Maltese Community Council of Victoria, Inc. 477 Royal Parade | Parkville Victoria 3052 | Australia Phone: (03) 9387 8922 Fax: (03) 9387 8309 MCCV News Email: [email protected] Website: www.mccv.org.au No. 127 • Sept-Nov 2014 • www.mccv.org.au Editor: Dr Edwin Borg-Manché Maltese community celebrates 50th In this issue Anniversary of Malta’s Independence • President’s Column: Reflec- 2 tions by a departing President • From the MCCV Council 3 • MCCV AGM 2014 • Council for Maltese Living 4 Abroad meets in Malta • Roadmap for Maltese Diaspo- 5 ra-Government cooperation • Presentation of MCCV 6 Community Awards 2014 • ANZAC DAY 2015 in Malta 9 Malta’s Gallipoli Connection On Sunday 21 September the Maltese independence became stronger. Following community in Melbourne celebrated the the closure of the Suez canal in 1957, the • Australian Plant Collection 10 50th Anniversary of Malta’s Independence British government announced that it established at Argotti Gardens at a reception held at the Maltese Centre in would downsize their military presence Parkville. Special guests at the reception around the globe, including Malta. • Tonio Borg rules out 11 Parliament, but not politics included the Consul General for Malta in Mr Grech said that the granting of Victoria, Mr Victor Grech; representing independence to Malta on 21 September • Karmenu Vella resigns from the Premier of Victoria and Co-Chair of 1964 marked the ending of thousands of parliament to become EU the Victorian parliamentary ‘Friends of years of foreign rule. “Therefore today Commissioner Malta’ group, the Hon Andrew Elsbury; it’s the 50th anniversary of this • Malta’s Archbishop Paul representing the Leader of the Opposition magnificent event and I would like to 12 Cremona resigns the Hon Colin Brooks; MCCV Vice express my feelings of respect and President Mr Victor Borg; Hon Consul for gratitude to the politicians and previous • MHA Events: Malta between 13 Malta in Victoria and MCCV PRO Dr Maltese governments who over the years the 15th and 18th centuries Edwin Borg-Manché; MSSP Provincial Fr devoted their energy to make Malta an Ivano Burdian mssp, Fr Edwin Agius mssp independent nation.” Though a small • Maria Bambina Feast 14 and Sr Doris Falzon OP. island nation, Malta has contributed celebrated in Melbourne In the absence of MCCV President beyond limits of imagination to peace and Professor Maurice Cauchi, who was in prosperity no only within its borders but • Team GAM puts in good show 15 Malta to attend the meeting of the Council beyond to outer countries of the world, he at Nisġa’s Maltese Cook-off for Maltese Living Abroad, Vice President said • Celebration of Stella Maris 16 Victor Borg welcomed the distinguished Representing the State Premier of Feast in Melbourne guests and spoke on the importance and Victoria as well as the Minister for • Il-GLM jorganizza programm meaning of the Independence celebrations Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship, the 17 to the islands of Malta and Gozo. He gave Hon Andrew Elsbury said that celebrating mużiko-lettararju some background on the history of Malta the 50th anniversary of Malta’s putting into perspective the importance of • Maltese singer Eleanor Cassar 18 independence is a joyous occasion for all entertains in Melbourne Malta’s achievement of independence 50 Maltese around the world. years ago. Mr Elsbury said that it is an opportunity • Apprezzament: Iħallina Charlie In his address, Consul General of Malta 19 to reflect on Malta’s proud history and the Debono ‘tal-Presepju Mekkaniku’ in Victoria Mr Victor Grech said that, relationship between our two great while the Maltese bravery during World nations. He pointed out that they are two • Educating the community War II was acknowledged through the 20 great nations of islands, “ours is a little bit on Palliative Care Services in award of the George Cross, the Maltese bigger but in any case still an island”. wanted a secure future either within or Victoria • Community Calendar without the British Empire. The calls for Continued on page 6 Page 2 • MCCV News No. 127 • Sept - Nov 2014 • www.mccv.org.au The President’s Column Reflections by a departing President fter several years at the helm, it is time to Our future depends on our youth. We are happy to relinquish one’s position and allow others say that in the last few years we have succeeded in to take over, bring new ideas and resuscitating the youth committee with the help of Rita encourage other views. One is allowed to Catania, who has been indefatigable in organising Alook back over the years, take stock and consider how events to attract young persons to the Maltese Centre. things have changed over the past decade or two. Moreover, through the setting up of the Bishop Joe Perhaps one of the most fundamental changes Grech Memorial Fund and Scholarship, we hope to affecting our community in Australia is the fact that the attract young