The Voice of the Maltese No. 135

The Voice of the Maltese (driven by the voice of its readers )

Issue 135

o on nlliin ne e m ma ag ga az ziin ne e

August 30, 2016

A look from afar at the Cittadella Bastions by night

The Citadella, also known as the Citadel (or the Gran Castello) is a historic fortified city in the heart of Victoria (also known as Rabat), the capital of Malta’s sister island Gozo.

The Cittadella of Gozo recently underwent a major revamp through restoration and rehabilitation projects co-financed by the EU that have consolidated this magnificent site. It is also on Malta's tentative list of future World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. (Following a recent visit, BRIAN DECELIS writes about the Gozitan Jewel. See page 5)

The Cittadella ... restored to its former glory

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Maltese programmes on SBS radio...

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Future not so clear

n the August 16 (No. 134) issue of The Voice of the Maltese (page 4) we editorialised on the current dire situation of our Maltese radio programmes on SBS. This article caught the eye of the very alter Federal Shadow Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland MP. The Member for Greenway in NSW promptly took our case to the SBS hierarchy and Mr. Michael Ebeid, the SBS CEO and Managing Director had this to say: “Yes, the SBS Maltese language programme was reduced from nine to two broadcast hours during the SBS Radio Schedule Review in 2012-13. Back then, the SBS Radio Schedule hadn’t been reviewed for nearly 18 years and as such, the Maltese community had a disproportionate allocation when compared to other language communities that had grown substantially over this period.

“This was a difficult outcome, however, a fair and reasonable result given the agreed methodology that was applied to all languages during the review at that time.

“To work with the community through this period of change, we reached a compromise and re-allocated an additional two hours per week for a period of two years, which ended in 2015. We recognise the importance of these services to communities across Australia and appreciate that the changes have been difficult for the Maltese community.

“I would like to confirm that SBS Radio's broadcast hours have remained largely the same for all language programmes on the schedule since SBS conducted the Radio Schedule Review in 2012-13. The main exception has been the launch of the SBS Arabic24 digital radio service earlier this year.

“However, while radio broadcast hours has remained

the same, SBS has allocated limited additional production hours to some language programmes in order to repurpose our Australian-focused content on digital platforms, including online and social. These decisions have been driven by the increasing desire by some communities to consume our content via digital platforms.

“The Maltese community has not been allocated additional resources for digital services because their digital uptake has been slower than other communities as acknowledged in the recent article in The Voice of the Maltese magazine.

“The SBS digital strategy has led to significant increases in audience reach in other language communities and will ensure SBS Radio is relevant for today's Australia.

With regard to broadcast hours, the 2016 Census data will trigger a review of the SBS Radio Schedule and we will soon be communicating with community leaders and our audiences more broadly as we begin the process of this review.

“SBS will keep you informed of the radio review process over the next 12 months and we will ensure that all our audiences and community leaders have the opportunity to provide input into the criteria for selecting languages for the next SBS Radio Schedule”.

The Voice of the Maltese understands that on September 1 Michelle Rowland MP will meet in Canberra with Mr. Michael Edeid and SBS’s head of External Affairs, Todd Loydell to discuss a range of matters including the unreasonable situation facing the Maltese community and SBS radio.

Stories My Parents Told Me:

Growing Up in Wartime Malta

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upert Grech finished his career in education after nine years as headmaster of two small, regional schools in country New South Wales. Since retiring, he has had a book published titled, “Stories My Parents Told Me: Tales of Growing Up in Wartime Malta”, a collection of seven short stories based on actual events during World War II on the Mediterranean island nation of Malta.

The stories describe a difficult time for children and their families where survival was paramount, and family ties were what sustained them. These stories are interspersed with snippcets of history, factual details and descriptions that establish a setting for tales which are, at times, emotionally moving and, at other times, bring a smile to one's face. These stories also describe a culture of a time past for a deeply religious and frugal people.

Rupert Grech is a first generation Australian born of Maltese immigrants. For the first seven years of his life, he lived in the suburbs of inner Sydney, th moved to Wentworthville in Sydney's

west. He graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Economics and Diploma of Education, during which time he also played A-Grade Rugby League in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Rupert then returned to his studies and completed an Honours degree in Human Migration at the University of New England. His thesis addressed the issue of chain migration between Malta and Australia.

After teaching for five years, Rupert backpacked around Europe for six months and made he first visit to Malta.

Returning to Australia, for six years he owned and managed a lunchtime café in the Blue Mountains area of

New South Wales.

After that he returned to teaching in the same district while concurrently running his 114-acre beef cattle property, singing and playing guitar and bass in various pub bands, filling in as a part-time radio announcer and writing a column in the local newspaper.

To find out more about Rupert and his story visit: http://storiesmyparentstoldme.com

Antoinette Caruana retains LVSC’s presidency

ntoinette Caruana the first female A president of the La Valette Social Centre in Blacktown NSW for the last six months was re-elected to the post with a huge majority in the Annual GM last Friday. She managed to beat four other contestants, including, surprisingly, Gejtu Pace, who had occu-

pied the presidency for 16 years; 141 members voted in this election.

The other defeated contestants were, Godfrey Sultana, Joe Borg and Frances Fitzpatrick. Godfrey Sultana was elected v/president, defeating Gejtu Pace, Frances Fitzpatrick and Joe Borg.

A full report in the next issue.

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his is a monthly service offered by The Voice of the Maltese Q. I am 67 years old and still working part time. My salary is $25,000 per annum. My husband is 69 years old and still in which Marie Louise Muscat from the Fiducian Finanworking fulltime. However,recently his health has deteri- cial Services helps our readers understand the complexities orated, and he has decided to retire. He needs to apply for associated with financial planning. If you need more advice the age pension. Can he apply for an age pension while I send an email to Marie Louise via: maltesevoice@gmail.com. am still working? $750,000, and I A. He most definitely should apply for the still have an age pension. Being one of a couple both o u t s t a n d i n g your assets and his assets are considered mortgage of for the Centrelink Asset test. This also in- $220,000.

I cludes any money you each have in super- plan to retire at annuation as you are both over age pension age 65 but I age. There is also an Income Test. would like to As you are over 65, you receive the work pay off my hobonus which means that $250 per fortnight use before I reof any salary income you receive is not tire. I have counted towards the Centrelink Income test. $380,000 in suPlease be aware that whatever age pension perannuation, your husband qualifies for, you will also be and I was told entitled to receive the same amount even that I cannot acthough you are still working as you are also cess these funds over age pension age. to pay off some will find that by the time you come to reof this mortgage. Can you help?

Q. My mother is 82 years old and of late tire in nearly six years’ time you would I have noticed that she is becoming very A. You cannot make lump sum with- have nearly paid your mortgage off. forgetful. Should I be checking that her drawals out of super while you are workaffairs are in order before her condition ing. However, as you are over 56 years of Q. I am 67 years old and planning to reage, you are able to commence a transi- tire at the end of August. I have an investworsening? If so what should I look at? tion to retirement. This involves rolling ment property valued around $380,000 A. Unfortunately, forgetfulness in elderly over part or most of your superannuation which I wish to sell later this year. I people could lead to dementia. It is impor- from accumulation to a non-commutable would like to invest the proceeds from tant that you ask your mother whether she account based pension and take monthly this property into superannuation. Can I has a Will and if so whether it is up-to- payments from it. do this? date. She should also appoint a Power of I would recommend that you take the A. As you have been working full time all Attorney which needs to be Enduring in minimum amount at this stage of 4%, as case she loses her capacity to decide this needs to be added to your taxable in- through July and August, you have passed things for herself. I would also discuss set- come. Once you turn 60 however you the work test i.e. 40 hours of work over a 30-day period, and therefore you can still ting up medical guardianship. should then take the maximum amount al- make contributions into superannuation.

Q. I am a single 59-year-old woman. I own lowed which is 10% per annum. Place You are however limited to no more than my own home which is valued around this all towards your mortgage and you $180,000 for the year as you are over 65 years of age. In July next year the work test may not be needed subject to this legislation being passed, and therefore you should be able to make another contribution of $180,000 after July 2017.

Q&A

Marie-Louise Muscat is fluent in Maltese and English and can assist you in: * Wealth Creation * Pre Retirement and Retirement Advice * Maximising Centrelink Benefits * Tax effective strategies in retirement e.g. sale of property * Rearranging finances to minimise ongoing fees prior to entering Aged Care facilities Call Marie-Louise for a complimentary consultation on:

(02) 9231 2133

Marie-Louise Muscat is a representative of Fiducian Fiinancial Services Pty Ltd ABN 46 094 765 134 AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 231103

Q. My mother needs to move into an aged care facility. She does not wish to sell the family home. She needs to pay $320,000 as a refundable accommodation deposit to the facility. She has around $120,000 herself, and I am happy to pay the remaining amount myself. I am an only child and my mother’s only beneficiary.

Do you think I should do this?

A. If you are happy to help your mother financially and able to do so, I commend you for it. However, you may need to ensure that in her Will you are the only nominated beneficiary. If not, you could always lend the money to her and do so legally as when your mother moves out of the aged care facility the refundable accommodation deposit is paid back to her estate and cannot be paid to an individual.

This document contains factual information only and is not intended to provide any recommendation 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

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The Voice of the Maltese 5

Tuesday August 30, 2016

Citadel shines again as Gozitan jewel restored BrianDecelis

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he last time I visited the Citadel in Gozo a couple of decades ago I clearly recall that beyond the Cathedral there was not much to see. It was essentially a mound of rubble that I never wanted to revisit. Having heard of the launch of the restoration project I wanted to visit again, and wow was I amazed?

If there were any EU doubters left in Malta/Gozo, I would think they no longer exist after seeing the restoration of the Citadel in Gozo. When would Malta ever have found the almost €20 million (85% funded by the EU) to do all the necessary work for this jewel to shine again – not only to return it to, as much as possible, its former glory but improve on the experience – if that was possible!

This has been achieved by a stateof-the-art visitor centre that helps explain the history of the site and its restoration. I will attempt to give a brief overview of both.

What was previously an accessibility nightmare, one can now be transported via elevators, and stair lifts all the way from the ditch up to the panoramic heights where one can not only see a 360-degree view of Gozo but on a clear day all the way to Mt Etna in Sicily, some 200km away! And if that opens up your appetite – as I’m sure it would - a café has even been inserted very unobtrusively within the bastions. Make sure it’s on your next visit.

The Citadel, Gozo’s jewel by night he restoration project estihe Citadel – or as is known in Maltese içT Çittadella – has been on Malta’s list of Tmated at €14.5 million UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1998. Its when it was launched in 2011 was exceeded by almost a quarter according to a Times of Malta (June 18, 2016) report. But this was not due to lack of planning – the excavation works unearthed many surprises including the original entrance to the Citadel.

This gateway, dated to the beginning of the 17th century, was found to lead to a passageway cut into the rock.

There was also another underground passageway cut through to the ditch, which had to be From up here, on a clear emptied from day one can see Mt Etna the rubble that had been filled in by the British. The restoration work was co-financed by the European Union for the implementation of recommendations of the Çittadella Masterplan.

origins have been traced to possibly Neolithic times but was certainly inhabited since the Bronze Age and fortified around 1500 BC. In Roman times it was a complex Acropolis with a temple of the goddess Juno on the site where one can now find the Cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of Mary.

Gozo was a privileged Roman Municipality, independent of Malta, and the Citadel was its administrative, military and religious core.

Today it still retains its importance with the Law Courts there (soon to be moved to another site) and the Cathedral as the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gozo since 1864.

An underground passageway cut through to the ditch

THE VERDICT

THE RESTORATION

HISTORY

I cannot sum it up better than a contributor to another Maltese newspaper maltatoday (10 July, 2016) who wrote: …A big well done to the architects, workers and

all concerned who turned the Çittadella into a splendid historical masterpiece. It has been beautifully restored and it was magnificently lit up – Magical... WELL DONE indeed!

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L-ORGNI F’MALTA: L-eqdem wie˙ed fl-Oratorju tal-Kon-Katidral ta’ San Ìwann I

t-tempju maestuΩ tal-Kon-Katidral ta’ San Ìwann i˙addan Ωew© orgnijiet interessanti. L-eqdem orgni u l-aktar konservat f’pajjiΩna huwa dak tal-Oratorju fejn hemm il-pittura famuΩa ta’ Caravaggio: Qtug˙ irRas ta’ San Ìwann.

