The Voice of the Maltese No. 156

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

Issue 156

Fortnightly ora Fortnightly magazine magazine for for the the Diasp Diaspora

June 6, 2017

Maltese electorate decides for continuity

A most remarkable victory for PM Joseph Muscat Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is sworn in as Malta’s 13th Prime Minister in front of his wife Michelle and his twin daughters at The Palace in Valletta by President Marie-Louise Colerio Preca and Attorney General Peter Grech

See pages 2, 12 and 14

LP obtains landslide win; Entire NP administration resigns

2 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday June 6, 2017

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and his wife accompanied by twin daughters Soleil and Etoile walk down Republic Street on their way to the Palace for his oath of allegiance to the constitution Photos: DOI

Joseph Muscat sworn in as Malta’s 13th Prime Minister

P

rime Minister Joseph Muscat led the Labour Party to a second successive landslide victory, the first time for 41 years that the LP has won successive general elections also achieving the unprecedented feat of a political party winning successive elections, and doing it by the largest margins in history.

The June 3, 2017 result, a repeat performance of the 2013 victory, has returned the Labour Party in government with a 12% majority over the Nationalist Party that could in the end be translated into a 35,280-vote majority and yielding a majority of nine seats in Parliament.

At the Palace Monday morning Joseph Muscat was sworn in by President MarieLouise Coleiro Preca as the 13th Prime Minister of Malta. Immediately on taking the oatch, the crowd watching the ceremony on big screen at Palace Square spontaneously erupted into singing the Maltese National Anthem. It was a very moving occasion throw even more weight behind Muscat’s appeal for unity.

Before the oath of allegiance to the Constitution, Joseph Muscat accompanied by his wife Michelle and his twin daughters walked all the way down Republic Street to the Palace. Thousands of supporters from all walks of life lined each side of the street to greet them. Thousands more who had been waiting for close to four hours to be part of the occasion awaited them at St George’s Square, exploding into shouts of “Joseph, Joseph” as they reached the Palace.

Immediately after taking the oath, the Prime Minister addressed the media and

once again expressed his wish for the people to become as one, saying, “We are all Maltese”.

After taking the oath, the Prime Minister walked to his office at Castille where he was once again met with throngs of supporters calling his name and singing Labour Party slogans.

According to official figures, the Labour Party won 55.04% of the vote (170,976 votes), as against the PN’s 43.6%. (135,696) The landslide victory has shown that the people believed that the best of the country under a Labour government is yet to come.

Joseph Muscat managed to convince the electorate that as he had already done in the previous four years, he would deliver on his promises. No wonder many have been calling him”The Special One”.

After the announcement of the results from a turnout of 92% of the more than 340,000 eligible voters, slightly lower than four years ago, Labour supporters took to the streets in celebration, singing and waving flags. Outside the Labour headquarters, a rally took place, which Muscat addressed.

On his part, PN leader Simon Busuttil conceded defeat at around 11.26 a.m., saying in a tweet, “I have just called Joseph Muscat to concede. As always, we respect the decision of the electorate.”

Addressing the Labour Party faithful outside the Labour Party headquarters Sunday afternoon, a few hours after the declaration, and with the counting of votes still ongoing, Joseph Muscat said the vote confirmed the people’s trust in the Labour movement and it was clear that the people have chosen to

stay the course. He added that this was achieved despite it being the target of one of the most negative campaigns in the country’s history.”

“Those who thought that the Maltese people would choose negativity don’t truly know the Maltese people. The Maltese people chose positivity, optimism, energy, goodwill, unity and equality,” Muscat said.

Despite him and his wife being the targets of a smear campaign during the campaign, he said he had “no hatred or bitterness in his heart” and called for national reconciliation.

He said he was prepared to extend a hand of friendship towards everyone who is willing to work towards the good of the country.

Dr Muscat called the general election a year early, saying that allegations about corruption instigated by a nationalist blogger and endorsed by the NP, particularly against him and his wife, were instilling uncertainty in the economy. The outcome vindicated his decision.

Leading the election campaign, Joseph Muscat had promised continuity and urged the Maltese not to change horses in midstream. The country has been enjoying the best years under any legislation. Malta’s economy and success in most sectors, has been attracting the investors making it the envy of much larger EU member countries.

The smallest member is enjoying prosperity. It has the lowest unemployment rate ever at 4.1 percent - the third lowest in Europe - and in 2016 registered a budget surplus for the first time in three decades. *Continued on page 12

The Voice of the Maltese 3

Tuesday June 6, 2017

T

Q. My mother needs to move into an Aged Care facility. his is a monthly service offered by The Voice of the Maltese She has dementia and needs 24 hour care and as I work in which Marie Louise Muscat from the Fiducian Finanfull time, I am unable to continue to provide this level of cial Services helps our readers understand the complexities care. Her only assets are $170,000 in a bank account. associated with financial planning. If you need more advice This is not sufficient to pay for the Refundable Accom- send an email to Marie Louise via: maltesevoice@gmail.com. modation Deposit. What can we do?

A. When you see an ACAT team they will ins or capital advise you on what you need to do. She losses will be will only be asked to pay what she can af- attributed to ford and the rest will be subsidised by the you. If you purGovernment. She will need to be left with chased them in $46,000. the children’s names, you neQ. I am 71 years old and have an ac- ed to apply for count-based pension of $1,850,000. On a tax file numJuly 1 this year the limit is going to go ber for each down to $1.6 million. Should I cash in grandchild and the rest and invest in other financial as- they will pay sets or roll over the funds to superannu- tax on earnings ation and leave in accumulation? at their marA. This depends entirely on your other fi- ginal tax rate nancials outside of superannuation. If you which is quite high for children under the should be contemplating on but the most have other taxable income by leaving the age of 18. When they sell the shares they will important type of insurance in your case is funds in accumulation their earnings will have to pay capital gains tax or have capital income protection. You need to protect your income and you need to protect both only attract a 15% tax liability. If your in- losses themselves. come is in a higher tax bracket then I Q. My husband and I have just got mar- of your incomes.

I believe that you should have income would recommend that you leave the funds ried. We have recently bought a house protection insurance out of superannuation in superannuation. and have a mortgage of $640,000. We because you are young and you need the Q. I am a grandmother of three all both have good jobs, and can still service money to be paid to you rather than to your under the age of 10. I am planning to the loan comfortably if I had to stop superannuation fund if a claim was made. purchase a few Australian shares for working for a while to start a family.

The Income Protection insurance premium We are concerned however, if my hus- is also tax deductible. I would recommend them. Should I purchase them in their names or in mine? What are the impli- band lost his job through injury or sick- you visit an insurance broker so that he ness as this would completely cripple us. can advise you accordingly. cations?

I know that we can get ourselves inA. If you purchase the shares in your name sured, but we need to know whether it is Q. I am 65 years old and have just reyou will pay tax on their dividends at your better to insure ourselves through our ceived the age pension. I am planning to marginal tax rate and also benefit from any superannuation fund or otherwise? go on an overseas trip for five weeks? I franking credits. When you transfer the believe that I am supposed to inform A. There are different insurances you shares to your grandchildren any capital gaCentrelink about this. Is this correct?

A. Yes whenever you need to travel and leave Australia you need to inform Centrelink with the departure date and the date you plan to return. As the period is less than six weeks you will continue to receive your pension entitlement as well as the supplements. If your trip was over six weeks then you may miss out on some of the supplements depending on how long Marie-Louise Muscat is fluent in Maltese and English and can assist you in: you have lived in Australia

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

Q. I am in the process of downsizing and have recently sold my home and bought a smaller one. I have around $600,000 in surplus funds. I am 67 years old and still working 10 hours a week. I wish to invest these surplus funds in superannuation. How much can I invest in superannuation as I heard that there are some changes to these limits?

A. As you are over the age of 65 the maximum amount you can invest this financial year is $180,000. After July 1 the limit is $100,000 per annum as long as you continue to work the 10 hours a week. You are not able to use the “bring forward cap� as you are over the age of 65.

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 June 6, 2017

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The Voice of the Maltese 5

Tuesday June 6, 2017

Sharon’s Traditional Sweet Recipes from Malta

A

fter a lifetime searching for Maltese sweets recipes with limited success, Sharon Catherine Spiteri, who left Malta for Australia with her family when she was still only eight months old, has now produced her own book full of recipes about authentic Maltese sweets, titled “Traditional Sweet Recipes from Malta” that she launched recently.

Sharon was recently hosted by Paul Vella on his Maltese programme radio show on Community Radio 3ZZZ, and later, along with her husband Daniele also met the members of the Reskeon Maltese Association Seniors Group, at Merrylands Community Centre where she explained that her motivation in writing the book was to share her knowledge and experience with the recipes with others as she feels that food is a strong connection to our culture and heritage.

Sharon’s parents, her father Anthony, and mum Antoinette nee Ellul are both from Birkirkara. Her grandpa from her mother’s side, Kelinu, ran a tailor’s shop till he was 90 in Naxxar Road, Birkiraka.

Despite leaving Malta at an early age in 1969, she has always had a core of pride for her Island home in the Mediterranean and when at age 16 she returned to Malta for the first time on a holiday with her family, she was truly impressed by Malta's beauty and its peoples' kind-hearted nature. Apart from that she was also very impressed with the Maltese cuisine and particularly with authentic Maltese sweets.

When she addressed the Reskeon audience, Sharon said that Malta is her place of birth, ancestry line and heritage. As she was growing up her parents always reinforced her pride of Malta with their many stories about Malta. She was intrigued to listen to their experiences as children growing up on the island.

The historical facts about Malta they related to her fascinated her, particularly the history of true resilience during Word War II and the

Sharon Spiteri and the cover of her book

Great siege of 1565 that are a fine example of the M a l t e s e spirit in difficult times.

During her first visit to the island Sharon felt a strong need to find out about authentic Maltese recipes. She said she visited every bookstore she could find in search of such books.

When it comes to her love of cooking, she owes much of it to her mother whom she said was an exceptional cook. She feels extremely fortunate to experience mum’s love of food and her efforts in ensuring good nutrition, quality produce and beautiful dishes.

Although she did not realise it then, Sharon feels that when it comes to food her mum was her inspiration.

After that trip, Sharon returned to Malta a few years later to embark on a career in the food Service Industry. She studied for two years at Malta’s Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS) where she gained her qualifi-

cations as a Chef (City and Guilds of London) and Diploma in food production and preparation. At the ITS she received a special award covering all the courses not just for food.

Once qualified she stayed for a little while in Malta and gained even more experience by working for three years at the Malta Hilton.

Then on her return to Australia she got a job at the Melbourne Hilton and the Grand Hyatt Melbourne.

Sharon’s speciality is sweets, but found it difficult to acquire enough authentic Maltese recipes. Though her mum was a phenomenal cook, she didn't make a lot of sweets, so she could only pass on to her a few such recipes.

So after a lifetime searching for the traditional Maltese sweets recipes with limited success, she embarked on her research and decided to produce her own book. At the same time, within its pages she also displays the provincial beauty and “the old world charm of Malta”. Her motivation to create this book was to share her knowledge and experience with others.

She believes that part of Malta’s history and traditions are passed down from generation to generation. Something that she said is of great value that is worth preserving.

“I know this is equally important to others in the community and with Malta being so far away from us here in Australia my main objective (to produce the book) was to enable anyone who acquired the book to create a small slice of Malta that feels like home,” Sharon said After her meeting, members from the audience gathered around her to purchase the book and ask her to sign it for them.

