In Malta a feast of solidarity, generosity
Transcription
In Malta a feast of solidarity, generosity
The Voice of the Maltese (driven by the voice of its readers ) Issue 92 January 6, 2015 o on nlliin ne e m ma ag ga az ziin ne e s e h s i w t s e B 5 1 0 2 r o f They say that nothing beats Sydney when it comes to the celebrations to welcome a New Year. It was no exception this time as the first city on the planet welcomed New Year 2015 with a $7 million fireworks display at Sydney Harbour in New South Wales. t s a e f a a t l a M In , y t i r a d of soli sity genero Pictures by IRIS They all pulled their weight for a good cause at L-Istrina, including the President. What excels during the Christmas and New Year festivities in Malta are the two annual Charity telethons, for LIstrina, and the Dar tal-Providenza. Described as a feast of solidarity and generosity, this year, donations by the people of Malta broke all records. Between them, the two events raised a total of €4,631,401. (See pgs 12 and 14) The Prime Minister at the L-Istrina telethon The leader of the Opposition 2 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday January 6, 2015 HC hosts Maltese-Australians at Canberra Chancery During last year (2014), the Malta High Commission hosted a number of Maltese-Australian groups at the Chancery in O’Malley, Canberra. H.E. High Commissioner Charles Muscat and Mrs. Muscat, as well as the Deputy HC, Dr Joseph Pirotta and staff met these groups and assured all Maltese-Australians and other nationalities that they are very welcome to visit the High Commission at any time and that the its offices are there to assist them. The HC reminded those present that the High Commission has consulate offices in Melbourne and Sydney, and that other states, as well as New Zealand are served by Honorary Consuls appointed by the Maltese Government to serve and help with enquiries regarding consular Malta’s HC, Charles Musand other relevant work. cat (second left) at the pacing of wreaths at the The groups thanked and Australian War Memorial showed their appreciation for the fact that the HC accepted their request to visit the place. Among other activities in recent weeks, the HC Charles Muscat also attended with Mrs Muscat and thousands of other people, the Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Together with other members of the diplomatic corps, Mr. Muscat placed a wreath on the Memorial of Remembrance. In November the High Commissioner also joined other diplomats at the G20 Summit hosted by the Australian Government in Brisbane that was addressed among others by a number of Heads of States, including President Barack Obama Malta’s High Commissioner (centre) in one of his (USA), Chinese President Xi Jinping, UK Prime Minister meetings with a group of Maltese Australians David Cameron and Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi. Attends Remembrance Day Ceremony, G20 Summit Charles Muscat Presents Credentials to NZ GG T he Maltese High Commissioner to Australia, H.E. Charles Muscat, last month presented his credentials to H.E. Lt Gen Right Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae GNZM, QSO, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of New Zealand at a ceremony held at the Government House in Wellington, New Zealand. The presentation accredits Mr. Charles Muscat as the nonresident High Commissioner of the Republic of Malta to New Zealand. The High Commissioner, accompanied by his wife Victoria, were welcomed upon arrival at the Gov- Ceremony was concluded with drinks ernment House with the traditional Maori being served and photographs taken. ceremonial challenge called the Wero. The High Commissioner and Mrs. The ceremony was followed by the gen- Muscat, with the other newly accredited eral salute and the inspection of the guard, Heads of Mission and their accompanycontingent of the New Zealand Air Force. ing partners, joined the Governor GenThe Honorary Consul of Malta in eral for lunch at the Norrie State Dining Wellington, Dr. Carmen Dalli, accompa- Room attended also by Hon Paul Goldnied by her spouse, Mr. Richard Niven, smith, Minister of Commerce and Conwas also in attendance. sumer Affairs, Associate Minister for Speeches were exchanged between High ACC, the Household staff, and officials. Commissioner Muscat and Governor The luncheon was concluded with a General Mateparae, highlighting the ex- toast to HM the Queen. cellent relations existing between the ReWhile in Wellington, the High Commispublic of Malta and New Zealand. The sioner also called on the Dean of the Dip- From left: Mr. Richard Niven; Mrs. Victoria Muscat; Gov. Gen. Jerry Mateparae; HC Charles Muscat; Hon. Paul Goldsmith, and Dr. Carmen Dalli lomatic Corp and Canadian High Commissioner, H.E. Caroline Chretien, the Head of the EU Delegation, CDA Michalis Rokas, and officials of the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Honorary Consul, Dr. Carmen Dalli, Mr. Richard Niven and Maltese Community in Wellington welcomed the High Commissioner and Mrs. Muscat with a reception that would remind one of the hospitality Malta is known for. A proud sponsor of The Voice of the Maltese website: www.breakawaytravel.com.au Breakaway Travel 94 corner of Main & Campbell Streets, Blacktown NSW for all your travel needs. Tel (02) 9622 7799 blacktown@breakawaytravel.com.au The Voice of the Maltese 3 Tuesday January 6, 2015 An Educator at Large Our relationship with the mass media and information and communication technology W hen my siblings and I were growing up, our staple mass media “diet” consisted of “Lehen is-Sewwa”, “It-Torca” and “The Times and Sunday Times of Malta”. Also, to practise other languages, we had “Children’s Own” in our Primary School years and “Lo Scolaro” and, occasionally, the magazine “Paris Match” in our High School years. Rediffusion’s cable radio gave us a chance to listen to translated and serialised classics, as well as a chance to dance around the dining table to the Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine”, to my mother’s horror at our choice of music. It was our occasional relaxation from interminable stacks of “homework” we had to do, especially as we prepared for the selective schools’ exam, and our years in High School. Later on, “homework” was replaced by unending assignments, as all four of us girls went through an intensive and residential two years at the Mater Admirabilis Training College for pre-service teachers. Television came later, when we had started earning our own money. Then there were only three computers in Government settings; namely the office of Inland Revenue, the dockyard and the office of national data and statistics. So, migrating to Australia and working in a vast office of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs in Sydney opened my eyes to all the terminals and their operators that made life so much easier for clerical work. Those computers were heavy and bulky contraptions that required a stable temperature in an air conditioned environment to stop them “crashing”, virtually stopping all file movement. About a decade earlier I had gone with Follow The Voice of the Maltese online magazine every fortnight. Now we also have our our facebook page. So join us. Go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thev oiceofthemaltese By Lucy Calleja MA (Retired head teacher) a small group of Science students to a cave, not far from the teachers’ college, to see those big computers that read and saved data obtained after sun rays, spots and flares’ images passed through a giant convex lens. The German scientist who looked after the programme used to travel the globe in wait for major solar eclipses. How times have changed, with the invention of microchips. The world is at one’s fingertips, with the advent of widespread digital technology and cyberspace. By the time I came close to retirement, one couldn’t find students that didn’t have a late model mobile phone, seemingly “super glued” to their hands. As if it wasn’t bad enough, decades earlier, with the advent of colour television, to hold students’ attention in class, and engaging them in subject matter that was mandated by the ever crowded curriculum. The digital era had, ultimately, to enter every learning space in any school. It was a matter of keeping up with ever changing technology or becoming extinct. It had a great upside, as “You tube” and “Google” provided instant resources for teaching students new concepts. Older people who, at times, have an aversion to new technology mostly do so because they lack confidence. Therefore it is quite heartening to see various clubs and institutions, such as libraries and community colleges, holding classes for beginners. Once individuals become familiar with and confident in the use of technology, the benefits reaped can be great. The use of software such as “Skype” can bring family members around the globe very close indeed. Other benefits of being online can mean, for people with young families, running worthwhile businesses from the home, if not all the time, at least sometimes. For many decades, apart from cable and transistor radio and television, mass media was in print, namely newspapers and magazines. We listened, watched and read voraciously. Our insatiable thirst for what’s happening around us and globally couldn’t be quenched and subdued. Cable radio and television programmes serialised stories, so the listeners and viewers “had to be home” at a certain time to “watch their story”. Men may have wondered why the ladies in the household had to listen to or watch certain programmes. The women, on the other hand, wondered what the fuss was all about when the men cut short family visits because they had to watch a certain sport on television. Therein lies the danger of ever intrusive technology: mobile phones that go off in the middle of a theatre show; the addictive nature of certain programmes that are shown on television or streamed online; the much reduced communication in families because various members are too busy watching endless programmes, texting friends, reading and sending messages on their “Facebook” account. I confess to being a BBC production tragic, be they period drama or contemporary cop shows. However, I will not watch re-runs if I’d have watched episodes the first time around. Also, ensuring that television and the internet do not rule my life, I set certain times to use them as tools or some relaxation. One must be aware that being outdoors and active is a very important part of our healthy existence. The real dangers of digital mass media can change individuals’ and their families’ lives irrevocably. We’ve read, heard and viewed enough stories of cyber bullying and trolls. Online menace has, sometimes, proliferated in high schools and workplaces, to the extent that young people have suicided. Personally, I do not spend any time on Facebook, as I believe that a phone call or using Skype are much better options for communicating with friends and family members. And I’ve never considered tweeting. I’d rather read a good book, watch a reputable programme or do some puzzles on newspapers to keep my “grey matter” active; or spending some day time sweating it out in the garden. Sometimes, especially when one is still in full time employment, digital technology is a blessing. It makes life so much easier when it comes to networking, data gathering and online information available to enhance learning and, indeed, relaxation. We as a community should feel ever so blessed and grateful to have the online / magazine “The Voice of the Maltese”. It is filling the gap left by the demise of the only Maltese print paper in Australia, namely, “The Maltese Herald”. We will support “The Voice” in whichever way we can. As with digital radio and television, online papers are the way now, and more so in the future. 