Issue A fortnightly print ((WWee aarree ffoorr tthhee GGrreeaatteerr MMaallttaa)) 254 and digiTTtal mhhagaeezin eV Vooiiccee ooff tthhee MMJauanell 1tt, e2e02ss1 ee

The facade of one of the palaces at Malta’s old historical city of Mdina Photo by Silke 2 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday, June 1, 2021 Tasting again the Maltese bread that helped win the war (Part 2) The home front ood had always played a crucial role in military sieges 1, and those witnessed by the Maltese throughout their history were no exception. Article reproduced by courtesy of ITS MartinG Debattista Adequate preparations before the Great Siege of 1565 sure the population on Malta’s defence ca - (Institute of Tourism Studies - meant that supplies were not an issue during the siege but pabalities, which in reality was not reas - Malta · Centre for eLearning F Technologies PhD Candi - the problem arose when it came to feeding the survivors and suring at all but was kept a secret, and the date - MSc in Digital Media) the relief army when the Maltese fields had been transformed stocks of food. into a wasteland and the black market went unchecked. 2 The first issue of the Information Service The French Blockade of 1798-1800 is re - ruption to this vital lifeline in times of war Bulletin, published by the government’s membered as “a time of famine and na - already weighing heavily on the minds of Information Office soon after the outbreak tional ruin”, with the Maltese rebels the Maltese even before the Germans fired of the war with Italy, pointed out: “Il-fatt impoverished by the expenses of purchas - the first shot in Poland on the 1st September. li nħasset il-ħtieġa li jkun hemm restriz - ing arms and those besieged in the French- Three months earlier, the editorial of the zjonijiet moderati fl-użu ta’ ċerti affarijiet held cities facing exhorbitant food prices Times of Malta insisted that “the people m’għandux jinftiehem bħala sinjal li hemm at the black market. 3 are becoming emergency minded … In the xi tħassib dwar il-qagħda ta’ l-ikel f’Malta. Malta’s role in the Second World War times we are living in, many months’ sup - Fil-pajjiż hemm ħażniet biżżejjed tal-ikel.” meant they had to endure another siege ply of wheat is essential to the security of [The fact that the need was felt to introduce where the supply of food would, once the Fortress of Malta. Thanks to the coop - moderate restrictions on the use of certain again, play a central role. eration of the Maltese millers, Malta has items should not be understood as a signal The winds of war had already been blow - now a supply of wheat that can be relied that there is apprehension on the food situ - ation in the country. There are enough ing for a couple of years when the Second upon to last for well over nine months. 7 World War started on the 1st September Few other countries can boast as much.” stocks of food in the country.] 1939 with Nazi Germany’s invasion of John Adams Hunter, the Lieutenant-Gov - The Maltese colonial and military author - Poland. However, Malta was not immedi - ernor of Malta, reassured the public that ities seemed to be reluctant to introduce ately catapulted on the frontline as Italy, there was adequate supply of food for restrictions on the production and con - Germany’s ally in the so-called Pact of many months but also underlined the need sumption of bread, a staple of the Maltese Steel, decided to remain out of the war as to introduce some economy to have the diet since time immemorial, at a time a non-belligerent. stocks last longer. 5 when Malta was not under direct military This gave time to the British military and While he admitted that some profiteering threat from Germany. However, the situa - civil authorities in Malta to take stock of was going not, he denied that the price of tion changed on the 10th June 1940 when the situation and make further prepara - bread had gone up 6. A Food Control Board Italy declared war on Britain and France, tions. In terms of civil protection, Malta was established to keep profiteering under and Malta found itself at war overnight. was one of the first British colonies to control and the new Defence Regulations The Italian invasion of Malta did not ma - have the Air Raid Precaution (ARP) civil imposed restrictions in the consumption of terialise as widely expected and the first defence service. However, in military some foodstuffs, petrol, kerosene and water air raids were followed by weeks of rela - terms, the fortress of Malta was under-de - amongst other necessities. tively low-intensity action. Supply con - fended with a few obsolete fighter aircraft The British military governor of Malta, voys could easily reach Malta despite providing air cover and fewer guns than Sir William Dobbie, was apprehensive and bombing raid and the strong Italian naval originally planned in London. 4 worried that air raids from bomber aircraft forces in the Mediterranean. This was to Malta’s dependence on foreign food im - taking off from nearby Sicily would bring change drastically in January 1941 when ports was significant, amounting to around about the collapse of civil order. The au - the German dictator Adolf Hitler decided 70% of its consumption. The expected dis - thorities made a concerted effort to reas - to come to the aid of his ineffective Italian ally in North Africa. The German air force appeared for the first time on Malta in January 1941 when they tried, unsuccessfully, to sink the British aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious un - dergoing urgent repairs at the dockyard. Though the aircraft carrier survived the onslaught, the city of Senglea was left in ruins, and the Maltese population wit - nessed the same horrors already felt around Europe.

References 1. Buttigieg, 2015, p.117. 2. Buttigieg, 2015, p.125. 3. Testa, p.120. 4. Italian historian Nicola Malizia berates the Italian High Command for not attempting to invade Malta at the beginning of war since in his opinion even a fleet of fishing boats from Sicily could have taken the island (Malizia, 2015). Malta’s unpreparedeness is confirmed by none other than Governor Dobbie himself his war An orderly queue for bread from memoirs (Dobbie, 1945). 5. Time of Malta, 27 August 1940. a cart near Castille, Valletta (Na - 6. Times of Malta, 13 September 1940. tional War Museum Association) 7. Information Service Bulletin, 23 July 1940. Tuesday, June 1 2021 The Voice of the Maltese 3

Q. We are retired and live in our home, which is unencum - his is a monthly service offered by The Voice of the bered. We have found another property that is more suited for Maltese in which Marie Louise Muscat from the Fidu - our needs. We have not sold our home yet because we may not Tcian Financial Services helps our readers understand the be successful in purchasing this other place as it is going for complexities associated with financial planning. If you auction. Is there anything we can do to help with this, as we do need more advice send an email to Marie Louise via: mal - not have a large amount of cash in our bank accounts? [email protected]. A. You could visit the bank that you deal vious binding nomination with and ask if they would give you a would probably have bridging loan. Explain your situation and stated that the proceeds of that this loan would only be for the period his super fund were to be of when you buy one property and sell the paid to the Estate. If your other. Ask them what the interest rates are father’s Power of Attorney so that you will be well informed as bridg - is not a beneficiary, then ing loans are more expensive than ordi - he is able to sign a new nary loans on residential property. binding nomination form As you are both retired this may not be on his behalf. easy to get, but before you bid for the Q. My mother is 83 and house you need to know whether you can in good health. My two outlay the deposit required. brothers and I are quite Q. My father is in his late 70s and has concerned that if any - developed dementia. He received a let - thing was to happen to ter from the administrator of his super her, we are all living QQ&&AA fund advising him that his binding quite far from her. We discussed the treated as a homeowner, and the remain - nomination has expired. I do not know situation and all agreed, including my ing funds from the sale of her house will whether he is able to sign the document mother, that if she sold her house which be treated as an asset. himself. What can we do? is valued around $400,000; we can use However, if your mother does not have part of these funds to build a granny many other assets, her age pension may not A. If your father has dementia, he will not flat at the back of my house. How will be able to update his binding nomination be very much affected. At the same time, Centrelink treat this, as at present my you will all have peace of mind that your himself. When the time comes the Trustee mother is on the full age pension? of his superannuation fund will ask his mother is living close by and that you can executor for a certified copy of the Will A. Once you have built the granny flat, assist her if or when she requires your help. and look at the beneficiaries that were Centrelink will ask you to provide your Q. My aunt is in an aged care facility. noted on his last binding nomination. mother with a guarantee that she can She has no children and she said that, They will then survey the situation and continue to live in the granny flat for the as I am her only niece, she wishes for act according to their findings. rest of her life. Whatever she spends on me to receive the proceeds from the re - Most probably the Will would state every - the granny flat will not be looked at as fundable accommodation deposit when thing was to go to the children and the pre - gifting. Your mother will continue to be she moves on. Can anyone contest this? A. If this is not mentioned in her Will, her executor will not act on what you say to him, but has to act according to what the Will says (in writing). You should there - fore ask your aunt if she has a current Will and if she does, ask her to review it so that she can include this request in her Will. This will ensure that this Will can - not be contested. Q. We have just retired and are in the process of selling our home and moving to Queensland. We plan to use most of the money we have in superannuation to purchase our new home, as we have not sold our house in Sydney yet. Will we be able to re-invest in superannuation? A. . Yes, as you are moving to Queens - land to retire, you will be using the down - sizing strategy. The maximum amount that you can invest in superannuation is $300,000 each You have 90 days from the day of settlement of the sale of house to do this. You also need to have lived in your previous home for over 10 years. This document contains factual information only and is not intended to provide any recom - mendation or opinion in relation to the topic/s discussed. Fiducian recommends that you seek advice from a professional to address any issues that may be raised by this article. Fiducian accepts no liability for any loss suffered by anyone who has acted on any information in this document 4 The Voice of the Maltese . . Tuesday, June 1, 2021 It-Torri tal-Arlogg tal-Birgu

‘L-arloġġ għat-torri u mhux it-torri għall-arloġġ’

Joseph Cutajar

adwar id-dinja hawn ħafna bliet u rħula li xi ħaġa fid-deher li tiddistingwihom minn oħrajn ikun xi torri li ġeneralment fil- qMuċċata tiegħu (għalkemm mhux dejjem) jkollu xi arloġġ kbir li jkun jista’ jintlemaħ mill-art. Oħrajn inbnew għal xi użu ieħor fosthom bħala turretti. Imma hu x’inhu l-użu tagħhom, huma dawk li bl- Ingliż jissejħu landmarks li permezz tagħhom wieħed jagħraf fejn ikun il-post jew sinjal li jaqsam il-konfini minn xulxin. Imma mhux biss. Fil-pajjiżi u mhux l-inqas f’Malta, kull fejn hemm tempji tad-devozjoni, hi x’inhi r-reliġjon, issib ukoll dawk speċi ta’ torrijiet, dawk f’Malta l-kamp - nari għoljin tal-knejjes li fihom mhux biss ikun hemm il-qnepen imma wkoll l-arloġġ (ġieli ar - logġġi fl-erba’ kantunieri tal-kampnar). Xi torrijiet madwar id-dinja ġew mibnija għal xi raġuni speċifika, fosthom dak f’Malta li qed nikeb dwaru llum, it-Torri tal-Arloġġ tal-Birgu li kien twaqqaf mill-Gran Mastru Juan de Homedes y Coscón fl-1549 u ġġarrab fl-aħħar gwerra. L-għan ewlieni ta’ dan it-torri kien biex iservi ta’ turretta ħalli jkunu jistgħu jilmħu x-xwieni li jit - faċċaw. B’qanpiena jew b’bandiera ġo fih, il- Kavallieri kienu jifhmu li ġej xi attakk. Ċert li kull qarrej kapaċi jsemmi torrijiet oħra fost l-aktar magħrufa fid-dinja, fosthom il-Big Ben fil- kapitali Ingliża l-Ingilterra, u t-Torri Eiffel (għalkemm mingħajr arloġġ) ta’ Pariġi fi Franza. Fl-Ewropa hemm magħruf ħafna wkoll t-torri mmejjel ta’ Pisa fl-Italja, u ieħor li għalkemm mhux daqshekk popolari imma hu fost l-isbaħ, it- Torri Belem f’Lisbona l-Portugall. Fost l-aktar magħrufa minn barra l-Ewropa hemm is-CNN Tower ta’ Ontario fil-Kanada, The Pace Needle f’Seattle l-Istati Uniti, u tlieta mill-kbar fiċ- Ċina, jiġifieri t-Torri Canton fi Guangdong, l-Ori - ental Pearl f’Shanghai, u t-tliet Pagodas f’Dali. arkeoloġija u li għadhom hemm sal-lum,fost l-isbaħ palazzi, F’Dubai għandhom forsi l-aktar wieħed modern, il- Burj Khal - bena dawk magħrufa bħala l-Fran tas-Sinjurijja, għamel Uni - ifa, filwaqt li fil-Gold Coast fl-istat ta’ Queensland fl-Awstralja versitá bħal ma kien hemm fl-Imdina u f’nofs il-pjazza hemm il-Q1 Tower (Queensland Number One). ewlenija (Misraħ il-Rebħa) bena t-Torri. Dan iġibni għal li ridt nikteb dwaru, it-Torri tal-Arloġġ tal- Din kienet binja stil Siculo-Norman b’ħames indani, b’għoli Birgu, monument storiku li wieħed jasal jgħid li hi tassew ħasra ta’ madwar 40 metru, għalkemm oriġinarjament x’aktarx li kien li ġġarraf bil-bombi tal-għadu waqt attakk mil-ajru fit-Tieni ftit aktar għoli. Minn fuqu kienu jidhru sew u setgħu jiġu Gwerra Dinjija. Jingħad li għad fadal xi pedamenti, u anke mgħassa, kemm il-Port il-Kbir u wkoll l-inħawi. hemm il-ħsieb li xi darba jerġa’ jinbena. L-għamla tat-torri kienet b’erba’ wċuh iħarsu lejn l-erbat-ir - Jingħad li l-Gran Mastru Homedes kien iħobb ħafna l-Birgu u jieħ. L-indani kienu mżejnin imma maż-żmien tilfu ftit mis- qatt ma kien jasal jaħseb li xi darba seta’ jitlaq minn hemm, sbuħija. Fir-raba’ indana kien hemm gallarija tal-għuda mnaqqxa għalhekk ipprova jsebbaħ kemm seta’ din il-belt. b’erba’ bibien li tlieta minnhom maż-żmien, ġew imbarrati. Fil-Birgu Homedes waqqaf ukoll il-Forti Sant’Anġlu, dawwar il-belt bi swar u foss, bena għadd ta’ Bereġ imżejna bl-isbaħ *għall-paġna li jmiss Tuesday, June 1, 2021 The Voice of .th e. Maltese 5 It-Torri tal-Arlogg tal-Birgu

