No. 5/2014 MHA Newsletter June 2014

Merħba! Welcome to all the members and friends of the immigrants to Australia, particularly the sad story of C. Maltese Historical Association. Fabri in South Australia. In this newsletter you will find: My cousin in Glasgow sent me this: a number of links to interesting websites stunning photos of by Nino Xerri A couple of URLs you might find of interest if you don’t a summary of our last talks in May already know of them are: a summary of the South Australian e-Newsletters Listen to Radju Malta live at: an introduction to our presentation evening in June http://www.tvm.com.mt/live/radju-malta/

Maltese music to download - subscription, but there are Interesting websites: a bunch of freebies, and if you have any Maltese music to let him have, you get a free subscription: National Library of Australia: TROVE: http://www.diskimaltin.com/ http://trove.nla.gov.au A huge number of resources has been digitized on Malta's Flora Trove. A quick search for “Maltese” brought up http://www.maltawildplants.com/ thousands of hits. You don’t even have to register to Birdlife (well what little of it there is thanks to the damn access thousands of articles, books, archived websites, hunters!) maps, pictures, audiovisuals, etc. This site is a “must” http://www.birdlifemalta.org/ for your bookmark list; it really is a treasure trove! Malta Maps, Photos and webcams (except the Maltese migration in Australia webcams are mislabeled!) http://www.maltavista.net/ Museum Victoria: Origins - Immigrant Communities in Australia - History of immigration from Malta: Also, for anyone who is interested in genealogy, you http://museumvictoria.com.au/origins/history.aspx?pid=3 can order birth, death and marriage certificates by post 9 from: A summary of Maltese migration to Australia https://secure2.gov.mt/certifikati/

Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship: Community Information Summary - Malta- born - Historical Background: http://www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/02_ 2014/malta.pdf The site gives many statistics but conveniently ignores restrictions on Maltese immigration. See below!

Celebrate Migration Despite Sorry Saga of Boat People - Point of Law by Mr. Chris Kourakis Q.C. President of the Law Society of South Australia: http://web.archive.org/web/20091021231352/http://geoci ties.com/f_scicluna/chris.html The story of the Maltese “black menace” and the 214 Maltese “boat people” who emigrated to Australia in 1916. They failed the language dictation test, given in Dutch, under armed guard, and were shipped to Noumea, despite being British subjects. To be fair, public outcry resulted in their eventual return to Australia.

A Brief History of the Maltese Community in South Australia by Frank L Scicluna: http://www.geocities.ws/frans311/history.html describes various Australian immigration policies over time, and details the stories of a number of early

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Scenes of Malta - Courtesy of Nino Xerri

When I saw these photographs on facebook, I thought they were superb. I begged our very own Nino Xerri to let me reproduce them on the MHA Newsletter. Would you like to see more photographs like these? Let Nino or myself know.

Trident Fountain

Mdina

Grandmasters Palace Gardjola Gardens

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Ta Pinu Basilica, Gozo

Bubaqra Tower, Zurrieq

Xewkija Parish Church, Gozo Crane Hook, Balluta Bay

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The MHA Monthly Presentation May 2014 Some Photographs from Joe Flores’

Article by Agnes Cauchi Presentation

This month's presentation consisted of two parts. Firstly there was a book launch by Lou Drofenik, and after that Mr Joe Flores had a photo show entitled: A novel by Lou"Malta Drofenik in the Past". Lou Drofenik's new book is entitled "Bushfire Summer". She is referring to the Black Saturday Bush-Fires of 2009. She wrote the book from her experience because her home was involved in the above- mentioned bush-fire.

She explored the relationships between people in a small rural community such as hers following their ordeal. The protagonist of the novel is a man of Maltese origin. Lou told us how she decided on this character. When on a visit to Malta she met a person whose brother was sent to Australia under the Child Migrant Scheme. Unfortunately he did not receive the promised City Gate education, whereas the brother in Malta did; in fact he is now an academic.

