order of Australia for his recording of the immigration story.

As a teenager, he figured he would either go to university or follow his dad’s footsteps into factory work.

6 The Voice of the Maltese

The Resurrection of Our Lord

Tuesday August 21, 2018

This seventh article in the series tries explains the message behind the tapestry titled:

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s to be expected, the focal point in the tapestry known as ‘The Resurrection of Our Lord’ is Christ, surrounded by light, coming victoriously out of the tomb. On the third day, Christ rose from the death. The glory of his resurrection is his victory over death.

The two angels in the tapestry seem to be holding on to the stone slab that closed the entrance to the tomb. The angel in a standing position has his eyes turned away from Jesus as if dazzled by the brightness of the light, while the other angel who is kneeling is hiding his face behind the stone.

Christ is holding the palm of martyrdom and glory, and his body is in a perfect state without any signs of the passion, except for the five wounds. Parts of the shroud still cling to him, while others seem to be floating around him, giving a certain movement to the whole picture.

Eight men are present in the lower part of the painting, all in a frantic state, trying to run away in great fear.

The guard on the left is holding his shield high up to cover his face from the glare of the Resurrected Christ.

In his right hand the guard is holding a scimitar (perhaps an indication of the Turks, the bitter enemies of the Christians and of the Knights). The soldier to his left is grabbing his cloak, and with his tottering feet seems to be falling to the ground. Another figure close to him on the ground with his left hand on his head is also bewildered and dazzled by the light.

The next figure to the right is that of a Roman soldier with both hands touching the ground and the lance dropped in front of him; the other person with uplifted arms is awestruck and has not moved as yet. The other two are running away, while the last one behind them is covering his face with his arm. The light surrounding the Risen Christ stands for Jesus as the light of the world to lead us to his Father.

As in the previous tapestry, the mountain in the background is again present. Beneath the mountain, in the foreground, one can see a conspicuous palm tree at the back of which seems to be a pulled down building.

This could represent the temple of Jerusalem about which Jesus referred to when He said that He “will destroy the temple and will rebuild it in three days.”

The Resurrection was the greatest of

Christ’s miracles, a glorious conclusion to His great life.

When after the Resurrection, Christ appeared in the splendour of divine glory, it was the guarantee that the glory of God and his new creation were near.

His ‘resurrection from the dead’, the ‘spirit which brings life’ (Rom 8, 11), should be the model for man’s resurrection. It is also a sign to encourage man “to persevere in holiness and righteousness and in the observance of the Commandments of God”.1 The glory of the resurrection had to be preceded by the ignominy of the cross. “By his resurrection Jesus was made Christ, Son of God, Kyrios, by God.”2 Christ has risen from the dead by his own power, “a singular prerogative peculiar to Him alone.”3 In St John’s gospel one reads: “I lay down my life in order to take it up again … I have power to lay it down, so I have power to take it up again … ” (Jn 10, 17-18).

In the cleansing of the Temple Jesus said to the Jews: “Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (Jn 2, 19). He was referring to the Temple of his body. He frequently spoke to his disciples about his resurrection, and hardly ever mentioned his Passion without referring to his Resurrection.4 The Resurrection of Christ was necessary in order to manifest the justice of God. Christ also rose to confirm our faith that is necessary for justifica-

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

Dr. DorisCannataci

tion; it proved that he was the Son of God. The Resurrection nourishes and gives hope.5 St Paul in his letter to the church at Philippi says: “he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. And for this God raised Him high, and gave him the name which is above all other names” (Ph 2, 8-9).

The Resurrection had completed the mystery of our salvation and redemption. In his letter to the Romans St Paul says: “because we believe in Him who raised from the dead our Lord Jesus who was handed over to death for our sins and raised to life for our justification” (Rm 4, 25).

In the Resurrection man acknowledges “God to be immortal, full of glory, the conqueror of death and the devil.” To prove that he was God, Christ did not delay his Resurrection till the end of the world; hence, “He rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures.”

References

1. Catechism of the Council of Trent for Parish Priests, 71.

2. JÜRGEN MOLTMANN, The Crucified God, 183-184.

3. Catechism of the Council of Trent for Parish Priests, 66.

4. Ibid., 68.

5 Ibid., 69.

The Voice of the Maltese 7

Worldwide recognition for a singer of Maltese descent

Tuesday August 7, 2018

A triumphant Violeta with some of the awards she won in Los Angeles

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ioleta Bozanic-Grima 14 ipants hailing from 63 different years from Elizabeth Hills ountries.

NSW represented Australia Violeta, who performed in eleven successfully in The 2018 World different styles, including singing, Championships of Performing Arts piano playing, acting and model(WCOPA) in Long Beach Los Ange- ling, won the Junior competition les California last month. therefore she is now the Junior VoThe girl of Maltese descent com- calist Champion of the World. She peted in the 22nd edition of the has also secured $20,000 recording championship against other partic- contract.

These were the results of the Violeta's World Championships of Performing Arts: Gold Medal - Original Works - Vocal - "Save This World" Gold Medal - Rock Category - Vocal - "Bohemian Rhapsody" Gold Medal - Pop Category - Vocal - "Addicted to You" Gold Medal - Open Category - Vocal -"Like I'm Gonna Loose You" Gold Medal - Overall Junior Vocalist Champion of The World Silver Medal - Broadway - Vocal "Let me be Your Star" Silver Medal - Pop Category - Vocal - "No More Tears" Silver Medal - Contemporary - Vocal - "All I Ask" 4 Special Awards as Division Winner and $20,000 Prime Music Recording Contract ( Prime Music)

ioleta is well known in the music industry. At age 11 she was semi-fiV nalist in Australia's Got Talent show. For the last two years her two original songs "Baby I am Sorry" and "Save This World" were in the top 15 of the

largest international song writing competition. She has received an Honourable Mention and listed on APRA AMCOS website.

This young Malta and are currently living in Xewkija Gozo. Violeta fatalented en- ther is Dejan Bozanic. t e r t a i n e r, Speaking to The Voice of the Maltese Violeta described the who is a 9- Los Angles competition as “basically like the Olympics for year student at the Northmead Creative and Performing performing arts.” She thanked her parents for their supArts High School, was featured in the February 16th 2016 port. edition of The Voice of the Maltese when as an 11-year-old The young girl is extremely proud to be of Maltese deshe participated in Australia’s Got Talent contest. Her scent, and likewise, the Maltese community is also proud mother, Roseanne Grima was born in Sydney, the daughter of this very successful young lady who is doing so well in of Anthony and Marija Grima who eventually returned to a very competitive and evolving industry.

Grammy-winning producer Weber selects Violeta

for his next All-Star recording Hollywood project

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eanwhile, veteran music producer Jeffrey Weber and Stark Raving Records have just announced that Weber has started working with celebrated Australian Singer Violeta Bozanic as they prepare for her all-star recording to take place in Hollywood, California, early next year.

Weber noted that while a judge at the World Championships of the Performing Arts (WCOPA) he “ had the opportunity to witness the talent of Violeta Bozanic, a young singer/songwriter/musician. The maturity of her voice and her songwriting skills made an indelible impression on me and I truly look forward to joining her as we develop her many skills as a performer and recording artist.”

Weber’s opinion of Violeta’s abilities was shared by many as she was awarded the WCOPA event. No stranger to talent competitions, Violeta has turned the

heads of judges and audiences for a few years now, making quite an impression as she has come out on top numerous times.

Violeta’s recording will take place in Hollywood, California andWeber has already begun to recruit an envious team to join him on her project. The first two musicians/songwriters/arrangers to sign on to the project are Troy Laureta (former musical director for Ariana Grande and David Foster, etc.) and Dapo Torimiro (John Legend, Stevie Wonder, Justin Bieber, former musical director for Lauren Hill, etc.). Emmy and Grammy winner, Clark Germain, will be Weber’s recording engineer for this effort.

More stellar contributors to Violeta’s project will be announced in the coming weeks. For the latest updates on her recording, stay connected to Violeta on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ Violeta-Bozanic-230235573986828/

Violeta wtih her proud parents, dad Dejan (second left) and mum Roseanne.

Extreme left is Jeffrey Weber one of the judges

Have your say/Xi trid tghid?

8 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday August 21, 2018

Your letters/ L-ittri tagħkom ...

Award to DCG ...Not in my name!

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

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Tony Cassar, St Albans, Victoria writes:

he members of the Melbourne Community Council seem to be on another planet which is different from us mortals live on. They got it all wrong when they decided to make an (posthumous) award to the late Daphne Caruana Galizia, who, for all I know, has never been to Australia or done anything to further the life of the Maltese community.

In fact, this blogger/journalist/gossiper has done nothing but sow division among the Maltese people with her lies (now we have found out from the Magisterial report on the Egrant inquiry that the MCCV did not feel was important to mention in their newsletter).

DCG and her friends were found out to have been plotting to bring down a Maltese legally elected government. Is this in line with the thought of some members of the MCC who decided to honour her?

Rightly or wrongly (depending on one’s interpretation) the MCCV made awards to three priests, a nun and a layman. Weren’t there any other Maltese in Victoria state who

also merited such an award? I can mention at least a dozen more but this is not the place to name names.

What’s most surprising unquestionably was the award to DCG. If the MCCV felt the need to award somebody living in Malta who truly deserved an award, for general services to the broader Maltese Community, one could perhaps mention President Coleiro Preca, Archbishop Scicluna or Prime Minister Muscat, else the leaders of the Puttinu Cares or the priest running Dar tal-Providenza.

The Maltese community in Victoria is very hurt, and angry at the MCC’s decision. Most of us disassociate ourselves from the decision taken by a minority of people who supposedly care about the Maltese community in Victoria. Associations affiliated to the MCC should do so too and not be lackeys.

They need to stand to their principles and, if against, should express their views. Like many of us, they should say, NOT IN MY NAME! Finally, many others and I would like to hear some plausible explanation as to who was behind the decision, and why.

The MCCV fiasco ...shame on them

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Fredu S. from Celtenham, Victoria writes:

ith interest I read the two letters that were published in The Voice of the Maltese (Issue No. 185 in relation to the award by the MCCV to the late Mrs. D. Caruana Galizia (may she rest in peace).

Let me start by stating that the MCC does not represent me in any way shape or form.

Once again the MCCV has shown that they are meddling into waters that as NGO should not even try to get involved, as they have already done. May I remind your

readers that this MCCV is the same group that in one of their newsletters last year accused the current Malta Government of being corrupt.

My opinion is short and to the point.

They should all resign and the associations affiliated with the MCCV should come out in protest and also resign their membership. The MCCV should be ashamed.

DCG and the Maltese in the Victoria state

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Tom Borg from Sunshine Victoria writes: ccording to the Maltese Community Council of Victoria official website, six years ago, in 2012, the MCCV established its Annual Community Awards to publicly recognise, and show its appreciation for, the valuable contribution of Maltese people to the Maltese community in Victoria, whether by their contribution to scholarship, education, welfare services, culture and generally to the well-being of the community.

