The Voice of the Maltese No. 152 by The Voice of the Maltese

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

Issue 152

Fortnightly ora Fortnightly magazine magazine for for the the Diasp Diaspora

April 11, 2017

Malta celebrates Freedom Day 2017

Malta marked the 38th anniversary of Freedom Day, the closure of the British military base in Malta on March 31, 1979 with a ceremony on and around the Freedom Day Monument at Vittoriosa. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is seen lighting the flame to kick-start the activities on the eve of the actual day. He also delivered a commemorative speech (see also page 2) Photo: Joe Camenzuli

2 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday April 11, 2017

Malta tfakkar t-38 sena ta’ Jum il-Óelsien

Il-President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca flimkien ma’ Joseph Muscat (xellug) u Simon Busuttil jag˙tu ©ie˙ lil Malta Óielsa rppreΩentata mill-monumnet fil-Birgu

il-31 ta’ Marzu li g˙adda Malta ççelebrat it-38 sena mindu fl1979 temmet kull rabta militari mal-kolonja IngliΩa u ˙adet f’idejha g˙al kollox ir-riedni biex tibda tmexxi hi d-destin tag˙ha u tippjana l-˙elsien soçjali tal-©ens Malti. Kienet dik il-˙olma tal-mexxej ta’ dak iΩ-Ωmien, il-Perit Duminku Mintoff li Malta llum qed tgawdi statura ta’ nazzjon li j©ib l-g˙ira ta’ stati ferm akbar minna. B˙al ma sar tul dawn it-38 sena, l-

Mag˙quda g˙al Jum il-Óelsien akbar çelebrazzjonijiet saru fil-Birgu, fuq u madwar il-Monument ta’ Jum Il-Óelsien. Lejlet il-festa l-qofol intla˙aq meta l-Prim Ministru Joseph Muscat xeg˙el il-fjamma fuq il-mument, filwaqt li flimkien ma’ ministri, imsie˙ba tas-sezzjonijiet diversi fi ˙dan il-Partit Laburiata u rappreΩentanti ta’ g˙aqdiet kostitwiti po©©ew f’juri

Il-President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca tpo©©i l-fjuri fuq il-monument ta’ Jum il-Óelsien

b’rispett lejn il-kisbiet miksuba fuq ilmonument. Joseph Muscat ukoll indirizza lillfolla li attendiet g˙aç-çerimonja fejn semma g˙add ta’ kisbiet ta’ Malta tul l-a˙˙ar 38 sena. Fost kollox semma li r-riΩultati tal-lum huma l-frott taddeçiΩjonijiet li Malta setg˙et tie˙u g˙ax kellha ç-çans te˙odhom hi. Fi tmiem id-diskors tieg˙u silet parti minn kitba ta’ Mintoff f’artiklu fuq ilgazzetta The Daily Chronicle fl-1938 fi Ωmien meta ˙add ma kien jimma©ina li Malta setg˙et tkun indipendenti u ˙ielsa. Mintoff kien kiteb hekk: “Malta hija fil-bΩonn iddisprat ta’ nies b’ideat ©odda li fost de©enerazzjoni ta’ faxxiΩmu ji©bru l-elementi progressivi u liberali u jibdlu s-sistema soçjali medjevali ta’ pajjiΩi o˙ra.” Il-Prim Ministru qal li kitba b˙al din g˙andha tispirana. Fil-jum tal-31 kompliet iç-çelebrazzjoni li tmexxiet mill-President MarieLouise Coleiro Preca li fost l-attivita` spezjonat gwardja tal-unur ˙dejn ilmonment. Barra minhekk, akkumpanajta mill-Prim Ministru Joseph Muscat u l-kap tal-oppoΩizzjoni Simon Busuttil, il-President po©©iet fjuri u flimkien taw ©ie˙ lil dak li jirrappreΩenta dan il-monument. Fil-g˙axija l-festa ssoktat bir-’Regatta ta’ Jum il-Óelsien’. G˙as-17-il darba lqaddiefa ta Bormla reb˙u x-Shield minn fost seba’ distretti. Aktar dwar ir-Regatta f’pa©na 24

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Tuesday April 11, 2017

Q. My husband and I are both working full time. My his is a monthly service offered by The Voice of the Maltese husband is 67 years old and I am 62. We have just sold in which Marie Louise Muscat from the Fiducian Finanan investment property for $800,000 and wish to invest cial Services helps our readers understand the complexities these funds in superannuation as we had purchased this associated with financial planning. If you need more advice property to provide for our future retirement. Are we send an email to Marie Louise via: maltesevoice@gmail.com. able to invest $400,000 each in our superannuation fund? A. As you are both still working you are both A. You mentionentitled to make contributions into superan- ed that you are nuation. The government has propos-ed the self-funded reintroduction of a lifetime cap on non-conces- tirees. However sional contributions which will replace the now that your current non-concessional contributions cap husband has of $180,000 per annum or the “bring for- lost complete ward” rule of $540,000 now with no more sight from one contributions over the three year period. of his eyes, he Therefore, if you were to invest before July has become en1, 2017 and if you have made no other non- titled to the concessional contributions this financial blind pension year, then you are able to invest up to which is cur$540,000 as you are still under the age of 65. rently around Your husband however can only invest $669 per fort$180,000 this financial year and unable to night. This penuse the “bring forward” rule. If he contin- sion, unlike the age pension, is not means small amount of money as this may stop ues to work after July 1, 2017 he will be able tested. You will not be entitled to receive this them from contesting the Will. to make a further $100,000 non-conces- pension however, but you may qualify for a sional contribution in the next financial carer allowance. You will need to visit a Cen- Q. My only daughter is getting married and because of their work, they are in the year, while you will not be able to make fur- trelink Office and enquire about this. ther contributions for the next three years. Q. I have a Will but have not reviewed it process of purchasing a house in the counThis will allow you to invest the $800,000 for a number of years. I am single and try. This will mean that to visit each other into superannuation but not in equal amo- plan to leave most of my possessions to it will take us about four hours of car unts. You will be entitled to contribute up to charities. I have a nephew and a niece, travel. She is encouraging me to sell and $540,000 and your husband up to $280,000 children of my only brother, but they move to where she will be living. Do you think this to be a wise decision? between now and the next financial year. have not bothered visiting me for at least Q. My husband and I are self-funded re- ten years. Would they be able to contest A. I do not encourage people to follow their children as they could easily move again if tirees. He has Macular Degeneration and my Will if I left them nothing? a more attractive work opportunity prehas lost sight completely from one eye. He A. This is more a question for your solicitor has had to give up driving and has be- than for me. However if you are planning sented itself to them. You would be better off come quite dependent upon me. Are we to leave your estate to Charities you may renting a place close to where your daughter moves to, but hold on to your current home. entitled to any government assistance? consider leaving your nephew and niece a You can rent your home out while you are living away and use the rental income to pay for your rent. In this way you will always have a home to come back to if you do not settle down living in the country or if you find you are homesick for your old lifestyle. Q. I am 72 years of age and retired. My wife is still working full time and she was wondering whether she is able to make a spouse contribution of $3000 into my superannuation fund in order for her to reMarie-Louise Muscat is fluent in Maltese and English and can assist you in: ceive the tax rebate.

Q&A

* 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

A. The answer is NO. This is because you are over the age of 65 and not working and therefore you are unable to have contributions paid into your superannuation fund. If you were to work say for 40 hours over a 30day period (the required work test) and earn in total over the year under $10,800 then she will be able to make a spouse contribution into superannuation. The $10,800 would need to include all your taxable income through wages, investments and interest. This would not include any income received from account based pensions as this is not treated as taxable income. 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

4 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday April 11, 2017

oreto John York was the Loreto John York L first Maltese to be elected Mayor of an and Packers

Australian city. He was a Councillor of the Union. He is a Life City of Brunswick, Melbourne, for six years and Mayor in 1972-73 and again 1976-77. Governor of Born in Sliema, Malta, on December 14, the Brunswick 1918, his parents Salvu (Tan-Nassi) and Coburg Meilak and Loreta (Tal-Cagu) Mercieca Boys and Girls were from Gozo. His brothers and sisters Club and a were born at Ghajnsielem but by the time Life Governor Loreto was born, the family had moved to of Mount Royal Special Sliema. In 1940, Loreto volunteered in Malta for Hospital for war service with the Royal Air Force. He the Aged in saw service in Malta, Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Parkville, MelFrance and Great Britain. He was with the bourne. During the 1970s, he chaired both the RAF in Great Britain after the war and changed his name from Meilak to York. Salvation Army and the Red Cross ApHe married his London-born wife, Olive peals and in 1984-85 chaired the 150th Turner in 1947. Their son Anniversary of Victoria celebrations for BarryYork Barry was born in London the City of Brunswick. He was Chairman in 1951 and the family of the Brunswick District Boy Scouts for 16 migrated to Melbourne years and a Justice of the Peace for Victoria for 20 years. in 1954. Among his achievements in local governLoreto, or Larry as he inger Dame Vera Lynn known as the ment was the introduction of family planbecame known, worked “Forces' Sweetheart,” turned 100 on ning services for the predominantly in factories in the cosMarch 20. She is a very good person. metic industry and was migrant working class population of When my dad, Loreto, was dying in a nursing active in the Storemen Brunswick. home in 2009, I wrote to her and asked for an autographed photo for him. My dad had served in WW2 with the Royal Air Force. He joined up in his homeland, Malta, in 1940. n a speech in Parliament recently (also reported in local newspaper Stationed in London after the War, he was Express Advocate, reproduced below) Campbelltown state Labor MP in a group of RAF men who volunteered to go to Decca Studios at Broadhurst Gardens to Greg Warren honoured the late Campbelltown Councillor, Fred Borg, provide back-up vocals for her recording of saying that he would be remembered for his devotion to the community that he served as an 'Aufwiedersehen' and 'The Parting Song'. independent councillor for They were not professional singers, but the more than 17 year. record company said it wanted real airmen Fred, who also served as who would provide an authentic 'pub' or 'can- deputy mayor died at teen' sound. Campbelltown Hospital in My dad used to laugh at the fact that the December from heart and songs were worldwide hits but the RAF men kidney issues. who provided the backing vocals were only “Fred will be most fondly remembered for his selfless charity work for paid with a cup of tea, two biscuits and one 24 Hour Fight Against Cancer Macarthur,” Mr Warren said. “Over the pound each. past 10 years, as chairperson of the charity, Fred was instrumental in Sadly, the autographed photo arrived too helping to raise more than $2.5 million for the Macarthur Cancer Therlate. My dad died. But what a fine woman to apy Centre, oncology ward and paediatric ambulatory care unit at Campbelltown Hospital. send it!

Happy 100th, Dame Vera Lynn!

A life dedicated to community

he more senior members of the T Fairfield community relished the chance to let their hair down at an Expo and Talent Quest recently held at the Club Marconi to celebrate NSW Seniors Festival. The expo, put on by Fairfield City

Fairfield Festi val brings the seniors out Council, showcased seniors’ programmes and services in the community. The NSW Seniors Festival, now in its 59th year, the largest festival for seniors in the southern hemisphere, reaching up to 500,000 people annually, is an opportunity for people of all ages to come together to recognise the positive impact and valuable contributions older people make to the local community. Frank Carbone, the Fairfield Mayor said the Seniors Festival was an important celebration for the city’s seniors community. “It is a

great opportunity to recognise the triumphs and wisdom of our seniors community while taking part in a number of fantastic fun events,” Mr Carbone said. The event, all about “Doing More Together”, featured a number of educational stalls, where seniors were exposed to a variety of information and services that could increase their quality of living. A Talent Quest with performances from singers, musicians, dancers and cultural groups aged 55 or over entertained the crowd with their talents. The choir of the Maltese Cultural Association under the leadership of Marisa Previtera was judged in second place from a field of six entrants and received a price consisting of $300.

