No. 4/2014 MHA Newsletter MAY 2014

Merħba! Welcome to all the members and friends SBS RADIO: Maltese in Australia of the Maltese Historical Association. commemorate ANZAC day – interviews with In this newsletter you will find: ex-servicemen in VIC, NSW, SA and QLD who took part in the ANZAC march. a number of links to interesting websites http://tunein.com/topic/?TopicId=71652815 a summary of our last talk by Professor Maurice Cauchi. A longer version will be posted to the Youtube Videos: MHA website during the Blitz - 1941 to 1942 (4:43min)

an introduction to our presentation evening on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Axori42SMnc 20 May with guest speakers Lou Drofenik and Joe Flores The Siege of : Knights of St John vs Ottoman Empire (45 mins) looks at the armour, weapons and strategies used in the Great Siege. MHA in MAY https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_e A special double feature! mbedded&v=D2nRJWTdpXQ The website of the Maltese Consulate of South Lou Drofenik will describe her latest novel, Australia, www.ozmalta.page4.me, contains a short Bushfire Summer, which will be available for sale front page article on the most common surnames afterwards. and their ties to certain localities. There also can be Joe Flores will present a slideshow of photographs found a touching article about the contribution of from the mid 1800s to mid 1900s, during the days the South Australian Maltese Community (20 of British Rule. Help us identify them! families) to help alleviate the sufferings of their compatriots back home in the thick of World War 2 7.30 pm start. Tuesday 20th May in 1942. Enjoy “10 interesting facts about Malta”, Maltese Community Centre and a number of other links. Ievers St., Parkville The Latest All welcome Maltese E-Newsletter #40 http://users.onvol.net/114653/pubs/SouthAustraliaNew sLetter.pdf from South Australia contains many articles of historical interest, including: Interesting links: MALTA DURING WORLD WAR 1 - ANZAC - 1914- 2014 on page 5 is a “must read”. From the MCCV website: Malta’s George Cross Award commemorated in Melbourne: http://www.mccv.org.au/maltas-george-cross- award-commemorated-in-melbourne/ MCCV second generation Maltese survey report published 12 Apr 2014: http://www.mccv.org.au/mccv-second- generation-maltese-survey-report-published/

140502_MHA_Newsletter_May_2014 Page 1 of 6 Malta was justly described as the Nurse of the served as Parish priest in Warrawong, Dingley, and Mediterranean during WW1. In 1914, there were Springvale. He died aged 91. four military hospitals in Malta, a small military GREYSTANES - OUR LADY QUEEN OF hospital on and a large Royal Naval Hospital at PEACE PARISH p9 Bighi. For the first nine months of the war, the military hospitals of Malta were limited to the needs of the garrison and, excluding the Naval Hospital, consisted of 300 beds. The first batch of 600 casualties from the Gallipoli landings arrived on 4th May 1915. By adding tents and huts there was accommodation for about 7,000 patients by August 1915. More patients arrived from the campaign in Salonika and a malaria outbreak in Macedonia in 1916. The hospital beds and convalescent depot accommodation were increased to over Known as Little Malta, Greystanes has a long 25,000. association with Maltese. This is the of the parish. Another article about the locality can be After the influenza epidemic of 1918, it was all over. found in Issue 39. (See summary below) Fewer than 500 equipped hospital beds remained on the island by February 1919. An Exhibition in the Palace – Maltese in Corfu p10 The total number of men treated in Malta over the National Library in Valletta - "Lest We Forget" 4 years was about 125,000. Many doctors, including exhibition on World War II p12 80 women, and hundreds of nurses assisted the sick and wounded. Some died in Malta from diseases while caring for their patients. Most are buried in the Pieta Military Cemetery. (For further reading also see: Malta: The nurse of the Mediterranean below)

Also from the Maltese e-newletter #40 we have:

Consul-General in Victoria retired in 2006 p7: A tribute to Dr Clemente Zammit on the occasion of his retirement.