Can they explain to us what contribution Daphne Caruana Galizia (RIP) contributed to the Maltese community of Victoria? Is this the first time that a non-resident of Victoria was awarded? Who really was behind this award?

Toys for charity at Cringila T Tuesday August 21, 2018

here is more to observe when Lawrence Buhagiar, you visit the Maltese Centre the Consul-General for at Cringila, near Wollongong.

Malta in NSW (left) During one of his outreach visits, with Vincent Xuereb Lawrence Buhagiar the Consuland his wife Patrica at General for Malta in NSW ventured the Men’s Shed into the Men’s Shed, situated beneath the George Cross Falcons Club at Lake Avenue.

In the past, this small hole-in-thewall was used as storage space, but now it is transformed into a workshop where wooden toys like train sets, cars, trucks, fire engines, ladders, ducks, turtles etc. are put together to be given away to children in hospitals.

The two current voluntary workers at this workshop are Vincent Xuereb and Harry Briffa. The original instigator was Bill Micallef who passed away in 2017 but left this legacy of toy building.

Men’s Sheds have been operating in Australia for just over ten years, in Cringila for about seven years.

The Voice of the Maltese 9

Lawrence Buhagiar said, “the voluntary work at the Men’s Shed is very noble, offering solidarity to those in need, putting a smile on children’s faces, children who are in hospital or homeless and which are being sheltered for various reasons”.

On his part, Vincent Xuereb said that this work gives him a lot of pride; he loves doing it and is pleased with the feedback he gets.

“I stay motivated. It reduces boredom, keeps you healthy and reduces stress. This helps the community, the nation and the government,” Vincent said.

The Men’s Shed offers the opportunity to those retired and spending time at home alone to be productive, make new friends and also enjoy the centre’s facilities.

Both the Consul General and Vincent Xuereb were in agreement that this project should be given more publicity. The Voice of the Maltese is happy to introduce it to our readers.

Sussidju mill-FMLS lil ħames studenti tal-ilsien Maltin

Il- Federazzjoni tal-Iskejjel Maltin fl-Awstralja (FMLS) qed tniedi sussidju ta’ $100 għal studenti li joqogħdu u jispiċċaw l-eżami fillingwa Maltija tal- VCE/HSC /SACE f’din is-sena li aħna fiha, l-2018.

Din l-iskema tgħodd għall-ewwel ħames studenti fl-ordni li japplikaw.

Għad-dettalji u formula biex jinkiseb dan is-sussidju, wieħed għandu japplika lill-Federazzjoni Tal-Iskejjel Tal-Malti: edwigeborg@hotmail.com inkella: federationofmalteselanguageschoolaustralia.com

10 The Voice of the Maltese

Perspettiva Għandna nisimgħu veduti ta’ stmerrija?

Tuesday August 21, 2018

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

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ħalissa qam kjass dwar intervista li saret fuq Sky News tal-Awstralja nhar il-Ħadd 5 ta’ Awwissu li għadda, ma’ Blair Cottrell, estremista tal-lemin, faxxista li drabi oħra ssuġġerixxa li ritratti ta’ Adolf Hitler għandhom jiddendlu fil-klassijiet tal-pajjiż kollu, li l-ktieb ta’ Hitler Mein Kampf jitqassam lill-istudenti kollha, u li n-nisa tikkontrollahom billi ttektikielhom ma’ widnejhom xi kultant, fost ħafna affarijiet oħra.

Dan il-bniedem instab ħati wkoll f’qorti li wettaq ħsara fuq proprjeta u li xewwex u rridikula lill-Musulmani.

Għad baqagħlu wkoll każ quddiem il-ġustizzja.

Din l-intervista saritlu mill-eks Ministru Prinċipali tanNorthern Territory Adam Giles, waqt il-programm regolari tiegħu The Adam Giles Show.

Sfortunatament, jien l-intervista ma rajthiex, l-ewwel għax m’iniex abbonat fil-Foxtel, u t-tieni għax l-intervista tneħħiet mill-websajt ta’ Sky News meta dawn talaħħar irreaġixxew għar-reazzjoni predominantement negattiva tal-pubbliku għax-xandira, u anke ta’ preżentaturi oħra tal-istess stazzjon.

Mhux hekk biss, imma Sky News talbet skuża talli l-intervista saret u stqarret li l-veduti ta’ Cottrell mhumiex dawk tal-istazzjon, issospendiet il-programm ta’ Giles u qalet li għamlet xi bidliet flistruttura editorjali tagħha.1 Biex inkun ċar ħafna, jien insib kemm it-twemminiet u kemm l-imġieba ta’ Cottrell aborrenti u ta’ min jistmerrhom. Il-vjolenza kontra n-nisa, jew kull grupp ieħor, mhux aċċettabbli. It-tmaqdir, id-diskriminazzjoni u t-tixwix kontra gruppi, x’aktarx minoranzi, abbażi tal-kultura, reliġjon jew etniċità tagħhom imorru kontra kull prinċipju ta’ tolleranza u empatija li tgħallimt f’ħajti.

Allura kien żball li xxandru l-veduti ta’ dan ir-razzista magħruf?

Jien ngħid li l-iżball ma kienx li xxandru l-veduti, imma li l-intervistatur Giles matul il-programm ma sfidax il-veduti ta’ Cottrell u ta l-impressjoni li kien jissimpatizza magħhom. Fl-aħħar tal-programm, Giles spiċċa biex awgura lil Cottrell kull suċċess fit-taħbit tiegħu!

Ix-xandir pubbliku u l-programmi tagħhom fuq l-attwalità, speċjalment fuq pjattaformi mmoderati u li jipproġettaw ruħhom li huma ta’ kalibru, huwa post importanti ħafna fejn idejat ta’ kull tip jiġu mhux biss ippreżentati, imma diskussi u analizzati minn min huwa kapaċi li joħroġ il-punti prinċipali tagħhom, u kif dawn jitkejlu ma’ sitwazzjonijiet soċjali, kulturali, reliġjużu u aspetti oħrajn, fil-komunitajiet, soċjetajiet, pajjiżi u anke d-dinja jekk applikabbli.

Il-preżentatur, mhux il-mistieden, għandu l-obbligu morali lejn is-semmiegħa u l-ispettaturi, li jirrappreżenta l-valuri tagħhom u jikkonfrontahom ma’ dawk tal-mistieden, li jfittex il-verità, li jof-

website: www.breakawaytravel.com.au

Blair Cottrell (xellug) flimkien mal-intervistatur fuq Sky News, Adam Giles

fri kritika kostruttiva, li ma jitħallewx isiru stqarrijiet ġeneralizzati mingħajr xi analiżi jekk l-istqarrijiet humiex applikabbli, u nista’ nibqa sejjer.

Jekk din l-attitudni kritika ma ssirx, allura l-programm isir wieħed ta’ propaganda, fejn il-preżentatur, u l-istazzjon, ikunu fil-fatt qiegħdin jagħmlu tagħhom il-veduti tal-misttieden.

Jien ma nixtieqx inkun iżolat milli nisma veduti li ma jaqblux ma’ tiegħi, li għalija tfisser ċensura. Madankollu nistenna li veduti bħal dawn, u mhux dawn biss, jiġu ppreżentati b’mod kritiku u analitiku. Hekk inkun inħossni komdu li qiegħed nitgħallem u mhux niġi indottrinat.

Illum hawn problema kbira bl-internet u l-midja soċjali, fejn in-nies x’aktarx li jiffurmaw gruppi ma’ min jaqbel magħhom, u allura jispiċċaw li jisimgħu biss veduti li jaqblu ma’ tagħhom.

Dan ma jawgurax tajjeb għall-iżvilupp ta’ sens kritiku fl-individwu, li jservih tant tajjeb fid-deċiżjonijiet li jrid jieħu fil-ħajja.

Mingħajr sens kritiku, bniedem iktar faċli li jiġi mmanipulat.

Fil-fehma tiegħi, is-soluzzjoni hi, li lkoll infittxu dawk is-sorsi ta’ informazzjoni u analiżi, mhux bilfors li jkunu newtrali, imma li jaffrontaw is-suġġetti kollha sistematikament b’tiftix għall-verità u b’referenza lejn il-valuri universali maqbula tad-drittijiet tal-bniedem.

Referenzi 1. https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/sky-news-blair-cottrell-interview-wrong/news-story/1daaadeba84b7f71d0c4fed38c0559ec, retrieved 14/8/2018

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‘Il-Magażin tal-Emigranti’ fuq ir-Rediffusion

The Voice of the Maltese 11

Tuesday August 21, 2018

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l-imgħoddi, f’kull dar Maltija, f’xi rokna kont issib dik ilkaxxa tar-Rediffusion, li l-aktar fl-iljieli xitwin kulħadd kien jintasab madwarha, biex jisma’ dawk il-programmi varjati u sbieħ li kien jippreżenta dak iż-żmien il-mezz ta’ xandir.

Dan kien jiftaħ bl-Ave Marija fis-sitta ta’ filgħodu u jtemm ittrasmissjoni tiegħu fil-ħdax ta’ billejl bid-daqq tal-Innu Nazzjonali Malti.

Inħossni xxurtjat li lħaqt l-aħħar żminijiet tar-Rediffusion. Kien żmien li fih iltqajt ma’ ismijiet fil-qasam tax-xandir li ħafna minnhom illum jiġu meqjsua bħala ikoni f’dan il-qasam. Ismijiet bħal Carmen Carbonaro, Liliana Bencini, Effie Ciantar, Charles Arrigo, Victor Galdes, Charles Abela Mizzi, Victor Aquilina (li għadu mimli bl-għomor u jgħix l-Awstralja), Carmelo Costa u Frank Camilleri (tal-isports).

Dawn flimkien ma’ xi oħrajn kienu fost l-ewwel ismijiet filqasam tax-xandir f’Malta. L-ilħna tagħhom biss kienu jsaħħruk.

Jiena kelli x-xorti li lħaqthom kollha, ħdimt magħhom u tgħallimt ħafna minn għandhom.

Meta kont sirt tal-post bħala producer, niftakar sewwa li wieħed mill-programmi li ġie fir-responsabiltà tiegħi kien ‘Il-Magazin tal-Emigranti’ li qabli kien jippreżentah il-ħabib tiegħi Tony Barbaro Sant.

Dan il-programm kien jixxandar nhar ta’ Sibt fis-2.30 p.m.

Lgħan tal-programm kien li minn Sibt għall-ieħor jingħataw aħbarijiet dwar il-Maltin u l-Għawdxin emigrati, tagħrif dwar ilpajjiżi fejn dawn qed jgħixu, kif ukoll tagħrif li jinteressa lil dawk li kellhom il-ħsieb li jsiefru, u lill-familja tal-emigranti f’Malta.