Tuesday April 11, 2017

The Voice of the Maltese 5

Is-Sepulkru tad-Dumnikani fir-Rabat - qed ner©g˙u naraw parti minnu armata

i ˙a©a li min˙abba nuqqas ta’ spazju ma semmejtx meta fl-a˙˙ar ˙ar©a ktibt dwar il-jiem talÌimg˙a Mqaddsa f’Malta u l-aktar fir-Rabat hi xi ˙a©a li n˙oss li g˙andi nimbotta ’l quddiem meta flimkien mad-dinja kattolika Malta tkun qed tfakkar iljiem tal-mewt u l-qawmien ta’ Ìesu` Kristu, hu sSepulkru mill-aqwa fir-Rabat. Dan is-Sepulkru jew kif jafuh ˙afna l-Altar tar-RepoΩizzjoni fil-knisja tad-Dumnikani tar-Rabat, fih ˙afna xog˙ol biex jintrama fi knisja li g˙andha pro©etti o˙ra g˙addejjin. Imma dis-sena, g˙all-inqas parti minnu re©g˙et intramat. G˙andi x-xorti li dan is-Sepulkru rajtu kollu armat meta l-˙abib tieg˙i, il-patri d-Dumnikan Lawrenz E. Attard (illum mejjet) kien il-pirjol tal-Kunvent. Fost il-˙idma li wettaq fiΩ-Ωmien li kien pirjol kien hemm dik li mill-©did jarmaw din il-©awhra li g˙andhom dawn id-Dumnikani. Niftakar qisu l-biera˙ lil Patri Martin Caruana mimli fer˙ kbir, ma riedx i˙alli l-knisja nhar Óamis ix-Xirka billejl, min˙abba li ried jibqa’ jammira l-majjistrija ta’ dan isSepulkru fil-knsja tag˙hom. G˙alija dan is-Sepulkru ji©i wara dak tal-Katidral tal-Imdina, u fil-fatt tnebba˙ sewwa minnu. Ir-ra©uni g˙ala mhux dejjem jintrama kienet, u sa çertu punt ukoll g˙ada, li l-patrijiet jg˙idu li jtellef mill-ispazju tal-knisja. Ng˙id jien, allura illum jidher li jtellef, imma flimg˙oddi meta l-attendenza fil-knejjes tag˙na kienet ˙afna akbar mil-lum, ma kienx ittellef? T˙e©©i©t biex nikteb dan l-artiklu wara li qrajt apprezzament li kiteb dwaru l-bravu riçerkatur tad-Dumnikani Patri Mikiel Fsadni. Fil-kitba tieg˙u dwar dan is-su©©ett, Patri Fsadni jistqarr li s-Sepulkru tad-Dumnikani tar-Rabat jidher f’dokument tas-seklu sittax. Jg˙id ukoll li fl-1745 g˙amlu g˙alih ‘kapsula’ indurata biex fiha jinΩamm is-Santissimu Sagrament. Din l-inika ˙a©a li kienet baqghet tintrama. Wara li fis-seklu tmintax in˙adem is-Sepulkru artistiku u tassew sabi˙ fil-Katidral tal-Imdina, id-Dumnikani t˙ajjru jΩejnu aktar is-Sepulkru tag˙hom. G˙alhekk, filbidu tas-seklu dsatax, qabbdu lill-mastrudaxxa Vinçenz Stozzini biex ja˙dmilhom Sepulkru u din kienet biçça xog˙ol kbira. Meta tlesta, is-Sepulkru beda jintrama filKappella tal-Kurçifiss. Min˙abba li fil-Kappella tal-Kurçifiss is-Sepulkru kien xi ftit ta’ tfixkil biex wie˙ed jg˙addi g˙as-sagristija u l-kunvent, il-patrijiet ˙asbu li jkun jaqbel li minflok, isSepulkru jintrama f’wa˙da mill-kappelli f’©enb il-korsija tal-knisja. Kien g˙alhekk li fl-1903 beda jintrama fil-Kappella ta’

PeterPaulCiantar San Duminku fejn g˙adhom jiftakruh ˙afna Rabtin, laktar dawk tan-na˙a ta’ San Duminku. Hawn ukoll is-Sepulkru g˙adda minn tibdil ie˙or g˙ax ilpatrijiet qabbdu lill-mastrudaxxa Salvu Galea ˙alli jaddatta l-prospettiva u l-bqija tas-Sepulkru g˙all-post fil-kappella l-©dida, ji©ifieri f’dik ta’ San Duminku. IsSepulkru kompla g˙addej minn tisbi˙ matul is-snin, b’nies u artisti mill-aqwa f’Malta juru dejjem it-talenti tag˙hom f’din il-©awhra. Dan is-Sepulkru, li qed nikteb dwaru u li issa donnu li skopritu wkoll il-midja Maltija, dam jintrama sa madwar l1967. Fis- snin ta’ wara re©a’ ntrama darbtejn jew tliet darbiet o˙ra, l-a˙˙ar darba fl-1982, 35 sena ilu. Din is-sena r©ajna qed naraw parti importanti minnu li re©g˙et intramat. Wie˙ed jittama li ‘l quddiem forsi jer©a’ jibda jintrama s-Sepulkru s˙i˙ u biex wie˙ed ikun jista’ jammira x-xog˙ol artistiku li fih.

Is-Sepulkru kif kien ikun armat kollu sal-1967 Il-parti tas-Sepulkru li kienet qed tintrama sakemm ©ejna biex nippublikaw

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Tuesday April 11, 2017

Katherine, Sarah talk about their Maltese heritage “a fantastic example of Australian-born Maltese”

atherine Galea, owner of JR’s hair design, a salon in Windsor Street, Richmond NSW, and her employee Sarah Micallef are two Australians of Maltese descent. Described as “a fantastic example of Australians of Maltese descent who are born in Australia”, they were both featured in an interview by Roz Chia, a Chinese Australian, on diversehawkesbury.net as part of ‘The Diverse Hawkesbury project’, which is about using a positive, interactive and constructive narrative to break down the structures that support prejudice and discrimination. Roz Chia visited Katherine’s salon for the interview. She said that walking into JR's Hair Design, one sees meticulously displayed hair products lining the shelves and the walls reverberate with chatter and laughter. At the centre of it was proprietor Katherine Galea, whose father migrated to Australia at age of around eighteen, to join his brothers who had already settled in the area. For a time he lived in Londonderry before returning to Malta to marrying Katherine's mother. Together they returned and began a family. His first job was as a market gardener. Katherine told Roz Chia, “For us kids, that wasn’t the best fun, spending our weekends picking veggies! It was hard work”. The family was raised as a little bit of both Maltese and Australian. The family visited Malta when Katherine was about four and she returned to Australia speaking a little bit of Maltese.

“You'll find that most Maltese have raised their kids on farms. They grow up knowing what hard work is. We were never handed anything on a silver platter. It makes you appreciate things. It's satisfying to see

tese food like pastizzi, ravioli, baked macaroni, treacle ring biscuits, almond biscuits, a lot of pasta, tomato sauce, and use a lot of olive oil. A really popular dish with the fam-

Katherine Galea (Right) and her friend and employee, Sarah Micallef at JR’s Hair design salon (photo: Brian Decelis) something good come out of it because you know how damn hard you've worked for it, Katherine said. Katherine lives in Hawkesbury where there’s a large Maltese presence community. She started her career as an apprentice at JR's when she was still only 15-year-old. Then she bought the business and has been running it for 15 years. When it comes to her direct family, she said she wants her kids to learn the Maltese language. She added that her husband Luke’s mum was a Maltese language teacher so between her and her mum’s accent she feels it’s a strong influence. Her son Mason already sings songs in Maltese, “and we eat Maltese food,” she said. She mentioned some popular Mal-

ily is rabbit. Katherine explained that her Mum does it with bay leaves and nutmeg, while her mother-in-law does it with a salsalike tomato base. Her employee and friend, Sarah butted in saying she too loved rabbit and that her mum in turn makes it into a stew, with salsa, potatoes and veggies. “It's like beef stew but with rabbit, with red sauce, peas, carrots, and spaghetti. The meat is tender and falls off the bone,” she said. Maltese food seemed to be popular conversation, with Katherine saying that whenever they make something in her family, there’s always bread - the right kind of bread with firm crust on it - to dip into it. *Continued on page 7

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Tuesday April 11, 2017

50th anniversary special celebration special high mass of thanksgiving was celebrated at St Bernadette’s Parish in A North Sunshine Victoria on the 50th Anniver-

Fathers Tarcisio Micallef (left) and Denis Carabott at the cake-cutting

sary of the priesthood, of Fr.Denis Carabott and Fr. Tarcisio Micallef, both from the Missionary Society of St Paul (MSSP), formed in 1910 by a Maltese nobleman Mons Joseph De Piro. They first arrived in Australia in 1948. The Church was packed with parishioners, friends and family members. Fr. Ivano Burdian Provincial of the MSSP in Australia, started proceedings by making everybody welcome. The main celebrant was Fr. Denis, while Fr Tarcisio assisted by the Superior General of the MSSP Fr. Mark Grima, in the presence of His Lordship Bishop Mark Edwards, who is the Bishop of the Western Region of Melbourne and another 12 Maltese and local priests assisted. The Choir of St. Bernadette Parish also took part. After the Holy Mass a banquet was held at Pioneers Hall. It also incuded the 50th Anniversary Cake and for Fr. Denis and Fr. Tarcisio to make the first cut.

Report/photo: EmmanuelBrincat

“Maltese are all about family and we have a short fuse” *from page 6 It prompted Sarah to say that in her family her grandfather had to have a fresh loaf of bread every day, because back in Malta, that's just how it's done. She explained to the interviewer that in Malta “they have a bread van that drives around and delivers it to your house. It's so fresh when you get it that it's still hot in the middle when you cut it open. When you come back from Malta, you're ten times bigger.” “We also have Kinnie. It's a Maltese drink,” Katherine quipped. Sarah pointed out that in Malta there are different villages on each island, and each village has a “nickname”. “You can ask anyone if they know a family and they’ll tell you where to find them be-

Did you know that.... *Female vote: Australia was the second country in the world to give women the vote. (Behind, New Zealand. *In 1892, a group of 200 Australians unhappy with the government tried to start an offshoot colony in Paraguay to be called ‘New Australia’.

cause of the way the nicknames work. The houses are made of limestone. In fact, there's a Maltese cafe in Schofields called Limestone.” Katherine described the Maltese people … as pretty family orientated, and then light-heartedly added, “We are all about family and we have a short fuse.” Listening to all this, Roz Chia understood that Maltese people seem to have hard work and determina-

tion in common, and in fact, Katherine confirmed it, saying that if you asked the majority of the Maltese community, you would find that most of them have their own house by the time they're 21. “I didn't buy a house. I bought a business and did it all upside down,” a decision that Roz Chia said set her up so that she could buy a house anyway. Katherine confirmed. “That’s exactly right!” she said.

8 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday April 11, 2017

Have your say/Xi trid tghid? Your letters/ L-ittri tag˙kom ...

Magazin li jil˙aq lin-nies C. Muscat minn Bowen Hills, Queensland, jikteb

The Voice of the Maltese ffo orrttn niig gh httllyy m ma ag ga azziin ne e

is is a bi-lingual (in English and Maltese) fortnightly magazine that specifically targets all Maltese living abroad with emphasis on the Australian and Maltese scenes. e magazine can also be read in flipbook format online. A pdf copy is also sent via email on request. If you require a printed copy we can also oblige. Editors: Malta: Joseph Cutajar Australia: Lawrence Dimech: MOM, OAM, JP email address: maltesevoice@gmail.com Letters for publication in The Voice magazine, either in Maltese or English should include name and e-mail address of the writer and be e-mailed to: maltesevoice@gmail.com.

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˙alkemmm tul is-snin kollha li kienet ti©i ppubblikata l-Maltese Herald kien fiha g˙add ta’ nuqqasijiet, jien kont wie˙ed mill-˙afna qarrejja leali tag˙ha. Kienet istituzzjoni Maltija u niftakarha tag˙mel ˙afna ©id u tkun strumentali biex ilkomunita` Maltija fl-Awstralja kisbet g˙add ta’ drittijiet ming˙and il-gvernijiet Maltin. Niftakar ukoll li kienu ˙afna dawk li kienu ppruvaw ikissruha u jçekknu l-importanza tag˙ha g˙all-komunita` kemm b’kitbiethom u wkoll bi kliemhom. Madankollu, u minkejja l-maltemp il-gazzetta baqg˙et issalpa u wie˙ed ma jistax ma japprezzax is-sagrifiççi

Tal-Voice b’tag˙rif li j©ieg˙lek taqrah Mario Griscti, Ta’ Xbiex, Malta jikteb

razzi ˙afna ta’ The Voice of the MalG tese, Nru.151. It-tag˙rif li j©ieg˙lek taqrah b’attenzjoni u stima ma jonqosx. B˙all-mini g˙all-ener©ija elettrika, li hu pro©ett tal-Gvern Awstraljan u l-lejla sielma tal-volontarjat. Dawn huma rapporti li jikkuntrastaw mad-dwejjaq fl-a˙barijiet talgwerer u l-kunflitti dinjin li madankollu bilfors iridu ji©u rrappurtati, mal-a˙barijiet sbie˙. G˙alkemm l-a˙barijiet ta’ Malta inkun kollha segwejthom mill-©urnali Maltin, madankollu l-mod kif tintroduçuhom intom, f’The Voice, i©ieg˙luni ner©a’ naqrahom. Ilhot topic tal-Panama f’Malta, g˙alkemm g˙adha ta˙raq imma birded xi ftit. Minflok jidher li ˙aditu l-kwestjoni tat-tag˙lim talIslam fl-iskejjel ta’ l-istat. Donnu li Malta ma tg˙addix bla kontroversja!!! Grazzi mill-©did ˙bieb.

li m’g˙andniex xi ng˙idu ffaççjaw dawk li kienu jipproduçuha. Tassew kienet ˙asra li wara 50 sena l-Herald ma baqg˙etx. Imma jien ng˙id li issa lBambin bag˙tilna l-magazine, The Voice of the Maltese, pubblikazzjoni ta’ livell ferm aktar g˙oli f’dik li hi kitba, disinn u kontenut. Óasra li g˙al g˙add ta’ ra©unijiet, il-Herald ma mxietx maΩ-Ωmienijiet u min- g˙ajr ma nlum li min kien imexxiha, ma nistax ma nghidx li ma la˙˙qitx mal-era moderna talkomunikazzjoni. Li g˙andu tajjeb The Voice hu li qed jil˙aq kull aspettattiva, u ming˙ajr ma jid˙ol f’kontroversji qed jirrispetta l-qarrejja. Jidher çar li l-g˙an hu li jΩomm lilna l-Maltin mag˙qudin u li anke ji©bed lejh iΩ-Ωg˙aΩagh li daΩ-Ωmien mo˙˙hom fil-midja soçjali. Tir ie˙or li n˙oss li qed jintla˙aq hu li b’mod intelli©enti juri lilna l-Maltin u lillbarranin li jinteressahom f’Malta, kemm g˙andna nkunu kburin bil-mexxejja tag˙ha li rnexxielhom jiksbu l-akbar rispett millgvernijiet mexxejja tad-dinja, u anzi minkejja ç-çokon ta’ pajjiΩna qed mhux biss i˙okku spalla ma’ spalla mag˙hom imma wkoll jag˙tu kas tal-fehma tag˙hom biex jaslu g˙ad-deçiΩjoniet li jeffetwaw lill-popli, kemm Ewropej u ©ieli anke tad-dinja. Kif jista’ li f’dawn iΩ-Ωmienijiet ma tkunx kburi li int Malti, u kif tista’ ma tapprezzax lil The Voice li j©ibna nse` tal-istatura li Malta u l-mexxejja tag˙ha saru jgawdu?