Gran Mastru Juan de Homedes y Coscón *Ikompli mill-paġna ta’ qabel Skont l-istoriku u studjuż il-Kan. GM Farrugia (1927), li studja sew l-għamla tat-Torri fi żmienu, fuq il-faċċata li tħares lejn il-Lvant, kien hemm dawk li jsejjħul - hom ħarriega ta’ għamla tonda mnaqqxin li fuqhom kienu jistrieħu żewġ arbli. Bħal ma kien jidher fuq il-frontispizju tal-bieb ta’ fuq il-gallarija u li jħares fuq Il-pjazza ewlenija tal-Birgu msejħa Misraħ ir-Rebħa kif inhi llum. Fejn it-tarmak fl- il-pjazza kien hemm x’juri li bnih de art jidher ftit aktar ċar kien il-post fejn kien hemm it-Torri tal-Arloġġ Homedes u wkoll is-sena. Il-bieb kien baqagħlu għalxiex iservi ta’ turretta apposta għall-arloġġ, iżda nbena tmenin imżejjen bi gwarniċi mdawra u fuq il- poġġa fih wieħed mill-arloġġi ewlienin sena qabel, bħala Turretta. ħnejja kellu bħal frontispizju li fuqu kien fil-gżira, u x’aktarx ukoll fl-Ewropa. Interessanti wkoll dak li kien jgħid il- hemm salib. Bħal ma kien isir dak iż- Kien b’hekk li beda jissejjaħ it-Torri tal- Kan. GM Farrugia, jiġifieri li “L-Arloġġ żmien, ġo fih kien hemm warda jew Arloġġ tal-Birgu. sar għat-torri u mhux it-Torri għall-Ar - rużun li jaqsam is-sena tat-twaqqif tat- Fuq irħama fuq il-bieb tax-xellug tat- loġġ! torri 15 49. torri kien hemm kitba bil-Latin li fiha Wara li l-Ordni ħallew il-Birgu u marru Biex tidħol fit-Torri ma kontx tgħaddi wkoll d-data tal-1629 li forsi b’xi mod fil-kapitali l-ġdida Valletta li kien bena mill-bieb ewlieni, imma minn wieħed kienet tfixkel xi ftit lil xi wħud li kienu La Valette, fl- 1572 parti it-torri kienet iċken u biex titla’ sa fuq il-bejt kont trid jaħsbuha s-sena ta’ meta twaqqqaf it– nbiegħet lil familja minn Ħal-Għaxaq tgħaddi minn taraġ garigor dejjaq u stra - torri. Ma kienx il-każ. Maqluba għall- biex tgħix fiha. pattuż x’aktarx mibni wara. Fi triqtek ‘l Malti l-kitba tfisser: Għadda ż-żmien, u fl-1921, fuq it-torri fuq kont tiltaqa’ ma’ għadd ta’ twieqi u “Fi żmien it-treġija ħienja tal-Kbir ġiet impoġġijja rħama biex tfakkar il- bibien u toħroġ f’gallarija. Prinċep Fr. Anton De Pawla, Fr. Lixand kostituzzjoni l-ġdida ta’ Malta miksuba Maż-żmien l-indani ma baqgħux jidhru De Verax tal-Lsien ta’ Alvernja, gver - dik is-sena. Imbagħad erba’ snin wara l- għaliex twaqqgħu biex jagġmlu wisa’ natur militari tal-Belt, magħruf għall- binja tpoġġiet fil-lista tal-Antikitajiet tal- għall-mazzri tal-arloġġ. ħila tiegħu tant fil-gwerra u wkoll gżira. B’danakollu mas-snin dan il-bini Il-bini tat-Torri sar biex jintuża bħala fit-tmexxija tal-gvern, ġiegħel li tinbena tħalla jiżdinga. turretta ħalli minn fuqu jkunu jistgħu din il-kbira opra, u għenuh fiha t- Fi zmien it-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija, bħall- jaraw ix-xwieni hekk kif jitfaċċaw fix- Teżorier tal-Belt, Ġan-Anġlu Mallia, ibliet l-oħra tal-inħawi, x’aktarx xefaq. Kif jilmħu xi ħaġa, jew permezz Gwann Testaferrata, Mena Cristoforo u minħabba li tant kienu qrib il-Malta Dry - ta’ qanpiena inkella ta’ bandiera, il- Nardu Burló fis-sena 1629.” docks, il-Birgu sofra ħafna mill-bumbar - Kavallieri mxerrdin mal-plajja ta’ Malta Fil-fatt il-kitba ma kellha x’taqsam xejn damenti tal-għadu u fl-4 ta’ April 1942 u fl-Imdina kienu jindunaw xi jrid il- mat-torri imma kienet biss turi li saret xi it-torri ntlaqat minn bomba u f’lejl Gran Mastru. ħaġa jew opra oħra waqt li kien diġá minnhom xi ġimgħa wara kompla Snin wara, fl-Assedju l-Kbir tal-1565, mibni t-torri jew forsi kienet miżjuda. jiġġarrab. Il-bqija tat-torri ntlaqtet mill- il-Gran Mastru ta’ wara, La Valette kien Jidher li din l-opra ta’ wara kien l-ar - ġdid ġimagħtejn wara u fl-1944 tkompla juża t-Torri billi jitla’ fuqu u jordna d- loġġ, għax jekk kif kien magħruf, dan fil- jitwaqqa biex ma jkunx ta’ periklu. daqq tal-qanpiena meta jħoss li jrid ixer- fatt kien l-ewwel arloġġ li nġieb Malta, u Huwa mifhum li l-mekkaniżu tal-arloġġ red l-ordinijiet tiegħu, fosthom ħalli kien ukoll wieħed mill-ewlenin fl- għadu jeżisti u jinsab merfugh, filwaqt li jinġabru n-nies fil-Pjazza jew fil-Knisja Ewropa, it-tqegħid tiegħu kellu għax jiġi ‘l-minutieri’ jinsabu għall-wiri, kemm ta’ San Lawrenz, biex jiskansaw mill- meqjus bħala opra kbira, għax skont il- fil-mużew tal-Knisja tal-Birgu kif ukoll għadu li jkun qed isalpa lejn Malta biex Kan. G.M. Farrugia l-arloġġi bil-pendlu fil-Palazzo Falson fl-Imdina. jattakkaha. u bl-iskappament kull ma kien ilhom li Il-ħsieb li t-Torri tal-Arloġġ jerġa’ jin - Meta fl-1629 fi żmien il-Gran Mastru ġew ivvintati kien biss 24 sena. bena fil-post f’Misraħ ir-Rebħa fejn kien Anton de Pawla t-Torri ma kienx Kien ukoll ċar li t-torri ma ġiex mibni qabel, għadu hemm. Imma….. 6 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday, June 1, 2021 Recollections of a Maltese octogenarian – My Eighties One of the highlight of The 1998 Malta Summit the eighties: between Bush/Gorbachov Foreground: Mikhail Gorbachev (left) and George Joseph H. W. Bush (right) at the Malta summit in 1989 Lanzon