4 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday January 6, 2015 Malta one of only 20 islands from 200 in Europe that attract tourism F ACT: There are over 200 islands in the Mediterranean, but a whopping 90% of tourists stay on just 10% of them. One of these is Malta that sits south of Sicily and northeast of Tunisia. It may be one of the smallest countries in Europe that it has lots of history. In fact, Malta that sits about 80 kilometressouth of Sicily is made up of three islands: Malta itself, Gozo and Comino. There are some interesting facts to note about Malta, too may to mention in fact, however, when it comes to tourists it is worth reminding that Malta has TWO official languages, Maltese - that sounds Arabic - and English. Valletta, its current capital, that has also been chosen as Eu- rope’s Capital of Culture 2018, is one of the most concentrated historical areas in the world, according to UNESCO. Mdina, the nation's old, walled capital close to Rabat, only allows cars of residents on its roads, Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, an underground necropolis, was excavated around 2,500 B.C. Victoria, the capital of Gozo, is also known as Rabat. It is famous for its beautiful Cittadella, which goes way back to the Middle Ages. Comino, the smallest of the islands, is virtually uninhabited save for one family and a hotel-and is carless. Blue Lagoon is its biggest attraction and it's not hard to see why. A book review by Mark Caruana “Kitarri, Tombli u Teatrin” I came from Malta. We are nostalgic but not stagnant. In a commentary done by Victor Borg, president of the MCCV, that appeared in the MCCV Newsletter, Victor noted that Mario Azzopardi compares the Maltaborn Australians with the average Maltese living in Malta today. Victor stated that it would have made much more sense to compare the first generation Maltese-Australians, who were mainly manual labourers from villages in Malta and Gozo, with those of the same age from the same geographical areas. Would the author have found any major differences there? This is a very good point made by Victor. You compare apples with apples. It looks like the author compared apples with oranges. Victor added that if the author did not bother to discuss with the MCCV, this was an omission. If the author mistook the vice president of another association, one can understand wrong identity but it is still a serious flaw. It could have been easily remedied by adequate community consultation with key leaders who could have verified certain conclusions. I concur with Victor on these observations. My concern in reading this book is in its limited parameters and in its lack of wider consultations. Because few Maltese in Malta study the Maltese diaspora, I feel there is a respon- have read Mario Azzopardi’s book, “Kitarri, Tombli u Teatrin” with interest. It is the work of a Maltese from Malta looking into the Maltese community in Victoria. It focuses mainly on the state of affairs regarding the performing arts by Maltese migrants in Victoria in comparison to Malta. The book includes a CD which I enjoyed listening to its exotic folkloric music. Sadly, the author seems to have limited his research to Malta-born Australians only. The reality is that there are far more Maltese born in Victoria than Maltese born in Malta and their views were not solicited. The author never defines what precisely he means by 'Maltese-Australians'. In my view, it would have been easier to say, Maltese by birth, or Maltese by Descent. I am not sure if the author was aware that those who play bocci or bingo do not form the majority of the Maltese community in Victoria, or for that matter, the majority in Australia. It is a fact that Maltese who belong to associations, or attend Maltese functions, certainly do not make up the bulk of our community. As regards innovation in the performing arts, it could possibly be true that Maltese in Australia have developed relatively slower than Maltese in Malta, partly a phenomenon of the consequence of migration.. but it is not correct to say Maltese in Australia have not developed since they ÓAMRUN ASSOCIATION LTD ABN: 22 080 314 156 100 Jackson Street, Marsden Park, NSW 2765 Ph: 02 9838 1111 Email: hamrunassociations@three.com.au President: George Zahra 0407434651 Secretary: Robin McGarrigle 0407701004 VALENTINE’S DAY SHOW IL-klabb se jorganizza din il-lejla mimlija kant, Ωfin u çajt, nhar is-Sibt 14 ta’ Frar, fis- 7.00pm fil-klabb stess, f’100 Jackson St. Marsden Park. -------------------------------------------------------Id-divertiment se ji©i pprovdut minn CHARLIE u VINCE, u SURPRISE YOUNG FLOOR SHOW ---------------------------------------------Donazzjoni ta’ $12. G˙all kull tag˙rif u biljetti çemplu lil Agnes: 9626 6753, jew Mary: 0421 285 698 Il-kçina u l-bar ikunu miftu˙in g˙al kull ikel u xorb Malti sibility on such researchers to ensure that their findings and consultations are broadly based, the parametres of limitations are clear, in order to avoid creating misconceptions. The book may be a good beginning by an outsider looking into our community but it leaves much to be desired, especially if the book enters schools in Malta. It certainly does not enjoy the backing of the MCCV which is a respected and long-established umbrella body in Victoria. The book could possibly give a distorted impression and create a stereotype among Maltese in Malta. On the one hand, it is pleasing to see academic research widened to include the Maltese diaspora but researchers need to tread very carefully. Editor’s Note: Kitarri, Tombli u Teatrin is a book written in Maltese, yet both Victor Borg of Melbourne and Mark Caruana in Sydney replied in English. Unfortunately in the “forward”, this book repeats false, misleading and damaging statements made by others. The Voice of the Maltese 5 Tuesday January 6, 2015 ’ Stejjer b’differenza Lou Drofenik (Zammit) twieldet f’Birkirkara, Malta. Wara la˙qet g˙alliema fi skola primarja u qattg˙et g˙add ta’ snin fl-amministrazzjoni talistess skola. Hija kitbet g˙add ta’ novelli bl-IngliΩ, fosthom, Birds of Passage, In Search of Carmen Caruana, Of Cloves and Bitter Almonds, Cast the Long Shadow, Beloved Convict and Bushfire Summer. In-novelli ta’ Lou rebb˙uha g˙add ta’ awards letterarji kemm f’Malta u wkoll fl-Awstralja. Filbiçça ‘l kbira jirriflettu l-im˙abba tag˙ha lejn ilwirt Malti u dak tal-Awstralja fejn qattg˙et il-biçça ‘l kbira minn ˙ajjitha. Óafna mill-kitbiet N minn Lou Drofenik (Zammit) tag˙ha huma dwar in-nisa emigranti Malti, issnin biex issetiljaw u r-rabta tag˙hom ma’ art twelidhom. Lou tg˙ix ma’ Ωew©ha u l-familja f’Victoria, fejn minbarra l-kitba t˙obb tie˙u ˙sieb il-©nien kbir tag˙ha. Illum qed nippublikaw wa˙da mill-istejjer ta’ Lou. Qed ng˙idu li din, u o˙rajn aktar ‘l quddiem, huma stejjer b’differenza. Huma miktuba bi stil uniku li ftit hawn min juΩah, imma l-kitba tag˙ha hija sempliçi u li tinftiehem. Fost kollox hi kitba wkoll mexxejja u dda˙˙al lill-qarrejja fid-dinja li trid l-awtriçi. ina twieldet Gel-ikbar elong, belt wara Melbourne, fil-Victoria. Twieldet fl-1985. Ommha kienet minn San Ìiljan, Malta, u missierha minn San Pawl il-Ba˙ar. It-tnejn kienu ©ew l’Awstralja mal-©enituri tag˙hom fis-sittinijiet malmew©a kbira tal-emigranti Maltin. It-tnejn kienu g˙adhom Ωg˙ar. Missierha kellu sitt snin u ommha sebg˙a. It-tnejn kibru l-Awstralja. Il-©enituri ta’ Nina marru skejjel Awstraljani. Iltaqg˙u f’ballu tal-Maltin meta kellhom 18-il-sena. Huma ΩΩeww©u fil-knisja ta North Melbourne f’çerimonja minn qassis Malti. G˙all-ewwel marru joqog˙du St.Albans, fejn ftit bog˙od mill-©enituri tag˙hom kien hemm ˙afna Maltin o˙ra. Bil-Malti kienu jitkellmu sew u kienu anke jafu bl’IngliΩ. Omm Nina kienet taf issajjar ˙afna, kemm ikel Malti u wkoll Awstraljan. Meta, wara sitt snin ta’ Ωwie© ommha kellha lil Nina, ilmissier tant fera˙ li g˙amel mag˙mudija kbira daqs tie©. Wa˙da biΩΩejjed. A˙na n˙obbuha wisq lil din it-tifla. Ma na˙sbux li jekk ikollna tfal iΩjed inkunu n˙obbuhom daqs kemm in˙obbu lil-Nina, kienu jg˙idu. Meta Nina kellha disa’ snin il-familja xtrat dar f’Geelong. Peress li twieled San Pawl il-Ba˙ar, il-missier kien i˙obb jistad u l-ba˙ar kien l-hena tieg˙u. Xtraw dar kbira li kellha bΩonn ˙afna xog˙ol. Missier Nina kien jaf imidd idejh g˙al kollox. Drena©©, elettriku, xog˙ol ta’ mastrudaxxa, u anke ta’ bennej. F’sena iddar li xtraw kienet saret qisha wa˙da min dawk li tara fuq it-televiΩjoni. Mit-twieqi ta’ quddiem kont tista’ tara l-firxa sabi˙a tal-bajja ta Corio. Dawk id-dg˙ajjes tal-qlug˙ sbie˙. Stajt tara dawk il-vapuri kbar de˙lin u ˙er©in. Kienet l’g˙axqa t’ommha u ta’ missierha li fil-g˙axija, wara xxog˙ol joqog˙du bil-qieg˙da fil-©nien ta’ quddiem jitpaxxew b’dik il-veduta sabi˙a. “Qisna qeg˙din San Pawl” kien jg˙id missierha. “Qisna qeg˙din San ©iljan,” kienet tg˙id ommha. Kienu ferm kuntenti. Imma ittra li qalbitilhom ˙ajjithom ta’ ta˙t fuq waslet g˙and in-nannu ta’ Nina bla ˙sieb. se nsibu dar o˙ra b˙al din? Mela Malta ta˙seb li m’hemmx djar sbie˙? Óa naraw kemm i©©ib id-dar. Miljun u nofs! Smajt sew jien? Miljun u nofs dollar. U l’a©ent g˙andu koppja lesta biex t˙allas iddepoΩitu. X’sa nag˙mel? Ma, jien ma nistax ng˙idlek. Hu jrid imur Ma. Da˙˙ala f’rasu li jrid jipprova ˙ajja Maltija. Ru˙i mela hawn m’intomx qeg˙din fil-©enna tal-art? U mbag˙ad tridu t˙arrbtu kollox biex tmorru lura min fejn ©ejna? Ma, miljun u nofs m’a˙na sa n˙arbtu xejn. Ir-ristorant quddiem il-ba˙ar kien ippakkjat bin-nies. Lanqas post wie˙ed ma kellhom. Qalulna li jekk irridu ikla ˙ut mil-aqwa ni©u hawn. Iva ˙i trid tibbukkja minn qabel. Iva lanqas mejda fir-rokna? Stennew hawn ˙alli nara x’nista’ nag˙mel. G˙andkom g˙axar minuti. Tridu ter©g˙u ti©u lura? Daqskemm g˙andna ©ug˙. Intom jaqaw Awstraljani? Iva. Minn fejn intom? Minn Melbourne. Jien hemm twelidt. Fejn toqog˙du Melbourne? Geelong. Geelong. L-isem gerfixha. ˙allielha qalbha ttaqtaq. Li tisimg˙u fuq ilsien ˙addie˙or, hekk bla ˙sieb kwaΩi qatg˙alha nifisha. Geelong. It-triqat wesg˙in b’si©ar miΩrug˙in mitt sen’ilu. L’iskola. Ti©ri mat-tfal l’o˙ra. Tilg˙ab il-hopscotch. Tog˙la sas-s˙ab fuq il-bandli. Nhar ta’ ©img˙a ©urnata sports. Netbol, baskitbol. Wara l-iskola fissajf tg˙um fil-bajja quddiem id-dar. Nhar ta Sibt il-futbol. Geelong kontra Carlton. Geelong kontra Hawthorn. Geelong reb˙u lil North Melbourne. Nhar ta ˙add g˙and in-nanna. Pastizzi ja˙arqu mill-forn. Torta tal-irkotta u l-ful. Qatt Malta ma setg˙et issib l-istess tog˙ma tal-irkotta, tal-krema, tal-˙alib. Geelong fix-xitwa bir-ri˙ ivenven mill-bajja. Bil-qieg˙da fil-park wara l-bandli. BorΩa mimlija popcorn ja˙raq, il-butir jin˙all f’˙alqha. Hi u l-˙abiba jpespsu s-sigrieti f’widnejn xulxin. Il-films mal-˙bieb. Il-ferrovija g˙as-city. Ommha ΩΩommilha jdejha biex ma tintilifx qalb dawk innies. Geelong. Il-˙wienet tal-˙wejje©, taΩ-Ωraben, tal-fish and chips, tal-˙elu, tal-©elati. Tg˙odd il-flus wara li g˙alqu r-ristorant. Nofs il-lejl. Saqajha g˙ajjew. G˙ada tilbes iΩ-Ωarbun l-ie˙or. Dan g˙adu ma ˙ax il-qag˙da ta’ saqajha. Missierha jikkontja. Kemm nefqu. Kemm qalg˙u. Sejrin tajjeb qalilha. Mur orqod sabi˙a. ˙a nçempel lin-nanna. G˙adhom it-tmienja ta fil-g˙odu hemm, forsi g˙adha rieqda. Le˙en in-nanna qasam il-firxa ta’ eluf ta’ mili, qasam loçeani, niΩel mill-muntanji u wasal f’widnejha. Nina, Geelong reb˙ulhom lis-Sydney Swans. Na˙seb sa nkunu fil-finali. U dak il-mument b’qalbha kollha Nina Mamo xtaqet li ma kienetx fejn kienet. Xtaqet b’kemm kellha sa˙˙a li g˙andha par ©wiena˙ ˙alli ttir il-fuq, il-fuq, il-bog˙od, il-bog˙od fejn il-mew© tal-bajja ta Corio jit˙allat mal-ilma tal-bajja ta Port Phillip, fejn eluf ta’ gawwi jtarrxuk bit-twerΩieq tag˙hom u fejn in-nanna kienet qed tag˙mel l-ewwel kikkra kafé qabel ma tmur tixtri. Nina Mamo G˙aΩiΩ Karmenu, Kif intom? Nispera li din l-ittra ssibkom tajbin kif t˙alli lili. Jien Alla jbierek ninsab tajjeb. Issa taf int jien g˙andi ilpiΩ tas-snin u l-˙anut li ˙allieli missierna ma nifla˙x inΩommu iktar. Issa qabel ma nbieg˙u irrid inkun naf jekk it-tifel tieg˙ek hux interessat li jixtrieh hu. Dan business tajjeb ma ng˙idlekx. Jien li kieku nixtieq jibqa` fil-familja. Óuk Ìovanni. Tella’ u niΩΩel: Iva, le le, iva. Naqilbu kollox ta ta˙t fuq? Immorru? Nibqg˙u hawn? U a˙na issa mhux Awstraljani hux? U mela! A˙na Maltin. Maltin twelidna u lanqas jekk indumu hawn sakemm immutu Maltin nibqg˙u. Ara jien ma rrid immur imkien. Din id-dar! Ara kemm infaqna flus fiha. U kemm ˙dimna. Ara kemm hi sabi˙a. Fejn 6 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday January 6, 2015 l-ewwel snin tas-seklu dsatax bosta kienu dawk li jsiefru F barra minn pajjiΩhom biex jibdew ˙ajja gdida u jsibu mpieg fl-Awstralja. Fl-1852 f’dan il-pajjiΩ, g˙all-ewwel darba kien instab id-deheb. Sa ˙ames snin wara g˙al dan il-kontinent kienu emigraw mal-226,000 persuna, kwaΩi nofshom IngliΩi. Fi ftit aktar minn tmintax-il xahar il-popolazzjoni f’Melbourne kibret, minn 23,000 g˙al 70,000. F’dak iΩ-Ωmien il-mezz tat-trasport kien il-ba˙ar, u l-bastimenti bil-qlug˙. Il-Clipper kien ilu Ωmien iba˙˙ar u j©orr il-passi©©ieri. Wara tfaççaw dawk mibnija mill-˙adid bi skrun fuq wara li jdur b’magni li ja˙dmu bl-istim. Il-vapur Great Britain, mibni b’qafas tal-˙adid, kien lewwel vapur ming˙ajr ir-roti bil-palelli mal-©nub biex ‘jaqdef’ fl-ilma. L-In©inier IngliΩ Isambard Kingdom Brunel kien il-mo˙˙ wara dan il-pro©ett. Minflok ir-roti ˙are© bl-idea li jpo©©i skrun fin-na˙a t’isfel ta’wara talbastiment. Il-vapur ir˙ilha jsalpa mill-port ta’ Liverpool fl-ewwel vja©© tieg˙u fl-Lulju tal-1845 u wara 14 il-jum da˙al New York. Kien itella’ mat-360 passi©©ier u kellu ekwipa©© ta’ 130. Barra minhekk kellu post biex i©orr mal-1200 tunellata ta’merkanzija, imma kien ja˙li kwantita’ kbira ta’ fa˙am li kien jie˙u ˙afna mill-ispazju tal-vapur. G˙alkemm seta’ ja˙dem bl-istim, il-magna kienet tintuΩa biss meta l-ba˙ar kien ikun kalm u t-temp ming˙ajr ri˙. G˙alkemm il-bastiment Great Britain kien modern u b’qafas li jifla˙ g˙al mew© qawwi u mag˙luq b’kompartamenti biex ma jid˙olx ilma, il-Clipper kien vapur Ωg˙ir imma aktar ˙afif u jiΩen biss 1600 tunellata. Il-passi©©ieri ma tantx kellhom fejn iduru, imma l-Clipper Março Polo kellu sptar Ωg˙ir bis-servizz ta’ Ωew© tobba u banjijiet apposta fejn il-passi©©ieri setg˙u ja˙slu l-˙wejje© tag˙hom. Dawn il-façilitajiet, li ma kienux jeΩistu fuq il-vapur Great Britain kienu fost il-fatturi ewlenin li naqqsu ˙afna millg˙add ta’ passiggieri u l-ekwipa©© li kienu jimirdu u anke imutu tul il-vja©©. Il-pittura tal-artist Henry Nelson O'Neil, li pittirha fl 1861. Kwadru li semmieh 'A Volunteer' fejn juri l figura ta’ ÌuΩeppi Ruggier b'habel marbu mieg˙u lest jaqbez il-ba˙ar minn fuq ir-Royal Charter Ba˙ri Malti fl-istorja tad-destin kiefer tal-bastiment Royal Charter Ba˙ri