As to the front cover of the book, it is the picture of the Bush Fire Memorial Tree made out of stainless steel. The leaves of the tree were donated by volunteer blacksmiths in Whittlesea and from around the world. It was in honour of the people impacted by the bushfire. The tree is ten metres tall and is now in Strathewen. Manoel Island before it was ruined

The second part, Malta and the Past, was presented by Joe Flores, who showed us a number of photos of Malta dating from the late 1800s. It was interesting to see the different ships and sailing boats (dgħajjes tal- Latini) of the era. The Grand Harbour was always very busy. Steamsailor - Senglea in background

There were photos of King Edward's visit to Malta in 1903. It was nostalgic to see photos of the shops and entrance to Valletta. There was even a photo of the first water supply in Mellieha!

The audience participated by endeavouring to recognise Above: St Paul’s Rabat - Dome the various buildings and streets, which are now so damaged in 1923 earthquake different from what they were then. Below: No one could identify this. Can you help us? Mdina/Rabat Railway station

140602_MHA_Newsletter_June_2014 Page 4 of 10 Maltese E-Newsletters Frank Scicluna has published three online newsletters in the past month. They contain a wealth of information. I strongly encourage you to subscribe if you have not already done so. Just send an email to [email protected] It’s free. Meanwhile, some of the articles are summarised below:

MALTESE E-NEWSLETTER 41 Atzopardis (Azzopardi), Soueref (Xuereb), Alamanos (Alamango), Sakkos (Sacco) and Michalef (Micallef). Malta and Egypt It is believed the Pharaoh Hound (Kelb tal-Fenek) was THE MALTESE GUILD OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA IN brought to Malta from Egypt by Phoenician traders 5000 1981 years ago. A Maltese Franciscan Fr. Giles Ferriggi founded the Thousands of Maltese have since settled in Egypt, Maltese Community Society of SA in 1948 in response speaking Arabic, building churches of Maltese stone to the accelerating migration post World War II. and raising their families. They are quite well In 1953, the Maltese Community Society of SA changed documented, as pioneers such as Tony Said, Ivo its name to the Maltese Guild of Australia (SA). The Muscat Azzopardi and George Vella founded weekly Guild became an incorporated body in 1969 and bought newspapers and various groups. a hall in Jeanes Street, Beverley in August, 1976, Egyptian Maltese diplomatic relations were established officially opening on March I2, 1977. Work started on 39 years ago seeking fruitful cooperation and resulting providing an Information Office within the Centre, which in a number of agreements in political, business and provides a wide range of services and facilities to the cultural affairs. Maltese. A small grant was allocated by the State Government towards an office in 1981. THE KNIGHTS OF MALTA STUDENTS WIN MALTA POST ITEMS IN The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John COMPETITION of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta is the world's oldest surviving order of chivalry. It is a Roman Catholic 25 students from Gozo and Malta who correctly lay religious order of, traditionally, a military, chivalrous answered questions related to Philately in SAGHTAR and noble nature and is headquartered in Rome. magazine competitions, were awarded Philatelic gifts at Originally founded around 1050 to care for the poor and MaltaPost Head Office in Marsa. SAGHTAR is a sick in the Holy Land, it became a military order after students’ educational monthly magazine published in the conquest of Jerusalem in 1099. Later, as Christian the Maltese language by the Malta Union of Teachers territories were lost to the Muslims, the Order moved to (MUT). “It is amazing how much one can learn about Rhodes (1310-1523), then Malta (1530-1798), from Maltese History through stamps” said MaltaPost’s Head which it was expelled by Napoleon. of Philately, Mary Grace Simpson. The Order retains its claims of sovereignty under MALTAPOST PHILATELIC WEBSITE international law and has been granted permanent observer status at the United Nations. It issues its own MaltaPost www.maltaphilately.com hosts an online shop passports and postal stamps. Its insignia is a white or with all stamp sets and related philatelic items issued gold Maltese cross and its patron is the Blessed Virgin from 2002 onwards. It will include an online catalogue Mary under the title of "Our Lady of Mount Philermos" with images of all stamps issued in Malta since 1860. Its 13,000 members, 80,000 permanent volunteers, and 20,000 medical personnel care for those in need, worldwide, without distinction of race or religion.

The Order recently celebrated the 900th anniversary of the Papal bull of sovereignty which had been issued by Pope Paschal II on 15 February 1113.