he three days be - tween the De - cember 1 and 3 Tin 1989 in Malta changed the course of history. On that fateful period of time, Malta was the venue for the memorable Malta Sum - mit between US Presi - dent George H. W. Bush and Soviet Gen - eral Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. They met on board the Soviet cruiser ‘Maxim Gorky’ somewhere Gale force winds lashed the Island merci - cance was that it saw the end of the Cold between Birzebuġa and Marsaxlokk. Malta lessly, rain poured down heavily and polar War between these two super powers that had been chosen as the ideal neutral venue cold pushed temperature levels to near freez - had existed since the end of the last war be - for this important meeting. ing point. ginning a new chapter in the relationship be - Veteran diplomats and news reports of the The high powerful swells lashed at the sup - tween the USA and Russia. time referred to the Malta Summit as one of posed protection pens in the ports smashing Bush and Gorbachev declared an end to the the most important since World War II, since boats and yachts. Abandoned or parked cars Cold War, with one Soviet official saying at the meeting between the two super powers near the seafronts were swept down to the the time “The meeting in Malta had buried in Yalta at the end of World War II in 1945. sea, trees were uprooted and all kinds of in - the Cold War at the bottom of the Mediter - Weather-wise, they could not have chosen juries and damages were reported. ranean” a worse three days. According to the weath - This meeting was held just a few weeks It was a historic occasion for Malta. No ermen, it was the worst in living memory. after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Its signifi - wonder that during those three days the whole world had its eyes on Malta and the intrna - tional media gave wide coverage of the event. Faurming ‘boreauks’s fro mf owork eI liikegd n personalit‘iCeamspo Swantoh’. o lived to roam the streets of Valletta, Sir Walter Scott, Scottish historical * to opposite page Darmed with a pencil and a small note - in Valletta novelist, poet, playwright, and histo - book, to see the places where famous writers and rian came to Malta in 1831 and stayed at the Bever - other personalities lived during their visits to Malta. ley Hotel near the Anglican Church. There are a number of marble slabs – some now ob - Benjamin Disraeli, poet and one time Prime Min - scure and hardly recognisable - on the facade of ister of England and a favourite of Queen Victoria houses to commemorate their stay on the island. came to Malta in 1830 and also stayed at the Bever - I made a list of some of the foreign personalities ley Hotel. that lived in Malta, perhaps the most famous being Another poet, Lord Byron, one of Britain’s famous Napoleon Bonaparte. He stayed for six days in Malta poets and romanticist visited Malta in 1809 and in June 1798 and lived at Palazzo Parisio in upper stayed at Old Bakery Street. Merchants Street Valletta, which today houses the French novelist Gustav Flaubert visited Malta in Ministry for Foreign and 1847 and stayed at the Mediterranean Hotel in Strada Napoleon European Affairs. Santa Lucia. Bonaparte Sir Oliver Starkey was Famous French author Alexander Dumas was an - was the only English other visitor. He stayed at the Imperial Hotel also in knight of St John to have Strada Santa Lucia. taken part in the Great In 1844 Malta hosted yet another famous British Siege of 1565, and Grand poet, William Thackeray who used to do his work Master La Valette’s secre - from the Casino Maltese in Strada Reale. tary. Starkey’s residence Italian patriot and republican General Giuseppe in the new capital was at Garibaldi who contributed to the Italian unification 36 Merchants Street cor - and the creation of the Kingdom of Italy, came to ner with St Lucy Street, Malta in 1864 with his children Menotti and Riciotti practically opposite the and stayed at the Westminister Hotel in Strada Reale. Monument in Birżebbuġa com - memorating the Malta summit Tuesday, June 1, 2021 T he Voice of the Maltese 7 Recollections of a Maltese octogenarian – My Eighties/ from page 6 Bush and Gorbachev agree on a lasting peace Ships herald in *From opposite page the New Year During a press conference at the remember from my childhood to the Mediterranean Conference Centre Eighties, on the strokes of midnight in Valletta at the end of the talks, oIn New Year’s Eve, the different types President Bush said: “Chairman of sea craft at the dockyard and in port Gorbachev and I have agreed on a – warships, merchant ships, tankers, lasting peace and it began here in tugboats, freighters and other types – Malta” celebrating the New Year making a In spite of the awful weather, I re - member going to Valletta hoping deafening noise by using their whistles. for an opportunity to see both world My brother and I would wake up from leaders. our sleep and wish each other a “Happy After a long time, when I thought New Year”. This tradition was already that I would not be so fortunate, I fizzling out when I married in 1960. glimpsed them, separately and at A smiling Bush and Gorbachev after achieving their goal Nevertheless I used to continue this rit - different times, walking down the steps of Castille following short meetings with then Prime ual with Liz and Chris. Sometimes, of Minister Dr Fenech Adami. course, we remained asleep, oblivious This was one other important occasion that I would be proud to recount to my next generation, to the cacophony coming from the that “I was there” nearby dockyard. We, the children of Cottonera, used to look forward to the ushering out of the old year and welcoming the new A Marriage and a Christening one with enthusiasm. The ships would y son Chris and his girl Marthese were On 26th January 1988 Sean Lee Ryan Ste - be festooned from fore to aft with bright married on 31st May 1986 at St. Ju - fan, our grandson, was born at his parents’ coloured lights providing a spectacle in Mlian’s Parish Church, the place where they had home in Sta. Lucia Liz and I acted as his the sea around us. The British, most es - originally met. The mass and marriage cere - godparents. I had chosen the first three pecially, loved to celebrate the occasion mony were conducted by our dear old friend names reflecting my love of the Irish. with great gusto and enthusiasm. of Roman times Father Avertano Saliba and I soon discovered that Sean Lee is a lively, I also remember hear the crews of the by Liz’s cousin Father Victor Livori of the energetic child, full of mischief. He has a various ships singing as loud as possi - MSSP who does missionary work in Peru. sweet and happy character, sometimes ble the traditional ‘Auld Lang Syne’ : While we were pleased that Chris was funny, and an outward disposition. When he “Should old acquaintance be forgot, making a life for himself, we were sad to was still a child, I used to keep my eye on And never brought to mind? see him leave our house after 24 years. But him. He has an independent and self-confi - Should old acquaintance be forgot this is the inevitable cycle of life that we all dent character. For the sake of days gone by?” have to follow and accept. Travelling: the ‘Postcard A new position, new responsibilities n 1984 I was appointed Chairman of travel agents; towns and Villages the Hotels and Catering Establishments (ii) To carry out regular and surprise in - lthough I love the big cities like Lon - BIoard, a position I held for 16 consecu - spections at these establishments in order don, Rome, Paris, Brussels, New York, tive years under six different Ministers of to monitor that classified standards are AToronto and others – with all their traffic Tourism from both main political parties. being maintained at all times; chaos, shops, various noises and so many The board was responsible: (iii) To investigate complaints against commuters - I love even more the smaller (i) To process and issue licenses to all these same establishments and take reme - towns and villages that are quiet, with less types of tourism accommodation, to all dial action accordingly. traffic, less people in the streets, and narrow types of catering establishments and to *Those were my eighties winding streets. I loved especially the little villages and small enchanting and picturesque places in Europe that you’d want to visit again and, if at all possible, live in. They are the places that we call ‘picture postcard villages’. Travelling is exhilarating and a learning ex - perience. Beyond the books you read, beyond what the media show you, beyond the scant knowledge you get when meeting foreign na - tionals on our Island, the experience of trav - elling to different countries provides one with “Let Our Family an ultimate feel how events and lifestyles are shaped outside one's own society. Richard Spiteri Castle Hill Help You Through” However, one of the things that we miss 0407 202 167 Seven Hills – when we are abroad is the sound of our (02) 9659 0900 Windsor and Ħalli l-familja church bells either reminding the parish - all suburbs tagħna tgħin lill- ioners that mass is about to start or that of the clocks chiming the time every quarter of familja tiegħek an hour. These are lovely sounds that seem to remind you that, “You are not alone”. 8 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday, June 1, 2021 Have your say/Xi trid tghid? Your letters/ L-ittri tagħkom ... The Voice enthusiastically received in Canada Kevin Caruana from Summerhill, Ontario, of the Maltese community alive. Canada writes: The Voice magazine is different. The news The Voice of the Maltese pages about Malta are superb and I can PPrriinntt && DDiiggiittaall mmaaggaazziinnee have only just started receiving The safely say that it is the only source from Voice of the Maltese. In fact, Issue which one can read balanced reporting is is a bi-lingual (in English No. 253 was my second one. I was so about the goings on in Malta. I found them and Maltese) fortnightly mag - Tenthusiastically pleased to receive it that I very well balanced and to the point. azine that specifically targets started reflecting about what I must have Although this is a fortnightly publication, all Maltese living abroad with been missing; therefore I wish to ask if it it could be a breath of fresh air as the emphasis on the Australian would be possible to receive previous copies sources from where we normally get the and Maltese scenes. in the same pdf format. This is indeed a news about Malta ignore that which really e magazine can be read in flip - great service to the Maltese living abroad. interests the Maltese readers but take it as book or PDF format online. A pdf I found The Voice of the Maltese to be a a run of the mill item, especially if there is copy is sent via email on request. professionally prepared publication that nothing sensational. could be a godsend to the Maltese living One other thing that I wish to commend Hard copy subscription is also abroad, in my case in Canada where the available at a cost . you on is for also publishing some of the only publications for Maltese only seem to articles in the Maltese language. Where Editors: be newsletters that mostly publicise the ac - else in Canada can one read such features Malta: Joseph Cutajar tivities of the respective clubs or associa - in one’s own native Maltese language if not Australia: tions and are mainly directed at their in The Voice ? Lawrence Dimech: MOM, members. Do not get me wrong. We should Thank you OAM, JP Rt be grateful to them as they keep the interest email address: [email protected] L-anzjani tagħna u Mishandling the pandemic Tony Cassar from St Albans Victoria writes: l-attivitajiet tagħhom ast year I had planned to visit my re - Letters for publication in The Voice Tony Musu minn Glenroy, Victoria jikteb: maining relatives in Malta. But this is magazine, either in Maltese or English eta rajt dik il-faċċata sħiħa bir-ritratti Lnow impossible. As ‘man proposes and the should include name, e-mail address li ddedikajtu għall-attivitajiet tal- federal government disposes. and residence of the writer, and be e- Mgħaqdiet tal-komunitá Maltija fl-Awstralja Some decisions by the authorities in deal - mailed to: [email protected]. (VOM Mejju 18), indunajt kemm dak li ing with the pandemic have been amateur - kiteb l-artiklu Kummenti lokali (VOM ish, and dare I say also discriminatory. We Now you can also Mejju 4) kien preċz meta semma “li l- were lucky that in Australia we had so few bżonn immedjat huwa li nieħdu ħsieb l-eluf cases compared to other countries. join us on facebook: ta’ anzjani tagħna”. However over confidence could cost us. Hawn f’Melboure għandna l-istess xe - as many people seem to have failed to take https://www.facebook. narju. Għall-attivitajiet organizzati jattendu the COVID pandemic that seriously, and com/groups/thevoice - l-anzjani. Kemm ikun xenaru mpekkabbli have ignored precautionary measures. li kieku dawk li jorganizzaw dawn l-attivi - The latest outbreak in Melbourne could ofthemaltese tajiet għax-xjuħ tagħna jkun z-żgħażagħ! perhaps help the population understand that the pandemic is still here and push the au - thorities to speed up the vaccine rollout to indicate the potential exposure sites. Dr Hugh McDermott MP It looks as if the latest lockdown is the re - sult of multiple failures by the government State Member for Prospect and the mishandling of the quarantine. The one thing that gives me confidence is For issues concerning: the fact that we are much better placed to Ageing and disability - community deal with the outbreak than we were a year ago. services -education - environ - There also does not seem to be a sense of ment - health - housing - planning fairness either when it comes quarantine, - Police - transport - water with celebrities being spared from manda - tory hotel quarantine on arrival in the coun - P: (02) 9756 4766 try. Some Hollywood stars have been E: [email protected] allowed to spend quarantine at their coun - try estates instead. 2/679 The Horsley Dr, Smithfield NSW 2164 Now I have to wait till next year to leave the Australian territories to visit Malta. Tuesday, June 1, 2021 The Voice of the Maltese 9 SA Maltese Philanthropist harles Figallo C owned private equity busi - ness, with its global invest - ment subsidiaries focusing on advanced engineering and construction within the fol - lowing sectors: Oil & Gas, by Ron Mining & Resources, Water Borg & Infrastructure Design, Engineering & Con - struction. t is often said, “Everyone loves a win - Basetec has provided com - ner!” One such winner in Adelaide that posite pipelines for major has won the well deserved admiration projects in Queensland and Iof many, not just because he is successful also countries such as New in business but because he has stood out as Guinea, Africa and the Mid - a stanchion of support for the community dle East, and in South Australia, is a gentleman by the maintains a name of Charles Renoir Figallo. solid relation - On the 20th May Figallo opened Ade - ship with and in helping finance the Maltese- laide’s daily tabloid The Advertiser, and Australian Australian Association’s Anzac me - was delighted to learn that BAE, a multina - Universities morial in Malta. tional arms, security and aerospace com - to adopt test - On the 1st July 2015, during pany, has awarded contracts to three ing and tech - Charles Figallo’s investiture at the companies to build the Hunter Class Frigate nical ball of the Sovereign Hospitaller Project. One of the companies, Novafast In - objectives. O r d e r o f St John of Jerusalem, the ternational is to provide a range of ‘pipe in - Basetec Ser- Knights of Malta, Grand Priory of frastructure’ for the prototyping phase of vices has be - Australia, Adelaide Commandery, the programme, which is currently under - come an im- Mr Vincent Tarzia, South Australian way at Osborne shipyard in Adelaide. portant sup - Parliamentary member for Hartley, This is indeed a feather in the cap of plier to Aus - said this of Charles and the other Charles Figallo (CEO), and his sons, Paul tralia’s grow- knights, “It is fantastic to see this (General Manager), and David (Business & ing oil and philanthropy in the community. Strategy Manager) of Novafast Interna - gas industry. Charles knighted in 2015 Many people, especially successful tional! It is not only a credit to this team but In 2014/15 it business people, are doing good also good news for the state to have ac - forged three new partnerships with Abu things with their profits. The first, Mr quired this assignment that guarantees em - Dhabi, Egypt and Nigeria, to respond to a Charles Figallo, is a very successful entre - ployment prospects to the locals especially global demand for high pressure, anti-cor - preneur who is very passionate about the during this lean time resulting from rosive, composite pipes. Basetec’s Novafast oil, gas and mining industry”. COVID-19. Glass Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) pipes are Tarzia went on to say that Charles has The Maltese radio programme in the state designed and engineered in Adelaide and done great things for South Australia. “I broadcast the good news and congratulated sold to major projects in Australia and commend him for his past work bringing Charles and his team for the achievement. around the world. business into South Australia. He is a strong He deserves all the accolades for his con - After wining a contract from gas giant advocate and champion who wants to see tinuous involvement in various business Santos, Mr Figallo said. “Winning our first South Australia do well in this area. It is re - and community organisations for which he contract with Santos took a lot of work as ally good to see that Charles is a man who was also officially recognised in 2017 with the prequalification process is quite rigor - is doing well and making money but who the prestigious award of the Order Of Aus - ous. Now that we have proven our capabil - is also putting it to good use by contributing tralia Medal for his services ities, we are receiving lots of enquiries to the wonderful causes that these Knights Charles Figallo runs Basetec Services with Other Basetec clients include Origin En - engage in.” his two sons. It is well known Australian- ergy, Woodside Petroleum and BP. The Maltese Community in general has A lot more can be said about witnessed Charles Figallo’s continued gen - Impression of the RAN’s Charles Figallo’s sucess story, but erous support to the Maltese societies. He Hunter Class frigate one thing is quite evident about supports them financially throughout the him, his commitment to the year and openly shows his enthusiasm by things he believes in. This is not attending the many Maltese functions, gen - only evident in his business proj - erously donates prizes for fund raising raf - ects but also in his support of the fles, invites many invited friends and guests long list of community organisa - to these balls, openly mixes with the gen - tions that he has been associated eral community and shares in the jubila - with like, the Make a Wish Foun - tions of the events. dation, Diabetes SA, Variety SA, He is a true blue supporter of the Maltese the Fred Hollows Foundation, Community. No wonder we take pride in Doctors without Borders, and his business success. more recently his fundraising role “Good on you Chev Charles Figallo”! 10 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday, June 1, 2021

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

Seaħrda mqill-ist ejjler imem omrabbli ta’h pajjiżu missirxijietn a sImema dran jqagħmel kienet il-miġja tal-Franċiżi fl-aħħar tas-seklu tmintax, sens? fejn dawn ħadu l-gżejjer mill-kavallieri ta’ San Ġwann Fil-liġi kriminali, Wfi żmien il-Gran Mastru Hompesch. is-serq jeżisti, fost l- Hija memorabbli għaliex kienu l-Maltin stess li rvellaw kontra oħrajn, jekk it- l-ħakkiema Franċiżi wara li sabu li riformi pożittivi li daħħlu l- teħid tal-oġġett/i Franċiżi bħall-ugwaljanza ta’ kulħadd quddiem il-liġi, it-twaqqif jsir mingħajr il- ta’ skejjel primarji għat-tagħlim tat-tfal Maltin, il-projbizzjoni tal- kunsens tas-sid, u bonavolji (forma ta’ skjavitù volontarja fuq l-iġfna għal min ma 1 f’każ ta’ serq jkunx jista’ jħallas id-djun tiegħu) eċċ, ma kinux biżżejjed biex bħall-eżempju li jagħmlu tajjeb għan-nuqqas ġenerali ta’ ħlasijiet bħall-kumpens tajt, dan il-kun - għall-ħsarat mid-daħla tal-Franċiżi f’Malta, il-pensjonijiet u 2 sens ma kienx oħrajn. hemm, b’mod Imma żgur waħda li lill-Maltin qabbżitilhom iċ-ċinga kienu l- ċar. fided u d-dehbiijiet li ttieħdu mill-knejjes u l-bereġ tal-Ordni. Fil-każ tat- Forsi l-iktar biċċa teżor famuża hija x-xabla tal- Granmastru La teżori ta’ Mal- Valette li spiċċat, u għadha, fil-mużew Louvre f’Londra, u din ta maħtufin niftakarha sew tissemma f’lezzjoni tal-istorja ta’ tfuliti. mill-Franċiżi, Kien mhux ċar x’kien sar mit-teżori l-oħra li kienu nħatfu mill- wieħed jista’ Franċiżi. Kien hemm min ħaseb li dawn tgħabbew fuq il-ġifen jipponta lejn Orient li wara Malta baqa’ sejjer l-Eġittu mal-flotta ta’ Napuljun il-kapitulaz - meta dan kien ħabat għaliha. zjoni ffirmata L-Orient kien spiċċa f’qiegħ il-baħar tal-bajja Aboukir u għal - mill-Gran Mastru fit-12 I hekk kien hemm min ħaseb li t-teżor Malti kien hemm ukoll, x-xabla tal- ta’ Ġunju 1798, bħala l- ti Granmastr għalkemm il-mistoqsija mallewwel tqum għaliex kien tgħab - ġurnata fejn ġew ċeduti eħdet min u La Valett u n Malta fi ż e li bateżor b’valur tant għoli fi frejgata li kienet sejra għall-gwerra. kull jedd fuq proprjetà għadha tin mien Napu Dan l-aħħar kien hemm artiklu minn Dr J.F. Grima li kkonkluda sab fil-Mu ljun li kellha l-Ordni. żew Louvre li dan it-teżor ma kien xejn fuq l-Orient, imma kien ittieħed fil- Imma din verament l-aħħar tal-istorja? Ċediment kaxxa tal-armata, u minn hemm partijiet inbiegħu f’Malta u fl- taħt il-ponta tas-sejf huwa validu? Eġittu, filwaqt li oħrajn iddewbu f’ingotti jew flus eċċ. Fit-tieni gwerra dinjina, in-Nażisti wkoll serqu ammont immens Kien hemm ukoll xi oġġetti ta’ valur f’ġifen ieħor Sensible li ta’ teżori, f’metalli prezzjużi, arti, oġġetti kulturali eċċ, li wara t- minn Malta baħħar lejn Franza imma inqabad mill-Inġliżi, u l- 3 telfa finali tagħhom kien hemm azzjoni mifruxa biex li kien in - oġġetti ta’ valur fuqu sparpaljaw. steraq jiġi identifikat kemm jista’ jkun u jiġi rritornat lejn is-sidien Madankollu, l-iktar kumment li laqatni f’dan l-artiklu kien li l- privati jew statali oriġinali, minn fejn ittieħdu. proprjetà kollha li nħatfet mill-Franċiżi kien intilef id-dritt għalih Jien ma nifhimx kif dan il-prinċipju ma japplikax għar-Repub - malli l-Ordni kien ċeda. Fi kliem ieħor, ix-xabla ta’ La Valette fi blika Franċiża, meta l-era ta’ Napuljun spiċċat b’telfa fil-battalja Franza issa hija tal-Franċiżi, għax l-Ordni kienet tilfet il-konfront ta’ Waterloo fl-1815 kontra l-allejati tal-Gran Brittanja, l-Olanda, mal-Franċiżi. il-Prussja u xi oħrajn. Huwa fl-interess ta’ Malta li ninsistu li dak X’inhu? li nsteraq jintradd lura. Immaġina li jidħol xi ħadd ġo darek fis-satra tal-lejl. Int tqum f’nofs ta’ lejl u ssib lil stranġier jipponta arma lejk u jhedded lilek Referenzi u lill-familja jekk tittanta twaqqfu jiknislek xi affarijiet ta’ valur li jista’ jkollok. Int tiddeċiedi li ma tirriskjax ħajtek u dik tal- 1. L-Ilsiera fi żmien L-ordni f’Malta (5); L-Orizzont; 18/5/2017; p.20 maħbubin tiegħek, u ma tirreżistihx fit-twettiq ta’ ħsiebu. 2. Ġrajjet Malta - it-tielet ktieb; p185 Ġaladarba ma rreżistejtux u ħallejtu jitlaq, allura dan ifisser li 3. https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/the-treasures-seized-from-malta-by- tlift kull dritt għall-affarijiet li baramlek. the-french-in-1798.874273, retrieved 26/5/2021 A proud sponsor of The Voice of the Maltese