Sympathising with the victims of the Queensland Floods Sandra Borg from St Albans, Victoria writes:

lease allow me through the magazine to P express my sympathy with those in Queensland who for the umpteenth time suf-

fered physically and psychologically as a result of the devastation caused by the recent floods. Among them are friends of mine that I have known for many years, and who though not Maltese, but Australian, regularly read The Voice of the Maltese that I forward to them. They were unable to read the last issue of the magazine. It was the least thing they could do, as they did not have electricity power or Internet. This is not the first time that some of them have been on the receiving end of similar setbacks, but they are strong and have always managed to survive and start anew. I really hope that even this time round they manage to find the heart to recover and hopefully get all the support they need to get back on their feet. I hope that readers join me in praying for them.

Tuesday April 11, 2017

The Voice of the Maltese 9

Opinion:

SBS needs strong commitment from Government – not more ads

MichelleRowland MP (Shadow Minister for Communications, Federal Member for Greenway)

ecently, the Federal Government quietly resurrected its plan to increase the amount of advertising on the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS). Malcolm Turnbull wants SBS to double the amount of advertising it runs in prime time, up from five to 10 minutes per hour, within the daily limit of 120 minutes each day. He also wants them to be able to pursue product placement in all its programmes. He tried this before in 2015 when he was Communications Minister, but thanks to opposition from Labor it never happened. The SBS continues to play a vital role in the Australian media landscape. It provides an outlet for multicultural programming, news and content that showcases Australia’s ethnic diversity. As such, SBS has a positive reputation amongst the public. It deserves the respect and support of the Government to continue its path of innovation and comprehensive broadcasting to fulfil its crucial role in Australian society. Malcolm Turnbull’s move to increase advertising limits on the SBS all comes down to covering up his Government’s broken promise before the 2013 election. The night before that election, Tony Abbott categorically promised there would be no cuts to the SBS. But at the earliest opportunity he cut SBS funding by $53.7 million over five years in the 2014-15 Budget, of which $25.2 million were direct cuts. Soon there will be a significant shortfall in the SBS finances unless there is new funding allocated. The Turnbull Government’s second attempt to increase the hourly advertising limit on SBS is just covering up the cuts it made in breach of an election promise. SBS viewers should not have to watch more ads during their favourite shows. We must be careful not to turn SBS into just another commercial broadcaster. The risk is that increasing the amount of advertising in prime time viewing hours may encourage SBS to prioritise commercial revenue at the expense of its Charter obligations and unique role as our nation’s ethnic broadcaster. SBS has previously said that if it cannot raise more money from advertising this may impact on its programmes and services.

But according to the latest SBS Annual Report, the organisation is performing well with increasing audiences and interest across its TV channels, radio stations and websites despite the best efforts to harm it by slashing its funding. This proves that SBS deserves to be properly funded, and not threatened with further Budget cuts, so it can continue this great work. As its Chair and Managing Director, Michael Ebeid, said in their latest Annual Report: “It is becoming even clearer than it was 41 years ago when SBS was established, that the SBS purpose brings to Australian audiences a meaningful point of difference.” That’s why Labor opposed the Government’s attempt to undermine the unique purpose and nature of the SBS. Editorial note: The Voice of the Maltese welcomes any other Australian Parliamentarian, be they State or Federal who wish to express their views on important topics.

10 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday April 11, 2017

Perspettiva Il-ksur tal-li©i ©ustifikabbli? A version of this series in English may be found in the author's blog at: https://ivancauchi. blogspot.com

tit ©img˙at ilu tfaççat fuq ix-xena nazzjonali Awstraljana segretarja ©dida tal-g˙aqda ta' unjins Australian Council of Trade Unions, Sally McManus (stampa lemin), li jidher li be˙siebha tag˙ti nifs ©did lill-kawΩa tar-relazzjonijiet industrijali fl-Awstralja. Madankollu, kienet stqarrija tag˙ha waqt intervista fuq programm ewlieni ©urnalistiku, 7.30 Report fuq l-ABC, li tefg˙et lil dan il-persuna©© ta' interess fuq quddiem nett fix-xena politika u soçjali tal-pajjiΩ. McManus stqarret li temmen li g˙andna nimxu mal-li©i fejn din hija ekwa u ©usta, imma fejn din hija in©usta ma tara l-ebda problema li l-li©i tinkiser.1 L-isfond ta' din l-istqarrija huma l-g˙exieren ta' kaΩijiet fejn lunjin CFMEU (Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union) ttella' l-qorti akkuΩat li ˙a azzjoni industrijali meqjusa kontra l-li©i. L-istqarrija ©abet reazzjoni immedjata u negattiva minn diversi persuna©©i prominenti, speçjalment ministri tal-gvern b˙al Christopher Pyne, ministru g˙all-industrija tad-difiΩa, li ddeskriva din listqarrija b˙ala “˙merija anarkista Marxist”' u Eric Abetz (senatur Liberali u eks ministru), li qal li wara li parlament demokratiku jg˙addi l-li©ijiet, dawn “iridu ji©u obduti minn kul˙add - ming˙ajr kwalifiçi jew eççezzjonijiet”.2 Ming˙ajr kwalifiçi jew eççezzjonijiet? Sekonda wa˙da. Jien nammetti li meta kont smajt l-istqarrija ta' McManus fuq 7.30 Report, in˙sadt ftit, g˙ax wie˙ed mill-prinçipji f'˙ajti li ppruvajt insegwi kien li nag˙mel dak li hu suppost li jsir, noqg˙od fil-kju b˙al ˙addie˙or, nobdi r-regolamenti tat-traffiku, na©ixxi ta' çittadin tajjeb eçç. G˙alhekk, l-ewwel reazzjoni tieg˙i g˙al dak li smajt kienet ukoll negattiva. Imma imbag˙ad qg˙adt na˙seb ftit, kieku Ìesù x'kien jag˙mel? Jew a˙jar, f'˙ajtu x'g˙amel? Nafu kif ittratta r-regola, jew dakinhar il-li©i fi Ωmien il-Lhud, li ma jsirx xog˙ol fil-©urnata mqaddsa (is-Sibt), li©i li varjazzjonijiet tag˙ha ©ew inkorporati fil-li©ijiet ta' ˙afna pajjiΩi u g˙adhom fisse˙˙ sal-lum. Ma widdibx lill-appostli li kienu bil-©u˙ u qatg˙u lqam˙ meta kienu bil-©u˙ fis-Sibt,3 u ma qag˙adx lura milli jfejjaq lil mara m˙attba nhar ta' Sibt4. Dak kien ksur tal-li©i Lhudija, li Ìesù ˙ass li kellha titwarrab fiç-çirkostanzi. Forsi fl-g˙ajnejn tal-lum, iktar importanti dak li g˙amel fit-tempju, meta ˙assu rrabjat g˙all-kummerçjalizzazzjoni li ra quddiemu. Nafu li g˙amel frosta minn kordi u wΩah biex ikeççi lill-bejjieg˙a,5 att ta' çerta vjolenza. Kieku g˙ex illum kien probabbilment ji©i mixli b'theddid u ta˙bit (assault), li ddisturba l-paçi pubblika u li g˙amel dan kollu bi premeditazzjoni. Ma rridux ninsew ukoll it-twe©iba xotta imma mimlija sinjifikat fuq l-obbligu çivili tat-taxxa, fejn qal li g˙andna “nag˙tu lil Çesri dak li hu ta' Çesri, u lil Alla dak li hu ta' Alla”.6 Din l-eΩortazzjoni naraha li tg˙id lis-segwaçi ta' Ìesu biex jobdu l-li©ijiet tal-pajjiΩ, sakemm huwa moralment aççettabbli. Fi Ωminijiet eqreb lil tal-lum, tajjeb li niftakru f'avvanzi soçjali u politiçi li nkisbu biss wara kampanji ta' ksur ta' li©ijiet li kienu n©usti. EΩempji huma l-vot g˙an-nisa, avvanz li se˙˙ fil-bidu tas-seklu g˙oxrin wara kampanja min-nisa msej˙a sufragettes, mill-kelma suffra©ju (li tfisser kemm id-dritt g˙all-vot kif ukoll it-talb). Inçidentalment, l-Awstralja kien l-ewwel pajjiΩ li lle©isla biex jippermetti dan fuq livell federali fl-1902.7 L-in©ustizzja arbitrarja tas-sitwazzjoni dakinhar, fejn in-nisa kienu mça˙˙da minn dan id-dritt, jista' jidher çar minn aneddotu millistat ta' Victoria. Hemmhekk, li©i elettorali li g˙addiet fl-1863 kienet tag˙ti d-dritt tal-vot lill-persuni kollha, riferenza g˙al dawk kollha li kellhom il-proprjeta. G˙alhekk, fl-elezzjoni lokali tal-1864 kien hemm nisa li kellhom ilproprjeta u g˙alhekk marru biex jivvutaw. Is-sena ta' wara, fl-1865,

kitba ta’

IVAN CAUCHI

din il-li©i ©iet amendata biex teskludi lin-nisa! Fl-Awstralja l-kampanja g˙all-vot tan-nisa kienet paçifika, u hekk ukoll bdiet fl-Ingilterra, imma ma damitx biex tinbidel in-natura tag˙ha wara l-frustrazzjoni ta' nuqqas ta' bidla me˙tie©a. Fil-fatt, in˙araq il-bini, saret vjolenza, strajkijiet tal-©u˙, nisa spiççaw il-˙abs eçç sakemm id-dritt tal-vot ing˙ata fl-1918.8 Nirrikonoxxi li hemm dibattitu jekk il-metodi mhux paçifiçi li ntuΩaw fir-Renju Unit g˙enux biex dan id-dritt ing˙ata, madankollu kien Ωgurat li l-kwistjoni kellha profil g˙oli u ma ntesietx. EΩempju ie˙or çelebri ta' bidla li ma ©ietx ming˙ajr ksur tal-li©i kienet il-©lieda mmexxija minn Gandhi g˙all-indipendenza tal-Indja mir-Renju Unit. Gandhi ddeçieda li jibda l-kampanja tal-indipendenza ta' pajjiΩu bi ksur ta' li©i IngliΩa li kienet tipprojbixxi lill-Indjani milli jag˙mlu l-mel˙, biex jisfurzawhom jixtruh ming˙and l-IngliΩi (illum lanqas jitwemmnu li©ijiet ridikoli b˙al dawn). Fl-1930, Gandhi kien l-ewwel wie˙ed li pubblikament ©abar mel˙a, u g˙alhekk kiser il-li©i, u b˙alu g˙amlu eluf o˙ra, tant li lIngliΩi arrestaw xi 60,000 ru˙.9 G˙alkemm il-metodi ta' Gandhi, mag˙rufa b˙ala diΩubbidjenza çivili, huma mhux vjolenti, fil-fatt kienu jinkludu l-ksur ta' li©ijiet meqjusin in©usti. B˙al ma nafu, din il-kampanja wasslet g˙all-indipendenza tal-Indja fl-1947 u - min˙abba ra©unijiet settorali, reli©juΩi u politiçi o˙ra g˙all-imwiet ta' ˙afna nies, inkluΩ l-assassinju ta' Gandhi nnifsu. Jien ma nara l-ebda problema morali bi ksur tal-li©i li ti©i meqjusa in©usta, fil-prinçipju. Il-mibki Martin Luther King mill-˙abs kiteb li ‘li©ijiet morali in©usti g˙andhom ji©u opponuti attivament u paçifikament.' Naf li poΩizzjoni b˙al din hija su©©ettiva g˙all-a˙˙ar. B'danakollu, dan ma jfissirx li wie˙ed jista' jg˙id li j˙oss ru˙u ma˙lul minn kull responsabbiltà, min˙abba l-o©©ezzjoni tieg˙u g˙al xi li©i partikulari. Jekk wie˙ed se jikser xi li©i li j˙ossu moralment ©ustifikat li jag˙mel, l-azzjonijiet tieg˙u jridu jkunu wkoll konsistenti malmorali. Irid iΩomm quddiem g˙ajnejh li dawn l-azzjonijiet li jie˙u dejjem g˙andhom il-konsegwenzi tag˙hom, kemm lejh u lejn ˙addie˙or, u filwaqt li ji©©ieled g˙ad-drittijiet tieg˙u jrid ukoll jimminimizza l-˙sara lill-persuni o˙ra u l-proprjetà tag˙hom. Forsi b'xi ftit sorpriΩa kienet ir-reazzjoni kompletament negattiva tal-Partit Laburista g˙all-istqarrija ta' McManus, li biex tag˙qad imexxih Bill Shorten, eks-mexxej trejdunjonista, li stqarr li hu jemmen li l-li©ijiet ˙Ωiena iridu ji©u mibdula, mhux miksura. Veru li hu hekk idealment, imma m'hemmx kif u x'fatta? L-avvanzi li g˙amlu l-˙addiema u l-minoranzi fil-pajjiΩi ta' madwar id-dinja ©ew bil-kliem biss? Il-forzi tat-tmexxija u tal-privile©© soçjali, dawk li l-li©ijiet u r-regolamenti jsiru primarjament biex isostnu u jkattru l-©id u l-influenza tag˙hom, li wasslu biex 1% talpopolazzjoni tad-dinja akkumulat ©id daqs id-99% l-o˙ra, 10 ˙asbu fl-img˙akkes u fil-fqir mit-tjubija ta' qalbhom, mallewwel wara xi petizzjoni li ntbag˙tet bil-posta? Mela l-istorja m'g˙allmitna xejn? Referenzi 1. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-15/actu-boss-happy-for-workers-to-breakunjust-laws/8357698, retrieved 5/5/2017 2.http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/industrial-rela-tions/breaking-unjustlaws-ok-says-new-actu-secretary-sally-mcman-us/newsstory/2446063f7c3c156172eef0e90cf2fc8e, retrieved 5/5/2017 3. Matthew 12:1-8 4. Luke 13:10-16 5. John 2:12-17 6. Matthew 22:21 7. http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/austn-suffragettes, retrieved 5/5/2017 8. http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/higher/history/britsuff/suffrage/revision/1/, retrieved 5/5/2017 9. http://www.history.com/topics/salt-march, retrieved 5/5/2017 10. An Economy for the 1%; Oxfam; 18/1/2016