Anybody wanting to get in touch with Sharon, particularly about purchasing her book, should email her on sharoncath2000@gmail.com

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6 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday June 6, 2017

Zammit Cordina u Mary Grech ippremjati g˙al ˙idma fix-xandir ew© eks xandara nisa, it-tnejn Û ukoll eks attriçi, Josephine Zammit Cordina u Mary Grech, ©ew ip-

premjati biç-Charles Arrigo Lifetime Achievement Award waqt il-Malta Television Awards li saru x-xahar lie˙or f’Malta. Josephine, illum ta’ 81 sena, kienet mag˙rufa b˙ala l-produtriçi u preΩentatriçi kemm tal-programm tar-radju Boomerang u wkoll dak fuq TVM, Waltzing Matilda.

Mary Grech, ta’ 80 sena kienet fost il-preΩentaturi tal-bidu ta’ Television Malta fl-1962 u g˙al snin twal kienet wa˙da mill-a˙jar preΩentaturi nisa kemm fuq ur-radju nazzjonali u wkoll fuq TVM

It-98 sena mill-©rajja tas-7 ta’ Ìunju 1919 har l-Erbg˙a 7 ta' Ìunju fil-GΩejjer Maltin hija festa nazzjonali li tfakkar N it-98 anniversarju tal-©rajja mag˙rufa

b˙ala s-Sette Giugno, il-jum li fih, fl-1919 sfaw maqtula millazzarini IngliΩi, erba’ eroj Maltin waqt irvellijiet fil-Belt Valletta.

Dakinhar, folla kbira n©abret fil-kapitali Maltija Valletta b˙ala turija ta’ appo©© lit-tieni laqg˙a tal-Assemblea Nazzjonali li kienet qed issir il-belt.

Il-folla tilfet il-kontroll meta rat li xi ˙wienet kienu ˙allew tperper fuq il-bjut tag˙hom, il-ban-diera IngliΩa. Kienu waddbu l-©ebel u attakkaw il-Bibljoteka, lim˙aΩen ta’ negozjanti tal-qam˙ u l-istamperija tal-gazzetta The Daily Malta Chronicle (gazzetta favur l-IngliΩi).

Xi IngliΩi li kienu mi©bura fil-Union Club ipprovokaw lill-Maltin billi bdew iwaddbu soldi qalb il-folla, u meta l-pulizija Maltija ma setg˙etx tikkontrolla l-folla, ssej˙u ssuldati IngliΩi li sparaw fuq il-kotra.

Hawn inqatlu tliet Maltin, Wenzu Dyer, ÌuΩeppi Bajada u Manwel Attard. L-g˙ada l-folla telg˙et tpo©©i kuruni fil-post fejn inqatlu l-Maltin u meta membri tal-Union Club re©g˙u ipprovokawhom, il-folla re©g˙et sa˙net sew u din id-darba da˙lu finnofs il-marines IngliΩi li sparaw bl-addoçç u qatlu lil Karmenu Abela.

Din is-sena t-tifkira se ter©a’ ssir fil-belt qrib fejn se˙˙ew l-irvellijiet quddiem ilmonument li jfakkar il-©rajja u li wara xi snin re©a’ ©ie me˙ud fil-post li jixraqlu, f’Misra˙ San Gor©.

Tuesday June 6, 2017

The Voice of the Maltese 7

Il-kompoΩitur Ûejtuni CARLO DIACONO Ì

unju huwa x-xahar li jda˙˙alna sewwa fil-festi tradizzjonali Maltin. Fost festi o˙ra f’dan ix-xahar isiru diversi festi fl-ir˙ula tag˙na fosthom il-festa ta’ San Filep f’ÓaΩ-Ûebbu© u l-festa ta’ Santa Katerina fiΩÛejtun. Qed ng˙id dan biex nid˙ol g˙as-su©©ett tal-kitba tieg˙i, is-Surmast Carlo Diacono li miet 75 sena ilu, fil15 ta’ Ìunju tal-1942 fl-età ta’ 66 sena.

G˙aΩ-Ωew© parroççi antiki li semmejt, u g˙al o˙rajn, lisem u ˙idmet Carlo Diacono ma jmutu qatt min˙abba li ˙allielhom antifoni u muΩika o˙ra tal-festa mill-isba˙ li tassew tid˙ol fil-qlub.

Carlo Diacono forna lil diversi festi Maltin bir-repertorju muΩikali tieg˙u. F’dawn l-ir˙ula antiki, il-muΩika tal-knisja fil-jiem tal-festa hija ingredjent ewlieni li ssawwar u da˙˙al ’il-poplu tarra˙al fi spirtu tassew festiv, li jikkaratterizza l-©ens Malti, wie˙ed ta’ ˙e©©a kbira g˙all-festi parrokkjali Maltin ta˙t it-titlu tal-qaddis jew qaddisa patruni tag˙hom.

Irrid ng˙id li x˙in kull Ûebbu©i jisma’ l-ewwel erba’ battuti tal-antifona ‘In Sepulchrum’ li Diacono kkompona g˙all-Festa ta’ San Filep jimtela b’emozzjoni festiva u j˙oss sewwa l-element tal-muΩika.

G˙all-festa ta’ San Filep, is-Surmast Diacono kkompona repertorju s˙i˙: Ωew© antifoni (wa˙da tat-tridijiet, ‘In Sepulchrum’, u lo˙ra g˙al lejlet u nhar il-festa, ‘Hodie Philippus’. Kiteb ukoll ilmuΩika kollha g˙all-jiem tat-tridu tal-festa; muΩika g˙at-TransulazCarlo Diacono zjoni u g˙al nhar il-festa nnifisha.

Naturalment, b˙alma g˙amel g˙al ÓaΩ-Ûebbu©, Diacono g˙amel ukoll g˙al ir˙ula o˙rajn fejn kien Meastro di Cappella.

Carlo Diacono twieled iΩ-Ûejtun fl-1876 (141 sen’ilu) u miet Óal-Lija fl-aqwa tat-Tieni Gwerra (1942). Hu miet ta’ 66 sena. Missieru kien Orazio, li kien il-fundatur talBanda Beland taΩ-Ûejtun. Ma’ missieru, Carlo beda lewwel ta˙ri© muΩikali tieg˙u.

Dan is-surmast bravu studja wkoll ma’ Paolino Vassallo, kompoΩitur Malti li jist˙oqqlu ˙afna u ˙afna aktar ©ie˙ muΩikali f’pajjiΩna.

Fil-fatt, Diacono kien jg˙in ˙afna muΩikalment lil Vassallo, speçjalment fl-opra tieg˙u ‘Frazir’ (1904) li kienet ittellg˙et fit-Teatru Rjal. Paolino Vassallo stqarr hekk: “li kieku ma kienx g˙all-˙idma kbira ta’ Diacono, l-opra tieg˙i ‘Frazir’ ma kinetx issir”.

L-ewwel impenn importanti fil-karriera muΩikali g˙al Diacono kien fl-eta` ta’ 23 sena meta n˙atar l-organista tal-knisja ewlenija taΩ-Ûejtun, l-istess knisja fejn kien ©ie mg˙ammed.

Meta fl-1923 miet Paolino Vassallo Carlo Diacono la˙aq Maestro di Cappella talKatidral m i n floku. Il˙ a t r a g˙al din il-kariga kellha lappropvazzjoni s˙i˙a talI s q o f Mauro

PeterPaulCiantar Caruana li tant ried lil Diacono li sa˙ansitra ˙atru ming˙ajr tnedija ta’ konkors.

Diacono kien ukoll Maestro di Cappella tal-Isla, iΩ-Ûejtun, il-Birgu, Bormla, ÓaΩ-Ûebbu© u bosta parroççi o˙ra. Ta’ 23 sena kien ukoll surmast tal-Banda Beland taΩ-Ûejtun u aktar tard in˙atar ukoll surmast tal-Banda San Ìor© ta’ Bormla.

Kien g˙ad kellu biss 10 snin meta ˙are© idoqq il-kwartin mal-banda Beland. L-okkaΩjoni kienet il-Purçissjoni tal-Ìimg˙a l-Kbira. G˙al din il-banda Diacono kkompona g˙add ta’ xog˙lijiet, fosthom innu grandjuΩ f’©ie˙ Santa Katerina. Dan l-innu iddedikat lill-Patruna taΩ-Ûejtun kitbu f’età Ωg˙ira. G˙adu jindaqq sal-lum.

Jekk wie˙ed jara l-lista sabi˙a u kbira ta’ xog˙lijiet muΩikali li ˙ar©u mill-pinna ta’ Diacono jsib 45 quddiesa. Jing˙ad li meta xi saçerdot ©did kien ikollu l-ewwel quddiesa tieg˙u, Diacono kien jiktiblu quddiesa g˙all-okkaΩjoni.

Hekk g˙amel pereΩempju g˙all-ewwel quddiesa ta’ Mons.

Salv Grima, is-saçerdot li bena d-Dar tal-Kleru. Din g˙adha ti©i esegwita sal-lum.

Il-pinna muΩikali ta’ Diacono kienet ˙afifa. Kien jikkomponi melodiji sbie˙ u sempliçi x˙in u meta jrid.

Jing˙ad li ˙afna mix-xog˙lijiet muΩikali tieg˙u kien jiktibhom fid-dar tal- ville©©jatura li kellu f’Marsaxlokk. Il˙emda tal-madwar, il-ba˙ar u l-orgni Ωg˙ir f’kamartu kienu jispirawh sew fil-kitba tal-muΩika.

Minbarra quddies, Carlo Diacono kkompona wkoll g˙add ta’ ‘Requiem’, ‘Stabat Mater’, tliet oratorji u ˙afna antifoni li w˙ud g˙adhom popolari sal-lum.

Mhux façli tifisser xi j˙ossu l-BormliΩi fil-Festa talKunçizzjoni x˙in jisimg˙u l-Antifona ‘Hodie Egressa Est Virgo’ jew ir-Rabtin Pawlini ‘Sancte Paule Apostele’, il-Vittorjosani ‘Levita Laurentius’ jew inkella s-Sengleani ‘Gloriosae Virginis Mariae’. Imsomma l-antifoni ta’ Diacono g˙adhom popolari ˙afna u parti integrali fl-entuΩjaΩmu tal-festa.

Hu kkompona anke innijiet, salmi u xog˙lijiet orkestrali o˙ra, imma bla dubju wie˙ed mill-a˙jar xog˙lijiet muΩikali tieg˙u huwa l-opra ‘L’Alpino’ (1918) li ttellg˙et fit-Teatru Rjal diversi drabi u tant kellha suççess, li ©ew organizzati Ωew© serati d’onore li fihom Diacono ng˙ata diversi rigali.

Hi x-xewqa tieg˙i li g˙all-inqas din l-opra ssir ‘concert version’ tag˙ha u tinstema’ f’xi sala tal-kunçerti. Ûgur li tkun ta’ attrazzjon, g˙aliex lil Carlo Diacono n-nies g˙adha t˙obbu.

Fis-6 ta’ Novembru tal-2006, Carlo Diacono kien wie˙ed minn ˙ames kompoΩituri u /jew surmastrijiet tal-muΩika Maltin li individwalment ©ew mog˙tija ©ie˙ permezz talimma©ini tag˙hom fuq bolla kull wie˙ed minn sett ta’ ˙amsa li ©ew mitbug˙a (ipprintjati).

8 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday June 6, 2017

Have your say/Xi trid tghid?

Your letters/ L-ittri tag˙kom ...

Ta’ stmerrija li nies Maltin ˙amm©u l-politika Maltija 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.