Minn dan li għedt, wieħed malajr jintebaħ kemm dan il-programm kien wieħed minn tal-imgħoddi għax illum il-ġurnata, flok il-Maltin jemigraw, hi Malta li qed tilqa’ l-imigranti fi ħdanha … l-affarijiet tbiddlu bħal-lejl min-nhar. Dan wassal biex intemm il-programm mill-iskeda tar-Rediffusion.

Li wassalni li nikteb dwar dan il-programm ‘Il-Magazin tal-Emigranti’ kien il-fatt li dan l-aħħar tfaċċat quddiemi ‘cutting’ talGwida (il-magazin tax-Xandir dak iż-żmien) bid-data tat-23 ta’ Ġunju, 1978 li kien fiha tagħrif dwar dan il-programm. F’parti mill-artiklu tal-istorja ngħad li dan il-programm kien beda tletin sena qabel.

Fl-istess paġna hemm ukoll ritratt tiegħi qed niddiskuti l-programm ma’ Fr. Laurence E. Attard OP. Dan kien kittieb u

PeterPaulCiantar riċerkatur tal-istorja tal-emigrazzjoni f’pajjiżna. Fr. Attard, li llum m’għadux magħna, kien jagħti l-kontribut kbir tiegħu għal dan il-programm f’isem il-Kummissjoni Emigranti.

Ninsab persważ li min qed jaqra dan l-artiklu u għandu l-età sabiħa ta’ aktar minn 60 sena, l-aktar jekk kien emigra, żgur li qed inqawwi fih il-memorji għax kienu ħafna dawk il-Maltin u Għawdxin li kienu jsegwu l-programm. Wieħed irid iżomm f’moħħu li f’dawk iż-żminijiet ħafna familji Maltin kellhom lil xi qraba tagħhom li emigraw, l-aktar lejn l-Awstralja, il-Kanada, lIngilterra jew l-Amerka.

L-akbar għadd ta’ semmiegħa l-programm kien jilħaqhom fi żmien il-Milied u l-Ewwel tas-Sena meta konna nwasslu l-awguri u x-xewqat sbieħ tal-emigranti Maltin, l-aktar mill-Awstralja, lillfamiljari Maltin. L-emozzjoni kienet tkun fl-aqwa tagħha.

Naturalment, biex konna naslu għal dan kien hemm għajnuna kbira li kienet tiġi minn barra. Niftakar sewwa li fost oħrajn millAwstralja kien hemm Josephine Zammit, filwaqt li mill-Kanada kien hemm Ġorġ Bonavia li meta kienu jiġu Malta, l-ewwel żjara tagħhom kienet dejjem tkun ir-Rediffusion (aktar tard Xandir Malta).

Dawn in-nies kienu jqisu ruħhom (u bir-raġun) bħala parti millfamilja tax-xandara. Tgħidx kemm kienu jifirħu bija. Konna minnufih nibdew niddiskutu proġetti ġodda għall-programm.

Naturalment, intervista magħhom mill-istudjows ta’ Gwardamanġa ma kienet tonqos qatt.

‘Il-Magazin tal-Emigranti’ kien ukoll iwassal tagħrif minn korrispondenti oħra li jibagħtu l-messaġġi tagħhom mill-Ingilterra u mill-Istati Uniti u anke wkoll minn Franza.

Fr. Laurence E. Attard kien jgħidli li ‘Il-Magazin tal-Emigranti’ jmur ’il bogħod ħafna aktar minn hekk. Jiftakar sewwa (u anke jiena) meta korrispondenti tax-xandir kienu jitilgħu fuq il-vapuri li kienu se jsalpaw mill-Port il-Kbir għal artijiet oħra, l-aktar lejn l-Awstralja. Biex jintervistaw lil xi wħud minnhom bid-dmugħ f’għajnejhom.

Fil-waqt li jwieġbu għall-mistoqsijiet magħmula lilhom, dawn in-nies, li jkunu ppjanaw futur barra minn pajjiżhom kienu jħarsu ċassi lejn nieshom fuq ix-xatt għall-aħħar darba.

Biex bħal donnu ttaffi xi ftit minn din id-dieqa kbira tal-firda, fl-isfond wieħed kien tisma’ l-ħsejjes tal-banda Maltija ddoqq ilmarċi tal-festa. Tassew li kien żmien ieħor!

Il-folla ddur mal-vann tarRediffusion barra l-istudjow

Il-kaxxa tar-Rediffusion li kważi kull familja kellha waħda bħala

12 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday August 21, 2018

Roundup of News About Malta

SR Technics invests a further €35m. in Malta

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R Technics of Switzerland, a world leading MRO service provider for aircraft, engines and components along with engineering services and training, has formally announced an expansion of operations with a new €35 million six-bay hangar at Malta’s Aviation Park.

The new project is set to create around 350 new jobs to bring the number of company employees up to 510. The company employs over 3,000 workers across the globe SR Technics that services numerous clients from its island base said it is committed to Malta. “We are committed to bringing in more business from our customer base,” SR Technics, that serrvices most Airbus and Boeing air-

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat (3rd left) presides over the signing of the agreement between the Government and SR Technics

craft types, said.

Last year, the ever growingaviation

sector in Malta contributed around 3% to the island’s GDP.

More investments to be announced soon PM Joseph Muscat says P

rime Minister Joseph Muscat stated in an interview on One Radio that following a recent investment of €35 million by SR Technics in the Safi Aviation Park, in the next few days the government would announce even more investments that would further strengthen Malta’s economy.

The Prime Minister said that Malta Enterprise is holding discussions with foreign entrepreneurs for new projects to be set up in the coming months. Other investors are also planning the expansion of existing projects.

He also referred to an investment in Barts’ Medical school in Gozo along with a new anatomy centre, scheduled to be completed by end September.

Dr Muscat said he believed that the Barts project would positively transform Gozo.

“Its effect will be exceptional, and would lead to more people and students living on the island throughout the year,” he said He added that the by-product of this is that the Gozo hospital will be at par with Egrant magisterial inquiry that exonerated Mater Dei Hospital in Malta, and that him and his family of any wrongdoing. He Gozo would be able to boast that to having said however, that the most important consome of the best medical facilities in the clusion of the Egrant inquiry was not simMediterranean. ply that there was no proof connecting his The Prime Minister also referred to the family with Egrant, but that any supposed evidence to back this allegation up was fal-

Caption to picture on front page:

Malta Summer Carnival on three days

he Summer Carnival, an event that is increasingly gaining popularity in the Maltese T islands with local citizens and tourists alike during the summer months, was held over three days in the last weekend. For the first two days, Friday and Saturday, this year’s

event was celebrated at the Buġibba Promenade and on Sunday at Marsaskala. The even will be repeatd in Gozo on September 9.

Enthusiasts flocked to watch the défilé of carnival floats built by Maltese and Gozitan artists, during a parade along the main streets of the summer resorts. The occasion in Buġibba was further boosted with the traditional ġostra that took place on Saturday at the bay. The occasion was organised by Arts Council Malta with the support of the Valletta 2018 Foundation, the Malta Tourism Authority and the two local councils.

sified.

He added that the Magistrate did not just say there was no evidence against them, but that in his view the crucial finding was that, somebody went to great lengths as to produce forged documents, with fake signatures, that were detected by experts, to try to implicate him and damage the reputation of his family.

He hinted that the signatures were amongst other indications of forgery, suggesting that the full inquiry contains more evidence that the documents were forged.

He said he would keep on insisting for justice rather than revenge.

Malta, EU, NZ ratify Partnership agreement

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alta has ratified the Partnership Agreement on Relations and Cooperation between the European Union and New Zealand.

This agreement originally signed in Brussels on October 5 2016, is intended to strengthen cooperation in the fields of justice, freedom and security, to promote sustainable development in its economic, social and environmental dimensions, to promote mutual understanding and strong people-to-people links, and to promote international peace and security.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion Carmelo Abela, who signed on behalf of Malta, said that the ratification of this agreement is an additional step taken by the Ministry in enhancing the excellent relations and opportunities for cooperation between Malta and New Zealand.

The Voice of the Maltese 13

Tuesday August 21, 2018

Roundup of News About Malta The immigrants disembarking in Malta from the MV Aquarius

Malta ranks 26th from 126 in GII

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alta has been classified in 26th place 126 countries in this year’s The Global Innovation Index (GII): Energizing the World with Innovation, that is dedicated to the theme of energy innovation. Switzerland has kept its top placing followed by The Netherlands, Sweden, the UK, Singapore and the USA in that order up to sixth place. Australia is rated 20th.

The GII I, that is co-published by Cornell University, INSEAD, and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialised agency of the United Nations, provides detailed metrics about the innovation performance of 126 countries which represent 90.8% of the world’s population and 96.3% of global GDP.

Malta initiative leads to responsibility sharing exercise of immigrants

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alta has once again come to the rescue when it allowed a ship, MV Aquarius, which was carrying 141 immigrants to dock into its ports.

Malta had no legal obligation to do so, but following discussions with France, with the support of the European Commission, it embaked on a responsibility sharing exercise regarding the rescued migrants on board MV Aquarius. It served as a logistical base and all of the reportedly 97 males and 44 females on board disembarked to be distributed amongst six European nations, namely France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain. The ship left Malta 24 hours later.

The immigrants, claiming to be from Bangladesh, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Egypt, Eritrea, Morocco and Somalia, were taken to the Initial Reception Centre at Marsa where their needs are being adhered to by the Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers before their departure to the nations in question. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) supervised the disembarkation process.

Initially, Italy was not part of the group of countries that agreed on the joint cooperation share the hosting of a number of immigrants, however, at the last moment the Italian Government contacted the Maltese Government to participate in the initiative.

Another 60 immigrants rescued at sea in a Malta SAR operation will also be part of the redistribution to other member states in what has been described by the Maltese government as a show of concrete European leadership and solidarity.

The Maltese authorities with the assistance of the respective foreign delegations of the countries that agreed on the responsibility sharing exercise is coordinating the process for the redistribution of the immigrants.

This is the second time such a voluntary mechanism was put into place following

that relating to the MV Lifeline a couple of weeks ago. That was allowed to enter Malta with 234 immigrants on board.

Meanwhile, the voluntary association SOS Mediterranee’ thanked the Maltese

authorities for offering a secure port for disembarkation of the immigrants. It said that more work needs to be done to ensure a sustainable model for search and rescue in order to address the humanitarian crisis.

A bird’s eye view of the massive crowd that flocked to Ta’ Qali. Inset: Rita Ora

Malta the festival destination

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massive crowd of over 20,000 people, roughly two thirds of them foreigners, either currently living in Malta or tourists, flocked to the Ta’ Qali National Park for the first day of the Summer Daze Festival organised by the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) in collaboration with BBC Radio 1 on August 14, The festival featured Rita Ora and Martin Garrix as the main artists MTA executive chairman Gavin Gulia highlighted Malta's recent success in positioning itself as a festival destination saying that the festival is further proof that Malta is excelling in the organisations of such music festivals that are creating a calendar of popular musical activity for the youth generation, not only in Malta but also else-

where.