Malti l-eroj fid-disgrazzja tar-Royal Charter W ara l-introduzzjoni ta’ fuq biex wie˙ed ikun jaf dwar lewwel vja©gi bil-ba˙ar minn dawk li kienu jemigraw lejn l-Awstralja, ng˙addi g˙all-ewwel parti tal©rajja li rrid ikteb dwarha u li baqa’ mag˙ruf g˙aliha u jista’ ji©i meqjsu b˙ala eroj, il-ba˙ri Malti, ÌuΩeppi Ru©©ier, u l-vapur li kien isalpa fuqu, ir-Royal Charter. Dan il-vapur li jid˙ol fl-istorja tag˙na tal-lum huwa kien mibni u attrezzat bl-a˙jar façilitajiet li kellhom iΩ-Ωewg vapuri li semmejt aktar ‘l qabel. Kien meqjus b˙ala l-mudell g˙all-vapuri tal-futur u kellu jifta˙ era ©dida g˙at-trasport tal-passig©ieri bil-ba˙ar fuq ir-rotta bejn l-Ingilterra u l-Awstralja. Ir-Royal Charter ©ie mibni mid-ditta Sandycroft f’Wales u ©ie varat fl-1855. Kien jiΩen 1720 tunellata. Kellu qlug˙ kbar u meta ma kienx isib ir-ri˙ biex iba˙˙ar, seta’ jqabbad il-magni bl-isteam. Kien jg˙abbi merkanzija Ωg˙ira u kellu spaΩju g˙al 550 persuna. Kellu gabini komdi u ta’ çertu lussu g˙allpassi©©ieri tal-ewwel klassi. G˙al dak iΩ-Ωmien dan il-bastiment kbir, b’tul ta’ 336 pied, kellu tlett arbli g˙olja u çumnijja wa˙da. Ori©inarjament kien inbena g˙all-kumpanija ta’ Charles Moore. Ftit wara ©ie bieg˙uh lil-linja tal-ba˙ar Eagle li di©a’ kella vapuri o˙ra fosthom il-Great Britain u l-Albatross. Fil-jum li fih ir Royal Charter ©ie varat beda bl-inkwiet. Ma setax jiqala’ kitba ta’ Joe R. Scicluna (l-ewwel parti} minn postu u kellhom i˙affru kanal biex iΩersquh g˙all-ba˙ar. Hawnhekk ukoll waqt li kien qieg˙ed isalpa fuq ixxmara, inkalja u ©arrab xi ˙sarat, tant li kellu jid˙ol fil-port ta’ Liverpool biex jissewwa. Il-vapur tlesta biex iba˙˙ar u fit 18 ta’ Jannar 1856 salpa g˙all-ewwel vja©© mill-port ta’ Liverpool lejn l-Awstralja. G˙al pa©na 7 The Voice of the Maltese 7 Tuesday January 6, 2015 Il-bastiment kien qed i©orr id-deheb Minn pa©na 6 Ir-Royal Charter kien ©ie mg˙obbi b’g˙add ta’ tunellati ta’ fa˙am fl-istiva g˙ax ˙asbu li seta’ jinqaleb min˙abba li kellu Ω-Ωaqq dejjaq u l-arbli li kienu g˙oljin wisq. Bit-toqol tal-fa˙am u l-merkanzija lbastiment niΩel fl-ilma aktar milli kien me˙tie© u min˙abba f’hekk beda jnaqqas mill-˙effa. Kien anke qed isibha aktar diffiçli biex jaqta’ millilma. Kien ilu gimg˙a li ˙are© mill-port ta’ Liverpool meta l-ba˙ar beda jitqawwa b’mew© li sa la˙aq l-g˙oxrin pied, u beda jid˙ollu ˙afna ilma. Deher li ma kienx se jkun jista’ jtemm il-vja©©, g˙alhekk kontra qalbu l-kaptan, qatag˙ha li jerga’ lura u jid˙ol fil-port ta’ Plymouth. Il-vapur li kien gie ddisinjat biex ikun il-mera tal-futur ma setax jie˙u fama ˙aΩina u jit˙alla ji©i skartat. Allura fis16 ta’ Frar ta’ l-istess sena kien lest biex jer©a’ jba˙˙ar. Din id-darba kollox mar sew u rRoyal Charter wasal f’Melbourne f’˙in rekord u l-propjetarji ttieg˙u setg˙u jifta˙ru mal-klijenti li fi Ωmien xahrejn kienu kapaçi jwassulhom fil-kontinent Awstraljan. Beda ji©i meqjus b˙ala wie˙ed mill-aktar bastimenti ta’ ˙effa fuq il-rotta bejn l-Ingilterra u l-Awstralja u mfittex ˙afna minn negozjanti u nies sinjuri. Il-ba˙ri Malti ÌuΩeppi Ruggier Fit-tiftix tieg˙i dwar il-©rajja ta’ dan il-bastiment, sibt li minn storja ta’ vapur li kellu jispiçça mg˙arraq ftit sieg˙at biss qabel ma kellu jid˙ol filport tad-destinaΩΩjoni tieg˙u, kien hemm persuna©© Malti, ba˙ri li seta’ ji©i mfisser b˙ala eroj wara li ssogra ˙ajtu biex isalva l-passi©©ieri u dawk li salpaw fuqu minn ˙alq il-mewt. Kien fil-lejl tal-25 ta’ Ottubru tal-1859 meta r-Royal Charter kien kwaΩi wasal biex itemm il-vja©© u jid˙ol filport ta’ Liverpool fl-Ingilterra wara li kien ilu li salpa mill-Awstralja g˙al xahrejn. Kien beda l-vja©© fis 26 ta’ Awissu. Kien dalam sew u r-ri˙ li matul il-jum kien ilu jin˙ass li se jiΩdied, beda jonfo˙ mhux ˙aΩin. Il-ba˙ar beda jitqawwa u f’kemm trodd salib qamet maltempata bir-ri˙ jil˙aq forza ta’ riefnu. Il-bastiment beda jissabbat mal-mew© g˙oli u l-kurrent beda jimbuttah lejn il-blat. Permezz ta’ sinjali bil-fanal, il bastiment beda jibg˙at messa©© li kien filperiklu u l-kaptan talab l-g˙ajnuna tal-pilota tal-port. Il-ba˙ar ried jibla’ lart, u fir-ra˙al ta’ Moelfre, fuq il-gΩira ta’ Anglesey, il-maltemp fuq l-art kien tal-biΩa’. Tant l-urugan kien qed jag˙mel ˙erba li ˙add ma kien se jis- sogra jo˙rog fuq il-ba˙ar f’maltempata bhal dik. Il-kaptan tal-bastiment kien Thomas Taylor li kien imbarka ta’ eta’ Ωg˙ir u baqa’ sakemm wara snin ta’ esperejenza la˙aq il-grad. G˙alkemm kien strett fuq ix-xog˙ol u ta’ dixxiplina, kien irrispettat mill-fizzjali u l-ba˙rin. Fuq il-vapur kien hemm mal-500 persuna li kwaΩi erbg˙a fil-mija minnhom kienu passi©©ieri, fil-biçça ‘l kbira ja˙dmu fil-minjieri fl-Awstralja, li kienu sejrin lura lejn l-Ingilterra. Qabel ma ˙alla l-port ta’ Melbourne il-bastiment kien ©ie mg˙obbi bi kwantita’ ta’ biççiet tad-deheb li kien assigurat (insurance) g˙al £120,000. Fil-fatt, il-valur kien aktar minn hekk min˙abba li bosta mill-passi©©ieri kienu qed i©orru flus fuqhom u o©©etti ta’valur. Il-vapur issa kien wisq qrib il-blat, jit˙abat mal- mew© qalil, u l-kaptan beda jinduna li l-g˙ajnuna minn fuq lart ma kenetx se tasal. Kien diffiçli u impossibbli li n-nies mir-ra˙al ta’ Moelfre jag˙tu l-g˙ajnuna lil dawk ta’ fuq il-bastiment. Imbag˙ad dg˙ajsa dehret titniΩΩel minn fuq il-bastiment bi tlett ba˙rin fuqha. Dawn ippruvaw jersqu lejn lart. Ma damitx wisq titbandal u tog˙la mal-˙alel tal-bahar, meta nqalbet u tfarket mal-blat. Dawk ta’ fuqha g˙erqu kollha. Xi ba˙rin ta’ fuq il-vapur xtaqu u ˙asbu li setg˙u jg˙umu lejn ix-xatt biex forsi i©ibu xi dg˙ajsa kbira biΩΩejjed biex i©orr il-passiggieri minn fuq il-bastiment g˙al fuq l-art. Imma ˙add ma ssogra li jpo©©i ˙ajtu f’dak ilperiklu, ˙lief wie˙ed. Kien hawn li GuΩeppi Ruggier ba˙ri Malti fuq ir-Royal Charter, bniedem b’sa˙˙tu u g˙awwiem tajjeb, li kien ilu snin iba˙˙ar u kien jaf sew xi jsarraf ilba˙ar, qatag˙ha li jintrabat b’˙abel, jaqbeΩ il-ba˙ar u jg˙um lejn ix-xatt. Issielet ˙afna mal-mew© u kien g˙oddu qata’ qalbu meta sajjieda mir-ra˙al iffurmaw b˙al katina umana u rnexxiel- hom ji©bduh u jtellg˙uh fuq l-art. ÌuΩeppi kien ilu ma jorqod jumejn, imma g˙alkemm g˙ajjien, ried jibqa’ man-nies fuq ix-xatt jag˙ti l-g˙ajnuna. Imma ma fela˙x aktar u ˙aduh f’g˙orfa fil-qrib. Sadanittant, xi ba˙rin minn fuq ilvapur g˙addew çima marbuta mal˙abel li bdiet tin©ibed minn fuq ix-xatt u li mbag˙ad ©iet marbuta sew malblat. Maç-çima rabtu si©©u mag˙mul mill-˙bula li seta’ jiΩΩerΩaq u j©orr passi©©ier wie˙ed wie˙ed lejn ix-xatt. L-ekwipa©© beda jag˙mel ˙iltu kollha biex jipprova jsalva lpassi©©ieri, imma l-mew© kbir kien qed jg˙atti l-vapur li beda jinkiser u fil-fatt ma damx ma tfarrak mal-blat. Dawk kollha li kienu g˙adhom abbord sabu ru˙hom jit˙abtu mal-˙alel tal-ilma, u mijiet ta’passi©©ieri u ba˙rin spiççaw g˙erqu. G˙al ˙afna dak kellu jkun destin kiefer f’dik il-lejla li fih se˙˙et din ittragedja. Qabel ma kien imbarka fuq il-bastiment, il-ba˙ri Ωag˙Ωug˙ Charles Taylor kien bag˙at ittra lillommu jg˙idilha li dalwaqt kien se jkun id-dar. Bahri iehor mir-ra˙al ta’ Moelfre, Isaac Lewis, ukoll kien fost o˙rajn ferm ˙erqan li jer©a’ jing˙aqad mal-familja. Issa kienu jissarraw mal-mewg fl-a˙˙ar mument ta’ ˙ajjithom. Kien hawn li Isaac lema˙ lil missieru fuq ix-xatt, beda jsejja˙lu u jg˙ajjat, “missier jien wasalt id-dar biex immut hawn”. L-i©tsma ta’ ˙afna mill-mejtin u dak li kien baqa’ mit-tag˙bija dehru jin©arru mal-mew© lejn ix-xatt. Dawk li kienu fuq l-art ma setg˙ux jemmnu lil g˙ajnejhom meta lem˙u kwantita’ ta’ muniti tad-deheb ileqqu malmew© u je˙lu bejn il-blat. Kien hemm min sab u ©abar flus u deheb fi kwantita` li qatt ma ˙olom u seta’ jobsor li jkollu, anke li kellu ja˙dem tul ˙ajtu kollha. (It-tieni parti fil-˙ar©a li jmiss) Dehra antika tax-xtajta tar-ra˙al ta’ Moelfre f’Anglesey. Ftit bog˙od minnha ghereq ir-Royal Charter 8 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday January 6, 2015 Have your say/Xi trid tghid? Your letters/ L-ittri tag˙kom ... Fakkartuni f’dak li na˙seb kien fl-isba˙ Ωmien tal-futbol f’Malta The Voice of the Maltese on nlliin ne e m ma ag ga az ziin ne e o is is a bi-lingual (in English and Maltese) fortnightly online publication specifically targeting all Maltese living abroad with emphasis on the Australian scene. is online magazine is sent via email by request. Subscription is free. Editors: Malta: Joseph Cutajar Australia: Lawrence Dimech: MOM, OAM, JP email address: maltesevoice@gmail.com Letters for publication in The Voice either in Maltese or English should be e-mailed to: maltesevoice@gmail.com. Now you can also join us on facebook: https://www.facebook. com/groups/thevoiceofthemaltese Paul Spiteri minn St Albans jikteb: N irringrazzjakom minn qalbi tal-artiklu dwar Billy Dalli (˙arga Nru 91) g˙ax ©ibtuli memorji ferm sbie˙ ta’ tfuliti f’Malta meta mhux biss kont dilettant kbir tal-futbol, kemm narah u wkoll nilag˙bu, imma aktar minn kollox g˙ax kont partitarjiu tat-tim tal-Floriana, u komplejt insegwi u nappo©©ja l-aktar lil George Cross. Billy (x’nag˙mel issa nsejja˙lu Alfred?) u jien a˙na tal-istess eta’ u jien ukoll ©ejt l-Awstralja fis-sittinijiet. Lil Billy niftakru wkoll jilg˙ab g˙alkemm ma tantx dam jilbes il-flokk tal-Floriana. Nixtieq lil Billy ˙ajja twila u ta’ sa˙˙a. L-intervista mieg˙u ©abitni mmur lura lejn dawk iΩ-Ωmienijiet ta’ meta l-Floriana g˙al ˙afna snin kienu j©orru kull unur u kull tazza. Kien Ωmien sabi˙ meta l-futbol Malti kien mimli plejers ta’ stoffa. Dak kien Ωmien li fih il-grawnd tal-GΩira kien ikun imballat bil-partitarji, kwaΩi kwaΩi jilg˙ab min jilg˙ab, g˙aliex kull tim kellu plejers teknikament tajbin u li individwalment kienu kapaçi j˙abbtuha malbarranin. Li ma kienx hemm biΩΩejjed na˙seb li kienet it-teknika b˙ala tim. Imma xorta wa˙da kul˙add kien jag˙ti gost. Jien niftakar ukoll li minkejja li l-akbar rivalita` kienet bejn it-timijiet tal-Floruana u dak tas-Sliema li bejniethom fis-snin bikrin kienu jaqsmu l-unuri bejniethom, kien hemm timijiet o˙ra li wkoll kienu jpaxxu bil-futbol taghhom. Niftakar pereΩempju lil St. George’s ta’ Bormla, lil Vittoriosa, lill-Óamrun, lil Rabat, lil St Patrick, u lil Birkirkara li kienu g˙ad-hom tilg˙in fl-Ewwel DiviΩjoni. Kienu wkoll bdew jid˙lu sew fix-xena malkbar, il-Hibs. Meta nara r-riΩultati tal-futbol Malti n˙oss nostal©ija g˙al dawk iΩ-Ωmienijiet u nibqa’ nistag˙©eb pereΩempju, kif it-timijiet tal-Floriana u tas-Sliema donnhom ma jistg˙ux jer©g˙u jaqbdu art, u nsewwed qalbi nara li l- appo©© lejn ilFloriananaqas daqstant. Fl-Awstralja niftakar ukoll plejers o˙ra li kienu g˙amlu isem mal-Floriana b˙al Tony u Lolly Vella, u Willie Vassallo. Ikun interessanti naqraw xi tag˙rif anke dwar dawn. A˙na l-Maltin kapaçi ng˙ixu ma’ kul˙add Anthony Cassar minn Greenwich, NSW jikteb: a nistax ma naqbilx mar-ra©unar ta’ Ivan Cauchi fl-a˙˙ar artiklu tieg˙u blisem Christmas jew Xmas? (˙ar©a Nru. 91), l-aktar fejn staqsa jekk qattx smajna lil xi ˙add li mhux nisrani jg˙id li j˙ossu skomdu meta jew jara simboli tal-Milied, inkella li ma jie˙ux gost b’dawn iΩ-Ωmienijiet li fih niççelebraw dawn il-festi. Jien na˙dem ma’ g˙add ta’ nies, u anke ©ar ta’ o˙rajn li r-reli©jon tag˙hom Ωgur li mhix dik nisranija, fosthom l-aktar Musulmana, inkella Buddista. Mhux talli dawn ma jiddejqux bil-mod ta’ kif a˙na niffesteg©jaw, imma talli jknu minn tal-ewwel li jifir˙ulna u f’waqtiet anke jissie˙bu mag˙na fil-fer˙. Naqbel perfettament li ˙afna drabi, min jg˙id li dawk ta’ reli©jonijiet o˙ra ma jie˙dux gost jarawna nifir˙u kemm fil-Milied u anke f’waqtiet o˙ra g˙eΩieΩ g˙alina lKattoliçi, ikun qed jg˙idu biex jikseb xi gwadan, l-aktar politiku, b˙al meta xi politiku jitkellem dwar li l-barranin jistg˙u jitilqu minn fejn ©ew jekk ma jridux joqog˙du g˙all-uΩanzi u l-mod kif ng˙ixu fl-Awstralja. Dan qed ng˙idu g˙aliex ˙afna drabi, kummenti b˙al dawn mill-ewwel ji©u mdawwra mal-erbat irjie˙ tad-dinja permezz tal-Intenet biex jie˙du ftit pubbliçita’. Issa, jew a˙na l-Maltin nafu ng˙ixu ma’ kul˙add, inkella ˙addie˙or japprezzana, imma nista’ ng˙id li rari qatt smajt lil xi Malti jg˙id li jiddejjaq jew idejjaq lil min mhux tal-istess ˙sieb. Anzi na˙seb fl-Awstralja l-Maltin a˙na ta’ eΩempju g˙al kull nazzjonalita’o˙ra f’dan ilkontinent multikulturali g˙ax kapaçi ng˙ixu ma’ kul˙add. M The Voice of the Maltese 9 Tuesday January 6, 2015 Have your say/Xi trid tghid? Il-Konvenzjoni tal-Maltin ta’ Barra 2015 Xejn ma nbidel Iwie©eb il-Ministeru Salv Borg, minn Balmain NSW jikteb rajt b’interess l-ittra ta’ J. Mifsud millKanada dwar il-Konvenzjoni talQ Maltin ta’ Barra li g˙andha ssir f’Malta f’April 2015. Jien ukoll smajt xi tgergir minn din in-na˙a g˙ax veru li jidher li kien hemm dewmien Ωejjed. M’g˙andiex nifhem li kien hemm xi mijiet ta’ applikazzjonijiet li dewwmu t-twe©ibiet u l-g˙aΩliet finali. Naf biss li din mhix lewwel Konvenzjoni fejn kien hemm din ilkonfuΩjoni kollha. Fl-a˙˙ar wa˙da, dik tal-2010 ukoll kien hemm dewmien u ta˙wid, anzi ©ew mag˙Ωula ˙afna nies li akkwistaw l-g˙ajnuna finanzjarja u mank attendew g˙al-laqg˙at. Dakinhar kien hemm min waqt il-laqg˙at kien imur jixtri l-Belt u jigi f’nofs il-laqg˙at mimli basktijiet bl-affarijiet li jkun xtara. Fejn huma Ω- Ωg˙aΩag˙ ta’ g˙axar snin ilu li tant qalulna li l-futur se jkun f’idejhom? U x’minnhom il-pjannijiet li kellhom? Insomma mhux qed nara differenza u jekk ma noqog˙dx attenti l-istess jigri anke filkonvenzjoni tal-2015. Fiona Formosa Segretarju Permanenti fl-Uffiççju