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

Anth. Muscat minn Williamstown Victoria jikteb:

K

ont se nikteb din l-email bl-IngliΩ imma ˙assejt li m’g˙andix jien ukoll nag˙mel ˙sara lil Malta billi nuri lmentalita’ miskina ta’ xi Maltin, fejn g˙andha x’taqsam il-politika, mal-barranin li wkoll jaqraw dan il-magazin popolari.

Mill-eseprjenza tieg˙i kont naf li fil-politika Maltija, l-aktar meta tkun qed toqrob elezzjoni ©enerali, ikunu ˙afna, kemm politiçi u wkoll partitarji rispettivi li jinsew il-˙biberija li l-©ens Malti hu mag˙ruf g˙aliha u jinfexxu f’atti li twassal lil min jg˙id li l-poltika hija ma˙mu©a.

Ma naqbilx g˙al kollox. Il-politika mhux bil-fors ma˙mu©a. Tkun ma˙mu©a g˙ax innies jag˙mluha hekk.

Na˙seb li b˙al ˙afna o˙rajn, din id-darba, forsi aktar minn qabel, a˙na li ng˙ixu ‘l bog˙od minn art twelidna, is-sabi˙a Malta, stajna nsegwu dak li qed ise˙˙ (jew a˙jar dak li se˙˙ g˙ax meta tidher din l-ittra l-elezzjoni tkun saret) tul il-kampanja elettorali.

Stajna naraw kemm tajn intefa’ fuq politiçi f’attakki kontra individwi, sempliçment g˙ax m’humiex tal-istess kulur. Donnu li lidea kienet, itfa’ kemm tista’ tajn, u ara li dan tag˙mlu b’mod kontinwu, biex forsi xi ˙a©a minnu te˙el u min jitfa’ t-tajn jiggwadanja.

Saru attakki baxxi, u tg˙ajjir intenzjonat li jwe©©a’ minn xi kandidati (wie˙ed partikolari) li kien jaspira li jing˙ata l-vot biex ikun fil-Parlament.

S’hawn, g˙alkemm xejn ma naqbel, kwaΩi nirrepeti l-fraΩi IngliΩa, “all is well and good” g˙ax li d˙alt g˙all-politika trid tistenniha.

Imma did-darba l-kampjanja kienet wisq ma˙mu©a u fl-attakki kien hemm min qabeΩ kull limitu tad-deçenza, tant li sa ©ie kkun-

dannat mill-persuna ©entili li kull Malti j˙obb, il-President ta’ Malta li dejjem ˙admet biex i©©ib l-g˙aqda u telg˙et ‘l fuq mill-politika.

Fl-a˙˙ar jiem tal-kampanja xi ˙add uΩa l˙dura tieg˙u. Kif ©ie rrappurtat, fuq facebook xi ˙add po©©a ritratt immanipulat ta’ poster tal-PN li kien fih l-imma©ni tal-Prim Ministru, u rran©ah b’tali mod li ©ablu wiçç ta’ bniedem bid-Down’s Syndrome u bilkliem mieg˙u “He let us all down”.

Xi ˙a©a tassew disgustanti li ©abet l-istmerrija ta’ ˙afna miΩ-Ωew© kampijiet politiçi, ewlenin. Fost kul˙add mill-President li qalet li kien tal-mist˙ija li hemm min juΩa l-politika bi skuΩa biex jinsulenta lil ˙addie˙or u fl-istess waqt iwe©©a’ lil persuni vulnerabbli. Ûiedet li kien ta’ dispjaçir u ta’ qsim til-qalb tara li hemm xi Maltin li l-politika niΩΩluha f’livell tant baxx ta’ maturita’ deçenza, rispett u etika. Qalet li hemm min jinfexx f’tg˙ajjir u nsulti mill-ag˙ar, u li huwa ta’g˙ajb g˙al dawk li qed ja˙mlu dan.

Il-kap tal-OppoΩizzjoni wkoll ˙ass li kellu jikkundanna dan l-a©ir u qal li xi ˙a©a b˙al din kienet inaççettabbli.

L-isba˙ reazzjoni kienet tal-Prim Ministru li qal li lilu g˙amlulu unur li assoçjawh ma’ nies b’diΩabilita’ g˙ax dawn tant huma g˙al qalbu.

Kemm ilni noqg˙od fl-istat ta’ Victoria ma niftakarx xi g˙aqdiet Maltin minn hawn li qatt ippruvaw jinda˙lu bis-s˙i˙ u b’mod provokattiv fil-politika Maltija. IΩda din iddarba dan se˙˙ u dawk li jafu sew min huma g˙andhom i˙allsu ta’ dak li ppruvaw jag˙mlu.

G˙ax jg˙idu li j˙obbu lil Malta. Min i˙obb lil Malta ma jiktibx bl-IngliΩ biex jifhmuh barranin, u jag˙mel dan b’mod l-aktar Ωbilancjat kontra pajjiΩu.

Very interesting

Chris Muscat.from Burnside SA writes t was most interesting to go over the article by Profs. Godfrey Pirotta about the history of the General Elections in Malta in the May 23 issue of The Voice of the Maltese. It was a well written and very balanced article that once again helped us, the readers to become aware of something we only seem to talk about when an election comes up.

The article is also proof that this magazine is a publication that we should have had years back when the Maltese community was much larger. We should all urge our kids to read it; this is something Maltese

I

Tuesday June 6, 2017

The Voice of the Maltese 9

Thanks to The Voice of the Maltese for the opportunity to share with you the recent changes to immigration made by the Turnbull government.

Australian Citizenship in the 21st century A

s a local MP in northwest Sydney I know Maltese immigration goes as far back as the early 1800’s and has made such an impact to our community in the outer Western suburbs, including many suburbs in my electorate of Mitchell.

Still, today, in 2017 in suburbs like Nelson and Box Hill and Riverstone, Maltese born Australians continue to be the largest migrant group as of the 2011 Census.

I want to thank you for the immense contribution you have made in building a great community in North West Sydney. The work of the Maltese Community Council of NSW especially in the areas of community welfare and aged care has always been a strong example of community groups working to ensure the wellbeing of migrants to assist in their integration to the wider Australian community.

In 2017, integration of our migrant communities is an ongoing priority for a Coalition government. Nations around the world face new challenges from the mass movements of people and goods.

These challenges in immigration and the ease of which people can travel between countries means Australia needs to be able to rapidly adapt to any threats that it faces on our shores. The world is a vastly different place from when the ability to become an Australian citizen became available for the first time, almost 70 years ago.

In April, the Turnbull government announced new changes to citizenship requirements. These changes put us in line with similar societies like the UK, Canada and Germany. Prospective citizens now must demonstrate their integration into the Australian community; they are required to have had permanent residency for at least four years and will need to demonstrate a competent level of English. Whilst those who migrated here post WWII have rich and successful stories the reality in 2017 means Australia needs higher standards for citizenship.

It is an incredible privilege to be Australian citizens, many of us, especially those who have suffered under the hands of unjust governments, know too well how lucky we are. We are so fortunate to have come to a country that is built on individual freedom, the equality of its citizens, men and women, and the rule of law.

The weight we place on citizenship should never be underestimated nor should it be without the responsibility of integrating and accepting our values. The Government’s changes will ensure this is the case for future citizens and ensure integration is at the heart of migration policy.

It is vital prospective citizens demonstrate these shared values.

Prospective citizens must pass all criminal and security checks we require. Applicants must also pass health checks to also pro-

Hon Alex Hawke MP

(Federal Member for Mitchell, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection)

tect the safety of the Australian community. New citizens will now be required to demonstrate a competent level of English in a new test.

The Government believes this will aid and assist new Australians in integrating into their new home. The government will also continue to provide migrants with assistance to help them learn English and will have time to practice their English skills while they become Australians.

The economic benefits of immigration are well documented, Australia was built on the back of migrants who came here to have a go and build a better life for their family. Our changes will ensure new Australians find it easier to engage in the broader Australian family, and in turn strengthen the bonds of community that is the foundation of this country.

In order to protect these economic benefits listed above, the Turnbull government has abolished the discredited 457 foreign worker visa scheme. A broken system under Labor, foreign workers will now be required to obtain a visa under on a genuine skills shortage basis.

Our changes will ensure that Australian workers are not disadvantaged and get first access to Australian jobs. The Turnbull government is committed to ensuring foreign worker visas are only used in legitimate skills shortages.

The Turnbull government, Minister Peter Dutton and I as Assistant Immigration minister are committed to maintain Australia’s world leading migration system. It’s a system that is the envy of the world; these changes will ensure that Australia remains the most successful multicultural society in the world, while protecting our shared Australian values.

More information on these changes can be found at these websites.

Citizenship Changes: http://www.border.gov.au/ReportsandPublications/Documents/discussion-papers/citizenship-paper.pdf; 457 Changes: http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Work/457-abolition-replacement Editorial note: The Voice of the Maltese welcomes any other Australian Parliamentarians, be they State or Federal who wish to express their views on important topics.

Maltese Australian Citizenship ceremony held at the Parramatta Town Hall in 2014

10 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday June 6, 2017

Perspettiva Id-dekriminalizzazzjoni tad-droga A version of this series in English may be found in the author's blog at: https://ivancauchi. blogspot.com

F

'Malta, fl-2015 kienet saret bidla fil-li©i dwar l-abbuΩ tad-droga, fejn persuna li tinsab ˙atja li kkultivat pjanta wa˙da tal-kannabis u tikkonvinçi l-qorti li dan g˙amlitu g˙all-uΩu personali tag˙ha, ma ting˙atax awtomatikament sentenza ta' ˙abs jew sentenza sospiΩa, u minflok ting˙ata multa bil-˙sieb li ting˙ata lil organizzazzjonijiet li ja˙dmu fil-qasam tar-rijabilitazzjoni.

Din il-li©i tag˙ti ç-çans lil min huwa maqbud bi drogi illegali li jing˙ata g˙ajnuna biex jaqta' lvizzju tad-droga, ˙a©a li titqies b˙ala prijorità iktar g˙olja millproçess kriminali. Dan kien pass kura©©juΩ u poΩittiv ferm.

Jidher li l-bidla tal-2015 tat il-frott, g˙ax minn dakinhar, minn 1,045 kaΩ ta' abbuΩ ta' droga, 32 biss kienu reçidivi.1 Issa f'nofs id-dag˙dieg˙a mistennija ta' qabel l-elezzjoni li saret xi jiem ilu f'Malta u l-gwerra ˙arxa bejn iΩ-Ωew© partiti l-kbar, ˙ar©et proposta li jidher li g˙andha appo©© ta' elementi taΩ-Ωew© partiti, u nittama wkoll tal-pajjiΩ.

Qieg˙ed nirreferi g˙al proposta li ˙ar©et minn forum organizzat mill-Ministeru tal-Ìustizzja f'Malta, biex titwessa d-definizzjoni ta' uΩu personali ta' drogi b'kuntrast g˙al traffikar, biex li wie˙ed jinqabad b'iktar minn pjanta wa˙da tal-kannabis ikun xorta jista' jargumenta li dan sar g˙all-uΩu personali tieg˙u. Din tkun tfisser tkomplija tal-bidla li kienet saret fl-2015.