Dan l-orgni ©ie minn Palermo u huwa tal-1579 – diddata hi miktuba fil-bankun tal-orgni. Dan l-orgni lewwel tpo©©a fil-Kon-Katidral u wara ©ie trasferit g˙all-Oratorju. Imma matul is-snin, l-orgni ddeterjora u ˙afna mill-partijiet tieg˙u naqsu wkoll. Fil-fatt is-sfafar huma kwaΩi kollha ©odda. Dawn saru fl-2006 fuq listil tal-ori©inal.

IΩda l-Kon-Katidral i˙addan fih ukoll l-a˙jar orgni f’Malta, kemm g˙allPeter Paul Ciantar kobor tieg˙u (xellug) mal-In©inier u g˙all-˙oss Robert Buhagiar maestuΩ tieg˙u: meta tisimg˙u t˙ossok li qieg˙ed fi knisja importanti bi storja kbira.

Mhux antik g˙ax sar fl1960 midditta Taljana Mascioni, li hi mag˙rufa ˙afna g˙allmanifattura tal-orgni.

Dan l-orgni huwa kkurat

PeterPaulCiantar ˙afna. Fl-2011 ©ie eΩaminat bir-reqqa mid-Ditta Mascioni stess, u l-In©inier Robert Buhagiar.

B˙alma di©a` g˙edt, l-eqdem orgni f’Malta hu dak fl-Oratorju ta’ San Ìwann. Warajh (b˙ala antikità) x’aktarx hemm l-orgni tal-Kulle©© fil-Knisja San Publju r-Rabat, il-knisja ta’ fuq il-Grotta ta’ San Pawl.

Skont il-ktieb ‘Old Organs in Malta & Gozo’ ta’ Hugo Agius Muscat u Luciano Buono, dan l-orgni j©ib id-data tal-1724-6, u n˙adem minn Tommaso de Martino. Huwa orgni li trid, b˙alma jg˙id il-Malti, seba’ mitt g˙ajn biex tapprezza anke l-kaxxa tieg˙u ta’ barra.

Dan l-orgni Naplitan g˙adu ntatt, m’hemm xejn nieqes minnu, imma ... U din hija importanti …

Sa daqs 30 sena ilu, dan l-orgni kien g˙adu fi stat relattivament tajjeb, iΩda mal-medda tas-snin, meta ma baqax jintuΩa, beda sejjer lura. Ma’ dan insemmi wkoll li meta l-Papa Ìwanni Pawlu ll ©ie Malta fl-1990 u Ωar il-Grotta ta’ San Pawl fir-Rabat, dan l-orgni jidher li g˙adda f’idejn id-dilettanti (u anke fotografi!) li qag˙du jilag˙bu mal-minfa˙ u jippruvaw idoqquh. G˙aldaqsant saritlu ˙sara kbira.

Hi tal-biki g˙al dan l-orgni b’˙oss mill-isba˙ u ta’ storja kbira! Insemmi wkoll li mal-bieba tal-orgni hemm ˙afna firem ta’ kompo©ituri u mu©içisti importanti Maltin li xi darba jew o˙ra daqqew l-orgni prezzjuΩ.

Researching study about Maltese folklore - the G˙ana

uring His recent visit to Malta, Mr. Emanuel Camilleri, the presD ident of the Maltese Community of

NSW met Dr Charles Farrugia Chairman, Association of Commonwealth Archivists London and the National Archives Malta who requested his help in his research to digitally archive Maltese G˙ana.

Mr Camilleri’s father, “Jimmy ta’ Óal-Luqa”’, who was a well known G˙ana singer, is to feature prominently in the study that Dr Farrugia is carrying out along with another Maltese researcher, Steve Borg.

A large number of recorded tapes from the fifties to the early seventies are being digitised, featuring prominent G˙ana singers in order to identify and preserve them, and when com-

pleted, to be made available to the public.

During their meeting, Emanuel expressed interest in other projects being undertaken by Dr Farrugia and his staff, such as the digitisation of interviews with prominent Maltese, which is similar to a project that the Maltese Community Council of NSW has been doing for the past few years, that is, recording the life experiences of prominent Maltese Community members in Malta and Australia.

As the president of the MCC NSW, Emanuel offered his council’s cooper-

Above: Dr Charles Farrugia (left) and Emanuel Camilleri

ation and hoped that some day its work could be included in the Malta Archives and posted on the net to be shared by everybody.

The Voice of the Maltese 7

Tuesday August 30, 2016 Parti mill-brijju talfesta ta’ Santa Marija

l-festa tradizzjonali ta’ Santa MarIf’Ωew© ija f’nofs Awwissu ©iet iççelebrata lokalitajiet fl-in˙awi ta’

Blacktown fi NSW. L-ewwel, lejlet il-festa l-grupp talfesta organizza ballu u divertiment fil-Balmoral Centre fejn ilmi©imeg˙a tpaxxiet bil-kant ta’ Kaytlyn Vella, Maltija tat-tielet ©enerazzjoni, Carmen Cauchi u Frank Formosa, filwaqt li l-Falcons Band ipprovdiet il-muΩika g˙aΩ-Ωfin. Óadet sehem ukoll il-banda Maltija OLQP li g˙al sieg˙a s˙i˙a daqqet marçi brijjuΩi.

Il-grupp tal-festa (mix-xellug):Joe Kitney , Lorry Falzon , Greg Caruana, Leli Saliba u Martin Camilleri

Il-Festa ta’ Sta Marija fi Blacktown L-g˙ada l-Óadd, jum il-festa, fiçÇentru Malti La Valette beda b’quddiesa minn Fr Tarcisju Micallef MSSP akkumpanjat mill-kor taçÇentru mmexxi mis-surmast Victor Florida li kanta innijiet marjani, filwaqt li Katlyn Vella kantat l-Ave Maria.

Fost l-o˙rajn, kien preΩenti wkoll Joe Apap li ˙a din l-okkaΩjoni biex jippreΩenta s-CD tieg˙u “We are the children of God”. Il-qari sar kollu minn Ωg˙aΩag˙ Maltin, Lorraine, Natasha, Angelina, Lora, Adrian, Ella, Chelsea u Sabian.

Fl-a˙˙ar saret il-purçissjoni blakkumpanjament tal-banda. Kien ©est tassew sabie˙ li l-vara ta’ Santa Marija waqfet quddiem l-entratura tad-dar tax-xju˙ San Duminku fejn tkantat l-Ave Maria. Kif intemmet ilpurçissjoni u da˙let il-vara bdiet niΩla x-xita, imma ma sfrattatx festi!

Lura fis-sala kompla d-divertiment b’Joe Apap, Carmen Cauchi, Manwel DJ u l-banda Maltija. Il-Grupp li jorganizza din il-festa tal-Assunta ta ˙ajr lil dawk kollha li b’xi mod taw l-g˙ajnuna tag˙hom biex il-festa setg˙et ter©a tkun suççess.

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Have your say/Xi trid tghid?

Your letters/ L-ittri tag˙kom ...

A high level publication Tony Cassar, from St Albans writes:

The Voice of the Maltese on nlliin ne e m ma ag ga az ziin ne e o

is is a bi-lingual (in English and Maltese) fortnightly online publication specifically targeting all Maltese living abroad with emphasis on the Australian scene. is online magazine is sent via email by request.

Subscription is free.

Editors: Malta: Joseph Cutajar Australia: Lawrence Dimech: MOM, OAM, JP email address: maltesevoice@gmail.com

I

believe I should commend The Voice of the Maltese that keeps improving by leaps and bounds. What a pity that it is not a printed publication (*) so everybody could see that the Maltese too have the skills to produce a high-level publication.

Your decision to introduce an editorial on the current world scene by an internationally known journalist, Gwynne Dyer gives the magazine an even more important dimension.

However, as far as it goes, even most of the other articles have lifted the publication. The Voice is by no means a parochial newsletter and most of the articles manage to keep one glued to it, at least me, as I try to read through it at one go. It is in fact also a great pity that it is not weekly. But I can understand that, as I am sure most of the readers do.

I was born at Msida, and left Malta with the family when I was still only 12. Like most of the Maltese in Australia I feel proud to be able

Greetings and thanks Joyce (nee Scicluna) from Brisbane, writes:

Letters for publication in The Voice either in Maltese or English should be e-mailed to: maltesevoice@gmail.com.

Now you can also join us on facebook: https://www.facebook. com/groups/thevoiceofthemaltese

ust a short note to say thank you once JVoiceagain for circulating the latest issue of The of the Maltese.

I look forward to and enjoy every issue. It is so interesting to read what is happening in Malta.

The tremendous amount of work done by the Editors Joseph Cutajar and Lawrence Dimech to make sure we are all ‘connected’ is greatly appreciated.

Keep up the good work!

While visiting Malta Stay at: The Diplomat Hotel, 173 Tower Road Sliema

Email: sales@diplomat.com.mt Tel: (00356) 23497000

to still describe myself as Maltese born and bred. Bred because I received some schooling in Malta, at least enough to also be able to read, and write (not so perfect) Maltese. That is the reason I have not written in Maltese.

I feel even more proud when I read about Malta’s achievements in The Voice. It makes me look forward to visiting the island once again, after six years, next year, with my two kids and three nephews.

Listening to friends of mine on their return from holiday on the island so enthusiastically describing the Malta of today makes me want to jet away to Malta instantly. Circumstances don’t permit this right now, but God willing, next year Malta would still be there and I intend to enjoy myself to the full. (*) The Voice is printd on demand.

Apprezzament ta’ G˙otja minn Malti-Awstraljan lill-Biblijoetka ta’ Malta

Joseph Debattista tal-Kunsill Nazzjonali talKtieb u Kap Librarian tal-Librerija Publika ta Malta jikteb:

ixtieq nirringrazzja lil Victor Vella, awtur N u xandar, tad-donazzjoni tieg˙u lill-Biblijoteka u wkoll lil-Librerija Nazzjonali ta Malta. Grazzi speçalment tal-Monologi 'Konferenza Stampa, (2cds) ta’ 'Is-Sabi˙’ (50 ta˙dita fuq 5 cds), ta ' Tfuliti fil-Mellie˙a’ u 'Tfuliti man-Nanna' (2 cds).

Mieg˙i jing˙aqad John Grech, il-mani©er tallibrerija u wkoll il-Kap EΩekuttiv, Mark Camlileri. Jien çert li l-qarrejja tag˙na se jie˙du gost jisimg˙uhom.

Hi idea tajba ta’ Victor, u hi xi ˙a©a li timxi maΩ-Ωmien li tippublika kollox fuq is-cds li minbarra li wie˙ed japprezza l-kontenut tag˙hom jista’ jisma’ wkoll il-le˙en imqit talawtur. Dan ikompli jkabbar l-iskop ta’ dawn is-cds li fil-kaΩ tas- “Sabie˙” jag˙tu ˙arsa poΩittiva lejn il-˙ajja in©enerali.

Na˙seb l-awtur g˙amel sforz kbir biex jara is-sabi˙ fil-˙ajja. Imma rnexxielu jag˙mel dan u fissru bl-istil uniku tieg˙u li kultant hu m˙awwar b'niskata ta’ umorizmu li ikompli jkabbar l-interess f'dak li kiteb u rrekordja.

Nixtieq nag˙ti wkoll ˙ajr lis Sur Manwel Camilleri li wassal is-cds lil-librerija tag˙na. Óajr ukoll lil Victor g˙all-fatt li wara dawn is-snin kollha fl-Awstralja, g˙adu jikteb bilMalti u jikkontribwixxi b'sens konkret u effettiv g˙all-letteratura Maltija. Jixraqlu kull apprezzament u kura©©.

Tuesday August 30, 2016

The Voice of the Maltese 9

The Buhagiar family

- they live their faith every day I

t is not often that we read a feel good story. No doubt the Catholic Outlook did not have to look far when Elizabeth McFarlene introduced her readers to the Buhagiar family from St Mary’s NSW. Married for 23 years, Seve and Stella Buhagiar from Our Lady of Rosary Parish at St Mary’s are the parents of nine children (six sons and three daughters) and the adoptive parents of four Rottweilers, but the extraordinary nature of their family isn’t due to its size.

It’s not even due to Stella giving birth to one set of triplets and one set of twins, though that certainly adds depth to their extraordinary nature. What makes the Buhagiar family extraordinary is their faith. It is their devotion to living out the faith every day with charity, hope, and love.