tal-Affarijiet Barranin, Malta tikteb: N ag˙mel referenza g˙all-kumment li sar mis-Sinjura Josett Mifsud minn Ontario, fil-Kanada dwar il-Konvenzjoni g˙all-Maltin li jg˙ixu barra minn Malta li se ssir is-sena ddie˙la f’Malta u li ©iet ippubblikata fil-˙ar©a ta’ The Voice of the Maltese (23 ta’ Diçembru). Dan il-Ministeru g˙amel eΩerçizzju ta’ konsultazzjoni estensiva mar-rappreΩentant talKunsill g˙all-Maltin li jg˙ixu Barra minn Malta li jifforma parti mill-Kumitat Organizzattiv tal-istess Konvenzjoni. Il-Ministeru jixtieq jinforma li x-xog˙ol ta’ proçess dwar il-lista tal-perteçipanti ntemm u dawk kollha li ressqu l-applikazzjoni tag˙hom qed jirçevu ittra formali bl-informazzjoni me˙tie©a. Kull min jixtieq aktar tag˙rif dwar il-Konvenzjoni g˙andu jikkuntattja lill-Kumitat Organizzattiv tal-Konvenzjoni 2015 fuq: convention2015.mfa@gov.mt /2 Bl-ajru jew bid-dg˙ajjes? Tom Spiteri minn Double Bay NSW jikteb: ont na˙seb li Scott Morrision veru waqqaf il-boat (iddg˙ajjes), iΩda dan l-a˙˙ar qrajt li ssena l-o˙ra waslu l-Awstralja 62,000 persuna bl-ajru u 20,000 minnhom baqg˙u hawn illegalment, u ˙add ma tant inkwieta ru˙u dwarhom. Fl-istess ˙in, waqt li dawk li jaslu bil-boats mhux talli jwaqqfuhom jew jibag˙tuhom fl-a˙rax u l-ag˙ar postijiet fid-dinja, b˙al Nauru, eçç, binNavy Awstraljana mobilizzata bi spejjeΩ ta’ miljuni, o˙rajna jid˙lu blajru suppost g˙al ftit taΩ-Ωzmien u jibqg˙u hawn. Forsi g˙ax dawn l-illegali, fil-parti ‘l kbira minnhom huma Cinizi, Inglizi u Amerikani? Ara Alan Jones qatt ma jsemmihom lil dawn. Veru li l-immigranti saru ballun politiku b’˙asra kbira g˙al kul˙add. K Thank you from Llandilo The Martin Place Tragedy Helen Azzopardi from Llandilo NSW, writes: Joe Grima from Malta writes: T A hank you Lawrence Dimech (president of the MCC of NSW) from the bottom of my heart for the ongoing support to my group (The Llandilo Maltese Community). The seed you and Maria DeCarlo sowed thirteen years ago, has grown into a large tree and is now bearing lot of fruit. You should be very proud for the community work you have done and are still doing. Once again thanks for all you have done. May God send a special New Year’s Blessing to you and your family. llow me to express all my indignation at the wanton murder of innocent civilians by one more debased and inhuman religious fanatic attempting to impose his deranged practices on the freedoms that civilization guarantees to all individuals living in a world free from the shackles of dictatorial oppression. Our prayers and sympathy with the families of the victims of this planned massacre. In the face of these mounting deliberate attacks on the individual and collective liberties that free countries guarantee to all citizens, standing on the sidelines is no longer an option. 10 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday January 6, 2015 Perspettiva Pavlov u l-Islam A version of this series in English may be found in the author's blog at: http://www.ivancauchi. blogspot.com.au F il-bidu tas-seklu g˙oxrin, studjuΩ talfiΩjolo©ija jismu Ivan Petrovich Pavlov ˙are© bil-kunçett tar-Rifless Ikkundizzjunat. Kellu kelb, li meta kien se jibda jitimg˙u kien idoqq qanpiena jew jitlaq metronomu. Wara ftit tar-ripetizzjoni, innota li l-kelb beda jipproduçi l-bΩieq immedjatament meta kien idoqq ilqanpiena, anke jekk ma kienx jippreΩentalu likel. Il-konkluΩjoni ta' Pavlov kienet li l-kelb kien beda jassoçja l-˙oss tal-qanpiena mal-ikel, li g˙aliha kellu reazzjoni fiΩjolo©ika.1 Jien nara li hemm relazzjoni bejn it-tag˙lima ta' Pavlov mas-sitwazzjoni tal-Islam illum. Fil-pajjiΩi tal-Punent (li mag˙ha ninkludi l-Awstralja anke jekk tinsab fil-Lvant, min˙abba l-kultura qawwija IngliΩa tag˙ha), l-Islam b˙ala reli©jon u anke b˙ala kultura jinsab fil-minoranza. G˙alhekk, f'dawn il-pajjiΩi, il-ma©©oranza tan-nies jiltaqg˙u mal-Islam filmidja predominantement, jew fit-triq fil-˙ajja ta' kuljum - fil-mezzi ta' trasport pubbliku, fil-˙wienet, fil-postijiet tax-xog˙ol. Meta jsir dan, jie˙du stampa wa˙da wara l-o˙ra ta' dan il-fenomenu, iktar milli jg˙ixuh fil-qrib u fit-tul. Jien ukoll ng˙addi minn dan. Nista' ng˙id li l-istampi fil-midja, anke milli nara jien, ikunu kwaΩi kostantement negattivi, u ˙afna drabi estremament negattivi, ta' bosta nies li jg˙idu li ja©ixxu f'isem l-Islam. Huwa façli li wie˙ed jirrimarka li l-midja tg˙a©©eb, u tag˙Ωel dak li tirrapporta. Dan mhux daqshekk diffiçli li timma©inah isir, l-iktar meta jkun hemm interessi kummerçjali fin-nofs, u jkun hemm l-interess li jiΩdiedu l-qarrejja, is-semmieg˙a jew il-telespettaturi. Imma jien nara li dan ma jispjegax kollox. Xi ©img˙at ilu f'Sydney kellna l-kaΩ, trawmatiku g˙al ˙afna nies li baqg˙u iççassati quddiem it-televiΩjoni, ta' persuna mi©nuna li ˙adet sbatax-il osta©© fil-Kafè Lindt li jinsab f'Martin Place, fiç-çentru ta' Sydney, li spiççat f'musketterija liema b˙ala u l-mewt tra©ika ta' tnejn minnhom, flimkien mal-aggressur. Li kien straordinarju, u li mhux kul˙add induna millewwel bih, kien li l-aggressur kien qieg˙ed i©ieg˙el lill-osta©©i jie˙du vidjos ta' xulxin jg˙idu l-messa©©i li riedhom jg˙idu quddiem bandiera sewda b'kitba bl-G˙arbi u messa©© Islamiku, u jibag˙tuhom lil stazzjonijiet tat-TV u tar-radju, fuq Youtube u l-midja soçjali. L-awtoritajiet qag˙du attenti li ma jag˙tux lill-aggressur il-pubbliçità fuq it-televiΩjoni li xtaq, imma naturalment ma setg˙u jag˙mlu xejn biex iwaqqfu l-midja soçjali. G˙alhekk, l-aggressur kien qed ifittex il-midja, mhux ja˙rabha. L-istess qed jag˙mlu l-gruppi l-estremisti o˙ra li jsej˙u lilhom infushom Islamiçi, b˙all-grupp ISIS li waqqaf il-kalifat li ktibt dwaru darb'o˙ra, Al-Qaeda u o˙rajn. Dawn apparti li jibag˙tu l-messa©©i propogandistiçi tag˙hom, ˙a©a li jag˙mlu l-gruppi kollha politiçi ta' madwar id-dinja, iΩewwquhom ukoll bi stampi u vidjos atroçi u krudili g˙all-a˙˙ar, bi sfond muΩikali rebbie˙, u kitba G˙arbija (li lparti l-kbira tan-nies tal-Punent ma jifhmux) u messa©© Islamiku (li ji©i tradott, u jinftiehem sew). Dan it-tanbir kontinwu mhu qed jag˙mel xejn ˙lief, f'g˙ajnejn innies ta' madwar id-dinja, jassoçja lil kull min huwa Musulman ma nies qattiela, bla emozzjonijiet, krudili u bla qalb. Huwa veru li dawn il-messa©©i jistg˙u jappellaw g˙al min hu bla tama, bla skop f'˙ajtu, min forsi mhux aççettat mis-soçjetà, min ˙ass diskriminazzjoni kontrih u l-bqija. Huwa veru li dawn il-gruppi jistg˙u joffru l-glorja tal-mument f'atti makabri u vjolenti, u jwieg˙du l-˙las fil-©enna, skont l-interpretazzjoni tag˙hom tal-Islam. Imma ng˙id jien, kemm iktar nies se jkunu attirati minn din l-or©ja tal-vjolenza u depravità? Kemm se jkun hemm ommijiet li tassew i˙obbu lil uliedhom li jibag˙tuhom ikunu l-istmerrija tad-dinja u g˙al mewt probabbilment bikrija? Possibbli li dawn il-gruppi ja˙sbu li se jipperswadu lil xi massa kbira ta' nies li jag˙tuhom l-appo©©? Normalment, organizzazzjonijiet jippruvaw jippreΩentaw l-a˙jar attitudnijiet tag˙hom fil-midja. L-Islam innifsu g˙andu ˙ames kitba ta’ IVAN CAUCHI kolonni tal-fidi, li jinkludu l-karità mal-fqar u ssawm fost l-o˙rajn, li huma virtujiet poΩittivi ˙afna. Il-kelma 'Islam' innifisha ©ejja minn 'sliem', jew paçi. G˙all-kuntrarju, dawn il-gruppi qed jippreΩentaw lill-pubbliku l-ag˙ar fost l-ag˙ar aspetti tag˙hom, u qed jag˙mlu ˙sara kbira lir-reli©jon tag˙hom, u lill-isem tal-profeta tag˙hom Mo˙ammed. Jien g˙andi ˙bieb minn ˙afna reli©jonijiet u anke w˙ud li m'g˙andhomx reli©jon. Meta tkellimt ma' dawk Musulmani dwar dawn l-affarijiet, ˙lief kliem ta' stmerrija, u dispjaçir li dak ittag˙lim ta' paçi li jippruvaw jimxu mieg˙u ta' kuljum qed ji©i sempliçement mormi minn dawn l-estremisti, ma nismax. Dan itini ftit tal-komfort. Diversi st˙arri© juri li l-ma©©oranza ta' Musulmani huma kontra azzjonijiet b˙al attakki ta' suwiçidju biex jiddefendu lill-Islam, fil-pajjiΩi kollha ˙lief it-Territorju Palestinjan.2 Madankollu il-perçentwal ta' nies favur huwa Ωg˙ir imma mhux negli©ibbli. L-assedju ta' ftit jiem ilu f'Martin Place qasam lill-Awstralja fi tnejn. Fuq na˙a wa˙da, kien hemm moviment qawwi, u mhux mistenni, ta' min jikkunsidra li l-estremisti ma jirrappreΩentawx lill-ma©©oranza tal-Musulmani, moviment li deher biç-çar fil-kampanja fuq Twitter imsej˙a #IllRideWithYou3, li bdiet meta persuna offriet li tirkeb ittrasport pubbliku ma' persuna Musulmana li tilbes il-˙i©ab li kienet qed tibza' mir-riperkussjonijiet tan-nies wara l-assedju. Fuq in-na˙a l-o˙ra, hemm moviment qawwi ie˙or ukoll li g˙andu rabja kbira g˙al dak kollu li hu, u kull min hu, Musulman. Anke jekk wie˙ed minn dan il-moviment jirra©una li mhux kul˙add huwa estremist, jekk jiltaqa' ma' xi simbolu li jista' jindika li persuna hija Musulmana, anke jekk il-˙a©a hija kulturali u mhux reli©juΩa, b˙al ˙i©ab, niqab, burka, turban Persjan, il-verΩjoni G˙arbija tal-kelma 'Alla' (Allah) jew anke sempliçement kitba G˙arbija, kwaΩi immedjatament tisma kliem iebes u anke ta' rabja. Ukoll meta persuna li f’diskussjoni tipprova tag˙mel distinzjoni bejn l-estremist u Musulman komuni, tittie˙ed li qed tiddefendi lillestremist. Ir-rieda li ji©i kkundannat kull ma hu Musulman, f'dan ittieni moviment, huwa tant qawwi. Dan hu l-effett Pavlovjan li kont qed nirreferi g˙alih qabel, u irrid ng˙id li nifhem lil min i˙oss hekk. L-isfortuna hi li dawn il-gruppi estremisti qed ireww˙u dan l-effett huma stess, deliberatament u konsistentement, u ma dawn il-gruppi jistg˙u jing˙addu m©ienen b˙all-aggressur ta' Martin Place. G˙alkemm huwa veru li mhux l-Islam biss g˙andu dawn l-estremisti, riçentement qed ikun hemm wisq minn dawn l-estremisti madwar id-dinja, li jinqdew bl-Islam biex iwasslu l-ideolo©ija qattiela tag˙hom, u dan l-effett Pavlovjan jikber qieg˙ed. Jien l-unika soluzzjoni li nara g˙al din is-sitwazzjoni f'pajjiΩna, hu: - li jkun çar li l-komunità Musulmana tkun milqug˙a u aççettata mill-bqija tas-soçjetà, ˙alli ma jing˙atax lok g˙al min i˙ossu eskluΩ u jfittex li jkun milqug˙ f'xi grupp fil-periferija tas-soçjetà; - li l-komunita' Musulmana tkun qawwija u persistenti filli ssostni, kemm fil-komunità tag˙ha, u mas-soçjetà in ©enerali, li assolutament hija kuntrarja g˙all-estremiΩmu. Dan qieg˙ed isir, u jrid jitkompla u jitqawwa; - li nies li jidhru li qed ji©u radikalizzati, ji©u identifikati u jing˙addu minn programmi ta' rijabilitazzjoni u/jew jg˙addu missistema kriminali. Dan ma jistax ˙lief ikun proçess fit-tul. Referenzi [1]http://www.simplypsychology.org/pavlov.html, retrieved 19.12.2014 [2]http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/02/muslimsagainstextremismpewsurvey_n_5551693.html,retrieved19/12/2014 [3]http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2014/12/illridewithyousydneystandsuptoracismwithonebeautifulhashtag/,retrieved 19/12/2014 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday January 6, 2015 11 MCC Oral history project - Maltese Personalities order to Iourpn rMalteseeserve Australian heritage for posterity, the MCC of NSW has embarked on videorecording the settlement experiences of Maltese personalities. The oral history interviews are conducted in English on Wednesdays mornings. The time taken varies from 60-90 minutes and are done by Mark Caruana, who has been doing such interviews since 1982. At the end of the interview, the person interviewed is asked to do any necessary editing and to furnish four photos to be included in the DVD cover. The MCC will produce seven DVDs, five of which go to the family, one to the MCC Archives and one to the National Library in Canberra. A donation of $50 to cover costs would be appreciated. Anybody wishing to have his settlement history recorded, is requested to contact Emanuel Camilleri on 9822 0228. Better future for the MCC Centre he Liberal State Government has agreed with the MalT tese Community Council of NSW that the Centre at 59b Franklin Street Parramatta West is in need of an up- grade as the Maltese community in the area is using it constantly. The Hon Victor Dominello, Minister for Citizenship and Communities, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Assistant Minister for Education visited the Centre together with the State Member for Granville, Tony Issa MP bringing with them news that a grant to assist through the 2014 Community Building partnership Programme has been made to the MCC. Mr Tony Issa told The Voice of the Maltese that since he has been elected he was fortunate enough to support proj- At the presentation of the grant for the MCC Centre: From: left: Tony Pace Feraud, Oscar Calleja, Marlene Dimech, Tony Issa MP, Minister Victor Dominello, Lawrence Dimech, Emanuel Camilleri, George Pace, Frances Montesin.and Victor Fenech. ects that have built, upgraded and enhanced local infrastructure in his district. He insisted that he has a very good working relation with the Maltese community. The Minister showed enormous interest in Malta and spent time asking questions about it. He said he was very interested in visiting the island in the near future. Meanwhile, the president of the Maltese Community Council of NSW, Lawrence Dimech thanked Minister Dominello and MP Tony Issa for their help, as well as Andrew Rohan MP, Member for Smithfield for assisting with the application for this grant, and the MCC’s v/president, Emanuel Camilleri, for accepting to look after the works to its completion in 2015, and to make sure that the project would be ready on