website: www.breakawaytravel.com.au Tel (02) 9622 7799 Breakaway Travel 94 corner of Main & Campbell Streets, Blacktown NSW blacktown@breakaway- travel.com.au ..... Will be back soon.....watch this space Tuesday, June 1, 2021 The Voice of the Maltese 11 Tagħrif u twissija L-importanza taċ-ċensiment għall-Maltin fl-Awstralja ull ħames snin, il-Gvern Awstral - jan ikun irid jikseb ritratt eżatt tal- poplu. Ikun irid jara kif ngħixu, kif nieklu, kif naħdmu, b’liema lingwa ir-radju tal-SBS u ninsabu wkoll K fix-xifer li nitilfu l-programm tal- nitkellmu, kemm għandna tfal u mitt mis - toqsija oħra. Dan hu ċ-ċensiment. Dak li SBSTV bil-Malti? Għaliex meta jmiss se jsir fl-10 ta’ Awwissu. mmorru fid-Dipartimenti tal-Gvern Iċ-ċensiment hu mingħajr dubju l-ikbar ma nsibux tradutturi bil-Malti? It- stħarriġ li jagħmel il-Gvern. Ikun im - kollox bl-Ingliż. tweġiba hi, minħabba li nagħtu l- mexxi mill-Australia Bureau of Statistics Dan hu tentattiv loġistiku li jrid jilħaq 25 impressjoni li l-Maltin kollha jifhmu (l-ABS). miljun persuna u madwar10 miljun dar. kollox bl-Ingliż. Kull persuna li f’dak il-lejl tkun fl-Aw - Isir b’ħafna modi. Illum daħal l-Internet Hawn oħrajn li meta tistaqsihom dwar id- stralja trid bilfors timla l-formola. imma għandek issib li dawk taċ-ċensi - dixxendenza tagħhom, dwar missiriji - M’hemmx skużi. Il-Gvern irid li b’neċes - ment jiġu f’darek biex jgħinuk timla il- ethom jew ommijiethom ma jgħidux li sita’ assoluta jkun jaf kif in-nazzjon kollu formoli meħtieġa. DAN HU OBLIGA- huma Maltin. Kemm il-darba jigri li jkunu qed jinbidel, u kemm verament hemm TORJU. Ma tistax ma tipparteċipax. t-tfal li jimlew il-formola taċ-ċensiment u nies fil-pajjiż. Wara kollox dan qed isir għall-ġid hawn ħafna drabi jwieġbu kif jaħsbu huma Tant hu mportanti ċ-ċensiment li mhux tiegħek għax min kif twieġeb int il-Gvern u mhux kif jixtiequ l-ġenituri tagħhom. ċittadini Awstraljani biss iridu jippartiċi - ikun jista’ jippjana aħjar. Mill-aħħar ċen - Naħseb tgħidu, “so what, imbilli niftaħar paw fih, imma wkoll, visa holder, turisti, siment il-Gvern Awstraljan sar jaf u kkon - li jien sirt Awstraljan allura dan ma jkunx u anke studenti barranin li qed jistudjaw ferma li l-Awstralja hi pajjiż ta’ diversivitá ahjar? Le, żgur li ma jkun aħjar għal ħadd. fl-Universitajiet tal-pajjiż. kbira tant li nofs il-popolazzjoni jew Jekk niddikjaraw li nafu nitkellmu bl-In - X’jiġi mistoqsi fiċ-Ċensiment? Jistaqsik twieldet barra mill-Awstralja inkella xi gliż kompletament u dejjem qisna xi pro - kemm għandek snin, fejn twelidt, ir-re - wieħed jew iż-żewġ ġenituri huma fessuri dan ifisser li kull għajnuna li jkun liġjoni, id-dixxendenti tiegħek, xogħol u mwieda barra mill-pajjiż. hemm għall-Maltin tispiċċa kif digá edukazzjoni. Mistoqsija ta’ importanza Għalhiex qed niktbu dan kollu? Għax mfisser aktar ‘l fuq. kbira għalina l-Maltin hi dwar: liema f’ħafna każi aħna l-Maltin mhux biss Dan hu tagħrif ta’ importanza kbira, kif lingwa titkellem biha d-dar. Min kif in - naħarbu milli nimlew il-formola iżda ukoll twissija serja miġjuba lill-Maltin wieġbu jiddependu x’servizzi speċifiċi, l- meta nagħmlu dan kemm il-darba niżbal - fl-Awstralja bħala servizz minn The Gvern jipprovdilna bil- lingwa tagħna jaw jew naħbu l-veritá għax naħsbu li Voice of the Maltese . fil-futur. nkunu qed nidhru aktar Meta l-Gvern jiġbor dan it-tagħrif ikun ħelwin mal-Awtoritajiet. jista’ jippjana għal transport aħjar, fejn Mhux il-każ. Għaliex hemm bżonn l-infrastruttura, skejjel, taħsbu li l-komunitá Mal- ħtiġijiet tas-saħħa, edukazzjoni, u fejn tija tilfet ħafna għajnuna hemm bżonn li jintlaħqu dawk li ma jafux mill-Gvern Federali? Għa- Sette Giugno jitkellmu bl-Ingliż sew jew li ma jifhmux liex tlifna seba’ siegħat fuq Commemoration of the 7th June 1919 Uprising Ito far flrolm osur thoamerlantde, wde ga thiern eac h1 yea9r a1t C9ivic P.a.rk. Pendle Hill The Maltese Community Council of NSW beside the Bi-Centenary Monument dedicated to the settlement of Mal - is holding the “Sette Giugno” Stese migrants in NSW to remember and celebrate a vital historical event, June 7, which projected the people of Malta towards self-determination . Commemoration Ceremony at After 102 years we still remember because the past is important. Unless the Maltese Bicentenary Monument we understand our history we cannot appreciate the present and move forward with the same determination. Civic Park, Pendle Hill In 1919, the Maltese were at the mercy of the British, under colonial at 11:00am on Sunday 6th June rule, with the natives as slave laborers, and until 1997 Malta was still a military base. The ceremony will take approximately 90 minutes and The primary reasons for the 1919 uprising were lack of food, massive includes a commemorative speech about this historic unemployment, new taxes, and no voice in the administration. The im - event and musical segments from the Maltese Concert portation of corn and flower was practically halted. The British never re - Band and the Maltese Cultural Association Choir. alised that these items were part of the locals’ diet. People turned on the Maltese importers because their basic needs became scarce. ** This event complies with Covid-19 requirements ** After World War 1, the Dockyard was reducing its workforce causing Please scan the QR code on arrival and follow the Park unemployment. The natives wanted self-determination. Hence the Culhat Wardens’ instructions. al belt directive. The result is history, four Maltese were victims of the Please Note: In the event of bad weather the ceremony British soldiers. The path towards self-determination, ultimately full in - will be cancelled and an announcement will be posted on dependence and freedom from foreign military bases was set in stone. It did not stop the massive migration in later years. That was another the Maltese Community Council of NSW Facebook page price the Maltese had to pay. But the ultimate aim of running our own prior to the scheduled start time. Tel: 0419476 924 destiny is now completely in our hands, thanks to the gallant acts of our Maltese Community Council of NSW | Facebook forefathers. 12 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday, June 1, 2021 Roundup of News About Malta Malta passes important Moneyval test alta has welcomed the principal international standards to counter money laundering news that it passed the and the financing of terrorism and the effectiveness of implemen - important Moneyval tation measures. tMest after the Council of Europe's It is also tasked with making recommendations to national au - Anti-Money Laundering (AML) thorities in respect of necessary improvements to their systems. committee recognised “signifi - Two years ago, Malta failed an exhaustive test of its anti-money cant progress” and voted in fa- laundering rules; however since then it has introduced a raft of vour of a final report on the reforms to strengthen its AML regime and addressed the shortcom - island’s AML and terrorism- fi - ings highlighted by the previous Moneyval report. nancing safeguards. In its report Moneyval said that Malta was among the first coun - At a news conference, Clyde tries to implement the regulatory and institutional framework and Caruana, the Minister for Fi - conduct assessment of ML/TF risks in this area. “Malta’s rating nance and Employment (pictured) , said that Malta took this chal - on the implementation of this recommendation has been upgraded lenge seriously and was hugely committed to the cause. He siad from ‘partially compliant’ to ‘largely compliant’,” Moneyval said. it worked tirelessly to regain the trust of the European Commis - Malta will now undertake a visit by the Financial Action Task sion and European countries. Force (FATF), an intergovernmental organisation set up to com - Moneyval is a permanent monitoring body of the Council of bat money laundering for clearance at a meeting of FATF in the Europe, entrusted with the task of assessing compliance with the coming weeks.