The Voice of the Maltese 11

Tuesday April 11, 2017

First Australian Chaplain to die at Gallipoli – Andrew Gillison and the Christian Connection

SallySmith

he convoy of nervous soldiers sailed towards ANZAC Cove. The plan was to storm the peninsula and defeat the Turks. This would help to speedily win the war. They had no idea what lay ahead. Later in the day they transferred from their ships into smaller boats and proceeded to the shore. On reaching the beach, steep cliffs surrounded them and enemy soldiers were firing down on them from above. They were trapped. It was a disaster! It was a massacre! By the end of that day over 2000 ANZAC soldiers were dead or wounded. Many people go about daily life not thinking much about God, but in times of war with difficult situations confronting them, things are different. Often God and spiritual things are on soldiers’ minds. Questions arise like “What if I die?” or, “If I die, what happens then?” The Armed Forces employ chaplains, also called padres, to help soldiers deal with death and disappointment. They help them to find the answers to questions about life and death, and encourage them to trust in God’s love for them when things are dark and horrible. Andrew Gillison was an Australian Army chaplain of the 14th Battalion, part of the convoy of Australian and New Zealand soldiers that headed for Gallipoli on 25th April 1915. An-

drew believed God had a job for him to do; not fighting, but ministering to the soldiers. Andrew’s life was built on God and he had confidence that whatever happened, God was with him – forever. But he knew that not everyone had that confidence. At first the chaplains were ordered to stay on the ships to minister to the wounded soldiers brought back, but Andrew knew he needed to be where the fighting was, so he went ashore. Day after day as the soldiers tried to advance, more and more were killed or wounded. Andrew was in the thick of it, in the trenches, serving the soldiers however he could. He ran back and forth, dodging gunfire, risking his life to encourage and comfort those who needed it, earning the respect of the men and a reputation for bravery. He prayed with the wounded soldiers, and assured them that God was with them as they suffered. He wrote in his Gallipoli diary, “I never beheld such a sickening sight in my life”. It wasn’t something he enjoyed. He hated the death and disease, the flies and the mud. But to the soldiers, the chaplain was a reminder that God cared about their situation and was there with them. One day, in full view of the enemy, Andrew leaped over the top of a trench to rescue an injured soldier. His commander screamed to take cover but Andrew ignored him, continuing to the wounded man. A nearby soldier

Andrew Gillison: died to save others said, “It’s no use, you can save your breath. He is a man who fears no bullet”. “I am being eaten alive by ants,” Andrew heard one day. It was the cry of another wounded soldier in ‘no man’s land’ between the Turkey and ANZAC trenches. Andrew and another Chaplain, with the help of Private Wild, ignored the warnings and crawled towards the wounded soldier. As they dragged him back a Turkish sniper opened fire. Both Chaplains were seriously wounded. Andrew died the same day and the other Chaplain a week later. “I’m just a servant, going home to my Master,” were among Andrew’s last words. ‘(He had) … a Christ-like devotion to his fellow-men that found him near them in their last moments,’ was recorded about him. Andrew died at ANZAC Cove, like his master, Jesus, sacrificing his life so that we could live. ‘Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’ John 15:13(NIV)

Free educational resources for parents and children

he new Australian Curriculum now includes teaching on the T Christian Heritage. The DIDUNO Network, a group of people dedicated to and passionate about educating and informing Australians of their Christian heritage want to make these resources freely available to all parents and children at no cost. Many of those who contributed to the development of this great nation were people of faith. People whose concern and compassion for others was motivated by their faith crafted the Australian Constitution and its common law. The Rev. John Flynn and David Unaipon whose images appear on the $20 dollar and $50 dollar notes respectively are wonderful examples of how their faith motivated them to contribute to society. One is invited to go to the www.diduno.info website to view these inspirational stories and many more. For more information contact: graham@diduno.info

12 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday April 11, 2017

Roundup of News About Malta

Malta records first surplus in 35 years

alta has managed to achieve its first balanced budget in 35 years with a surplus of close to €9 million. The last time Malta achieved the surplus was in 1981 under then Prime Minister Dom Mintoff. Hailing the news as a ”Maltese economic miracle”, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this is the start of a new road, adding, “We can achieve great things together and that the opportunities are limitless.” Compared to 2015, recurrent revenue registered an increase of €172.2 million whereas total expenditure went down by €72.5 million. This resulted in a positive change in the Consolidated Fund by €244.7 million. In 2016, recurrent revenue was recorded at €3,807.0 million, up from €3,634.8 million in 2015. The comparative increase of 4.7 per cent primarily resulted from a higher income of €143.6 million and €64.8 million respectively. Muscat said he was proud of his team led by Deputy PM Louis Grech and Finance Minister Edward Scicluna that managed to record the country's first surplus in an entire generation, adding that it was achieved without tightening the budget belt. Muscat said that these are not statistics, but tangible differences and im-

Muscat, Tusk discuss ‘Brexit’ proposals

t a news conference he delivered alongside the President of the EuA ropean Council Donald Tusk at Auberge de Castille, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that the guidelines submitted by Tusk are constructive as he outlined the main proposals for the draft guidelines on Brexit are constructive. Joseph Muscat who currently chairs the EU Council went on to say that there would be very tough and unprecedented negotiations for the EU since, previously, in all such negotiations, it was about getting closer to another country. Muscat pointed out that negotiations on Brexit “would be tough, but we are not at war—the two sides will need to be friends”. The first priority is the settling of issues relating to citizens, making sure that British citizens in the EU and EU citizens in Britain will not be used as bargaining chips.

S&P confirms Malta's very good credit rating

redit rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has C confirmed its A long-term and A-1 short-term sovereign credit ratings on Malta, saying the outlook

Deputy PM Louis Grech (left) and Finance Minister Edward Scicluna provements in the quality of life of all Maltese. "Our priority is to ensure this will not be a one-off, but a trend which we need to sustain over the coming years," he said. The news was well received by the social partners in Malta and the European Union with many leaders expressing their admiration for Malta’s commitments and its successful economic achievements.

is stable and projects that on average, between 20172020, the Maltese economy will expand in real terms by over 3%. Affirming its 'A-/A-2' long-term and short-term ratings Malta, S&P expects budgetary consolidation will continue gradually, reducing net general government debt from 53% in 2016 to 47% of GDP in 2020. The ratings on Malta are supported by its strong growth performance coupled with consistent current account surpluses, as well as by narrowing general government deficits and improved fiscal management. The government said that S&P’s analysis was carried out before it was announced that Malta had registered the first budget surplus in 35 years. In its analysis S&P said Malta continues to enjoy one of the strongest macroeconomic expansions in the eurozone. Recent data revisions indicate that the last few years of growth were more export-driven than we previously thought, consistent with Malta being an open economy. Further economic growth is expected to be driven by both exports and domestic demand, as both investment and imports stabilise after the completion of large projects.

PN co-hosts EPP Malta Congress or Malta, the first six months of this year ners from 41 countries. F are probably the most hectic internationThe Congress, which was also addressed by ally. The smallest member state in the EU, is the PN leader Simon Busuttil, outlined the not only currently hosting the EU Presidency, and therefore continuously organising a number of high-level conferences for the leaders of the 27 EU members, but, for two days, March 29-30, was also the venue for the European People’s Party (EPP) XXIV Congress. The meeting was co-hosted by Simon Busuttil, leader of the Nationalist Party, EPP’s affiliate in Malta, EPP President Joseph Daul and EPP Sec. Gen. Antonio Lopez-Isturiz, in the presence of EPP Group Chairman Manfred Weber. The Congress, dedicated to securing Europe’s future attracted over 2,000 participants from more than 40 countries. Among the participants were EU’s heads of state and government, leaders of the EU institutions – European Council President Donald Tusk, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani and EPP Group Chairman Manfred Weber – as well as EPP leaders. The EPP is the largest and most influential European-level political party of the centre-right and the largest Group in the European Parliament. It currently includes 79 member parties and part-

EPP's vision for how to secure Europe’s future for the next decade. EPP President Joseph Daul said that to bring results to the European people, one needed to preserve European unity and move forward together. “We can move at different speeds; but we all need to look in the same direction, without leaving anyone behind,” he said. “We have set the path for our Union to be an inspiring leader, both regionally and globally. But above all, we want a Europe close to its citizens, a Europe that acts where it can make a difference. This is the biggest political challenge ahead of us, and we are determined to reconnect with European citizens,” Daul said. On the second day of the EPP Congress, the delegates also adopted a resolution entitled "On a cohesive society: Countering Islamic extremism."

The Voice of the Maltese 13

Tuesday April 11, 2017

Roundup of News About Malta

Hoteliers say ‘never had it so good’

Partnership in ‘Smart’ tourism

ourism Minister Zammit Lewis participated in T a high-level conference on the ‘International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development -

Smart Tourism Destinations Contribution for the Planet and its People’ in Seville, Spain organised by the Network of European Regions for Sustainable and Competitive Tourism (NECSTouR). An agreement was signed for further partnership, and to work together in the achievement of shared objectives in order to increase sustainable tourism.

oteliers in the Bugibba/Qawr a area told Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis that they never had it so good in the tourism industry during a record-breaking year of tourism arrivals. The Minister’s visit came after the government’s announcement of a €3.5m facelift to the Bugibba/Qawra area, 20 years after the 1996 works. When it comes to figures 2016 was the best-ever for tourism and the industry and it seems that it has reached the stage when the so-called shoulder months, the first months of the year, particularly January and February have recorded record arrivals. The National Statistics Office, NSO, has indicated that total inbound tourism in Feb-

PM inaugurates DLR’s new €33 investment facility

rime Minister of Malta, Joseph Muscat P officially opened De La Rue’s Global Centre of Excellence for Security Print, a €33 million investment announced four months earlier. Designed to deliver the next generation of Currency, Identity Management and Product Authentication Solutions for global customers DLR will expand the workforce from the current 415 to 500. De La Rue is the world’s largest commercial printer of both banknotes and passports. The facility makes Malta a unique one-stop shop for Governments across the globe to-

wards a secure global economy. In his comments, the Prime Minister said, “We are delighted to be continuing our highly successful partnership with De La Rue. After 40 years, the relationship continues to strengthen, bringing highly skilled jobs to the island.” He added that the facility marks the next chapter of the partnership, between the public and private sector, which is key to the continued economic well being of Malta, and demonstrates how Malta could be a global force in key industries.

ruary this year amounted to 103,899, which is an increase of 27.7% over the corresponding month last year, while tourist trips for the first two months of 2017 have shown an increase of 25.4% reaching the 207,968 mark. In February 81,706 visitors came to Malta on holiday, 14,691 for business, and the remaining 7,502 for other reasons, including educational, religious and health tourism. The number of tourists from EU member states shot up by 30.6% to 90,472, while total nights spent went up by 15.7% to 672,727 compared to February 2016. The largest share of guest nights (67.5%) were spent in collective accommodation; 41,305 visitors stayed for seven nights or more Total tourist expenditure by tourists was estimated at €69.9 million, an increase of 20.8% over the corresponding month 2016. These figures came on top of another encouraging statistic a few days earlier, that is, that for the first time in 36 years, Malta has registered a surplus of €8.9 million surplus for 2016, hailed by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat as a “Maltese economic miracle”. It prompted the Malta Hotels and Restaurants’ Association (MHRA) president Tony Zahra to not only welcome the news, but to call on the government to invest in infrastructure to convert Malta into a “22nd century smart island requiring billions of Euros in infrastructure costs,” in order to avoid a “drag” in private investment. Zahra said that the surplus came on the back of a substantial increase in economic activity, including tourism.