The festival, spread over two days, continued a day later (on the 15th) at the Cafe Del Mar in Qawra that featured Grammy Award winning house artist Roger Sanchez, global DJ and producer Kristen Knight and Monki from BBC Radio 1.

At Ta’ Qali Rita Ora gave a full show with her dancers and band. Maltese talent was also present in the form of singer Emma Muscat, as well as DJ Tenishia and other local artists.

Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi praised the organisers who are carrying out activities and events in a manner that is acting as an incentive in the diversification of Malta’s tourism industry.

14 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday August 7, 2018

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ħalkemm hemm ħafna x’wieħed x’jikkumenta dwar is-sitwazzjoni politika wara l-pubblikazzjoni tarRapport Maġistrali dwar l-Egrant, ħassejt li, tal-inqas għal din il-ħarġa, nikkummenta dwar żewġ punti li għalkemm għandhom x’jaqsmu mal-istess, jittrattaw faċċata oħra tal-kwestjoni..

F’intervista li kellha l-mara tal-Prim Ministru, Michelle Muscat ma’ Saviour Balzan fuq TVM, sostniet li t-tfal tewmin tagħha kienu twarrbu u saħansitra ġew ibbuljat fliskola fiż-żmien l-allegazzjonijiet li Egrant kienet kumpannija tagħha, u kif anke dawn ġieli ġew esklużi minn parties tal-ħbieb minħabba l-kwestjoni Egranti.

Hija sostniet li l-Iskola privata fejn jattendu wliedha naqset milli tipproteġi b'mod adegwat lit-tfal tagħha. trattament speċjali”

L-ibbuljar!

Sintendi ħafna kienu dawk li kkundannaw dan l-aġir għax sostnew li l-iskejjel għandhom ikunu attenti għal kull ibbuljar u li wlied il-politiċi m’għandhomx jiġu marġinati jew jirċievu trattament ħażin minħabba l-ġenituri tagħhom.

Fl-argument daħlet ukoll Kristina Chetcuti, sieħba (issa daħlet il-moda li nużaw ilkelma “partner”) tal-eks-mexxej tal-Partit Nazzjonalista, Dr Simon Busuttil, li, mingħajr ma semmiet direttament lit-tfal talPrim Ministru, kitbet artiklu f’The Sunday Times fejn fost kollox qalet li l-ibbuljar “hija xi ħaġa li tiġri lil kulħadd” u li l-ġenituri mdaħħla fil-politika jinħtieġ li jedukaw lil uliedhom biex jieqfu għallibbuljar: “hemm bżonn li inti teduka lit-tfal tiegħek biex ikollhom kummenti intelliġenti lesti, u mhix li jħossuhom prinċpijiet żgħar li ħaqqhom trattament speċjali.”

L-artiklu ġie nterpretat bħala li kien b’xi mod qed inaqqas il-gravita’ tal-ibbuljar fuq it-tfal tal-Prim Ministru u ġab xita ta’ tweġibiet, mhux biss fuq il-mezzi soċjali u fil-midja, iżda wkoll il-kumment tal-Kummissarju għat-tfal, Pauline Miceli, li qalet fejn Kristina Chetcuti sostniet li l-ibbuljar “hija xi ħaġa li tiġri lil kulħadd” jista’ jkun minnu imma mhux sew li nirreferu għattfal bħala “prinċpijiet żgħar li ħaqqhom

trattament speċjali” għax kwalunkwe tifel jew tifla jista’ jkun il-vittma tal-ibbuljar u dan huwa kkundanabbli.

Id-diskussjoni kompliet tikber meta diddarba anke l-mara tal-mexxej tal-Partit Nazzjonalista, is-Sinjura Nickie Vella De Fremeaux, f'post imqanqal fuq Facebook, irrakkuntat kif qed iħossu t-tifel iż-żgħir tagħha meta fl-iskola qed ikun imwarrab u eskluż minn dawk li darba kienu 'ħbieb kbar' u dan minn mindu missieru daħal filpolitika.

li dawn huma l-istess nies li jpoġġu lfjuri u jixgħelu x-xemgħat il-Belt. Referenza ċara għal dawk il-gruppi li ta’ kull xahar ipoġġu l-fjuri fuq il-monument ta’ Daphne Caruana Galizia filBelt.

Sintendi dan kompla jqajjem iddiskussjoni dwar il-kwestjoni tal-ibbuljar fuq ulied il-politiċi. Għalkemm kien hemm min allega li f’ċerti skejjel privati kienet isir ċerta emarġinazzjoni ta’ tfal anke fuq status tal-familja, eċċ.

Did-darba tfaċċat reazzjoni ġdida billi nies prominenti fil-Partit Nazzjonalista bħallMembru Parlamentari Jason Azzopardi li ippruvaw inaqqsu mill-weġgħa tad-diskriminazzjoni politika u saħansitra sostnew li kien qed isir profit politiku mis-sitwazzjoni (Ara kopja tat-tweets fuq).

Biex iwasslu dan il-messaġġ żeffnu fin-nofs il-mara tal-eks Prim Ministru Dr Ediie Fenech Adami. Azzopardi kiteb li Mary Fenech Adami kienet ta’ eżempju għaliex wara li kienet attakkata d-dar tagħhom f’Birkirkara ma ppruvatx tieħu xi vantaġġ u minflok bagħtet lit-tfal l-iskola bl-uniformi nadifa u mgħoddija.

Sintendi din il-kitba setgħet kienet immirata kemm għall-mara tal-Prim Ministru, kif ukol tal-Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni.

Madanakollu hemm min isostni li dawn ilkummenti kienu mmirati għal tal-aħħar billi dehru eżatt wara li Nickie Vella De Fremeaux kitbet dwar il-bullying tat-tifel tagħha.

Insosti li lil hinn minn xi fehma politika, dawn l-affarijiet m’għandMichelle homx isiru u l-iskejjel Muscat jonqsu jekk ma jkunux mal-Prim b’għajnejhom miftua Ministru u biex kemm jista’ jkun wliedhom kull ibbuljar, isir għal it-tewmin liema raġuni jsir jiġi evitat... għax l-ibbuljar jista’ jwassal saħansitra għal traġedji kbar.

“... dawk li jpoġġu l-fjuri u jixgħelu x-xemgħat il-Belt”

Tirrakkonta kif binha mar id-dar b'qalbu maqsuma u jitlobha ċċempel omm ħabib tiegħu għax kien hu l-uniku student filklassi li ma kienx mistieden għal party, sempliċiment għax missieru hu min hu.

Sostniet li ilha li nnutat li binha u anke huma, qed jingħataw il-ġenb minn persuni li sa ftit żmien ilu kienu ħbieb kbar tagħhom u li t-tfal tagħhom minn jaf kemm-il darba raqdu għandhom, qabel ma' Adrian Delia sar il-Kap tal-Partit Nazzjonalista.

Mistqosija għal min qed tirreferi wieġbet

Is-Sinjura Nickie Vella De Fremeaux mart il-kap talPN ma’ wliedhom.

The Voice of the Maltese 15

Tuesday August 7, 2018

Alla ħares jiġri skont it-tbassir

I

r-rapport Egrant żgur li kellu effett kbir fuq l-aħħar taħriġ li sar mill-Maltatoday dwar is-sitwazzjoni politika f’Malta.

Sintendi, dan ir-rapport ta mbutattura qawwija lill-Prim Ministru, Joseph Muscat, għalkemm forsi ħadd ma kien jistenna li dan kien se jwassal għal differenza ta’ 39 punt bejnu u bejn ilKap tal-Oppożizzjoni.

Skont dan l-istħarriġ 53.9% ta’ dawk li ħadu sehem fih għandhom fiduċja fil-Prim Minsitru, filwaqt li 14.9% biss jafdaw lillKap tal-Opożizzjoni. Kważi 11% ma jafdaw lill-ebda wieħed u 20.5% ma jafux.

Attwalment Dr Delia bħalissa qiegħed f’pożizzjoni tassew diffiċli għax mhux biss għandu l-isfida tal-Prim Ministru, iżda wkoll qed jiffaċċja nkwiet intern fil-partit tiegħu stess fejn hemm uħud, u mhux ‘il ftit, li għadhom ma aċċettawx it-tmexxija tiegħu.

Tant hu hekk li mill-istħarriġ ħareġ li Delia għandu biss l-appoġġ ta' 34.3% ta' dawk li vuutaw PN fl-aħħar elezzjoni ġenerali.

Imma l-karta li lagħab il-Partit Nazzjonalista fl-aħħar elezzzjoni, dik li jibbaża l-kampanja tiegħu fuq il-koruzzjoni, jidher li mhux talli ma ħallitx ir-riżultat mixtieq fl-aħħar elezzjoni, iżda kompliet tat daqqa ta’ ħarta lill-Partit Nazzjonalista, issa li ħareġ li l-kliem kollu dwar Egrant kien bla bażi.

Dan ħareġ ċar minn dan l-istħarriġ ħareġ li wera li, li kellha ssir elezzjoni bħalissa, ir-riżultat tal-elezzjoni jikun: 52% jivvutaw lill-Partit Laburista, 27% lill-Partit Nazzjonalista, 9.7% ma jivvutaw lil ħadd u 10.6% ma jafux kif jivvutaw. Ammonti insinifikanti jmorru għall-AD U L-PD.

Nuqqas ta’ ħsieb jew ras iebsa..? e nsemmi inċident li S seħħ “kaġun” tal-festi u li spiċċa kkundannat fil-

Dan iffisser li f’Malta l-Partit Laburista jkollu maġġoranza ta’ aktar mid-doppju ta’ dik li kellu fl-aħħar elezzjoni - aktar minn 90,000 vot.

Dan ifisser li jekk it-tendenza tibqa’ kif inhi, il-Partit Laburista jkun jista’ jkollu żewġ terżi tal-membri tal-Parlament.

Allahares kellu jiġri dan, għax ikun ifisser li jista’ jkollna Gvern li jkollu s-saħħa li jagħmel dak li jrid, saħansitra jibdel kull klawsola tal-Kostituzzjoni. Xi Ħaġa li żgur ma jkunx ta’ ġid għaddemokrazija u l-pajjiż.

Biss sintendi dan mhux mistenni jiġri. Infatti dawk kollha li għandhom rashom fuq għonqhom diġa` rrejalizzaw li r-riżultat tal-istħarriġ huwa sforz ir-reazzjoni tal-poplu għar-riżultat Egrant. Infatti malli tħabbar ir-riżultat kelliema tal-Partit Laburista mill-ewwel ħarġu jgħidu dan.

Il-Prim Ministru nnifsu meta mitlub jikkummenta dwar dan listħarriġ tal-fehma pubblika, insista dwar il-bżonn li l-gvern iżomm saqajh mal-art.

