Maltese Community Council of Victoria, Inc. 477 Royal Parade Parkville Victoria 3052 Australia MCCV newsletter Phone: (03) 9387 8922 Fax: (03) 9387 8309 Email: [email protected] Web: mccv.alphalink.com.au No: 106 March ‐ April 2011 Editor: Dr Edwin Borg-Manché Consultation with Maltese President of Malta to make Community on Bill to set up Council for State Visit to Australia Maltese Living Abroad On 1 February 2011 the Malta High On 14 January 2011 the Malta High Commission in Canberra announced that Commission in Canberra published an the President of Malta, His Excellency Dr. Information Paper prepared by the Dep- George Abela, will be visiting Australia on uty Prime Minister and Minister of For- an official State Visit, accompanied by the eign Affairs, Dr Tonio Borg, relating to Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Tonio Borg. the establishment of a Council for Mal- The President will be welcomed by the tese Living Abroad and the Maltese Australian Governor-General in Canberra Cultural Institute. on 21 March 2011. He will be visting The paper, reproduced on page 5, Melbourne two days later. contains the main principles of a draft The Maltese community in Australia is Bill on the Council of Maltese Living looking forward to welcoming the President Abroad and the establishment of the in our midst. To us Maltese living on this Maltese Cultural Institute. The paper is continent, the visit of the President provides intended to serve as a basis for a consul- us with a unique opportunity to reconnect tation process on the proposal with the Maltese community. with our mother country and to honour the H.E. Dr George Abela incumbent of the highest public office on The High Commission has invited all the island. As the Prime Minister had remarked at community organisations and associa- Dr. Abela was elected as the eighth the time, the nomination of Dr Abela was a tions to participate in this consultation President of the Republic of Malta on the 4 historic moment which reflected unity and process and to submit their comments, April 2009 by a unanimously approved which had been welcomed by most of the proposals and suggestions to the Malta Parliamentary resolution proposed by the people. Dr Gonzi said that it was high time High Commission in Canberra by Prime Minister, Dr Lawrence Gonzi, and to appoint someone from the “other side” March 2011. seconded by the Leader of the Opposition, who can bring people closer together. The Maltese Community Council of Dr Joseph Muscat. In parliament Dr Gonzi said Dr Abela Victoria welcomes the issuing of the Dr Abela’s nomination marked an was nominated for the Presidency because paper and the consultation process. The important historical development and a new of his qualities and abilities for the Office. Minister is to be commended on follow- level of political maturity in Malta’s Throughout his life he had demonstrated ing through on his announcement at last constitutional history. For the first time a integrity and honesty in different spheres of year’s Convention. The setting up of a President was elected by the unanimous life. He loved his country and he loved his Council by law will mark a historic vote of both political parties represented in family, in what was a continuation of the watershed in the Maltese Government’s Parliament. Perhaps more significantly, it values of the Maltese people championed relationship with the Maltese Diaspora, was also the first time that the Government by the Fenech Adami presidency. Dr Abela raising it to a higher level. of the day nominated a candidate for the also championed human dignity, solidarity, Presidency someone who belonged to the work as the ingredient which gave dignity In this issue opposition political party with different to the human being and he also gave • The President’s Column 2 political ideologies. deserved importance to Maltese culture, • Malta plays humanitarian role young people and sport. • News from Council Meetings 3 The Maltese Community Council of Victoria • Dr George Abela—a brief profile 4 • Establishing a Council for 5 has the pleasure of hosting a Welcome Reception Maltese Living Abroad in honour of the President of Malta • Lillian Calleja awarded OAM 6 On Wednesday 23rd March 2011 at 6.00 pm • Maltese Historical Assn Event Venue: Taylors Lakes Reception Centre, 65 Melton Highway, Taylors Lakes • Publications with a Maltese 7 Connection Donation: $25.00 per person (includes finger food and drinks) Tickets from the MCCV Parkville office on (03) 9387 8922 • Natural Disasters in Aus & NZ 8 MCCV Newsletter No 106 ‐ March ‐ April 2011 The President’s Column Malta plays humanitarian role in Libyan crisis The Presidential Visit It has been announced that the President of Malta, HE Dr George Abela, will be making an official visit to Australia in March 2011. During this visit he will be