CORFU – MALTA RELATIONS Sir Thomas Maitland was the Governor of Malta before becoming the first Lord High Commissioner for the EARLY MALTESE SETTLERS IN ADELAIDE Ionian Islands, including Corfu. Between 1815 and 1860 he resettled about 80 people from Malta to Corfu; Francesco Saverio De Cesare, a Maltese scholar who 40 stone masons and their wives, intending that their travelled across Australia during the 1880s, recorded a building work could be continued by their children. very interesting but sad story of the first Maltese he encountered in Adelaide. By 1901 there were close to 1000 people of Maltese descent in Corfu. The Maltese Corfiots today number Carmelo Fabri was a land surveyor who had been more than 3500 of the 100,000 Corfiots on the island. employed by the government as a draughtsman but was They mainly occupying a region informally known as retrenched. To survive he had to sell his professional 'Maltezika' (Malta) and 'Cozella' (Gozo). Common instruments, books and clothes. He ended up in the surnames include Psailas (Psaila), Spitieris (Spiteri),

140602_MHA_Newsletter_June_2014 Page 5 of 10 Destitute Asylum, where he eventually died while migrants' legal guardian but this was delegated to the waiting to be repatriated. relevant state-based organisations. British, Maltese and State Governments subsidised the program financially. According to the 1911 census there were 248 Maltese in Australia. The number increased considerably in the How Malta has populated the world with 'little following years, despite the Maltese being excluded plastic people' from the assisted passage scheme in 1912, as a result of trade union bans on cheap labour, which made Britain’s Daily Telegraph mockery of the fact that they were British subjects and has carried a feature on held a British passport. the 2.7 billion little plastic people produced by New coat-of-arms to St Anthony’s Battery Playmobil since 1974.

‘People factory’ at Hal Far, Malta The Playmobil FunPark in Malta was created with the aim of providing an opportunity for children to interact with Playmobil's range of figures and play-sets in a fun- filled and safe environment set on an area of 2,000 square metres.

Bonds that never die - MALTESE IN DETROIT Diane Gale Andreassi, an American reporter, both of whose parents were Maltese migrants, has published a book documenting the emigration of thousands of Maltese people to the world’s automotive hub of Detroit and trails their descendants. The author said. “First, second and third generation Master Mason, Leli Bufajra, was commissioned to Maltese have a real affection for Malta and their replace the missing coat-of-arms that once adorned the heritage”. entrance to the Fortizza ta’ Sant Antnin, on Qala Point, Gozo. Carved on a 2 metre block of hard stone, The majority of Maltese who left for the US in the first specially chosen from a Gozo quarry, it shows the coat- half of the 20th century settled in New York City, San of-arms of Grand Master de Vilhena and the Cross of Francisco, Chicago and Detroit. Detroit has one of the the Order of St John, together with an inscription by the largest (44,000) Maltese migrant populations. Governor of Gozo which reads: ‘Nel Governo del Cav Fra Paulo Antonio de Viguier, 1732.’ MALTESE MIGRATION TO USA Din l-Art Helwa has been restoring the 18th Century A government statement in 1947 showed that more than battery since 2007 in a joint project with the Qala Local 5,000 people applied to enter the USA but two major Council and MEPA funding derived from planning gains. obstacles were the lack of direct shipping and the closure of the local American Consulate issuing visas. Later that year, the ship Marine Shark took 240 migrants, the first significant group to leave directly for North America, arriving in eleven days. Many of the Maltese continued their journey to Detroit and San Sir Gerald Strickland, Francisco. Most adults paid fares which ranged from 1st Baron Strickland $40 to $50. 1861-1940, born in Malta, served as 24th Following a delegation from Malta in 1848, an American Governor of NSW, in consulate in Valletta was opened In February 1950. office 14 March 1913 – Between 1949 and 1950 the total of approved migrants 27 October 1917 to the U.S.A. was 1,324, most travelling aboard the two ships Italia and Neptune.