Malta hosts ‘All About People’ awards and event alta recently hosted the third edition of the All About People Awards and Events, the anM nual key event organised by DBF-Events Ltd that

is rapidly becoming one of the top personal recognition awards to receive. The participants. 100 conference and incentive buyers and fifty hosts (suppliers) participated in the 3-day event that is mainly intended for one to meet, present and build relationships. The programme was developed in line with the organisers ‘company ethos, ‘that people buy into and from people and from people they know and trust’. Some of the main highlights of this event included one-to-one meetings and destination workshops, an incentive activity named Battle of the Seas in the Grand Harbour and a visit to the walled medieval city of Mdina. Two awards were presented, with the Supplier of the Year Award going to Nicolas Sancho, Senior Manager MICE UK & Ireland, on behalf of the Conventions Malta team, and the Buyer of the Year Award going to David Kemsley, Managing Director at Avenue Events. Mr. Paul Bugeja, MTA CEO, expressed his satisfaction at having so many MICE specialists together for the event. He emphasised the importance given to the MICE segment and stated that Conventions Malta was “a project that was announced in 2015 and which is growing extensively. The main emphasis brought about by this set up is to

Participants at the AAP Awards at the Casino Maltese. Below: The awards (2nd l) and David Kemsley

give recognition to the MICE Industry locally and internationally through research, planning, marketing and ensuring Quality”. Conventions Malta operates on the premise ‘AAA: Access All Areas’, which emphasises on the notion that the whole Island is in reality a venue offering a memorable experience to those planning their next C&IT event.

14 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday April 11, 2017

Nistg˙u ng˙addu ming˙ajrhom? G

˙al Ωmien twil il-GΩejjer Maltin kellhom problema kbira ta’ xog˙ol, problema li wasslet biex eluf ta’ Maltin u G˙awdxin jer˙ula g˙al xi pajjiΩ fejn setg˙u jkollhom ©ejjieni a˙jar, fejn ix-xog˙ol, g˙al dawk li kienu bieΩla, kien abbundanti. IΩda f’dawn l-a˙˙ar ftit snin l-istampa nbidlet totalment. L-impjiegi Ωdiedu sewwa u l-qag˙ad niΩel fl-inqas livell g˙al ˙afna snin, tant li l-a˙˙ar statistika ma˙ru©a mill-Uffiççju tal-Istatistika tal-UE, il-Eurostat uriet li fi Frar Malta rre©istrat it-tlielet l-inqas rata ta’ qg˙ad mill-pajjiΩi tal-Ewropa kollha 4.1%. IΩ-Ωew© pajjiΩi fl-ewwel u t-tieni post, l-uniçi quddiem Malta, huma r-Repubblika Çeka u l-Ìermanja, bi 3.4% u 3.9% rispettivament. Dan in-nuqqas ta’ qag˙ad jispikka aktar meta wie˙ed jie˙u nkunsiderazzjoni l-fatt li fl-2016 l-g˙add ta’ barranin irre©istrati biex ja˙dmu f’Malta kien ftit aktar minn 34,000. Sar mag˙ruf li 73% minn dawn il-˙addiema ©ejjin mill-pajjiΩi tal-Unjoni Ewropeja, filwaqt li 9,042 ˙addiem ©ejjin minn pajjiΩi ’l barra mill-UE. L-ikbar g˙add ta’ barranin li ja˙dmu f’Malta( ara tabella lemin) huma Taljani - 5,724. (Il-preΩenza tat-Taljani tin˙ass sew fis-settur tar-ristoranti). PreΩenza hekk qawwija ta’ barranin kultant to˙loq xi ftit tat-tensjoni, aktar u aktar meta ssib xi Maltin li j˙alltu lil xi barranin, speçjalment dawk ta’ ©ilda skura, ma immigranti llegali u mhux darba u tnejn ikun hemm min jipprova jqajjem moviment biex in˙allu lil Malta g˙all-Maltin. Imma fil-fatt nistg˙u nag˙mlu dan... u t-twe©iba hija, “Le”. Dan mhux qed ng˙idu jien imma l-fatti... jg˙iduh dawk li j˙addmu n-nies, tant li dan l-a˙˙ar il-Malta Employers Association ilmentat mal-Gvern g˙ad-dewmien li hemm biex jing˙ataw permess biex min i˙addem ikun jista’ j©ib barranin ja˙dmu mag˙hom. F’pajjiΩna hawn iktar vacancies – opportunitajiet ta’ xog˙ol – milli nies jirre©istraw. Dan jirriΩulta minn statistika tal-Eurostat li wriet ukoll kif Malta kellha fost l-akbar rati ta’ offerti ta’ xog˙ol mhux mimlijin fl-Unjoni Ewropea. Dan ©ej mill-fatt li barra li m’g˙andniex ˙addiema Maltin biΩΩejjed b˙ala numru, hemm ukoll il-fatt li çerti mpjiegi, fosthom dawk tat-tindif tat-toroq, ©bir tal-iskart eçç, ftit issib Maltin li lesti jag˙mluh, filwaqt li min-na˙a l-o˙ra çerti karigi li j©ibu d˙ul tajjeb m’g˙andiex Maltin biΩΩejjed li g˙andhom il-˙iliet me˙tie©a biex jie˙du dan l-impjieg... u allura min jimpjega jkollu j©ib innies minn barra. Imsomma s-suççess enormi tal-ekonomija Maltija, li kulma jmur qed tkompli tikber, wasslet biex iva jkollna niddependu wkoll fuq il-˙addiem barrani.

75 Sena mill-bomba fuq ir-Rotunda ˙al nhar il-Óadd li g˙adda 75 sena, eΩattament fid-9 ta’ April talB 1942, waqt it-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija, f’attakk mill-ajru millqawwiet tal-ajru ÌermaniΩi, bomba nifdet il-koppla tar-Rotunda, fil-Mosta u niΩlet qalb in-nies fil-knisja. B’miraklu l-bomba ma splodietx g˙ax kieku kienet tag˙mel stra©i mill-400 persuna li kienu preΩenti fil-knisja. Biex titfakkar din il-©rajja, b˙alissa fix-xelter ta’ ta˙t ir-Rotunda qed tittella’ esebizzjoni b’g˙add ta’ ritratti ta’ Ωmien il-gwerra li juru mhux biss l-attakk fuq ir-Rotunda imma wkoll tal-˙erba li f’dak ixxahar ta’ April li l-attakki ÌermaniΩi ˙allew madwar Malta.

JiΩdiedu l-kontrolli g˙al d˙ul f’Malta -awtoritajiet tal-immigrazzjoni f’Malta bdew jimplementaw kontrolli sistematiçi fuq kwalunkwe çittadin tal-Unjoni Ewropea, L inkluΩi çittadini Maltin, li jid˙lu Malta minn ajruporti jew portijiet barra

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miΩ-Ωona Schengen, jew li jitilqu minn Malta lejn dawn id-destinazzjonijiet. Dawn il-kontrolli qed isiru skont emendi li saru dan l-a˙˙ar g˙ax-Schengen Borders Code, liema emendi da˙lu fis-se˙˙ fl-Istati kollha li jiffurmaw parti miΩ-Ωona Schengen. Il-Maltin u ç-çittadini kollha tal-Unjoni Ewropea se jkunu su©©etti g˙al dawn ilkontrolli meta jtiru lejn u minn ajruporti firRenju Unit u ajruporti barra l-Unjoni Ewropea u Ω-Ωona Schengen, b˙al Istanbul, Moska, Tripli u TuneΩ. Il-kontrolli qed isiru g˙al ra©unijiet ta’ sigurtà, b’mod partikolari wara l-attakki f’Pari©i ta’ Novembru 2015 u sabiex tkun indirizzata t-theddida minn terroristi barranin.

The Voice of the Maltese 15

Tuesday April 11, 2017

Iç-çajtiet tal-1 t’April

if ji©ri ta’ kull sena fl-ewwel t’April, il-midja tipprova to˙ro© b’xi storja biex tid˙ak bil-qarreja. Minkejja li llum ˙afna qarrejja jkunu attenti u ˙afna drabi jkun hemm min mal-ewwel jintebah li din l-istorja hija falza, xorta wa˙da jsiru. Dis-sena kellna diversi stejjer: Il-Malta Independet ˙ar©et bl-istorja li biex jittaffa ttraffiku kien se jinbena pont bejn il-Belt u l-Kottonera; il-©urnal Illum ˙are© bl-istorja li kien se jsir monument f’©ie˙ l-Arçisqof

In©ibu aktar tfal? s-sitwazzjoni ta’ nuqqas ta’ ˙addiema IhijaMaltin li semmejt fl-artiklu tal-pa©na 14 marbuta xi ftit mal-fatt li kulma ma jmur, g˙al xi ra©uni l-Maltin u l-G˙awdxin, qed iwelldu inqas tfal. G˙alkemm dan hu mifrux fl-Ewropa, b’kuntrast ma dak tal-pajjiΩi Afrikani. Infatti dik hi wa˙da mill-beΩg˙at li jxerrdu dawk li jixtiequ li je˙ilsu minn familji Afrikani li jg˙ixu Malta g˙ax isostnu li dawn il-familja jkollhom ˙afna tfal u bilmod il-mod jistg˙u jinfluwenzaw sewwa l˙ajja Maltija. Din tan-nuqqas ta’ twelid sa˙ansitra tkellem dwarha l-Arçisqof Mons Charles Scicluna. Mistqosi dwar l-Islam u t-tag˙lim tar-reli©jon, qal, “L-Islam hu fenomenu li ma nistg˙ux in˙assruh b'gomma, imma li jisfidana. In˙oss jien li jisfidana fuq Ωew© punti: l-ewwel, qed nie˙du bis-serjetà rreli©jon tag˙na? It-tieni, qed nie˙du ˙sieb in©ibu tfal fid-dinja?” Dawn huma 'sfidi' li qed jiffaççjaw l-Insara g˙alkemm ˙e©©e© biex ˙add ma jibΩa`. “M'g˙andniex nibΩg˙u millpreΩenza tal-Islam, jekk nie˙du r-reli©jon tag˙na bis-serjetà, g˙ax iktar kemm nie˙du r-reli©jon tag˙na bis-serjetà iktar nistg˙u niddjalogaw ma' ˙addie˙or.” IΩda wisq nibΩa’ li fil-˙ajja li qed ng˙ixu llum ftit se jkun dawk il-familji li se jag˙tu wisq kas l-appell tal-Arçisqof.

Charles Scicluna f'Bormla ˙dejn dak ta’ Dom Mintoff, u dan wara li familja mill-Isla xtaqet tag˙ti kontribut lil dak li qed issejja˙lu 'l-eroj tal-Knisja Kattolika' ˙dejn dak li ssejja˙lu 'l-eroj tal-˙addiema'. The Times ˙ar©et bl-istorja wara li st˙arri© wera li jekk jag˙mel l-elezzjoni ma jdumx il-Partit Laburista jista’ jikseb ma©©oranza ta’ 38,000 vot fuq il-Partit Nazzjonalista, kien ©ie deçiΩ li l-elezzjoni ssir f’Awissu li ©ej. Imma dik li bdiet b˙ala çajta ta’ l-ewwel t’April spiççat f’serjeta. Lovin Malta, sit fuq l-Internet mag˙ruf anke g˙all-mod li bih jg˙addi lin-nies biΩ-Ωmien, ˙are© bl-a˙bar li kien se japplika biex isir partit politiku. Anke ppubblika g˙add ta’ billboards bi slogans differenti u stieden lis-segwaçi tieg˙u biex jivvutaw g˙al dak favorit tag˙hom. Dak li jkun l-iΩjed popolari kellu jintuΩa b˙ala l-billboard uffiçjali g˙all-kampanja elettorali ta' Lovin Malta. Dejjem, kif stqarrew huma stess, jekk jirnexxilhom ji©bru biΩΩejjed flus biex jag˙mluh fit-toroq. Biex jitwemmen aktar sa˙ansitra ressaq applikazzjoni quddiem Il-Kummissjoni Elettorali biex ikun mag˙ruf b˙ala partit poltiku. U l-Kummissjoni Elettorali wkoll ˙adet l-affarijiet bis-serjeta’ tant li ˙ar©et stqarrija li kienet se tifli l-applikazzjoni ta’ Lovin Malta. Kien dan li wassal lil-Lovin Malta jistqarru li din kienet biss çajta u allura

rtiraw l-applikazzjoni li kienu g˙amlu. Imma tant kien hemm nies li g˙amlu like fuq din l-istorja, li fuq kollox hemm il-possibilta’ li g˙alkemm ma jitwaqqafx partit politiku, xorta ssir xi ˙a©a. Infatti, il-fundatur ta’ Lovin L-abbozz ta’ monument Malta, çertu g˙all Arçisqof?... le çajta Chris Peregin, ©ie kkwotat jg˙id li ©aladarba l-proposti li ma kienux taç-çajt intlaqg˙u tant tajjeb mill-pubbliku, hemm il-˙sieb li jibdew kampanja ˙alli jin©abru l-fondi biex il-billboards fit-toroq min-na˙a tag˙hom isiru xorta wa˙da. Dan, qalu, bil-g˙an li jqanqlu diskussjoni dwarhom u jittie˙du bis-serjetà mill-politiçi u mis-segwaçi tag˙hom..

Aktar Ωwie© biç-Çivil milli bil-Knisja

is-sittinijiet u s-sebg˙inijiet kien inqala’ kjass s˙i˙ meta kien isemma’ d-d˙ul taΩ-Ωwie© F çivili, u g˙alkemm dan issa da˙al fil-GΩejjer Maltin g˙addew snin li Ωwie© çivili kien xi ˙a©a li ftit tinΩel tajjeb mal-Maltin u l-G˙awdxin.

