The Voice of the Maltese No. 195

The Voice of the Maltese Issue 195

January 15, 2019

(driven by the voice of its readers )

Scenes from the City (Valletta)

2 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Across generations: The way forward The group that attended the meeting. From left: Shannon Said, Leah Mangion, Antoine Mangion, Lisa Bright, John Refalo, Cynthia Villar and Vanessa Portelli (Absent from the photo but also attended, Godwin D'Amato)

L

ast month, a small group of second and AntoineMangion Having discussed this, the group also recogthird generation Maltese Australians met nised that there have been and continue to be at the Alfred Fenech Maltese Resource initiatives aimed at younger members of the Centre to discuss how the Maltese community in NSW can community, and some groups are also changing their apbe best supported into the future. Mr Lawrence Buhagiar, proach to better involve them. The group also recognised the Consul General of Malta in NSW, and Mr Emanuel that an extra support for these initiatives would be the Camilleri, the President of the Maltese Community Council way information is promoted and publicised.

NSW were present and addressed the meeting.

Traditional means might miss many younger people The two guests spoke of the great need in having who would be interested, and a more central coordination younger people and those of second and third genera- with goodwill from all organisations could improve the tions participate in the leadership of the community. It is reach of information encouraging to see that this group was a mix of people Younger people could benefit from such changes in sowho have been involved in the community in different cial, cultural and economic ways. The same could be said capacities, as well as others who are relatively ‘new’ but for generation Maltese who may be outside the ‘reach’ of nonetheless very keen to support the community. the core Maltese community groups. They are often parIt is not the first time, of course, that such a group has ticularly reliant on children for support and access to gathered with similar interests. In the last few years how- services that might be best provided from within the Malever, the future of the community has become a greater tese community. concern. Those who have led and continue to lead many Broadening the reach of information could assist their Maltese organisations are ageing. children and grandchildren with information around culWhile this leadership has done much to achieve many turally appropriate services social, political and economic gains for Maltese migrants Those who attended this meeting agreed it was too early and their children, few groups have younger members ac- to formalise into a group or organisation of some sort. It tively involved. is early days and the last thing needed is duplicating Several reasons for this were recognised at the meeting. work already being done.

On one level, many activities and initiatives are primarily We are first and foremost keen to learn more, about what aimed at first generation Maltese. There have also been is happening and changing within the community, and some instances where younger people have not been em- how younger people can be reached. We can also learn powered to lead initiatives in a genuine way. Another more from other Maltese communities in Australia and point is that tastes, interests and trends change over time. abroad, and more too from other migrant communities.

Most importantly, however, the needs of subsequent The potential is there. It needs to be harnessed in the generations can be very different culturally, in terms of right way. One thing is clear for all of us ¬⎼ more needs the way they connect with Malta and derive meaning to be done to preserve our beloved Maltese culture and from being of Maltese descent. language for future generations to come.

Furthermore, social connections differ, in terms of what they might derive from involvement within the Maltese Anybody interested in joining or collaborating with our group, or community in Australia. As such, there is significant if any organisations across NSW would like to contact us to discuss unmet need and untapped potential among second, third the services they provide, is requested to get in touch with Antoine and even fourth generation Maltese-Australians.

Mangion on 0405 233 144 or email twannie.mangion@gmail.com.

The Voice of the Maltese 3

Tuesday January 15, 2019

What is Probate and why is it important?

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

T

by PaulSant

he word “probate” has long been a buzz word in the world of Wills and Estates. People are often aware that a Grant of Probate might be required, however not many people know the purpose of the document.

For many, Probate is associated with the grim and sombre event of a family member’s or friend’s death. For estate lawyers, a Grant of Probate is the bread and butter of their profession.

What is a Grant of Probate?

A Grant of Probate is an official Court document confirming the acceptance of the deceased’s last Will as the correct Will to be enforced, and confirming that the named executors have the authority to deal with the assets and liabilities of the estate.

Ultimately, it confirms that the executors can now collect the assets of the estate, liquidate (if required) and distribute to the beneficiaries in accordance with the Will.

If however, the deceased did not leave a Will (or left a document that was intended to be a Will but was deemed not to be a valid Will) then a Grant of Letters of Administration will be more appropriate.

Much like a Grant of Probate, a Grant of Letters of Administration authorises the chosen administrators to deal with the assets and liabilities of the estate in accordance with the rules of intestacy.

Is there a valid Will?

Yes

No

Have executors died or renounced, leaving no current executors?

Yes

Is the estate large or complex? In other words, did the deceased own land, large bank accounts, retirement village bonds, etc?

No

No

Is the estate large or complex? In other words, did the deceased own land, large bank accounts, retirement village bonds, etc?

Yes

A Grant of Probate is required.

No

Yes

You will require a Grant of Letters of Administration (with or without Will annexed) No Grant required. Estate can be administered provided that asset holders are offered an indemnity

Above is a Map for working out whether Probate is required.

Do I need a Grant of Probate?

For example, if the deceased owned land or significant funds in a bank account, Probate will be required. However, if the deceased only owned a small shareholding, and/or a small bank account, then the requirement for Probate can be waived.

Ordinarily in these circumstances the asset holding institutions (such as the Banks, share registries, etc.) will require an indemnity from the executors. In essence, this is required because without a Grant of Probate the banks do not have a Court-approved guarantee that the assets they are about to release are going to

PAUL SANT (SOLICITOR)

PARTNER AT LONGTON LEGAL For All Your Legal Needs

Now at: 21 George Street

Parramatta Phone: 8599 8877

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

the correct people or even in accordance with the correct will.

How do I get Probate?

In most cases obtaining Probate is a relatively simple process if you have the assistance of a solicitor. An application is made to the Supreme Court of NSW, and the following documents need to be submitted: 1. Affidavit of Executor, proving certain facts: 2. Inventory of Estate: 3. Summons: 4. Draft Grant of Probate Form: 5. Original Will: 6. Filing Fee; and 7. Self-Addressed envelope to facilitate the return of the Grant.

Of course, if the estate is a little more complex, or there are issues surrounding the Will, then additional documents will be necessary.

Hopefully, if you have read to the end of this document, you have developed a solid understanding of the mechanics of a Grant of Probate. If a loved one has passed away, and you have questions about what do to next, you are welcome to contact us.

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

My First trip to Malta: Festas, Siestas and a Walker’s Heaven

4 The Voice of the Maltese

T

SuzanaDimitrijevic

he sun’s rays would not give up.

Like a stubborn child told not to play in the dirt, the sun beat down on us, making sure that we received a warm Mediterranean welcome (literally!). Climbing up the steep, winding road leading out of Mellieħa Bay felt never-ending (and if you have done this before, you know what I mean!). Nevertheless, step-bystep, our legs pushed on.

The buses, packed to the rafters, slowly rumbled past, suspension creaking and the engines roaring in complaint. Just when my body felt like it would not take another step, a cool summer breeze swept through the valley and brought us back to life! We made it!

My name is Suzana and my mission over summer was to discover the real Malta. Who were the people that had shaped this Mediterranean culture dating back thousands of years? And, for those who have seen the postcard photos, are those crystal blue waters actually real?!

Over an incredible six weeks, we experienced Malta in its traditional form.

Forget the tourist gimmicks. Forget the over-priced excursions and the overcrowded red buses that gave you all of 48 hours to experience an ENTIRE country.

No. We would take this slowly, one authentically Maltese step at a time (and perhaps of few delicious pastizzi along Festa time at Mellieħa

Tuesday January 15, 2019

the way).

Now, in all fairness, I must admit that I had help. I had a secret weapon, and his name is John Paul!

You might have guessed, but John Paul is Maltese.

He also has family in Malta, and it is thanks to the generosity of this very family that our Maltese journey first began.

Our journey started at a residence that I lovingly nicknamed, the ‘Crumbling Castle’. It just happened that John’s relative had a spare home to offer us – so, being the cash-strapped travellers that we were, we accepted the offer and moved in to our temporary home. It was here that I learned my first lesson when travelling to Malta.

Lesson 3:: If you are visiting Malta between J1ne and August, make sure your accommodation has air-conditioning, unless you enjoy sauna-like conditions (in which case you’ll be happy as Larry!)

Despite the lack of air-conditioning, the cold stonewalls; roof top space and traditional Maltese décor made the tenement an absolute joy to live in. The village streets were never empty.

In the afternoons, local women gathered in front of their homes, catching up on the events of the day and nodding hello to neighbours as they walked passed.

Although we could have enjoyed the calm sunsets and crystalline beaches of Mellieħa for the entire six weeks, we decided to venture out and explore the rest of the country. This brings us to our second lesson learned.

Lesson 2: Make sure to pack plenty of water, good humour and patience when catching the bus ...anywhere.

Be prepared for crowds. The streets are narrow, the cars are plenty, and the days are long! So as long as you give yourself lots of

The Mellieħa Church

time to get from A to B, you will be fine. You might even stumble across a national treasure or two. We certainly did.

Each town has its own charming localities and dazzling beaches, all of which is generally within walking distance. If you’re lucky, you will also have a palace or two to explore!

My favourite places to visit were the local churches. Each village has its own sanctified and unique masterpiece. Ask any local, and they will tell you a story that goes a little something like this: “When the church was built, 100 years ago, the village was made up of poor farmers. So the parish priest organised to collect eggs from each household, which were sold to build the church.

From nothing, we built it all”.

One day, if you are lucky enough to stand before one of these churches, you will remember the ‘egg story’ and I have no-doubt that you will feel what I felt. Humbled and impressed.

However, after hours spent gallivanting across the islands, we were hungry! And so, we learned our third lesson of the trip.

Lesson 3: Never go for the low calorie option. No diet on earth could possibly be worth forging cheese or pea pastizzi, ricotta cannoli or braised rabbit. Just trust me on this one. *Continued on opposite page

The Voice of the Maltese 5

For Gozitans, nothing better than their small island

Tuesday January 15, 2019

*continued from opposite page

Mgarr Harbour in Malta’s sister island, Gozo

lit up the dark sky. You can imagine my surprise, when in broad daylight a loud boom bellowed from the valley and thumped across the village. I jumped! I wasn’t sure what to make of it. John laughed, and turned to me “Don’t worry, they’re the daytime fireworks”, he said casually.

From June to September every village in Malta holds a festa. Festas are religious celebrations of the parish patron saint. They are loud, colourful and de-

Mediterranean food is famous for a reason – it’s delicious. This was lucky for me because our first experience of Maltese hospitality was food, and lots of it. We eventually learned: when visiting relatives (even if our intentions were only to enjoy a cup of tea over a quick chat), make sure you have room for more food!

Trust me, the will power of a Maltese is much stronger than your average Australian’s – you will not win the battle of declining that extra serving!

Lesson 4: Local businesses take afternoon siestas, and perhaps so should you… particularly after a day in the sun.

Unfortunately for us Aussies, we do not have the benefit of sweet afternoon siestas. Malta on the other hand, takes full advantage of the tradition historically common throughout the Mediterranean and Southern Europe.

So, our next tip is, if you need to buy a bus pass and are planning an afternoon trip – buy your bus pass in the morning! If you are more of an afternoon sloth, well then this convenient tradition will suit you to a tee.

Lesson 5: If you are suddenly awoken by a loud echoing bang at 7:30am in the morning, during festa, do not be alarmed. These are the joys of daytime fireworks.