“Din hi sitwazzjoni anomala għall-aħħar li tirriżulta mill-froġa li għamel Simon Busuttil u li daħħal fiha lill-Partit Nazzjonalista.

“Kwalunkwe elezzjoni tibda minn xejn b’xejn,” saħaq il-Prim Ministru. Anzi nsista li fix-xena politika, il-Partit Laburista jibqa’ l-underdog, għax kieku kien il-Partit Laburista li vvinta dan ilframe up kieku ċerti istituzzjonijiet min jaf kemm kienu jagħmlu protesti u demostrazzjonijiet, “Minflok qisu l-attitudni hi, iva ħadna naqra żball u m’hemmx x’tagħmel,” qal.

l-armar tal-festa f’Birkirkara li mblokka laċċess għal bankina u qajjem il-protesti

ġurnali kollha, meta armar tal-festa mblokka l-aċċess għal bankina għal persuni li jużaw il-wheelchair. Dan billi fi Triq is-Santwarju, f’Birkirkara, biswit il-Bażilika ta’ Santa Elena, ġie armat anġlu fuq kolonna eżatt quddiem rampa li toffri aċċess għall-bankina u għallATM. Kien hemm min li f’post fuq il-Facebook page ta’ The Voice anke tella’ r-ritratt.

Il-Compliance Unit tal-Kummissjoni għad-Drittijiet ta’ Persuni b’Diżabilità (CRPD) minnufih ikkuntattja lill-membri tal-kleru responsabbli mill-festa li minnaħa tagħhom irreżistew kull tibdil li seta’ jwassal għal soluzzjoni li tirrispetta d-drittijiet ta’ persuni b’diżabilità.

Dan wassal għal protesta min-naħa talKummissjoni msemmiha u l-istorja spiċċat fuq il-media fejn kien hemm għadd ta’ kundanni għal dan l-aġir.

Bħala reazzjoni dawk responsabbli millfesta għamlu rampa temporanja tal-injam eżatt biswit l-armar tal-festa li kien qed jim-

blokka s-solita rampa.

Għalkemm din solviet xi ftit il-problema

xorta ġabet reazzjoni negattiva minn Oliver Scicluna, ilKummissarju għallPersuni b’diżabilita’ li sostna li “qishom ċerti affarijiet isiru biex aħna nagħlqu ħalqna” Jidher li dan ma kienx biss nuqqas ta’ ħsieb minn min hu nkarigat millFesta, imma wkoll li mxew xi ftit malkant li kultant nisimgħu fil-marċi “Illum il-festa tagħna, ħadd ma jista’ għalina”.

Dr Hugh McDermott MP

State Member for Prospect For issues concerning:

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

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

16 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday August 21, 2018

62 named forAustralia Bravery Awards

T

he Governor-General, HE General the Hon. Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd), has approved the awarding of 62 Australian Bravery Decorations.

Star of Courage:1; Bravery Medal: 18; Commendation for Brave Conduct: 40; Group Bra-very Citation: 3 The Australian Bravery Decorations date from the establishment of the Australian honours system, and recognise acts of bravery in other than warlike situations, by people who put themselves in jeopardy to protect the lives or property of others.

There are four levels of bravery awards to recognise the actions of individuals, as well as an award (established in 1990) to

recognise acts of bravery by a group of people involved in a single incident.

These awards are the Cross of Valour, the Star of Courage, the Bravery Medal, the Commendation for Brave Conduct, and the Group Bravery Citation, respectively.

Since 1975 and including the awards just announced, there have been five awards of the Cross of Valour, 163 awards of the Star of Courage, 1,343 awards of the Bravery Medal, 2,101 Commendations for Brave Conduct and 183 awards of the Group Bravery Citation.

“To the Australians being honoured, I offer my warmest congratulations and express my sincere gratitude for your contri-

Melbourne has a new Archbishop A

rchbishop Peter A. Comensoli (left) took his seat at St Patrick's Cathedral as the ninth Archbishop of Melbourne, in a ceremony rich in the symbolism and magisterial ritual of the Church.

In front of an estimated 3000 people that filled the cathedral pews to witness the ceremony, Archbishop Comensoli entered the cathedral at the West Door where the Dean of the Cathedral, John Salvano, offered him a crucifix to kiss and holy water with which to bless himself and the congregation.

The new archbishop’s arrival represented a generational changing of the guard for the archdiocese, but he assured the faithful that the office’s commitment to Catholic teaching and tradition would continue unchanged.

In his homily, Archbishop Comensoli emphasised particular elements of the Church’s mission, with a focus on the need to be a Church of action, marked by joy and mercy and sharing a lived Gospel. “Our common task is a missionary one,” he said. And a good start in sharing the Gospel was getting “the soil of our culture under our fingernails as we plant seeds of grace and peace.”

Archbishop Comensoli drew upon the great legacy of Australia’s first saint, Mary of the Cross MacKillop: “I’ve come from the city where Mary completed her missionary journey, to the city where she began it. You are the Church that produced Australia’s first saint.”

With what he called “a newbie’s boldness”, he rallied the gathered faithful with a reminder of their proud Catholic legacy. “You are a Church that can produce great fruits,” he said, asserting the faithful in Melbourne were nothing less than “saint whisperers”.

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

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

bution to our nation,” the Governor-General said.

The Voice of the Maltese has been informed that no Malta-born persons have been included in these awards.

No prison for Archbishop Philip Wilson

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Newcastle (NSW) magistrate has decided that Catholic Archbishop Philip Wilson could serve his 12-month custodial sentence for concealing historical child sex abuse by a pedophile priest in Archbishop home detention as Philip Wilson opposed to prison.

Wilson's lawyer Ian Temby QC told the court they intend to lodge an appeal application against the cleric's conviction, but he did not apply for bail and will commence home detention.

In May, sixty-seven-year-old Archbishop Wilson was found guilty of concealing the sexual abuse of children at the hands of James Fletcher in the n the New South Wales Hunter region in the 1970s. He was later sentenced to a year's detention with six months nonparole.

Magistrate Robert Stone told Newcastle Local Court that Wilson was eligible for home detention with no particular conditions imposed. Wilson has spent the last few weeks on bail while he and his sister's home were assessed.

He has been ordered to be detained at his sister’s home near Newcastle for at least six months, when he’ll be eligible for parole on February 13, 2019. Sentencing him, Magistrate Robert Stone said there was “no remorse or contrition” showed by Archbishop Wilson.

Mr Stone said protecting the Catholic Church was the archbishop's “primary motive”.

“There are no other rational explanations for the offender's conduct,” he said.

However, Mr Stone said he accepted the former Archbishop was unlikely to reoffend but had to serve a period of detention to act as a deterrence to others.

The Voice of the Maltese 17

Tuesday August 21, 2018

Strengthening security of personal medical records T

he Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) has welcomed a Government decision to strengthen the security of personal medical records in the My Health Record system.

The Chairperson of FECCA, Mary Patetsos said: “We are pleased that the Minister will legislate that no health records can be released to anybody without a court order.

“And people who choose to opt out and cancel their My Health Record have now been assured that their health data will also be permanently deleted.

“FECCA congratulates the Minister for Health for listening to the real concerns of all Australians, including those of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.”

Ms Patetsos said that FECCA has partnered with the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) to provide information for members and stakeholders about the

My Health Record Expansion Programme.

The partnership aims to provide information about My Health Record and its benefits for all Australians, and to advise those who choose not to have one how to opt out.

By the end of 2018, the Agency will have a digitised My Health Record for all Australians, except for those who opt out.

Doctors, pharmacists and authorised healthcare providers will be able to access a person’s My Health Record to assist in their treatment of patients and issues such as prescription of medicines and advance care planning.

People who choose not to have a My Health Record will be able to register not to have one during a three-month opt out period ending on October 15. The Government has indicated that it may extend the opt-out period for a further month.

Melbourne loses out to Vienna in global ranking

M

elbourne is no longer the world's most liveable city after slipping to second place behind Vienna in a global ranking system that handed the Australian city the crown for seven years.

After calculating scores taking into account 30 factors related to stability, health care, culture, environment, education and

The Pope and the death penalty

P

ope Francis has ordered a revision of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, asserting that “the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person”. He has committed the Church to working for its abolition worldwide.

Announcing the change, Cardinal Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, said: “The new text, following in the footsteps of the teaching of John Paul II in Evangelium Vitae, affirms that ending the life of a criminal as punishment for a crime is inadmissible because it attacks the dignity of the person, a dignity that is not lost even after having committed the most serious crimes.”

Pope Francis’ change to the text concludes: “Consequently, the Church teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that ‘the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person,’ and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide.”

infrastructure, The Economist's 2018 Global Liveability Index has Sydney in fifth place and Adelaide 10th on the list, .

Melbourne and the Austrian capital are separated by just 0.7 per cent. “Although both Melbourne and Vienna have registered improvements in liveability over the last six months, increases in Vienna's ratings, particularly in the stability category, have been enough for the city to overtake Melbourne,” the report said.

Among other Australian cities to be demoted, Perth has gone from seventh to 14th place since 2017. Auckland, Helsinki and Hamburg have also slipped from the top 10. However, there has been no drop in these four cities' overall scores.

FECCA chair Mary Patetsos

For further information go to: www.myhealthrecord.gov.au.

Check-in by using mobile

lying overseas passengers can now check in their flights using a mobile F phone in a bit to cut waiting times in Australian airports. Airlines will be able to issue electronic boarding passes for international flights departing Australia. It means travellers won’t need to visit checkin counters to show their passport and collecting a paper boarding pass.

“Australia is a world leader in seamless travel and this move will allow travellers to move across our border smoothly,” Citizenship Minister Alan Tudge said in a statement.

More than 21 million people passed through the border at international airports on their way out of Australia last financial year, but that figure is tipped to rise.

“These increasing volumes mean we are always looking for ways to clear legitimate travellers efficiently and seek out those of interest to law enforcement,” Mr Tudge said.

The change follows several successful trials of mobile boarding passes for international flights.

Maltese DownUnder to return for a 5th Season!

18 The Voice of the Maltese

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t is official: community TV show Maltese DownUnder will be back on our screens in Australia for a new season going to air Sunday September 2! It will be the 5th season of the Melbourne-based production.

Maltese DownUnder showcases stories that are diverse and outside traditional Maltese circles to a broader audience. Previous seasons have featured sports people, authors, inventors, artists even a snake catcher!

The producers of the show told The Voice of the Maltese that the new season is promising to be yet another packed season featuring magicians, filmmakers, dancers, politicians and even a paranormal investigator!

The fact that the show is bi-lingual has resulted in the show not only attracting Australians of Maltese descent who do not speak nor understand Maltese but also viewers of various ethnic backgrounds, making Maltese DownUnder the top multicultural show on Channel 31 and in the top 5 overall.