Din il-proposta jidher li g˙andha l-kunsens tal-a©enziji nvoluti fil-qasam tad-drogi, u qed ti©i kkunsidrata mill-Gvern ta' Malta.2 Dan il-pass narah poΩittiv, u jirrifletti xejra f'pajjiΩi madwar iddinja biex inaqqsu l-kriminalizzazzjoni tad-drogi. Kif argumenta rapport tal-Fundazzjoni Mid-Dlam g˙ad-Dawl, wie˙ed ivvizzjat mid-droga jista' jitqies li g˙andu diΩordni mentali, u evidenti li huwa pazjent li g˙andu bΩonn kura u mhux kriminali li g˙andu bΩonn kastig.3 Wara kollox, hemm drogi o˙ra b'effetti koroh ˙afna, anke fatali,

THE MALTESE CULTURAL ASSOCIATION OF NSW is Celebrating A “Maltese Folkloric Festival” on Sunday, July 23 (from 11.00 am to 4.00 pm)

RED GUM Centre, 8-14 Lane Street, Wentworthville Starting with: Exhibition of Traditional Arts & Crafts Maltese Folkloric Music - songs by the MCA Choir Maltese food & drinks will be available to purchase.

Chocolate Wheel, Raffels and lots of Prizes Entrance FREE (All under cover. Everyone is welcome) For more information or anyone wishing to be an exhibitor or stall holder contact the co-ordinator, Marisa Previtera on MB: 0414 863 123 This event is part of the LOCALE Festival Program of Cumberland Council

kitba ta’

IVAN CAUCHI

li s-soçjetà ma tikkriminalizzax luΩu tag˙hom - qed nirreferi g˙attipjip u g˙all-alko˙ol u l-abbuΩ ta' drogi li ©©ib ming˙and l-ispiΩjar imma t˙ares lejn il-konsegwenza tal-a©ir ta' min juΩahom.

F'dawn il-kaΩijiet, id-drogi nvoluti mhux biss huma dekriminalizzati imma huma legalizzati, ˙a©a li (s'issa) mhix qed tissemma f'Malta.

Fl-Awstralja, riçentement kellna çaqlieqa f'dan il-qasam, mhux fuq l-uΩu rekreazzjonali tal-kannabis imma fuq l-uΩu terapewtiku (g˙all-kura tal-epilessija).

Fil-fatt, il-kannabis g˙al uΩu terapewtiku ©ie legalizzat lejn lPjanta tal-kannabis a˙˙ar tas-sena li g˙addiet. Xorta wa˙da trid preskrizzjoni tat-tabib biex tuΩah, u proçess twil ta' approvazzjoni individwali, g˙ax l-awtorità tal-prodotti mediçinali Therapeutic Good Association g˙ad m'approvax formalment lillkannabis b˙ala trattament mediku.4 PajjiΩi differenti g˙andhom attitudnijiet differenti g˙all-uΩu talkannabis. Dawk li, simili g˙al Malta, iΩommu li l-uΩu huwa illegali imma jippermettu jew jittolleraw il-konsum personali jinkludu lill-Olanda, l-Urugwaj, l-Indja u n-Nepal. PajjiΩi li, b˙all-Awstralja, jippermettu l-uΩu mediçinali tal-kannabis jinkludu l-Kanada, l-IΩrael u partijiet mill-Istati Uniti.

Il-kannabis huwa wie˙ed mid-drogi meqjusa 'rotob', g˙ax huwa meqjus li g˙andu inqas effetti ˙Ωiena u jikkreja inqas dipendenza minn dawk meqjusa 'iebsin' b˙all-kokaina u l-eroina.

Inqas effetti ma jfissirx li ma jkunx hemm effetti. Per eΩempju, l-konsum kontinwu tal-kannabis jista' jaffettwa l-progress fledukazzjoni, iΩid il-mard mentali u anke jista' jikkawΩa l-mewt.5 Madankollu, wie˙ed jista' jikkunsidra li jekk içappas lil individwu bi proçess kriminali g˙ax inqabad ipejjep sigarett bil˙axixa, dan jista jwasslu li jista' jkollu stigma soçjali, u r-rekord kriminali tieg˙u xejn ma jg˙in biex isib xog˙ol.

Façli li minn sigarett ta' gramma jew tnejn, wie˙ed jispiçça f'çirku vizzjuΩ, li jwassal g˙al iktar kriminalità, ˙abs u problemi soçjali kbar.

Jien ng˙id li mhux dejjem li a©ir mhux rakkomandabbli g˙andu ji©i meqjus att kriminali b˙ala deterrent jew sanzjoni, g˙ax dan jista' jag˙mel iktar ˙sara milli ©id. Nara poΩittiva l-poΩizzjoni ta' tnaqqis tal-kriminalizzazzjoni tal-kannabis li ˙adet Malta, u miftu˙ ukoll g˙all-ideja li xi darba din is-sustanza tasal li tkun legalizzata.

Fl-a˙˙ar mill-a˙˙ar, id-deçiΩjoni jekk tinbidilx il-li©i, kemm f'Malta u f'kull pajjiΩ ie˙or, hija politika, u g˙andha tirrifletti laççettazzjoni jew le tas-soçjetà, il-valuri tag˙ha u kif tixtieq li uliedha ji©u ttrattati meta jinqabdu f'din il-prattika.

G˙ax tabil˙aqq, fuq uliedek u uliedi qieg˙din nitkellmu.

Referenzi 1. http://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/only-32-cases-out-of-1045-are-relapsers-on-simple-drug-possession/, retrieved 29/5/2017 2. https://lovinmalta.com/news/growing-cannabis-in-malta-could-become-easier, retrieved 29/5/2017 3. Report on the White Paper regarding Drug Laws Reform; Matthew Muscat, MidDlam għad-Dawl, 2014 4. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-22/who-can-get-medicinal-marijuana-nowthat-its-for-sale/8292498, retrieved 30/5/2017 https://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/blog/assessing-costs-and-benefits-legalising5. cannabis, retrieved 30/5/2017

Tuesday June 6, 2017

Escorted by Maltese priest Tarcisio Micallef

The Voice of the Maltese 11

12 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday June 6, 2017

Roundup of News About Malta

The people have spoken

Malta looks ahead to five more years under Labour:

Joseph Muscat Gets the Nod PM promises ‘the best yet to come’ *Continued from page 2

H

aving got the nod from the people to lead the country for five more years, Joseph Muscat pledged, the past four years “will be nothing” compared to what’s still to come. He promised that “the best is yet to come”.

“I urge each and every one of you to help progress, because this is the movement of all Maltese and Gozitans. It would be easy for us to act arrogantly, but this movement’s strength comes from seeking unity, because Malta must come first and foremost.”

During the day Simon Busuttil was

no-where to be seen and was in fact highly criticised by the media that he could not face them in defeat. The only comments he gave Sunday were late afternoon to his party’s TV channel.

He said that altho-ugh he was disappointed. as always, the PN fully respected the people’s decision. He went on to say that he was proud to have represented his party’s principles and beliefs of seeking the truth, honesty and good governance.

He added that the PN had managed to light a flame of hope and it was essential that it remained alight. On Sunday, amid reports that he would resign, he said nothing.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat with his family addressing LP supporters on Sunday at the the party HQ in Hamrun

Busuttil, entire PN leadership resign On Monday afternoon at a news confeence at the party heaqduqarters, Simon Busuttil announced that he and the entire party administration were assuming responsibility for the humiliating defeat and decided to resign.

The other members of the leadership to step down include deputy leaders Mario de Marco and Beppe Fenech Adami, the president of the executive committee, the president of the administrative council, the general secretary and the president of the PN general council.

Dr Busuttil, party leader since May 2013 said that the Nationalist Party now needs new leadership. He would stay on until a new leader is elected and sworn in as Opposition leader.

He said he was proud and privileged to have led the party and would leave the leadership with a clear conscience as he had done all he could for it. He said there was absolutely nothing more that he could have done. The same sentiment was shared by the other members of the leadership.

In his opinion, compared to when he was elected its leader, the PN was now in better shape both organisationally and financially.

He was proud by the way that during the electoral campaign the PN had transmitted the message that there was a different way to run the country, and that there could be good governance with independent institutions.

He thanked all those who had helped him in any way, saying his actions were always motivated by his love for Malta

The Voice of the Maltese 13

Tuesday June 6, 2017

Roundup of News About Malta

Muscat hosts Japanese PM’s first visit to Malta H

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat (left) greeting Japanese PM Shinzō Abe

istory was in the making when Malta hosted the inaugural visit to the island by a Japanese Prime Minister. Shinzō Abe made a short visit to the island at the end of the G7 Summit in Taormina, Sicily to conduct bilateral talks with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

Trade relations and other bilateral issues topped the agenda of the talks, with Muscat referring to Mr Abe’s visit as a tool to make a quantum leap in relations between the two sides.

Prime Minister Muscat also referred to the ongoing negotiations between the EU and Japan on a trade agreement.

Grant Thornton boss defends Malta’s financial reputation hose who followed the general election tacks “for what they are”. campaign must have learned of the atT He said there are always up and downs, altacks, allegedly instigated by locals, in the ways bumps in the road, with any country,

foreign media, aimed at damaging Malta’s “but I think Malta will get past those”. reputation as a financial services jurisdiction.

In the onslaught by the foreign media that has become known as the 'Malta Files', it was claimed that Malta was en days before the general election, the inbeing used for tax avoidance by firms ternational and influential website, Intellinked to the Italian mafia, Russian ligence Online reported that western loan sharks and the highest echelons of intelligence agencies suspected Russia could be the Turkish elite. behind political storms that had been sweeping The Finance Minister defended Malta leading to the elections.

Malta’s financial services with the According to the French publication that was German media, and Germany’s Fi- founded in 1980 in a report titled, Russians susnance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble pected of sowing cinfusion in Malta, the former even went on television to add his Intelligence Newsletter British and American invoice in Malta’s defence. telligence agencies, in the forefront MI6 and A few days later, in an interview with CIA, had expressed concern about possible the Times of Malta, Ed Nusbaum, the Russian interference in the Maltese election chief executive officer of Grant Thorn- process. ton International, said not only would In a few days, last Saturday’s election in Malta Malta survive the attacks, but in this will be archived, however, echoes about such resector, on a scale of one to 10, Malta’s ports cannot be ignored, and if anything they reputation was at least 'nine plus'. make it worth knowing about.

Grant Thornton is the world's fifth The report noted that a Russian accountant who largest professional services network had previously worked in Cyprus and now lives of independent accounting and con- in Malta who previously worked for Pilatus sulting member firms which has mem- Bank had made allegations against Prime Minber firms in 130 countries employing ister Joseph Muscat’s wife, Michelle, that she a total of 42,000 staff. was the owner a Panamanian company by the Nusbaum, regional manager of the name of Egrant. The report was carried by a auditing and advisory firm who was in Maltese blogger and fuly endorsed by the oppoMalta for the first time, said he had al- sition and described them as “the biggest politiready been briefed about the most re- cal lie in history” and requested an inquiring cent criticism of Malta as a tax haven magistrate to institute an investigation.

by North Rhine-Westphalia finance Faced by journalists about the claims the PM minister, and the 'Malta Files' said he was aware of the information from forAsked by reporter Vanessa Macdon- eign intelligence services. He said that British ald whether he thought the timing of and American agencies were “concerned about the attacks was linked to Malta's pres- possible interference in the Maltese election idency of the EU or because of the process.” He had been warned about it, by the competition to attract companies leav- intelligence services MI6 and the CIA. ing the UK because of Brexit, he said He could not state whether the Russian national, that Grant Thornton would see the at- who made the allegations was connected to them.

On his part Prime Minister Abe referred to common values shared by the two countries including democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. The Japanese Prime Minister said that he would strive to increase political, economic, and trade relations between the two countries.

The two leaders also confirmed both countries’ commitment to strengthen bilateral relations and people-to-people exchanges, as well as to enhance tourism, commercial, and trade relations between the two countries.

Speaking to the media Mr Abe pledged closer collaboration with Malta so as to foster closer ties. Dr Muscat declared that both countries are strongly against protectionism initiatives.