Alavming reaocheds hetrd imbmuniaty wcith k“ye lltowo” gro unp of ocounrtriems will naeedl to over 70% of the population (around present a certificate or proof of test taken 517,000) having already been ad - no later than 72 hours before arrival. Visi - Hministered with at least one dose of the vac - tors from “green” countries will not need cine against COVID-19, in a few days time, to provide any certificates. the vaccine in Malta will also be adminis - These rules will apply to visitors from the tered to children aged between 12 and 15. EU countries and countries with which the This follows the recommendation by the Maltese authorities have entered into bilat - European Medicines Agency that investi - eral agreements in the field of health. For gated the effects of the vaccination on all other states, the requirements estab - 2,260 children aged between 12 and 15. lished by the European Union apply. Studies showed it achieved the same im - Meanwhile, in a few days’ time, Malta munity as those in the 16 –25 age group. will be among the first countries to launch With the process of vaccination of the a vaccine certificate that has the aim of fa - population so well advanced, on June 1 cilitating travel. It would be available in Malta will be opening its borders for digital as well as physical format. Countries not visible in the tourists. To determine the conditions of With restaurants now able to operate till main map MALTA entry, Maltese authorities are using a colour midnight, the Cabinet has also approved scheme to categorize the countries based on the opening of some activities (not as yet their epidemiological situation. indicated) in a limited way for people who Malta on ECDC green list Tourists from the countries in the “red” have been fully vaccinated. he European Centre for Disease Con - zone will need to present a certificate of trol and Prevention, ECDC has placed vaccination issued no later than 10 days Introducing Malta-Gozo MTalta on its green list after the rate of prior to arrival in Malta. Travellers from the fast ferry service spread of the Covid-19 virus had substan - In the meantime, in what is being consid - tially decreased. ered as another step forward in terms of The map published each week as part of European Commission, maritime infrastructure, intended to im - the Council’s recommendation for a coor - prove the connectivity between the sisterly dinated approach for free travel restrictions OLAF confirm Malta’s islands of Malta and Gozo, on June 1 four in reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic, catamarans will commence the fast ferry shows the situation in European countries success on EU Funds service from Valletta to Mgarr and vice- in regard to positive cases of the coron - he European Commission and the Eu - versa. avirus. ropean Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) The is also expected to be an incentive to Malta was been placed on the green list OTLAF have confirmed that Malta is on the kick-start tourism once again in the country after the rate of cases during the past fort - right trek in the management of European and help students and workers who travel night stood at less than 25 cases per 100,000 Funds, has among the lowest error rates in daily from Gozo to Malta for work or to persons, whilst the positive rate was below the whole of the European Union. University. It would certainly not only save 4%. Only parts of Finland, Norway and Ice - They further confirmed that their experi - them time but also actually give them more land were also placed on this list. ence working with the Maltese authorities time on their hands. By the time we published the magazine, in this regard was not only positive, but The fast ferry service will be taking less Malta had already administered close to Malta even has the highest rate of feedback than 45 minutes to sail between the islands. 515,000 doses of the vaccine against for every query made by European institu - Gozo Fast Ferry and Virtu Ferries Fast Covid-19, while fully-vaccinated people tions, provided the best feedback and took Ferry will each use two catamarans for the (having received the full doses) are close to 100% action. service. the 210,000 mark. Tuesday, June 1, 2021 The Voice of the Maltese 13 Roundup of News About Malta Malta, Russia set to sign new MoUs in the fields of sport, culture and health inister for Foreign and European united Libya run by Affairs Evarist Bartolo paid a Libyans. working visit to Sochi in the Evarist Bartolo RMussian Federation where he held a bilat - concluded that Mal- eral meeting with his counterpart, Foreign ta is also happy to Minister Sergey Lavrov and discussed with work with Russia in him a wide array of topics of bilateral, re - the fight against all gional and international importance. forms of intolerance Minister Bartolo afterwards described the and mainained that talks as very cordial and respectful and if we want to learn stressed that whatever the differences be - from history, we tween nations, if there is the will to safe - must also make sure guard the future of this planet, one must to set the record keep talking to each other and have honest straight on WWII and frank conversations. and to recognise the He also welcomed the news of an upcom - very important role ing summit between the USA and Russia that Russia played and the prospect of normalising relations in the victory over between the two states. He added that the Nazism which put same can be done between the EU and Rus - the rest of humanity sia as long as there is good will and respect at risk Minister Evarist Bartolo (left) with Minister Sergey Lavrov in Soci from both sides. Minister Bartolo stressed that respect for international law remains crucial for Malta, Minister Bartolo in Euro delegation to help Libya and that such relations must always be within this framework. few days later, upon Malta's initiative, an and in the European Union Economic He pointed out that Malta is very happy Minister Evarist Bartolo along with the and Investment Plan. with the steadily improving ties in trade and FAoreign Affairs Minister of Italy Luigi Di In this context, they reaffirmed European tourism between the two countries, although Maio, and the European Commissioner for support to the Libyan authorities in the dif - more needs to be done. In this regard, he an - Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver ficult process of recovery and national rec - nounced that in the coming weeks Malta and Varhelyi paid a joint visit to Libya where onciliation after the devastation brought Russia would sign new MoUs in the fields they held talks with the Libyan Prime Min - about by the civil war in the country in of sport, culture and health. ister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, and the Min - 2011. The two sides also had a positive ex - isters for Foreign Affairs and the Interior. The Europeans also expressed their commit - change of views on Libya, with Minister The European delegation asked the ment to collaborate in various areas towards Bartolo reiterating Malta's belief in a free, Libyan government to define its priorities economic growth, job creation, and good for improving the lives of Libyans and ex - governance in the North African country Malta’s Minister for Foreign and European plained how a stable political framework is The two sides also spoke about the re - Affairs Evarist Bartolo (first left) in the a condition for a broader partnership with opening of European airspace to flights Euro delegation’s meeting with Libya’s PM Libya, with a view of including it in the from Libya and the reactivation of direct New Agenda for connections with Europe once safety and the Mediterrane- security conditions are met. Temporary closure of Consulate-General in Melbourne n line with Victoria State Health Au - thorities directives, which have just Iannounced a circuit-breaker lockdown 27 May 2021 to 3 June, the Consulate-General in Mel - bourne will not be open for appointments until June 3. The re-opening of the Consulate-General in Melbourne will be based on advice from the local authorities. Appointments that were set for the period between 28 May and 3 June will be rescheduled to a time when the office re-opens to the public. Our Consul-General and staff in Melbourne will never - theless be contactable throughout this period of lockdown by phone and email: Consulate General Melbourne: maltaconsulate.mel - [email protected] Phone: (03) 9670 8427. 14 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday, June 1, 2024

COVID-19: Jidher xaqq ta’ dawl! ara xhur sħaħ fid-dalma tal-COVID-19, f’dawn l- li kienu daħħlu biex jikkontrollaw l-imxija. aħħar ġimgħat deher xaqq ta’ dawl, tant li għall- Deher biċ-ċar li t-tattika li wżaw l-awtoritajiet ħadmet, aħħar tlett ġimgħat l-għadd ta’ dawk pożittivi għax it-tneħħija ta’ diversi miżuri, fosthom il-ftuħ tal-iske - Wdejjem kien taħt l-10 u kellna biss tliet imwiet. Tant imxejna jjel, tar-ristoranti sa nofsinhar, u tal-ħwienet ta’ oġġetti tajjeb li Malta hi l- pajjiż fl-Unjoni Ewropeja bl-inqas mhux essenzjali, il-vjaġġi bejn Malta u Għawdex, ma imwiet u nies infettati. rriżultawx f’żieda fil-każi. Hekk il-miżuri komplew jiġu ri - Fost kollox, dan kien dovut priniċipalment għall-mod kif Malta lassati, fosthom li r-ristoranti issa jistgħu jservu sa nofsillejl. mxiet bit-tilqim tal-vaċċin kontra l-COVID, tant li saret l-aktar pa - Fattur pożittiv ieħor fis-sena li faqqgħet il-pandemija, fl-2020, jjiż li ras għal ras l-Awtoritajiet tas-Saħħa laqqmu nies kontra l- f’Malta l-ħaddiema fis-settur tal-manifattura żdiedu, filwaqt li pandemija. madwar l-Ewropa, kważi tliet kwarti ta’ miljun persuna li kienu Dan wassal ukoll għall-awtoritajiet li jkomplu jnaqqsu l-miżuri jaħdmu fl-industrija tal-manifattura, tilfu ħobżhom. Ġirja waħda l-ftuħ tat-traġitt bejn Malta u Għawdex mill-ewwel wassal għall-ġirja biex gIħadd ta’ Maltin u barranin jieħdu l- okkażjoni biex iżuru Għawdex. Tant li fl- ewwel tmiem il-ġimgħa, wara dan il-ftuħ 42,000 ruħ qasmu bil-vapuri tal-Gozo Channel bejn il-Gżejjer u sa kellhom jab - bandonaw l-iskeda normali u jaħdmu l-ħin kollu (shuttle) . Fil-fatt l-ewwel tmiem il-ġimgħa wara r- rilass, qasmu bejn iż-żewġ gżejjer qrib it- 18,000 karozza u saru iżjed minn 250 vjaġġ. Sintendi din kien ta’ bonanza kbira għas- settur tal-ospitalità’ tal-Gżira Għawdxija Il-Prim Ministru Robert Abela u martu Lydia (xellug) mal-familja tal-Ministru għal Għawdex bir-restoranti jirrapportaw xogħol qawwi. Clint Camilleri f’ikla f’Għawdex wara l-ftuħ tar-ristoranti u l-vjaġġi bejn i-żewġ gżejjer U ħafna minn dawk li ma marrux jieklu x-xogħol beda jiċċaqlaq mill-ewwel. Skont is-sidien tar-ristoranti, l-aktar meta fis-7 ta’ Għawdex jidher li marru jieklu f’ristoranti hu, saħansitra kien hemm ftit li ħadu ġur - Ġunju l-poplu Malti jibda juża l-vouchers f’Malta. Infatti ġie rrapportat li r-ristoranti nata frank biex marru jieklu barra. (f’ammont ta’ €100) li l-Gvern se jqassam kienu mimlija, b’nies jistennew biex jo - Sintendi dan ħoloq sens ta’ ottimiżmu fost lil dawk kollha ta’ minn 16-il-sena ‘l fuq. qogħdu bil-qiegħda u l-ħaddiema fil- ħwienet ma jieqfux imqar minuta. Il-Viċi President tal-Kamra tan-Negozji Żgħar u Medji Philip Fenech, qal ukoll li 10 snin wara li ddaħħal id-divorzju tit tal-jiem ilu ħabat għeluq l-għaxar snin minn meta f’Malta ġiet approvata l-liġi tad- divorzju. Għalkemm għall-ewwel l-għadd ta’ dawk li ddivorzjaw kien wieħed żgħir, Immunitá bFil-mod il-mod dan beda jikber tant li sena wara li ġie introdott id-divorzju kien hemm 441 alta kienet l-ewwel pajjiż tal-Unjoni li ddivorzjaw. Imbagħad matul is-snin ta’ wara kien hemm bejn 300-4000 divorzju fis-sena. Ewropeja li laħaq il-mira li 70% tal- Madankollu Malta għadha l-inqas pajjiż tal-Unjoni Ewropeja fejn jidħol id-divorzju billi pMopolazzjoni tkun irċeviet tal-inqas l- skont ir-rapport tal-Eurostat għall-2019, ras għal ras, il-perċentwal ta’ dawk li ddivorzjaw ewwel tilqima kontra l-Covid-19. kien biss ta’ 0.7 għal kull 1000 li ddivorzjaw. Attwalment anke fejn tidħol it-tieni tilqima sar progress kbir għax aktar minn 45% issa ġew imlaqqma kompletament. Għad-drittijiet tal-LGBTIQ Malta l-ewwel Il-President tar-Repubblika, l-E.T. George id-divorzju mmorru għal LGBTIQ – suni LGBTIQ f’pajjiżi differenti. Vella, laqgħa din l-aħbar b’sodisfazzjon u terminoloġija li tinkludi gruppi varji Għas-sitt sena wara l-oħra Malta ikklassi - ta ħajr lil kull min kien involut biex din il- tMa’ nies li fl-imgħodd kien hemm min fikat fl-ewwel post, anzi issa tejjbet il-pun - kisba setgħet isseħħ, iwarrabhom, u ma jħares xejn sabiħ lejhom, teġġ b’ħamsa fil-mija. jekk ukoll ma jikkundan - Fi-jum internazzjonali kontra, fost oħrajn nahomx. l-Omofobija, l-Assoċjazzjoni Reġjonali F’dawn l-aħħar snin, il- Ewropea għal-LGBTIQ, ILGA-Europe, Gvern Malti għadda di - ħarġet il-klassifika tal-pajjiżi Ewropej, versi liġijiet u ħa passi biex magħrufa bħala Rainbow Index. nies bħal dawn jingħataw Malta kisbet punteġġ ta’ 94% filwaqt li l- ċerti drittijiet. Dan wassal eqreb pajjiż lejn Malta fit-tieni post kien biex Malta reġgħet ikklas - il-Belġju b’74%. sifikat fl-ewwel post fl-in - Dan ifisser li l-pajjiż ta’ wara Malta huwa diċi ta’ ILGA-Europe li ferm lura fil-punteġġ tal-indiċi, tant li jkejjel id-drittijiet tal-per - hemm distakk ta’ 20%. Tuesday, June 1, 2021 The Voice of the Maltese 15

Abela involut???? Binatendti dtani kbollue ta klok gkħalil- i kieku wieħed kellu jikkummenta u jikteb dwar dak battibekk sħiħ, bil-mexxej, u kollu li jiġri fil-qasam politiku Malti jkun irid mhux kSelliema oħra, nazzjonalisti magazine darba kull ġimagħtejn imma wieħed jsostnu li minħabba dawn l-al - Lkuljum. legazzjonijiet Abela kellu tal- Mal-avvenimenti u polemiċi li kienu għaddejjin f’dawn inqas jirriżenja temporanjament l-aħħar ġimgħat kien hemm dik li rreferejt fil-qosor xi sakemm jikklirja ismu u jekk ma żmien ilu, l-allegazzjoni li l-Ministru Carmelo Abela (xel - jagħmilx dan kellu jkun il-Prim lug) kellu x’jaqsam mat-tentattiv ta’ 10 snin ilu fis-serqa fuq Ministru li jneħħih. il-Bank HSBC li miegħu kien jaħdem dak iż-żmien Abela. It-tweġiba tal-Prim Ministru Għalkemm Abela mill-ewwel ċaħad kull konnessjoni ma kienet li bil-fatti li s’issa kellu dik is-serqa l-istorja ma waqfitx hemm. Anzi skalat wara li quddiemu, ma jħossx li għandu fuq il-profil tiegħu ta’ Facebook id-deput Nazzjonalista jneħħi l-Ministru mill-kariga, u Jason Azzopardi għamel diversi allegazzjonijiet fil-konfront anzi saħaq li riżenja ta' Ministru ta’ Abela. ma tintalabx għax hemm Għalkemm ma semmiegħx b’ismu, Azzopardi implika li "strateġija koordinata bejn il- Abela kellu x’jaqsam mat-tentattiv tas-serqa. kriminalità organizzata u l-Partit Abela mill-ewwel fetaħ kawża ta’ libell kontra Azzopardi, Nazzjonalista" biex dawn u ddeskriva dak li kiteb Azzopardi bħala gideb malafamanti jaġevolaw lil xulxin. u moqżież. Il-Prim Ministru kien qed jirreferi għall-fatt li l-Alfred Degiorgio, Imma l-istorja ma waqfitx hemm għax parti mill-midja bħalissa mixli bil-qtil ta’ Daphne Caruana Galizia, u li qed jimplika lil baqgħet ġġib stejjer dwar l-allegazzjonijiet mibdija minn xi Abela, flimkien ma ħuh talbu li jingħataw il-maħfra Presidenzjali biex nies li bħalissa jinsabu mixlijin bi qtil u wkoll b’dak it-tenat - jitkellmu, fost kollox f’din is-serqa, iżda it-talba tagħhom ġiet miċħuda. tiv tas-serqa. Xi midja rrappurtat li l-Pulizija kienet bagħtet "Il-kriminalità ma għandha xejn x'titlef u qed tipprova tixtri l-libertà fil - għal Abela biex tinterrogah. waqt li l-Partit Nazzjonalista jrid jakkwista l-poter. Il-PN qed jikkonfoffa Il-Ministru nnifsu ammetta li ġie interrogat u semma kif mal-kriminalità biex jaġevolaw lil xulxin," saħaq Abela. hu wkoll mar minn jeddu għand il-puliżija u wera ruħu Filwaqt li Abela qed ikompli jsostni l-innoċenza tiegħu parti mill-midja disponibbli li jikkopera bis-sħiħ biex ineħħi kwalunkwe u l-Partit Nazzjonalista qed ikomplu jitolbu għar-riżenja jew it-tkeċċija dubju dwaru u biex toħroġ il-verità sħiħa. Fl-istess ħin anke ta’ Abela mill-Kabinett. sfida lil Jason Azzopardi biex imur hu wkoll imur għand il- ... U l-istorja żgur mhux se tieqaf hawn, aktar u aktar meta aktar ma pulizija u jgħid x’jaf dwaru. jgħaddi ż-żmien, aktar qed noqorbu lejn l-elezzjoni.