MALTESE PIONEER IN AUSTRALIA: The Late Father Victor Bonello OFM Conv 1920 – 2012. Born in Xagħra, Gozo and ordained in 1947, Father

Victor worked in Malta and Africa before coming to HMCS ONTARIO (CANADA) - The Second Australia in 1956. He designed and built the first World War p 13 and a tribute to Royal Canadian underground church in Coober Pedy, ministered to mining communities, opened two colleges and Air Force Sergeant Lucien “Shadow” Brooks, shot down over Malta in the spring of 1942. 140502_MHA_Newsletter_May_2014 Page 2 of 6 The Maltese Connection: The R.C.E.L. Meets On A Anniversary of the blessing and official opening of Symbolic WWII Island p 14 - their mandate is to the Rosary Home Aged Care Facility in Keilor Downs. provide a meal a day to the thousands of elderly From the Maltese Community Council of Victoria veterans who go hungry across the commonwealth. 2012: Six prominent Maltese community members The Club Run p 15 – aircraft supply operations to were honoured in 2012, namely Dr Joe Abela, the besieged island of Malta during WWII, told Manuel Casha, Frank Calleja, George Cini, Joseph through the eyes of Flight Sergeant Calvin Taylor, a Montebello, and Benny Soler. Canadian who was one of the 32 Spitfire pilots on 2012 Bishop Joseph Grech HMS Eagle who made it to Malta on June 9th, 1942. Memorial Scholarship: awarded to Rita Catania. 60 AD - THE SHIPWRECK OF ST. PAUL ON MALTA p16-17 Maltese migrants settling in Australia: 1963-69: a number of annotated archival photographs. Tribute to the late Daniel Caruana of Adelaide, South Australia and the Queen of Victories band, Il Cantilena: the oldest known literary text in the Zurrieq p17 , probably from the 1470s, and attributed to Pietru Caxaro. The article contains a The full articles on these and many other topics can copy of the original text and an English translation. be read at: St Helena Maltese-Australian Social Club – http://users.onvol.net/114653/pubs/SouthAustraliaNew Melbourne: Founded in 1980 by Reno Grima in sLetter.pdf honour of St Helena, the patron saint of Birkirkara, The previous e-newsletter #39 also contained many Malta, the club has organised many celebrations interesting articles: and functions. Illustrating our heritage: a book review of Doris Maltese Migrants bound for Melbourne Victoria Micallef’s Paintings of Malta and Gozo, with 1958: a Maltese priest used to depart with every delightful illustrations by the author. I have ordered ship of emigrants leaving the island. Many priests a copy. stayed on and would read letters and write them on Special feature: 3 Maltese-Australian professors: behalf of the less literate Maltese migrants. Professor John Mamo, currently at Curtin University, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Western Australia; Professor Stephen Gatt, currently at the University of New South Wales and Malta: The nurse of the Mediterranean by our very own Professor Maurice Cauchi. the Reverend Albert MacKinnon was originally published in 1916. This illustrated account by a Precious History of Greystanes New South Wales: Presbyterian army chaplain who served in Malta Sometimes known as “Little Malta”, the area was during WW1 is full of interesting detail and personal the site of the first land grants to emancipated anecdotes which make it a worthwhile and convicts in 1791, despite conflicts with the original informative read. An online copy of the original inhabitants, the Darug people, led by Pemulwuy. In book can be seen at: the early 20th Century, many of the residents of the https://archive.org/details/maltanurseofmedi00ma area were from Malta and some operated poultry ckuoft farms which became household names, such as Cordina Chickens, Baiada Chickens and Pace Farm Eggs. In the 1950s and 1960s Greystanes was developed as a residential suburb. Frank Cefai, a Maltese migrant, built thousands of residential homes, Our Lady Queen of Victories in 1975 (later renamed Our Lady Queen of Peace), and the surrounding primary and secondary schools. Dominican Sisters celebrate Rosary Home’s 25th Anniversary: On Sunday 30 October 2011 the Dominican Sisters of Malta celebrated the 25th