time. MALTA TRAVEL Incorporating Pendle Hill Travel A division of Felice Travel Pty Ltd ABN 71 073 235 408 Licensed Travel Agent Lic. No 2TA4425 Join Charlie Felice on a Tour of USA West! Its all inclusive - flight, top hotels, breakfast and dinner daily, transfers and insurance! Only 4 couples left! Looking for a single lady. First come first served! Call Charlie on 9631 2689 165 Dunmore St., Wentworthville NSW 2145 Phone: (02) 9631 2689 Fax: (02) 9636 5949 Email: charlie@maltatravel.net.au Website: www.maltatravel.net.au 12 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday January 6, 2015 Roundup of News About Malta Maltese generosity at its best People donate €4,631,401 in two charity telethons I f any more proof was needed as to the generosity of the Maltese people, then two main activities over the festive season was it. The 2014 L-Istrina campaign on Boxing Day (otherwise known in other countries, as telethon), driven by Malta President Marie Louise Coleiro-Preca and hundreds of volunteers, raised a record sum of €3,656,000 in donations surpassing last year's record by €241,614. Another €12,000 were raised two days later in the annual Thomas Smith Charity Smith by 250 young and old swimmers braved the cold weather for the swim at Balluta Bay. Further to that, on New Year’s Day, the Maltese people once again expressed their generosity by donating €975,401 in the annual telethon in aid of the Dar tal-Providenza, the largest sum collected since the setting up of the marathon 17 years ago to bring the total in donations in these two fundraising events to a record €4,631,401 No wonder an enthusiastic President was almost lost for words at the end of the L-Istrina event as she thanked the people for showning once again “how unique we are in the world when it comes to displaying love and solidarity with our suffering brethren. “We were all one united team tonight,” she said at the end of the event, adding that Malta “showed yet again that Christmas for us is not only about giving presents and eat- ing food but about helping those who are less fortunate than us.” In an appeal at the start of the 12-hour fund raising charity show, the country's leaders urged the people to donate, while the President, presiding over her first L-Istrina expressed her appreciation of people coming together to help others in need. Church says will not discriminate against non-Catholic teachers T he Church authorities in Malta have given the teachers’ union, MUT assurances that teachers working in Church schools will not be discriminated against if they are not practicing Catholics. This followed a meeting between the MUT and bishops Charles Scicluna and Mario Grech that discussed earlier controversial plans announced by the Church to block promotions to higher or sensitive teaching posts to candidates who cannot prove they are “practicing Catholics”. In a statement the MUT said that it was reassured that the Church has no intention to judge or discriminate in favour or against employees working in Church schools according to how they lead their private lives. Heads of Church schools had been asked by the Maltese archdiocese to discuss new terms of employment that would guarantee that schools’ head teachers and other staff can be safely considered to be “practising Catholics” – or face disciplinary action if their “life choices give scandal or run counter to the ethos of the school”. The document had been denounced as “medieval” by the MUT, and pointed out that employment by the Church in Malta is governed by Maltese Law, which clearly does not allow for such odious distinctions to regulate the selection or promotion of employees. The President said it was a day when Maltese people don’t look at each other’s faces but at those suffering from sicknesses and other difficulties. “This day makes me so proud to be Maltese. Despite all our arguments and disagreements, we show that we are capable of looking after each other,” she said. In his appeal, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said: “You don’t need politicians to urge you to donate. “Today is not about politics but about common values. This is one of the best days of the year, when the Maltese unite to donate impressive amounts of money to those in need.” Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said: “The Malta Community Chest Fund needs your help in order to continue to help others. Some day, you may need help yourselves and when that day comes, you will be grateful that the MCCF exists to help you.” Others appeals were made by former Presidents, Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, Eddie Fenech Adami, and George Abela. L-Istrina is the main fundraiser of the Malta Community Chest Fund that is operated by the Office of the President, and is the only national fund that finances cancer treatment for people who cannot afford the costs. Up till end November, Tourism up by 8% I nbound tourism to Malta from January to November last year (2014) amounted to 1,647,915, an increase of 8.0% over the same period in 2013. Total nights spent by inbound tourists went up by 5.0 per cent, reaching 12.9 million nights, the National Statistics Office (NS) has said. During the period under review, total tourism expenditure was estimated at €1.5 billion, 6.2% higher than that recorded for the same period in 2013. Total per capita expenditure stood at €910, a decrease of 0.8% when compared to last year’s levels. In November alone, compared to the corresponding mo-nth last year, inbound tourist trips showed an increase of 3.1 per cent, or 103,435, and excluding the passengers who stayed overnight on board their berthed cruise ship, this increase amounted to 3.%. Also during November, a total of 85,789 inbound visits were carried out for holiday purposes, while a further 10,682 were undertaken for business purposes. Inbound tourists from EU Member States went up by 7.4 per cent to 87,544. The largest proportion of inbound tourists was aged between 45 and 64, fol- lowed by those within the 25-44age bracket. Total tourist expenditure was estimated at €80.4 million, an increase of 4.1 per cent over the corresponding month last year. The Voice of the Maltese 13 Tuesday January 6, 2015 Roundup of News About Malta Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi (left) and Yun Dan Wang, chairman of Shanghai Electric Power signing the Enemalta agreement Shanghai Electric Power advances €250 million to Enemalta Largest investment transaction Malta has ever experienced F or the past few years, Enemalta had proven to be a great burden around the neck of successive NP governments to carry and beside debts of €840 million, was also suffering from lack of investment in energy distribution, and dependency on oil for electricity generation. However, the new Labour administration has taken the bull by the horn and following an agreement with Shanghai Electric Power the future now looks quite bright. Following contractual obligations and responsibilities that were signed on December 12, this came into force on December 30 following the conclusion of a €250 million transaction between the Maltese government and Enemalta on one part, and the Chinese state-owned corporation Shanghai Electric Power The final transaction wrapped up the negotiations between the Chinese company and the state utility corporation, to con- clude what a government spokesman described as the largest investment transaction Malta has ever experienced. By advancing €250million to Enemalta, Shanghai Electric Power has now become Enemalta’s strategic partner, holding a minority stake of 33.3% in Enemalta. In the coming months it will also be investing in the conversion of the BWSC plant from heavy fuel oil to gas and gasoil. The capital injection will also result in the establishment of two joint venture companies that will focus on renewable energy and on the maintenance of SEP’s energy plants in the region. Prime Minsiter Dr Joseph Muscat, who was also present during the transaction, said that thanks to the deal, new opportunities would be created and the country’s economy would be strengthened with Malta confriming its ties with the globalised world. 1138 drop in unemployment in a year C ompared to November last year, unemployment in Malta by end November 2014 dropped by 1138 and is now 6,501 according to the National Statistics Office (NSO) Decreases in registered unemployment were recorded in all age groups and in all categories of duration of registration, with the most significant being recorded among those who had been registering for employ- * ment for less than 21 weeks. The number of persons with a disability who were registering for work has decreased by 84 to 449. In November 2014 the largest share of men on the unemployment register sought occupations as crafts and related trade workers (17.5 per cent), whereas the largest share of women mostly sought occupations as technicians and associate professions or clerks and support workers (25.3 per cent). Malta will have a new casino after the government signed a 10-year casino concession with Eden Leisure Group. Economy Minister Chris Cardona said that through the concession, the government was sending a clear message that it would continue to work to strengthen the country’s economic rhythm. He said that in a relatively short time, a problem has been turned into an opportunity and from a country depending on a receiver of energy will now be servicing the rest of the region. Malta registers Coldest December for over 26 years M alta has registered the coldest December day for the past 26 years as temperatures on New Year’s Eve dropped to a minimum of 4˚C. The last time December temperatures dipped to below 4˚C was in 1988, when the temperature dropped to 3.7˚C. Though a snowy Malta is very unlikely, December 31 rresidents in Rabat and Dingli said they had experienced snowflakes. This was explained as a rarity in the Maltese islands as theoretically, only temperatures below 0˚C could lead to snow. The Met Office explained that a spell of cold weather reached the Mediterranean from Russia and Scandinavia. Gozo was also hit with a particularly severe hailstorm on December 29 causing parts of the island to appear as though they had been struck by a snowstorm, and some Gozitan children took advantage of the situation to construct miniature ice-men. The Nadur weather station posted data last that for a brief moment the temperature actually slipped below zero, dropping to -0.6˚C. 14 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday January 6, 2015 PoΩittivi.... ilwaqt li nag˙tu bidu g˙al sena ©dida ta’ ˙idma, nixtieq li llum, propju fl-ewwel ˙ar©a tal-Voice g˙as-sena 2015, in˙ares lejn a˙bar. ijiet pozittivi biex tassew nibdew is-sena fuq nota tajba u b’xi mod . nippruvaw inne˙˙u l-idea li dak li hu ˙azin biss jag˙mel a˙bar u ma nibqg˙ux bl-idea li “no news is good news”. F Rekord Fit-turiΩmu wkoll K if kien mistenni l-©abra ta’ din is-sena g˙all-Istrina kienet wa˙da rekord. Ma setax jonqos wara l˙idma kbira li saret favur din il-©abra li ssir ta’ kull sena. Is-somma mi©bura kienet ta’ aktar minn €3,656,000, ji©ifieri €244,000 aktar mis-sena lo˙ra meta n©abru €3,412,000. Fl-2012 il©abra kienet ta’ €3,294,997. Il-mistoqsija hi jekk ilpoplu Malti hux se jkun kapaçi jibqa’ jikser rekord ta’ kull sena. J’alla jkun hekk g˙ax fuq kollox minn dan il-©bir igawdi min hu batut u min g˙andu l-akbar ˙ti©ijiet, speçjalment f’kaΩijiet fejn tid˙ol is-sa˙˙a. Prosit lill-poplu Malti u G˙awdxi g˙all-qalb kbira tieg˙u. (ara rapport aktar fit-tul f’pa©na 12) D Karikatura tal-PM F ost l-o©©etti g˙all-bejg˙ waqt il-©abra tal-Istrina kien hemm ilkarikatura tal-Prim Ministru Malti, Dr. Joseph Muscat li saret minn Kevin "Kal" Kallaugher, li jpin©i l-karikaturi g˙ar-rivista ta’ fama mondjali, The Economist. Kallaugher kien Malta dan l-a˙˙ar biex jie˙u sehem f'gala dinner organizzat minn The Economist. Huwa qal li kien kuntent ˙afna li qed jag˙ti dan il-kontribut speçjali u uniku lill-Malta Community Chest Fund f'isem The Economist. Óasra li ma nafux kemm ©abet flus fl-irkant din il-karikatura li tidher fuq f’idejn il-Prim Ministru, li jidher ma’ Kallaugher. Il-kelb ukoll donnu ried jg˙in!! if sar g˙al dawn l-a˙˙ar 16-il sena ©emg˙a ta’ nies in©abru fil-Bajja tal-Balluta biex jie˙du K sehem fl-g˙awma li l-iskop tag˙ha hu li jin©abru flus g˙all-Community Chest Fund. Din id-darba mal-ir©iel ing˙aqdu wkoll nisa u tfal (l-iΩg˙ar ta’ erba’ snin)... u sa˙ansitra kelb li minkejja l-kesha u r-ri˙ li ddominaw f’dan il-jum qabeΩ wara sidu l-ba˙ar. Kien hemm ukoll ©emg˙a ta’ g˙axar Russi mill-Ambaxxata Russa, iΩda kif stqarru huma stess g˙alihom, it-temperatura talba˙ar ma tantx effetwathom g˙ax kienet l-istess b˙al dik li jkollhom f’pajjiΩhom fissajf f’pajjiΩhom. Bis-sa˙˙a ta’ din lG˙awma n©abru €12,000 o˙ra in in-nota ta’ ottomiΩmu tidher ukoll fil-qasam turistiku li kull ma jmur qed jisa˙˙a˙. Dan ©ie ukoll irrokonnexxut mill-Organizzazzjoni Dinjija tat-TurΩmu tal-Ìnus Mag˙quda, l-UNWTO li fir-rapport tag˙ha g˙all-2014 irrimarkat dwar it-tkabbir robust li qed tirre©istra Malta fl-g˙add ta’ turisti li jΩuruha. Infatti fl-ewwel g˙axar xhur tal-2014, bejn Jannar u Ottubru, Malta kellha l-akbar persenta©© ta’ Ωieda fit-turiΩmu fost il-pajjiΩi kollha talMediterran u aktar miΩ-Ωieda medja