The Voice of the Maltese caught up with Stephen, a teacher, soon after he returned to Sydney after attending the Youth Day held in Krakow Poland. Steven told us that of the 3,000 Australian youths who travelled to Poland, 300 were from the Parramatta region. On the way home, Stephen and his son John visited Malta.

Both John and his wife Stella were born in Australia and were married at St Margaret Mary’s Church in Merrylands, but both their parents are from Rabat, Malta. They lived in Malta for a whole year in 2008.

Catholic Outlook concluded that it is their joy in being one family, connected to their Maltese heritage and extended family in Malta, witnessed through decades of memories in photographs, Tetris-framed across the living room wall.

It is their love for one another in the simple gesture of a phone call to Stella’s mother every day at 7 pm, coordinated by the children for almost 15 years.

The Buhagiar family is extraordinary and according to renowned Jesuit catechist, Fr John A Hardon SJ, their call to be extraordinary is tantamount to their survival. “Ordinary Catholic families cannot survive. They must be special families. They must be what I do not hesitate to call heroic Catholic families,” Fr Hardon explained.

Stella and Steven believe there is a level of heroism that needs to be lived out in order to sustain their vocation of marriage and family life. “It sounds like a funny word, ‘heroism’, but we’ve had this conversation over the past few years, and we now realise heroism means to do those things that we can do locally and do them well,” Steven said.

“It’s about putting your hand up and saying yes. It’s about saying yes when your parish priest asks you to be the parent couple of the parish youth group.

“It’s about saying yes to spending your weekends volunteering at the local nursing home or praying outside an abor-

The Buhagiar family (from left): Christina Joseph, Michael, Thomas, Elizabeth, John, Luke, Anthony and Maria with their parents Steven and Stella.

tion clinic rather than playing soccer. It’s about saying yes to the call of married life.

Stella and Steven were engaged after just six weeks of dating and were married within a year of meeting.

“We met on St Anthony’s Feast Day (June 13), and we got married the following year on St Joseph the Worker’s Feast Day (May 1),” Stella said.

“We met at my parents’ front door. I heard a knock at the door, and Steven was standing there. I just knew that he was the one straight away. Immediately. It was like someone said in my head, ‘This is your husband.’

“I knew because I used to pray for him. I used to lock the door every night for my parents. I’d check the front door and lock the screen door, and in Maltese, I’d say, Bambin Gesu’, you have to bring me, my husband.’ I said that for a year or two and that’s where He brought him. He brought him to my front door.”

Within a week of dating, Steven gave Stella his Miraculous Medal and asked her if she’d wear it for him. She hasn’t taken it off in 24 years. Steven was in the Legion of Mary at Doonside and had been given Stella’s address to recruit her and her younger sister for the evening group they were hoping to start in Merrylands.

“When I knocked on the door and Stella came out, it wasn’t as romantic for me as it was for her,” Steven said. “Stella came out wearing fluoro socks and eating a banana. I thought she was a bit of a nerd,” he recalled with a laugh. “I proposed when we were dancing together at a wedding. I turned to Stella and asked, ‘what do you reckon? and I said, ‘Yeah, okay. No worries.’ And that was it!” Stella exclaimed.

John, their fourth eldest, believes the faith is what keeps his family together.

“Our faith has been fostered since we were young through the rosary and the initiative to do Bible studies as a family when it got harder to bring us all together,” John said.

“It’s just those active little things that bring us together and give us that common ground so that we can draw on each other to live out our faith. It’s not just a tradition passed down. Our faith is something we all have to live out every day.”

10 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday August 30, 2016

Perspettiva Mhux plebixxit imma referendum A version of this series in English may be found in the author's blog at: http://ivancauchi.blogs pot.com

G

˙al dawn l-a˙˙ar snin ilu g˙addej dibattitu s˙i˙ dwar kif il-pajjiΩ Awstraljan se jiddeçiedi jekk jag˙tix id-dritt taΩΩwie© lill-koppji tal-istess sess.

F'dan l-artiklu, m'iniex se niddiskuti l-argumenti favur jew kontra din il-˙a©a, mhux g˙ax m'g˙andix opinjoni, imma g˙ax illum xtaqt nitkellem dwar il-proçess innifsu.

Il-poΩizzjoni tal-gvern tal-©urnata, iffurmat mill-koalizzjoni Liberali-Nazzjonali, hi li jsir plebixxit fejn il-poplu Awstraljan ji©i mitlub jag˙ti l-verdett tieg˙u, jekk din l-istituzzjoni soçjali li sallum kienet (f'pajjiΩi ©eneralment bi tradizzjoni Nisranija) monogama u rriservata g˙al ra©el wie˙ed u mara wa˙da, g˙andhiex tinbidel g˙al wa˙da monogama bejn tnejn min-nies ta' kwalunkwe sess.

L-Awstralja mhix lewwel pajjiΩ li qed tiddibatti dan is-su©©ett.

Fil-fatt, hemm madwar g˙oxrin pajjiΩ madwar id-dinja li di©a` jippermettu Ωwie© bejn persuni tal-istss sess, inkluΩi pajjiΩi bi tradizzjoni Nisranija b˙al Spanja, Franza, l-Irlanda, partijiet mir-Renju Unit u o˙rajn.1 Jien na˙seb li dan huwa wie˙ed minn dawk issu©©etti fejn huwa tajjeb li l-poplu jag˙ti direttament il-fehma tieg˙u dwar din il-kwistjoni partikolari. Óafna nies g˙andhom veduti qawwija fuq na˙a jew l-o˙ra.

Per eΩempju, min huwa omosesswali aktarx se jkun b'qawwa favur din il-bidla, u min g˙andu twemmin tradizzjonali Nisrani jew huwa konservattiv fil-veduti tieg˙u se jkun b'qawwa kontra.

Min g˙andu fehmiet qawwija dwar is-su©©ett x’aktarx mhux se ji©i perswadut li jibdilhom, imma na˙seb li huwa tajjeb li kul˙add jifhem x'inhu l-˙sieb predominanti tal-pajjiΩ. Talinqas jekk isse˙˙ bidla li bniedem ikun kategorikament kontriha, iktar hemm çans li jaççetta li twettqet ir-rieda tal-ma©©oranza tal-poplu, milli jaççetta li din kienet id-deçiΩjoni tal-membri eletti tal-parlament.

Diversi st˙arri© juru li filwaqt li g˙axar snin ilu dawk favur iΩΩwie© bejn membri tal-istess sess kienu fil-minoranza (38% fl2004),2 qeg˙din fil-ma©©oranza kbira llum (70% ix-xahar li g˙adda).3 Madankollu, hemm ba˙ar jaqsam bejn st˙arri© (li jsir b'mistoqsija lil ftit mijiet ta’ nies) u vot fil-pajjiΩ kollu.

F'demokrazija, g˙andha titwettaq ir-rieda tal-ma©©oranza kif espressa mill-postijiet tal-votazzjoni, dejjem.

Madankollu, jien g˙andi r-riservi tieg˙i dwar il-plebixxit u rra©uni g˙alfejn qieg˙ed ji©i propost. Il-Partit Laburista, il-Partit tal-Óodor u senaturi o˙ra huma kontra l-plebixxit, u jiffavorixxu vot fil-parlament. Fil-fatt, wie˙ed jista' jargumenta li membri tal-parlament jg˙addu jew iwaqqfu li©ijiet fil-pajjiΩ kontinwa-

kitba ta’

IVAN CAUCHI

ment, g˙aliex din ma titqiesx b˙ala kwistjoni (ta˙raq) b˙allo˙rajn?

Isemmu wkoll li d-diskussjoni dwar din il-˙a©a x’aktarx se tkun s˙una, se jsir ˙afna tg˙ajjir u ˙afna nies se jwe©©g˙u. Jg˙idu wkoll li l-proçess jiswa wisq ($160 miljun stmati).4 Jien na˙seb li dan kollu minnu, imma mhix ir-ra©uni g˙aliex jien kontra l-plebixxit. Il-problema kif naraha jien hi li l-intenzjoni tal-koalizzjoni Liberali-Nazzjonali, meta adottat il-poΩizzjoni tal-plebixxit, kienet li wara l-plebixxit, il-membri tal-parlament ji©u mitluba jamendaw il-li©i skont ir-riΩultat talvot, imma ma jkunux marbuta kif jivvutaw.

Ji©ifieri, nistg˙u naslu g˙al sitwazzjoni fejn il-plebixxit jag˙ti riΩultat mod, u l-membri tal-Parlament jiddeçiedu mod ie˙or.

Ikunu jistg˙u jag˙mlu dan g˙ax il-plebixxit huwa sistema fejn ilgvern biss jitlob parir, imma ma jkunx marbut bir-riΩultat.

F'din il-˙a©a tant fundamentali g˙al soçjetà, u wara li l-poplu jkun iddibatta l-kwistjoni x’aktarx b'passjoni liema b˙ala, u finalment esprima l-˙sieb tieg˙u, g˙alija tkun inkomprensibbli u inaççettabbli li lmembri tal-parlament jaΩΩardaw jiddeçiedu mod ie˙or.

Jien na˙seb li din hija kwistjoni li kwaΩi kul˙add g˙andu veduti profondi dwarha, anke jekk mhux direttament affettwat (per eΩempju g˙ax huwa jew hija eterosesswali), u li taffettwa l-fibra soçjali tal-pajjiΩ. Jien in˙oss li l-poplu jrid ikollu mhux biss sehem imma l-a˙˙ar kelma.

G˙alhekk jien nippreferi li minflok plebixxit isir referendum, fejn id-deçiΩjoni tal-poplu tkun finali u l-parlamentari jkunu marbutin li jwettqu r-rieda tal-poplu.

Huwa mod ukoll fejn il-membri tal-parlament, li wkoll x’aktarx g˙andhom veduti qawwija kemm na˙a kif ukoll l-o˙ra, ikunu jistg˙u jserr˙u l-kuxjenza tag˙hom li jkunu qeg˙din iwettqu rrieda diretta tal-poplu.

Wara kollox, dik hija l-funzjoni tag˙hom.

Referenzi 1. http://time.com/3937766/us-supreme-court-countries-same-sex-gaymarriage-legal/, retrieved 23/8/2016 2. http://www.australianmarriageequality.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10 /AMEpollfactsheet@Jun11.pdf, retrieved 23/8/2016 3. http://www.afr.com/news/politics/election-2016-majority-of-voterswould-say-yes-in-gay-marriage-plebiscite-20160701-gpwg3z, retrieved 23/8/2016 4. http://www.abc.net.au/news/20160823/same-sex-marriage-plebiscitelabor-ramps-up-opposition/7776060, retrieved 23/9/2016

The Voice of the Maltese 11

Tuesday August 30, 2016

Dun Nerik Cordina Perez 60 years from his death GejtuDeguara*

T

his year, 2016 marks the 60th anniversary of the death of the most loved and popular parish priest to serve at the church-parroçça San Gejtanu at Óamrun, Monsignor Nerik Cordina Perez (1895-1956). It also marks my 80th birthday, and since I left Malta in 1955 at age 18, there was truly only one parish priest that I knew at “our” church. I always knew him as Dun Nerik.

He was born at 228 St Joseph High Road Óamrun on May 13, 1895 to Antonio and Elvira. His father worked at the Óamrun railway workshop, the site of the current headquarters of the Boy Scouts Association. He was the second of five children in the family.

At age 26, he was ordained priest and celebrated his first mass at the church of San Gaetan in Óamrun where he had served as an altar boy, on September 27, 1921.

After serving as a priest in Naxxar for a number of years where he made such an impact that a street was named after him (Trejqet Dun Nerik Cordina Perez), in 1934 (two years before I was born) he became the parish priest of the St Gaetan church in Óamrun where he worked unstintingly for 22 years. Typical of his dynamic energy was the building of the church’s magnificent dome.

Throughout World War II (19391945), and despite the difficulties of the wartime period Mons Dun Nerik Cordina Perez remained at Óamrun.

On December 12, 1956 he entered the Blue Sisters Hospital for care. But he died a few days later on the December 31.

It was left to Fr Matthew Chircop to pass on the sad news of Dun Nerik’s death to the parishioners.

The two bands of Óamrun, St Joseph and San Gejtanu, along with the Hamrun Boys Scouts, accompanied the funeral procession, from Blata l-

Bajda to the church. A huge crowd gathered to give him their last respect.