MALTESE E-NEWSLETTER 42 RUSSIAN REFUGEES IN MALTA IN 1919 Child Migrants The Russian Imperial Romanov family; Tsar Nicholas II, his wife, daughters, and young son, along with their Children and young people under the age of 21 have attendants, had been executed in July 1918. The been sent to Australia as unaccompanied child migrants Bolsheviks were gaining control of Russia. In the first since the 1800s. Post-World War II, 48 per cent of the week of April 1919, HMS Marlborough arrived at children arriving from Britain and Malta were sent to Sebastopol, Russia, carrying a letter from Queen Western Australia. The Commonwealth Immigration Alexandra of England to her sister, Dowager Empress (Guardianship of Children) Act 1946 made the Marie Feodorovna, the mother of the murdered Tsar, Commonwealth Minister for Immigration the child urging her to leave Russia on this Royal Navy ship. 140602_MHA_Newsletter_June_2014 Page 6 of 10 HMS Marlborough finally departed on 11th April carrying THE BOND STILL EXISTS 44 members of the Royal Family and Nobility, with a When former Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg visited number of attendants and several hundred cases of Australia, an elderly lady, a grandmother, approached luggage. They arrived in Malta on the evening of 20th him with tears in her eyes and begged him: “When you April. The Empress and her immediate family were go back to Malta, do please tell them that we love Malta. accommodated at San Anton Palace, where she later Tell them that we never stopped loving our country and planted an oak tree in the gardens, to commemorate that we can’t come back because our children are here.” her nine-day stay. The other nobility were spread around various hotels. Malta in the old days The Canadian registered ship S.S. Bermudian arrived Three photos of old Malta later the same week, on 25th April 1919, carrying 220 men, 345 women and 133 children, reported as English and Russian refugees. No passenger list was kept on WORLD WAR II – 1939-1945 board the Bermudian, the only list being held by the On 29–30 April 1942, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini military authorities. approved a plan for the invasion of Malta. An airborne The precise number of Russian refugees will never be assault, with German and Italian paratroops, was to be known but around 800 is a fair estimate. Only a handful followed by a seaborne landing of two or three divisions stayed and made Malta their home. protected by the Regia Marina. Supported by Rommel but opposed by Göring, the operation was repeatedly Invasion of Gozo (1551) delayed and eventually cancelled. Meanwhile the Maltese island’s 300,000 population faced starvation The invasion of Gozo by the Ottoman Empire followed and homelessness from the relentless bombing. an unsuccessful attempt to conquer Malta on 18 July

1551 and was followed by their victory at the Siege of Tripoli (1551). The Royal Opera House destroyed The Commanders of the Ottoman fleet were Sinan on 7th. April 1942 Pasha, Sala Reis and Dragut Reis. They initially landed

on Malta, at Marsamxett, and a force of 10,000 men marched upon Birgu and Fort St Angelo, which were too well fortified to be conquered easily.