Imma Ω-Ωminijiet jinbidlu u g˙all-ewwel darba f’Malta fl-2016 iΩ-Ωwi©ijiet biç-çivil 1,452 - kienu aktar minn dawk bil-knisja imqabbla ma’ 1,257 bil-knisja. Kien mis-sena 2010 ’l hawn, li b’mod proporzjonat iΩ-Ωwi©ijiet bilknisja bdew jonqsu bl-istess mod kif dak biç-çivil bdew jiΩdiedu sakemm is-sena l-o˙ra Ω-Ωew© çifri qabΩu lil xulxin. F’G˙awdex, iΩ-Ωwie© bil-knisja g˙adu prevalenti fuq dak biç-çivil, tant li fl-2016 kien hemm 135 Ωwie© bil-knisja, b’kuntrast ma’ 72 biç-çivil. Fost ir-ra©unijiet li wasslu g˙al din iΩ-Ωieda fiΩ-Ωwi©ijiet biç-çivil, jista’ jkun il-fatt li llum il-pajjiΩ qed jara Ωieda fil-koppji li j˙addnu reli©jonijiet differenti u g˙aldaqstant b’kompromess jiΩΩew©u biçGuaranteed cheapest rates çivil minflok f’wa˙da miΩ-Ωew© reli©jonijiet differenti tag˙hom. All vehicles in NRMA road Service Ra©uni o˙ra g˙al ˙afna koppji ©odda hija li minkejja li t-tnejn li huma jkunu kattoliçi, il-knisja ma taççettax ix-xewqa tag˙hom li Low holding Deposit jiççelebraw Ωwie© fl-apert, f’post li mhux fil-knisja. G˙al dawn ilDiscount for weekly rentals koppji li ma jkunux iridu jiçça˙du minn din l-esperjenza qisha ˙ier©a minn xi film li jiΩΩew©u fuq xi ramla, jew fil-miftu˙ fis-sala Shuttle service to the Airport tat-tie© stess, l-unika g˙aΩla tkun li jiΩΩew©u biç-çivil. G˙al o˙rajn, in-nuqqas ta’ interess li jattendu g˙all-kors obbligaPhone: 9622 2208 Mob: 0418 405 271 torju organizzat mill-Knisja, mag˙ruf b˙ala ta’ Kana biex jiΩΩew©u, 102 Kildare Rd Blacktown NSW 2148 iwassalhom ukoll biex jag˙Ωlu li jiΩΩew©u biç-çivil biss.

Leo’s Vehicle Rentals

16 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday April 11, 2017

A quick glimpse at Australia

‘Bloody tough on welfare’

here are times when an MP speaks plain T English and delivers a speech that hits the nail on the head. Senator Jacqui Lambie

Proposed changes to 18c defeated in the Senate The Racial Discrimination Act as it stands is not to be changed. The Liberal Government had wanted to replace the words “insult”, “offend” and "humiliate" in section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act with

Devastating storms

yclones, storms, floods are normal to the Australian climate; the latest Cyclone Debbie lashed the north and central Queensland before making its way south overland as a low-pressure system, bringing with it torrential rain and massive flooding into northern NSW as well. The premier of Queensland Annastacia Palaszczuk said it would take months for her State to recover from the storm, with a financial cost to remain unknown until after all water recedes. “This is huge and an enormous task to rebuild and recover, but Queensland has done that before,” she said. The Premier of NSW Gladys Berejiklian after surveying the damage in Lismore and other districts described it as a massive natural disaster. There were also a few fatalities.

the term “harass”. At the Senate, it became apparent the Government did not have the numbers to pass the changes. After seven straight hours of discussion, Labor, the Greens and some of the crossbench killed off the amendments. It means the wording of section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act will not change. The Voice of the Maltese had lobbied hard and featured articles against the change. This magazine is not just an ordinary newsletter. It is on the people’s side, always on the forefront to defend our rights.

from Tasmania said there was a desperate hope that politicians in Canberra would understand what life for some could really be like, as senators debated a string of cuts to the welfare system. As her voice broke, and emotion stained her face, Senator Lambie said, “I can personally identify with them, and I know how tough it is. Saying 'we're not taking money off them, we are just going to freeze it' - well, are you going to freeze bread and milk, are you going to freeze fuel, are you going to freeze groceries? Are you going to freeze their rent?" “For you to take more money from those people, you have no idea how bloody tough it is. What you are doing is shameful,” she told the Senate through tears. “It is not a choice for many of us to be on welfare. It is shameful, and it is embarrassing, and it is bloody tough.” Lambie says she knows what panic parents feel when they are forced to rely on welfare to make ends meet. It's what drove her to try to negotiate with the government to seek other budget cuts. “I haven't just walked in there and said 'please don't take this money off them', I have actually put options on the table,” she said.

Privatisation created inequality A

CTU new boss Sally McManus in her first major speech declared that Australia's "experiment" with trickle-down economics - including the deregulation agenda spearheaded by former prime ministers Bob Hawke and Paul Keating that transformed the Australian economy in the 1980s and 1990s - had failed workers and it was time for a new approach. Ms McManus said “neo-liberalism”, particularly privatisation, had created worsening inequality. The Keating-era had created “vast wealth” for Australia, but that had not been shared, she said: “Too much has ended

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up in offshore bank accounts or in CEO's back pockets. Working people are missing out and this is making them angry.” Ms McManus confirmed plans to ask the Fair Work Commission for a $45-a-week boost to the minimum wage, but the ACTU was forced to correct the record after she claimed Australia's 1.9 per cent wage growth was not keeping pace with inflation. The union later conceded inflation was actually 1.5 per cent and wages were “barely keeping up”. In response to Ms McManus, former PMPaul Keating remarked “Liberal economics had [in the past] dramatically increased wealth around the world, as it had in Australia – for instance, a 50 per cent increase in real wages and a huge lift in personal wealth.” “But since 2008, liberal economics has gone nowhere, and to the extent that Sally McManus is saying this, she is right. We have a comatose world economy held together by debt and central bank money. Liberal economics has run into a dead end and has had no answer to the contemporary malaise” Mr Keating added. Despite being urged – by Labor leader Bill Shorten – to moderate her insistence that it was OK to break “unjust” laws, which kerb the right to strike, Ms McManus didn't take a backwards step on that either. The ACTU leader has come out all guns blazing – and doesn't look like she will be putting them away anytime soon.

The Voice of the Maltese 17

Tuesday April 11, 2017

A quick glimpse at Australia

Australia and Trump’s USA

ddressing Australia’s ambassadors in Canberra to brainstorm ways to weather global turbulence, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said US President Trump was “driving a nationalist economic agenda”, and that his policies are considered an economic threat to Australia. Ms Bishop pointedly noted that postWorld War II economic integration has been “historically supported by United States leadership” and later deepened by China's opening up – all to the benefit of Australia.

Melbourne on the move

ureau of Statistics projections released B with the population figures show Melbourne overtaking Sydney as Australia's biggest city in 2056. They put Melbourne's city population at 8.2 million, almost double the present 4.6 million, and Sydney's at 8.1 million, up from 5 million. The slower growth in Sydney reflects congestion and geographical constraints of the sea and a mountain range. By 2056, the state of Victoria is projected to have a total population of 9.9 m. and the state of NSW 11.1 m. Australia's population is projected to be somewhere between 35 million and 45 million. The central projection is 39.7 million, up from the present 24.3 million. According to Peter Martin of the SMH in the past 12 months, 82,800 Australians have moved to Victoria from interstate. At the same time, 65,600 Victorians have left. The gap - a net influx of 17,200 - is an alltime record. More migrants from interstate than ever before are swelling Victoria’s population, and by far more than any other state, even Queensland, which used to be the go-to state for the rest of nation. Perhaps as a result, or perhaps as a driver, employment in Victoria surged by 97,300 in the past year, accounting for almost all of the nationwide employment growth of 104,600. In contrast, the once-booming jobs market in NSW produced only 2000 extra workers. New population figures show that a jump in interstate migration, in overseas migration and in births lifted Victoria's population by 157,500 to 6.1 million in the year to September - an increase of 2.1 per cent, compared to 1.2 per cent in the rest of the nation. Victoria now accounts for 25.2 per cent of Australia's population, the most since the share slid during the early 1990s recession. Net foreign migration to Victoria reached a record 68,600 in the year to September. The natural increase (births minus deaths) reached 41,700, also a record. Domestic migrants to Victoria came predominantly from NSW (29,500), Queensland (15,200) Western Australia (11,500) and South Australia (9700). The main destinations for Victorians moving interstate were NSW (22,900), Queensland (20,800) and Western Australia (7100).

But she then added, “In the last year, a counter trend has gathered steam. Britain's exit from Europe is a reversal of the greatest post-war integration project. More broadly in democracies across the world, we see threats to that confident international perspective that has over many years tempered nationalism.” Ms Bishop said the US alliance remained one of the “core tenets” of Australia's foreign policy but stressed Australia pursued its own interests. Australia’s ambassador to the US, former treasurer Joe Hockey has praised the Trump administration as a “practical”and “credible” force and called for a halt to “constant” criticism of the White House. He implored critics to give the unorthodox but “practical" administration a fair go, noting that many Americans backed the President's unprecedented attacks on the media. “The new Trump administration is very focused on practical policy outcomes. It is not beholden to ideology or tradition. It is not in the DNA of the

administration to procrastinate or give undue deference to process.” Mr Hockey praised Mr Trump's “very credible cabinet”, which he said fulfilled an election commitment to “drain the swamp” by selecting fewer appointees with prior government experience. In what he described as “an obvious break from past practice”, Mr Hockey noted none of Mr Trump's cabinet members had a doctorate (PhD). However, he warned, “repeated failure does have a cost” and “the goodwill and tolerance of your voter base can be patient for only so long”. In his 14 months as US ambassador, the former Abbott government treasurer witnessed one of the most extraordinary and divisive presidential elections in US history.

Migrant workers on the Snowy Mountain Scheme

History of the Snowy Hydro Scheme

n the last issue of The Voice we announced a four-year project by the Turnbull GovIernment for a $2 billion expansion of the iconic Snowy Hydro scheme that could power up to 500,000 homes through a new network of tunnels and power stations. The Snowy Hydro scheme is intrinsically part of the history of emigration to Australia. It was instigated in 1949 - when the country II - under Labor Prime Minister Ben Chifley and completed in 1974 in large part by Robert Menzies’ Liberal administration. About 100,000 men and women from more than 30 countries helped build a network of nine power stations, 16 dams, 145 kilometres of tunnels, and 80 kilometres of aqueducts. At the time, the cry of populate or perish was met with this boldest of plans to build

the Snowy. A tough New Zealand-born engineer Sir William Hudson, was entrusted to run the whole operation from 1949 until 1967 when he retired at age 71. The scheme employed from 1949 to completion in 1974 more than 100,000 people, most of them immigrants from the old Europe shattered by war. The migrants were from 30 nationalities, mostly German, Maltese, Greek, Irish, Italian, Norwegian, British, Polish and Yugoslav. Most migrant workers on the Scheme arrived under assisted migration schemes and went into the mountains, direct from large migrant reception centres such as Bonegilla, near Albury-Wodonga. It was a wonder of its age – one of the largest and most complex such schemes in world history.

18 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday April 11, 2017

OkkaΩjoni suççess g˙all-membri tal-GLM (Victoria)

Il-membri tal-Grupp Letteratura Maltija ta’ Victoria Lemin: il-muΩiçisti li ˙adu sehem fil-BBQ.

˙al darb’o˙ra, fis-26 ta’ Marzu li g˙adda l-kumitat tal-Grupp Letteratura Maltija tal-Victoria organizza BBQ bla ˙las g˙all-membri kollha, li b˙as-soltu sar fil-propjeta` tal-membri Frank u Draga Bonett f’Bulla. It-tisjir kien f’idejn Joe Lofaro u Charles Attard, filwaqt li s-segretarja soçjali, Salvina Vella, flimkien ma’ Rose Lofaro, Doris Sammut, Rosemary Attard u Draga Bonett g˙inu fit-t˙ejjija tal-ikel li meta wasal ˙inu ssodisfa lil kul˙add g˙all-benna u labbundanza tieg˙u f’atmosfera ferri˙ija pprovduta mill-muΩiçisti Joe Gauci (kitarra), Alfred Xuereb (synthesiser), Joe Camilleri (perkussjoni) u Manuel Casha (kitarra) li millewwel bdew jarmaw l-istrumenti tag˙hom u minn kmieni bdew iferr˙u lil dawk preΩenti. Il-membri Lora Gauci, Mary Xuereb,

Marie Louise Anastasi u Rose Muscat ipprovdew il˙elu, waqt li l-Kumitat ˙a ˙sieb il-frott. Wara l-ikel u l-intervall muΩikali ta’ madwar 90 minuta sar il-qari ta’ xog˙lijiet ori©inali, fosthom ta’ w˙ud mill-membri, u/jew ta’ awturi o˙ra. Aktar tard saret preΩentazzjoni lil Frank u Draga Bonett b˙ala ˙ajr talospitalita`tag˙hom, filwaqt li mument interessanti kien meta Tara, in-neputija tal-koppja Bonett li tie˙u sehem f’kompetizzjonijiet tal-irkib Photo: SamZammit

Ritratti: PaulVella taΩ-Ωwiemel urietna Ω-Ωigarelli tassuççessi tag˙ha f'dan l-isport. Fi tmiem l-okkaΩjoni ng˙ata ˙ajr lil dawk kollha li taw l-g˙ajnuna tag˙hom biex g˙al darb’o˙ra l-BBQ kien suççess.