Hundreds of Maltese, not just from Óamrun or Naxxar paid their respect to his coffin that was placed at the centre of the San Gaetan Church. On the first day of the following year, his body was taken back to the Blue Sisters to rest.

As E.C Tabone wrote about him following his death: “Miet Dun Nerik. Mal-ftu˙ tassena l-©dida niket kbir infirex mhux biss fil-Óamrun, fejn Dun Nerik g˙ammar u rie©a g˙al snin twal, imma ma’ Malta kollha g˙ax Dun Nerik kien mag˙ruf kullimkien u minn kul˙add. Lil Dun Nerik dejjem sibtu ra©el onest u ©ust. Bniedem mimli Ωelu u kultura. Kien jag˙raf u jifhem il-problemi kollha anke dawk li ma kienx im˙arre© fihom.”

Monsignor Nerik Cordina Perez *Gejtu Deguara was for a long time the President of G˙aqda San Gejtanu of Melbourne, v/president of the Maltese Community Council of Victoria and a regular contributor to The Maltese Herald and The Voice of the Maltese.

During a recent holiday to Malta, Mr & Mrs George Vella (left Above) from Breakaway Travel, presented Fr Martin Micallef Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza in Siggiewi, a sum of $A5,500 (€3749.66) on behalf of the Friends of Providence House NSW Also present was Mr Emanuel Camilleri President of the Maltese Community Council of NSW (extreme right).

A A proud proud sponsor sponsor of of The The Voice Voice of of the the Maltese Maltese website: website: www.breakawaytravel.com.au www.breakawaytravel.com.au

Breakaway Breakaway Travel Travel 94 94 corner corner of of Main Main & & Campbell Campbell Streets, Streets, Blacktown Blacktown NSW NSW ...... ...... for for all all your your travel travel needs. needs.

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12 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday August 30, 2016

Roundup of News About Malta

Foreign Direct Investment in Malta reaches €152.3 bn

F

oreign direct investment in Malta as at December 2015, was estimated at €152.3 billion, an increase of €9.2 billion over the corresponding month the previous year, 2014.

According to the National Statistics Office (NSO), direct Investment abroad amounted to €61.6 billion. Financial and insurance activities contributed €149.0 billion or 97.9% to the total foreign direct investment position in Malta.

In terms of flows, there was a net increase of €4.1 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) during 2015, compared to an increase of €8.4 billion in 2014. This increase in FDI flows was mainly driven by increases registered under other capital. As for flows classified by economic activity, the largest increase of FDI was registered in financial and insurance activities by €3.7 billion in 2015.

During the same period, direct investment

flows abroad decreased by €4.7 billion, compared to an increase of €1.8 billion during the previous year. This was mainly the result of decreases in claims on direct investors of €5.6 billion.

In terms of stock position, as at the end of 2015, direct investment abroad by resident entities was recorded at €61.6 billion.

Entities offering financial and insurance activities accounted for 99.4 percent of the total direct investment abroad.

Fitch agency confirms Malta’s rating

I

n its latest analysis of the Maltese economy, international credit agency Fitch has confirmed Malta’s economic rating at A level and upgraded prospects from stable to positive.

Fitch stated that the rating reflects that the Maltese Government’s debt last year (2015) decreased from 67.1 to 63.8% of GDP. It is also predicted that due to a strong economic growth

and the strengthening of the country’s finances, by 2018 it would continue to decrease to 58%.

Fitch stated that due to a number of factors, including greater revenue than expected, during this year the fiscal deficit is expected to decrease to 0.9% of the GDP and to 0.8% next year.

It further said that Malta’s economic growth continues to surpass the euro zone economic growth average.

G˙arg˙ur priest Bert Gauci Honoured in Honduras

he University of Honduras has honoured a MalT tese priest from G˙arg˙ur, with a degree Honoris Causa. Fr Bert Gauci (left), a Franciscan monk who has lived and worked among the locals in Honduras for over 30 years, was presented with the honour on the eve of the feast of San Bert, the patron saint of his village of birth.

Last year, Fr Bert was interviewed on BBC for mastering the building of a football stadium in Juticalpa that he strongly believed could help in countering drug problems in the country.

In 2015 patients medically treated abroad cost Malta €4 million n the past three years there has been an Ispecialised increase of Maltese patients needing treatment and sent for such treatment abroad- mostly in the UK - at the expense of the government. Last year alone almost 500 patients were treated abroad costing the government €4 million.

Figures issued by the Health authorities indicate that the number of patients travelling abroad for treatment has increased every year since 2013 from 420 to 460 in 2014 and almost 500 in 2015. Some of the

patients had to make more than one trip abroad to receive medical attention bringing the total of trips each year in the past three years to 665, 700 and 760 respectively.

Thanks to a bilateral agreement signed over 40 years ago, most of the patients travelled to the UK, a few travelled to Italy and Germany.

It has been learnt that most of the patients treated abroad needed surgical, transplant and cancer related operations.

Ira Losco becomes a mum to Harry Popular Maltese singer Ira Losco has become a mother after giving birth to a baby boy, Harry. She and her partner Sean Gravina thanked the delivery staff at Mater Dei Hospital. Both baby and Ira are doin g well.

Ira, who had announced she was pregnant on Mother’s Day in May this year before representing Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest, and baby Harry were both doing well, “both healthy and settled in hospital” she said on her Facebook page. She also included a photo of baby Harry (below) In a tweet, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat congratulated the couple. The Voice of the Maltese and its thousands of readers join him in these wishes.

The Voice of the Maltese 13

Tuesday August 30, 2016

Roundup of News About Malta

MTA welcomes GTA’s successful Santa Marija weekend results s expected, the traditional feast of Santa Marija in mid-August, once A again drew a large number of Maltese

Tourism Minister Dr. Edward Zammit Lewis at the launch, flanked by Mr Paul Bugjea MTA’s CEO (left), and Mr. Stephen Xuereb, CEO Valletta Cruise Terminal and Waterfront

World’s oldest cruise line to operate from Malta

P&O expected to bring 100,000 passengers

M

alta expects a 100,000 cruise passenger arrivals next year through a fly-and-cruise programme by the prestigious British/American cruise line P&O that has chosen Malta as its homeport throughout for the coming two seasons, 2017 and 2018 with cruiseliner Oceania.

The announement was made in the presence of the Tourism Minister Dr. Zammit Lewis during the launching of the P&O Ocean-liner liner itinerary. Five cruise liners would be visiting Malta and use the island as their port of call.

Addressing the press at the launch, Minister Zammit Lewis expressed his pride that P&O has chosen Malta as its homeport, and went on to say, “Malta is a vibrant destination and this is reflected in the port of Valletta and all the ongoing activities around the Grand Harbour region and the capital city.”

He said this development is exciting for the tourism sector and that he looked forward to enhancing further the relationship with P&O, considered a leader in the cruise industry. This year P&O is celebrating 180 years of globetrotting adventures.

The Minister said that Malta’s cruise sector has evolved from an exclusively a port of call to one which includes home porting.

According to latest figures published by the National Statistics Office (NSO) Malta registered nearly 240,000 cruise passengers during the first half of the year, which is an increase of 6.2 per cent over last year.

Originating from 1822, P&O Cruises is the oldest cruise line in the world, having operated the world's first commercial passenger ships in the early 19th century. It is owned

by Carnival Corporation & plc and operated

by Carnival UK. It is based at Carnival House in Southampton, England. It is also the sister company of, and retains strong links with, P&O Cruises Australia.

P&O Cruises currently operates eight cruise ships with a total passenger capacity of 14,970 and a 5% market share of all cruise lines worldwide.

and foreign visitors to Gozo, not only to celebrate the feast in Victoria, but also to enjoy a relaxing break on the sister island.

Preliminary figures (close to 70,000) indicate a record number of passengers crossed the channel, amounting to around 9% more than the same weekend last year, with most accommodation providers reporting they were fully booked well in advance, most of them, not just for this occasion, but also throughout the month of September.

The Malta Tourism Authority expressed its satisfaction at the results registered by the Gozo tourism sector, primarily during the Santa Marija long weekend with MTA Chief Executive Mr Paul Bugeja saying that the positive result achieved was welcome news, particularly considering that it comes in the context of another good summer for the Maltese and Gozitan hospitality industry as a whole.

“A special note of congratulations is due to Gozo Channel, operators of our inter-island ferry service, who provided an efficient and hassle-free transfer for tens of thousands of passengers. Such an efficient service contributes to continue upgrading the overall quality of our product,” Mr Bugeja said.

MTA, together with the Ministry for Tourism, the Ministry for Gozo and the Gozo Tourism Association, continues to promote Gozo’s unique set of characteristics, annual events and special all-yearround appeal.

P&Os decision gain for Malta loss for Genoa

T

he Italian media admitted that with the P&O decision was a great loss for Genoa that has lost its precious role as P&O’s base in the Mediterranean. It said the Italian port lost that which carries the wealth to the land and the traffic from and towards the Cristoforo Colombo airport.

Large increase in outgoing tourism

M

alta is breaking all records in incoming tourism, but travel is not just a one-way phenomenon. Figures issued by the National Statistics Office, NSO, reveal the ever-increasing trend by the Maltese of their love for travel. In fact it shows that in the second quarter of this year – AprilJune – more that 104,000 persons travelled abroad, which is an increase of 8,900 over the same period last year.

More than half of the passengers travelled to airports in Italy and the UK.

According to the same statistic, on their trips abroad, per capita, the Maltese travellers spent €845 and that the total expenditure reached over €88 million.

Figures also reveal that in the first six months of the year, between January and June, there was an increase of 20% in travel abroad over the same period last year. That is because during that period, nearly 208,000 persons travelled abroad and their estimated expenditure during their trips amounted to around €180 million.

14 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday August 30, 2016

Wara Santa Marija...

B

la dubju ta’ xejn li l-akbar g˙add ta’ festi ddedikati lill-istess qaddis jew qaddisa li jsiru fl-istess jum huma ta’ Santa Marija. Dakinhar, il-15 ta’ Awwissu ti©i ççelebrata l-festa ta’ Santa Marija f’sebat ibliet u r˙ula f’Malta u G˙awdex (ilÓadd ta’ wara jsiru tlieta o˙ra, minbarra sintendi, dawk li m’humiex festi ta’ parroçça).

U dawn il-festi kollha f’jum wie˙ed i˙allu l-effett tag˙hom fuq il-˙ajja Maltija billi jsiru çebrazzjonijiet kbar, joktor sew in-negozju, jiΩdied sewwa t-traffiku fit-toroq, i©en©lulek rasek bil-murtali tal-bomba… imma fl-istess ˙in jg˙axquk bin-nar tal-ajru u tal-art... u j˙allu warajhom çerti stejjer...

Fosthom...

F’G˙awdex ˙as-soltu, G˙awdex infaqa’ bil-Maltin B u barranin li telg˙u g˙al dil-festa.

Telg˙u madwar 70,000 (bejn id-9 u l-15 ta’ Awwissu. Total ta’ 68,582 salpaw miç-Çirkewwa g˙all-Im©arr, u tellg˙u18,534 vettura f’242 vja©©. Ûdied id-d˙ul g˙al-lukandi, (l-1,700 sodda kienu me˙uda kollha, l-istess il-5,000 appartament u farmhouse (li huma rre©istrati). Kienu kollha mimlijin.

Marru tajjeb ˙afna r-restoranti, tal-linja, tal-˙wienet, eçç. Ûdied ukoll id-d˙ul g˙allGvern mill-VAT, il-˙las fuq is-servizzi u dak li nxtara, u biç-çitazzjonijiet li ng˙ataw g˙al ksur tar-regolamenti tat-traffiku (lil min inqabad g˙ax o˙rajn jg˙adduha lixxa).

Dawk li nqabdu lmentaw u jidher li tant ilmentaw li tal-Gozo Tourism Association u l-Gozo Business Chamber malajr ˙ar©u jg˙idu taghhom.

Qalu li filwaqt li apprezzaw il-fatt li dissena G˙awdex kellu rekord ta’ viΩitaturi u l-˙wienet u l-istabbilimenti l-o˙ra g˙amlu rekord ta’ qlieg˙,imma lmentaw li ng˙ataw rekord ta’ çitazzjoni. Sostnew li mhux sew li l-˙idma tag˙hom biex jattiraw in-nies lejn G˙awdex ti©i mtappna permezz ta’ dawn iç-çitazzjonijiet mill-gwardjani lokali.