The Ottomans then turned their attention to Mdina,

looting and burning villages on the way, but found a large garrison defending the city. Meanwhile, a relief fleet attacked the Ottoman ships anchored at Malta – Australian Connection Marsamxett. The Ottomans then attacked nearby Gozo. The Though 12000 km apart, the tiny Mediterranean island Governor, Gelatian de Sessa, made a feeble attempt to and its huge antipodean cousin share a history rich in defend the citadel, but soon abandoned his post when the blood, sweat and tears of their peoples. 204 war the walls were breached. An English knight took graves of Australian men on Malta from WWI are cared command and personally fired off a cannon defending for by the Commonwealth War Graves commission and the breach but was soon killed by a cannon ball from Pieta Military ceremony near the capital of Valletta hosts the Turkish batteries. The governor offered to capitulate an annual remembrance service on 25th April each year but demanded honourable terms, which were rejected. to commemorate the ANZACS of Gallipoli. After a few days of bombardment, the Citadel of Gozo Australia Hall near St Julians was officially opened in was taken and the Turks plundered and ravaged the January 1916 by the Red Cross as an entertainment inhabitants. De Sessa and 6,000 Christians were taken centre for the ANZAC survivors of this horrific period. It into slavery and left for Tripoli on 30 July. remained in use until 1979, when British troops Since only about 40 Christians remained on Gozo, withdrew from the islands. In late 1998 it was badly Maltese families were encouraged to repopulate the damaged by fire and has remained derelict and in island. However, it took about 150 years for the dispute ever since. population to reach pre-1551 levels. The first Maltese to arrive in Australia, around 1810, Following the attack, Grandmaster Juan d’Omedes, were convicts. In 1881, 61 Maltese labourers and 9 strengthened the coastal guards, the Dejma, and built stowaways attempted to settle in Queensland but the Fort Saint Michael and Fort Saint Elmo to better defend extreme conditions proved too much and the plan failed. the Grand Harbour. Bastions at Mdina and Birgu were By 1911, there were 248 Maltese in Australia. strengthened, and the fortifications of Senglea were After this, the Maltese were treated as non-whites, built. despite having British passports, and were excluded Failure to take the islands led to the Great Siege of from Australia until 1948, when economic emigration Malta in 1565 and two further attacks on Gozo in 1613 from Malta to Australia took off on a large scale. and 1709, all of which were unsuccessful. Malta’s membership of the EU has led to a mini property Also see boom and the economy is in good shape. Increased air http://vassallohistory.wordpress.com/?s=gozo+1551 travel links to Malta have transformed it to a cosmopolitan playground. English speaking Malta 140602_MHA_Newsletter_June_2014 Page 7 of 10 encourages international professionals, with generous Confirmation and beyond. The Society of Christian tax and business incentives. Doctrine is commonly referred to by the acronym "MUSEUM", which stands for the Latin "Magister Record levels of international investments in niche Utinam Sequatur Evangelium Universus Mundus!", manufacturing and the services sectors are flowing into translating to "Master, that the whole world would follow Malta and it has a strong local food and drink the Gospel! manufacturing sector. St. George died on 26 July 1962 and thousands High profile investments in real estate include the attended his funeral. His body was recently exhumed integration of commercial and residential developments and reburied in the headquarters of the MUSEUM to provide balanced communities. SmartCity, a planned society. The work he started continues on, even in technology park based on the models of Dubai Internet foreign countries like London, Kenya, Peru, Poland, City and Dubai Media City, will cost at least 275 million Albania, Cuba and Australia. euro, create over 5,600 jobs and eventually cover an area of 360,000 m2 It is expected to be fully completed . IR-RAMLA L-HAMRA – the bay of red sand – GOZO, by 2021. It will feature a state-of-the-art ICT and Media MALTA Business Park, tourism accommodation, entertainment areas, shops, and a recreational area. Malta is tiny compared to Australia but you can get from one end of the island to the other in 45 minutes; Sicily is 90 minutes by high speed ferry and the North African coast is only 150 miles away. With more than a dozen international airlines, including Emirates, flying into Malta each week and many cruise liners calling in, the travel possibilities are endless.