g˙all-pajjiΩi tad-dinja kollha, li kienet ta’ 5%. IΩ-Ωieda fl-Ewropa kienet ta’ 4%, filwaqt li fil-pajjiΩi talMediterran kienet ta’ 7%, Imma Malta qabΩet dawn ilfiguri g˙ax irre©istrajna Ωieda ta’8.4%, u fix-xhur tas-sajf kellna sa˙ansitra Ωieda ta’ 9%, Ωieda li hi wkoll akbar millmedja tal-pajjiΩi tal-Mediterran u n-Nofsinhar tal-Ewropa rre©istrata fl-istess perjodu. G˙al dawk li j˙obbu l-figuri ta’ min jg˙id li minn Jannar sa Ottubru l-g˙add ta’ turisti madwar id-dinja ammontaw g˙al 978 miljun... u nimma©ina li g˙add sostanzjali minnkom tiffurmaw parti minn din il-figura hekk impressjonanti. Ix-xejra ta’ titjib fil-figuri tatturisti li n©ibdu lejn Malta kompliet ukoll fix-xahr ta’ Novembru meta fil-GΩejjer Maltin waslu 103,435 turist, Ωieda ta’ 3.1% meta mqabbel mal-istess xahar tas-sena l-o˙ra. (g˙al aktar dwar din iΩ-Ωieda f’Novembru ara pa©na 12) The Voice of the Maltese 15 Tuesday January 6, 2015 Mix-xena tal-˙ajja Maltija 2 Ir-riΩultat tal-ist˙arri© tal-Malta Independent I SorpriΩa! r-riΩultat li ˙are© minn st˙arri© li sar fost 300 persuna, ta' etajiet u sess differenti u g˙ax meta l-istess persuni ©ew ©ejjin minn lokalitajiet differ- mistoqsija dwar kemm jemmnu ent, mill-©urnal lokali The li l-Gvern qed jag˙mel xog˙lu Malta Indipendent dwar kif tajjeb, 59.7% qalu iva – Ωieda ja˙sibha l-poplu Malti dwar il- ta’ 8% fuq l-ist˙arri© li sar qasam politiku kien ta’ sorpiΩa f’Mejju li g˙adda, qabel l-elezg˙al ˙afna. zjonijiet tal-Parlament EwL-ist˙arri© sar propju fi tmiem ropew. Il-proporzjon ta' nies li wie˙ed mill-aktar perijodi ja˙sbu li l-Gvern mhux miexi mbarazzanti g˙all-Gvern Labu- sew naqas minn 27.7% f'Mejju rista. Ωmien fejn fil-parti l-kbira li g˙adda g˙al 23.7% fl-aktar tal-midja lokali, flimkien mal- st˙arri© reçenti. Partit Nazzjonalista, kienet Min-na˙a tieg˙u l-Partit Nazg˙addejja b’kampanja qawwija zjonalista kellu wkoll Ωieda filta’ kritika lill-Gvern dwar il- prestazzjoni, iΩda din kienet kaΩ tal-ispartura mix-xufier tal- wa˙da minima, g˙alkemm kien Ministru Manuel Mallia... hemm Ωieda wkoll fost dawk li kampanja li attwalment wasslet wie©bu fin-negattiv. biex il-Ministru Mallia tne˙˙a Fil-fatt dawk li esprimew minn Ministru tal-Intern u min- fehma poΩittiva Ωdiedu mar©ifloku n˙atar Carmelo Abela. nalment minn 28.7% f'Mejju Óafna stennew li dan l-inçi- g˙al 29% fl-a˙˙ar st˙arri©; dadent kien se jitfa’ dell ikrah fuq wk li ma kkommettewx ru˙il-Prim Ministru Dr Joseph hom naqsu minn 30.3% g˙al Muscat u se jnaqqaslu sewwa 20%; u dawk li esprimew fehmill-kredtu politiku tieg˙u. ma negattiva Ωdiedu minn 41% Kienet g˙alhekk tassew sor- g˙al 51%. priΩa meta, filwaqt li dawk li G˙all-mistoqsija dwar liema ˙adu sehem fl-ist˙arri© sostnew Ministru jew Segretarju Parlali l-Gvern ma kienx mexxa sew mentari g˙andu l-aqwa prestaz(“did not handle”) dan l-inçi- zjoni, 29% g˙aΩlu lill-Prim dent, xorta wa˙da ta fiduçja Ministru (11.5% f'Mejju li qawwija lill-Prim Ministru... g˙adda). Warajh ©ie l-Ministru anzi skont l-istess st˙arri© jidher g˙all-Ener©ija u s-Sa˙˙a, Konli l-fiduçja f’Dr. Muscat Ωdiedet. rad Mizzi, bi 15% - çifra li Fil-fatt, 57.9% ta’ dawk li ©ew kienet 52.3% f'Mejju li g˙adda. intervistati qalu li g˙andhom U hawnhekk ukoll ta’ min jinfiduçja f'Joseph Muscat filwaqt nota li fit-tieni post ©ie Minli 25.4% biss qalu li g˙andhom istru li dan l-a˙˙ar kien fil-mira fuduçja fil-kap tal-OppoΩiz- tal-Partit Nazzjonalista u talzjoni, Simon Busuttil. Il-bqija midja min˙abba l-mod kif it(16.7%) qalu li m'g˙andhom twaqqif tal-power station li fiduçja fl-ebda wie˙ed. ta˙dem bil-gass waqa’ lura. Fuq skala minn 1 sa 10 f'dik li Huwa diffiçli ˙afna li wie˙ed hija fiduçja fih personali, Jos- jinterpreta dawn ir-riΩultati, eph Muscat kiseb rata ta' 6.55 (li iΩda kultant nistaqsi jekk dawn kienet 5.84 f'Mejju) filwaqt li ir-riΩultati jurux li l-poplu beda Simon Busuttil kiseb rata ta' jitg˙allem jiΩen sewwa dak li 4.54 (li kienet 5.1 f'Mejju). tg˙id il-midja u li mbag˙ad Mhux il-Prim Ministru biss jiddeçiedi hu u ma j˙allix lil mar tajjeb f’dan l-ist˙arri©, ˙addie˙or jiddeçiedi g˙alih. F’Novembru li g˙adda l-g˙add ta' nies li kienu Jonqos qed jirre©istraw g˙ax-xog˙ol f’Malta kien ta' il-qag˙ad 6,501, ji©ifieri 1,138 persuna inqas minn Novembru tas-sena li g˙addiet. Anke l-g˙add ta’ persuni b'diΩabilità li qed jirre©istraw naqas b'84 g˙al 449. Fiduçja fil-Gvern idher li dak li ˙are© mill-ist˙arri© ta’ The Malta InJst˙arri© dependent mhux xi kumbinazzjoni g˙ax skont tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea f’Novembru, fost iç-çittadini madwar l-Ewropa kollha jag˙ti l-istess stampa. Infatti skont dan l-ist˙arri© 56% tal-Maltin u l-G˙awdxin jemmnu li pajjiΩna sejjer fid-direzzjoni t-tajba. Din hija l-og˙la proporzjon minn fost il-pajjiΩi kollha tal-Unjoni Ewropea u tikkuntrasta sew mat-30% biss li kien irre©istrat f’Novembru tal-2012 u l-25% f’Novembru tal-2009, l-istess perjodu tal-le©islatura preçedenti. Mill-intervistati, 90% qalu li sodisfatti b’˙ajjithom b˙alissa, b’kuntrast mas-76% li qalu hekk f’Novembru tal-2012 – l-a˙˙ar st˙arri© li kien sar ta˙t l-amministrazzjoni preçedenti, kif ukoll mas-72% li kien ˙areg fl-ist˙arri© li kien sar f’Novembru tal-2009. Fl-ist˙arri© ta’ din is-sena, 81% qalu li l-finanzi tag˙hom marru g˙all-a˙jar, titjib mit-63% li kienu qalu hekk f’Novembru 2012. Iç-çittadini Maltin u G˙awdxin huma t-tieni l-aktar madwar l-Unjoni Ewropea li qed i˙ossu li l-qag˙da fis-suq tax-xog˙ol sejra tajjeb, b’Ωieda ta’ aktar minn 20% minn Novembru 2012. Aktar minn kwart jemmnu li l-impjieg tag˙hom se jmur a˙jar u li l-qag˙da finanzjarja tal-familja tag˙hom se titjieb matul it-tnax-il xahar li ©ejjin. L-ist˙arri© jikkonferma li l-familji qed iΩidu l-fiduçja taghhom fil-Gvern. Fil-fatt il-poplu Malti huwa dak li l-aktar g˙andu fiduçja fl-amministrazzjoni preΩenti minn fost il-pajjiΩi kollha tal-Unjoni Ewropea, b’56% jafdaw lill-Gvern. F’Novembru tal-2012 kienu biss 34% li kienu jafdaw lill-Gvern. PROFESSIONAL FREIGHT SERVICES PTY. LTD. 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FOR YOUR FREIGHT REQUIREMENTS FROM MALTA CONTACT AGENTS:- TRISTAR FREIGHT SERVICES LTD AIRWAYS HOUSE 22 TOWER STREET MSIDA MSD 06 MALTA TEL: 21338161 FAX: 21334188 www.tristarmalta.com 16 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday January 6, 2015 A quick glimpse at Australia Where they come from he Departmentd of Immigration says that an estiT mated 62,100 people were unaccounted for in Australia during 2014, which is roughly 1.2 per cent of the 5.5 million people who enter the country each year on temporary visa. The Chinese topped the list of visa overstayers by 7,690. Some visitors (44,800) and students (10,720) were the largest cohort of visa holders to overstay their visit. The highest number of visa overstayers by nationality in 2013 came from China 7,690, Malaysia 6,420, USA 5,220 and Britain 3,780. Traditionally the highest numbers of unlawfuls have come from the USA and the UK. Our newly appointed Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has vowed to crack down on illegal bikie gang members. He stated they are on top of his list. Unlawful noncitizens, if located can be detained and removed and would also face a three year re-entry ban. Maltese broadcaster - 30 years of service B reakfast and Maltese programme presenter and father of three Mario Sammut was recently awarded a station Life Membership for almost 30 years of service to Gippsland FM 104.7. Mario also presents a Maltese programme on 3ZZZ in Melbourne and provided key support to the administration of the station. Mario Sammut born in Hal Lija, Malta, is one of the two Honorary Consuls of Malta in Victoria, representing Latrobe Valley and Gippsland. He will be celebrating 26 years in the position next March. Mario arrived in Australia in 1983. The PM reshuffles pack P rime Minister Tony Abbott has unveiled sweeping changes to his ministry. Scott Morrison is now in Social Service while Kevin Andrews has replaced David Johnstone in Defence. Susan Ley (pictured) becomes the second female Minister in the cabinet by taking the responsibility of Health while Peter Dutton goes to Immigration. This change was regarded as a change to refresh and reset the Government after a bruising year. The former Immigration Minister who “stopped the boats” will now craft a holistic family’s package that will be such an important part of the political and economic agenda in the first half of 2015. “The ministry for social services is essentially a ministry for economic participation and it is very important to have a minister of Scott’s drive and competence in the role” said the PM. In Melbourne ALP gets 51.99% of votes I n the last State of Victoria election, held on November 29, 2014, on two party preferred, the ALP won 1,745,020 votes = 51.99% and the Liberal/Nationals 1,611,507 = 48.01% The state of the Legislative Assemble is therefore as follows: ALP 47, Liberal 40, Nationals 8, Greens 2. Independent 1, total of 88 seats. In the Legislative Council there are ALP 14, Liberal 14, Greens 5, Nationals 2, Shooters 2, DLP 1, Sex Party 1, Local Jobs 1, total of 40 seats. As far as we can tell, there are no Members of Parliament that are of Maltese descent. Million dollar transformation for Shane’s rest. altese TV chef Shane Delia’s M flagship restaurant, Maha is undergoing a million dollar transforma- Shane Delia tion. The restaurant opened in Bond Street Melbourne in January 2008. It will reopen on February 12 after the make-over. “It’s the same Maha and business have never been better, we’re just trying to stay ahead and be innovators, it’s going to be more opulent and sexy” said Shane Delia. Celebrity chef Shane gained his popularity with his 2013 TV cooking series, ‘Shane Delia’s Spice Journey’, that took the viewers on a culinary pilgrimage to explore his heritage and discover Middle Eastern food traditions that go back thousands of years. It was shot extensively in his homeland, Malta, where his love of cooking was born, and where, it was explained, the aromatics and spices of the Middle East mingle with the European traditions of the Mediterranean to produce a unique food culture.and in the Middle East. Since opening ‘Maha’ (named after his wife), and beside the Spice Hourley series, Shane, has appeared on a number of other TV cooking shows including regular segments on ‘David and Kim’s 9am’ and TV hit ‘Ready, Steady, Cook’. The Voice is not just a news portal; We comment, we fight for your rights. We believe in freedom of expression; We are read in the right places. The Voice of the Maltese 17 Tuesday January 6, 2015 A quick glimpse at Australia WA Shark attack kills Teen with Maltese sounding name of Muscat A 17-year-old Australian spearfishing enthusiast probably of Maltese descent, Jay Muscat was killed at Chaeynes Beach, 66 kilometres east of Albany on the South Coast in Western Australia on December 29 after being attacked by a shark, thought to have been a great white up to five metres long. Jay, described as a “lover of the ocean” was spearfishing with a friend, Matt Pullella when he was being bitten on the leg by the shark at a popular fishing spot known as Three Stripes. Pullella, fired his speargun into the mouth of the shark when it also turned to him after biting Muscat. Two sets of drumlines – baited shark hooks – were in the water for four hours after the attack and the beach remains closed. In a statement, the family said they were “all devastated over the sudden tragic passing of Jay who loved life to the full and was most happy fishing and diving.” They added that from a very early age it was obvious that fishing was Jay’s passion and was always going to be a huge part of his life. “We can take some comfort in knowing Jay passed doing something he loved, the family said. Luke Foley (left) who is expected to replace John Robertson (right) as NSW Labor leader Change at the top B y the time you read this issue of The Voice of the Maltese, the NSW Labor will have a new leader after John Robertson resigned over revelations he signed a letter for siege gunman Man Haron Monis at the Lindt Café in Martin Place. It is practically certain that the new leader will be Luke Foley 44, an upper house MP. Two other leadership contenders, upper house MP Steve Wham and Maroubra MP Michael Daley withdrew from the contest so that Luke Foley will not be contested. The State of NSW faces an election on March 28 this year. John Robertson has led Labor since the change of government in 2011. He said that as a life-long Labor man he chose to step aside to give Labor a better opportunity. As the Member for Blacktown NSW Robertson has helped many Maltese and attends regularly at functions organised by the Maltese community. Political observers were predicting the demise of Robertson at some stage after the election. Prediction is that Labor will claw back some 15 seats. This will not be enough for a victory but would put the Labor Party in a competitive position for the 2019 poll. The Liberals and the Nationalists have at present complete dominations of the Legislative Assembly as follows: Liberal Party 42, National Party 19 = 61 seats, Labor 23, Independents 8 and Greens 1 = 93 seats. Gas vs Coal A Liberal party rising star, Rhodes scholar MP Angus Taylor who was elected the member for Hume in the 2013 election, says gas is a better way to reduce