coming to Melbourne. Dr Abela has a special connec- tion to this city, having spent some years growing up with his family in the suburb of Fitzroy during his childhood. What is the significance of such a visit? The Presi- dent is the head of the Maltese social structure as well After the rulers of Tunisia and the Libyan people in Libya." as of government. He is the representative par excel- Egypt were removed by popular At its monthly meeting held lence of the State of Malta and the Maltese people, and movements, Libya experienced a on 24 February, the MCCV therefore, the Maltese living in Australia should feel full-scale revolt in February Executive Committee discussed honoured and privileged when their President decides to 2011 with the unrest reaching the current crisis in Libya. The visit our shores. the capital Tripoli, where ac- Committee sent the following cording to some reports thou- message of solidarity and sup- Perhaps a more significant aspect from the point of sands of protesters have lost port to the President of Malta, view of Maltese living abroad is the fact that such a their lives after being shot at by the Prime Minister and Deputy visit strengthens ties between the mother country and the Libyan Armed Forces. Prime Minister: the country of adoption. It gives further meaning to the Eastern Libya, including the “At its monthly meeting held term “Greater Malta” which includes Maltese in Malta second largest city of Benghazi, last Thursday, the MCCV Ex- is said to be firmly in control of ecutive Committee discussed the as well as those living abroad. He is our President repre- the opposition, with the rebels current crisis in Libya and ex- senting us as Maltese citizens. organising themselves into a pressed its grave concern about Accompanying the President will be the Minister of functioning government. the potential adverse impact Foreign Affairs, the Hon Dr Tonio Borg. It is our inten- According to a media release that the turmoil prevailing in issued by the Malta High Com- that country may have on the tion, as the Executive of the MCCV, to take this oppor- missioner in Canberra on 1 population and Government of tunity to meet with the Minister to discuss issues which March 2011, Euronews reported Malta. are relevant and importance to the Maltese community that, as part of a full scale inter- Through local radio and TV in Australia. national operation, over the networks as well as the internet, previous seven days at least The MCCV has the pleasure to host a welcome re- the Maltese community in Victo- 8,000 foreigners with more than ria has been following closely ception in hour of the President. This will be held on 50 different nationalities be- the horrific situation unfolding Wednesday, 23 March 2011 (see details on page 1). It tween them including fifteen in Libya. We are all anxiously is expected that many Maltese would be eager to take Australians, (among them per- monitoring further develop- this opportunity to meet with the President, an occasion sonnel from the Australian Em- ments. which does not happen very frequently. bassy in Libya), and five New Meanwhile, we have been Zealanders, were evacuated reading the latest news reports from Libya and brought to about the many expatriate CONTRIBUTIONS TO MCCV NEWSLETTER Malta. The Maltese government workers from several countries promptly set up a command The MCCV Newsletter is published every two months to being evacuated from Libya by centre to manage the crisis. sea and air via Malta to be inform the Maltese community about activities, news and provide Some of the persons evacuated information that would be of interest. repatriated to their respective did not have travel documents. countries. We cannot but feel Affiliated associations are encouraged to provide contributions, Deputy Prime Minister and proud that Malta is again admi- including notices for forthcoming community events, brief reports Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. rably playing a critical role that and photos on community events that took place since the publica- Tonio Borg said: "The more it has always been famous for in tion of the previous newsletter and short articles of interest to the difficult areas are the oil fields history, showing generosity, Maltese community. in the desert, and I say this· be- hospitality and compassion Contributions and correspondence should be forwarded to the cause there is not just one but towards other fellow human Editor either by email to [email protected] or by post to: there are a lot of installations... beings in time of need by facili- So those are more difficult to The Editor tating their safe evacuation. evacuate and we have not evacu- MCCV Newsletter On behalf of the MCCV Maltese Community Council of Victoria ated everyone." Executive Committee, I wish to 477 Royal Parade Malta's Prime Minister Dr.