Lawrence Dimech Australia

Lawrence Dimech Australia Nostalgia rather than stagnation For the fourth time, here we are meeting in Malta. We, the ones who both needed and had the courage to leave our mothers' apron strings to seek shelter in a far off land, have gathered to discuss our needs, in a brotherly atmosphere. We need to study well how Malta, as required by its Republican constitution, can: facilitate and cultivate links between the Maltese communities outside of Malta and the political, cultural, economic and social life of Malta. These last two paragraphs should be the foundation and basis of the parameters within which to develop our reasoning and frame every request. If Malta does not seriously implement all that is required by its Constitution, it will be useless beating about the bush, getting hot under the collar and arguing, as this will lead nowhere. The onus on implementing the Constitution lies squarely with the Maltese Government. Organised emigration to Australia (i.e. emigration of groups rather than individuals) commenced in 1883, more than 132 years ago. We, who left our land permanently, still dream that one day our land Malta, the land of our forefathers, not only offers us conditional citizenship, but full acceptance, and above all without being treated on a par with citizens of the EU. NO, we are not united by a treaty signed in ink - we are Maltese children, we have Maltese DNA, we are Maltese. I say ours was a permanent emigration, as in the fifties and sixties when we emigrated it was well-nigh impossible to come back. This is not only due to the financial impost on us by the Maltese and British governments but more significantly due to the difficulties resulting from the huge distances involved. Upon arrival, CMLA 2015 – Lawrence Dimech (Australia): Nostalgia rather than stagnation Australia accepted us as permanent migrants, and not temporary ones for a period of two years. From 1969 to date, 46 years have passed and four Conventions have been held. I don't know who else is in this hall like me has been to all of them. This one of 2015 may be my last. As one of the pioneers therefore, I feel duty bound to look back and explain where we have arrived and how we got there, as the Maltese communities in Australia need more help now than ever. We've been told that this Convention will consider new prospects. This is as it should be however there should be continuity between the past and future, especially when the past is full of bravery, determination and vigour by those who etched its history. For us, the past remains a symbol, but in a calm and measured way we are also facing the future, with all the dangers and uncertainties that may bring. This year, our Malta has celebrated 50 years since Independence, 40 years as a Republic, 35 years of Freedom and 10 years from entry into the European Union. It's in the midst of such celebrations when you feel the cruelty of emigration, as would not be possible to physically be in Malta to share these historic occasions with your Maltese brethren. Independence was a giant step in the history of all Maltese. Yes, while Malta celebrated its Independence, we, the ones who emigrated, were set aside. Years later, Malta flew the flag of Freedom. Neither Independence nor Freedom restored our Maltese citizenship. The majority of us emigrants had to, with a heavy heart, obtain another citizenship to be able to work and be a bit more comfortable where we went to live. We lost our Maltese citizenship straight away. For this reason, we had to embark with determination on a long crusade to win back what was our birthright, to bring back our Maltese citizenship. The radical changes in the citizenship legislation started in 1989 and continued in the year 2000 with a most advanced amendment that opened wide the concept of dual citizenship. Further amendments were made in 2007 when the opportunity of citizenship was also provided to all those descendants in a direct line to their ancestors born in Malta. In the 2010 Convention I had presented a study which explained in detail how the concept of citizenship had developed. It's therefore a mistake to argue that Maltese emigrants wanted dual citizenship as a road to Europe. CMLA 2015 – Lawrence Dimech (Australia): Nostalgia rather than stagnation Our crusade to achieve dual citizenship kicked off 41 years ago by the Maltese Community Council of NSW. It ended successfully because finally, the Maltese Government understood that we didn't deserve to lose as well our citizenship that was ours by birth just because we had to emigrate and integrate in another land we went to reside in. In the last few years, a few have started saying that the Maltese community in Australia is in its death pangs. There's a world of difference between being aged and being on death pangs. From my perspective, I see a community still very active, with a number of individuals with plenty of determination and good will. These understand very well that today, more than ever, they need to work and be militant, as age brings about a delicate period when our Maltese brethren are in need of far more attention and assistance than they had before, and not a parrot- fashion criticism. Young people active in the community have noted to me that lately, they are noting a rise rather than reduction of activity in the community. They have met and got to know many people of between 40 and 60 years of age, who are attending community activities. Today, ages in the fifties and the sixties are no longer considered to be old. On the contrary, it has been forecasted that someone born today may be able to live 150 years. These are expected to span that delicate period between old age and the new generations. These are not facts that arose from some contrived survey intended to show what a small section of the community wants to hear. Surveys and opinion polls are the weapons of the powerful - sometimes they are weapons of mass destruction! Ask what you want to know, word the questions cleverly and the final result will be what had been planned all along. An ember quickly turns into a raging flame. Our community leaders know very well that what was relevant years back may no longer have the same effect today, and so many have realised that there needs to be a change of tack. There's no need for any expert to open our eyes on this one. This change has been scarred with all the obstacles you can expect, and then some. Our work is a tiring endeavour so that while we take good care of our elderly as long as necessary, we encourage those young people who above all need to continue searching for new and innovative horizons, assisted by our modern technological means, so that our culture and all that is Maltese is kept alive. I disagree with those CMLA 2015 – Lawrence Dimech (Australia): Nostalgia rather than stagnation who say that the established community bars young people from finding their place in the community. Yes, we do need to implement change while maintaining continuity. We've gotten into social networking, and are encouraging the older generation to make better use of the internet. One present obstacle may be that the advances in digital technology once again are keeping our elderly frustrated and isolated in their lives. It's not true that our community is stagnant. It's very true we have a nostalgic community, but it's not stagnant or not looking to the future. In Maltese, we say only God knows the future. Without doubt, we all believe in God; however we do need to lend a shoulder for a better future. It will be a pity if after hundreds of years of settlement, where our pioneer emigrants sweated blood when faced with huge difficulties, their efforts disappear because no one appreciates the Maltese language, does not like village feasts, bands or other Maltese traditions. We also have more subtle enemies that I call spectators, who always observe without getting their hands dirty, those who have never been involved in the administration of our organisations, or those that visit us for a peek or two over a few weeks, tell us what to do, and a few days or weeks later are gone with the wind, never to be seen again. There are also those that only become visible during a visit by their beloved Prime Minister or President. I have to add to this list half-dozen cowboys amongst us, use our community and many times besmirch our good name due to their dishonesty or lack of professionalism. These people work on their own, many times on the fringes of the law and answerable to no one. These don't want any outsider to examine their conscience to see where the money they're earning is really going. It's true that they may provide a service here and there, but their true intention is to destroy other organisations built democratically and legally. Let's just examine the claim that the Maltese community is on its death throes. In the Australian state of NSW I reside in, we have 18 organisations formed and operating in accordance with the law of the land, with committees elected democratically every year. Between them, they boast more than two thousand members on their books however thousands more attend the activities they organise.

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