Marlene Scicluna, director and producer of Maltese DownUnder, says pro-

Ronnie Borg 1949 -2018

I

t is with deep sadness to record the dead of Nazarene (Ronnie) Borg who died on July 20 at the age of 69.

Ronnie, a good guitarist and an enthusiast for Għana Malti, and very well known at the La Valette and Ħamrun Centres, was born at St Luke’s in Malta on October 9, 1949. He lived with his family at Għargħur and emigrated with his parents to Sydney in 1965. In April 1978 he married Carolina who passed away four years ago.

During his time in Australia, Ronnie played with the Falcons Band and was part of the San Bert Festa committee.

He was a true gentleman, loved by all.

He lives to mourn him his two children Stephen and Lorraine, and three grandkids, Mitchell, Ava and Tara. May he rest in peace.

Tuesday August 21, 2018

duction of the show is a mascommitsive ment for her. “To produce such a show you have to be a Jill of all trades! You have to be able to organise guests, film and interview guests, edit the show, script and produce every episode and of course, chase sponsors to make the Marlene Scicluna and Mark show possible!

Avellino, co-producers of MDU And then update our social platsors. We re-invest everything into the forms to keep our followers engaged. show. Once we pay our broadcast fees “It’s a full time job really and I to Channel 31 and production costs, it wouldn’t be able to do it if I was still leaves us with hardly anything in rein full time employment! Our viewers serve for later.” think there is a big team behind the Marlene Scicluna said that every seashow but this is far from reality! Fun- son the show manages to reach out to nily enough, we even had viewers Maltese businesses in Melbourne as asking us for employment!” well as Maltese Associations, but Production of the show depends on fi- money is very hard to come by! “So nancial backing from sponsors and this we would like to thank all our season has proved to be quite a challenge.

5 sponsors who made this season posCo-producer Mark Avellino told us, sible,” she said.

“The mere fact we manage to get Maltese DownUnder will start screensponsors does say a lot about the qual- ing on C31 (channel 44 in Melbourne) ity of the show. But most people don’t on Sunday September 2 at 4pm with realise that every time we start prep- repeats on Tuesday at 2.30pm and Friping for another season we need to ap- day at 12.30pm. By popular demand, proach previous sponsors, send every episode will be available on denumerous emails, make numerous mand every Monday on YouTube phone calls and try to find new spon- Channel Maltese DownUnder TV.

Book about Health

by Maurice Cauchi

rofessor Maurice Cauchi has just published a book about health, titled: P Health and Society: Personal and Social

Determinants of Health, with special reference to the Maltese Islands.

In his book, published published by the University of Malta Press, Profs Cauchi deals with issues of modern society and their impact on health.

Issues discussed in the book include: • the effect of modern life on our health affluence and disease; • genetic issues affecting our life; • the digital age and its effect on individuals and society as a whole; • the personal and social responsibility for prevention of disease; • and others.

This book is available from the leading booksellers in Malta, RRP 25 euro.

Għajdut, drawwiet u twemmin fil-Gżejjer Maltin (5) The Voice of the Maltese 19

Tuesday August 7, 2018

F

Alfred E.Baldacchino

’dan l-aħħar artiklu minn din issensiela se naraw kif għad hawn fost il-Maltin min, mhux biss jemmen l-għajdut u t-twemmin tal-imgħoddi imma wkoll li jimxi ma’ xi wħud mid-drawwiet.

Fossili tal-kelb il-baħar

Uħud jafu Fossila l-fossila, ta’ tal-kelb sinna ta’ il-baħar kelb il-baħar li wieħed ta’ spiss jiltaqa’ magħha filblat Malti, bħala “lsien San Pawl”.

Tant kellu sehem qawwi San Pawl fuq dawn l-għajdut u t-twemmin li r-rabta ta’ dawn il-qlajjiet mar-reliġjon għamlithom aktar b’saħħithom. Kienu jaħsbu li San Pawl ħalla kopja ta’ lsienu filġebla Maltija. Spiss għadna nisimgħu bis-sejbiet ta’ lsien San Pawl fil-ġebla Maltija. Fil-fatt dawn ma huma xejn ħlief fossili ta’ snien ta’ klieb il-baħar.

Kif nafu, il-gżejjer Maltin iffurmaw taħt il-baħar u f’dak iż-żmien ta’ madwar 23 sa 5.3 milljun sena ilu fforma ssaff li fih insibu ħafna fdalijiet fosillizzati ta’ speċi ta’ fawna tal-baħar, bħar-rizzi, l-arzell u anke snien tal-klieb il-baħar, fost oħrajn.

Ir-rabta ma’ San Pawl u l-lifgħa, wasslet ukoll għal twemmin, li dawn issnien tal-klieb il-baħar huma xbiħa ta’ lsien San Pawl, tant li sal-bidu tas-seklu dsatax dawn kienu għadhom jintużaw kontra xi mard, u m’għand-iex xi ngħidu anki kontra gdim velenuż [1].

Ilsien San Pawl jew kif inhu magħruf ukoll bħala “għajn is-serp”, kien jitpoġġa madwar għonq it-tfal biex itellgħu ssnien u kien jitpoġġa b’tali mod li jmiss mal-ġilda. Inkella kien jitpoġġa fl-ilma jagħli li wara (meta jibred) kien jinxtorob. Ilsien San Pawl mitħun kien ukoll jitpoġġa direttament fuq xi ferita[1].

L-għasafar

L-għasafar huma fost il-ħlejjaq li saħħru l-bniedem bil-ħajja, il-kuluri u lgħana tagħhom, minkejja li dan mhux dejjem kien muri b’mod pożittiv u was-

sal għall-qirda ta’ uħud min-nhom.

Twemmin fost dawk li joħorġu għallkaċċa tal-għasafar huwa dwar il-qaddis patrun tagħhom – San Ubertu. Jingħad li San Ubertu li twieled f’Ardennes, illum il-Belġju, waqt li kien għall-kaċċa ġie wiċċ imb’wiċċ ma’ ċerv li kellu salib ileqq f’nofs qrunu. Dan wassal biex San Ubertu biddel ħajtu u daħal fil-Knisja Kattolika fejn wara xi żmien laħaq ukoll Isqof.

Dan it-twemmin insibuh wkoll hawn Malta fejn anki hawn għaqda tal-kaċċaturi li ġġib dan l-isem [2].

Hemm għadd ta’ qwiel u superstizzjonijiet fost il-kaccaturi. Fost is-superstitzjonijet fosthom dik li jekk xi kaċċatur jispara u joqtol Merill, li llum huwa l-għasfur nazzjonali, dan jistenna xorti ħażina ħafna għal żmien twil. U lebda skuża li dan ma għarfux ma tbiddel dan [2].

Il-fenek selvaġġ

Il-fenek salvaġġ hu annimal ieħor li jiġi kkaċċjat fil-gżejjer Maltin. Dwar Fenek selvaġġ dan ukoll hemm xi twemmin li ilu għaddej minn fomm għal fomm sa mis-seklu 15.

Jingħad li lMadonna dehret lil kaċċatur li daħal jistrieħ f’għar ir-Rabat qrib il-Buskett[2]. Fuq dan l-għar, illum insibu l-Knisja u l-Kunvent ta’ San Duminku fir-Rabat, li nbena fuq l-għar fejn jingħad li dehret il-Madonna.

Il-flora Maltija

Il-gżejjer Maltin huma sinjuri ħafna filflora indiġena. Jilħqu madwar elf speċi differenti. U dawn ma setgħux ma kienux ta’ seher għall-bniedem li għex magħhom f’dawn il-gżejjer.

Dawn kienu ta’ għajnuna kbira għallbniedem, kemm biex tawh għata u kenn fuq rasu, teżor ta’ ikel u ta’ ilbies, u anki għenuh biex jikkontrolla l-mard u jtebbeb saħħtu. Fi ftit kliem, il-flora indiġena kienet u għadha ta’ għajnuna ekonomika, ekoloġika u soċjali.

M’għandiex xi ngħidu dan wassal ukoll għal numru ta’ għajdut, drawwiet u twemmin li ma jispiċċaw qatt.

Wieħed mill-aktar twemmin popolari huwa dwar il-pjanta indiġena, li fl-

imgħoddi kienet tikber anki Malta imma li llum tikber biss fuq il-Blata talĠeneral – għerq is-sinjur.

Għalkemm uħud jaħsbu li għerq issinjur huwa fungu, dan mhux korrett għax din hi pjanta parassita li tgħix fuq l-għeruq ta’ pjanti li ma ddejja-qhom xejn l-imluħa fl-ambjent, bħall-bjanka.

Għerq is-sinjur jikber ħafna fuq din ilblata, li hija għolja madwar 60 metru minn wiċċ il-baħar.

Biex iħarsu din lil-pjanti fuq il-Blata tal-Ġeneral, il-gran mastri fi żmien lOrdni, kienu mhux biss illixxaw kemm jistgħu l-ġnub biex ħadd ma jkun jista’ jitla fuqha mill-baħar, imma kienu wkoll iħallu għassa madwarha.

Il-magħseb ta’ din il-pjanta huwa aħmar u fuqu jkollu fjuri żgħar ta’ lewn aħmar dagħmi. Minħabba dan il-kulur ta’ għerq is-sinjur, dan kien jintuża filmediċina tradizzjonali – tant li fis-seklu sittax fl-Ewropa kien magħ-ruf bħala lfungu ta’ Malta. Tant kellhom stima lejn din il-pjanta lKavallieri ta’ Malta li ta’ spiss kienu jibagħtu ftit minnha bħala rigal lill-mexxejja flEwropa.

Kien maħsub li minħabba li lpjanta hi ta’ kulur kannella ħamrani, u dan il-kulur kien jiskura meta din tinxef, kienet tajba biex tfejjaq problemi tad-demm.

Barra minhekk, minħabba l-forma fallika tagħha, kien ukoll maħsub li din setgħet tgħin ukoll fi pro- blemi sesswali, tant li l-Kavallieri kienu wkoll jużaw il-mgħaseb niexfa biex jerġgħu jġibu lura s-saħħa wara xi battalja.

Kif għedt, hemm numru minn dawn lgħajdut, qlajjiet u twemmin, l-aktar lużu tal-pjanti indiġeni Maltin fil-mediċina tradizzjonali.

Wieħed jista’ jaqra fuq uħud minn dawn fil-ktieb Siġar Maltin – tagħrif, tnissil, ħarsien, għidut. [3] Tmiem is-sensiela

1. Savona Ventura, C. (1990) Maltese Medical Folklore – Man and the Herpetofauna in Malta: a reiew. In: Maltese Medical Journal. II: 41 1990.