r-riżultat kulħadd jafu. Minkejja l-is - forzi kollha li saru, inkluż l-ko-operaz - zjoni tal-Maltin li fl-Awstralja li bil-vot DESTINY ... tagħmel isem Itagħhom Malta kisbet il- Qed jingħad ukoll li flus ilwaqt li l-midja titfa’ daqshekk impor - punti, ir-riżultat ma kienx intefqu wkoll fuq influ - tanza lill-parteċipazzjoni ta’ Malta fil- dak li steennew ħafna. encers barranin, biex jip - EFurovision, u filwaqt li ħafna jikkum- Mhux għax s-seba’ post pubblikaw kontenut mentaw dwar il-kantanta Maltija, ftit huma mhux post tajjeb, imma promozzjonali li jap - dawk li donnu jimpurtahom minn Maltin għaliex kien hemm aspi - poġġja lil Destiny. oħra li qed jagħmlu isem barra minn Malta. razzjonijiet akbar. Bħas-soltu l-mistoqsija Fost dawn insibu lil plejer ta’ 17-il sena Ma nħobbx niddiskuti ta’ ħafna hi dwar jekk tal-futbol Maltija tal-futbol Hayley Bugeja għaliex, meta l-ġurija wara kollox Malta għand - li tilgħab fl-Italja ma’ Sassuolo. Din ġiet poġġiet lill-kanzunetta niex nieħdu sehem f’dan ivvutata mill-Federazzjoni Taljana tal-Fut - Maltija t-tielet post, im - il-Festival. bol bħala l-Aqwa Plejer Żagħżugħa tas- bagħad ġiet ittratta ħażin Fil-fehma tiegħi t-twe- Serie A. mill-vot tal-pubbliku. ġiba hija iva għax dan Fl-istaġun debuttanti tagħha, Bugeja skur - Kulħadd għandu l-feham mhux biss jagħti esper - jat 12-il gowl, biex u spiċċat l-aqwa skorer. tiegħu... u naħseb li xi ftit jenza lill-kantanti Maltin Bħalissa hawn ħafna xnigħat li Bugeja raġun kulħadd għandu. imma jagħmel lil Malta tista’ tingħaqad ma’ klabbs oħra aktar Minkejja kollox ħafna aktar magħrufa. Mill- magħrufa, kemm f-Italja u wkoll oħrajn kienu dawk li kitbu mes - banda l-oħra għandna Ewropej. Min-naħa tas-Sassuolo stqarrew saġġi fuq il-midja soċjali nagħtu aktar importanza li jixtiequ li Bugeja tibqa’ mal-klabb imqar jfaħħru lil Destiny li tat prestazzjoni mill- lis-sehem tagħna milli jekk nirbħux jew le. għal staġun ieħor. aqwa u li saħħret ħafna nies bil-leħen u l-wirja brillanti tagħha Sfortunatament fl-aħħar siegħat qamet polemika dwar kif qed jingħad li ntefqu l-eluf ta’ Ewro li nħarġu mill-Awtorita - Aakgħlatq ab’freno mbenu aġdrid rfil-aGżenjjer inIżd am li jispikklawl ihu mMa l-Imsaida ul Stani Pn awl- jiet għal dan il-kontest li anke wassal Maltin, fejn skont l-istatistika, fi tmien l- il Baħar. Hawnhekk, l-għadd ta’ residenti bar - lill-Ministru Carmelo Abela li taħtu 2N019, 20% tar-residenti kienu barranin u ranin jaqbeż lil dawk Maltin. jaqa' l-PBS, li wara li rċieva rapporti f’żewġ irħula jidher li hemm konċentrament Infatti, fl-2019, 54.1% tar-residenti kienu dwar li parti mill-baġit allokat lit-tim ta’ aktar barranin. Attwalment nistgħu ngħidu barranin, filwaqt li fil-każ ta’ San Pawl il- tal-Eurovision ta’ Malta kien intuża li l-aktar fejn jgħixu barranin huma fl-inħawi Baħar il-figura hija ta’ 53.1%. F’tas-Sliema biex isiru mħatri fuq Destiny, talab ver - tal-Imsida, Tas-Sliema, San Ġiljan u l-mad - hi ta’ 43.2%, filwaqt li f’San Ġiljan hemm ifika tan-nefqa war, kif ukoll lejn San Pawl il-Baħar. 42.2%. 16 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday, June 1, 2021

COVID 19: Melbourne again in lockdown Misinformation ictoria, Australia's second most populous state is observing a seven-day lock - down that it entered on last Thursday to counter a fast-spreading outbreak in Melbourne. The authorities took the decision after the outbreak of 26 cases. about the vaccine They even identified 150 sites where people may have been exposed to the virus. accine hesitancy has been identified V There is growing anxiety over the outbreak that Victoria's acting Premier James as a key hurdle for achieving Merlino said involved a highly contagious strain of the virus, the B.1.617 variant COVID-19 herd immunity in Aus - tVralia and there are fears some migrant com - munities are amongst those most at risk. A reliance on information about the pan - demic from their countries of origin, com - Buccodrding to ethe tbu dghet priestensted ngovernmwent h asa for rsomre timve, ina terml s bined with the fact English may not be their last month, the government will of when people, when they come to first language, means some migrant groups save $671 million over five years country, get an entitlement to benefits,” are being left out of key vaccine messaging by applying the four-year Newly Arrived Mr Morrison said. “That’s consistent and may be susceptible to misinformation, A Resident’s Waiting Period to anyone with decisions we've made in the past.” experts warn. granted permanent residency in Australia In his budget in reply, Labor leader An - It appears that the bulk of misinformation from 1 January next year. thony Albanese pledged to build 30,000 on social media platforms comes from a It was the biggest single cost-cutting social and affordable houses over five small array of “professional anti-vaxxers”, decision in the budget. years through a $10 billion future fund if which are “specifically oriented to damaging The duration of the waiting period to the party wins the next federal election. confidence in the (COVID-19) vaccines”. receive welfare payments previously de - Labor expects 21,500 full-time jobs in The creators of this type of content then at - pended on a migrant’s situation and visa construction and broader economy will tempt to “funnel people who’ve fallen for the type, but the new measure brings most be created in the first five years, with a misinformation to their own online proper - government subsidies and visa classes in guarantee one in 10 on-site worker will ties, where they’re converted into marketing line with the current four-year wait to be apprentices. leads, selling the books, access to secret in - access JobSeeker, Austudy, and youth The money to create the fund is to be bor - formation, or false cures. allowance payments. rowed not come from the federal budget. “This has been a consistent policy the

NSW Labor leader resigns odi McKay (above) has resigned as NSW Labor leader, saying some col - Jleagues in the party “never accepted” her. She had been the state Opposition Leader since 2019, but had come under pressure after her party lost the by-elec - tion in the seat of Upper Hunter. The seat was won by the Nationals who held it for the last 17 years. Ms McKay admitted her party needed Burials could jump by $9000 to do some “really genuine soul-search - he cost of burials is likely to rise by as Catholic Cemeteries Board,” he said. “We ing” to figure out why it was not res - much as $9000 under a radical New feel very badly let down in fact. We’ve been onating with voters. She said although STouth Wales Government plan to disband operating for more than 150 years and the she was elected leader in a democratic the state’s largest faith-based cemetery op - Church wanted us to continue. process, some had never accepted it. erators. “It’s a mission matter for us as a not-for- As we go to press, former leader The Chair of the Catholic Metropolitan profit and we represent all faith groups who Michael Daley and Chris Minns, who Cemeteries Trust, Greg Smith, said that tak - have entrusted us with their practices of bury - has twice failed to secure the leadership, ing Sydney’s largest cemeteries out of the ing their people. We frankly don’t think the appeared to be the only candidates to re - hands of religious operators would see sav - Government will do it as well we do it. place Ms McKay. ings of $500 million lost over the next 50 “And with the loss of our charitable status The electorate of Kogarah, in southern years due to the loss of their charitable sta - as a not-for-profit operator, I think the price Sydney, is now a marginal seat, held by tus. of burials will go up and could be up by a just 1.8 per cent. Mr Minn said Ms “We’re very disappointed by the decision third or around $9000 for a burial plot McKay is "a person of great integrity" of the Government to basically dismiss the alone.” and had shown "great leadership". Tuesday, June 1, 2021 The Voice of the Maltese 17

Two hundred years of Catholic education atholic education in Parramatta NSW started in 1820. Two hundred years ago, Fr John Therry an - Cswered the call to educate the youth of Parramatta. From that small beginning of 31 students began a great work that now spans 1755 schools, 100,000 staff and 777,000 school students around Australia. “From Xavier Catholic College, Wurru - miyanga in our most north; to Sacred Heart Catholic School, Geeveston in our south; to St Mary’s Star of the Sea, Carnarvon in the west; to St Finbarr’s, Byron Bay in the east; and to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College, Alice Springs in our red centre, Australia’s Catholic Schools cover the breadth of our country. “Over 200 years, your schools, pre- schools, and now universities, have trans - Is Fortress Australia, formed Australia through the millions of lives you have influenced.” Prime Minis - ter Scott Morrison said in his message of now a hermit nation? congratulation. taskforce bringing together an tional budget forecasting overseas travel Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP array of experts in a variety of to stay at low levels until mid-2022. told the congregation at St Mary’s Cathe - fields has laid out a roadmap for Australia is a trading nation and multi - dral in Sydney (below) and those watch - Australia’s reopening to the rest of the cultural, we cannot be separated from the ing via live stream: world. rest of the world. “We have been highly “After two centuries of service, we in The report, A Roadmap to Reopening, successful in suppressing COVID-19; you Catholic education are determined to written by a task force of multi-discipli - might even say we have been winning the make an even greater contribution to the nary experts argues that the current Aus - war against COVID-19, but if we are not lives of our young people, families, tralian international border closure could careful we could end up losing the peace,” church, and society.” be detrimental to the country’s interna - “Let’s remember tional reputation and suggests sector-spe - that about half of the cific travel bubbles for heavily affected Australian population industries. was born overseas or According to the taskforce, the govern - has a parent that was ment's insistence on a COVID-elimination born overseas so hav - approach rather than a strategy to live with ing borders closed the virus is "disappointing", with the na - means fortress Aus - tralia, a hermit na - tion”. Mr Soutphom- Euthanasia, masane, the report Queensland next sponsor said. ueensland is potentially a step closer to becoming the next Australian state tQo legalise euthanasia. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk spoke with Church leaders, including Brisbane Michelle Rowland MP Archbishop Mark Coleridge, who is a staunch opponent of euthanasia, based on Shadow Minister for Communications Catholic teachings. Federal Member for Greenway Ms Palaszczuk said she supported the eu - thanasia bill after witnessing the slow, painful deaths of her grandmother and uncle last year, but she would allow Labor MPs a conscience vote in Parliament. “I’m a Catholic, I’ve thought about this long and hard,” Ms Palaszczuk said. Level 1. Suite 101C, 130 Main Street, Blacktown Archbishop Coleridge issued a full state - PO Box 8525, Blacktown NSW 2148 ment in which he said the focus on pallia - tive care has been lost amid the haste to (02) 9671 4780 [email protected] introduce euthanasia, while “serious ques - MRowlandMP www.michellerowland.com.au tions remain about the consultation of Queensland’s First Nations people” 18 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday, June 1, 2021 Tagħrif dwar il-kitba bil-Malti (it-tielet Il-varjanti tal-ortografija Maltija parti) nkomplu nġibu għall-attenzjoni tal-qarrejja d-deċiżjoniijiet EŻEMPJU: Il-bieraħ it-Teżorier qal li qed jaħsibha jirriżenjax. meħuda mill-Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Ilsien Malti dwar forom L-Arċisqof wasal tard imma xorta wasal qabel l-Isqof. li għandhom jintużaw fil-kitba bil-Malti ħalli jkun hemm Nota: Bħala nom komuni, it-titlu jew isem ta’ kariga jibqa’ uIniformitá. jinkiteb b’ittra żgħira. EŻEMPJU: Dis-sena laħaq kanonku ieħor fil-parroċċa tagħna. It-Titli Kull teżorier jaf x’jiġifieri żżomm il-kontijiet sewwa. Meta jiġri Titlu jew isem ta’ kariga li jaħbat ezatt qabel l-isem ta’ per - hekk, ir-responsabbiltà kollha taqa’ fuq il-president. suna jinkiteb b’ittra kbira. L-isem tal-muniti EŻEMPJU: Irrid infaħħar lill-Avukat Pawlu Hili tax-xogħol siewi li għamel dis-sena. L-isem tal-muniti jinkiteb b’ittra żgħira Nirringrazzjaw lit-Teżoriera Michelle Borg tar-rendikont li tat EŻEMPJU: tliet ewro, seba’ ċenteżmi, lira sterlina, disa’ dollari. fis-seduta ġenerali. L-ismijiet taż-żmien L-Isqof Mario Grech ħareġ pastorali mal-Arċisqof Pawlu Cre - mona. L-ismijiet tax-xhur u tal-jiem tal-ġimgħa jinkitbu b’ittra kbira. L-ewwel ittra ta’ titlu mqassar tinkiteb dejjem kbira. EŻEMPJU: Jannar, Ġunju, Diċembru, il-Ħadd, l-Erbgħa, il- EŻEMPJU: ir-Rev. Ġorġ Attard, Dr Josette Grima, Dott. Mario Ġimgħa, is-Sibt Piscopo, is-Sur Michael Farrugia, il-Prof. Lina Xuereb, l-Onor. L-ismijiet tal-istaġuni u tas-sekli jinkitbu b’ittra żgira. Peter Attard, l-Inġ. Justine Zammit. EŻEMPJU: ir-rebbiegħa, il-ħarifa, l-ewwel jum tas-sajf, fi Meta l-isem tal-kariga jintuża waħdu u jirreferi għal indi - tmiem ix-xitwa, mis-seklu dsatax sas-seklu wieħed u għoxrin . vidwu partikolari, jinkiteb b’ittra kbira. *Ikompli fil-ħarġa 256 Australia’s coronavirus vaccine: When can you get your shot? number of recent changes and an - adults aged 50 and older. tially see all people who want to be vacci - nouncements have been made around However, recently the doors were thrown nated get a shot by Christmas. Australia’s beleaguered coronavirus vac - open in New South Wales to all people At the recent rate of some 408,000 doses a cine rollout. The national plan has been hit aged 40-49, and South Australia has even week, Australia's adult population of 20 by a raft of logistical troubles, booking is - announced people 16 and over in regional million would not be fully vaccinated until sues, and rates of hesitancy, especially areas are now eligible. February 2023. since the issuing of new advice for adults Queenslanders aged 40-49 are expected to People in Australia should check out the under 50 for the AstraZeneca shot, which be able to get a Pfizer vaccine from the end government’s vaccine eligibility checker to the government had banked on being the of July when new community vaccination find out when they can receive a COVID- central pillar of its rollout. hubs open. 19 vaccine, and how to book an appoint - The slow rollout of the vaccine to people People aged 16-49 - the balance of the ment if eligible, or register their interest. in disability residential facilities – who population - had not been slated by the fed - One should check their health depart - were supposed to be part of the first priority eral government for eligibility until phase ment’s website for information relevant to group - has also been deemed an “abject 2b, for which a start date is yet to be an - one’s state or territory. failure”. nounced. Vaccines are free for everyone in Australia Amid the slower-than-expected vaccine After shelving the first vaccine rollout regardless of visa or Medicare status. uptake, authorities have been urging eligi - timetable, falling short of its March goal by Some states and territories have also been ble Australians to get their shot as soon as millions of doses, the government shied opening up mass vaccination hubs in order possible, and some states have started away from committing to another one. But to get as many eligible people vaccinated going their own way to speed things up. October looms as a potential turning point. as quickly as possible, amid reports people The federal government is focusing its Health Minister Greg Hunt said, depend - in non-priority vaccination groups are get - rollout on priority groups through a stag - ing on supply, the Government is able to ting a jab to prevent wastage. gered approach. A revised phase 2a began roll out two million Pfizer doses each week Health authorities have been urging peo - in May, extending vaccine eligibility to from the start of October. That could poten - ple who can access a shot to get one, espe - cially ahead of the onset of winter. Those who have not as yet been vacci - nated are being urged to get the vaccine. “You catch COVID, you could die. It's as simple as that." Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said that the government was “rolling out extremely well in the over 70s” but there was “some hesitancy” among 50-69-year-olds. Chris Moy from the Australian Medical Association has warned people will remain "sitting ducks" until vaccine hesitancy and complacency are addressed. May’s federal budget included the as - sumption that all Australian adults would be able to access a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of 2021.