Growing up in Australia, I had only ever experiA stop at the Main enenced fireworks in the trance to the walled night-time. Big, bold beaucity of Mdina tiful flashes of colour that

fined by marching bands, food, beer and fireworks. The Maltese are very proud of their fireworks, and have developed fireworks displays into an impressive art.

Lesson 6: Tread lightly when comparing main island Malta to Gozo – some serious pride is at stake!

For decades the Gozitans and the Maltese have been the subject of a tongue in cheek rivalry. A Maltese will tell you that the Gozitans are “strange” and “sensitive”, whilst a Gozitan will tell you that Gozo is the “better” island of the two.

Some Gozitans have even become so accustomed in their ways that they now refuse to travel to mainland Malta, claiming that the traffic and business of the island is too much to handle. So our advice to you is - learn how to sit on the fence!

Conclusion: I would go back in a heartbeat.

By the end of my six weeks, I had discovered that although Malta is small in size, its character compensates tenfold!

It is a place where you can lose yourself in self-reflection, whether in the halls of an exquisite church, or simply staring out to the Mediterranean Sea. The island is a place where you will be enveloped in Maltese culture, and for this very reason, it is a place you will never forget.

I will leave you with my favourite Maltese saying.

Fejn tħobb il-qalb jimxu rriġlejn – ‘Where the heart loves, that’s where the legs will take you.

6 The Voice of the Maltese

January 26: 73 years since all states and territories recognised it as Australia Day

Tuesday January 15, 2019

J

anuary 26 is the official National Day of Australia, the annual celebration commemorating the first fleet from Britain landing in Sydney Cove and the proclamation of British sovereignty (in that time) over the east coast of Australia. It is a day whose significance differs amongst the nation’s population.

As the date of this important day this year falls on a Saturday, Australia Day, that is a national public holiday, it will instead be celebrated on the following Monday (the 28th).

Most Australians consider January 26 with national pride, flying the Australian flag from businesses and homes and attend festivals, or gather for family barbecues.

However, there is also a growing movement of people who feel the holiday must change date or theme on account of the terrible impact of colonisation on indigenous people – who called Australia home for tens of thousands of years before European settlers arrived nearly 230 years ago.

On Australia Day at Citizenship Ceremonies across the nation many people become citizens of Australia. It is also the day that the Australian Government awards the Order of Australia to selected Australians, which is ‘an Australian society of honour for persons for achievement or meritorious service’.

As a nation, Australia had a painful start. Under British rule it was initially intended as a penal colony. The ruling classes in 18th century England considered criminals to be incapable of rehabil-

itation. Their method of reprimand was to segregate convicts from the general population.

In October 1786, Arthur Phillip was appointed captain of the HMS Sirius, and assigned to transport British convicts to the continent. His mission was to establish an agricultural work camp.

Captain Phillip commanded a fleet of 11 ships and 1,500 passengers, including 700 prisoners. After an 8-month journey, they reached Sydney Cove.

It was 26 January 1788 when the First Fleet landed in Sydney Cove. Between 18 and 20 January 18 and 20, the First Fleet of 11 ships sailed into Botany Bay to set up a penal colony there but the bay proved to be unsuitable. Captain Phillip took a team north and named the area on the south shore of Port Jackson as Sydney Cove. The formal establishment of the colony occurred two weeks later on 7 February.

The first colony got off to a rocky beginning as the soil was poor and the settlers didn’t know how to farm. The settlement was on the verge of starvation for several years. However, under the able leadership of Captain Phillip, the people persevered. By 1792, when he returned to England, the outpost was prospering. In 1818, 26 January was declared a legal holiday, marking the 30th anniversary of the British settlement in Australia.

Initially, it was only New South Wales that celebrated the day, and it was known as First Landing Day or Foundation Day. In 1838, 50 years after the First Fleet arrived, Foundation Day was declared Australia's first public holiday in New South Wales.

By 1935, January 26 was known as Australia Day in all states except New South Wales, where it was still called Anniversary Day. From 1946, January 26 was called Australia Day in all states and territories, and since 1994, the Australia Day public holiday has been on January 26 throughout the country.

Għall-attenzjoni tal-qarrejja

l-qarrejja li jixtiequ juru l-fehmiet tagħhom xi suġġett huma mħeġġa li jagħmlu dan, Ianzidwar nieħdu gost li nkunu nafu kif taħsbuha dwar xi suġġetti, inkella li forsi tiktbu dwar l-esperjenzi tagħkom.

Fl-istess waqt imħeġġa wkoll li jekk tixtiequ li l-kitbiet jiġu ppublikati f’ċerti dati, ma tħallux għall-aħħar.

Indirizzaw l-emails lil maltesevoice@gmail.com.

Jekk ittri għall-pubblikazzjoni indikawhom: Letters to the editor.

The Voice of the Maltese 7

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Malta at War remembered A

n excellent initiative by the RSL Maltese Sub-Branch NSW is proving very popular and worthwhile. This is a project aimed at promoting Malta at War and its brave people.

The NSW sub branch is presenting a framed replica of the George Cross Medal with a copy of the letter written by King George V1 to all the people of Malta in April 1942 to various RSL Clubs in NSW in order to display at their premises.

The historical letter says: “To honour her brave people I award the George Cross to the island fortress of Malta to bear witness to a heroism and devotion which will long be famous in history”.

Mario Farrugia Borg named Malta’s New Consul General for Victoria

Such replicas have already been presented to the Wentworthville and Seven Hills/ Toongabbie RSL Clubs as well to the MCC Resource Centre at Parramatta West.

The latest presentation was made at the Merrylands RSL Club commemorated by the above photograph that shows (standing from left: Mario Farrugia, Andrew Magro, Stan Thomas, Charles N. Mifsud OAM MQR. President Maltese RSL, Rob Grimley President Merrylands RSL, Charles Zarb. Charles Attard and Frank Vella, Sitting: Fred Carabott, Dr. George Boffa OAM. Lilian Taliana, Doris Pocock and Dorothy Gatt.

CatholicCare Home Care Services

F

member of the Prime Minister’s secretariat at Castille. He is already living in Melbourne with his partner Joanne and is due to officially begin his posting this coming Thursday, on January 17.

A few days ago Ms Pisani (left) was given a farewell reception that was also attended by Mr. Farrugia Borg who is eagerly looking forward to working with the Maltese community living in Melbourne.

Do you know any seniors in our community who could use a little help at home?

CatholicCare home care services can help seniors to enjoy living independently in their own home with comfort and confidence.

AGE_037

ather-of-four Mario Farrugia Borg (right) has been named by the Maltese government as the new Consul General for the state of Victoria replacing former Consul Ms Joanna Pisani who will be leaving her current position in Melbourne after 17 months to take up another posting in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Mr. Farrugia Borg, 48 years old, had worked for 22 year in a commercial bank and for the past five years was a

CatholicCare

CCareline 131819 Call CCareline to find out more.

CatholicCare.org

Have your say/Xi trid tghid?

8 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Your letters/ L-ittri tagħkom ...

The Voice of the Maltese for fortnightly tnightly magazine magazine

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

If you require a printed copy we can also oblige.

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

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

The Malta I long to return to!

M

Emmanuel Borg from Penrith, NSW, writes:

y heart goes to some family members who were trying to cope with the averse weather conditions in NSW that caused them a lot of damage, while my wife and I were enjoying the Christmas and New Year ourselves with distant relatives in Malta. The weather was lovely though quite cold in particular on New Year’s Day, but who cares.

This was our first Christmas in Malta for 15 years. It made us wonder why we had been putting off this holiday at this time of year for so long and chose instead to visit Malta on a number of times when the island is usually basking under the hot sun and when rates for holiday accommodation could be so expensive.

I remember a time when in order to convince foreigners to Malta we used to tell them about out main summer attractions as being the three esses, that is, Sun, Sea and Sand. Not anymore.

Malta has become an interesting place ALL THE YEAR ROUND and from statistic I gathered while enjoying ourselves, I learned

The Sempre Viva show

have attended Sempre Viva by artist and filmmaker Charlie Cauchi part of the Iclosing programme for Valletta 2018 EuroDoris Grima from Malta writes:

pean Capital of Cultural events, and felt very disappointed that there was no mention the show going to Australia where I lived for many years. Only Canada and the US were mentioned. Why is this?

The news of this screen projection of archival material shot in the homes, clubs, and workplace across the diaspora was in fact carried in the December 18 issue of The Voice.

that there are much more reasons why tourists choose to visit Malta nowadays.

Malta has culturally become even richer as interesting places and historic sites that used to be ignored have been given a facelift.

Malta is also livelier, action-packed with activities every day of the week with events catering for people from all walks of life.

The Maltese treasure the family gatherings especially for their Christmas dinner. Many still enjoy a meal at home with all the members of the family but restaurants have also become very popular with families choosing instead to give the women the day off and organise the Christmas treat out at one of the eating houses all over the island, some of them high-end, including a good number in the villages, which is really amazing.

The good feel factor is felt everywhere you go in Malta, at least during the festive season, but even more so in the capital, Valletta.

I was so impressed with the city. This historic city has become so lively the whole day.

Who would have thought a few years ago that Valletta could be a mecca for tourists late evenings and at night? I counted at least eight boutique hotels, all new. I have been told that more are in the pipeline.

Parking in the city is a great headache but it is not keeping the people away, not even late evenings with the many eating houses that have mushroomed in recent years full to the brim with locals and foreigners enjoying any kind of food they care for, and suited for every pocket. The traditional pastizzi are still a very popular Maltese snack, and would certainly remain so, but who cares for them when you have such a wide choice of food?

This is the Malta that I will keep longing for until such time as my wife and I hopefully and definitely decide to return to our homeland.

Well done The Voice

M

Joe Gatt from Sunshine Victoria writes: ay I congratulate you on your Christmas special issue. Your magazine has reached a standard that makes us readers proud. The authorities, State and Federal have noticed that the medium of The Voice is the only way they can reach the Maltese community in Australia.

Messages from the highest authorities are a credit not just to you but also to all the community. We need a voice, not platitudes or copied material. The Voice militates for the community. When we are in need, we turn to you, as we know that The Voice is being noticed.

The Voice of the Maltese 9

Tuesday January 15, 2019

A Maltese-Australian who distinguished himself in the medical field:

T

Professor Peter Castaldi AO (1933-2018) here have been a number of Maltese-Australian personalities deserving a mention in the history of emigration from Malta. One of them is Professor Peter Castaldi OA, to date the only person of Maltese background to be named an Officer of the Order of Australia.

Professor Peter was born in Sydney in 1933. His father Eligio, a law graduate from the University of Malta, had migrated from Malta to the Northern Territory in 1913 and in the First World War, joined the Anzacs as a Corporal with the 54th Battalion.

Peter was an internationally eminent researcher in Haematology, with significant contributions to the area of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

In recognition of his contributions to the field, in 1989 he received the Chevalier dans l’Ordre Nationale du Merite and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Paris.

Further to that, in 1992, for his services to medicine Peter was made an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia and in

1994 he received the Medal of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

With Professor Miles Little, Peter was the co-founder of the very strong research and academic tradition of Westmead Hospital. He also played a key role in establishing the

ack in the day when Pauline Hanson was making headlines against Asian immigration, I was walking down a street with my dad one day and an Asianlooking bloke was walking in our direction.

My dad went up to him, embraced him, looked him in the eyes and said to him: "You are welcome here".