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April Talk: Maltese Surnames and their Significance given by Professor Maurice Cauchi

Professor Maurice Cauchi gave an interesting talk to One explanation for these variations is that the the MHA on Tuesday 15th April, highlighting a older the surname in the Maltese population, the number of interesting aspects relating to Maltese more likely it is to be found in large numbers. For surnames. His interest in surnames started some 20 example, all of the top 10 surnames have existed in odd years ago when he began investigating Malta since 1400 AD. This means that these families surnames as bearers of genetic traits – surnames have had a large number of generations over which are also inherited from the father! to multiply and reach their current prevalence. (semitic) surnames are the relic of Arabic (and more likely Siculo/Arabic) influence. Following these, there was an influx of Europeans starting with Frederick II in 1220, and the various European rulers that controlled Malta. Many more modern surnames have arrived in Malta as a result of influx at various times. These included Greek names from Rhodes coming in with the Knights, following their expulsion from Rhodes; workers from for the extensive building initiated by the Knights; the Italian Risorgimento in 1830-70; and the latest being the building of the breakwater (1903-1906), with several workers It is striking that in Malta and Gozo a few surnames coming from Italy and . are shared by a large number of the population. For instance, in some villages in Gozo, five surnames Professor Cauchi account for half of the total population. This pointed out that indicates a high degree of homogeneity ('sameness') while the Maltese resulting from inbreeding, although a recent census take pride in their in Malta (2011) shows some reduction of this coats of arms, degree of homogeneity. Certain surnames are many were simply associated with certain villages as there was not a made up. lot of travel between villages in the past and people The talk was tended to marry within their own villages. followed by an This census also shows that over the whole of animated discussion on the meanings of surnames. Malta, the top 10 surnames cover three-quarters of Some of these started as nicknames or related to the population. The most common surnames in someone’s occupation or physical characteristics, Malta are: Borg, Camilleri, Vella, Farrugia, Zammmit, such as Gambin, Testaferrata and Buttigieg. Galea, Micallef, Grech, Attard, and Spiteri. In Gozo, Several prizes of Professor Cauchi’s book, Health there are some slight differences: the most common Issues Today were awarded to people who correctly surname is Vella, followed by Attard, Camilleri, described the origins of their surnames and many of Grech, Portelli, Buttigieg, Sultana, Azzopardi, Spiteri, us continued the discussion over tea and coffee and Zammit. afterwards. It was a most enjoyable evening. Moreover, there are certain surnames, which, while Copies of the talk may be obtained from Prof not common, occur characteristically in certain Cauchi's website: mauricecauchi.wordpress.com localities but not in others. These include surnames like Rapa, Mintoff, Sultana, and Buttigieg.

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MAY PRESENTATION - BUSHFIRE SUMMER A novel by Lou Drofenik

Lou lives with her husband and her extended family in country Victoria where, besides writing, she tends a large garden which she loves.

Her new novel, Bushfire Summer, touches on the history of child migrants to Australia from Malta. It is based on personal experience during the 2009 Black Saturday bush fires, and is a story of courage, loss, and the realization that miracles can and do happen.

Lou’s interest in Maltese child migration started in 1993 after she watched the harrowing BBC documentary: The Leaving of Liverpool, not realising that three hundred

and ten Maltese children were also involved in this scheme.

Garth Evans, in this story, is one of those child migrants sent to Western Australia from Malta in the 1950’s. In this novel he and his sister Molly were sent by their mother under the Government sponsored scheme to Western Australia. Though both Garth and Molly are fictional characters, their lives are based on stories of The cover of Lou Drofenik’s latest novel Maltese children sent to Australia at that time.