PaulVella (Melbourne)

A day of ref lection

he Maltese Past Pupils & Friends of Don Bosco T recently held a Lenten spiritual retreat, at the Alfred Fenech Maltese Centre. The facilitator was Fr Carmelo Sciberras, the spiritual director of the Association who prepared a meaningful and engaging series of activities, as talks, reflections and prayers, ending with a communal participation re-enacting the Last Supper Mass. The attendance was made up of past pupils and friends and included nuns from the Franciscan Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, who came from Port Kembla to Parramatta West. The day was well-organised and will be remembered as a highlight of a small association that keeps the spirit of Don Bosco alive and that raises much-needed funds for Salesian missions in third world countries, such as South Sudan, Ethiopia, Burma and other countries. A special thank you to Fr Carmelo who made this annual Lenten event a success, social organiser Marlene Dimech, and committee members. - MarkCaruana

The Voice of the Maltese 19

Tuesday April 11, 2017

Birkirkara priest inducted as Parish Priest of St Paul, Coburg fter twelve years as parish A priest at St Raphael’s, West Preston, on March 11, Fr Ray-

The blessing of the statue by Fr. Lonnie

The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows in Melbourne

n MelbourIof ne, the feast Our Lady of

Sorrows (IdDuluri) was celebrated at lelast in four different churces. We attended the one at the Chapel of St Paul in Parkville, run by the Missionary Society of St Paul (MSSP). where this year, for the first time, a small statue of Our Lady of Sorrows was on display during the mass celebrated by Fr Lonnie Borg. The statue was donated by the committee and members of the Reskeon Maltese Association Seniors Group following arrangements made by the Salvina and Paul Vella, president and secretary respectively of Reskeon, with Fr Edwin Agius. Victor Pulis built the bradella (cradle) for the statue. Fr. Lonnie Borg blessed the statue and delivered a homily for the occasion. As anticipated, and also this year, this feast has always attracted large crowds of devotees both in Malta and Australia, During Mass that was also attended by members of the Executive of the Maltese Community Council of Victoria, the ladies' section of the Christian Doctrine Society (Museum) and members of other Maltese associations, the Ghanja lid-Duluri by the late the Budaj and Ta˙t is-Salib by Michael Chetcuti were played. PaulVella

mond Bugeja from Birkirkara, Malta, celebrated the Mass of Induction as parish priest of St Paul, Coburg, Victoria. It also coincided with his 60th birthday. Among the concelebrants with Archbishop Denis Hart and Fr Ray, were Fr Mark Grima Fr Ivano Burdian, Fr Edwin Agius (all MSSP), and Mgr Peter Kenny, Fr Dom Degiorgio and Fr Albert Said SJ. Fr Giang Tran was MC. At the end of the celebration Fr Ray delivered a brief speech of thanks in which he first and foremost thanked God “for his never-ending grace, mercy, and love”. He singled out Archbishop Denis Hart, who would be celebrating 50 years of priesthood in July, for accepting his invitation, and honouring them with his presence to preside at the celebration, a sign of communion with the head of the Archdiocese of Melbourne. He further thanked his brother priests most of them very familiar with St Paul’s Parish, the various groups of parishioners,

Fr Raymond Bugeja and the volunteers, and expressed his gratitude towards those who he said touched his life in any way since his arrival in Australia. “To all, I say, I am grateful and I finish with the words of St Paul: “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Cor.1:11).

Fr Ray Bugeja kneeling before Archbishop Denis Hart during the ceremony of induction at St Paul’s Church in Coburg

20 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday April 11, 2017

Tag˙rif dwar il-kitba Maltija ktar regoli u tag˙rif uffiçjali dwar kif wie˙ed g˙andu jikteb il-Malti. Dan Askont kif ma˙ru© mill-Kummissjoni fi ˙dan l-Akkademja tal-Malti.

i i i ii

ARBLU TAL-VERB MALTIN Sura Ewlenija iS˙i˙a i Nieqsa Torox (ràdd) Mo˙fijin (târ) Tax-Xebh (wiret) Tassew Neqsin (tefa) Dg˙ajfin (lewa, wera) SURIET IMNISSLIN 1. Ta’ erba’ konsonanti (ferfer, ˙axlef). 2. Li jtennu l-konsonanti tan-nofs (qabbad). 3. Li jbiddlu l-ewwel vokali f’â jew ie (qârar, fiehem). 4. Li jΩidu n fil-bidu (nfara©, ng˙aΩel). 5. Li jΩidu t fil-bidu (tqâbad, tqarben). 6. Li jΩidu t wara l-ewwel konsonanti (ltaqa’). 7. Li jΩidu st mas-sura tal-imperattiv (stqarr). 8. Li jbiddlu l-vokali ta’ wara t-tieni konsonanti f’â jew ie (sfâr, tjieb). T.ç. Il-verbi mnisslin jistg˙u jkunu sew s˙a˙ kemm neqsin, skont is-sura ewlenija jew imnissla mnejn jo˙or©u. TISWIR IL-VERB 20. Fil-Malti jinsabu tliet suriet jew g˙amliet biex ifissru Ω-Ωmien tal g˙emil fil-verb: (1) l-Imperattiv, li jo˙ro© mill-mamma, li hi s-sura ewlenija tal-verb. (2) il-PreΩent u l-Futur (aoristo), li jitnisslu mill-Imperattiv. (3) il-Passat jew Img˙oddi li hu s-sura ewlenija li semmejna tal-verb. Minn feraq g˙andna ofroq Minn g˙abba g˙andna g˙abbi " g˙amel " ag˙mel " sâb " sib " ©erra " ©erri " g˙âm " g˙ûm.

G˙aqda Kulturali Maltija (NSW) At the March 2017 Annual general meeting, the Maltese Cultural Association of NSW (G˙aqda Kulturali Maltija (NSW) elected the following committee: President: Charles N Mifsud; Secretary: Mary Ramundi; Treasurer: Eddy Vella; v/President: Marisa Previtera; Ass/Treasurer: Lilian Taliana; Members: Dorothy Gatt and Miriam Friggieri; Social Organiser: Charles C Mifsud. Tel (02) 9622 7799 blacktown@breakawaytravel.com.au

A proud sponsor of The Voice of the Maltese

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

website: www.breakawaytravel.com.au Announces: A Fund Raising Tour organised by The Friends of Providence House NSW A 16-day Fly/Tour/Cruise. Departing 25th May. Touring Venice, Florence, Rome with a Mediterranean Cruise and tour finishing in Malta. For info call Jim Borg: 96367767/0418825591 Karen or Noel at Breakaway Travel on 9622 7799 is proudly sponsored by Breakaway Travel, Blacktown

(2) Verbi fil-PreΩent u fil-Futur – Ωmien li miexi u Ωmien li g˙ad irid ji©i: Minn ofroq innisslu nofroq, tofroq, jofroq " ag˙mel " nag˙mel, tag˙mel, jag˙mel " ©erri " n©erri, t©erri (i©©erri), j©erri " g˙abbi " ng˙abbi, tg˙abbi, jg˙abbi " sib " nsib, tsib (issib), jsib " g˙ûm " ng˙um, tg˙um, jg˙um. (3) Verbi fil-Passat jew Img˙oddi: Minn feraq nag˙mlu fraqt, ferqet, fraqna, fraqtu, ferqu " ©erra " ©errejt, ©erriet, ©errejna, ©errejtu, ©errew " g˙abba " g˙abbejt, g˙abbiet, g˙abbejna, g˙abbejtu, g˙abbew " sab " sibt, sabet, sibna, sibtu, sabu " g˙âm " g˙omt, g˙amet, g˙omna, g˙omtu, g˙amu. 21. L-ittri li bihom tikber u titbiddel il-mamma tal-verb huma: (1) G˙all-g˙amla tal-Imperattiv l-ittri a, e, i, o, u fil-bidu tal-kelma, u g˙all-g˙add imkattar l-ittra u f’tarf ilkelma. Ara: qabad, aqbad; re˙a, er˙i; mexa, imxi; feraq, ofroq; wera, uri; aqbdu, er˙u, imxu, oforqu, uru. (2) G˙all-g˙amla tal-PreΩent jew tal-Futur l-ittri n, t, j filbidu tal-kelma, u g˙all-g˙add imkattar l-ittra u f’tarf il-kelma. Ara: qabad: aqbad, naqbad, taqbad, jaqbad, (hi) taqbad, naqbdu, taqbdu, jaqbdu; ferraq: ferraq, nferraq, tferraq, jferraq, (hi) tferraq, nferrqu, tferrqu, jferrqu. T.ç. L-ittri konsonanti n u j, jekk ikunu sejrin jit˙axknu bejn Ωew© konsonanti jie˙du i qabilhom g˙ar-rifda talle˙en: hawnhekk il-konsonanti j tinxtorob. G˙alhekk niktbu: biex infernaq, biex iferraq flok biex ijferraq. (Ara wkoll it-Tnejn u Erbg˙in Regola – l-Ewwel Taqsima). Aktar regoli u tifsir fil-˙ar©a li jmiss meta nittrattaw

F’Malta aktar minn 77% tal-Maltin juΩaw l-Internet

tatistika ma˙ru©a mill-Uffiççju Malti tal-Istatistika S (NSO), f’Malta turi li 258,415, jew 77.3 fil-mija talpopolazzjoni ta’ bejn is-16 u l-74 sena regolarment

tuΩa l-Internet. L-akbar g˙add ta’ hu ta’ dawk bejn is16 u l-24 sena. Minn fost dawk li juΩaw l-Internet regolarment 98.1% huma Ωg˙aΩag˙ ta’ bejn is-16 u l-24 sena; l-inqas (37.9%) huma ta’ bejn il-65 u l-74. Imqabbel mal-2015, is-sena l-o˙ra ©iet irre©istrata Ωieda ta’ 2.1% fost dawk li juΩaw l-Internet fuq il-mobile, b’75.8% juΩaw dan permezz tal-konnessjoni tal-wifi barra minn darhom jew barra l-post tax-xog˙ol. JirriΩulta wkoll li 95,1% juΩaw l-Internet biex jikkomunikaw, u 91.8% jag˙mlu dan biex jiksbu xi tag˙rif. Intwera wkoll li 56.7% ta’ dawk li juΩaw l-Internet uΩaw is-servizzi ipprovduti mill-e-Government,u mqabbel mas-sena ta’ qabel dan juri Ωieda ta’ 2%. Fil-fatt luΩu tas-servizzi tal-e-Government Ωdied b’6.5% minn fost dawk ta’ bejn il-25 u l-34 sena. Aktar minn 60% ta’ dawk li wΩaw l-Internet tliet xhur qabel sar l-ist˙arri© tal-NSO instab li xtraw prodotti minn fuq l-Internet, bl-aktar popolari, ji©ifieri l-aktar li nxtraw kienu ˙wej-je©, o©©etti tal-isports, akkomodazzjoni g˙all-btajjel u t-trasport. Ta’ min jg˙id li f’Malta l-gvern stabbilixxa 300 post uΩat mill-massa b’konnessjoni tal-wifi b’xejn. Nhus biss, imma dis-sena l-ammont se jitla’ g˙al 400.

The Voice of the Maltese 21

Tuesday April 11, 2017

C Co om mm mu un ni it ty y N Ne ew ws s

Stedina lill-komunita` Maltija ta’ Sydney g˙all-Programm tal-G˙id 2017 Il-Óamis 13 ta’ April: Fis-7.00 pm, issir it-tifkira tal-ikla tal-Mulej, b’quddiesa solenni; wara ‘S-Seba’ Visti tasSepurklu. Il-Gimg˙a 14 ta’ April: fis-2.30 pm, il-Via Sagra; Fit3.00 pm, l-funzjoni tal-passjoni ta’ Sidna Gesu Kristu. Is-Sibt 15 ta’ April: fis-7.00 pm, l-funzjoni tas-sahra tallejl qaddis, tal-qawmien tal-Mulej mill-imwied. Il-Hadd 16 ta’ April: Ji©i ççelebrat il-Jum Qaddis talQawmin tal-Mulej. Fid-9.30 am ssir il-quddiesa. Wara kul˙add huwa mistieden g˙al kafe`. F’isem is-Socjeta Missjunarja ta’ San Pawl, Fr Tarcsisio Micallef, jixtieq il-G˙id it-Tajjeb lil kul˙add u jirringrazzja lil kull min jattendi g˙all-funzjonijiet organizzati matul issena, l-aktar g˙all-priedki tar-Randan. G˙al kull tag˙rif çemplu lil: Fr Tarciso Micallef MSSP, iç-Chaplain tal-Komunita` Maltija ta’ Sydney fuq: 9380 8398.

IL-KLABB TAL-ÓAMRUN B˙as-snin l-img˙oddija din is-sena wkoll il-klabb tal-Óamrun se jfakkar:

Jum l-Omm is-Sibt 6 ta’ Mejju b’Dinner Dance. G˙all-okkaΩjoni, se jkun hemm divertiment minn Joe Apap u ttalent Ωag˙Ωug˙ James Cassar Se ssir ukoll ikla ta’ tlett korsi. Din tinkludi cassata u Ωew© fliexken inbid fuq kull mejda. Tintalab donazzjoni ta’ $45 kull persuna G˙all-biljetti çemplu lil: Agnes: 0432 714 735: Greg 0411 517 187

The Cittaddini Cittadini The Present

Ic-Curkett tal-Kunjata

Our Lady of Victories Parish, Horsley Park Good Friday Activities Good Friday a ctivities by the Organising Group of the Good Friday Procession in Horsley Park, NSW: Friday April 14: Good Friday: Help needed early morning to install outdoor equipment necessary for the procession such as PA systems, lights and barricades. 2.30pm: Church service. Be early as the Church holds a certain amount of people. 4.00 pm: the MCA NSW Choir performstraditional dirges and hymns, alternating with Our Lady Queen of Peace Maltese Band which will play funeral marches. 5.00 pm: The procession - rain, hail or shine. Participants should be present by 4.00 pm to prepare for the procession. There is the possibility that costumes would be available to wear, especially for adults. For information: Fred Cauchi on 0407 914 051.