I've never forgotten that. It was my dad at his best.

A few weeks ago, on December 14 was the 100th anniversary of my father's birth in Sliema, Malta, in 1918.

His parents and siblings were all from Għajnsielem, Gozo, but he was born after the Meilak family moved from Gozo to Malta.

My dad, Loreto (pictured right), known to many as 'Larry', died in Canberra in October 2009, aged 90. He had remarkably good health all his life but declined rapidly that year.

As with millions of others, World War Two changed his life forever. He volunteered for military service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Malta and served there, at one point refuelling aquaplanes by hand pump in the Grand Harbour - a sitting target for the Italian bombardment.

He soon went to Egypt with the RAF on a

decoy ship, and then spent the rest of the War in Africa, Middle East, Palestine and finally France. He never flew, though, and most of the time served as a mechanics' assistant.

He ended up in London after the War and demobilised from the RAF in 1953. He married my mum, Olive - a Londoner - in 1947 and I was born in 1951. We migrated to Melbourne in 1954. He had changed his name from Meilak to York in London in 1947.

The War left my dad with 'demons' that sometimes haunted him badly, and could be very ugly. But among his many good points was his belief that people should stand up to injustice. He was far from 'politically correct', as he had an irreverent sense of humour, but he had no time for the privileged, be they popes, princes or capitalists.

He was shop steward in the factory in which he worked in Melbourne and he became active in local government politics in Brunswick, where we settled as a family.

In 1972 when he was elected Mayor of Brunswick he was the first Maltese Mayor of an Australian city. It was a battle for him back then, even in his own party - Labor.

One of the Labor councillors said: “If we let Larry be Mayor, the wogs will take over Brunswick!”

Westmead Institute. Together with Professor Jeremy Chapman, he set up the Foundation Chair in Research Medicine in collaboration with the University of Sydney and helped raise millions of dollars for both the first and the current building of the Institute.

In recent years, Peter attended a number of activities organised by the Maltese RSL sub-branch (NSW) to commemorate Maltese Anzacs, including his father Eligio and Anthony Xuereb who was a close friend of the family and who Peter remembers fondly visiting his father in the 1940s.

Peter was very proud of his father’s heritage as a Maltese Australian ANZAC. Besides being a well-respected and distinguished academic, physician and researcher, he was a gentleman in the true sense of the word. He will always be remembered for his wise counsel, his quiet strength and his humility.

Peter Castaldi died in August last year. He is deeply mourned by his wife Norma, his children, grand and great grandchildren and many friends.

Barry York:‘The day I’ll never forget about dad’

B

My dad had no time for that kind of reactionary thinking.

There is not a day when I do not think of him, the complex character that he was... and, of course, my sweet, gentle, stoic mum too.

10 The Voice of the Maltese

Perspettiva

Kalendarju F

’dan iż-żmien tas-sena jkolli problema li probabbilment ħafna minnkom ukoll tgħaddu minnha, ċioè li niktbu ssena inkorretta meta nkunu qegħdin niktbu d-data. Il-problema tkun li tant inkunu drajna niktbu s-sena li tkun għaddiet li ma nkunux qed naħsbu meta niktbuha, u ġieli nibqgħu għaddejjin biha sakemm xi ħaġa tfakkarna li għadna ngħixu fis-sena ta’ qabel!

Dawk minna, probabbilment il-maġġoranza l-kbira tagħkom il-qarrejja, jagħmlu l-appuntamenti tagħhom skont sistema ta’ kalendarju li nbeda mill-Papa Gregorju XIII fil-1582, li għalhekk jissejjaħ Kalendarju Gregorjan.

Dan kien modifikazzjoni żgħira fuq il-Kalendarju Ġuljan, li kien stabbilit minn Ġulju Ċesri u nbeda fis-sena 46 q.K., li lintenzjoni tiegħu kienet li jagħmel sistema b’regoli stabbiliti mingħajr il-bżonn ta’ interventi tal-qassis il-kbir ta’ Ruma (pontifex maximus), interventi li suppost kienu jsiru regolarment biex jaġġustaw is-sena mal-osservazzjonijiet astronomiċi tas-sena solari, imma li kienu saru politiċizzati u wasslu għal konfużjoni kbira.

Dan il-Kalendarju Ġuljan kien ta’ tnax-il xahar bi 365 ġurnata f’sena, u darba kull erba’ snin is-sena tkun ta’ 366 ġurnata, għalhekk medja ta’ 365.25 ġurnata fis-sena.

Is-sistema Ġuljana kienet stima pjuttost tajba għas-sena tropikali, li hija l-ammont ta’ ġranet għax-xemx biex tirritorna fl-istess pożizzjoni wara ċiklu wieħed sħiħ ta’ erba’ staġuni, li huwa stmat li hu 365.2421 ġranet, imma xorta waħda dik id-differenza żgħira ta’ 0.0079 ġurnata fis-sena wasslet għal diskrepanza ta’ għaxart ijiem sas-sena 1582, u kienet qegħda toħloq problema għall-Knisja Kattolika li kienet tagħżel il-festa tal-Għid b’riferenza għall-ekwinoss tar-rebbiegħa.

Il-Kalendarju Ġregorjan ikkoreġa din id-diskrepanza billi ffissa l-aħħar ġurnata tal-Kalendarju Ġuljan tal-Ħamis 4 ta’ Ottubru 1582, u beda l-kalendarju l-ġdid l-għada bħala l-Ġimgħa 15 ta’ Ottubru 1582.

Apparti hekk, immodifika r-regola ta’ ġurnata żejda kull erba’ snin, biex din ma tkunx applikabbli jekk is-sena tista’ tiġi diviża eżattament b’100 imma tkun applikabbli jekk tiġi diviża b’400.

Din il-modifika twassal għal sena medja ta’ 365.2425, li hija ħafna eqreb lejn is-sena tropikali.

Fil-bidu, il-Kalendarju Gregorjan kien biss applikabbli għallKnisja Kattolika Rumana, u la kien aċċettat mill-knejjes insara loħra (Ortodossi u Protestanti) u lanqas ma kellu effett ċivili.

Madankollu, maż-żmien beda jiġi adottat l-ewwel immedjatament mill-pajjiżi fejn il-Kattoliċeżmu kien qawwi (bħal Spanja, l-Italja, Franza u oħrajn), imbagħad matul is-sekli minn pajjiżi u imperi oħra, bħal dak Brittanniku fis-seklu 18, u ċ-Ċina u r-Russja fis-

Tuesday January 15, 2019

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

kitba ta’

IVAN CAUCHI

seklu 20.

Illum tista’ tgħid li l-Kalendarju Gregorjan huwa wżat madwar id-dinja biex jiġu organizzati attivitajiet soċjali, reliġjużi, amministrattivi u oħrajn, u huwa utli bħala sistema magħrufa madwar id-dinja. Madankollu, dan ma jfissirx li kalendarji oħra m’għadhomx jintużaw għal skopijiet speċifiċi.

Il-Kalendarju Gregorjan huwa eżempju wieħed biss ta’ kalendarju solari, jiġifieri wieħed li jieħu bħala riferenza l-pożizzjoni tax-xemx waqt lekwinoss. Apparti kalendarji antiki, hemm uħud li għadhom jintużaw, bħallĦiġri Solari fl-Iran (li jibda fil-20 jew 21 ta’ Marzu, u bħalissa qegħdin fis-sena 1397) u l-Kalendarju Badi tal-fidi Bahá’í, li għandu snin ta’ dsatax-il xahar ta’ dsatax-il ġurnata u ġranet oħra miżjuda.

Hemm ukoll kalendarji qamrin, fejn in-numerazzjoni tal-ġranet tiddependi fuq iċ-ċikli tal-qamar. Wieħed li spiss nisimgħu bih huwa dak Islamiku, il-Ħiġri (mhux dak Solari), li jikkonsisti fi tnax il-xahar qamri f’sena ta’ 354 jew 355 ġurnata, li jintuża biex jistabbilixxu festi importanti bħar-Ramadan u l-perjodu propizju għallpellegrinaġġ lejn Mekka.

Hemm ukoll kalendarji li jiddependu kemm fuq ix-xemx kif ukoll fuq il-qamar. Eżempju wieħed huwa l-Kalendarju Rurali taċ-Ċina, li jintuża biex jistabbilixxi l-btajjel (bħall-ewwel tas-sena Ċiniża) għall-pajjiż u d-dijaspori tiegħu. Dan il-kalendarju mhux biss jirreferi għall-movimenti tal-qamar u x-xemx, imma anke ta’ ħames pjaneti oħra.

Nagħlaq b’xi osservazzjonijiet. L-epoka tagħna nirreferu għaliha bħala Anno Domini (AD) – Latin għal ‘is-sena tal-Mulej’, għax tassumi li s-sena numru wieħed (1 AD) kienet dik li fiha twieled Ġesu Kristu. Din kienet sistema li nbdiet minn Dionysius Exiguus, patri li għex fis-seklu sitta, li jista’ jkun li bbażaha fuq partijiet mill-vanġelu ta’ San Luqa. Madankollu, meta bil-Malti ngħidu li s-sena tal-lum hija 2019 wara Kristu (w.K), proprjament 2019 AD huwa 2018 sena wara 1 AD. Għalhekk, AD mhux eżattament eqwivalenti għal w.K. Apparti dan, analiżi ta’ partijiet oħra tat-Testment il-Ġdid iwasslu għall-konklużjoni li Ġesu twieled mill-inqas erba’ snin qabel.1 Allura nistgħu ngħidu li Kristu twieled erba’ snin qabel Kristu.

Referenzi 1. http://www.drabruzzi.com/when_was_jesus_born.htm, retrieved 9/1/2019

The Voice of the Maltese 11

L-antiki tagħna l-inkwiet kienu jivvintawh!

Tuesday January 15, 2019

D

onnu li l-antiki tagħna l-inkwiet kienu joħolquh.

Minn xejn kienu jagħmlu storja u din kienet titwemmen u tiġri fl-imħuħ kemm tal-kbar kif ukoll tat-tfal.

Fost il-ħafna twemmin tal-antiki tagħna kien hemm dak tal-klieb. Kien ikun gwaj kbir għalihom meta billejl jisimgħu xi kelb jingħi. Mamma tiegħi!!! Għalihom din il-karba tal-kelb l-aktar billejl kienet tfisser li l-mewt qiegħda madwar id-dar tagħhom … għax il-klieb għandhom in-naska li jxommu dan qabel il-bnedmin.

Issa ngħiduha kif inhi. Flantik, kważi l-familji kollha Maltin kien ikollhom f’darhom xi kelb, jew għallkaċċa, jew għall-għassa jew bħala delizzju: allura l-karba tagħhom billejl kienet xi ħaġa li tismagħha sikwit.

Fl-imgħoddi ħafna Maltin ma kinux jafu x’differenza hemm bejn kewkba u kometa, għaldaqstant meta xi kometa kienet tidher fissmewwiet billejl, l-antiki tagħna kienu jaħsbu li ġej xi gwaj kbir fuq id-dinja tagħna jekk mhux se tispiċċa għal kollox!!!

Dan kien joħloq swied ta’ qalb kbir għal kulħadd u bosta kienu jaħsbu f’ruħhom u jġejju rwieħhom għal dak li jista’ jinqala’.