carbon emissions and supply countries such as China and India with the energy they need to continue their raise. “Building new natural gas generators, instead of coal generators, in the developing world is the way to go as gas can drive sharp reductions in emission” he said. His comments came as a British company successfully shipped liquefied gas from coal seams off Gladstone, the first shipment of gas in Queensland’s history. Mr. Tony Abbot has different views as he insists that coal is “good for humanity and the foundation of prosperity for now and the foreseeable future because it is cheaper”. Australia’s natural gas exports increased by nearly 20 per cent last year, making it the third largest export of LNG in the world. MICHELLE ROWLAND MP FEDERAL MEMBER FOR GREENWAY Proudly serving the areas of: Acacia Gardens, Blacktown*, Girraween, Glenwood, Kellyville Ridge, Kings Langley, Kings Park, Lalor Park, Parklea, Pendle Hill, Prospect*, Quakers Hill*, Riverstone, Rouse Hill*, Schofields, Seven Hills, Stanhope Gardens, The Ponds, Toongabbie*, Vineyard *Parts of 230 Prospect Hwy, Seven Hills 2147 Ph: 9671 4780 Email: Michelle.Rowland.MP@aph.gov.au www.facebook.com/mrowlandmp Twitter: @mrowlandmp 18 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday January 6, 2015 Minn Malta g˙al Kuba: Vja©© li 53 xahar ilu ˙a lil Patri Luçjan g˙all-missjoni f’Kuba I llum se naqsam mag˙kom storja nteressanti, dik tal-patri Agostinjan, Luçjan Borg, li b˙alissa qed ja˙dem fil-missjoni f’Kuba, li l-ewwel darba li ltqajt mieg˙u kien xi snin ilu waqt li jien u marti konna fuq btala f’Malta. Min˙abba li fil-programm li kont inxandar fuq ir-radju komunitarju f’Melbourne 3ZZZ kelli segment dwar “il-qari u t-tifsir tal-Van©elu tal-Óadd li ©ej”, kont indur qassisin u patrijiet f’Malta li kienu lesti jirrekordjaw mieg˙i sett ta’ xahar evan©eli. Kont iltqajt mal-Kappillan tal-Knisja ta’ Santu Wistin, fil-belt Valletta ma’ Patri Saviour Grima, li min-na˙a tieg˙u ntroduçieni ma’ Patri Luçjan, li dak iΩ-Ωmien kien Provinçjal. Il-Patri kien ©entili biΩΩejjed biex aççetta mill-ewwel li jtini l-g˙ajnuna tieg˙u. Minn dak iΩ-Ωmien bqajna f’kuntatt u sa˙ansitra meta mar il-Kuba, fejn xi minn daqqiet l-uΩu tal-Internet f’dak il-pajjiΩ ma kienx mill-a˙jar. Patri Luçan twieled ÓaΩ-Ûebbu© fis-26 ta’Diçembru tal-1943. B˙al ma kienet iddrawwa f’dawk iΩ-Ωmienijiet ©ie mg˙ammed l-g˙ada stess. Kienu tawh l-isem ta’ Ìanni, g˙al missier il-nanna, omm missieru. Dejjem kif kienu jg˙idulu, xi ftit jiem wara li twieled kien mar g˙andhom Patri An© Pizzuto, Agostinjan u konfessur t’ommu li kienet Beltija u qalilha: “Marija, dan g˙alina lAgostinjani.” Sa minn dejjem kellu l-vokazzjoni u wara li attenda l-iskola primarja f’ÓaΩ-Ûebbu© mar jistudja fil-kulle©© ta’ Santu Wistin li kien g˙adu kemm kien ©ie trasferit mill-Belt g˙al Óal-Tarxien. Spiçça s-sekondarja f’Ìunju 1960 bil-GCE, u f’Settembru tal-istess sena da˙al novizz fl-Ordni Agostinjan, li dak iΩ-Ωmien kien isir fil-kunvent ta’ Victorja f’G˙awdex. Kienu erba’ novizzi u s-surmast tag˙hom kien Patri Konsolat Bezzina, mag˙ruf b˙ala bniedem qaddis li g˙araf jag˙tihom formazzjoni mill-a˙jar u jnissel fihom spirtu missjunarju. Hu stess kien mar it-TuniΩija, sentejn wara li kienu g˙amlu n-novizzjat. Patri Luçjan kompla jg˙idli li kienet sena mill-isba˙ minn Paul Vella (Melbourne) g˙alih u qatt ma seta’ jinsa l-hena u l-fer˙ li kellu, u s-skiet u l-kampanja G˙awdxija. Minn hemm mar fid-dar tal-formazzjoni filosofika u teolo©ika li lAgostinjani kellhom irRabat ta’ Malta. Mag˙hom kienu jistudjaw ukoll l-istudenti tasSoçjeta` Missjunarja Maltija, jew kif kienu jsibihom, ta’ De Piro jew ta’ San Pawl. G˙amlu Patri Luçjan (lemin) sentejn filosofija u lmal-Kardinal Quirilio grupp tieg˙u suppost kellu jmur TuneΩ ˙alli jissokta bl-istudji 1967 fil-Katidral tal-iMdina mill-arçisqof mal-White Fathers biex setg˙u jitg˙allmu l- Gonzi u fil-15 ta’ Settembru g˙amilt lG˙arbi u jag˙mlu l-kors tat-teolo©ija fl-am- ewwel quddiesa solenni f’ÓaΩ-Ûebbu©. Prattikament ©img˙a wara tlaqt lejn il-Bel©ju bjent li kienu se ja˙dmu fih aktar tard. F’dawk iΩ-Ωmienijiet, l-Agostinjani kell- biex nispeçjalizza fil-filosofija fl-universita hom kunventi f’La Goulette, f’TuneΩ u f’Ip- kattolika ta’ Louvain. F’Settembru tal-1971 pona f l-Al©erija. IΩ-Ωew© pajjiΩi kienu kisbu inΩilt Malta biex nag˙mel esperenza tatl-indipendenza minn Franza u g˙amlu l- tag˙lim qabel ma nispiçça u nippreΩenta dIΩlam b˙ala r-reli©jon tag˙hom. Skont Patri dottorat.” Patri Luçjan issokta jirrakkonta li fit-23 ta’ Luçjan, il-patrijiet da˙lu f’Ippona fl-1930 u f’TuneΩ fl-1954 biex fost ˙idma pastorali April, il-Provinçjal, Patri Albert Borg o˙ra jie˙du ˙sieb dawk ta’ dixxendenza sejja˙lu u qallu li f’Ippona kienu jin˙tie©u b’ur©enza lil xi ˙add im˙ejji tajjeb. Maltija, li kienu ˙afna “Urieni l-ittra li l-eks Provinçjal, Patri U. Patri Luçjan issokta jg˙idli: “Il-plan ma rnexxiex min˙abba diversi ra©unijiet u jien Gatt, li ta˙tu g˙amilt l-ewwel professjoni flimkien ma’ patri ie˙or ©ejna mibg˙uta reli©juΩa, u li kien is-superjur tal-missjoni flRuma biex nag˙mlu t-teolo©ija hemmhekk. Al©erija, kien kitiblu wara l-laqg˙a li kellu Konna waqt l-Konçilju Vatikan II u l-erba’ mal-isqof tal-post, Mons. Scotto, u f’Settemsnin li g˙addejt Ruma tassew kienet esper- bru 1972 tlaqt lejn Ippona. Hekk bdiet ljenza kbira. Ìeneralment min jintbag˙at avventura tieg˙i Afrikana li ntemmet f’2002, Ruma jkun destinat g˙all-istudji u g˙at- meta kelli ninΩel Malta g˙ax kont ©ejt tag˙lim. Jien kont tajjeb fil-filosofija u g˙al- mag˙Ωul b˙ala Provinçjal. Avventura ta’ tletin sena li g˙addew b˙al berqa, avventura hekk id-destin tieg˙i kien di©a` immarkat. Ìejt ordnat saçerdot fis-26 ta’ Awwissu tal- li qatt ma ninsa. Mhux possibbli li nirrakonta dak kollu li ghixt u g˙amilt. BiΩΩejjed ng˙d li dejjem kont jack of all trades ....” qalli. Fi Frar tal-2002 Pari Luçjan beda l-ewwel term tieg˙u b˙ala Provinçjal. Jg˙id li dejjem sibt kollaborazzjoni minn ˙utu r-reli©juΩi u mil-lajçi li ja˙dmu mag˙ho, u minkejja li l-problema ma naqsux, imma flimkien u bil-g˙ajnuna ta’ Alla g˙arfu jsolvuhom. F’April 2006 ©eddewlu lmandat u kompla b˙ala Provinçjal sad-9 ta’ April tal-2010. F’April tas-sena ta’ qabel waqt vista kanonika mill-Pirjol Ìenerali, approfitta ru˙u bix jg˙idlu li kif jispiçça minn Provinçjal kien lest jer©a’ lura Ippona inkella jag˙mel esperjenza missjunarja f’Kuba. Patri Luçjan (fin-nofs) flimkien mas-seminaristi fil-korsijiet tat-teolo©ija f’Kuba G˙al pa©na 19 The Voice of the Maltese 19 Tuesday January 6, 2015 The arrival of the Magi brings Gozo’s nativity Village at Ghajnsielem to a close The arrival and triumphal entrance of the “Three Magi” (The Three Kings) and their “adoration” on the feast of Epiphany commemorated late afternoon at Betlehem f’G˙ajnsielem on Sunday in Gozo, during which they presented gifts to baby Jesus, brought the popular Nativity Village that this year attracted over 100,000 visitors, to a close. The Magi arrived in Malta on Saturday from Cologne, Germany, where they had a symbolic send off from Cologne Cathedral, by the Archbishop of Cologne Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, along with a choir of over 3,000 people. They have been taking part in the commemoration of the 850th anniversary since the relics of the Three Magi, Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar arrived in the City. A delegation The Three Magi seen at Xag˙ra, in Gozo on their way to the Nativity Village at G˙ajnsielem on Sunday afternoon from Gozo led by the Minister for Gozo Dr Anton Refalo, was present in Cologne to thank the Archbishop for the beautiful event organised for the departure. While presenting the Cardinal with an icon of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu, Minister Refalo invited them to visit Malta and Gozo, particularly the National Sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady Ta’ Pinu. Patri Malti g˙in lill-Knisja ter©a’ tid˙ol fil-qalb ta’ ru˙ il-pajjiΩ Minn pa©na 18 Fi Frar tal-2010 l-Pirjol qallu li kien me˙tie© f’Kuba, aççetta, u fid-29 ta’ Lulju ta’ dik is-sena wasal Kuba. Jg˙id li ma jiddispjaçihx. Minn dakhinar g˙addew aktar minn erba’ snin, u bl-umilta’ kollha ng˙id li kif jg˙id il-Malti, qatt ma qag˙ad b’idejh fuq zaqqu. FilpreΩent huwa kappillan tat-tieni parroçça l-aktar qadima tal-Belt kapitali ta’ La Havana, dik ta’ Cristo del Buen Viaje. Jg˙id li jinsab f’Ωona fejn il-faqar materjali u speçjalment spiritwali u morali tmissu b’idejk. B˙alissa qed jer©ghu jibnu mill-©did il-˙ajja Kristjana , u anke jg˙allem fid-dipartiment tat-Teolo©ija fis-Seminarju. G˙al 11-il Djoçesi u populazzjoni li qabΩet il-11-il miljun, f’Kuba hemm biss madwar 80 seminarista mtella’ fis-sistema marxista-leninista u li jaslu fis-seminarju ming˙ajr ilftu˙ kulturali li jag˙tik l-KristjaniΩmu. Internet ma g˙andhomx u kotba u revisti recenti ftit. “Il-˙idma intellettwali mag˙hom hija sfida kbira imma fl-istess ˙in timlik b’tama qawwija li qieg˙ed t˙ejji saçerdoti b’pedimenti sodi g˙all-isfidi li g˙andhom quddiemhom kemm ilknisja kif ukoll is-soçjeta`”. Patri Luçjan qalli li wara 50 sena l-knisja qed ter©a’ tid˙ol fil-qalba ta’ ru˙ il-pajjiΩ. Mis-sena l-o˙ra bdew il-korsijiet g˙all-B.A in Humanities, programm approvat misSanta Sede. Dan hu l-ewwel pass tal-Futura Universita` Kattolika ta’ La Habana fejn hu Viçi Rettur u Dekan tad-Dipartiment talFilosofija. It-tir hu li j˙ejju lajçi Kattoliçi u mhumiex biex fl©ejjieni jkunu jistg˙u jid˙lu flistrutturi u l-istituzzjoni ta’ pajjiΩ im©edded u msawwar fuq prinçipi sodi u valuri eterni. Il-Patri j˙ossu xxurtajt bil-formazzjoni li rçeva u jag˙mel kull ma jista’ biex joffri lil-istudenti l-a˙jar formazzjoni akademika possibbli, “bla ebda paternalismu, konvint li dak li rçevejt, irçevejtu biex ng˙addih ˙alli s-Saltna ta’ Alla tasal fostna u tag˙mel mill-umanita` preΩenti art ©dida u sema ©did fejn il-bniedem jkun jista’jg˙ix b-mod antiçipat l-˙ajja tal-Belt ta’ Alla li g˙alija tant ˙adem missieri Santu Wistin”. Fl-a˙˙ar korrispondenza li kelli mieg˙u, Patri Luçjan Borg, qalli kemm kien kuntent bl-a˙bar ta’ dan l-a˙˙ar li wara 50 sena, il-President Amerian, Barack Obama, u dak ta’ Kuba, Raul Castro, u anke bil-˙idma tal-Papa Fran©isku, lAmerka u Kuba iddeçidew li jer©g˙u lura g˙ar-relazzjonijiet diplomatiçi bejn iΩ-Ωew© pajjiΩi. Wie˙ed jittama li jo˙ro© ˙afna ©id minn dawk ir-relazzjonijiet ©odda. UTS Sydney Free English classes As part of its Teachers Training for 2015, the University of Technology (UTS) Sydney - Insearch is offering free English classes designed to improve one’s speaking and listening skills. The dates for the 2015 programme: January 5 - January 30 (1.30pm to 3.30 pm, Monday to Friday) March 24 - May 28 (6.00pm-8.00pm Tuesday & Thursday evening) July 6 - July 31 (1.30pm to 3.30 pm Monday to Friday) August 11 - October 15 (6.00p.m-8.00pm Tuesday & Thursday evening) October 20 -December 23 (6.00pm-8.00pm Tuesday & Thursday evening) If interested call 92188646, fax 92114334 or email: david.noble@insearch.edu.au – Student Centre, Ground Floor, 187 Thomas Street Sydney NSW 2000 (corner of Quay & Thomas Street Chinatown). Students must be at least 16 years old 20 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday January 6, 2015 Tag˙rif lingwistiku, ortografiku, grammatikali u kulturali dwar il-lingwa Maltija ma˙ru© mid-Dipartiment tal-Malti fi ˙dan il-Kulle©© San Injazju, Malta biex l-ilsien Malti jing˙ata l-valur li jist˙oqqlu. Biex jinkiteb Malti tajjeb Meta tkun tittajpja bil-kompjuter liema hi t-tajba? jixxieb˙u b˙al: mara onesta mΩejna bl-onestà, ilPapa (ta’ Ruma) u l-papà (missier). kumdita’, kumdita, kumdita` jew kumdità? L-unika kelma tajba hija kumdità. Qabel xejn, irridu nifhmu mill-ewwel Ωew© sinjali - l-appostrofu u l-aççent - li jintuΩaw fil-kitba Maltija bi skop differenti. L-appostrofu (’) nuΩawh biex nuru li hemm xi ˙a©a nieqsa jew imqassra, ng˙idu a˙na xi vokali li waqg˙et (eΩ. f’April flok fi April), jew il-konsonanti g˙ f’tarf ilkelma (eΩ. re©a’ minflok re©ag˙). Mela l-forma kumdita’ hija ħaΩina, g˙ax hawn m’g˙andna xejn nieqes jew imqassar. L-aççent (`) jurina li f’dik il-kelma l-qawwa tal-le˙en qed taqa’ fuq l-a˙˙ar sillaba (verità, kafè, Marì, bijambò, tribù). B’hekk nag˙mlu differenza bejn koppji Mela l-forma kumdita hija ˙aΩina g˙ax nieqsa millaççent li jurina l-le˙en u ti©i tinqara b˙al qarnita. L-aççent jinkiteb dejjem fuq il-vokali, mhux warajha, g˙ax huwa parti mill-˙oss tal-istess vokali. Hija vokali aççentata. Mela l-forma kumdita` mhix tajba g˙ax hawn laççent inkiteb fl-ispazju ta’ wara l-vokali, minflok fuqha. Xi wħud, minflok l-aççent fuq il-vokali, jiΩbaljaw u jiktbu l-aççent (jew l-appostrofu) wara l-vokali (kumdita`, kumdita’). Dawn je˙tieġ jitg˙allmu li meta qed juΩaw il-kompjuter kulma jridu jag˙mlu hu li jag˙fsu l-buttuna Alt Gr u l-vokali li jridu flimkien. ÌUÛÈ AQUILINA, studjuΩ tal-lessiku u l-lingwa (1911-1997) l-Professur ©uΩè Aquilina twieled il-Munxar G˙awdex fis-7 ta’ April 1911. IiSchool Studja fis-Seminarju tal-Isqof f’G˙awdex, iktar tard fl-Università ta’ Malta u flof Oriental and African Studies tal-Università ta’ Londra (1937-40). Kien l-ewwel Professur tal-Malti u l-Ilsna Orjentali (1937-1976) u kien id-Dekan talFakultà tal-Arti bejn is-snin 1948-1966 u s-snin 1972-1975, fl-Università ta’ Malta. Minn meta la˙aq Kap tad-Dipartiment tal-Malti