Feast of Malta's First Saint - Father George Preca

9 May was the liturgical feast of Saint George Ir-Ramla with its coarse red sand is Gozo’s largest and Preca, Malta’s only saint. most popular beach. Ramla bay lies at the end of a Affectionately known as valley, between two steep faces. On one side is a cliffy "Dun Ġorġ", he is popularly ridge where Calypso's Cave may be found. Another referred to as the "Second location with caves is Il-Mixta, where pottery has been Apostle of Malta", after St found suggesting that the first human landings (from Paul. Sicily) occurred here at Ramla Bay in around 5200-4500 St George was born on BC. February 12, 1880. Early More recently, the Romans built their baths here. These in the 20th century he were discovered in 1911. It is also believed that founded the Society of St.Rossinian founded an Augustinian Monastery here Christian Doctrine, a after he was driven out of Africa. society of lay catechists. In 1729, Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena had vines The Congregation of the Causes of Saints examined the planted in the area and in 1733 he commissioned the scientifically unexplainable healing of Charles Zammit Belincourt fortification. As this beach was a potential Endrich, who had suffered from a detached retina of the landing ground for pirates, as well as the enemies of the left eye. They declared it miraculous and attributed it to Order, in 1715 a wall was built, submerged under water the intercession of Dun Gorg Preca. The healing took to thwart such landings. place outside of a hospital and was overseen by the personal doctor of Zammit Endrich, the ophthalmologist On the morning of July 7th, 1733, two Turkish galleys Censu Tabone, later to become the President of Malta. landed 75 men and captured Ġanni Mercieca's family of eight. The enslaved Gozitan family was redeemed after Dun Ġorġ was declared "venerable" on 28 June 1999. two years from funds raised by their compatriots. In On 27 January 2000, Pope John Paul II signed a June 1798, the French, under the leadership of Reynier, decree, officially confirming the Zammit Endrich healing. also landed an invasion force at Ramla. On 9 May 2001 Dun Ġorġ was beatified by the same Pope in a ceremony in , Malta, along with two Frenċ Mercieca – ta' l-Għarb other Maltese blesseds, Nazju Falzon, a cleric, and Adeodata Pisani, a nun. Dun Ġorġ was canonized on 3 Frenċ ta' l-Għarb was born on December 3rd, 1892, in June 2009. the village that was to bear his name. Having lost his father when he was still young, Frenċ gave up his Early in its history, the Society of Christian Doctrine was dream of joining the priesthood to work the fields and silenced for a while but Dun Ġorġ continued to teach provide for his family. A pious man, he was sought after students and form young unmarried men (and for his healing powers but he always declared that it eventually women) so that they could teach others. was not his ointments but the person's faith in God that Today, almost every parish in Malta has a group of healed afflictions. dedicated young men teaching catechism to children, in preparation for their First Holy Communion,

140602_MHA_Newsletter_June_2014 Page 8 of 10 In 1938, he was arraigned 2006, Camilleri was a member of the Malta Council for in court on account of his Culture and the Arts. In 2003, his opera Maltese Cross medical practices, but was was performed in Paris. His last work, the New Idea acquitted on the basis that Symphony, commissioned by his compatriot, the author what he administered were Edward de Bono, was premiered in Brussels on 13 not medicines at all. January this year. People came to him from He is survived by his wife, Doris, a writer, their daughter all over Malta and Gozo, Anja, and son Charles. the proceeds going to the building of Ta' Pinu A WORLD WAR 1 WELSH SOLDIER BURIED IN Sanctuary, of which he MALTA was a prime benefactor. The sacristy of the Leslie Vella gives a brief history of Malta’s sanctuary is full of votive contribution to nursing the gifts and notes by people wounded in WWI and claiming to have been researches the background healed or helped through the intervention of this holy of a young soldier, David man, who passed away on Luther Isaac, buried in Pieta Military Cemetery just May 19th, 1967. outside Valletta. Statue of l-Gharb at Ta' Pinu Church

Our Lady of Victory Church Valletta, Malta PORTRAIT OF A COMPOSER- CHARLES CAMILLERI 7 September 1931 - 3 January 2009 This small church was the first to be Charles Camilleri stands out built in Valletta by amongst other Maltese the Order of St John. composers such as Francesco Initially it was a Azopardi, Nicolò Isouard, and chapel dedicated to Ruben Zahra, because his Our Lady of Victory music, comprising more than to commemorate 300 compositions, is known Malta's triumph around the world and has during the Great helped revive traditional Siege of 1565. Maltese and Mediterranean Works began in 1567 folk styles. and it is traditionally A self-taught pianist and considered to be the accordionist, Camilleri was born into a musically site where the first talented family and started composing at an early age, stone of the new city inspired by Maltese folk singing, known as għana. He of Valletta was laid developed an interest in Stravinsky and Stockhausen on 28 March 1566. (both of whom he later met), Bach, Chopin and North Our Lady of Victory served as the first church of the African music. Order in Valletta until 1577, when the Conventual In London Camilleri toured with top names of the day, Church of St John was completed. Grand Master La including Frank Sinatra. He travelled to the USA and Valette was initially buried here, before being moved to Canada, where he conducted, wrote film scores, and his final resting place within St John’s Co-Cathedral. published. He was appointed conductor with CBC The church was modified in the seventeenth and (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) but around 1965, eighteenth centuries. he decided to quit and flew back to London to become a full-time composer. Camilleri was professor of composition at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto from 1977 to 1983, and from 1992 to 1996 was professor of music at the University of Malta. Camilleri wrote the first-ever opera in Maltese, Il- Weghda (1984), and the language's first oratorio, Pawlu ta' Malta (1985), in honour of the island's . His second oratorio, Dun Ġorġ (2001), celebrated the life of the 20th-century Maltese saint. Camilleri also co-wrote two books: Mediterranean Music (1988) and The Folk Music of Malta. Between 2003 and 140602_MHA_Newsletter_June_2014 Page 9 of 10 The 'Cantilena' of Pietro Caxaro June lecture by Joseph Borg Tuesday 17 June starting at 7.30 pm.