people to maintain an interest in Maltese first generation, those of us born overseas, is culture. We hope that those who succeed to get these diminishing at a great rate. The proportion of persons scholarships, offered every year, will one day become reaching the ripe age of 70 and even 80 is getting the leaders of the Maltese community in years to come. proportionately larger and larger. The last census shows So we can conclude by saying that, while we cannot an annual loss of one per cent, and this is bound to stop the ravages of time, and while we are convinced increase as we get older. that sunset issues loom closer and closer, yet there is Relating also to this is the need to foster an interest in still a lot of work to be done. Since its very inception in our Maltese heritage among the second generation. The 1958, the Maltese Community Council of Victoria has recent survey carried out by the MCCV shows that, always been at the forefront in providing a whole indeed, many of these still have a lasting interest in variety of services to the community, and has always Maltese culture, although the language is fast shouldered the task of representing and voicing the disappearing. This is something to build on. needs of the community, to ensure that we do not lack Unfortunately, these persons hardly have any contact essential services. This I am sure will continue for as with institutions, including Maltese associations, which long as there are Maltese within the community. in the past have been the bulwark which maintained One has to emphasize that the needs of the Maltese culture alive. community do not disappear just because the One result of this is the fact that the MCCV is finding community is ageing. In fact, the opposite is the truth, it difficult to maintain the services that we have been and certainly, services for older persons become more used to. An example of this is the move to divest and more acute as a result. I feel confident that the ourselves of the responsibility of providing home MCCV will be around for several more decades, to services to older people. Currently, the MCCV is assist, advise, support and represent the Maltese negotiating terms with a well-respected organisation to community in Victoria to the best of its ability. pass on to them this burden, so we can concentrate on For more details relating to the work of the MCCV, other work of more immediate relevance. you may wish to consult a copy of the Annual Report, There is no denying that when the population is available from the Maltese Centre. getting older, it becomes more difficult to continue with activities which one took for granted as a young person. It has become difficult to find volunteers to do even Prof. Maurice Cauchi relatively simple jobs. Even activities like Bingo MCCV President sessions have become a costly exercise, because of the fact that the usual clients have become too old to drive a car, or because there are other venues which can afford better prospects. No. 127 • Sept - Nov 2014 • www.mccv.org.au MCCV News • Page 3 From the MCCV Council MCCV Community Awards 2014. On 21st September 2014, the 50th Anniversary of Malta’s Independence. The MCCV held a MCCV presented the MCCV Community Awards to the reception celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Malta’s Independence following recipients; Day at the Maltese Community Centre on the 21st September 2014. Scholarship and Education: Prof Joseph A Camilleri Grant from Multicultural Community Infrastructure Fund. The MCCV has been advised that its application for a building Education: Ms Edwidge Borg maintenance grant from Multicultural Community Infrastructure Fund Culture: Mr Joseph Borg (in absentia) and Mr Albert W Agius has been successful. Works relating to roof repairs, replacement of Welfare Services: Mr Jimmy Dingli, Mr Romeo Cini, Mr interior ceiling tiles and double-glazing of hall windows will Nicholas Chircop and Mr Lewis Stafrace commence shortly. General Services: Sr Doris Falzon OP, Dr Clemente Zammit IT equipment upgrade. The MCCV will be upgrading its IT (in absentia), Mrs Carmen Testa and Mr John Pace . equipment and software to support the services that the Council Survey of Maltese Elderly in Victoria. Council is currently provides. Appropriate equipment will also be implemented for offsite conducting a survey of the needs of Maltese Elderly. Professor backup. Maurice Cauchi has designed the survey with relevant questions to be included in the survey form and will analyse responses and compile a report on the survey results. MCCV Annual General Meeting 2014 MCCV Executive Committee 2014-16: from left, Mrs Rosemary Attard (Welfare Director), Mr Paul Borg (Treasurer), Dr Edwin Borg-Manché (Vice President & PRO), Mr Victor Borg (President), Mr Joseph Stafrace (Vice President), Mrs Edwina Mallia (Secretary), Mrs Rita Pullicino (Assistant Treasurer), Mrs Marilyn Pace (Social Secretary).