IΩda fil-fatt instab li attwalment ing˙ataw 170 çitazzjoni, ˙afna minnhom min˙abba double u triple parking. Na˙seb li mhix xi figura fenominali meta tqis li G˙awdex,

Fl-Im©arr, Malta ffeste©©jaw Santa Marija b’ikla lir-refu©jati

speçjalment ir-Rabat, ma jifla˙x g˙all-influs ta’ daqshekk karozzi. Ûgur li kien hemm ˙afna aktar minn hekk li kisru r-regolamenti tat-traffiku.

G˙alkemm li m’g˙andux x’jaqsam ma Santa Marija, tajjeb ng˙id li kif l-assoçjazzonijiet fet˙u ˙alqhom dwar iç-çitazzjonijiet, malajr ˙ar©et il-GRTU tixli lill-gwardjani lokali b’nuqqas ta’ sensittività lejn dawk li jqassmu x-xog˙ol (deliverymen) u ppretendiet li l-gwardjani jkunu aktar laxki lejn dawn in-nies.

Ma na˙sibx li dawk is-sewwieqa li je˙lu fit-traffiku g˙ax xi w˙ud minn dawn, biex i˙ottu u jg˙abbu jipparkjaw fejn jidhrilhom u jostakolaw it-traffiku, qablu wisq malproposta tal-GRTU. Imsomma min igemgem g˙ax g˙andna nuqqas ta’ dixxiplina fit-traffiku u min jilmenta g˙ax jikser il-li©i u ji©i mmultat.

Il-vapuri tal-Gozo Channel g˙amlu vjag©i rekord miç-Çirkewwa g˙all-Im©arr G˙awdex

Imma lura lejn Santa Marija u G˙awdex

L’id tal-˙biberija rajja o˙ra li spikkat waqt dil-festa, din Ì id-darba f’dik mag˙rufa b˙ala l-festa ta’ ©ewwa, iç-çelebrazzjonijiet reli©juΩi, kienet l-istedina mill-isqof t’G˙awdex Mario Grech, lil Mohamed El Sadi, lImam tal-Kumunita` Musulmana f’Malta biex jattendi g˙all-Pontifikal li jsir n˙ar ilfesta fil-Kattidral ta’ G˙awdex.

Fl-omelija l-isqof stqarr li lfatt li El Sadi aççetta l-istedina u attenda din iç-çelebrazzjoni huwa simbolu tal-fraternita` bejn il-komunita` nisranija u dik Muslumana f’Malta. Sostna li l-ebda reli©jon ma tippriedka lvjolenza. Fuq kollox huma kemm l-Insara kif ukoll ilMusulmani li qed isofru mill-attakki terroristici li jsiru fuqhom.

Sostna li stieden lill-Imam biex flimkien jitolbu lil Alla g˙all-paçi. Il-Madonna tista’ tg˙inna noqorbu aktar lejn xulxin. Fuq kollox din hija lunika mara li tissemma filKoran.

L-Im©arr Malta b’attivita` differenti aqsmu lejn l-Im©arr, Malta, fejn ilN festa’ ta’ Santa Marija ©iet iççelebrata l-Óadd, sitt ijiem wara l-15. Hawn ukoll

saret attivita biex i©©ib lill-Musulmani u lill-Insara qrib xulxin. Dan billi ©iet organizzata ikla g˙all-persuni li jg˙ixu wa˙idhom u g˙al grupp ta' refu©jati li

jg˙ixu f'pajjiΩna.

Din l-ikla saret fuq inizjattiva tal-Kummissjoni Djakonija bl-appo©© kollu talKappillan ˙abrieki tar-ra˙al, Dun Kalçidon Vassallo.

Imma l-ikel mog˙ti lir-refu©jati ma niΩilx tajjeb ma' kul˙add. Minkejja li ©ew mitmug˙a persuni bi status ta' aΩil wara li ˙arbu gwerer u persekuzzjoni f'pajjiΩhom, fuq is-siti soçjali kien hemm baraxx ta' insulti bla sens, b'˙afna minnhom ji©u diretti lejn l-Im©arrin.

Tassew ˙asra li g˙ad hawn nies b˙al dawn!!!!

U bil˙aqq, din is-sena rreffieg˙a tal-Istatwa ta’ Santa Marija fl-Im©ar ˙allsu €13,000 tas-servizz li taw.

Tajba din hux ... tati servizz u t˙allas int.

The Voice of the Maltese 15

Tuesday August 30, 2016

Mhux kollox mitluf

It-tberik tal-istatwa ta’ Santa Marija ta’ Kemmuna qabel bdiet il-vja©g minn G˙awdex

aΩ-Ωmien sikwit ingemgmu li l-valuri spiççaw; li DL-istess morna l-ba˙ar u ˙lief iswed ma narawx. kien ja˙sibha direttur tal-iskejjel Internaz-

zjonali Irlandiz li meta ritira ©ie joqg˙od Malta. IΩda dan l-IrlandiΩ isostni li beda jibdel fehimtu wara dak li ©ralu f’Malta f’dawn l-a˙˙ar ©img˙at.

L-ewwel inçident li kellu kien meta flimkien manneputija tieg˙u, li kienet fuq btala f’Malta, mar is-Suq ta’ Marsaxlokk.

Meta n-neputija tal-IrlanidΩ ˙allset g˙al xi g˙asel li xtrat, waqitilha l-credit card u ndunat b’dan biss xi kwarta wara. Din ippanikjat l-aktar meta rat dawk ilmijiet ta’ nies li kien hemm is-suq. IΩda ma damitx ma bidlet il-burdata g˙ax kif resqu lejn fejn kienet xtrat lg˙asel, il-bejjieg˙a kienet pronta newlitilha l-credit card lura.

Ftit jiem wara l-istess IrlandiΩ kien qed jg˙in xi ˙bieb i©orru l-bagalji tag˙hom fil-Kalkara. Bla jaf kif waqg˙etlu l-kartiera bil-flus, credit cards, l-liçenzja tas-sewqan eçc. IΩda x-xorti da˙kitlu mill-©did g˙ax mara li kienet g˙addejja mit-triq sabet il-kartiera, u talbet il-bintha ççempel lill- Irlandiz biex imur g˙aliha.

Kif kiteb l-istess IrlandiΩ: These two incidents demonstrate for me the truly special nature of Maltese people. Their honesty is heart-warming and truly unique for which this country should proud.

To all these wonderful people, I can only say a sincere thank you. You make the world a better place.

Fl-istess Ωmien kellna inçident simili ta’ Kanadiz ta’ dixxindenza ÇiniΩa li ©ie Malta g˙all-ewwel vaganza tieg˙u. Bilkemm la˙aq rifes Malta li ma tilifx ilkartiera tieg˙u li barra l-passaport, il-credit cards, eçç kellu wkoll €5000. Kien biss l-g˙ada filg˙odu li ntebah bli ©ralu.

Mar malajr l-Ajruport fejn g˙amel rapport. Il-pulizija mill-ewwel ˙adu passi, u filwaqt li l-kartiera bid-dokumenti kollha nstabu mill-˙addiema tat-tindif pubbliku f’dustbin qrib l-ajurport, il-flus ma nstabux.

IΩda l-pulizija ma waqfiu hemm u sa ftit sieg˙at wara, metaraw il-filmati kollha tal-kameras tas-sigurta` malajr sabu min ˙a l-flus... u resqu persuna l-qorti..

Il-Kanadiz ma setax jemmen li rnexxielu jikseb lura kemm il-flus, kif ukoll id-dokumenti.

Tliet stejjer li spiççaw b’wiçç il-©id, bid-differenza li l-ewwel tnejn urew li fuq kollox g˙ad g˙andna nies li ma tilfux il-valuri tag˙hom, u fit-tielet kaΩ rajna lil xi ˙add li r-rebg˙a g˙amlet bih.

It-tag˙lima: Mhux sewwa li nitfg˙u “lil ku˙add flistess keffa tal-miΩien”.

Anke f’Kemmuna ççelebraw bil-kbir l-festa ta’ Santa Marija ©iet iççele- mΩejjna li twassal g˙all-Kapella talImentbrata wkoll f’Kemmuna. Attwal- lokal. In-nies ikkonkorrew g˙ax ir-residenti ta’ Kemmuna huma Kemmuna kienet ippakkjata blerbg˙a, g˙alkemm fil-jiem tas-sajf ilpopolazzjoni ta’ din il-gΩira hekk Ωg˙ira, tkun ta’ mijiet ta’ nies, l-aktar matul il-jum.

Iç-çelebrazzjoni, bdiet bil-wasla mill-Im©arr G˙awdex tal-Istatwa, li g˙adha kif ©iet irrestawrata millMinisteru g˙al G˙awdex. Ma naqsitx il-banda u l-marçi li mxew mat-trejqa

G˙awdxin, Maltin u anke turisti li g˙aΩlu li jΩuru dil-gΩira biex jattendu g˙al din il-festa li saret parti millKalendarju Kulturali G˙awdxi, b’attivitajiet li laqtu l-gosti ta’ kul˙add.

Huwa stmat li b’kollox kien hemm mat-3,500 ru˙. Dan hu g˙add impressjonanti meta tqis li d-daqs ta’ Kemmuna hu biss ta; 1.3 mil kwadru.

Mar itih palata! rçipriet Sqalli, Don Prissuto n©abru barra l-knisja biex jag˙tu sA spiçça bl-inkwiet mal-Arçisqof sosten tag˙hom lill-mexxej spiritwali tieg˙u Mons Salvatore Pappalardo. tag˙hom.

G˙al dawn l-a˙˙ar snin Don Prisutto attribwixxa l-problemi ta’ sa˙˙a, fosthom kaΩijiet ta’ kançer, g˙at-tni©©is ambjentali fl-in˙awi ta’ Augusta.

Biss l-insistenza tieg˙u dwar dan wasslet biex l-Arçisqof jo˙ro© jg˙id li Don Prisutto ma kienx qed jitkellem f’ismu, u ©ie rrappurtat li talab g˙arriΩenja tieg˙u.

IΩda l-Arçipriet malajr sab lappo©© tar-residenti mill-parroçça Madre di Augusta li

Our Lady of Victories Horsley Park Parish (NSW) FESTA 2016: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday September 14, 15, 16 at 6.30 pm: three days of preparation. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, rosary and benediction followed by Mass.

Saturday September 17 at 6.00pm: Vigil Mass followed by procession with the statue of Our Lady of Victories.

Sunday September 18: Festa Day Programme from 2 pm; rosary, mass and benediction then procession with our Lady of Victories statue, with OLQP Band taking part. Later live entertainment on stage. Also various rides, soccer games and pre-1986 Car, motorbike and tractor show. Plenty of different types of food and drink available. Fireworks display at 8.45 pm.

Fost dawn spikka, tal-inqas g˙alina l-Maltin, Fr Colin Apap li sa˙ansitra ©ie ntervistat minn ©urnalisti Sqallin.

Il-Malti stqarr kif saçerdoti o˙ra minn Augusta abbandunaw lil Don Prisutto.

Possibli Fr Colin ma realizzax li mhux s˙abu kollha lesti jo˙or©u g˙onqhom u jieqfu lil ta’ fuqhom?

Leo’s Vehicle Rentals Guaranteed cheapest rates All vehicles in NRMA road Service Low holding Deposit Discount for weekly rentals Shuttle service to the Airport Phone: 9622 2208 Mob: 0418 405 271 102 Kildare Rd Blacktown NSW 2148

16 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday August 30, 2016

A quick glimpse at Australia

‘Australia has lost moral compass on immigration detention’

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ew Zealand Labour's foreign affairs spokesman David Shearer (right) has accused Australia of losing its moral compass over offshore detention, suggesting NZ should step in to resettle asylum seekers and refugees.

Mr. Shearer, a former Labour leader, and United Nations humanitarian worker said Australia's offshore detention regime was abysmal and unsustainable. Said Australian voters were prepared to "push under the carpet" knowledge of conditions on Nauru and Manus Island, in contrast to public condemnation of mistreatment inside the Northern Territory's Don Dale Youth Detention Centre that prompted a royal commission.

Mr. Shearer has called for a change in approach by the Turnbull government after more than 2000 incident reports from Nauru were published, arguing 150 refugees should be quickly resettled in New Zealand on the condition Australia's offshore detention camps were closed.

New Zealand offered to assist Australia in resettling asylum seekers in 2013 and 2015, but Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull ruled out co-operation amid concerns it could give encouragement and "marketing opportunities" to people smugglers.