AvviΩ: Tixtieq li tikseb kopja stampata tal-magazine The Voice of the Maltese ? ktar ma jg˙addi Ω-Ωmien aktar dan il-magazine The A Voice of the Maltese qed isir popolari. Ma’ kull ˙ar©a jiΩdiedu l-qarrejja li jitolbu biex jibdew jirçevuh, bl-Internet, jiΩdied b’mod inkora©©anti l-g˙add tal-imsie˙ba fuq il-pa©na tal-facebook, u barra minhekk qed ikollna ˙afna talbiet minn dawk li jkunu jixtiequ li jiksbu kopji stampati ta’ The Voice. Kif kul˙add jaf hemm çerti spejjeΩ biex kopja ti©i stampata u mibg˙uta bil-posta lill-qarrejja li jitilbuha, b’danakollu lesti li naqduhom, imma kif wie˙ed jistenna dan jista’ jsir, imma bi ˙las. Sa fejn hu possibbli t-talba qed ti©i milqug˙a u mal-kobor tad-domanda issa saru arran©ementi ˙alli nwie©bu b’aktar effiçjenza g˙at-talbiet, u kull min jixtieq li jikseb ukoll kopja stampata talmagazine issa sar aktar façli li jiksibha. Dawk interessati li jibdew jirçevu kopja stampata bil-posta d-dar qed ji©u mitluba jag˙mlu t-talba billi jibag˙tu email. Min˙abba li ghandna qarrejja mad-dinja kollha r-rata tal-abbonati trid tigi kkalkulata. G˙al aktar tag˙rif ibag˙tu email bit-talba lil: maltesevoice@gmail.com MCCF - AUSTRALIA presents

MICHAEL JACKSON Undefeated & Award Winning The Actual world’s Number 1!

THE MALTA COMMUNITY CHEST FUND Annual Charity Dinner Dance Saturday 20th May 2017 6.30pM - 11.30pm

Grand Star Receptions 499 Grive Parade, Altona North, Vic 3025

Sunday April 30 at 2 p.m. Wentworthville Leagues Club For tickets: Monica: 9896 0712 or 0414 859 386; Joe Borg: 9624 2280; Julie: 9636 7679

Adults: $12

Kids $6

Tickets: Adults $65 Children $40

INCLUDES 5 COURSE MEAL, SOFT DRINLS, BEER & WINE

LIVE MUSIC BY ALCHEMY BAND SPECIAL PERFORMANCE BY PAUL RIZZO as MICHAEL JACKSON Enquires & Tickets Contact: Daniel 0404 096 560/lourdes 0402 813 179 Joe 0420 547 696 ALL PROCEEDS WILL BE GOING TO THE MALTA COMMUNITY CHEST FUND

22 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday April 11, 2017

C Co om mm mu un ni it ty y N Ne ew ws s La Valette Social Centre

Easter programme 2017 THURSDAY April 13: (Holy Thursday) 7 pm: Mass, the Stations of the Cross and community adoration. THURSDAY April 13: (Holy Thursday) 7 pm: Mass, the Stations of the Cross and community adoration. GOOD FRIDAY April 14:

3.pm.: Liturgical celebration of Our Lord’s Passion in the main hall.

HOLY SATURDAY April 15:

4.30 pm: Centre will for dinner. 8.30 pm: Start of the Easter vigil. No Masses at the Chapel on Saturday. ONLY the Vigil Mass at the hall at 8.00pm.

EASTER SUNDAY April 16:

10.15 am Mass at the main hall, procession with the statue of the Risen Lord takes place. During it marches will be played.everyone is invited along with the children.

For more information: Chapel: 9622 5850; Centre: 9622 5847

Come with us enjoy & relax

On Sunday May 28 the Maltese Past Pupils and Friends of Don Bosco (NSW) is organising a visit to the stunning Japanese Gardens with teahouse, koi pond and pavilion. We visit GosPord Regional Gallery at East Gosford (Free entrance), and the Ettalong Beach Market, all under cover. Depart: near Wenty Leagues (Smith Street) at 8.30am $30 bus only. Contact: Marlene 9631 9295 *Reminder: Annual Dinner Dance October 14

Kull qalb trid o˙ra

iex tipproduçi magazine b˙al dan, li wara kollox hu frott tal-passjoni li g˙andna biex fost kollox inwasslu tag˙rif interessanti lill-Maltin barra minn art twelidhom, ma jin˙tie©x biss xog˙ol u ˙in, imma wkoll spejjeΩ. Biex jittaffew u˙ud mill-ispejjeΩ qed nippruvaw insibu sponsors biex jg˙inuna. G˙ad m’g˙andniex biΩΩejjed minnhom, imma bdejna, u ta’ min jag˙tihom ˙ajr. Kif jg˙id il-Malti, kull qalb trid o˙ra, g˙alhekk in˙e©©u lill-qarrejja li i©ibu dan quddiem g˙ajnejhom u kemm jista’ jkun juΩaw is-servizzi u/jew jixtru l-prodotti ta’ dawk li qed jirreklamaw fil-u/jew jisponsorjaw il-magazine.

to the readers of The Voice and members of the The Maltese Australian Associations Saint Nicholas Festa Committee Main events for 2017 Sunday July 2: Lejla filBuskett Sunday October 15: Fete Sunday December 3: St Nicholas Feast For more information: Joe Fenech 0412 009 957 or PRO Emm. Vella 045 677 064

For issues concerning: Ageing and disability - community services education - environment - health - housing planning - Police - transport - water

The Voice of the Maltese 23

Tuesday April 11, 2017

C Co om mm mu un ni it ty y N Ne ew ws s Tune In to Radio and Television

Maltese Radio Programmes MELBOURNE, on 3ZZZ 92.3FM or on www.3zzz.com.au. Mondays 5-6 pm, Fridays 5-6 pm and Saturdays 1011am. MELBOURNE on 98.9 North West FM, every Friday 6.00 - 7.00p.m. and Mondays 7.00 to 8.00pm. 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. Thursdays 2 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 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. UNCLE SAM DJ (Maltese Radio) tune in to link: www.unclesamdj.com 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.

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

Maltese Seniors Social Welfare Day Groups

Fairfield Active Maltese Seniors Meets on the last 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

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 jridu jitg˙allmu jilag˙bu dan l-isport, li jing˙ataw lezzjonijiet b’xejn. • Jilag˙bu log˙ba darba fix-xahar 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-logħba li jmiss se ssir nhar ilĦadd 21 ta' Mejju fis-1:00 pm. firRosehill Bowling Club.

Australian High Commission on facebook; HC on twitter

he Australian High Commission’s in Malta now has a new Facebook page, and the High Commissioner a Twitter account that could both be accessed by the readers. The High Commission’s Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/A usHCMalta/ The Commissioner’s Twitter handle is: https://twitter.com/AusHCMalta 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

Sports

Malta Premier League football

Tuesday April 11, 2017

Hibernians extend lead to 4 points

Parramatta Eagles search on for their first victory

goal at the death in a 3-2 win over Floriana must have boosted RESULTS - Day 29 arramatta FC RESULTS: DAY 5 Hibernians’ hopes of winning their 12th Championship. Four Hibernians v Floriana 3-2 who prom- Parramatta FC v Manly 1-3 Birkirkarav Balzan v 3-1 ised so much at Sutherland v Hakoah matches from the end of the campaign they have now opened a 0-4 v GΩira U 1-1 four-point gap over nearest challengers Valletta in the Premier League. Valletta Sliema v Hamrun 2-0 the start of the Sydney FC b Blacktown 0-1 2-2 standings. Mosta v Tarxien 3-1 PS4 NPL NSW Rockdale v Sydney O 1-0 On Sunday Hiberni- S Andrews v Pembroke 5-0 league campaign Wollongong v APIA Day 28 Sydney U v Bonnyrigg 3-1 ans came from two v Hibernians 1-0 search on for DAY 4 goals down scored by Valletta Balzan v GΩira U 3-1 their first victory Parramatta v Sydney O. 0-0 NPL (Rd 8): Green Gully 2 Oakleigh C. 1 Floriana in the first Birkirkara v Pembroke2-0 after four out- APIA 4-0 v Bonnyrigg goal scored by Stephen Hatzikostas in seven minutes to Floriana v Hamrun 2-1 ings. Till no all 3-2 Manly U. v Sydney FC the 87 minute gave Green Gully an im- clinch all three points Sliema v Tarxien 1-1 2-3 St Andrews v Mosta 2-1 they can show Hakoah v Rockdale portant 2-1 home win over Oakleigh Can- in added time. Blacktown v Wollongong 2-0 for their efforts Day 27 nons. They opened the scoring after 13 On Saturday Val- Hibernians v Balzan 3-1 Sydney U v Sutherland S. 2-1 minutes when Jonathon Bounas gave them letta failed to live up Floriana v Valletta 1-1 is a point from a DAY 2 scoreless home 3-0 Birkirkara v Mosta the lead at half time. to recent form and Sliema v S Andrews 4-1 draw with Syd- Parramatta v Sydney FC 2-5 Steve Pentelidis levelled the score for Oak- their impressive vicU v Pembroke 5-1 ney Olympic two weeks ago. leigh on 71 minutes but it was Gully who had tories over Balzan GΩira Óamrun S.v Tarxien 1-1 On Sunday Parramatta, who have a game the last laugh with a crucial late goal. and Hibernians and dropped points in a 1-1 in hand faild to build on the draw with This was the first home win of the season Olympic and suffered a home loss by 1-3 for Green Gully, who stay within reach of the draw with Gzira. Meanwhile, having failed to beat any of the against now table toppers Manly United who final’s place.and Davies to give them a share top four rivals in recent weeks, Balzan’s led 1-0 at half time. Daniel Rezo scored what of the spoils. surge forward towards winning their first proved to be their consolation goal. (Rd 7): Green Gully v S. Melbourne 4-4 ever Premier League title has fizzled out On Saturday they are away at Blacktown C. * In Round 7 It rained goals at Green Gully after suffering three defeats in the last four Reserve where Green Gully staged a great ties. Now even a third place finish is threat- A-League: Glory hopes still on fight back to earn a share of the spoils in an ened after losses against Birkirkara and Hierth Glory got a RESULTS – DAY 26 eight-goal thriller against South Melbourne bernians. morale-boosting Wellington v Sydney FC 1-1 who had the better of the first half and led 2W. Sydney v Melbourne V 0-0 On paper, Hiber3-1 win over Bristop six 3-1 Perth G v Brisbane R 0 at the break with goals from Milos Lujic Premier’s bane Roar to revive nians’ only remainStanding P W D L Pts C v Adelaide 1-0 and Nick Epifano. their outside chan- Melbourne ing hurdle towards 2-0 Central C v Newcastle Hibernians 29 19 5 5 62 ces of a top four The visitors went further ahead with a Mat- Valletta DAY 25 29 16 10 3 58 a title win could be berth, although they hew Millar goal on the hour but Green Gully Balzan 29 17 6 6 57 BirSydney FC v Melbourne C 3-0 kirkara on bounced back with goals by Jay Davies and Birkirkara 29 16 6 7 54 April 23. They also need to either beat Melbourne V v Wellington 0-2 Melbourne City by Brisbane R v Central C 5-1 Floriana 29 13 8 7 50 face Gzira, St Ana brace from Sami Nour. four and hope Brisv Perth G 1-1 South scored a fourth through Millar and Sliema W. 29 10 6 11 42 drews and Tarxien. bane lose heavily. Adelaide Newcastle v W. Sydney 0-3 appeared to have settled the issue with only 11 minutes remaining. However, Green Bormla rowers and supporters celeGully refused to give up and scored two brate winning the Freedom Day Regoals in a four-minute spell Nick Krousoratis gatta Shield at Malta’s Grand Harbour and Jay Davies to earn a deserved point.

Win, and a draw for Green Gully

George Cross falling behind NPL (Rd 8): Ballarat C.3 v Sunshine GC 0 fter a bright start Sunshine George Cross suffered their heaviest defeat so far in this campaign giving the impression that they are beginning to fall off the pace in the race for promotion. They lost 3-0 away to Ballarat City at the Morshead Park Stadium. City’s easy win came with goals by Dom Swinton, Michael Trigger and Josh DeVoogel. (Rd 7): Sunshine GC v Goulburn 1-1 * In the previous round George Cross dropped two very important points. They could only draw 1-1 at home against Goulburn VS The Georgies dominated from the outset but missed three great opportunities to take the lead. They still found themselves a goal down after five minutes when the visitors scored in a breakaway. The Cross dominated the rest of the match and restored parity after 25 minutes through Souheil Azagane. But despite pinning the GVS. in their own half, they could not find the elusive winning goal. We all wish player Lachlan Grech a speedy recovery from a broken leg he suffered in his team’s 1-0 win over GVS in the Under 20s.

Bormla dominate Freedom Day regatta

ormla made it 17 Freedom Day Shield victories in the annual Regatta on March B 31. They made a clean sweep of both categories, winning the open category with 88 points, and the B with 72 points. Bormla’s rowers dominated the Open category by

winning all five races to wrap up a 52-point advantage over second-placed Birzebbuga. They also won three of the five races in 'B' Category. Seven districts participated.