During the short stay in Malta, Prime Minister of Japan Shinzō Abe and Mrs Abe laid a wreath and prayed at the Japanese Epitaph at the Naval Cemetery in Kalkara, which narrates the lost lives of 59 crew members and their captain. They were killed in the Aegean Sea on June 10, 1917 while on duty on the Japanese destroyer Sakaki as part of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance in the Mediterranean. They were buried at Kalkara with other dead World War 1 personnel.

Reports: Soviets meddling in Maltese politics

T

He said he had been told to expect retribution for Malta’s role in hastening the visa waiver programme for Ukraine and after he stopped the refuelling of a Russian warship on the way to Syria.

According to IntelligenceOnline.com, some officials perceived it “as a move to destabilise Malta’s pro-Western prime minister especially because it has occurred at a time when Muscat has been openly opposed to Moscow,” Concerns about Russian involvement in foreign elections escalated since allegations of Kremlin interference in the US presidential race.

Then early May new French President Emmanuel Macron’s campaign team said it had been the victim of a “massive hacking attack” after documents were released online. Russia was suspected of orchestrating the hack.

As in the case of the US and France, this time through a statement, the Russian embassy in Malta categorically rejected the allegations against it as unfounded and untrue. “Russia has never interfered into Malta’s domestic affairs and has no intention to do so in the future,” the embassy said.

PM Muscat refused to elaborate on its content.

Then NP leader Simon Busuttil called the claims absurd.

14 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday June 6, 2017

Sa fl-a˙˙ar g˙addiet u l-˙idma reb˙et!!!!

G

˙all-erwie˙ fl-a˙˙ar il-kampanja elettorali ntemmet u g˙andna rebbie˙. Kienet kampanja elettorali qasira, imma . Ma na˙sibx li qatt rajna b˙ala, anke jekk wie˙ed isemmi l-kampanji elettorali tas-sittinijiet u s-sebg˙inijiet.

Fl-kitba tieg˙i dwar l-elezzjoni dejjem sostnejt li l-poplu kellu g˙aΩla: bejn il-˙idma tal-Gvern u l-g˙ajta ta’ nuqqas ta’ governanza min-na˙a tal-PN. Jidher li l-poplu g˙aΩel, il-˙idma.

IΩda g˙alkemm mill-ist˙arri© li kien qed isir u minn dak li kont qed nisma’ dejjem emmint li l-Partit Laburista kien se jirba˙ din l-elezzjoni, qatt ma bsart, kif na˙seb li l-ma©©oranza tal-Maltin qatt ma bassru, li l-Partit Laburista kien se jirnexxielu jirba˙ b’ma©©orana daqshekk kbira. Ma©©oranza li kwaΩi, kwaΩi twassal

biex wie˙ed jemmen li l-˙idma kollha tal-Partit Nazzjonalista G˙alkemm jien mhux hekk nemmen, g˙ax il-˙idma tal-PN Ωgur wasslet biex it-telfa ma tkunx akbar.

Li jo˙ro© çar hu li l-poplu ma jinsiex il-©id li jsir mieg˙u b˙ala pajjiΩ u anke b˙ala individwu. Hu çar ukoll li mal-poplu l-g˙ajta poΩittiva tinΩel aktar mal-g˙ajta negattiva.

Ng˙id g˙all-erwie˙ ukoll, li wara kampanja hekk missielta, irrebbie˙ g˙araf jiççelebra ming˙ajr l-ebda nçident, sinjal li minkejja dak kollu li jing˙ad, il-poplu Malti mmatura sewwa.

Sadanittant, il-kap Simon Busuttil, il-viçi kapi Beppe Fenech Adami u Mario Demarco u l-amministrazzjoni refg˙u r-responsabbilta’ tad-disfatta u rriΩenjaw enbloc. (Ara wkoll pagni 2 u12)

Il-Prim Ministru Joseph Muscat flimkien ma’ martu u wliedu, il-President tar-Repubblika Marie-Louise Colerio Preca, u d-deputati kapijiet, Louis Grch (lemin) u Chris Cardona (wara l-PM) fil-gallerija tal-Palazz xejjru lill-folla fi mi©bura f’ Misra˙ San Ìor© wara l-©urament tal-˙atra

G˙ax g˙andha l-politika tifridna? fortunatament, l-elezzjoni ©©ib ˙afna firda, kultant anke bejn membri tal-istess familja meta dawn ikollhom fehma politika differenti., SG˙alhekk spikkat ˙afna l-istorja tal-koppja Jason u Stephanie Deguara (lemin f’ritratt ta’ The People

of Malta, li f’intervista fuq The People of Malta dawn stqarrew: “Ma tistax titlef relazzjoni jew ˙biberija min˙abba erba’ ©img˙at ta’ kampanja elettorali,” Huma qalu, “ilna 19-il sena flimkien u a˙na t-tnejn akkaniti fuq il-politika. Ma naqblux flimkien politikament. Konna nafu li a˙na Ω-Ωew© estremi imma qatt ma kienet problema.

Qabel kull elezzjoni naqblu bejnietna li g˙all-©id tal-familja d-dar ma nitkellmux dwar politika. Avolja b˙alissa ma tantx inkunu d-dar, g˙ax nattendu lattivitajiet tal-partiti ta˙t it-tined. Il-˙add, l-g˙ada tal-elezzjoni, ©a ftehimna bejnietna li min jitlef se jΩomm it-tifel u l-ie˙or jo˙ro© jiççelebra.”

Sosntew kif, “˙afna jistaqsuna kif jirnexxilna ng˙ixu flimkien. Ilfamilja ti©i qabel il-politika g˙alkemm it-tnejn g˙andna g˙al qalbna l-partit. Fl-a˙˙ar mill-a˙˙ar fil-5 ta’ Ìunju, ji©ri x’ji©ri, jirba˙ min jirba˙ se nqumu b˙ala familja wa˙da u pajjiΩ wie˙ed. Na˙dmu flimkien kollha kemm a˙na.”

The Voice of the Maltese 15

Tuesday June 6, 2017

Bajjiet Maltin fost l-aqwa

I

l-GΩejjer Maltin minn dejjem kienu mag˙rufa g˙all-bajjiet tag˙hom, bajjiet li, speçjalment fix-xhur tas-sajf, ji©bdu lejhom eluf ta’ Maltin u Barranin.

MaΩ-Ωmien min˙abba Ω-Ωieda tal-makkinarju kemm fuq l-art kif ukoll fuq il-ba˙ar, it-tfig˙ fil-ba˙ar ta’ diversi materjali, fosthom anke dawk tossiçi, beda minn Ωmien g˙al Ωmien jid˙ol id-dubju kemm il-bajjiet tal-lum g˙adhom l-istess bajjiet ta’ dari fejn wie˙ed seta’ jmur jg˙um mo˙˙u mistrie˙ minn xi infezzjoni jew ˙sara g˙as-sa˙˙a.

Imm’issa g˙andna konferma li l-bajjiet tag˙na re©g˙u mill-©did fost l-aqwa tal-Ewropa. Infatti minn rapport li n˙are© mill-A©enzija Ewropeja tal-Ambjent jg˙id li 99% tas-siti tal-g˙awm f'Malta, ©ew ivvalutati li kellhom ilma ta' kwalità eççellenti. B'hekk Malta hi fost ˙ames pajjiΩi fl-Unjoni Ewropeja kollha li b’aktar minn 95% jew aktar mill-postijiet tal-g˙awm li ©ew ivvalutati b˙ala li kellhom ilma eççellenti.

Infatti flimkien ma' Malta ikklassifikaw pajjiΩi b˙al Lussemburgu

Fejn marru l-voti in hi l-lista uffiçjali ma˙ruga mill-KummisD sarju Elettorali tal-ewwel g˙add tal-poloz tal-votazzjoni distrett b’distrett flelezzjoni ta’ nhar is-Sibt li g˙adda f’Malta. qed in©ib biss l-ammont taΩ-Ωew© partiti ewlenin, il-Partit Laburista u l-Forza Nazzjonali (ji©ifieri l-PN/PD).

Voti validi kien hemm kien hemm 310,665, li tqassmu skont it-tabella (lemin)

Distrett PL PN/PD 1 13, 844 10,094 2 17,353 6,761 3 16,328 6,775 4 16,383 7,528 5 15,259 7,720 6 13,717 9,164 7 14.042 10,509 8 10,830 12,591 9 9,712 13,007 10 8,873 14,058 11 10,282 13,207 12 11.120 11,921 13 13,233 12,361 Total 170,976 135,696 Perçentwal 55.04% 43.68%

li rre©istra perçentwal ta' 100%, Çipru b’99%, ilGreçja b 97% u lAwstrija li rre©istrat perçentwal ta' 95%.

F’dawn l-a˙˙ar erba’ snin, Malta dejjem irre©istrat persenta©©i g˙oljin fejn g˙andu x'jaqsam ilkwalità tas-siti tal-g˙awm. Infatti fl-2013 Malta kellha çentwal ta’ 98.9%. Imbag˙ad fl-2014 dan tela’ g˙al 100%, filwaqt li u s-sena ta’ wara, fl-2015 kien ta’ 97.7%.

Il-bajjiet li jil˙qu l-kriterji jing˙ataw status ta’ Bandiera Blu u dan l-a˙˙ar sirna nafu li hemm disa’ bajjiet li n˙ata dik mag˙rufa blIngliΩ b˙ala l-Blue Flag g˙ax g˙andhom ba˙ar mill-aktar nadif u jigbdek lejh, tant li ftit tal-jiem ilu meta kul˙add kien mehdi dwar bl-elezzjoni, f’Golden Bay, mag˙rufa wkoll ma’ ˙afna b˙ala rRamla l-Mixquqa, il-Ministru tat-TuriΩmu Edward Zammit Lewis qal li dan ma kienx sempliçement çertifikat ta’ kwalita` imma wkoll indikatur ta’ turiΩmu sostenibbli.

Il-Minisru spjega li dan il-kunçett ta’ sostenibilita` huwa pilastru ewlieni tal-Politika Nazzjnali g˙at-TuriΩmu 2015-20 li ©iet varata s-sena l-o˙ra.

Il-Blue Flag huwa çertifikat lijin˙areg mill-Fondazzjoni Internazzjonali tal-Edukazzjoni Ambjentali (FEE), li fiha hemm tirrappreΩenta lil Malta hemm n-Nature Trust.

Il-bajjiet bi status ta’ Blue Flag huma: il-Bajja ta’ San Ìor© f’San Ìiljna, il-Bajja tal-G˙adira (Mellie˙a), dak mag˙ruf b˙ala lPerched Beach f’Bu©ibba, il-Ponta tal-Qawra, Fond G˙adir (Sliema), G˙ajn Tuffie˙a u r-Ramla l-Óamra f’G˙awdex. Barra minn dawn hemm ukoll Ωew© xtut privati, tal-Paradise Bay u lWestin Dragonara F'kull sena msemmija, l-g˙add ta’ bajjiet analizzati kien ta’ 87.

Min-na˙a l-o˙ra l-pajjiΩi li kellhom l-og˙la g˙add ta' siti tal-g˙awm bi kwalità ta' ilma inferjuri kienu l-Italja, Spanja u Franza.

Mhux ta’ b’xejn li l-bajjiet tag˙na jgawdu fama fost it-turisti li ji©u jΩuruna. J’alla nkunu bil-g˙aqal biΩΩejjed biex ma’ nkunux a˙na li ng˙arrqu dak li n-natura g˙onitna biha.

l-produzzjoni tal-inbid fil-GΩejjer Maltin tmur lura sewwa fis-snin. Dan l-inbid Inbid Malti?