(Sources of the SBSNews) Tuesday, June 1, 2021 The Voice of the Maltese 19

Mill-G ira G awdxżija ħ Charles Spiteri

Fl-isfond tal-għelieqi bil- balal tat-tiben lesti tidher il- Knisja tar-raħal tal-Għasri ddedikata lil Kristu Salvatur fejn nhar il-Ħadd 6 ta’ Ġunju ssir il-festa ta’ Corpus Christi

Il-balal tat-tiben ippakkjati u ip - pustjati wara l-ħsad fl-inħawi ŻŻmmiieenn iill--ħħssaadd ttaatt--ttiibbeenn ’Għajn tal-Ħamimiet fir-Rabat ffll--ggħħeelliieeqqii GGħħaawwddxxiinn ejn tmiem April u l-ewwel ġimgħat ta’ Mejju fil-gżira Għawdxija jsir il-ħsad tat-tiben, xogħol meħtieġ u fl-istess wLaqt interessanti l-aktar għal min mhux midħla tiegħu li jsegwih. Dik li tara l-bżulija tal-bidwi mgħejjun mill- makkinarju jippakkja l-qatgħet f’roti ħoxnin bħal blalen qabel iġorrhom, titpaxxa taraha. Għal min mdorri hi xorta xi ħaġa li kieku jista’ ma jitlifihiex. Mhux l-ewwel darba li dawk fi tritiqithom bejn ir-Rabat u Marsalforn inkella x-Xagħra u l-Għasri jieqfu jammiraw ix-xena ta’ qud - diemhom, tat-tiben jew qed jiġi rrumblat inkella lest f’għexieren ta’ balal ippustjati, qisek qed tara blalen imferxin mal-wesgħat tal-għelieqi. Il-balal tat-tiben wara jitgħattew biex jilqgħu għax-xita. Imbagħad jitgħabbew u jitqassmu fejn ikun maħsub, ġeneralment biex jingħataw bħala għalf lill-bhejjem. Oħrajn jitħallew fl- għalqa għal bejn xahar u xahrejn. Fl-imgħodd ix-xogħol tal-ħsad kien isir kollu bl-idejn permezz ta’ minġel. Illum kol - Xi balal tat-tiben irrumblati lox mekkanizzat, bil-bidwi jaħdem minn fuq lesti għall-ġarr f’għalqa qrib is- tractor . Santwarju ta' Pinu 20 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday, June 1, 2021 Cardinal Mario Grech announces Synod on behalf of Pope Francis ollowing Pope Francis’ ap - self : “For a Synodal Church: proval of the revision of communion, participation and the entire process of the mission” Cardinal Grech said: SFynod of Bishops and his request “In reality, without this consulta - for it to begin with widespread tion there would be no synodal consultations with the laity at the process, because the discernment diocesan level, Malta’s Cardinal of pastors, which constitutes the Mario Grech, the secretary-gen - second phase, emerges from lis - eral of the Synod of Bishops, an - tening to the people of God.” nounced that next Ocotber, the The Cardinal’s office further is - entire Church will begin a syn - sued a statement explaining how odal journey leading to a Synod the next general assembly of the of Bishops to be celebrated in Synod of Bishops would work, October 2023. noting that the broader consulta - Explaining the importance of tion on the diocesan, national such a Synod to be held with the and regional levels would mean Cardinal Mario Grech making announcing the next Synod theme chosen by the Pope him - that the gathering of representa - tive bishops from around the world would take place at the Vatican in October 2023 rather Mhee Hligbh oCoummrisnsioen inCGcess futllay ckleaerinsg thue mpan doa -ffiMceem - than in 2022, as previously Canberra has announced tory period of quarantine upon bers of scheduled. tThat the newly appointed Con - arrival in Melbourne. the pub - The synod process would be for - sul-General for Malta in Mel - The HC points out that in line lic call - mally opened at the Vatican Oc - bourne, Ms. Chirelle Ellul with the guidance of the ing at tober 9-10; the bishop of every Sciberras (pictured right) , has Health Authorities in the State theCon - diocese will open the process in taken up office on May 24. of Victoria, wearing of face sulate’s his diocese on October 17. Ms. Ellul Sciberras has com - masks and face coverings in - office in The diocesan phase will go menced her work from the side the Consulate-General in Melbourne will still be at - through to April 2022, featuring Consulate-General, after suc - Melbourne will be mandatory. tended to by appointment only. a consultation with local Catho- lics discussing a preparatory doc - ument and questionnaire that the synod office will send out along Mhe Maltesle Stuba Bra ncah oft the RwSL sealecterd trhe felag mever sience.mbered with guidelines for how the con - for this year a project to promote and remind The project is ongoing and four copies of these sultation should work. Tthe gallantry and heroism of the people of Malta citations have already been made to: the Merry - Once the diocesan consultations during the war. They connected with popular and lands and Seven Hills RSL clubs, the Maltese have concluded, members of na - big centres by presenting a portrait of the citation Community Centre in West Parramatta, the tional bishops’ conferences un - presented to the people of Malta by King George George Cross Falcons Club in Cringila and, last dergo “a period of discernment” V1 on the 15th April 1942 “to bear witness to the week the La Valette Social Centre in Blacktown to “listen to what the Spirit has heroism and devotion of its people” during the (below from left): Patrick Bartolo, Vince Depares, inspired in the churches en - early part of World War II. Alfred Aquilina, Doris Pocock, Godfrey Sultana trusted to them”. In the beginning of 1943 the George Cross em - (President of La Valette SC) , Alfred Carabott A synthesis of that reflection blem was incorporated on the Malta’s national (Vice President of the Sub Branch), Mario Far - would then be sent to the Vati - flag and has remained on the current design of rugia, Andrew Magro and Sam Farrugia can’s synod secretariat by April 2022. The new indications also envision “continental” reflec - tions between April 2022 and March 2023. Cardinal Grech said that all the listening sessions and discern - ment are meant to assist partici - pants, mainly bishops, who will meet at the general assembly of the Synod in October 2023. Please Note If interested in advertising on The Voice of the Maltese magazine in order to reach the widest audience possible partcularly among the Maltese diaspora, one is requested to write for details to: Malte - [email protected] Tuesday, June 1, 2021 The Voice of the Maltese 21

outh Australian police have been conducting forensic testing on the body of a man dis - covered on Somerton beach 73 years ago in tShe hope that they can solve one of the country's Somerton man’s body most intriguing mysteries and finally determine his identity. The identity and cause of death of the man whose body was spotted by passers-by slumped against exhumed in bid to a seawall, dressed in a suit and tie on 1 December, 1948 on the beach in the South Australian city of Adelaide remain unknown. Now, Australian po - solve 73-year-old lice say advances in DNA technology make exhu - mation worthwhile; therefore the circumstances of his death remain an open police investigation. Australian mystery The man’s pockets contained nothing to Other curious items were also found on found, and how he died. identify him, and initial investigations and the body. They included a suitcase, items In April, South Australia Attorney Gen - a coronial inquest left the case unsolved. of clothing with their labels removed and eral Vickie Chapman said that the decision He was put to rest in Adelaide's West Ter - incoherent writings believed to be a code, to exhume the body followed "intense race Cemetery beneath a headstone that encouraged ongoing speculation. He also public interest" in the case, which led to refers to him simply as "the unknown held a torn scrap of paper with the Farsi crews digging at the gravesite. However, man". words Tamam Shud, or "it's finished” due to dense clay and uncertainty as to Before the Somerton Man was buried in printed on it. "Keane" and "Kean" were whether the man had been buried in a cof - June 1949, he was embalmed using the only words found on items in the suit - fin, initial efforts moved slower than ex - formaldehyde to preserve his body, but case believed to belong to the Somerton pected. there are fears that process could have de - Man. According to reports, accessing the man's stroyed much of his DNA. The case has attracted international inter - remains may be a first step in a process to After hours of digging skeletal remains est and for 73 years it has sparked specu - build a DNA profile and uncover answers were discovered with police saying that lation he was a spy or the forlorn lover of in one of Australia’s most famous cold they found the identification tag linking an enigmatic woman known as Jestyn, cases, with authorities saying that if suffi - the bones to the unknown man. who lived not far from where his body was cient DNA evidence can be obtained, they will attempt to identify the man and where he came from. Forensic Science South Australia's Assistant Director of Operations, Dr Anne Coxon, is reported saying that the technology available to now is clearly light years ahead of the tech - niques available when the body was first discovered. Dr Coxon said tests of this kind are highly complex but investigators will use every method at their dis - posal “to try and bring closure to this enduring mystery". The case is part of Operation Per - severe that seeks to put a name to all unidentified remains in South Aus - tralia, with South Australian Attor - ney General Ms Chapman saying that this is a story that has captured the imagination of people across the state, and, indeed, across the world. However, he believes that finally, The Somerton Man was laid to rest at West Terrace cemetery in June 1949. (photo:: Derek Abbott) they might uncover some answers. 22 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday, June 1, 2021 Maltese-Canadian author Marthese Fenech’s new historical novel Falcon’s Shadow soars to number one within hours of release A Literary Escape in the Time of COVID-19 alcon’s Shadow : a Novel of the of Malta of 1565, a culmination of the hos - Knights of Malta, the second book in tility between the Knights of St John and the author Marthese Fenech’s Siege of Ottomans. The ongoing conflict incites the FMalta trilogy, launched at number one on collision of two great empires, intertwining Amazon’s bestseller list within hours of its the fates of characters separated by faith, release. loyalties, and vast distance. Eight Pointed For several weeks, both Falcon’s Shadow Cross , set two decades before the Great and Eight Pointed Cross, the first novel in Siege, features the lesser-known but decisive the series, occupied the number one and two Siege of Gozo in 1551. spots on the bestseller list. Falcon’s Shadow picks up in the immediate During the months of the first Covid-19 aftermath and sweeps from quarry pits to lockdown, Fenech thought she could help sprawling estates, tumultuous seas to creak - those struggling with boredom by providing ing gallows, the dungeons beneath the Author Marthese Fenech some affordable – and legal – escape. She bishop’s palace to the open decks of warships. els, she took up archery and accidentally be - dropped the price of the digital version of her The third, yet untitled novel showcases the came a licenced coach. first novel, Eight Pointed Cross, across all Great Siege is set for release May 2022. A former kickboxing instructor, she surfs, Amazon marketplaces to 99c as a thank-you Fenech’s novels claimed gold and silver snowboards, scuba-dives, climbs, skydives, to those doing their part to flatten the curve. medals in the Historical Fiction Book of the throws axes, and practices yoga – which Marthese donated a percentage of the sales Year Awards and garnered outstanding re - may sometimes include goats or puppies. to Conquer Covid-19 charities. Additionally, views from acclaimed authors, historians, Fenech is happy to chat about her books, re - she used proceeds from the surge in book rock stars, and swordsmen. search, travels, and inspirations. sales to purchase boxes of nitrile gloves for Giovanni Bonello, historian, author, and for - Fenech’s biggest dream is seeing her novels frontline staff at a local hospital. mer European Courts of Human Rights, Jud- come to life on the screen so recently en - Fenech’s trilogy is based on the Great Siege ge has high praise for Fenech’s novel: “Many rolled in a screenwriting course and is cur - historical sagas have been published, but rently drafting a pilot episode she hopes to few convey the scale, complexity, and at - pitch to streaming services as well as HBO tention to historical detail of Eight and the History Channel in the next few Pointed Cross” . months to connect, not only the Maltese He said that Marthese Fenech creates community but the world with one of the intricate plots and multi-dimensional most incredible stories of valour and tri - characters, whom she moves from one umph to grace the annals of history, the perilous situation to another, keeping Great Siege of 1565. readers avidly turning the pages. Eight Pointed Cross and Falcon’s Shadow Born in Toronto to Maltese parents, are available across global Amazon market - Fenech has travelled to sixty-five coun - places in digital, paperback, and audiobook tries across six continents. She has a editions. Fenech’s novels can also be pur - Master’s degree in Education and chased from bookstores and tourist sites in teaches high school English and history. Malta and direct from her publisher, BDL. While completing research for her nov - Visit https://marthesefenech.com . Maltese Seniors Social Welfare Day Groups Llandilo Maltese Seniors month. Miller Room, Memorial Avenue field Heights from 10 am to 12 noon. Meets on the first Wednesday of each Merrylands from 10.30am to 12.30 pm. Group Leader: Dorothy Gatt. month at the Llandilo Community Hall, Group Leader: Salvina Falzon. 257 Seventh Avenue, Llandilo 11am to 1.00 Maltese of Bankstown pm. Group holds regular Information Ses - Greystanes Maltese Seniors Group meets 3rd Wednesday of month sions/Workshops & Bus Trips. Group Meets on the second Monday of each in the Bankstown CBD area. Every Leader: Helen Azzopardi. month at the George Preca Parish Cen - other 3rd Thursday an outing. Enquiries tre Our Lady Queen of Peace (OLQP) call: Sam Galea 0410 269 519. Daceyville Maltese Seniors Church, 198 Old Prospect Road, Grey- Meets the last Wednesday of the month stanes from 10 am to 12 noon. Group The Sutherland & in Meeting Room One, No. 3 General holds regular Information. Sessions/ St George Maltese Group Bridges Crescent, Daceyville. Note: The Workshops & Bus Trips. Group Leader: Meets First Wednesday of the Month Groups also arrange regular Bus Trips. Frances Montesin. from 10:00am-1:00pm. Meetings/Get Join us and make new friends. Group Togethers are interesting, informative & Leader: Doris Sicluna Fairfield Active Maltese Seniors entertaining, so come join us and make Meets on the last Tuesday of the Month. new friends. For more information con - Merrylands Social Maltese Seniors Group meets in St Theresa’s Parish Hall, tact our Coordinator: Charles Mifsud JP Meets every second Friday of the cnr of Stella Street & The Boulevard, Fair - Phone (mb 0421 662 298. *(All Groups are co-ordinated by The Maltese Community Council of NSW) with 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 (Cnr Young St) Parramatta West NSW (next to West Parramatta Primary School). Tuesday, June 1, 2021 The Voice of the Maltese 23 CCoommmmuunniittyy NNeewwss