Meta jkollna xi eklissi, hawn ukoll l-antiki tagħna kienu jaħsbu li wasalna fl-aħħar … id-dinja spiċċat!!!!

Iżda niżżiħajr lil Alla, l-antiki tagħna mhux kulma jaraw jew iħossu kien ikun dejjem sinjal ta’ gwaj. Minn xi daqqiet kienet tiġi xi waħda tajba wkol. Jekk, pereżempju, tibda tieklok il-pala ta’ idek il-leminija, dan ikun sinjal li inti se ddaħħal xi kemmxa flus. Iżda ħej, jekk minflok il-leminija tieklok dik il-pala t’idek ix-xellug, l-antiki tagħna kienu jemmnu li se tirċievi xi kont kbir u jkun jeħtieġlek tħallsu bla dewmien.

Fuq il-mejda tal-ikel, is-superstizzjonijiet li kellhom l-antiki tagħna kienu bil-bosta. Nieħdu n-numru 13. Tlettax-il ruħ fuq ilmejda tal-ikel kien ifisser li fi żmien qasir wieħed minnhom se jmut żgur. Ma kienu jħallu lil ħadd li jwassal għan-numru 13 malmejda. Kienu jemmnuha bis-sħiħ .... u din is-superstizzjoni baqgħet għal snin twal magħna.

Ta’min jgħid li din is-superstizzjoni hija dinjija. Anke fl-isports, Il-karba tal-kelb billejl kienu jfissruha bħala li l-mewt tinsab fl-qrib

PeterPaulCiantar hemm xi timijiet (mhux kollha) tal-futbol jew sports ieħor fejn plejer ma jilbisx ilflokk bin-numru 13. Anke fit-tlielaq tal-Formula 1 lebda tim ma juża dan innumru fuq xi karozza.

In-numru dejjem jinqabeż.

Biex immorru lura għal fuq il-mejda. Ma kienx sewwa li wieħed jagħti bil-ponta talfurketta fuq il-mejda. Tafu x’kienet ir-raġuni?

Kienu jaħsbu li b’dan ilmod tista’ jolqot lill-anġlu Kienu jaħsbu li kometa tal-mejda!!!! L-anqas ma ġġib il-gwai fuq id-dinja kien tajjeb li wieħed idawwar is-sikkina fuq il-mejda tal-ikel għax xi wieħed minn dawk li jkunu qegħdin jieklu jista’ jifga!

Niftakar lill-ommi tgħidli biex ma ngħaddix minn taħt sellum wieqaf mal-ħajt. Darba niftakarha tgħidli għax inkun qiegħed infittex il-gwaj b’idejja. Dan ukollhu twemmin universali.

Oħra din!!!! Marti ffissata b’din. B’ebda mod ma tħallini niftaħ l-umbrella fid-dar għax inkun qiegħed insejjaħ il-gwaj!

Dawn kollha huma xi immaġinazzjonijiet jew superstizzjonijiet li kienu jemmnu sewwa fihom missirijietna. Anke t-tixrid ta’ ċerti affarijiet fuq id-dvalja kien ta’ xi tifsira għax-xjuħ tagħna.

Pereżempju għalihom, meta jixtered iż-żejt dan kien ifisser li ġej ukoll xi gwaj. Imma mhux hekk meta jixtered l-inbid.

Meta jaqa’ l-inbid fuq id-dvalja kienu jgħidu li ġej ir-riżq. Bosta kienu dawk ta’ mal-mejda waqt l-ikla li kienu jċappsu subgħajhom fl-inbid u jagħmlu salib ċkejken fuq ġbinhom.

U x’tgħiduli għal din? Kulħadd jiftakarha. Meta wieħed jittewweb, malajr kien jagħmel sinjal tas-salib ma’ ħalqu. Tafu x’inhi r-raġuni? Biex ma jidħolx ix-xitan!!!! X’waħda din, donnu dan ix-xitan kien idur madwarhom, lest biex jidħol fihom ma’ kull okkażjoni.

Jekk jaqa’ l-inbid fuq id-dvalja kienu jgħidu li ġej ir-riżq

12 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Roundup of News About Malta

Malta enjoying period of prosperity

A

t the exchange of New Year’s greetings with heads of diplomatic missions in Malta, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that Malta is currently enjoying a period of prosperity, with robust economic growth and low unemployment, and that the strong performance of the services sector – in particular tourism and remote gaming – have been made possible because of the favourable labour market conditions, as well as high consumer confidence in Malta.

The Prime Minister also outlined the many steps Malta has taken over the past few years and in particular in 2018 in terms of civil rights including amendments to its Constitution to include sexual orientation and gender identity as grounds for anti-discrimination.

He said that the recent achievements the government has registered are both a source of encouragement, and indication of what is yet to come. “It is in this spirit

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat tells heads of diplomatic missions

that I wish to convey a message of confidence and partnership, which I hope will guide our efforts in the coming year.”

Joseph Muscat gave credit to Malta’s continued progress “our ability to face challenges, whilst achieving extraordinary successes”.

He pointed out that although Valletta bid farewell to the European Capital of Culture last month, the 400 cultural events than ran throughout last year highlighted how much Malta has a lot to offer in arts and culture.

He said that with over 400,000 people attending events across Malta and Gozo, with over 1,600 local and international artists participating, Valletta 2018 was a resounding success.

The Prime Minister mentioned tha fact that last year Malta hosted the Blockchain Summit which saw over 8,500 people at-

Immigration could remain an issue in Europe

T

he recent stand-off that left a rescue boat carrying migrants from Libya stranded at sea for weeks aboard an NGO vessel that eventually ended when an agreement was reached on their fate after eight countries have stepped in to accept them, was symptomatic of a lack of understanding between the EU member states, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said at a New Year's meet and greet with diplomats.

The Maltese Prime Minister insisted that the rescue vessels, operated by rescue NGO Sea Watch, had saved

migrants at sea within the Libyan search and rescue area, and had sailed to Malta rather than to the nearest safe port.

This, he said, "exposes serious weaknesses in the governance of this phenomenon and a lack of understanding by a number of European countries of what is happening in the southernmost part of Europe.”

Sea Watch has consistently refused to transport rescued migrants escaping from Libya, back to their place of departure.

He said however, that this ad hoc solution “was by no

means final”.

“Immigration will remain an issue for Europe in the weeks, months and years to come. Ignoring it will be to the detriment of the future of the EU as a union," he said.

He emphasised the importance of the UN Global Compact on Migration, saying there was a need for a global dimension that goes beyond the EU borders. “A global approach can safely assist in managing migration, and here Africa remains Europe's most important partner," Muscat said.

tend. He highlighedt the numerous pieces of legislation that have come into force in this area, giving legal clarity to stakeholders operating in this sector, essential to boost activity: the Virtual Financial Assets Act, the Innovation Technology Arrangements and Services Act, and the Malta Digital Innovation Authority Act. “Malta is also focusing on Artificial Intelligence: an area which poses great challenges, but even greater opportunities, from revolutionising analytics to preventing disease and deep learning, “Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said.

He added that economic growth in Malta is taking place within its long history of social conscience and as such he mentioned that four years ago the government introduced free childcare services to working mothers and since then, 16,000 girls and boys have benefitted from this service – including 6,600 children just last year.

He maintained that this initiative is allowing the government to help working parents find quality care for their children while they are at work – a service where children are happy, safe, with an emphasis on learning through play.

He rounded up his speech by saying he was convinced that 2019 would be yet another year where “we will continue to work more closely together on national, regional, and international issues on many levels.”.

Y

Another record year for tourism

ear 2018 was another record year for tourism in Malta with over 2.6 million visiting the island, which is about 300,000 more than last year. Expenditure by tourists also reached record figures as €2 billion finished in Malta’s coffers.

The Voice of the Maltese 13

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Roundup of News About Malta Malta to host 5+5 Dialogue two-day meeting

F

or two days this week, (January 17-18) Malta would be hosting the 15th Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the 5+5 Western Mediterranean Dialogue themed ‘Working Together: A Sustainable Future for the Western Mediterranean’. Malta and the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, currently co-presiding the 5+5 dialogue for a twoyear period.

The 5+5 dialogue is made up of five European-Mediterranean countries, namely Malta, Italy, France, Spain and Portugal, and five North African, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia.

Announcing the meeting, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion Carmelo Abela declared that for Malta, the “Mediterranean remains at the essence of its external relations dossier, with the overall objective of bringing peace, stability, and sustainable growth in the region”.

Minister Ian Borg

He stated that the aim of the 5+5 Dialogue is to secure closer cooperation between southern European and Maghreb countries and to improve regional cooperation and integration in the Mediterranean.

The meeting is expected to provide an opportunity for a frank exchange of views on important regional matters that are of mutual and common interest such as the situation in Libya, the Middle East Peace Process, and the Sahel, as well as issues such as migration and climate change.

Youths’ opportunities in the region will also be a central theme during this meeting, therefore foreign ministers and heads of delegations will be meeting young leaders, prior to the start of the plenary session, The meeting will be preceded by the 8th High-level Meeting of the National Parliaments of the Member States of the 5+5 Dialogue, hosted by the House of Representatives on Thursday.

President Marie-Louise Colerio Preca and Minister Carmelo Abela with the Maltese Honorary Consuls

President stresses importance of the Honorary Consuls for Malta

I

n her annual meeting for the exchange of the New Year greetings with the Honorary Consular Corp at the Palace in Valletta, President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca pointed out the importance of the honorary Consuls by saying they are the catalysts in the strengthening of relations between Malta and the countries they represent.

In her last such meeting before her term of office, President, Coleiro Preca said that the country’s stronger economic development has created the requirement for foreign employees, as such the work of Consuls helps to ensure the protection of human dignity of those they meet.

The President said that human rights are not restricted by frontiers, nationalities or appearances, and that although the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is now in its 70th year it cannot be said that all humanity is enjoying its benefits. She urged the Consuls to do their best to build a culture of peace and to assure dignity by giv-

ing assistance to all those that request it.

She said that the Consuls are in a position to put the declaration in practices as they have to face people who are inot only n need of procedural things but also seeking humanitarian answers. She called upon them to do their utmost to help them.

Malta is to open embassy in Japan ddressing the diplomatic corps at anA nual New Year’s Greetings, Carmelo Abela, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and

Trade Promotion outlined Malta’s achievements on the international, European, regional, and local levels, and also pointed out the country’s plans for the busy year ahead.

He augured that 2019 would herald peace, security, and stability, both globally as well as in the tumultuous Mediterranean region, and announced that as a result of the excellent on-going bilateral relations between the two countries, Malta is to open an embassy in Tokyo, Japan that would take relations to a higher level and strengthen the cooperation between the two countries.

Sun dominates December

A

t the end of 2018 and the beginning of the New Year, Malta has been enduring some very cold wintry conditions. However, statistic just published shows that sunny weather and warm temperatures dominated December and the sun shone over Malta for 211.7 hours, 40 hours more than the norm.

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

14 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday January 15, 2019

M

a kienx fi ħsiebi li fl-ewwel kontribuzzjoni għall-2019 nikkummenta dwar is-sitwazzjoni politika f’Malta. Iżda ma nistax ninjoraha meta bħalissa das-suġġetti qed jokkupa il-midja Maltija li li tista’ wkoll tħalli effett qawwi fuq din ix-xena lokali

Adrian Delia taħt attakk

H

u fatt magħruf, li meta Dr Adrian Delia ġie elett bħala l-mexxej talPartit Nazzjonalista’ b’mod demokratiku, għall-ewwel darba mit-tesserati (membri mħallsa), kien hemm nukliju ta’ Nazzjonalisti influwenti li wrew li ma aċċetawhx f’din il-ħatra.