Mr Shearer linked the possible assistance to New Zealand's role in resettling asylum seekers caught up in the 2001 Tampa refugee crisis, who he said were doing "fabulously well" in New Zealand today.

Manus Island DC is still open but it will be shut down ore than four months after the Papua M New Guinea Supreme Court found that the Manus Island Detention Centre was unconstitutional, and the Government agreed to close it down, it is still open.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton says that the Australian government always intended to shut the facilities, but he hosed down any suggestion the closure was imminent.

The Australian Minister emphasised that “our position, confirmed again today with PMG, is that no one from Manus Island Regional Processing Centre will ever be settled in Australia”.

Mr Peter O’Neill PNG’s Prime Minister said that both PNG and Australia are in agreement that the centre housing about 850 asylum seekers is to be closed.

Manus Island is part of Manus Province in northern Papua New Guinea and is the largest island of the Admiralty Islands

No to the Chinese

ederal Treasurer Scott MorriF son has blocked the NSW government's planned sale of electricity distributor Ausgrid to foreign companies, citing national security issues, in a preliminary decision.

Two bidders, the Chinese government-owned State Grid Corporation and the Hong Kong-based company Cheung Kong Infrastructure, had been in the running to secure the 99-year lease for the 50.4 per cent stake, in a deal that was expected to be worth about $10 billion to the NSW state government.

Labor treasury spokesman Chris

Bowen backed the decision, saying that national security considerations had to be paramount and that "the Opposition is prepared to accept this decision as being in the national interest on the basis that it was based on advice from the national security agencies."

PM Turnbull stressed the decision to block the potential $10-billion, 99 leases of 50.4 per cent of Ausgrid was taken on purely on national security grounds. The Prime Minister said he could not disclose the advice given to him for obvious reasons, but “what I can assure you is the advice we received was absolutely unequivocal.”

IS recruiter 'loves Australia'

42-year-old Sydney man, Hamdi Alqudsi was found of violating Australia's foreign incursion laws for Aguilty making travel arrangements for a group of would-be jihadists in 2013. He helped seven young men travel from Australia to Syria to join the Islamic State conflict.

Giving evidence for the first time at a sentence hearing, Alqudsi claimed he is “not a terrorist” and thought that IS would help civilians.

For the first time, he admitted to the NSW Supreme Court that he knew the seven men he assisted in 2013 planned to take up arms against Syrian government forces.

He told the Court that as an Australian he should have minded his own business. He said: "I love Australia, I always have."

He faces a maximum 10 years in jail for seven counts of providing services with the intention of supporting hostile acts.

The Voice of the Maltese 17

Tuesday August 30, 2016

A quick glimpse at Australia

Decision sets a dangerous precedent F ormer High Court Justice Michael Kirby (pictured right) says a plebiscite on marriage equality will incite hatred and abuse of the LGBTI community and sets a dangerous precedent where MPs avoid making a decision on controversial issues.

Kirby made the remarks in an interview with ABC Radio in which he further suggested historically Australians rarely supported any referendum questions, and a plebiscite would likely face similar results.

Meanwhile, Attorney General George Brandis suggested the proposed plebiscite on marriage equality would be delayed until February.

Kirby told the ABC a plebiscite was simply a delaying tactic and no one who supported equality supported a plebiscite.

Former Justice Kirby is gay and has been with his partner Johan van Vloten for almost 50 years.

"This is going to be, if it goes ahead ... running out the old issues of hatreds and animosities, abominations and all the old arguments against gay people.

The betting mania

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he latest Australian gambling statistics compiled by the Queensland Treasury on behalf of all other Australian jurisdictions have shown pokies to be the single biggest source of gambling losses, at nearly $12 billion.

Loses to racing stands at almost $3 billion, with Lotto just under $2 billion. The latest nationwide gambling figures show Australians lost almost $23 billion between 2014 and 2015, up nearly eight percent on the year before. While half of the amount was on pokie machines, there was also a 30 percent increase from sports betting Dr. Charles Livingston, a gambling researcher at Monash University's School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, said the rate of growth from sports betting had doubled from the previous few years.

The takeover of local bookies by international operators from the UK and Europe had helped. "The advent of smartphones and their big take up amongst young people has fuelled this growth."

Pokie machines remained the worst offender, and there needed to be a serious look at what type of measures could reduce their harmful impact $12 billion a year in pokie machine losses is a massive amount, 51 percent of the national total of $22 billion.

South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon said gambling is out of control [and] the regulations we have around the country are more about window dressing than anything else.

"We didn't do this for the Aboriginal people when we moved to give equality in law to them; we didn't do it when we dismantled the White Australia policy ... we didn't do it in advances on women's equality; we didn't do it most recently on disability equality.

In 2013, the High Court unanimously dismissed the ACT Government's law that sought to legalise same-sex marriage, deciding Federal Parliament has the sole power to deal with the issue.

In Australia, a plebiscite (also known as an advisory referendum) is used to decide a national question that does not affect the Constitution. It can be used to test whether the government has sufficient support from the people to go ahead with a proposed action. Unlike a referendum, the decision reached in a plebiscite does not have any legal force.

Australia has held two national plebiscites, in 1916 and 1917, relating to the introduction of conscription during the First World War; both were defeated. No specific rules exist about the running of a plebiscite.

From the Melbourne courts

owe Maddington has pleaded guilty to B the shocking sexual assault and murder of 11-years old Zoe Buttigieg found dead in her bed in October 2015. He will appear for a plea hearing in the Supreme Court in Wangaratta Victoria on November 11.

Joanne Debono 53, and daughter Shannon 19 faced the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court charged with trying to kill her husband Stephen Debono, on March 12 last year. Police say Joanna from Gowanbrae confessed that she had tried to kill her husband of 25 years by dragging his meatballs and then injecting him with brake fluid and weed killer.

Mrs. Debono will contest the charges and told the police after surrendering herself that she acted in self-defence after years of physical and emotional abuse and controlling and threatening behaviour from her husband.

A Country Court jury in Victoria found Jayden Galea 24, guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of a friend Brendon Old, 28, after rolling a stolen Commodore on Macedon Road during the early hours of June 28, 2014.

They were being chased by the police after trying to raid a myki machine at Macedon railway station.

18 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday August 30, 2016

Homelessness in Moreland Victoria

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he Voice of the Maltese is pleased to learn that two of our regular contributors Andy Busuttil and Dr. Barry York are active agitators when it comes to matters affecting the general community in Australia.

Dr. Barry York from Lyneham ACT was very concerned about homelessness in and around Moreland Victoria and he pointed this out in a letter to the Moreland Leader saying he was shocked to read that there were at least 770 homeless and marginally housed people in Moreland.

Home ownership is one of Australia’s greatest myths.

One-third of the population own their home; another third spend their lives working to pay off their home; the other third pay rent forever. Young people today have less chance of owning their own home.

Dr York wrote: “After my parents and I (age three) disembarked at

Station Pier in 1954, we experienced sold on that street for a million dolnearly two years of marginal home- lars. There are massive housing and lessness, residing in a single room in apartment and office developments seven different lodgings in Coburg being built in Melbourne by profitand Brunswick. These “boarding motivated companies, on one hand, houses” were in O’Hea’s Road (as it and thousands of homeless and was then known), Moreland Rd, marginally housed people on the Rose St and Shamrock St. With the other. exception of the place in Moreland “Am I in twilight zone? Or is it just Rd, owned by an Italian gentleman, capitalism?” wrote Dr York. some advertised as “room for rent – no children.”

“Luckily, my dad’s Maltese charms allowed him to persuade the various landowners to make an exception in our case. The universal change for my parents, and especially for me, in 1956 when we put a deposit on a timber “jerry-built” house The Santa Marija Festa celebrations held anin Shamrock St. nually on the Central Coast of NSW started “No-one wanted to live in with a well-attended dinner dance on the Brunswick back then, yet eve at Kanwal with the Falcons Band providtwo houses have recently ing the entertainment and fun with a number of dance tunes, and with Joe Galea singing songs to everyone's delight.

On the feast day, Bishop Peter Comensoli assisted by Fr Vince, Fr Sabbas and Fr Keith, celebrated Mass, while the St Mary Mackillop choir performed music and hymns under the direction of Mrs. Loretta Foster celebrated High Mass at Saint Mary Mackillop Church in Woongarrah. After Mass the congregation accompanied the Procession with the statue of Santa Marija. The Tuggerah Lakes Brass Band provided music outside of the church.

A magnificent display of fireworks that lasted about fifteen minutes rounded up the day. Everything went well and Mr Charles Scicluna, the president of the Festa organising committee thanks all who participated, particularly those who travelled from far.

Annual Sta Marija festa celebrated at the Central Coast

Tuesday August 30, 2016

The Voice of the Maltese 19

A look back: The air disaster at Canberra - 76 years ago…

Seventy-six years ago, on August 13, 1940 an RAAF Lockheed Hudson aircraft crashed near the Canberra aerodrome, killing all passengers and crew on board.

This crash was to have a significant impact on the Australian government as the passengers on board included three cabinet ministers: Brigadier Geoffrey Street, Minister for the Army and Repatriation; James Fairbairn, Minster for Air and Civil Aviation; and Sir Henry Gullett, Minister of Scientific and Industrial Research.

Also killed were, General Sir Cyril Brudenell White, Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant Colonel F. Thornthwaite (Army liaison officer), and Mr R.E. Elford (secretary to Air Minister).

The crew were Flight Lieutenant R.E. Hitchcock RAAF (Aircraft Captain), Pilot Officer R.F. Wiesener RAAF (Second Pilot), Corporal J.F. Palmer, and Aircraftman C.J. Crosdale.

The deaths of the three ministers severely weakened Robert Menzies’s United Australia Party (UAP) and contributed to its fall in 1941.

As the air crash took place only a month before the September 1940 federal election, no by-elections were held. Sir Henry Gullet’s seat of Henty was lost to Arthur Coles, one of two independents now holding the balance of power in the House of Representatives.

In October 1941 both independents crossed the floor in a no-confidence motion against the UAP, and in doing so installed John Curtin of the Australian Labor Party as prime minster.

An armed RAAF guard was placed on the main road and near the scene of the crash, to protect the aircraft’s contents, including

personal possessions and classified documents, from the many sightseers who rushed to the scene of the disaster.

The Court of Inquiry into the accident found that it was most likely from the aircraft stalling on its landing approach, resulting in loss of control at a height too low to recover. Modifications to the wings of the Lockheed Hudson were later made by using piercings of the leading edge to act as turbulators (devices that turn a laminar flow into a turbulent flow.

Turbulent flow can be desired on parts of the surface of an aircraft wing or airfoil or in industrial applications such as heat exchangers and the mixing of fluids) to reduce the severity of the aircraft's stall characteristics.

The aircraft crashed into a hill with great force, killing all occupants instantly, then burning fiercely.

Since the crash was near the RAAF base, emergency crews were at the scene promptly, but nothing could be done to save the occupants.

Harold Smith, an RAAF instrumentmaker stationed in Canberra at the time of the crash, recovered this rotor flywheel Memorial opened by Sir Robert Menzies in from the wreck of the 1960 (20th anniversary) commemorating Lockheed Hudson. He the victims of th 1940 air disaster had been placed on

guard duty at the crash site.

Reporting the tragedy, under the heading: Australia’s lost leaders – Devotion to Nation’s Service, The Sydney Morning Herald correspondent described it as an “unprecedented stroke of misfortune”. He went on to ay, “ Australia lost four of her political and military leaders, with six other valuable lives in the worst aerial tragedy in this country since the crash of the Kyeena* “The greatest loss in this stupefying disaster is that of the Army, which has been robbed at a blow of its Ministerial head and its service chief.” * The Kyeema airline crash took place on October 25, 1938 when the Airways Douglas Kyeema, flying from Adelaide to Melbourne, commenced final approach to Essendon Airport through heavy fog and crashed into the western slopes of Mount Dandenong, also known as Mount Corhanwarrabul, killing all 18 on board instantly.

20 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday August 30, 2016

Tag˙rif dwar il-kitba Maltija

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ktar regoli u tag˙rif uffiçjali dwar kif wie˙ed g˙andu jikteb il-Malti, ma˙ru© millKummissjoni fi ˙dan l-Akkademja tal-Malti.

L-ERBGÓA U GÓOXRIN REGOLA Meta jaqa’ l-aççent fuq l-ewwel taqsima tal-kelma, il-le˙en ta’ je fla˙˙ar taqsima g˙andu jinkiteb je u mhux ie.