Inistg˙u ng˙idu li kien jid˙ol f’kull dar Maltija u G˙awdxija. L-inbid ta’ barra kien xi ˙a©a rari li x’aktarx kont issibu f’xi dar ta’ min jista’ j˙allas u meta wie˙ed jo˙ro© jiekol barra minn daru. G˙akemm anke’ hawn ˙afna kienu jippreferu li jordnaw linbid Malti.

IΩda ftit tas-snin ilu l-affarijiet bdew jinbidlu. L-inbid ta’ barra, bdejt issibu fuq lixkaffef tal-˙wienet, l-aktar kien bi prezz ra©jonevoli... b’çertu mbejjed ta’ barra bi prezz or˙os minn dak tal-inbid lokali.

Dan ta daqqa ta’ ˙arta lill-industrija lokali g˙ax anke r-ristoranti bdew joffru mbejjed barranin bi prezz ©ieli ir˙as minn tal-Maltin u li forsi kienu j˙ossu li fih aktar qlieg˙.

G˙alkemm fost it-turisti li jkunu jridu jixorbu xi ˙a©a lokali, il-Maltin xorta baqa’ ppreferut.

Issa l-Gvern ˙ass il-˙tie©a li jifta˙ kampanja varjata permezz ta’ pubbliçità fuq itteleviΩjoni, ir-radju, fit-toroq, u fuq il-media soçjali biex aktar Maltin u G˙awdxin jibdew jag˙Ωlu nbejjed ta’ kwalità Maltin. Linbid hu parti mill-kultura u mit-tradizzjoni

ta’ pajjiΩna u hu l-obbligu tag˙na li nΩidu lg˙arfien dwar kif isir l-inbid u ç-çertifikazzjoni tieg˙u biex b’hekk titjieb l-attitudni tal-pubbliku lejn il-produzzjoni tal-inbid.

F’pajjiΩna g˙andna erbatax-il kumpannija kummerçjali rre©istrata biex tipproduçi l-

inbid – disg˙a f’Malta, u ˙amsa f’G˙awdex.

Minn dawn, g˙axra huma rre©istrati biex jipproduçu nbejjed ta’ kwalità identifikati b’tabella safra b˙ala ‘Produzzjoni ta’ Ori©ini Kontrollata’ (DOK), filwaqt li l-inbejjed b’tabella ˙adra huma çertifikati b˙ala ‘Indikazzjoni ©eografika Tipika’ (I©T).

Mit-tnedija tal-iskema ©iet irre©istrata Ωieda sew fil-produzzjoni.

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16 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday June 6, 2017

A quick glimpse at Australia

deadline More Australian troops Cruel T to the war zone D

efence Minister Senator Marise Payne (pictured below) announced that Australia would provide military trainers to help Afghanistan battle a resurgent Taliban and the socalled Islamic State. The troop boost is in response to requests from NATO. The total NATO increase is likely to total several thousand, on top of the 13,000 that are already there, with the US providing the bulk of the numbers. Senator Payne acknowledged there had been "setbacks" in the wartorn country.

Australia

had a good track record in training local forces. The 30-person increase was a sustainable one for a relatively small national force and would make a difference.

Australia and other coalition countries had an obligation to prevent the country from toppling back into extremist-riven anarchy, Professor Peter Leahy, former chief of army said. But he said the coalition still lacked a clear strategy. In particular, he said, the coalition had to "really take on Pakistan at a diplomatic level" for giving "support and safe haven" to the Taliban and other groups.

The Afghanistan War has raged since 2001 (13 years) when USA invaded that country. Some still question why Australia is still involved in this war.

he St Vincent de Paul Society has urged the government to revoke the October deadline and to provide better funding for legal support and interpreting services for asylum-seekers.

It said 7500 asylumseekers would need to submit documents amounting to as many as 60 pages, denying many access to a fair and proper process. “ This latest announcement is cruel, morally reprehensible and a fundamental repudiation of the government’s moral and legal obligations to those seeking asylum in Australia,” the Society’s National Council CEO, John Falzon, said.

“Many of these asylumseekers were not invited to apply for a protection visa until relatively recently.”

At the same time, the Society said, the government had cut funding to legal assistance and interpreting services, forcing people to navigate complex legal processes on their own. People who seek asylum have a legal right to have their claims properly processed and in a safe and timely way.”

“We urge the government to instead provide asylum seekers with the legal support they need, to enable their claims to be assessed in a fair manner,” Dr Falzon said.

Hundreds of indigenous leaders push for a treaty H

undreds of indigenous leaders at Uluru, in the Northern Territory, abandoned the prospect of a statement of acknowledgment in the constitution recognising Aboriginal people as the original owners of the land. Instead, they decided to push for a constitutionally elected indigenous body in federal parliament, a mechanism for treaty-making and a healing commission.

“In 1967 we were counted, in 2017 we seek to be heard,” indigenous leaders at the Referendum Council summit in Uluru said.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull warned on Saturday that “controversial” changes to the constitution would have little hope of succeeding unless there was minimal opposition to the change.

Mr Turnbull told the National Reconciliation Week lunch in Melbourne to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum

and the 25th anniversary of the Mabo decision that Australians were “constitutionally conservative”.

“This week has seen us look towards another step, with the Referendum Council’s National Convention at Uluru,” he said.

He noted the “last remotely controversial amendment to be approved was in 1946”.

“History would indicate that to succeed not only must there be overwhelming support but minimal, or at least tepid, opposition,” he said.

The Prime Minister said political unity was needed to persuade the “constitutionally conservative nation” to vote in favour of change.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten told the lunch there was “a sincere desire for bipartisanship” on the referendum issue.

The Referendum Council, which is unrelated to the government’s official awareness

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The Australian Aboriginal Flag

campaign Recognises (a part of Reconciliation Australia), will provide details of the new proposal in its final report to Mr Turnbull and Mr Shorten on June 30.

Pell back in the news

n a strongly worded statement Archbishop IwasAnthony Fisher said Cardinal George Pell entitled to the presumption of innocence, and that justice must be left to run its course. he said.

He said it was unfortunate that in the very week this happens, media and authors publish and repeat allegations, some already and thoroughly answered.

“This cannot assist the impartial pursuit of justice. What is clear, however, is that Cardinal Pell has co-operated in every way with multiple police, parliamentary and royal commission investigations.

“Everyone supports just investigation of complaints but the relentless character attacks on Cardinal Pell, by some, stand the principle of innocent-until-proven-guilty on its head. "Australians have a right to expect better from their legal systems and the media.

Even churchmen have a right to 'a fair go.'”

Cardinal Pell, who was a priest in Ballarat before becoming Archbishop of Melbourne, is accused of sexually abusing some boys.

The Voice of the Maltese 17

Tuesday June 6, 2017

A quick glimpse at Australia

Extraordinary act, gesture of love

I

ron ore magnate and philanthropist Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest (right) and his wife Nicola have announced Australia’s largest philanthropic donation of unprecedented $400 million for a variety For a festival that apparof social and scientific ently has no overarching causes. theme, besides the The announcement was usual lights that adorn made at a ceremony the Opera House and hosted by film star Russell Circular Quay, Crowe and attended by this year’s Vivid Prime Minister Malcolm Sydney that Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten at Parkicked off liament House in Canon May 27, berra. sure has a Some $75 million will be thing for spent for co-ordinating the animal world cancer institutes to kingdom with skyscraper-sized light displays that event goers cannot but gap at.

As is the norm, billed as the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas, Vivid is make lethal cancer history for the coming generation; expected to attract around three million visitors to Sydney this year before it is $50 million towards buildwrapped up on June 17. ing stronger communities; $75 million for higher education and breakthrough research; $75 million toormer Melbourne Labor MP Christian wards giving every child John Zahra (right) has been appointed the their best chance; $50 milexecutive director of the National Catholic lion towards creating eqEducation Commission (NCEC), the Bishops uality of opportunity Commission for Catholic Education. Chrisamong all Australians; and tian was born in Malta and was Labor MP in $75 million towards rethe House of Representatives from October moving modern slavery 1998 to October 2014 representing the refrom human history. Mr gional seat of McMillian in Victoria.

Turnbull declared the doPerth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, chairnation as an “extraordinary man of the bishops’ commission, said Mr. act” and gesture of love.

Zahra had been a major contributor to AusLabor leader Bill Shorten tralian society “across a range of spheres – said it was a “most reincluding politics, community development, markable morning” and and business”. urged Australians to fol“Christian has always been a strong advolow Mr Forrest’s lead. cate on behalf of his communities and stake“What he is saying is that holders. He will speak clearly and passionately on behalf of Catholic school students, teachers and families in this new role.”

Speaking to the Bishops Conference, Mr Zahra said: “It’s a great honour for me to be appointed to this important role and I thank the Bishops Commission for Catholic Education for the opportunity to serve.

“Catholic schools are a critical component of the education system in Australia, and for 200 years they have made a significant contribution to Australian society.

“At the heart of all Catholic schools in Australia is a unique partnership between the Church, passionate teachers, and principals, engaged parents and government. I look forward to working collaboratively with all of these groups so that Catholic schools can continue to make their vital contribution to the education of children and Australian society more generally.”

Maltese gets top job at NCEC

F

he is in the fortunate position to make this most unprecedented statement of support for all of these causes, but he invites all of us to follow his example and for all of us to give more of us so that we can actually make this a better place,” he said.

Forrest, who is worth $US4.3 billion according to Forbes, hopes all Australians can give, noting time is just as valuable as dollars.

“We encourage others to give what they can — recognising it’s a very personal choice — like I have been encouraged by the Gates and the Buffetts and others of the world,” he told reporters.

Nicola Forrest said their gift would never replace billions of dollars of government funding, but it could help highlight areas where a bit of risk-taking is needed. “What this donation does is it allows us to challenge the norm, to try new ways.”

18 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday June 6, 2017

Maltese quarry-inspired garden a winner at Chelsea Flower Show

J

ames Basson, a British born garden designer based in the South of France won the award for this year’s Best Show Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show in Central London for the M&G Garden in which he created a small bit of Malta, a garden inspired by an abandoned GozoMaltese limestone quarry Basson, who has just turned 45 has become well known internationally for his naturalistic and sustainable Mediterranean evocations both at garden shows and out in the real world. The meticulous research behind the design was obvious, and the realism electrifying.

He said the quarry is not supposed to be pretty. “It is stark and monumentally brutal".

However it won the Best in Show in the Fresh category The Chelsea Flower Show, an annual five-day event held in London, this year between and 27,has been held since 1912, and is one of the world's most prestigious garden events, attracting visitors from all corners of the globe.

Basson got his idea after a research trip to the Gozo quarry new Dwejra in summer 2015. Discussing his garden a construction that includes slabs of limestone and evergreens, perennials and ground cover, he said that his garden puts Malta, a microcosm of our planet, and its environment in the spotlight.

He explained that his garden is about “man and nature reacting together over the course of time” and about how important it is “to preserve the fragile balance and celebrate the wonder”, adding that it draws attention to the balance that needs to be maintained.

Basson’s design was divided into zones, each with its own ecology. It included shrubland, the landscape of the

James Basson, (pictured left), and his monumental garden for M&G, winner of the Best Show Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show

hills of the Mediterranean coastline and clifftop scenes, echoing the variety seen in Malta.

“I am fanatical about quarries. The cleanliness and purity of them can be like a contemporary building. I love the graphic patterns of the blocks, the scouring marks, and the way nature regenerates after man has left. A client told me about this one, and when I had the chance of coming to Malta for a design job, I came to see it and was blown away” he said. “I am absolutely thrilled to have won best in show for the first time,” Basson said. “It is an incredible feeling and a testimony to the hard work of the whole team.”