Kien hemm tama li maż-żmien l-attitudi tinbidel u tilqa’ l-appell tal-kap il-ġdid.

Imma wara ftit taż-żmien il-firda bdiet toħroġ aktar fil-beraħ.

Insemmi biss dak li seħħ wara li Delia kien neħħa lil Simon Busuttil minn kelliem għall-Governanza u talbu jissospendi lilu nnifsu mill-Grupp Parlamentari wara li minn inkjesta maġisterjali rriżulta li minkejja l-akkużi tal-eks kap tal-PN Simon Busuttil ma nstabet l-ebda konnessjoni bejn il-kumpanija Egrant fil-Panama u l-familja tal-Prim Ministru Joseph Muscat.

Id-deċiżjoni ta’ Delia ma niżlitx tajjeb ma’ 10 Deputati Parlamentari tal-PN li sfidawh u pubblikament appoġġjaw lill-Busuttil.

Ftit s-sitwazzjoni kienet tidher taħt kontroll u nstab kompromess fil-PN, li minkejja li ma kinux qed jaqblu mal-mod fit-tmezzija ta’ Delia diversi deputati u uffiċjali tal-PN xorta dehru jimbuttaw il-partit sal-elezzjoni tal-MEPs f’Mejju li ġej biex hekk il-partit jidher magħqud u wkoll biex listess deputati ma jispiċċawx jeħlu huma għal xi telfa.

Dan wassal biex fl-aħħar stħarriġ tal-Maltatoday, Dr Delia u l-PN kienu żiedu bi ftit fl-appoġġ.

Iżda bilkemm laħaq ħareġ dan ir-riżultat, li fuq blog ta’ membru Nazzjonalist magħruf, ġie svelat li l-mara ta’ Delia kienet qed titlob is-separazzjoni minn żewġha.

L-aħbar, ftit dehret teffettwa l-qagħda ta’ Delia. Attwalment membri prominenti talPartit Laburista ma qablu xejn li ħwejjeġ privati kellhom jiġu mħallta mal-politika.

Meta mbagħad xi ħadd ħareġ dak li ntqal fil-Qorti meta ġie ppreżentat ir-rikors għasseparazzjoni l-affarijiet inbidlu sew. Għax skont it-talba għas-separazzjoni mart Delia akkużatu bi vjolenza domestika.

L-aħbar ġabet reazzjoni qawwija għax għalkemm Delia mhux l-ewwel politiku li ffaċċja separazzjoni, issa kienet daħlet finnofs il-vjolenza domestika, u mill-ewwel bdiet is-sejħa min-naħa ta’ fazzjoni Nazzjonalista biex Delia jirriżenja. Kien hemm

anke min sostna li jekk ma jitlaqx min jheddu il-Partit kellu jneħħih minn mexxej.

Hawn tqajjmu mill-ġdid kwestjonijiet oħra fosthom il-fatt li Delia kien qed jiġi mistħarreġ mill-pulizija dwar allegazzjoni (li attwalment kienet qajjmet l-artikolista llum mejta Daph-ne Caruana Galizia) dwar li kellu x’jaq-sam ma xibka ta’ prostituzzjo-ni f’Londra.

Saħansitra fuq il-midja soċjali bdew jixxandru recordings dwar dak li kien seħħ fid-dar ta’ Delia, fejn jinstemgħu l-argumenti ta’ bejnu u bejn martu... u sintendi n-

nies kompliet tkabbar u ġebbed l-istorja.

Jum wara lieħor bdew jitfaċċaw stejjer oħra, fuq il-midja magħrufa bħala “alleata tal-PN”, ewlenin fosthom it-Times of Malta u l-Malta Independent.

Bdew ukoll ħerġin fil-beraħ ċerti messaġġi li Delia suppost bagħat lil grupp ristrett, fosthom wieħed speċifiku li bagħat lill-Kunsill Amministrattiv tal-Partit Nazzjonalista, u li ġie ppubblikat fuq xi ġurnali u wkoll fil-blog li ta’ wieħed mill-mexxejja ta’ Occupy Justice, u magħruf għall-attiviżmu tiegħu favur il-PN, Manuel Delia.

Fil-messaġġ, Delia iddikjara gwerra u qal li kien lest għal kull konfrontazzjoni ma’ dawk li sejjaħ “tradituri fi ħdan il-Partit Nazzjonalista”. Fil-messaġġ Delia kiteb: “We are at war no doubt remains”.

B’ħafna diskors figurattiv iżda dirett lejn il-fazzjoni tal-eks Kap tal-PN Busuttil, Delia qal li fi gwerra hemm merċenarji li jaġixxu għall-gwadann finanzjarju tagħhom.

Skont xi ġurnali l-messaġġ urta bl-ikrah lil

sezzjoni fil-PN, u ta’ kuljum bdew ħer-ġin stejjer ġodda fil-midja.

Fost kollox allegaw li xi uffiċjali għolja millPN kienu qed jiġbru lfirem biex Delia jitneħħa minn mexxej, u li deputati prominenti fil-PN kie-nu qed jiltaqgħu bil-moħbi biex iħajruhom jingħaqdu ħalli jneħħu lil Delia. Ġie wkoll irrappurtat li hemm deputati Nazzjonalisti li huma lesti jiffirmaw u jitolbu lill-President tar-Repubblika tneħħi lil Delia minn kap tal-Oppoizzjoni (attwalment jekk il-maġġoranza tal-membri tal-Oppoizzjoni jiffirmaw ilPresident ikollha tneħħih minn Kap talOppoizzjoni, għalkemm xorta waħda jibqa’ jżomm t-tmexxija tal-Partit).

Min-naħa tiegħu Delia sabbat saqajh u ħalef li ma kienx se jċedi.

Li spikka f’dan kollu kien li fejn is-soltu l-attakki fuq il-mexxej ta’ partit politiku jiġu min-naħa tal-partit oppost, did-darba ġejjin min-naħa ta’ nies fi ħdan il-PN stess, xi ħaġa li Delia stess kelli jammettai Magħhom ingħaqdu wkoll għaqdiet, bħalOccupy Justice, meqjusa ta’ spalla mal-istess Partit, u ġurnali li mhumiex magħrufa li jagħtu appoġġ lill-Partit Laburista bħatThe Times of Malta li ta’ kuljum toħroġ b’xi storja ġdida dwar Delia, u wkoll editorjalment qalet ċar u tond li Delia kellu jwarrab.

L-istess, il-Malta Independent. Dawn ilġurnali qed issa jitqiesu minn sħab Delia bħala “għedewwa”.

Sadanitant il-midja u kelliema Laburista bilkemm jitkellmu jew jiktbu dwar ilkwestjoni.

Dan kollu qed iseħħ meta għad baqa’ biss ftit xhur għall-elezzjoni tal-Parlament talUnjoni Ewropea u l-Kunsilli lokali, li ħafna qed iqisu bħala t-test li jista’ jkun deċiżiv għal Delia (dejjem jekk ma jitlaqx jew jitneħħa qabel), għax telfa kbira għall-PN żgur tista’ tkompli tgħaddas l-isfel lil Delia.

The Voice of the Maltese 15

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Wara li għaddew il-festi ...

I

l-festi għaddew u s’issa ħafna jkunu diġa` neħħew it-tiżjin u refgħu l-presepju, is-siġra talMilied.... u bdew mill-ġdid il-ħajja hekk imsejħa ‘normali’ għax ħadd ma jista jgħid eżatt xi tfisser ilkelma normali.. dak li hu normali għalija mhux bilfors huwa normali għalik.

Kienu ħafna li gawdew dawn il-festi, u fost l-aktar li spikkaw kien hemm ilġabriet tas-soltu, tal-Istrina għall-Community Chest Fund u tal-maratona b’riżq id-Dar tal-Providenza li fihom il-Maltin u l-Għaw-dxin urew il-ħerqa biex jgħinu lil dawk filbżonn bħgġotjiet li fihom inkisru r-records tas-sena ta’ qabel.

Fil-każ tal-Community Chest fund is-somma laħqet is-€7,135,035 li hi lakbar somma li qatt inġabret f’dawn l-aħħar 20 sena minn meta twaqqaf dan il-fond. Din is-somma tfisser li ras għal ras ilMaltin jagħtu aktar minnies ta’ pajjiżi oħra.

Fil-każ tal-ġabra għad-dar tal-Providenza, kellna rekord ieħor bis-somma tilħaq aktar minn €1,275,000.

Preżentament din id-dar tospita 115-il resident li għandhom bżonn għajnuna kif ukoll attenzjoni speċjali. Fl-istess waqt hi wkoll ħajt ta’ kenn għall membri tal-familja ta’ dawn ir-residenti.

Imsomma, meta wieħed ukoll iqis is-somom kbar li ġabru l-partiti politiċi, u li dwarhom ktibt fl-aħħar

ħarġa, u s-somom li qed insemmi hawn, juri kemm, meta jkollhom minn fejn jagħtu l-Maltin ma joqogħdux lura.

Matul il-festi gawdew ukoll sewwa l-istabillimenti tal-ikel u l-lukandi.

Ilkoll kienu mbullati binnies tant li min ħalla għallaħħar sabha diffiċli biex jibbukja, għall-ikliet speċjali ta’ lejliet u nhar il-Milied u l-Ewwel tas-Sena.

Il-kummerċ mar tajjeb

dħul tas-Sena l-Ġdida, li qed issir fl-l-aħħar snin, ġibdet folol kbar ta’ nies, tant li hu stmat li kien hemm aktar minn 70,000 ruħ jiffes-teġġjaw id-dħul tas-sena l-ġdida fi pjazza San Ġorġ.

Fortunatament dawn ilfesti għaddew bla ma kellna fatalitajiet fit-toroq.

Jidher li l-fatt li kien hemm preżenza qawwija ta’ pulizija fit-toroq, l-appelli biex min jixrob ma jsuqx, u d-dħul tal-miżuri ġodda dwar it-testijiet taxxorb ħallew l-effett pożittiv mixtieq.

Dan ġie rifless ukoll fuq iż-żieda qawwija fil-kiri ta’ taxis matul il-lejl talMilied u l-Ewwel tas-sena, għakemm sfortunatament kien hemm minm approfitta ruħu u f’dawn l-iljieli għolla it-tariffi.

I

... u f ’Għawdex

l-festi tal-Milied kienu bonanza wkoll għannegozji Għawdxin, għax l-influss ta’ turisti kemm lokali (minn Malta) kif ukoll ta’ barranin kien tassew sinfikanti.

Minn statistika maħruġa mill-Gozo Channel, jirriżulta li matul ix-xahar ta’ Diċembru 2018 sas-6 ta’ Jannar 2019, qasmu b’kollox 501,907, passiggier u 156,343 vettura ipparagunat mal464,837 passiggier u 141,349 vettura li qasmu l-fliegu f’dan l-istess perjodu s-sena l-oħra.