G˙alhekk niktbu ìfjen, sàjjem, bhèjjem, g˙àjjen.

IL-ÓAMSA U GÓOXRIN REGOLA Meta l-aççent jaqa’ fuq l-a˙˙ar taqsima tal-kelma, il-le˙en ta’ je (ie), f’din l-a˙˙ar taqsima, g˙andu jinkiteb ie u mhux je u anqas ê.

G˙alhekk niktbu sajjied u mhux sajjêd, g˙ajjien u mhux g˙ajjên, tfajliet u mhux tfajlêt, mijiet u mhux mijêt, ommijiet u mhux ommijêt, missirijiet u mhux missirijêt, sorijiet u mhux sorijêt.

IS-SITTA U GÓOXRIN REGOLA Meta l-aççent jitwarrab minn fuq vokali f’taqsima ta’ kelma, ji©ri li jew iwaqqa’ nkella jbiddel il-˙oss u lle˙en tal-vokali bl-aççent.

EΩ.: Féraq, nòfroq fejn il-vokali talaççent waqg˙et. Ìíbed, ©bìdna fejn l-i bl-aççent waqg˙et.

Die˙el, de˙lîn fejn l-ie ˙ossha twil tbiddlet fil-˙oss u l-le˙en ma˙tuf ta’ e; u g˙alhekk ikteb de˙lin, beΩlin, u mhux die˙lin, bieΩlin.

Bàsla, basliet; ©èbla, ©ebliet; nésa, ma nesiex fejn il-vokali tal-aççent fl-ewwel taqsima tilfu l-˙oss tag˙hom.

T.ç. F’dawn l-a˙˙ar eΩempji naraw ukoll illi: (1) Meta l-aççent imur fuq l-a˙˙ar vokali a, din titbiddel fil-le˙en twil ta’ ie u g˙alhekk minn basla ssir basliet, minn ©ebla ssir ©ebliet. Dan ji©ri aktarx fil-kliem kollu li jispiçça bl-ittra a, meta fuqha jaqbeΩ laççent.

G˙alhekk minn ˙adha niktbu ˙adhielu, minn ©ibna, ©ibnieh.

(2) Il-vokali a ma tinbidilx ˙lief fil˙oss tag˙ha meta qabilha (jew warajha miftiehma) ikollha konsonanti g˙. G˙alhekk minn seta(g˙) nsemmg˙u u niktbu ma tistâx mhux ma tistiex. Hekk ukoll minn roqg˙a, xebg˙a, laqg˙a, ©img˙a, we©g˙a, dullieg˙a, nag˙mlu l-plural roqg˙ât, xebg˙ât, laqg˙ât, ©img˙ât, we©g˙ât, dullig˙ât.

L-istess ji©ri aktarx meta qabel l-a tal-a˙˙ar ja˙btu l-konsonanti ˙ jew h. EΩ.: fwie˙a, fwi˙ât; xbieha, xbihât; fer˙a, fer˙ât jew fer˙iet; tuffie˙a, tuffi˙ât jew tuffi˙iet.

F’xi kliem ie˙or, wara xi konsonanti o˙ra, il-vokali a tibqa’ l-istess: Alla, allât; qassata, qassatât.

(3) Rajna li lvokali a tala˙˙ar, meta fuqha jmur laççent, titbiddel fil-˙oss u l-le˙en twil ta’

Wasalna g˙al Jum il-Vitorja

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is-Sajf f’Malta ji©u ççelebrati l-biçça ‘l kbira tal-festi litur©içi, dawk li jfakkru fil-qaddis jew qaddisa talbelt jew ra˙al. Hija t-tradizzjoni li min˙abba li lMaltin huma nies ferri˙in, u li donnu li g˙al kull ˙a©a ta’ xejn iridu nixxalaw li donnu jil˙aq il-qofol tieg˙u filfesta titulari.

Is-sajf g˙oddu ntemm. Ftit tal-jiem o˙ra u nid˙lu fil˙arifa u n˙allu warajna l-festi. Imma fadlilna tat-8 ta’ Settembru, Jum il-Vitorja, il-festa ta’ Marija Bambina, li l-aktar postijiet mag˙rufin g˙aliha huma l-Isla, il-Mellie˙a u n-Naxxar f’Malta, u x-Xag˙ra f’G˙awdex.

Jum il-Vitorja festa pubblika u storika. Tfakkar ukoll Ωew© assedji li se˙˙ew fil-gΩejjer Maltin. Qed ng˙idu g˙all-Assedju l-kbir tal-1565, u t-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija.

Fost iç-elebrazzjonijiet li jsiru fil-GΩejjer Maltin f’dan iljum hemm ukoll l-hekk mag˙rufa b˙ala r-Regatta tat-8 ta’ Settembru, tlielaq tad-dg˙ajjes fil-Port il-Kbir bejn iddistretti li xtuthom jixirfu fuq dan il-Port.

Fil-21 ta’ Settembru mbag˙ad ikollna festa pubblika o˙ra meta niççelebraw Jum l-Indipendenza.

ie. G˙alhekk minn fehma nag˙mlu fehmiet, minn ©ebla, ©ebliet. G˙alhekk ukoll minn rajna g˙andna niktbu rajnieh, minn ©ibna, ©ibnieh, u mhux rajnih u ©ibnih.

(4) Insibu wkoll li meta l-le˙en ta’ ie f’taqsima ta’ kelma jitlef l-aççent dan il-le˙en isir e jew i. G˙alhekk minn bierek niktbu berikt u mhux bierikt, minn msiefer, msefrin u mhux msiefrin, minn missier, missirijiet u mhux missierijiet, minn ˙sieb, ˙sibijiet u mhux ˙siebijiet, minn qieg˙, qig˙ân u mhux qieg˙ân, minn die˙el, de˙lin, minn bieΩel, beΩlin.

Aktar regoli fil-˙ar©a li jmiss.

Tuesday August 30, 2016

The Voice of the Maltese 21

C Co om mm mu un ni it ty y N Ne ew ws s Maltese Past Pupils & Friends of Don Bosco 29th Annual Dinner Dance Date: Saturday October 29 at the Mandavilla Reception Centre (1788 The Horsley Drive, Horsley Park NSW) Time: 7.30 pm - Donation $60.00.

Dress: Semi Formal Entertainment: by Joe Apap.

Special Quest & MC Joe Galea *All proceeds from this event will go towards the Don Bosco Missions.

For bookings: Marlene on 02 9631 9295

Xaghra Association of NSW Inc Annual Tal-Vitorja Dinner Dance on Saturday September 24 AT: Balmoral Function Centre, Balmoral Rd, BLACKTOWN * ROC-A-TAC & Giuseppe Verdi Brass Band * 5-Course Meal, beer, wine & soft drinks * Guest of Honour Fr Dominic Sultana from Gozo * Donation Adults:$60.00 Children, $35:00 Contact: Ray/Josephine Bigeni: 9627 4182, 0439 974 182, 0448 100 034 or M'Anne Teuma: 9627 4641

Planning for aged care in your senior years (Organised by Maltese Welfare NSW Inc.)

Be better prepared. Aged care could be complicated Know all about it. Information meeting on

Wednesday September 7

at: St: George Preca Meeting Rooms Our Lady Queen of Peace Church

Old Prospect Road Greystanes NSW from 7.30 pm.

Guest Speakers: Sister Georgina Sultana (Administrator St Dominic’s Age Care Facility Blacktown) – Benefits going to a hostel and daily routine.

Maria Louis Muscat (Financial Advisor Fiducian Financial Service) -Transition to Age care This evening is of interest not only to seniors but their children as in most cases they have to make the decisions

THE CITTADINI Present direct from Malta:

Mary Rose Mallia and Renato

COMEDY with The Cittadini Sydney Show: Sunday on November 20 at La Valette Centre, Blacktown at 2.00 p.m.

Donation: $22.00 Children U/12: $10.00 For Tickets: Monica: 9896 0712 or 0414 859 386; Doris: 9636 2295

IL-MALTESE BOWLERS SOCIAL GROUP TA’ NSW •Jistiednu nisa u r©iel Maltin li j˙obbu l-lawn bowls biex jing˙aqdu mag˙hom, jie˙du sehem fil-log˙ob u jag˙mlu ˙bieb ©odda.

• Jilqg˙u wkoll lil dawk li jixtiequ jitg˙allmu jilag˙bu dan l-isport. Dawn jing˙ataw lezzjonijiet b’xejn.

• Jilag˙bu log˙ba lawn bowls darba fixxahar fir-Rosehill Bowling Club u klabbs o˙ra.

• G˙al aktar tag˙rif çemplu lis-segretarju, Tony Pace-Feraud (0400 376 607) jew email lil: maltesebowlersnsw@hotmail.com Il-log˙ba li jmiss nhar il-Ħadd 18 ta' Settembru fis-1:00 p.m. fir-Rosehill Bowling Club.

FEDERAZZJONI TAL-ISKEJJEL TAL-MALTI INC. (AWSTRALJA)

AVVIŻ GĦALL-KOMUNITA` Il- Federazzjoni tal-Iskejjel Maltin Awstralja (FMLS) qed tniedi sussidju ta’ $100 g˙al studenti li joqog˙du u jispiççaw l-ezami fil-lingwa Maltija tal-VCE/HSC /SACE din is-sena, 2016.

L-iskema tg˙odd g˙all-ewwel15-il-student fl-ordni li japplikaw.

Dettalji u formula dwar kif wie˙ed jakkwista dan is-sussidju jistg˙u jinkisbu minn fuq is-sit elettroniku tal-Federazzjoni:

www.federationofmalteselanguageschoolsaustralia.com/

La Valette Social Centre Tinteressak il-kitba?

arrejja li j˙ossu li, jew Q g˙andhom talent g˙all-kitba, l-aktar bl-Ilsien Malti, imma

mhux biss, jew li jkunu jridu li kitbiet tag˙hom ji©u ppublikati f’The Voice of the Maltese, huma m˙e©©a jibag˙tuhomlna f’dan lindirizz tal-email: maltesevoice@gmail.com

22 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday August 30, 2016

C o mmunity Co mmunity N ews Xaghra Assoc. of NSW Inc

MALTESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL OF NSW

Fr Dominic Sultana’s NSW Program September. October Thursday, Sept. 8

7:30pm Mass @ St John the Evangelist - Riverstone;

Friday, Sept. 9

7:30pm Mass @ St Matthews Windsor.

Saturday Sept. 10

4:45 pm 6:15pm 7:00 pm 2:30pm ______ 3:00 pm till late

Sunday Sept. 11 (St Mary’s Cathedral Sydney)

Friday, Sept. 16 Saturday, Sept. 17

La Valette Social Centre to meet the community

Rosary Mass, homily Annual Celebration by the Maltese Community feast of the Nativity of Our Lady. Afterwards to Dinner. Bus organised, for bookings or information refer to contacts below.

7:30 pm Mass @ Horsley Park Church.

6.00 pm Vigil mass at OLQP Church, Greystanes

Friday, Sept. 23

6:00pm Visit Hamrun Club 7:30pm Mass @ St John The Evangelist – Riverstone

Saturday, Sept. 24

7:15pm Guest of Honour @ Annual tal-Vitorja Dinner

Sunday, Sept. 25 (Festa at Greystanes)

Classes are available for students from six years to adults at all levels of ability in the Maltese language. We have trained and experienced teachers qualified in language teaching and with Maltese study credentials.

Learn the Maltese language, the culture, lifestyle, cuisine, traditions and about the amazing history of the island.

Mass @ St Francis of Assisi Chapel, Blacktown.

(Horsley Park Festa)

(Tal-Vitoria Dinner dance)

Learn Maltese!

(Tal-Vitorja) - The Nativity of Our Lady.

2:00 pm Procession with Statue of Our Lady of Victories.

3:00pm ______ Mass @ same chrurch

Sunday, Sept 18

A Division of the Maltese Community Council of NSW Inc.

Teachers urgently needed. Paid positions

For more information and enquiries Phone 9601 2189 Or email: malteselanguageschoolnsw@hotmail.com Supported by the Minister of Education and Training and the NSW Community Languages Schools Programme.

Member of the NSW Federation of Community Language Schools of NSW; Member of the Federation of Maltese Language Schools of Australia; Supported by 16 Maltese associations affiliated with the MCC of NSW. The Maltese Language School of NSW is a Not-For-Profit organisation.