2. Azzopardi, A.E. (1985) The Maltese Shooter’s handbook, Malta: Midsea Books Ltd. 3.Baldacchini A.E. (2017), Siġar Maltin. Malta: BDL.

i*t-tagħrif ta’ din is-sensiela ġie wkoll ippubblikat f’L-Imnara, pubblikazzjoni maħruġa millGħaqda Maltija tal-Folklore. Tinstab għand il-BDL. www.bdlbooks.com

Tagħrif dwar il-kitba Maltija

20 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday August 21, 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.

u ta(għ), il-għ tinxtorob, u qabel konTEHMIŻTA’ PARTIĊELLI sonanti u le qabel vokali, niktbu tal-, Eżempji ta’ Pronomi magħqudin mal-prepożizzjoni mal- flok tagħl- u magħl-.

LIL jew L mehmużin mal-verb (4) Il-kelma bħâl ġejja minn bi-ħâl Minn ġabar, żebagħ (mehmużin ma’ -li, -lek, -lu, -lha, -lna, (jew b-ħal). Il-b jew bîqiegħda: -lkom, lhom). (i) flok il-k tal-Għarbi u tfisser kif. żebagħli = zebagħ-li = ġabar-li ġabarli Ara kal-lewż(Għarbija) = bħal-lewż żebagħlek = żebagħ-lek = ġabar-lek ġabarlek (Maltija), kar- ruġul (Għarbija) = żebagħlu = żebagħ-lu = ġabar-lu ġabarlu bħar-raġel (Maltija), Sapeto, Gramm: żebagħlha = żebagħ-lha = ġab(a)r-ilha ġabrilha Araba, p. 278. żebagħlna = żebagħ-lna = ġab(a)-r-ilna ġabrilna (ii) flok f konsonanti li tixbah lill-b, kif żebagħlkom = żebagħ-lkom dlonk tingħad fil-Għarbi ta’ Tripli flok ġabrilkom = ġab(a)r-ilkom żebagħlhom = żebagħ-lhom il-k jew kif (Griffini). Ara: f-ax? flok kif ġabrilhom = ġab(a)r-ilhom żebgħuli = żebgħu-li = ġabru-li ġabruli ax? u tfisser bħaliex jew bħalliema. żebgħulek = żebgħulek = ġabru-lek ġabrulek (iii) flok fîtinsab ukoll fil-Malti fil-qawl bin-nhar, bil-lejl flok żebgħulu = żebgħu-lu = ġabru-lu ġabrulu fin-nhar, fil-lejl, kif ukoll wara il-verb emmen fil-qawl ma nemżebgħulha = żebgħu-lha = ġabru-lha ġabrulha minx bih, ma jemminx b’Alla. Għalhekk ngħidu wkoll: jiena żebgħulna = żebgħu-lna = ġabru-lna ġabrulna nemmen f’Alla jew jiena nemmen b’Alla. żebgħulkom = żebgħu-lkom ġabrulkom = ġabru-lkom Il-kelma ħâl ta’ bħal tfisser stat u għalhekk bħâl qiegħda flok żebgħulhom = żebgħu-lhom ġabrulhom = ġabru-lhom fl-istat, fil-għamla jew fis- sura tal-ħaġa. Bħalu = fil-għamla jew fis-sura tiegħu. L-Għarbi jgħid: kif ħalek biex ifisser: kif Mehmużin ma’ -huli, -hulek, -hulu, -hulha, -hulna, -hulkom, inhu l-istat tiegħek? jew kif inti? Meta ngħidu dan bħal dak, ma hulhom: nkunux infissru ħlief dan il-kliem fil-qosor: dan bil-ħâl ta’ dak ̇ġ a b a r h u l i = ġabar-huli ̇= żebagħ-huli żebagħhuli jiġifieri dan fil-ħâl ta’ dak jew aħjar: dan fl-istat ta’ dak. ġa barhulek = ġabar-hulek że bagħhulek = żebagħ-hulek ġa b a r h u l u = ġabar-hulu Aktar regoli, eżempji u tifsir fil-ħarġa li jmiss. że bagħhulu =żebagħ-hulu ġa barhulha =ġabar=hulha że bagħhulha = żebagħ-hulha ġa barhulna = ġabar-hulna żebagħhulna = zżebagħ-hulna ġabarhulkom = ġabarhulkom żebagħhulkom = żebagħ-hulkom ̇ġabarhulhom =̇ġabar-hulhom zebagħhulhom = zebagħ-hulhom ġabruhuli = żebgħu-huli = ġabru-huli żebgħuhuli ġabruhulek =ġabru-hulek że bgħuhulek = żebgħu-hulek ġabruhulu =ġabru-hulu żebgħuhulu = żebgħu-hulu ġa bruhulha =ġabru-hulha żebgħuhulha = żebgħu-hulha ġa bruhulna = ġabru-hulna żebgħuhulna = żebgħu-hulna ġabruhulkom = ġabru-hulkom żebgħuhulkom = żebgħu-hulkom ġabruhulhom = ġabru-hulhom żebgħuhulhom = żebgħu-hulhom Tehmiżta’ Partiċelli mal-Artiklu u ma’ xi kliem ieħor Il-partiċelli li jingħaqdu mal-artiklu huma: għal, bħal, sa, ma(għ), ta(għ), lil, minn, da (flok dan), ġewwa = ġo, bi, fi.

Dawn mehmużin mal-artiklu jsiru: għall-, bħall-, sal , mal-, tal-, lill-, mill- (iż-żewġnn isiru ll – ara Għadd 45), dal-, ġol-, bil-, fil-.

(1) Fuq li għedna fl-Għoxrin u fil-Wieħed u Għoxrin Regola, il-partiċelli għâl(i), bħâl, lîl, dâ(n), mâ(għ), tâ(għ) għandhom il-vokali tagħhom leħinha twil. Dawn jinħassu iżjed meta magħhom tingħaqad taqsima oħra bħal filkliem: għalîh, għalîha, bħâlu, bħâlha, lilu, lilha, lilhom, miegħu, tiegħu. Għall-, bħall-, lill-, bl-artiklu l- mehmuż f’tarf il- kelma, jieħdu l-aċċent maħtuf. e are now in a position to arrange for you to Nagħrfu nagħżlu għalhekk bejn għâl, bħâl, lîl (bl-aċċent receive a printed full-colour hard copy of The twil u mingħajr artiklu) u għàll-, bħàll-, lìll- (bl-aċċent maħtuf u sħiħ u bl-artiklu mehmuż).

Voice of the Maltese at home every fortnight (24 Màgħha u tàgħha fejn il-għ tingħaqad mal-h f’ħoss publications) at the low cost of $120. imwaħħad u qawwi ta’ ħħ, tbiddel ukoll l-aċċent twil tal(Australia only, other countries by request). vokali f’mâ(għ) u tâ(għ) u jieħdu l-ħoss maħtuf ta’ vokali A printed copy would be an ideal present for b’aċċent sħiħ. mum, dad or a relative who either do not have In(2) Il-partiċelli sa, ma(għ), ta(għ), da(n), bi, fi, ġô, taħt id-Disa’ Regola – l-Ewwel Taqsima, għandhom l-aċċent ternet access or are not computer literate. twil u għalhekk, bl-artiklu mehmużf’taqsima ta’ kelma, Anybody interested, contact us on: maltegħandhom jieħdu konsonanti waħda u jinkitbu sal-, mal-, sevoice@gmail.com for further information. tal-, dal-, bil-, fil-, ġol-, u mhux sall-, mall-, tall-, dall-, We are not only an online publication, bill-, fill-, ġoll- (Ħdax-il Regola) għad li aktarx jinħassu b’aċċent maħtuf. but also print on demand.

(3) Fit-tehmiża tal-artiklu l- mal-prepożizzjonijiet ma(għ)

Printed copies of The Voice of the Malteseavailable at your home by mail

W

Sr Bianca celebrates 60 years of religious life O

The Voice of the Maltese 21

Tuesday August 21, 2018

n April 15 last, my cousin Lillian – Sister Bianca Camilleri –celebrated 60 years as a nun in the order of the “Franciscan Missionaries Sisters of The Immaculate Heart of Mary” at Glassboro New Jersey, United States, where she lives.

Sr Bianca was born February 24 1937 at Santa Venera, Malta to parents Carmela and Salvu Camilleri. She is the second of seven children, four girls and two boys.

Two of her sisters also followed her in the religious life. One of them, Sr Salvatorina was tragically killed in a car accident on her way to Bethlehem for Christmas celebrations. Her other sister, Sr Vitorina is a Carmelite sister and lives in Kercem, Gozo.

One of her brothers lives in Malta, the other lives in Victoria, Australia with their respective families. One of Sr Bianca’s sisters lived in Australia, where she died in 1979. Her son Mario Scicluna still lives with his family in Mt Eliza Victoria.

Sr Bianca makes it a point to visit her family and her Franciscan sisters in Malta every two years. Unfortunately, she last met her brother and his family and some of the cousins who live in Australia 13 years ago.

About her years as a nun, Sr Bianca said: “I cannot believe that I am celebrating 60 years. In 1955 I entered my congregation, and I do not regret one minute of it. Giving my life to God was my calling since I was 13.

“When I professed my first vows in 1958, in October of that same year I was sent to the Holy Land where I taught English in both our High, and also Elementary School. I also helped in the boarding section, learned the language and studied at the University of Jerusalem.

“After 13 years in the Holy Land I was transferred to the United States. This was not an easy step but again, because of the vow of obedience that I have professed, I left my first mission and embarked on a new one in the State of New Jersey. Here I taught in Westmont, Blackwood, Glassboro and Clayton, New Jersey.

“In 2012 I retired from full time teaching and volunteered on a mission at St Michael the Archangel School in Clayton, doing God’s work, promoting the rosary, services to the elderly, liturgies and the music ministry. I also belong to my Parish Choir and to the Diocesan Choir”.

It was a testament to Sr Bianca’s esteem that after living 47 years in the US, and on reaching her milestone of 60 years as a Franciscan Missionary, in the presence of her friends and the Franciscan Community, the Bishop of Camden, Dennis Sullivan and 17 priests concelebrated high mass in her hounour.

In his homily Father Terry Odien said, “Today we are celebrating a life that has taken you from your homeland of Malta to Rome, Jerusalem, Blackwood, Westmont and Glassboro. It flung you into the classroom, serving the sick at Our Lady of Lourdes

Sister Bianca Camilleri

Hospital, the cursillo movement, choirs and every parish you served in, as well as the Diocese, bringing young people and the elderly together with your pen pal efforts and on and on.

“You honoured God and continue to do so through your works of love, mercy, through the way you have lived your religious life.

He went on to say, “Sr Bianca, this has been your religious life.

You have challenged all of us and hundreds upon hundreds of students you came across over the years, to be witness of the love we have received from our loving and gracious God. It is not just the vocation of religious life but the vocation that all of us have received as a result of our baptism.”

On behalf of those present the Bishop thank Sr Bianca for her generous witness of God’s love and encouraged her to continue her work. He said, “You done good! You have boundless energy and in many ways are like the energizer bunny! “.