Dan kollu jfisser li kien hemm żieda ta’ 8% fuq l-għadd ta’ passiġġieri u żieda ta’ 11% filvetturi li qasmu il-fliegu. L-aktar jum traffikuż kien is-Sibt, 30 ta’ Diċembru 2018 fejn qasmu b’kollox 25,186 passiġġier u 5,670 vettura fuq 76 vjaġġ li operat il-kumpanija Gozo Channel.

Dan l-ivjaġġar kollu ħoloq ukoll xi problemi għat-traġit bejn iż-żewġ gżejjer. Għal-kemm il-Gozo Channel ħaddmet it-tliet vapuri tagħha b’shuttle service - servizz kontinwu bla waqfien - xorta f’xi ħinijiet il-kju talkarozzi jistenna biex jitla’ fuq il-vapuri kien xi madwar żewġ kilometri.

Il-kummerċ mar tajjeb ħafna bil-Kap tal-General Retailers Union jistqarr: “Xi ħaġa li impressjonatni kien li tkellimt ma’ xi ħadd u qalli li fejn jidħlu hampers, fejn jidħol ikel, fejn jidħol xorb; dawn it-tip ta’ rigali daqxejn iktar corporate li wieħed jagħti, żdiedu ħafna din is-sena.

Kien rekord qaluli, li speċi, ta spiċċalhom kollox out of stock, bie-għu kollox.”

Australia Day Celebration Il-fatt li lekonomija Organised by the Maltija sejra tajjeb ħafna u Maltese Community Council of NSW Time: 4:00pm to 6:00pm bin-nies b’aktar flus f’ideEntry & Parking Free Sunday 20th January 2019 jhom, allura li Light Refreshments aktar kapaċi Holroyd Function Centre jonfqu, ħalla Waratah Room 17 Miller Street effett ferm pożittiv fuq Merrylands in-negozji.

Għal darb’oħra ċ-ċelAll welcome to join the Maltese community celebrate Australia Day in their adopted country ebrazzjoni fil-Belt għad-

16 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday January 15, 2019

New fees and charges for ‘19

P

rices will follow for some but for others there will be no reprieve for year 2019.

The cost of a script will increase to $40.30 – up from $39.50 – with concession patients hit with a 10-cent rise per prescription as PBS medicine become more expensive.

Banks will no longer be able to send unsolicited credit limit increase offers to customers.

Shoppers will also be able to ask banks to reduce their credit limit or cancel cards online, without going into a bank.

But thousands of National Australia Bank customers will be slogged $2 withdrawal fees from thousands of ATM machines that had previously been free for them to use.

Aussie travellers who lose their passport overseas will also be forced to pay more for a replacement, as travellers needing immediate access to an emergency or replacement passport while overseas will be slugged more than $50.

Feminine hygiene products will be cheaper in the New Year, with tampons and pads exempted from the 10 per cent GST. Energy costs have also changed with concession cardholders on standing offers or non-discounted plans in NSW, ACT, Queensland and South Australia receiving an automatic 10 per cent discount from January.

Vital for the community

T

he findings of the expert panel into the competitive neutrality review of the SBS and the ABC demonstrate that Australia’s public broadcasters are operating within competition guidelines and are delivering creative and important content according to their charter.

The public broadcasters, especially SBS are vital and more important than ever for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities as they deliver relevant content and information in language.

SBS has enabled CALD communities to continue to enjoy their language, culture and heritage while instilling a sense of belonging and engagement within the Australian community.

Refugee group describes as 'meaningless' decision to close detention centres

F

ollowing the federal government’s intention to close immigration detention centres in Melbourne and Sydney because, it said, the number of boat arrivals has dropped under its policies, a refugee advocacy group has dismissed the decision as an “empty gesture” given others have been extended in the lead up.

Refugee Action Coalition spokesperson Ian Rintoul said it is a “meaningless and empty gesture”. He said that the fact is that the government has increased detention capacity with new compounds being opened at Yongah Hill, and a high detention facility opening in the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation, to replace Maribynong.

He said, “There has been no significant decrease in the numbers of people detained on the mainland. In November

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

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

2018, there were 544 people who had been in detention more than one year up from 505 in September, 2018.

“Worse, it is inexcusable that the numbers of people being held in detention longer than a year keeps growing. In November 2018, 281 people had been in detention over two years.”

The Maribyrnong facility in Melbourne will close immediately after the last of the detainees there were moved to other centres. The Blaxland centre, which is part of Villawood in Sydney, will close by May with the detainees also moved to the other seven centres.

Immigration Minister David Coleman called it “another milestone in the ramping-down of Australia's onshore immigration detention network”.

There are 1250 people now in immigration detention in Australia. They are boat arrivals dating back to 2013 or earlier, people who have had their visas cancelled on character grounds and those who have overstayed their visas. *Eight immigration detention centres remain in Australia, including Blaxland; there were 26 when Labor lost the election 2013 *1250 held in total in these centres in 3 categories: boat arrivals dating back to 2013; those with visas cancelled on character grounds, usually for committing crimes, and those who have overstayed their visas *About 1000 remain on Nauru and Manus Island.

(Sources AAP & SBS News)

The Voice of the Maltese 17

Tuesday January 15, 2019

NSW Premier backs legal action over Opal Tower

A

sked about the cause of the cracking at the Opal Tower at Olympic Park Sydney and the possibility of a class action against the party responsible for the building defects the Premier of the State of NSW, Gladys Berejiklian said “Absolutely, I think residents should exercise every right, every legal opportunity they have – I would if I was in their shoes … I encourage them wholeheartedly to do that,” she told reporters.

Asked whether the NSW government would offer financial aid to residents, Ms Berejiklian said while she empathised with tower residents, financial aid for those affected was not a matter for government.

“Obviously we empathise with those residents – I can’t think of anything worse than being asked to leave your home but also especially during this time of year,” she said. “But we as a government want to

The Opal Tower, and (right): the Premier of NSW Gladys Berejiklian

get to the bottom of what occurred as much as anybody else. I won’t sit by and have anybody who is providing substandard work to continue to participate in the industry.”

Shine Lawyers’ head of class action Jan

Drug taking and rave parties T

he father of Anna Wood, whose 1995 death alerted Sydney to the dangers of using ecstasy, has slammed the idea that pill testing would make drug-taking safer.

Anna, 15 (picturd right), and three mates all took the same tablets at a Sydney rave held at the Phoenician Club in Broadway Sydney in October 1995. Her friends survived, but Anna died three days later.

Her dad, Tony Wood, said he was heartbroken for the families of the four young people who died after taking drugs at recent NSW dance festivals, but said pill testing was not the answer.

“Pill testing is another lark thought up by the pro-legalisation lobby,” he said. “If it were going to save any parent from the heartache of losing a child, I would be all for it. “I can’t think of any situation where it would work.”

Premier of NSW Gladys Berejiklian said that she would consider implementing pill testing in NSW only if there was evidence it saved lives.

The tragic death of Ann Woods was a fatal blow for the Maltese Club at Broadway. It was eventually forced to close down in April 1998. Two Maltese directors were declared by the courts as persons not fit and proper to hold office for two years.

The Phoenician Club of NSW was founded as Maltese Settlers Association in 1946. They had club premises in Brisbane Street and George Street Sydney before moving to Broadway.

Saddler described the situation as a “very unusual set of circumstances. People are very concerned about the consequen-ces of living in a building that may have significant damage,” she said. She pointed out that the firm has held talks with some residents who are anxious about the state of their investment.

Ms Saddler was reported telling AAP, “It would, at a very high level at least, look like there would be grounds or the basis for bringing a class action in this particular case subject of course to what is discovered.”

She said that before taking further action, the law firm was awaiting the outcome of both a government inquiry into the tower problems and a review commissioned by the developer.

18 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday January 15, 2019

ABOVE: Skola Maltija Sydney adult students celebrate their achievements in learning Maltese at the presentation.

(From left): Georgia Tabone, Penny Tabone, Michele Stevens, Joann Schretzmeyer and Andrew Micallef.

Skola Maltija Sydney:

F

Presentation Day 2018

Mrs. Jane Borg, the school principal addressing the students and guests at the presentation of the awards

Tabone, presented a moving address about her experiences in committing to studying the Maltese Continuers course at the Saturday School of Community Languages (SSCL) class and sitting for the Maltese Higher School Certificate (HSC).

Remarkably, she accomplished this by studying alongside her second eldest daughter who sat the exam at the same time. Her captivating take-home message was how il-Malti has the power to strengthen family and faith (il-familja u lfidi). Penny’s two sons also study Maltese with Skola Maltija Sydney. In 2016 her eldest daughter successfully graduated with Maltese as one of her HSC subjects.

Special presentations included: • Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Student Achievement Community Language Schools – Merit award to Lorenzo Mercieca (Ringrose campus) and Isaac Schembri (Rouse Hill campus).

• The 2019 Miss Grezzja Micallef Scholarship – to Isaac Schembri (Rouse Hill campus).

• NSW Community Languages Schools Programme Certificate of Participation to all students in Kindergarten to Year 12.

• $100 scholarship assistance*from the Government of Malta in partnership with the Federation of Maltese Language Schools Australia to Michael Cuschieri and Naomi Sant. * The aim of the student grant subsidy is to encourage the maintenance of il-Malti in Australia and to foster interest in Maltese culture through Maltese language studies.

The Ringrose class, directed by Mrs Brigida Smith, performed four traditional nursery rhymes.

The Rouse Hill class, directed by Miss Michelle Grima, Mrs. Diane Camilleri and Mrs. Isabelle Caruana, performed a dance and produced a video. It can be viewed on www.facebook.com/skolamaltijasydney

Report by CynthiaVillar

ounded in 2007, Skola Maltija Sydney (SMS) acknowledged the academic achievements of primary, high school and adult students at its annual Jum tal-Preżentazzjoni (Presentation Day) last month at Ringrose Public School, Greystanes. Year 6 students, Lorenzo Mercieca and Victoria Rose Bajada did a superb job as emcees for the occasion.

Teachers, relatives, friends and special guests that included the Consul General of Malta for NSW, Mr. Lawrence Buhagiar and co-editor of The Voice of the Maltese, Mr. Lawrence Dimech enjoyed a number of Maltese cultural performances presented by the students.

The event started with the guest speakers, certificate presentations and class items followed by a light afternoon tea.

In her address, Mrs. Jane Borg, the school principal, outlined the course content and cultural excursions that students participated in throughout the year. She also announced that on February 9, Skola Maltija Sydney would be opening classes at Cobbitty Public School (Camden), which is an initiative resulting from wanting the SMS to bring its services to the ever-expanding Macarthur region in Sydney’s southwest.

In his address Malta’s Consul General for NSW, Mr. Lawrence Buhagiar reinforced the importance of parents supporting their children to study the Maltese language despite the challenges of modern Australian society. He mentioned the added benefits and opportunities that “our mother tongue affords in this day and age”.

Parent and adult student, Mrs. Penny

Students and teachers with the Consul General for Malta in NSW, Mr. Lawrence Buhagiar

Exceptionally talented 18-year old guitarist, Michael Cuschieri, entertained the audience with his interpretation of, Il-Blue Grotto and Guitar Tango.

The finale featured a contemporary Maltese Christmas carol, Milied Qaddis and Qniepen Ħelwin.

In 2019, the teachers of Skola Maltija Sydney are looking forward to implementing the new NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Languages K-10 syllabus and as a result, updating its teaching and learning programmes in line with syllabus requirements.