The garden, which includes 300 different plant species, also received the best construction award. Six articulated lorry loads of Maltese limestone provided by Maltese firm Halmann Vella were required to construct the garden.

Halmann also provided six stone finishers to help construct the garden.

Announcing, the award, judging panel chair James Alexander-Sinclair said that the garden was “faultless and outstanding in terms of both construction and attention to detail.”

The Royal Horticultural Society, which runs the annual flower show said: “The message behind the designer’s creation is that humans need to take action to preserve the fragile environment of our planet. Sustainable water disposal, recycling and composting: all are vital if Malta is to save its distinct and delicate landscapes.”

Right: Some of the plants in Basson 's garden

A quarry in Gozo, an inspiration for garden desginer James Basson

The Voice of the Maltese 19

Tuesday June 6, 2017

Friends of Australia Ass. (Malta) celebrates 40th anniversary

T

his year, the Friends of Australia Association (FOAA) is celebrating its 40th Anniversary. Mgr. Philip Calleja founded it in April 1977 with the intention of having a sustained link between the Maltese living in Australia and their parents and relations in Malta, and to promote friendship and understanding between the citizens of both countries by means of cultural, educational and social activities.

When a great number of Maltese migrants started returning to Malta, they joined the Association then led by Chev. Tony C. Cutajar OAM, who was also is president, to keep contact with their country of adoption.

The former president told The Voice that from the very beginning when relations between the two countries were not that good, the FOAA wrote to both governments seeking the restoration of these relations. In his reply, Australian Prime Minister Fraser requested good will between the two peoples.

He went on to say that the FOAA also sought the re-establishment of the post of High Commissioner for Malta and made its voice heard concerning double taxation, dual citizenship and the Australian government’s decision to charge payment for visas authorising entry into Australia.

The FOAA held talks on Australian pensions and Social Security benefits and organised a survey and questionnaires for the recipients of the Australian benefits, and together with Mgr. Calleja held talks with the Minister and Director of Social Security about the prospective new agreement dealing with social services.

Together with the Emigrants’ Commission it welcomed then Prime Minister John Howard, Mgr. (later Cardinal) George Pell, Mgr. Joe Grech, then new Bishop of Melbourne, Governor General Bill Hayden and other members of the government and HCs. The FOAA told The Voice of the Maltese that the past 40 years it held a great number of activities including meetings with au-

thorities, in-house discussions, surveys, educational visits and

Members of the current FOAA committee various social events.

It also served as a link and was a great help when problems cropped up especially in connection with social security benefits, taxation, citizenship, visas and pensions. At Dar l-Emigrant in Valletta on a Tuesday morning one can meet members and non-members wanting to consult the dedicated Virgil Bugeja and his group.

Not so long ago, when returned migrants’ children found difficulties to enter junior lyceums because they had to sit for a Maltese language examination FOAA officials worked hard to help solve the problem.

The association was also involved in talks with the authorities over a number of issues, including Australian pensions and the reciprocal agreement dealing with Social Security benefits, and in 1998 wrote to the Maltese government requesting dual citizenship for children born of Maltese parents in Australia Nowadays it offers a number of services, including information on Maltese and Australian pensions, emigration qualifications, citizenship, passports and ID cards for returned migrants, employment, taxation and on the purchase of property in Malta.

The FOAA enjoys an excellent rapport with the Australian High Commission in Malta as well as with various government departments. The same could be said about its

with Centrelink Australia.

Eight years ago, FOAA’s former president (for 37 years) Chev. Cutajar was awarded an the Order of Australia medal for services to Australia-Malta bilateral relations. The same OAM medal was last year also awarded to current president Virgil Bugeja. In this regard they join Mgr. Calleja who received the honour some years back.

The current committee of the Friends of Australia Associaion is made up of: President: Virgil Bugeja OAM; First President/co-Founder: Chev. Tony C. Cutajar OAM; v/President: Myriam Pavia; Gen Secretary: Frank Micallef; Treasurer: Joe Pavia, and members: Alexandra Taliana, Benny Vella, Albert Camilleri, Paul Sammut and Tania Walters.

The Association feels that thanks are due to Mgr. Calleja and Mgr. Alfred Vella for their continuous help and encouragement, as well as to the present and past Australian High Commissioners – the Patrons of the FOAA. It augurs that relations between Malta and Australia continue to improve in every way for the benefit of all concerned.

By way of celebrating its 40th anniversary, on May 26, the Association joined the Emigrants’ Commission in welcoming the new Australian High Commissioner, Her Excellency Julienne Hince, to Dar l-Emigrant.

This was followed by a reception.

James Vella Bardon’s The Sheriff's Catch he British crowd-funding publisher T UNBOUND has signed up Malta-born historical novelist James Vella-Bardon’s debut novel 'The Sheriff's Catch', it being the first instalment of his five novel series entitled ‘The Sassana Stone Pentalogy’.

James (pictured left) told The Voice of the Maltese that being signed up by an award-winning publisher is a dream come true for a boy such as him from Malta, who moved to Sydney ten years ago.

He went on to explain that this is the start of a project that has been eight years in the making. If his novel hits a presales target of £4000 in the next three months, then UNBOUND would cover the remaining £8000 to publish his novel in electronic

format. The publishers, UNBOUND have also agreed a joint venture deal with Penguin Random House to distribute trade editions of its titles.

‘The Sheriff’s Catch’ is a breakneck narrative in the first person of a story of a survivor of the Spanish Armada shipwrecked in Ireland, which is in turn both harrowing and inspiring. The historical setting of the novel is the juncture at which various intriguing cultures clash, which include Spanish counter-reformist castaways, ‘late medieval’ Irish tribesmen and reformist English colonists, known to the terrorised locals as ‘Sassenachs’.

James’ influences are not confined to historical fiction alone, “yet also include elements from the genres of fantasy, horror and crime, amongst others”.

20 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday June 6, 2017

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

TISWIR IL-VERB Il-verbi li ma jmorrux mar-regola (Regola 24 ikompli) T.ç. Fuq il-g˙amla u t-tiswir ta’ g˙ammed, ng˙ammdu, tg˙ammdu, eçç. bit-tieni konsonanti tal-g˙erq imtennija, minn newwel, sejja˙, tawwal, qajjem imissna niktbu wkoll: nnewwlu, tnewwlu, nsejj˙u, ssejj˙u, n˙awwlu, t˙awwlu, nqajjmu, tqajjmu, bit-tieni konsonanti tal-g˙erq w jew j mtennijin. Imma skont il- Wie˙ed u Erbg˙in Regola, l-Ewwel Taqsima, inqisu li niktbu sewwa: (i)nnewlu, tnewlu, jnewlu, nsej˙u, ssej-˙u, jsej˙u, eçç.

Fuq il-kitba ta’ qabad, naqbdu; g˙aΩel, nag˙Ωlu; ©ibed, ni©bdu li biΩ-Ωieda tal-a˙˙ar vokali fil-preΩent jew futur jitilfu wkoll il-vokali ta’ bla aççent fit-tieni taqsima, verbi b˙al sela˙, telaq, qamas, sama’, ˙anaq, feraq, bag˙ad, bag˙at, imisshom ukoll jinstemg˙u u jinkitbu: nisl˙u, nitlqu, noqmsu, nismg˙u, no˙nqu, nofrqu, nobg˙du, nibg˙tu. Skont it-Tlieta u Tletin Regola tal-Ewwel Taqsima g˙andna nsemmg˙uhom u niktbuhom: nisol˙u, nitilqu, noqomsu, nisimg˙u, no˙onqu, noforqu, nobog˙du, nibag˙tu bil-vokali tal-le˙en (ewfonika) bejn l-ewwel u t-tieni konsonanti tal-g˙erq.

Hekk ukoll fuq il-kitba ta’ ˙eles li jag˙mel ne˙ilsu, ta’ ˙aleb li jag˙mel na˙ilbu, ta’ ˙arat li jag˙mel na˙artu, nag˙rfu wkoll minn g˙alef, g˙aleb, g˙araf, g˙emeΩ, hemeΩ niktbu sewwa nag˙alfu, nag˙ilbu jew nag˙albu, nag˙arfu, neg˙emΩu, nehemΩu u mhux nag˙lfu, neg˙lbu, eçç.

Hekk ukoll niktbu noqog˙du, toqog˙du, joqog˙du (u mhux noqg˙odu, eçç.), nomog˙du, nibag˙tu, nixeg˙lu, eçç. (u mhux nomg˙odu, nibg˙atu, eçç.).

Hekk ukoll minn kabras, la˙la˙, çaqlaq, ˙axlef, ma˙ma˙, Ωebla˙, mesla˙, beΩlaq niktbu nkabarsu, nla˙al˙u, nçaqalqu, n˙axilfu, nma˙am˙u, nΩebil˙u,

nmesil˙u, nbeΩilqu; tkabarsu, jkabarsu, eçç. tal-le˙en bil-vokali qabel il-konsonanti likwidi r, l, m.

Regola Nru 25.

Il-Passat, jew il-verb li jfisser iΩ-Ωmien lImg˙oddi, isir missura ewlenija tal-istess verb, g˙all-g˙add farrad biΩ-Ωieda tal-ittra t mehmuΩa f’tarf il-kelma g˙all-ewwel u t-tieni persuna, ©ens ra©el u mara, u biΩ-Ωieda tal-ittri et g˙at-tielet persuna ©ens mara. G˙all-g˙add imkattar biΩ-Ωieda tal-ittri na fl-ewwel, tu fit-tieni, u u fit-tielet persuna ©ens mara u ra©el.

EΩ. seraq: sraq-T, serq-ET, sraq-NA, sraq-TU, serq-U. (1) IΩ-Ωieda ta’ konsonanti jew ta’ taqsima li tibda b’konsonanti. (a) fil-verbi b’aççent ˙afif twaqqa’ l-vokali tal-aççent.

G˙alhekk minn télaq, tlaqt, minn xába(g˙), xbajt, minn béda, bdejt, minn táfa, tfajt, minn féhem, fhemt, minn lág˙aq, lg˙aqt, minn lág˙ab, lg˙abt, minn nsílet, nslitt.

Hekk ukoll tlaqna, tlaqtu, lg˙abna, lg˙abtu.

(Ara l-Wie˙ed u Tletin Regola – l-Ewwel Taqsima). (b) fil-verbi b’aççent s˙i˙ jew imkarkar, tbiddel il-le˙en jew il-˙oss u tqabbeΩ l-aççent tal-vokali minn taqsima g˙al o˙ra. G˙alhekk minn qàssam, qassàmt, minn g˙àddas, g˙addàst, minn g˙àwwem, g˙awwìmt, minn bierek, berìkt, minn wieΩen, wiΩìnt, minn qieg˙ed, qeg˙ìdt, minn xieg˙el, xeg˙ìlt, minn bieg˙ed, beg˙ìdt, minn ©ieg˙el, ©eg˙ìlt.

Aktar regoli u tifsir fil-˙ar©a li jmiss

Interesting Sydney visit by the Friends of Don Bosco Association (NSW) eautiful Sydney provided a typical B balmy autumn day when 52 persons set on a bus tour to the Central Coast visiting the Regional Gallery and Japanese Gardens at East Gosford and then spend a leisure afternoon at Ettalong visiting the boutique markets and other interesting sites of this beachfront suburb.

The outing was organised by the past pupils and friends of the Don Bosco Association of NSW. Judging by these photos they had a good relaxing time as they enhanced their knowledge at the Gallary that on the day was dedicated to Aboriginal art and crafts.