Sr Bianca’s family in Australia congratulates her and wish her many more happy and healthy years doing what she loves most, serving God’s family.

RosemaryAttard

Dennis Sullivan , the Bishop of Camden and the 17 priests together with Sister Bianca after the concelebration of a high mass in her hounour.

22 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday August 21, 2018

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

The Ċittadini

present direct from Malta:

Xagħra Association of NSW Annual Tal-Vitorja Dinner Dance on Saturday, September 15

Guest of Honour: Fr Anthony Bajada

Come and join us at

Balmoral Function Centre, 47-49 Balmoral Rd, BLACKTOWN from 6:30pm onwards

5-Course Meal, beer, wine & soft drinks, tea/coffee Entertainment by Roc-A-Tac & Giuseppe Verdi Brass Band

Malta’s Queen of Country Music

Also brilliant comedy by The Cittadini: Is-Senduq in Sydney on October 14 at 2pm at the Wentworthville League Club

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

Donation of $20. Kids: $12

Saint Nicholas Festa Committee Main events for 2018

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

Contact: Josephine/Ray: 9627 4182 or 0439 974 182; Vicki Micallef: 0425 210 436

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

The Maltese Past Pupils & Friends of Don Bosco (NSW) Inc. is organising its 31st Annual Dinner Dance on October 13 at 7.30 p.m. at Mandavilla Function Centre, (1788 The Horsley Drive Horsley Park NSW).

Joe Apap will provide the music. Special guest: Joe Galea All proceeds will go towards the Don Bosco missions Book early. Phone: Marlene 96319295

Xagħra Assoc of NSW Inc: Fr Anthony Bajada NSW Programme

Sept 13: 7:30pm: Celebrates welcome Mass @ St John the Evangelist Riverstone Sept 14: 7:00pm Concelebrates mass @ Horsley Park Church Sept 15: 7:00pm: Guest of Honour @ Annual tal-Vitorja Dinner Dance, Balmoral Function Centre, 49 Balmoral Road, Blacktown. Tickets refer to contacts below Sept 16: 2.00 pm: Horsley Park Festa: Procession with Statue of Our Lady of Victories.

3:00pm: Concelebrates Mass @ Horsley Park Church - Our Lady of Victories.

Sept 18: 7:00am: Outing to Wollongong – Bus will be organised, refer to contacts below Sept 20: 10:15am: Mass for the Elderly who meet weekly for respite @ La Valette SC Sept 21: 7:30pm: Mass @ St John the Evangelist Riverstone Sept 22 6:00pm: Celebrates Vigil Mass @ Our Lady Queen of Peace - Greystanes 7:20 pm: La Valette SC to meet the Maltese community who socialize there Sept 23: 7:00 pm: Ħamrun Club to meet the Maltese community who socialize there Sept 28: 7:30 pm: Celebrates Farewell Mass @ St John the Evangelist – Riverstone Sept 30: 7:00 am: Outing for the day, Bundeena Ray/Josephine Bigeni: 9627 4182 or 0439 974 182 Vicki Micallef: 0425 210 436

La Valette Social Centre

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

Festa ta’ San Bartilmew Appostlu Harisna

(Parroċċa ta’ Ħal-Għargħur) Il-Ħadd 26 ta’ Awwissu fil-La Valette Social Centre 11.30 a.m.: Quddiesa. Wara jkun hemm ikel u xorb Malti.

Divertiment ma’ DJ. Kulħadd mistieden. Dħul bla ħlass

A special bus trip to Festa tal-Bambina

On September 9: Bus to St Mary’s Cathedral Bus leaves the La Valette Centre at 12pm and Old Prospect Rd Greystanes at 12.30 pm.

Cost $20. Everybody is wlecome Contact Frances 0412320432 or the Centre 9622 5847

Stedina...

Il-Fathers Maltin tal-Arċidjoċesi ta’ Sydney jistiednu lill-Komunita` Maltija, u l-familji għall-festa tradizzjonali fid-9 ta’ Settembru:

tal-Vitorja

Fis-2.30 pm: Il-purcissjoni fejn jingħad ir-Ruzarju, u wara tibda l-quddiesa fil-Katidral ta’ St Mary’s College Street Sydney.

Dawk li għandhom xi għaqda, mistiedna jieħdu magħhom ilbnadar jew standardi tal-għaqda.

Familji li għandhom xi tfal jew żgħazagħ li jkunu jridu jilbsu xi kostum Malti jew tal-preċett, u jimxu fil-purcissjoni, iċemplu lil: Antoinette Mascari 9899 1938.

The Voice of the Maltese 23

Tuesday August 21, 2018

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

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 97.7fm SBS 2.

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

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

Tuning in is by station name not frequency. Digital radio can also be heard via digital TV.

SBS MALTESE NEWS: L-Aħbarijiet on SBSTV twice a week nationwide; Sunday 8.00 am on SBS2 (Chan. 32) Thursdays at 8.00 am on SBSTV32.

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

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

Maltese Seniors Social Welfare Day Groups

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

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

Group meets 3rd Wednesday of month

in the Bank-stown CBD area.

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

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

Daceyville Maltese Seniors

Note: The Groups also arrange regular Bus Trips

Maltese Group

Join us and make new friends.

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

Llandilo Maltese Seniors

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

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

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

SBS Radio 2 on Channel 38.

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

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

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

Presenter: Nathalie Gatt.

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

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

Learn Maltese!

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

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

Teachers urgently needed - Paid positions

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

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

24 The Voice of the Maltese

Sports...

Usain Bolt targeting A-League football debut with Mariners

D

own at Central Coast they are very excited with the presence among them of eight-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt, the Jamaican retired sprinter who has been signed by A-League football club Central Coast Mariners following his belief and passion to make it as a professional footballer. He is to have an indefinite trial with the club targeting a

Sliema shock Champions at start of 2018/19 season

T

he top two finishers in last year’s Malta Premier Football League, Champions Valletta and runners-up Balzan both lost their opening matches in the new 2018-19 season that kicked off on Friday.

Defending champion Valletta suffered a surprising 3-0 loss at the hands of Sliema Wanderers, while Balzan lost to a penalty goal (1-0) against neighbours Birkirkara.

Sliema gave notice as to their intentions for the season when they managed such a comfortable win over Valletta. The Blues led 10 at half time and never looked like losing a grip on the game In other results, Gżira confirmed they are once again determined to fight for top positions, while Ħamrun Spartans seem to have successfully built a side capable of challenging for a place in a European competition.

The Spartans under former Floriana coach Tesdeschi could not have had a better start than a 2-0 win over Floriana. Likewise newly-promoted Qormi who defeated Senglea Athletic 1-0, while Hibernians survived a win by the skin of their teeth in a 2-1 victory over promoted Pieta.

First day’s results Sliema W. v Valletta 3-0 Birkirkara v Balzan 1-0 Gżira U v Tarxien R 4-1 Ħamrun S. v Floriana 2-0 Hibernians v Pieta H 2-1 St Andrews v Mosta 3-1 Qormi v Senglea 1-0

P

NPL 2 NSW

Tuesday August 21, 2018

Hyundai A-League contract.

The club has admitted that there was no set time frame on Bolt’s audition at the Mariners, with the world’s fastest man to be given as long as he wants to try and secure his dream of playing professional football.

Bolt, a world record holder in the 100 metres, 200 metres and 4 × 100 metres relay has reigned as Olympic Games champion in all of these events in three Olympics. Due to his achievements and dominance in sprint competition, he is widely considered to be the greatest sprinter of all time.

If Usain Bolt is going to make it as a footballer, as he is determined to do, his career will begin in Australia.

Mariners CEO Shaun Mielekamp told a packed press conference that the one driving thing through this whole thing is Bolt’s personal belief, passion and desire. “That's really kept this going,” he said.

Mielekamp said they welcome Usain with open arms and will always remain grounded and focused on the job at hand. “Sports lovers will join us and dare to dream,” he added.

Bolt is not yet a contracted Mariners

player and would need to prove he’s up to the Hyundai A-League standard to get a deal. He needs to impress the coach and get to a level where the coach is confident he can play regular football.

Mielekamp believes the potential acquisition of Bolt can have a positive effect on the club and the area both on the field and off it.

Usain Bolt who arrived on Friday amid an enthisiastic reception from the fans will be living on the Central Coast.

Meanwhile, following the news, the club said it had been inundated with sponsorship calls. The club notes however, that as Usain is not a contracted player, they won’t be giving him a number or anything yet.

“There won't be a Bolt shirt out there,” the club’s CEO said.

Green Gully in trouble; SGC revival on

NPL Vic: Heidelberg v Green Gully

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2-1

fter a promising first half that saw Green Gully take a 25th-minute lead through George Lambadaridis, the Greens fell apart in a lack-lustre second half that saw Heidelberg add three second-half goals without reply to win 4-1.

The Bergers equalising goal, just before the break changed the course of the game as the home team took complete control after the break to score two quick goals before putting the icing on the cake in injury time.

This result means Green Gully have slipped into the 12th play-off place on the

Parramatta’s hopes of survival diminish

arramatta Melita Eagles had a disastrous outing in the penultimate round of the league by going down 5-1 at the Melita Stadium to the league’s runaway leaders Mt Druitt Town Rangers. Parramatta just could not cope as they were dominated from start to finish by the Rangers whose player, Gonzales obtained a hat-trick. Zakeriya Elrich scored the only goal for Parramatta who have now been joined by MacArthur Rams a place from the bottom, only two points ahead of the wooden spoonists and sit in last place,

Usain Bolt

Parramatta Eagles v Mt Druitt TR 1-5 Canterbury v Parramatta Eagles 1-2 with relegation looming on the Club Championship table.

In their previous match, desperate to find a win and stay alive in the NPL 2, Parramatta managed to obtain an important 2-1 away win over Canterbury.

The hosts started the brighter side but Parramatta took control built a two-goal interval lead. The Berries came to life in the second half and reduced the deficit on 75 minutes.

league table. The Greens next play Hume City (A) on the 25th and Kingston City (H) on September 2 in their remaining two matches and have to make every post a winner against two sides that are in a similar situation at the wrong end of the table.

NPL 2 West: Sunshine George Cross v Ballarat C 2-1

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spectacularly headed goal by Ahmed Abdirahman against Ballarat City took Sunshine George Cross to within four points of the losers with three matches still to play.

The goal that revived the Georgies' season after a 2-1 win came after 78 minutes It took some heroic work by the George Cross goalkeeper Ryan Gauci to keep his side in the game in the first half. Poor defensive mistakes presented Ballarat with some great opportunities to take the lead but on each occasion Gauci came to the rescue.

However, Ballarat scored after 37 minutes before Su Beom An volleyed home the equaliser on the stroke of half time, and in a very tense and exciting second half it took an exceptional goal by Abdirahman to settle matters in the home team's favour.

The Georgies play their next match on Saturday August 25 at Elcho Park against North Geelong Warriors SC.