Skola Maltija Sydney provides a quality, accredited Maltese language programme supported by the NSW Community Languages Schools Programme and NSW Department of Education. Student progress is reported twice a year, in line with the current Department reporting system.

A dedicated and qualified team of teachers at each location delivers the professionally designed primary course: Miss Michelle Grima (Rouse Hill campus), Mrs. Isabelle Caruana (Ringrose campus) and Mrs. Diane Camilleri (Cobbitty campus). In addition, teacher and Course Coordinator, Mrs. Anna Cuschieri, teaches the Adult Beginners course at the Ringrose campus.

For the past eleven years, Skola Maltija Sydney has a proven track record of delivering successful language and cultural programmes with many students continuing to transition from primary to high school, working towards the Maltese Continuers Course (Stage 6, Higher School Certificate).

Maltese language and cultural classes for both primary and adult students operate during school term at Greystanes, Rouse Hill and Cobbitty. Classes for 2019 commence in early February. To enroll or for more information one should contact the Principal, Mrs. Jane Borg on 0411 478 233 or skolamaltijasydney@yahoo.com.au or follow us on www.facebook.com/skolamaltijasydney/ Details about the Saturday School of Community Languages Maltese class can be obtained from Mr. Charles Galea on 9674 2970 or visit https://saturdaycl-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/. The SSCL class is a federally funded class, thus enrolment is free for high school students.

Tagħrif dwar il-kitba Maltija

The Voice of the Maltese 19

Tuesday January 15, 2019

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.

Tifsir ieħor fuq l-Alfabett Il-leħen ta’ waw fil-Malti, bħalma hu fil-kliem għawweġ, wara, wardija, huwa leħen ta’ ittra konsonanti dgħajfa barranija fl-Alfabett Latin, għalkemm jinħass fi kliem Taljan bħal quale, guerra, guisa, guardia u wisq iżjed fl-Ingliżwas, war, warder.

Il-Kummissjoni għal dan il-leħen kienet għażlet l-ū bilqatgħa fuqha, l-ewwelnett biex tagħżilha mill-u vokali, ittieni biex tfiehem biha u mħaxxna fil-leħen.

Il-laqgħa tal-Kittieba tal-Malti, flok l-ūgħażlet l-ittra w, bix-xewqa li kemm tista’ ma ddaħħalx tipi ġodda u għaliex ukoll dehrilha (u l-ħsieb tagħha qabel ma’ dak tal- Kummissjoni – ara Rapport, eċc.̇, p. 10) li l-ittra sħiħa ta’ w tfisser aħjar il-leħen Malti tal-waw. L-ittra w mhux ħlief il-qagħda ta’ żewġv Latini jew ta’ żewġu.

Flok l-ittra w tal-lum l-Ingliżi kienu jinqdew b’ittra oħra għamla ta’ p ta’ nisel gotiku u flokha għall-ewwel daħħlu littri vu. Dwar is-seklu ħdax insibu mbagħad flokhom l-ittri uu kif ukoll iż-żewġ vv bl-istess leħen. Dawn fl-aħħar nett ġew magħqudin f’ittra waħda w u b’hekk jidher li din l-ittra mhi xejn ta’ nisel Ingliżu li qabel ma ngħaqdu f’ittra waħda

Printed copies of The Voice of the Maltese available at your home by mail

W

e are now in a position to arrange for you to receive a printed full-colour hard copy of The Voice of the Maltese at home every fortnight (24 publications) at the low cost of $120.

(Australia only, other countries by request).

A printed copy would be an ideal present for mum, dad or a relative who either do not have Internet access or are not computer literate.

Anybody interested, contact us on: maltesevoice@gmail.com for further information.

We are not only an online publication, but also print on demand.

kienu mehmużin bħall-ittri ff, æ, fl tat-tipi Rumani (Taylor) Dwar is-sena 1000 u fuqhom, din l-ittra nsibuha fid-dokumenti Rumani għal-leħen ta’ vu. Ara: serws.

Għal-leħen ta’ waw, inqdew biha l-aħjar kit-tieba fosthom Amari, A. P. Caussin De Percival, Griffini, Vaccari u Fra Gabriele Maria d’Aleppo. Filkitba Maltija jidher li daħħalha l-ewwel wieħed il-Prof. Zerafa fl-Alfabett maħsub għall-kitba bil-Malti tas-Società Medica (1841).

L-ittra ż (z bit-tikka fuqha) hija ż-żeta Franċiża u l-esse ħelwa Taljana. Tersaq lejn izzeta fil-kelma zokk, ziju; imma b’ħoss imżarżar bħal fil-kelma żunżana.

Fuq il-kitba ta’ ġ (g bil-punt), iż-ż (z bil-punt) ġiet ukoll magħżula biex tagħti dan il-leħen Malti biex ikun magħżul minn dak ta’ z (ts) li aktarx insibuh fi kliem ġej mit-Taljan.

Kitbu biha sew is-Società Filologica Maltese kemm ukoll ixXirka Xemija. Magħrufa llum mill-aħjar kittieba tal-Malti.

(3) L-ittri tal-Alfabett Malti li ma jinsabux fl-Alfabett Għarbi huma Ċ, G, P, V, Z, li għal min irid jiftakarhom sewwa jista’ jgħaqqadhom f’kelma waħda u jsejħilhom Ċegapeveza. Dawn l-ittri aktarx issibhom fi kliem imnissel mitTaljan jew Sqalli. Issibhom ukoll f’għadd ċkejken ta’ kliem li hu tassew Malti – fil-bidu ta’ kliem b’erba’ konsonanti.

Ara: ċaqċaq, gerger, pespes, venven, zekzek.

(4) L-ittri Għarbin li llum ma jinsabux fl-Alfabett Malti huma: (1) TSA ‫ث‬, THA ‫ط‬, THZA ‫ظ‬ (2) DZAL ‫ذ‬, DHAD ‫ض‬ (3) SSAD ‫ص‬ (4) KHA ‫خ‬ (5) GĦAJN (għajn ħoxna) ‫غ‬.

Dawn kollha fil-Malti, barra l-għajn f’xi rħula ta’ Għawdex, raqqu l-leħen tagħhom u saru leħen wieħed ta’ (1) T, (2) D jew T, (3) S, (4) Ħ, (5) GĦ jew Ħ.

Għalhekk insemmgħu u niktbu tlieta flok tslieta, tawru flok tsawru, tul flok thul, darab flok dharab, daqna flok dzaqna, taraġ flok daraġ, sajd flok ssajd, ħobż flok kħobż, għani (’âni) flok għani, ħasel flok għasel, ħafer flok għafer.

Ma hemmx ħlief Vassalli u Falzon li fil-kliem Malti għażlu bejn il-leħen ta’ ħa u kħa. Ara: ħabib u ħobża (kħobża), ta’ għajn (’âjn) u għajn (għ imħaxxna). Ara: għamel (’âmel) u għalaq (billeħen ta’ għ minn qiegħ il-gerżuma). Il-għ bil-leħen imħaxxen nistgħu ngħidu li għadu jinħass biss fil-kliem żgħażagħ, forogħ, żebagħ. (Ara T.ċ. Għadd 59 – it-Tieni Taqsima).

inbarra dan it-tagħrif inizjali, li temmejnieh f’din ilħarġa, il-Kunsill Malti ippubblika wkoll rapport M imħejji mill-istess Kumissjonili fi ħdan l-Akkademja talŻIEDA MAT-TAGĦRIF

Ilsien Malti li qed jissejjaħ ŻIEDA MAT-TAGĦRIF, taħt ittitlu: L-Ortografija ta’ Neoloġiżmi Anglo-Sassoni u Rumanzi fil-Malti – Żieda mat-Tagħrif fuq il-Kitba Maltija (1924).

Dan it-tagħrif, li nibdewh fil-ħarġa li jmiss ġie mqassam f’erbgħa sezzjonijiet: Preambolu, Regoli Fundamentali, Regoli Partikulari, u fl-aħħar hemm l-għeluq fejn tingħata rraġuni għaliex sar.

20 The Voice of the Maltese

Seniors end of the year get-together

Tuesday January 15, 2019

T

he Maltese Community The Fairfield Seniors Group Council of NSW Seniors Groups held their end of Year celebrations at three locations, namely, Fairfield, Llandilo and Greystanes where the spirit of Christmas could be felt as they joined in the singing of many popular Carols and the sharing of traditional Maltese food.

Some of these groups have been meeting for over 20 years and continue to grow as people reach retirement age and beyond!

It is indeed a joy to be associated with these groups of Maltese Seniors who meet every month and look forward to seeing their friends, participate in new activities and learn about what matters most to them as seniors.

Their combined knowledge and the sharing of their wisdom never fail to amaze me. I love to listen reading a book in fact! to their stories and continue to learn a lot Thank you to all the hardworking and unfrom them about our beautiful Islands of sung heroes who lead these groups, Freda Malta and Gozo, more than I could from Micallef, Dorothy Gatt, Helen Azzopardi,

The Greystanes Seniors Group

Vickey Sicluna, Lilian Taliana and Miriam Friggieri. You are Champions and encourage and help each other so much!

MarisaPrevitera

The Llandilo Seniors Group

The Voice of the Maltese 21

Il-mixgħela tal-Milied fl-Awstralja

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Tradizzjoni mħaddna mill-Maltin

B

dejn sena ġdida, u filfatt diġa` għandna 15-il jum minna, imma naħsbu li l-qarrejja tagħna, laktar u l-aktar il-Maltin, kemm jekk jgħixu f’Malta, kif ukoll dawk ta’ barra, xorta waħda jinteressahom ikunu jafu dwar xulxin u dwar l-użanzi u ttradizzjonijiet li ħafna baqgħu jgħożżu. Minħabba li l-aħħar Dar tipika fl-Awstralja ħarġa ta’ The Voice of the Malmżejna ghall-festi tal-Mitese ġiet ippubblikata qabel illied u l-Ewwel tas-Sena Milied, ma stajniex niffukaw fuq drawwiet li fiż-żminijiet Fl-Awstralja, fejn il-Milied jasal fl-istaġun sbieħ tal-festi tal-Milied xi Maltin, fl-Aw- tas-sajf ħafna għandhom it-tradizzjoni stralja bi kburija jħobbu juru u li fihom sabiħa li jzejjnu djarhom bi dwal artifiċjali tidħol ħila u arti. u dekorazzjonijiet oħra li jfakkru kemm lilVeru li l-jiem tal-Milied għaddew, imma hom u kemm lill min jarahom, fil-jiem talmhux ta’ min jinjora, anke b’rispett lejn Millied u l-aħħar u l-Ewwel tas-Sena. min joħroġ għonqu biex iseddaq l-ispirtu F’kull Stat ta’ dan il-pajjiż hawn dilettanti ta’ waħda mill-akbar festi ċċelebrati matul kbar ta’ dan it-tiżjin li jdawwru ħafna midis-sena, it-twelid ta’ Ġesu` Bambin. djar tagħhom fi spettaklu ta’ kuluri u dwal Doris Meilak quddiem id-dar tagħha mżejna għall-festi tal-Milied u l-Ewwel tas-Sena

Spettaklu fic-Ċentru Malti La Valette

li anke jiġu nnutati millmidja lokali.