The Voice of the Maltese 21

Tuesday June 6, 2017

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

Harry Calleia dies aged 84 The death has been announced of Harry (Henry Joseph) Calleia.

Born on the 29th of June 1933 in Zabbar, Malta, he died aged 84.

Harry, a loved husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle, died peacefully on May 28 in Sydney, Australia, surrounded by his family and friends. A funeral service was held in the Victoria Room of the Royal Automobile Club, Macquarie Street, Sydney.

He was a well-known Maltese businessperson with extensive interests in hotels and real estate both in Australia and Malta. He migrated to Australia in May 1949.

La Valette Social Centre

L-Imnarja fil-25 ta’ Ìunju

IL-ÓADD 25 ta’ Ìunju: 8.00 p.m. Iç-Çentru fi Blacktown se jorganizzata l-festa tal-Imnarja. Fil-11.a.m. Quddiesa.

Ikun hemm daqq taż-żfin minn Emanuel Grech, g˙ana ma’ Saver Bonanno u sħabu. Tieħu sehem il-Banda OLQP, u jkun hemm ukoll Jumping Castle għat-tfal.

Il-kċina jkollha ikel Malti, inkluΩ il-fniek. Il-Bar ikun miftu˙.

Se jkun hemm wirjiet ta’ ħaxix, frott, tjur u artiġjanat. Min irid jesebixxi u g˙al aktar tag˙rif wie˙ed g˙andu jikkuntattja ċ-Ċentru: 9622 5847 jew iċempel lil Joe Abela: 0425206472.

Mnarja at the Hamrun Club Car and Bike Display on Sunday June 18 Gates at 100 Jackson Street, Marsden Park open at 10.a.m.

DJ Johnnie B Good will provide the entertainment.

There will also be a chocolate wheel.

And Traditional Maltese food and drinks can be purchased from the club.

For more information call: Jim: 0416 090 420; Charlie: 0412 278 949 or Greg: 0411 517 187

ST HELENA MALTESE/AUSTRALIAN S.C. Events: June- December 2017

June 10 – Sat.: BYO Function at Errington Hall, St Albans.

Jul 8 – Sat.: BYO Function at Errington Hall, St Albans.

Aug. 25 – Fri. Feast Mass at Croatian Church Ardeer.

Aug. 26 – Sat.: Dinner Dance at Melrose Tullamarene.

Aug. 27 – Sun.: Feast at Croatian Church/Hall Ardeer.

Sept. 9 – Sat.: BYO Function at Errington Hall, St Albans.

Sept. 23 – Fri.: Family function at Klabb G˙annejja Maltin St Albans.

Oct. 14 – Sat.: GM meeting at Albion (2.p.m).

Oct. 22 – Sun.: BYO Function at Errington Hall, St Albans.

Nov. 12 – Sun.: BYO Function at Errington Hall, St Albans.

Dec. 16 – Sat.: Xmas Function at Melrose Tullamarene.

A IÛ AVV V VI Û L-g˙aqdiet tal-Maltin li ridu juΩaw is-servizzi tag˙na billi jippubblikaw xi avviΩ fil-magazine jew jirreklamaw xi attivita` huma m˙e©ga ja˙sbu kmieni u ma j˙allux g˙alla˙˙ar, anzi g˙andhom ji-bag˙tu l-avviΩi tag˙hom millinqas tmint ijiem qabel il-˙ar©a li jixtiequ l-avviΩ fiha.

Jekk ma jsirx hekk ma nistg˙ux niggarantixxu li tali avviΩ se ji©i ppubblikat fil-˙ar©a li jixtiequ.

G

L-a˙barijiet tal-PBS (Malta)

˙alkemm il-PBS ta’ Malta tforni lill-SBS fl-Awstralja bis-servizz tag˙ha, il-qarrejja m˙e©©a li x’˙in iridu jistg˙u jid˙lu fil-website tal-istazzjon: www.tvm.com.mt. Din bil-Malti u bl-IngliΩ.

Il-website hi a©©ornata tul il-jum kollu bil-©rajjiet li jkunu jew se˙˙ew inkella qed ise˙˙u dak il-˙in.

Saint Nicholas Festa Committee Main events for 2017 Sunday July 2: Lejla filBuskett Sunday October 15: Fete Saturday Nov. 11: Dinner Dance 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

22 The Voice of the Maltese

Tuesday June 6, 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 11 ta' Ìunju fis-1:00 pm. firRosehill Bowling Club.

Australian High Commission on facebook; HC on twitter

T

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).

The Voice of the Maltese 23

Tuesday June 6, 2017

Sports on 2 pages Ibrahimovic reportedly rejects Man. Utd. deal out of principle W

hen it comes to professional sport, many like to describe the athletes as mercenaries and that all they care about is money. This goes in particular for footballers in highly professional championships, and when results don't go beyond expectations and especially go bad, players are often accused of “not trying”, or that their hearts are not in the game but in the money they can get.

If one were to believe this very few footballers really “play for their club’s jersey”. Some footballers looking for money elsewhere have been known to try and get out of binding contracts to get better pay somewhere else.

But it is wrong to generalise. Manchester United’s Swedish international striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a fine example of how a footballer can be loyal and be respected. Who would not jump at the chance of getting easy money and play for Manchester United?

Ibrahimovic is currently recovering from an injury that has kept him out of a number of important matches for Zlatan Ibrahimovic being helped off the pitch April 20

the club he had joined less than a year ago.

Ibrahimovic has scored 28 goals in all competitions and 17 in the league for United this season. His injury was a major blow for the club. He missed their semifinal and final of the UEFA Europa League, which United won 2-0 against Ajax to qualify for the Champions League after missing out last season.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has reportedly rejected a £13 million offer to extend his current contract because he “does not believe it would be right” in the midst of a lengthy injury.

Ibrahimovic is set to miss up to eight more months after suffering an anterior cruciate knee injury against Anderlecht in the Europa League on Apr. 20. Consequently, his future at Old Trafford is now in doubt.

United’s manager Joe Mourinho reportedly wants to trigger a one-year contract extension, but 35-year-old Ibrahimovic does not want to take money while unable to play. His current deal expires at the end of the 201617 season.

Ibrahimovic currently earns around £250,000 per week and if the extension that the board has reportedly already approved was triggered, he would earn the same amount.

The United striker took to Instagram to thank fans for their support and quash any rumours of impending retirement.

“One thing is for sure, I decide when its time to stop and nothing else. Giving up is not an option.”

However, this does not necessarily mean he will remain at United, and Mourinho has been coy about the Swede's future. “I don't know, I'm not interested in it," Mourinho is reported saying. He was just hoping the difficult surgery went well.

Madrid make it Parramatta still with only one win from 13 outings Real 12 UEFA CL victories pain’s Real Madrid won the fter yet two more disappointing performThe tight scoreances at the end of which they ended on the line belies a strong A S UEFA Champions League, the losing side, with their players seemingly forget- performance from most prestigious club trophy in EuRESULTS: DAY 13

ting how to win matches, Parramatta (Melita Eagles) stay anchored at the bottom of the PS4 NPL NSW standing, now three points behind the team above them Bonnyrigg, with five.

On Day 12 were outclassed almost throughout their match at Wollongong’s WIN Stadium losing their heritage round clash against Wollongong 3-0. It was mostly one-way traffic with all the roads leading to their goal.

Then on Saturday they lost by the odd goal, 32 at Sydney FC’s Lambert Park and they really need to improve to avoid further disappointments in the next nine matches if they want to keep finals football within sight.

Sydney FC v Parramatta Sutherland v Blacktown Bonnyrigg v Manly U Sydney FC as they Hakoah v APIA picked up three Wollongong v Sydney O valuable points. Sydney U v Rockdale

3-2 0-2 0-3 1-4 2-1 2-2

DAY 12 They were were in 3-0 a commanding 2-0 Wollongong v Parramatta 2-0 Blacktown v Hakoah position going into APIA v Sydney U 1-0 the halftime break, Rockdale v Sydney FC 2-0 1-2 but a penalty early Manly U v Sutherland 4-1 in the second half Sydney O v Bonnyrigg from Daniel Rezo gave Parramatta a lifeline.

However, Sydney restored their two-goal lead just after the hour, with Howard Fondyke's late strike proving little more than a consolation goal for the

rpean football for the second uccessive year and the 12th time in the competition’s history on Saturday.

They managed it by beating Italian champions Juventus in Cardiff by 4-1 thanks to two goals from Ronaldo,who thus becomes the first player to score in three UEFA Champions League finals, CaseMandžukic scored for Juventus with anacrobatic volley.

Coach Zidane completed a player/coach double double.

24 The Voice of the Maltese

Sports on 2 pages

Tuesday June 6, 2017

Young Gianluca Chetcuti winner of the gold in doube trap shooting

Charlotte Wingfield after winning the 100 metres sprint

Malta ends up with four Gold medals at GSSE 2017

B

GL Chetcuti youngest medal winner

ritish born sprinter Charlotte Wingfield proved to be Malta’s Golden girl at the 11th edition of the Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) just ended in San Marino as Malta bagged four gold medals in origin. three separate disciplines. Charlotte won two Also most notable among the medal wingold in the 100m and 200m sprints, and sil- ners was the silver won by 55-year-old vetver in the 4x100m. eran Frans Pace, winner of two silver medals Wingfield’s success stole most of the lime- in previous GSSE editions. light, but the gold medal won by the youngest athlete in the Malta squad, 19-yearold Giancluca Chetcuti in shooting (doubletrap) also ranks highly; so too the gold by the Ladies Basketball team. The Maltese ladies worked hard for their gold and their victory was a most welcome, though a somewhat unexpected outcome.

The ladies led by Italian coach Angela Adamoli went through the competition unbeaten in three matches. In the victory in the final against Luxembourg that brought them gold they had to fight back from 10 points down to win by a mere two points, 52-50.

Overall, Malta won 29 medals (two less than two years ago in Iceland) in the fiveday event. This time round Malta’s gold medals were won in three disciples, whereas two years ago all four were all won in athletics Charlotte Wingfield, 23, has been Malta’s most consistent athlete since 2015 when she switched her allegiance from Great Britain to compete for Malta, her father's country of

Malta’s other silver medals were won in swimming, table tennis, and tennis Below: The ladies basketball team winners of the gold medal celebrate their success after beating Luxembourg

Two draws for Green Gully; two disappointing defeats for George Cross NPL 1 (Rd 15): Green Gully 3 Kingston C. 3 Rd 16: Green Gully 1 Bulleen Lions 1 t was a ding-dong battle at the Green Gully Reserve against Kingston City, with Green Gully coming from 1-2 down share the spoils in a 3-3 draw. The Gully found themselves a goal down by the 14th minute but equalised on the half-hour through Matthew Reid to get to the interval on level terms.

Kingston scored two quick goals after the break to make it 3-1, but Jay Davies on the hour and Wade Dekker saved the day with

I

two tallies in an eight-minute spell between the 60th and 68th minutes. *At home to Bulleen Lions Green Gully dropped two important points they should have won. They were the better team but their strikers missed out on some very good scoring opportunities.

NPL2 (Rd 16): George Cross 1 Moreland 2 Rd 17: Moreland 4 George Cross 1

unshine George Cross’s last two matches Swere against the same opponents, More-

land. They lost them both. They first played in front of their own fans at the Chaplin Reserve they went down 2-1 in front of their own fans, with Jagajeet Shrestha scoring their only goal. *On Saturday Sunshine visited the Zebras at Campbell Reserve and were completely outplayed to lose 4-1.

In the second game Moreland were already 3-0 up with Sunshine scoring just a consolation tally on 49 minutes through Christopher Dib.