The earliest known poem in Maltese until recently was music, astronomy, geology, archaeology, history and that written by Bonamico, dedicated to Grand Master languages. Nicholas Cotoner (1663-80). This poem was written Joseph was married to Frances (nee Lee, deceased) about 1672-3 and is called 'Mejju gie bl'Uard, u Zahar' and has five daughters and ten grandchildren. and was discovered in the Manuscript collection of the famous Maltese lexicographer De Soldanis (1712-70). There was no knowledge of any previous publication, Hot off the press!

since everybody thought that anything written down The changing face of the Maltese Diaspora would have been in Italian or Sicilian. Professor Maurice Cauchi has just released the However, Fr M Fsadni OP and Mr G. Wettinger results of his survey on second generation Maltese changed all that when, looking at some manuscripts in Australians. The full report can be found at the National Archives held in Valletta in 1966, they came across a manuscript containing the notary deeds http://mauricecauchi.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/m of Rev. Brandano de altese-second-generation-in-australia- Caxaro. There, inscribed survey-report-by-m-cauchi-april-20142.pdf on the last page, in his own handwriting, was a poem, written in the Maltese Lace: Maltese of the period. Dr Consiglia Azzopardi, author of the Gozo Lace Brandano attributed this Book, has been instrumental in the revival of lace- poem to his predecessor, making in the Maltese Islands. She maintains a portal Pietro Caxaro. dedicated to the promotion of Maltese Lace: This discovery has www.malteselace.eu . enlightened the Maltese Dr Azzopardi will be holding sessions at the 16th people into a better World OIDFA Lace Congress to be held in Adelaide understanding of the July 2014 http://www.oidfa.com/ origin of their language, how it was written and Dr Azzopardi will be running classes in Melbourne in The 'Cantilena' of Pietro Caxaro what it sounded like. the first week of August. She will also make a presentation at a special session of the MHA on The speaker, Mr Joseph Borg, will endeavour to bring to Tuesday, 5th August at 7.30pm, at the Maltese

light some of these historical events and shall discuss Community Centre in Parkville.

the poem itself. It should be a most fascinating lecture.

Joseph Borg KM, Dip. Mech Eng., B.E. (Mech), M.I.E. BANK OF VALLETTA PLC (Aust) was born in Rabat, Malta, attended the Seminary school in Floriana, and migrated to Australia with his Australia Representative Office: family in December 1954. In 1966, he obtained a 16 Watt Street Sunshine Vic 3020 Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Swinburne Technical College while working as an apprentice at Tel 9311 3222 Fax 9311 3216 Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation. He then Open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays completed a degree in Mechanical Engineering at from 9.00am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 5.00pm Melbourne University. Uffiċċju Rappreżentattiv In 1971 Joe was seconded to a company called Steel Mains. In 1981 he was promoted to Works Engineer at L-Ewwel Bank Rappreżentattiv Malti fl-Awstralja the Somerton Plant, in charge of capital works and maintenance. He then became the Engineering Services Manager at Tubemakers Steel Water Pipe Division, in charge of designing large pieces of equipment, before retiring in September 2000. Joe is a member of the Institute of Engineers, Australia. He was President of the Maltese Community Council of Victoria (1991 – 1993), a founding member of the Maltese Historical Association (Aust), and served as Secretary and President for several years. In 1995 he became a member of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta. One of Joe’s many interests is the design of large steel and bronze sculptures. He also enjoys bush-walking, 140602_MHA_Newsletter_June_2014 Page 10 of 10