Kull filgħaxija għażċ-centru Malti La Valette organizza kunċert speċjali – il- żiffa tas-sajf, jekk ma Christmas Carol Show - biex iżid mal-ferħ tal-festi. Kienet tagħmilx xi maltempata, lejla ta’ success kbir li rat is-sala ewlenija ippakkjata, tant li tara serbut ta’ karozzi u kien hemm anke nies fis-swali oħra. L-okkażjoni kienet ser- nies jieqfu biex jammiata ta’ kant li fiha ħadu sehem diversi kantanti magħrufa. raw dawn id-djar imTa’ sodisfazzjon kbir ukoll kienet il-participazzjoni tattfal li ppreżentaw wirja tal-istorja tal-Milied. Anke jekk iċċokon tal-palk għall-preżentazzjonijiet li saru kien forsi ftit ristrett, imma jidher li dawk kollha li attendew setgħu faċilment jidħlu fl-ispirtu tal-okkażjoni tal-Milied.

I

dawwla li jpaxxu l-għajn u jkunu l-għaxqa ta’ min jarahom, fosthom tat-tfal.

Waħda minn dawn id-djar hi dik Victoria Rubnik-Borg fi Greystanes NSW fejn mhux talli wieħed seta’ jara spettaklu, izda fejn, ftit jiem qabel il-Milied kien hemm ukoll lejl varjat ta’ kant minn kor ta’ Maltin li mhux biss kantaw is-soliti għanjiet talMilied imma żejjnu l-okkażjoni billi libsu ta’ sorijiet biex taw interpretazzjoni ta’ xi xeni mill-film ta’ Woopy Goldberg “Sister Act”. Kienet wirja mhux tas-soltu li ġiet apprezzata minn folla mdaqqsa li wkoll ipparteċipat.

F’waqtijiet minnhom sa anke niżlet borra artifiċjali biex kellna Milied fis-sajf u bilborra.

Vicky, li ilha iżżejjed id-dar 25 sena sħaħ qalet lil The Voice li dis-sena għamlet sforz speċjali, bl-għajnuna tal-ħbieb tagħha millKor tal-Għaqda Kulturali Maltija ta’ NSW. F’naħat oħra ta’ l-istess subborg kien hemm żewġt idjar oħra magħrua għat-tiżjin tagħhom, waħda ta’ Joe u Doris Caruana u oħra ta’ Doris u Sam Mejlak li jgħixu kwazi bieb ma’ bieb. Dawn id-djar irnexxielhom ukoll jiġbdu l-attenzjoni tal-gazzetta popolari Parramatta Advertiser li poġġiet ir-ritratti tagħhom fuq il-faċċata ta’ quddiem tal-ġurnal.

Ta’ min li wieħed jagħti ħajr lil dawn innies, huma fejn huma fl-Awstralja taxxogħol li jieħdu biex ixxerdu l-ispirtu qaddis tal-Milied u jferrħu lil-popli fl-aħħar u l-Ewwel tas-Sena.

Kant quddiem id-ar ta’ Victoria Rubnik-Borg fi Greystanes NSW

22 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Some facts you should know about Australia

v Australia is two-thirds desert and the driest inhabited continent on earth. It’s also the smallest, lowest and flattest continent. v Australia is home to the oldest rainforest in the world, The Daintree – 130 million years of breathtaking beauty. v Crocodiles - one of the scariest things about Australia - inhabit the entire Top End of the country.

v There are none of what most people call mountains. The country’s highest peak is Mt Kosciusko (pictured above) in the Snowy Mountains, which strangely enough, is also one of the most dangerous to climb because of the icy conditions.

In Memoriam: Lillian

I

Taliana

t is with great sadness to announce the death of Lillian Taliana a well-known and respected member of the Maltese community in NSW. Lillian was born in Mqabba, Malta on March 30 1950.

She was married to Alfred and had three children, Nancy, Jacqueline and David, and five grandchildren. She died at home surrounded by her family last Saturday January 12 after a short illness.

Lillian emigrated to Australia in 1970. She worked with Centerlink and served for over 14 years on the committee of La Vallette Centre. She was last a committee member of the Maltese Cultural Association of NSW. Well know for her voluntary work especially with the Adult Senior Group at Greystanes, in 2016 Lillian was awarded the prestigious Quiet Achievers Award.

Her funeral will be held on Wednesday January 16 at 10.30am at Our Lady Queen of Peace Greystanes.

More about this much loved lady in our next issue. Rest in Peace.

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

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

Learn Maltese!

Maltese broadcasters meet listeners group made up of 57 members from casters and frequently also participate in A the Maltese La Valette Association of phone ins on the Saturday request proEast Bentleigh, recently visited the Mal- grammes. They were very eager to meet

tese Centre in Parkville where they met the producers of the Maltese programmes on 3ZZZ radio, Paul Vella and Liz Phillips and helper Salvina Vella.

The group are avid listeners of the programmes produced by the Maltese broad-

Community Wheels Inc.

with the broadcasters. Mario Sammut was unable to attend.

Picture (taken by Guy Deguara) shows the La Valette Association members in their meeting with the meeting with the 3ZZZ producers at Parkville

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

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.

The Voice of the Maltese 23

Tuesday January 15, 2019

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 Bankstown CBD area.

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

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

Daceyville Maltese Seniors

Note: The Groups also arrange regular Bus Trips

Join us and make new friends.

Merrylands Social Maltese Seniors

Maltese Group

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

Meetings/Get Togethers are interestMeets every second Friday of the ing, informative & entertaining, so month: Miller Room, Memorial Av- come Join us and make new Friends enue Merrylands from 10.30am to For more information contact our Co12.30 am ordinator: Charles Mifsud J.P.Phone (02) 9501 Llandilo Maltese Seniors Meets on the first Wednesday of each 5525 – mobile 0421 662 298.

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

SBS Radio 2 on Channel 38.

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

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

VIVA MALTA on COAST FM 96.3 Community Radio in Gosford Central 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

Saint Nicholas Festa Committee

Main events for 2019

Sunday March 10: Fete Sunday June 30: L-Imnarja Sunday October 20: Fete Saturday Nov. 9: Dinner Dance Sunday December 1: Feast

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

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

Min japplika jrid ikollu għarfien sew tal-Malti, miktub u mitkellem. Dan hu xogħol volontarju, bla ħlas. Min hu interessat jibgħat l-applikazzjoni bid-dettalji akkademiċi lil: edwigeborg@hotmail.com Għal tagħrif ieħor ċempel fuq 0412 115 919. Ħalli nnumru tattelefon u nċemplulek lura

Join us on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/g roups/thevoiceofthemaltese

24 The Voice of the Maltese

Sports

Tuesday January 15, 2019

Malta national team MUST improve following a very disappointing year

Y

ear 2018 was one of the worst for Malta’s national football team resultswise having only won one match, a friendly home game against Luxembourg out of ten played. Malta played six matches in the newly created UEFA Nations League, obtaining just three points from drawn matches and losing the other three. It also lost three of the four friendly internationals, drawing the other.

As a result of its performances Malta ended the year 182nd – just two above the previous year’s ratings – from 211 national teams in the FIFA Ranking list for 2018. Only two other teams from the European region (UEFA) finished lower, Gibraltar in 194th, and San Marino, last at 211th. That also means that Malta finished in 53rd place from among the 55 UEFA member members.

The nearest to finish above Malta in the list are Liechtenstein, one place above in 181st. There’s a gap of 12 places between the next team better off from Europe, Moldova in 170th.

For Malta’s Football Association (founded in 1900), one of the oldest of the 211 such bodies worldwide to finish so low in the rankings is indeed very disappointing. It certainly needs improving in order to regain the trust of the football enthusiasts, and also lure the crowds back to stadiums.

It is not a case of which teams finished behind but which ones placed better. That includes teams that are rarely figure on the football map, like St Vincent/Grenadines (180), Dominica (178) Bermuda (176), Chad (175), Cambodia (172), St Lucia (171), Fiji (169), Papua New Guinea (168). In spite of their problems since the 2011 revolution, neighbours Libya, finished 78 places above Malta in 104th.

One hopes that year 2019, would bring much better results and that backed by a professional structure, the MFA’s set up would manage to start getting the results hoped for.

This year will be another busy and very tough one for the national

team that between Mach and November would be playing 10 European qualifiers for UEFA EURO 2020.

Malta is drawn in Group F with Spain, Sweden, Norway, Romania, and Faroe Islands. On first matchday in March 26 Malta hosts Faroe Islands, the last team faced in the UEFA Nations League last year.

Following are the dates set for the 10 UEFA EURO qualifiers: 23/03: MALTA v Faroe Islands; 26/03: MALTA v Spain 07/06: Sweden v MALTA; 10/06: MALTA v Romania 05/09: Norway v MALTA; 08/09: Romania v MALTA 12/10: MALTA v Sweden; 15/10: Faroe Islands v MALTA 15/11: Spain v MALTA; 18/11/2019: MALTA v Norway

Hibernians regain top position

Painful but beautiful H alta’s Prime Minister, pointingly lose 1-0 to FiorenM Joseph Muscat is a keen tina. football follower and has never On the other hand he must

shied away from expressing his admiration for his favourite Italian Serie A club, AC Milan, or his sadness whenever they lose a match.

One of these sad days was on December 22 when he his wife Michelle were in the stands of ,the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium to watch his favourites disap-

have been proud to watch his 11-year-old twins, Soleil and Etoile – who share dad’s same passion for Milan - step up on the pitch and to line up among the other mascots with the Milan players before kick off.

They came out onto the pitch holding hands with players Samu Castillejo and Ricardo Rodriguez.

Joseph Muscat said it was “a painful but still beautiful day at AC Milan”.

He is human after all! tPM Joseph Muscat’s twins, Soleil and Etoile, at the Giu-seppe Meazza ... perhaps fulfilling their, and dad’s dream

ibernians finished the first round in the Premier League in Malta by sharing the top position after they dropped two points in a draw with Balzan. However, the start of the second round on Sarurday they regained the position when they defeated Pieta 2-0, while Gzira were denied victory by conceding a late goal in a 1-1 draw against Tarxien.

The top matches were played on Sunday with Valetta meeting and beating Sliema Wanderers 2-0 to close in on Gzira in second place, while neighbours Balzan and Birkirkara figured in a scoreless draw.

At other end of the league ladder, the match between the teams who ere sharing bottom place ended in a RESULTS Day 14 comfortable 4-0 victory for Senglea Hibernians v Pieta H 2-0 Athletic. It was the Athletics’ first win Gzia Utd v Tarxien R 1-1 after five successive defeats, and Valletta v Sliema W. 2-0 Qormi’s 11th loss in a row that leaves Balzan v Birkirkara 0-0 them three points below Senglea.

1-1 Floriana v Ħamrun S. At the top Hibernians have 34 points, Senglea v Qormi 4-0 Gzira 32 and Valletta 31.

1-1 Mosta v St Andrews

Perth Glory forge six points ahead in A-League

F

ollowing three wins and just one defeat from their last four outings over the Christmas and New Year period, since the last issue of The Voice, Perth Glory managed to regain their lead at the top of the A-League. where they enjoy a six-point lead over nearest challengers Melbourne Victoria and defending champions Sydney FC. Melbourne Victory, leaders be-

fore the festive season dropped seven points and only obtained one win from four, while Sydney FC suffered two losses, the latest one last weekend against the league leaders.

Perth Glory lead the standing with 32 points, while Melbourne Victoria and Sydney FC are on 26. Melbourne City are three points further back followed by Wellington on 22.