Dance, Balmoral Function Centre, Blacktown.

For any tickets refer to contacts below.

3:00pm Mass , homily at OLQP Church - Festa Greystanes

Thursday, Sept. 29 10:15am Mass Elderly who meet for respite @ La Valette SC 7:30pm Thanks-giving Mass @ St John Evangelist Riverstone Friday, Sept. 30 AM Leave for Canberra's Floriade, bookings contacts below Sunday, Oct. 2 PM Monday, Oct. 3 Arrive back from Canberra.

Enq: Ray/Josephine Bigeni: 9627 4182 or 0439 974 182, 0448 100 034; M'Anne Teuma: 9627 4641

Join us for a Day of reflection Year of Mercy at the Shrine of St Francis, Kellyville, NSW on Sunday, September 25 Phone 4332 2165 to attend. All are welcome

Festa Santa Marija Assunta Social Night Sat. September 10 at Sunshine Polish Charity Ass. St John Paul II Parish Hall,

(6 Helene Street Ardeer, Victoria) 6.30 to 11.30 pm: Entertainment by DJ “Il-Markis”

Adults: $10 BYO Food & Drinks Enquiries call: Bill Deguara: 9366 9956; Frank Mintoff:9363 5325; Doris Bonello: 9745 9934; Christine Attard 9364 5049; Joe Attard: 9361 1196; Frank Galea: 9314 4231.

Computer class by MCC NSW

To book your tickets for Saturday and Sunday, please ring: Victor: 0412 991 325, Mary: 9370 5164, Joe: 9311 8968 or Reno: 0412 990 664

The Maltese Community Council of NSW is conducting a computer class at Maltese Resource Centre 59b Franklin Street, Mays Hill 2145 NSW every Friday between 10.00 am12.00 For more information contact Em. Camilleri: 0409 744 376

The Voice of the Maltese 23

Tuesday August 30, 2016

Community News Tune In to Radio and Television

Maltese Radio Programmes MELBOURNE, on 3ZZZ 92.3FM or on www.3zzz.com.au. Mondays 5pm, Fridays 5pm, Saturdays 10am.; Last Wednesday each month at 1pm.

MELBOURNE on 98.9 North West FM, each Friday 6.00 - 7.00p.m. Presenter Emmanuel Brincat.

MELBOURNE: STEREO 974 (93180930): 97.4FM Wed (Maltese Magazine) & Thursday (Mer˙ba): 6.00pm to 8.00 pm Co-ordinator – Ray Anastasi In SYDNEY, listen to the MCC radio programmes on 2GLF FM 89.3. every Thursday 2p.m. to 4p.m. Martese Caruana presents Golden Mix. Available on demand. Follow same procedure as for MCC programmes, except select programe in reference.

In BRISBANE listen to the Maltese Programme on 4EB on Tuesdays 6.00 8.15am; Sundays 4.15pm to 5.15pm UNCLE SAM DJ (Maltese Radio) tune in to link: www.unclesamdj.com Listen to John Borg & Ronnie Borg every Saturday at 1.00 p.m. on RADIO 2RRR 88.5FM or on the Internet www2rrr.org.au ON DeMAND

The SBS MALTESE NEWS

Isma’ l-programm tar-radju bilMalti mill-Kunsill Malti ta’ NSW minn fuq l-istazzjon 2GLF 89.3FM. Jista’ wkoll jinstema’ On Demand minn fuq l-Internet www.893fm.com.au (On Demand >Ethnic >Maltese Council 11am) Il-programm tal-Óadd 11.00 am: l-a˙˙ar a˙barijiet minn Malta, muΩika, tag˙rif, kultura, avviΩi u su©©etti ta’ interess.

On SBS Radio Day Time Analogue and Digital Friday: 12:00-13:00 97.7fm SBS Radio 2 Saturday: 14:00-15:00: 97.7fm SBS Radio 2 To tune into digital radio you need a receiver or device with a DAB+ chip. Tuning in is by station name not frequency. Digital radio can also be heard via digital TV. SBS Radio 2 is on Channel 38.

The radio programmes can be accessed online (live or catch up) at sbs.com.au/maltese and via mobile phone, using the SBS Radio app. For television news from Malta - SBS 2 TV on Thursdays and Sundays at 8am.

VIVA MALTA on COAST FM 96.3 Community Radio in Gosford Central NSW. Aired on Thursdays every fortnight from 6 pm -7 pm.

Presenter: Nathalie Gatt.

Web streaming on: www.coastfm.org.au.

Maltese Down Under TV Screens on Melbourne’s C31 (channel 44) Sunday @4pm; repeat Tuesday @3 pm.

Live as well on demand.

Go to: www.c31.org.au/series/1313 -- www.facebook.com/MalteseDownUnder

L-A˙barijiet on SBS TV twice a week nationwide Sunday at 8.00 am on SBS2 (Chan. 32); Thursdays at 8.00 am on SBS2

Day Care Maltese Groups meetings in NSW

Fairfield Active Maltese Seniors Meets on the first Tuesday of the Month.

Group meets in Parish Hall, cnr of Stella Street & The Boulevard, Fairfield Heights.

Maltese Seniors Central Coast

Have to contact our Welfare Officer for an appointment. For all information and referral matters call Censina Cefai: 02 439 000 12 or 0414 267 652

Daceyville Maltese Seniors

Meets on the last Wednesday of the month in the Meeting Room One, No. 3 General Bridges Crescent, Daceyville.

Note: The Groups also arrange regular Bus Trips Join us and make new friends.

Merrylands Social Maltese Seniors Meets every second Friday of the month; Miller Room, Memorial Avenue Merrylands from 10.30am to 12.30 am

Llandilo Maltese Seniors Meets on the first Wednesday of each month at the Llandilo Community Hall, Seventh Avenue, from 11am to 1 pm.

Maltese of Bankstown

Group meet 3rd Wednesday of the month at New BCRG offices 15 Kitchner Parade, Bankstown NSW (opposite RSL Club).

Every other 3rd Thursday they have an outing. For enquiries call Sam 9534 2357

L-a˙barijiet tal-PBS (Malta) kemm bil-Malti u wkoll bl-IngliΩ G˙alkemm il-PBS ta’ Malta tforni lillSBS fl-Awstralja bis-servizz tag˙ha, ilqarrejja m˙e©©a wkoll biex x’˙in iridu jid˙lu fil-website:www.tvm.com.mt u jsegwu l-a˙barijiet ta’ Malta, bil-Malti u bl-IngliΩ.

Il-website hi a©©ornata l-˙in kollu bil©rajjiet li jkunu qed ise˙˙u dak il-˙in.

Our Lady of Victories Parish Family Dinner Dance Date: Saturday September 3 at 7.00 pm Venue: Mandavilla Event Centre (1788 The Horsley Drive, Horsley Park)

Cost: Adults: $65.00, Children aged 3-10 years: $30.00 All-inclusive three-course meal, antipasto platters, pastizzi, wine, beer, soft drinks, tea / coffee Entertainment provided by: Charlie Muscat & Joe Xuereb Dress: Semi-Formal BOOKINGS CONTACT: Parish office on 9620 1242; Mary Bartolo on 0432 886 946

UΩa md-dizzjunarju Malti *Jekk trid tiççekja l-kitba, it-tifsir talkliem Malti u t-traduzzjoni g˙all-IngliΩ issa tista’ tid˙ol fuq id-dizzjunarju tal-Maltin online.

Is-sit: www.maltesedictionary.org.mt

Greystanes Maltese Seniors Meets on the second Monday of each month at the George Preca Centre of OLQP Church, 198 Old Prospect Road, Greystanes from 10 am to 12 noon

The Sutherland & St George Maltese Group Meets every First Wednesday of the Month from 10:00am-1:00pm. Meetings/Get Togethers are interesting, informative & entertaining, so come Join us and make new Friends For more information contact our Coordinator: Charles Mifsud J.P.Phone (02) 9501 5525 – mobile 0421 662 298.

*(All Groups are co-ordinated by The Maltese Community Council of NSW) with a 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 (corner with Young St) Parramatta West NSW (next to West Parramatta Primary School).

24 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday August 30, 2016

Sports Lisa and Jason celebrate their achievement at the end of the final race at the Rio 2016 Olympics (left); and show off their silver medals

A

Lisa and cousin Jason just miss the gold by the skin of their teeth

ustralia is a sporting mad nation that excels in almost every sports discipline. Therefore whenever its athletes compete in international competitions they are always expected to do well particularly in the Olympic Games. This time at the Rio 2016 games must have been an exception. Overall, their performance was considered as a disappointment.

However, one needs remember that the whole population of the continent of Australia is ‘only’ 23 million people, much smaller than most participating nations. Therefore to bring home 29 medals, eight of them gold is quite an achievement. Indeed they did much better than most, including The Netherlands, Hungary, Brazil, Spain, Canada, Croatia, Greece, etc.

Maltese-Australians were particularly happy to learn that an athlete of Maltese descent has done remarkably well. Lisa Darmanin and her cousin Jason Waterhouse managed to win a silver medal for Australia in the Nacra 17 mixed multi-hull class category that made its debut in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

At the Marina da Gloria, the pair who grew up in Sydney’s Northern Beaches finished second, just one point behind eventual gold medallists, Santiago Lange and Cecilia Carranza Saroli of Argentina.

Before the medals race, Lisa and Jason who had a tough time in the preliminaries, where they could only finish once in the top three in the first 12 races - first in race 10.

Earlier they had some bad placings, such as 11th, in the first race just before the last issue of The Voice, 12th and even 17th in race 12. Yet they till managed to enter the medals’ race in the final day’s race, the one that really mattered, in fourth position, only one point behind the eventual winners. But on the day they were at their best and only missed the gold by the skin of their teeth.

So, the girl who almost drowned five years ago during a training incident when her boat overturned, with Waterhouse having to jump into the water to untangle her from the mast, has lived to experience the pair’s greatest triumph.

Óamrun beat Hibs on return to Malta kicks off World Cup Green Gully finish 5th reen Gully SC wrapped up their seaPremier; Valletta defeat Sliema qualifiers by hosting Scotland Gson in the PS4 NPL Vic champi-

T

he 2016/17 Premier League football season in Malta kicked off with a surprise result as newlypromoted Óamrun Spartans defeated Hibernians 31, while defending Champions Valletta successfully started the campaign by narrowly defeating Sliema Wanderers 2-1.

Since the start, each team has played two matches, with Birkirkara proving he most prolific scorers, winning 4-0 on both occasions, against St Andrews and Tarxien. Valletta also won both outings, (both narrow wins), the second one 1-0 against Mosta.

The only other teams to win both ties are Balzan, with victories over Mosta (3-2) and Pembroke (21), and Floriana (v Pembroke 2-1 and St Andrews 3-1).

Hibernians returned to winning ways with a 1-0 success over Sliema who lost both their games, while Hamrun draw the second game against other promoted side Gzira (1-1). For Gzira it was their second drawn game with identical scores after the 1-1 against Tarxien.

alta’s national football team starts its adventure in the World Cup qualifiers on M September 4 by hosting Scotland from Group

F. The group also includes England, Slovakia, Slovenia and Lithuania.

The Scotland tie is a tough test for Malta and appeals are being made for enthusiasts to turn up to give their whole-hearted support to the side.

The Scots have around 6,000 travelling fans and are expected to occupy a third of the National Stadium.

Four days before this game, as part of its preparation Malta has travelled to Pärnu, Estonia to face Estonia in a friendly international this Wednesday, at the Pärnu Rannastaadion.

The next WC qualifier after the Sctland game would be against England at Wembley on October 8.

A friendly has also been set against Iceland on to be played on November 15 at Ta’ Qali.

onship in fifth place on 44 points, after losing their final game, 4-2 away to thirdplaced South Melbourne who finished nine points ahead of them. A fifth-place finish is most satisfying and the campaign can be said to have been a successful one. * As for Sunshine George Cross in the PS4 NPL2, with one match still to go, they will finish in penultimate place after a1-0 away loss to St Albans Saints, and a 0-1 reversal at home to Werribee.

Blacktown in NPL NSW final

B

lacktown City defeated Sydney U 58 3-2 to book a place in the PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s Grand Final, so after their unexpected loss, next weekend Sydney U. now need to defeat Bonnyrigg 5-0 victors over Manly Utd to confirm their place in the September 11 decider after the weekend’s games