www.coastfm.org.au SBS MALTESE NEWS: L-Aħbarijiet TTuunnee iinn ttoo are now on SBSTV Viceland HD Channel 32 every Sunday at 8.00 a.m. RRaaddiioo aanndd and on Thursday at 8.00 a.m. BRISBANE listen to the Maltese Pro - gramme on 4EB on Tuesdays 6.00 - . METTLBOeeURllNeEe: vvon ii3ZssZZ ii92oo.3FnMn or 8.15am; Sundays 4.15pm to 5.15pm on www.3zzz.com.au. Mondays 5-6 Maltese Community Radio Adelaide: pm, Fridays 5-6 pm and Saturdays Maltese Programmes on 5EBI 10-11am. mand on l-Internet: www.893fm.com.au ) 103.1fm: Sunday: 7.30am; Monday: MELBOURNE: on 98.9 North West On Demand: Ethnic Maltese Council 11am) 8.00 am; Monday: 6.00pm . FM, every Friday 6.00 - 7.00p.m. and Il-Ħadd 11.00 am: l-aħħar aħbarijiet Contact: Bernadette Buhagiar: 0420 Mondays 7.00 to 8.00pm. Presenter: minn Malta, mużika, tagħrif, kultura, 944 205. Email bernadettebuha - Emmanuel Brincat. avviżi u suġġetti ta’ interess. [email protected] Ron Borg: 0418 843 850. Email [email protected] On SBS Radio SBS Radio 2 on Channel 38 . Pro - 97.9 FM Melton Tuesday Maltese Day Time Analogue and Digital grammes can be accessed online Tuesdays and Fridays: 12:00-13:00 Programme: 6.00 To 8.00 pm (live/catch up) at: sbs.com.au/maltese Presenter Miriam Vella 97.7fm SBS 2. (mobile), using the SBS Radio app. To tune into digital radio you need a Programmes on 89.3 Fm 2GLF receiver or device with a DAB+ chip. For television news from Malta - Maltese voices: One hour of Maltese Tuning in is by station name not fre- SBS2 TV 32 ( (Viceland) on Thurs - talent, songs from Maltese artists. quency. Digital radio can also be days and Sundays at 8am. Sundays @ 10.00 am to 11.00 am. heard via digital TV. VIVA MALTA on COAST FM 96.3 Ma rthese Caruana: 11.00 a.m.: MCC SYDNEY: listen to the MCC radio pro - Community Radio in Gosford Central programme grammes on 2GLF FM 89.3. Coast NSW. Aired on Thursdays every These programmes are also on De - Isma’ l-programm tar-radju bil-Malti fortnight from 6 pm -7 pm. mand for 4 weeks from the website of mill-Kunsill Malti ta’ NSW minn fuq l- Presenter: Nathalie Gatt. 2GLF 89.3 FM - follow - Ethnic - Sun - istazzjon 2GLF 89.3FM. Also On De - Web streaming: day 10.00am and 11.00 am MALTESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL OF NSW A division of the Maltese Community Council of NSW Inc. Established in 1999 Learn Maltese All age students are welcome to enrol in our classes held on Saturday mornings We offer legal services in Melbourne at Horsley Park, NSW. (Lt Collins Street) and Werribee. Online classes are also available on Tuesday evenings Family law is our specialty. and Saturday afternoons. • wills, powers of attorney, Applications are also welcome for paid positions from people to assist • manage deceased estates, and provide in language teaching and/or administration. For more information, • purchase and sell property call 0419 476 924. Email: [email protected] • purchase and sell businesses. • divorce, children, property, • child support, intervention orders. • Maltese Wills, Powers of Attorney La Val ette Social Cent r e • Maltese Property matters. La Valette Social Centre Inc. 175 Walters Road, Blacktown Tel. 96225847 Marlene Ebejer (speaks Maltese)is The Centre is now open two days a week, Thursdays and Saturdays an accredited family law specialist Charlie's Family Restaurant is open Thursdays and Saturdays for lunch and dinner. Phone: 03 9741 1722 Boċċi pitches are operating again with some restrictions. www.ebejerlawyers.com.au) Bingo : Saturdays only at 8.00pm preceded by short Maltese movie at 7.30pm. email [email protected] MASS: Saturdays at St Francis Chapel from 5pm, following rosary at 4.30pm, and Thursdays 10am at main building (subject to availability of a priest) We get to the point, provide the right ad - Next event: 13th June 2021 coach trip to Melrose Park, Berrima, leaving Greystanes at 8am and vice and get the work done at a reason - La Valette at 8.30am. Cost $30 includes coach and morning tea. For bookings: Frances able price. 0412320432 or Antoinette 96712992. b) L-Imnarja: Feast of St Peter & St Paul, Sunday 27 June from 10am onwards. There will be music and għana; jumping castle & free popcorn for kids; Maltese Concert Band; Maltese food and drink; exhibition of vegetables, fruit, birds and crafts. Those wishing to be exhibitors are urged to contact the centre or Joe Abela on 0416971484. Events for 2021 Sunday July 4: L-Imnarja L-aħbarijiet tal-PBS (Malta) Fete Il-PBS ta’ Malta tforni lill-SBS fl-Awstralja bis-servizz tal-aħbarijiet tagħha, Sunday October 17: imma l-qarrejja xorta huma mħeġġa biex jidħlu fil- website tal-istazzjon Sat. November 14: Dinner Dance Malti: www.tvm.com.mt . għall-aħbarijiet kemm bil-Malti u bl-Ingliż. Sun. December 5: Festa San Nikola 24 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday, June 1, 2021 SSppoorrttss Malta beaten by Northern Ireland in warm-up in Austr ia n Sunday, at the Wörthersee Stadion ect of the in Klagenfurt Austria Malta’s na - training pit- tional football team lost 0-3 To ches at the Na - NOorthern Ireland in the first of three warm- tional Stadium up matches on its 12-day training camp at at the Ta’ Qali the Bad Kleinkirchheim training facilities. traing Gro- The squad of 29 players that is taking part unds that is in the camp supervised by head coach scheduled to Devis Mangia as the national squad’s be completed build-up for its upcoming 2022 World Cup by the end of Group H qualifiers that will resume on August. September 1 with a home date against It is hoped Cyprus to be followed by two away tests that the play - against Slovenia and Russia. ers would re - The Maltese, lacking match rhythm for turn to this lack of action since March conceded after revamped Malta’s national team players (white two minutes to a goal by Jordan Jones. base in the shirts) against Norhtern Ireland Photo: Stphen Gatt Soon after Bonello saved a Magannis new season. penalty. The association says that at a cost of €2 going much too tough against Qatar U/23 Northern Ireland doubled the score million, this project also reflects its ap - Olympic team in another training camp in through Gavin Whyte seven minutes into proach to further attract foreign teams to Catez, Slovenia. Qatar won 5-0 after leding the second haf and a minute later Ali Mc - choose Malta for training purposes. 2-0 at half time and also scored from a Cann made it 3-0 for the Irish by eating penalty. Bonello with a low shot after being sent Malta, is preparing for a tough competition through by Paddy McNair. U/21s hit for 5 by Qatar starting September against Northern Ireland Meanwhile, the Malta Football Association Meanwhile in hs debut match as Malta’s followed by an away game against Russia is undergoing a €2 million renovation proj - U21 Head Coach Gilbert Agius found the Malta next play Bosnia on Friday.

Los wcask to bde exopecwted, nby w aay off ofbseervcingtsd raGw freomo therir gvisit eto sWh’i ttgleseaa Umnitede in the seven-day lockdown to counter the latest their effort to win the title and promotion. ACOVID outbreak in Melbourne, all the football It was a scrappy match on a hard and bumpy matches scheduled for the past weekend in the pitch, but George Cross still managed to create Victoria State League and all the team’s training several goal-scoring opportunities without con - sessions were cancelled until Thursday. That verting any, including a missed penalty from also included Caroline George Cross’s Day 10 Francesco Stella. home match against Corio SC. This means that after nine games George The Georgies last match was in Round 9 when Cross, hold on to their three-point lead at the they dropped two precious points in a scoreless top of the league over runners up Brimbank. XXXII Games of the Olympiad in Parramatta now six without a win arramatta FC who last tasted victory in the SW NPL4 six matches Tokyo, Japan ago, have yet again been denied victory settling for a 2-2 home draw Pwith Hawkesbury City FC at Melita Stadium after leading 2-1 at half Eleanor Bezzina confirmed time. The Eagles were immediately on the back foot going a goal down after as Malta’s first participant only three minutes, however, a brace from attacker Clement Ebahece ndoor pistol shooter Eleanor Bezzina is the first Maltese Waoci (21st and 26th minute s) gave them a slender lead going into the athlete to be officially named by the Maltese Olympic break. ICommittee for the upcoming XXXII Games of the Olympiad Unfortunately, the second half started as it did in the first, when a mix in Tokyo, Japan, scheduled between July 23 and August 8. up in the Eagles' defence let in K.Boamah-Addai to get his second goal This would be her second Olympic Games after the 2016 and level the score in the 53rd minute. Games in Rio. She has also been a recipient of an Olympic The Eagles can still make it to the finals with a fourth-place finish when Solidarity Scholarship for the past three years. they meet Prospect in their final game. Her participation is made possible through the Tripartite In the previous round Parramatta’s poor run of form continued at Cam - Commission Invitational that offers NOCs the opportunity den Tigers who beat them 2-1. Camden opened the scoring through the send top athletes in their respective sport who have not Matthew Lane to send them into the break up a goal. managed to qualify. Bezzina will compete in the 10m and Parramatta looked determined for a good result and looked likely for one 25m indoor shooting events. after Santiago Rodriquez scored his first goal of the season. But their joy Bezzina is currently competing at the European Champi - was short lived as minutes replied with a second through Cormack Stevens. onships in Osijek, Croatia. The Eagles finished with only ten men after the sending off of Lane.