At the beginning of the next MHA gathering on 20 Over the course of a dry, hot summer culminating in a May, the Maltese-Australian author Lou Drofenik catastrophe of immense proportions, the characters in will be speaking about her latest novel, Bushfire the community of Cooper Creek come to terms with Summer, which will be available for sale at the end their frailties, their connections to each other, and to the of the evening for $25 per copy. land they love. This novel is a celebration of people in rural communities, their generosity of spirit and their Lou Drofenik (Zammit) was born in Birkirkara Malta. undeniable acts of heroism when disaster strikes. She studied education at La Trobe University where For more information on this topic listen to this SBS she obtained her B.Ed. M.Ed. and Ph.D. Lou was a Maltese Radio broadcast from 24/4/14 (9 mins) primary school educator and spent many years in http://tunein.com/topic/?TopicId=71652815 school administration.

Lou is the author of Birds of Passage, In Search of Carmen Caruana, Of Cloves and Bitter Almonds, Cast the Long Shadow, Beloved Convict and the recently BANK OF VALLETTA PLC published Bushfire Summer. Her novels have won Australia Representative Office: various literary awards in Australia and in Malta. 16 Watt Street Sunshine Vic 3020 Lou’s writing reflects her love of her Maltese Tel 9311 3222 Fax 9311 3216 heritage and of Australia - the land where she has spent most of her life. Much of her writing is about Open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays the lives of Maltese migrants, their years of from 9.00am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 5.00pm settlement, and the bond they have with the land of Uffiċċju Rappreżentattiv their birth. L-Ewwel Bank Rappreżentattiv Malti fl-Awstralja

140502_MHA_Newsletter_May_2014 Page 5 of 6 MAY PRESENTATION - MALTA IN THE PAST – DVD SLIDE SHOW by Joe Flores

Joe Flores will be presenting a slide show containing he gained a certificate of management from the about 180 slides. They give a glimpse of Malta Preston Collage of Business studies. He travelled for between the mid 1800's to the mid 1900's, judging company business to the parent company in Kalmar, by dates shown on some of the slides. This period Sweden, to study close tolerance capacitor of history shows Malta during Colonial times under manufacture and other production interests in British rule. The pictures are a mixture of sepia and Stockholm and in Granna on three different black & white. It is not a continuous story but it can occasions. be quite random from slide to slide. Joe does not In 1985—2000 he transferred to LM ERICSSON in a pretend to recognise all the places shown in the Management position responsible for the slides, so your input is requested to help identify th manufacture of printed circuit boards (PCBs). At them. Come along on the 20 May for a most Ericsson he undertook a number of internal courses enjoyable night. relating to internal production education such as Safety, Human Relations and Systems, etc. He also travelled to Pagani, Italy, for company business to study PCB production techniques and production floor layout, as the Italians had the best and most modern factory in the whole Ericsson group. Back in Australia, still at Ericsson, he later moved into Planning of PCB's and then went on to become a Master Planner, responsible for millions of dollars worth in telephone exchange business with Telecom, now Telstra.

In 2000 - 2006 Joe spent 2 years renovating an old

house on his own, and then went on to building his

own house as an owner builder.

Joe Flores visiting a 2200 year old tomb in Siggiewi, Malta Joe has been married to Coral for 46 years. They Joe was the first born to Frank and Carmen Flores in have three daughters and 5 grandchildren. He and Sliema Malta on the 10th of March 1945 and was Coral love travelling and have been to all the baptized at Stella Maris parish church Sliema. continents. Their last visit was to Peru in South In his youth he lived in Senglea and attended school America in 2013. there. After his elementary school years he chose an apprenticeship in furniture making. Joe likes Maltese History, all kinds of sports and woodwork. In 1962 the whole family (his parents, 2 brothers, and sister) migrated to Melbourne Australia. He continued with his apprenticeship in furniture making and design at RMIT. WANTED!

In 1966--1968 during the SVN war he served for 2 Articles Poems

years in the Royal Australian Army Signals Corp, Photos Anecdotes Videos assigned to Administration, reporting directly to the of historical interest and relevance to Squadron Commander. the Maltese community In 1968--1985 he joined RIFA Pty Ltd a Swedish for inclusion in the MHA newsletter company and subsidiary of LM Ericsson. He was responsible for production of capacitor Send to [email protected] manufacture and 30 operatives. During this period

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