u l-Ilsna Orjentali fl-Università fl-1937 ma heda qatt bl-inizjattivi favur l-istudju tal-Malti u f’˙afna çentri kulturali barra minn Malta, l-aktar fl-universitajiet ta’ Sorbonne u ta’ Leeds fejn kien meqjus b˙ala awtorità fl-istudji tal-Malti. Aquilina kiteb ’il fuq minn 50 ktieb fuq il-lingwistika, proΩa, poeΩija u kitbiet o˙ra fuq il-lingwa u l-letteratura f’perjodiçi xjentifiçi f’Malta u barra minn Malta. Ix-xog˙lijiet ewlenin tieg˙u huma: Papers in Maltese Linguistics, A Comparative Dictionary of Maltese, Proverbs, Comparative Maltese Arabic Grammar, The Structure of Maltese, Teach Yourself Maltese, u naturalment id-dizzjunarju Maltese-English Dictionary f’Ωew© volumi u English-Maltese Dictionary f’erba’ volumi. Aquilina kien l-editur tal-Journal of the Royal University of Malta Literary Society (1932-1937), Le˙en il-Malti (1940-1976), Tag˙lim g˙all-Kbar (1953-1965), Journal of Faculty of Arts (1957-1976) u tal-Journal of Maltese Studies (19611976). ÌuΩè Aquilina miet fit-8 t’Awwissu 1997 fl-eta` ta’ 86 sena Tinteressak il-kitba? Id-direzzjoni ta’ The Voice t˙e©-©e© lillqarrejja li j˙ossu li jew g˙andhom talent g˙allkitba inkella li ja˙sbu li bi ftit g˙ajnuna jistg˙u jrabbu l-kunfidenza g˙all-kitba, biex jekk iridu jistg˙u jibag˙tu x-xog˙ol tag˙hom lil: The Voice of the Maltese. Email address: maltesevoice@gmail.com Taf xi jfissru dawn? Korsija Il-passa©© çentrali fil-knisja li jwassal g˙allartal ma©©ur. Hekk kien jissejja˙ ukoll ilpassa©© tal-injam fuq galera li kien ikollha l-bankijiet tal-qaddiefa fuq kull na˙a. Zokklu Faxx ta’ tibjid jew żebg˙a fuq il˙itan tal-kamra u/jew kuritur li jitla’ mill-art sa çertu livell ’l fuq. Dan issibu fl-iskejjel u fl-isptarijiet biex il-˙ajt ikun jista’ jintmesa˙ u jidher dejjem nadif. The Voice of the Maltese 21 Tuesday January 6, 2015 Community News Follow The Voice of the Maltese online magazine every fortnight. Now we also have our our facebook page. So join us. Go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thevoiceofthemaltese Tune In to Radio and Television Maltese Radio Programmes MELBOURNE, on 3ZZZ 92.3FM or on www.3zzz.com.au. Mondays 5pm, Fridays 5pm, Saturdays 10am.; Last Wednesday each month at 1pm. MELBOURNE on 98.9 North West FM, each Friday 6.00 - 7.00p.m. Presenter Emmanuel Brincat. MELBOURNE: STEREO 974 (93180930): 97.4FM Wed (Maltese Magazine) & Thursday (Merhba): 6.00pm to 8.00 pm Co-ordinator – Ray Anastasi In SYDNEY, listen to the MCC radio programme Sunday at 11am 2GLF FM 89.3, or on demand: www.893fm.com.au In BRISBANE listen to the Maltese Program on 4EB on Tuesdays 6.00 -8.15am; Sundays 4.15pm to 5.15pm UNCLE SAM DJ (Maltese Radio) tune in to link: www.unclesamdj.com Maltese Programmes on TV and Web The GDAY MALTAUSSIE SHOW on TVS is broadcast in Sydney Every Saturday at 2pm; Repeats on Mondays 5 pm and Tuesdays 7.30 am Watch direct via HYPERLINK: http://ww.tvs.org.au; http://ww.tvs.org.au The SBS MALTESE NEWS Maltese Community Council of NSW Inc Alfred Fenech Maltese Resource Centre, 59b Franklin Street (cr with Young Street) Mays Hill NSW. Phone: 02 98220228 Maltese living at the Central Coast Group Meetings are held every secondt Monday of each month, starting February 9, 2015 at Wyong RSL, cnr Anzac & Margaret Street Wyong from 10 am to 12 noon. For more information Tel: 02 439 000 12 or 0414 267 652 On SBS Radio - Day Time Analogue Digital Tuesday: 12:00-13:00 SBS Radio 3 Thursday: 12:00-13:00 SBS Radio 3 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 receiver or device with a DAB+ chip. Tuning in is by station name not frequency. Digital radio can also be heard on digital TV. SBS Radio 2 is on Channel 38 and SBS. Radio 3 is on Channel 39. Analogue is the present FMwavelength. Digital radio can also be accessed by a smart phone and/or by going online at HYPERLINK: http://www.sbs.com.au, www.sbs.com.au VIVA MALTA VIVA MALTA on Central Coast Radio: January 15 and 29; February 12 and 26 - from 6 pm -7 pm on COAST FM 96.3 Community Radio in Gosford NSW. 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 8.05 am on SBS2 Meetings of Day Care Maltese Groups in NSW Fairfield Active Maltese Seniors Meets on the first Tuesday of the Month from10:00am to 12 noon. The group meets in the Parish Hall, cnr of Stella Street & The Boulevard, Fairfield Heights. 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 Come and 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 Llandillo Maltese Seniors Meets on the first Wednesday of the month at the Llandilo Community Hall, Seventh Avenue, from 11am to 1pm. Greystanes Maltese Seniors Meets on the second Monday of the month n the George Preca Centre of The Maltese Language School of NSW The Maltese Language School of NSW invites applications for Maltese language classes at the Alfred Fenech Maltese Resource Centre located at 59b Franklin Street (corner with Young Street) Mays Hill (next to Parramatta West Public School). Both young and adult students may apply. For more information contact Mary Pace-Feraud on 9601 2189 or email: malteselanguageschoolnsw@hotmail.com You can have full access The Voice of the Maltese online anytime by logging to: http://www.maltesewelfare.com.au and click on The Voice sign OLQP Church, 198 Old Prospect Road, Greystanes from 10 am to 12 noon The Sutherland & St George Maltese Group Ongoing: We meet every First Wednesday of the Month from 10:00am-1:00pm Our Meetings/Get Togethers are interesting, informative & entertaining. 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 Sponsored by The Maltese Community Council of NSW). Please contact the MCC Welfare Officer: Marisa Previtera JP on 0414 863 123. The MCC offices are at 59b Franklin Street Mays Hill NSW (next to West Parramatta Primary School) 22 The Voice of the Maltese Tuesday January 6, 2015 C Co om mm mu un niit ty y N Ne ew ws s G˙arfien lill-Voluntiera THE MALTESE GUILD OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA INC. W asal iΩ-Ωmien li nag˙tu ©ie˙ u rispett lill-anzjani tag˙na fis-Seniors Week 2015. Óu din l-opportunita’ biex tipproponi lil xi ˙add li ja˙dem ta’ voluntier fil-komunita’ u ˙aqqu ringrazzjament. Il-Maltese Welfare (NSW) qed jirçievi applikazzjonijiet minn individwi ta’ dixxendenza Maltij li ghandhom ‘l fuq minn sittin sena u residenti fi NSW biex ikunu parti mill-Quiet Achievers – Night of Recognition li din is-sena se jsir nhar l-Erbg˙a, 18 ta’ Marzu 2015 fis-St Dominics’ Annunciation Hall, Walters Rd, Blacktown NSW. Biex tinnominaw lil xi ˙add jin˙tie© tiksbu formola tal-applikazzjoni billi ççemplu lis-segretarju tal-Maltese Welfare (NSW), Emanuel Camilleri 9822 0228 0409 744 376 inkella ΩΩuru l-website: http://www.maltesewelfare.com.au tniΩΩluha minn hemm u tibag˙tuha mhux iktar tard mis-27 ta’ Frar 2015. Nominate a Volunteer t’s that time of year again when we direct a spotlight Iportunity on our seniors during Seniors Week. Take this opto nominate someone who in your view is a genuine volunteer within our general community and deserves to be recognised. The Maltese Welfare (NSW) is seeking nominations for people of Maltese descent over 60 years old, residents of NSW to take part in its annual Quiet Achievers – Night of Recognition to be held at St Dominics’ Blacktown, on Wednesday March 18, 2015. Nominations are to be made on an application form that can be obtained by phoning the Maltese Welfare secretry, Emanuel Camilleri on: 9822 0228 - 0409 744 376, or visit the website: http://www.maltesewelfare.com.au. Applicatons have to be submitted by not later than February 27, 2015. Malta Society of New Zealand We now have a Facebook page that former members are invited to join. It is: Mainly-Maltese-in-Auckland: https://www.facebook.com/pages /Mainly-Maltese-in-Auckland/ 396193070527203?ref=hl. It is open to all who have an interest in the Maltese culture. L-a˙barijiet tal-PBS (Malta) G˙alkemm il-PBS ta’ Malta tforni lillSBS fl-Awstralja bis-servizz tag˙ha, ilqarrejja m˙e©©a li x’˙in iridu jid˙lu fil-website: www.tvm.com.mt u jsegwu la˙barijiet ta’ Malta. Din tkun a©©ornata l-˙in kollu bi stejjer li jkunu qed ise˙˙u. Mhux biss, imma min irid isegwi dak li jkun g˙addej, kull filg˙odu ˙in ta' Malta fuq il-website jittellg˙u wkoll l-a˙barijiet tal-jum ta' qabel. Maltese Cultural Centre 6, Jeanes Street Beverley S A 5009 Phone Tuesday’s only: 8243 0868. AH: 8254 6988/0421 791 327 Email: malguild@adam.com.au Website: www.malteseguild.webs.com Socials, Meals, Multicultural Events, Bus Trip Excursions For the Aged are partly supported by Functions Calendar for the year of 2015 AustraliaDay DayLuncheon Luncheon Australia Bus Trip AWAY” AshesMass MassatatMaltese MalteseCultural CulturalCentre Centre Ashes MalteseCultural CulturalCentre Centre38th 38thAnniv AnMaltese niversary Dinner Dance Dinner Dance AdelaideCup CupLuncheon Luncheon March 9th Monday Adelaide Monday April 6st Monday Easter Monday Luncheon Monday June 8th Monday Queens Birthday Luncheon Monday Bus Trip Trip July 19th Sunday Bus Sunday August 11th Tuesday Celebrating Mass St. Mary Tuesday Feast of St. Mary August 16th Sunday Sunday September 12th Saturday Malta National Day Dinner Dance Saturday FestaTad-Duluri Tad-DuluriMass Mass September 15th Tuesday Festa Tuesday AnnualGeneral GeneralMeeting Meeting September 27th Sunday Annual Sunday LabourDay DayLuncheon Luncheon October 5th Monday Labour Monday MelbourneCup CupLuncheon Luncheon November 3rd Tuesday Melbourne Tuesday November 13, 14, 15, 16 Fri,Fri,Sat,Sat,Sun, Sun,Mon Mon 4 Days 4 DaysBus BusTrip Trip,(Place Place to of Be TourNotified) (To Be Noti Mass Mass for thefor Deceased Members November 17th Tuesday the Diseased Memb Tuesday Members XmasXmas PartyParty December 19th Saturday Members Saturday Eve Dinner DanceDance December 31st Thursday New Year’s New Year’s Eve Dinner Thursday January 26th February 15th February 17th February 28th Monday Monday Sunday Sunday Tuesday Tuesday Saturday Saturday Please Note! The Maltese Cultural Centre will open every Tuesday From 10am till 3pm of every week, starting on January 13 to December 19, 2015 Date of Events are subject to be altered if needed to be changed. FRIENDS OF PROVIDENCE HOUSE NSW (Formed in November 2011) Founder /Coordinator: Jim Borg Structure: Secretary: Marisa Previtera; Treasurer: Rita Kassas Official Bank Account: Commonwealth Bank of Australia: BSB: 062 416 A/C 10199448 Aim of Association: Raising funds for Id-Dar tal-Providenza, Malta Money raised so far: 2012/2013 - $ 2,500 and 2013/2014 $35,000. Method of fund raising: Functions, tours, donations, raffles, sponsors. Percentage of funds raised donated to Id-Dar tal-Providenza, Malta – 100% Future fund raising: Donations direct to the official bank account, sponsorships, tours, functions and raffles. The Friends of Providence House NSW is the official Ambassador of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, Malta in Australia Contact details: Jim Borg, Co-ordinatorPhone: (02) 9636 7767 (Mb) 0418 825 591 Email: foph@bigpond.com Proudly supported by: The Voice of the Maltese 23 Tuesday January 6, 2015 Community News GEORGE CROSS FALCONS CLUB Inc. The Xaghra Association of NSW Inc. (25-27 Lake Ave Cringila NSW 2502, (02) 4273 0906 gcfc@exemail.com.au) INVITES YOU TO COME & CELEBRATE: Home-made cooked two-course meal, tea and coffee Date: Saturday January 24, 2015. Time: Doors open 6.30 pm for 7.00pm start. Place: Mandavilla Function Centre, 1788 The Horsley Drive, Horsley Park Coffee & pastizzi. Also antipasto plus fruit platters. Monday Seniors’ Day Every Monday Bingo and dancing lessons, computers available for usage. Cost only $5.00. Sponsored by MCCI Illawarra. Phone 42 746121 and leave a message. (Numbers are growing and been reaching around 95 every Monday) AUSTRALIA DAY Entertainer: Joe Apap For more information contact: Ray & Josephine Bigeni: 9627 4182, Mob: 0439 974 182 M'Anne Teuma: 9627 4641 St Nicholas Festa Committee (NSW): 2015 Calendar of events March 22: Autumn Fiera; July 5: Lejla fil-Buskett; October 18: Spring Fiera; November 28: Night of Entertainment; December 6: Festa ta’ San Nikola We are One but We are Many The Maltese community in NSW says: Thank you Australia AUSTRALIA DAY 2015 Sunday, 25 January 2015 at the Holroyd Centre 17 Miller Street Merrylands (parking on site) An afternoon of celebration From 3.30pm Special Guest: Dr Barry York OAM Entrance free. Light refreshments provided. All welcome Organised by the Maltese Community Council of NSW The Maltese Past Pupils & Friends of Don Bosco NSW The feast of Don Bosco will be held on February 1 at 10.30am at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Swanson Street, St Marys. A concelebrated Mass and a procession will be held. Refreshments. Please invite your friends and bring a plate with you. Please note.... We value our readers’ support. If you are one of the thousands of readers of the online magazine and you are not receiving The Voice of the Maltese on a regular basis please get in touch with us immediately on maltesevoice@gmail.com It is of comfort to us that you read the online magazine regularly. The Editors Learn Maltese! MALTESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL OF NSW A Division of the Maltese Community Council of NSW Inc. Classes are available for students from 6 years to adults at all levels of ability in the Maltese language. We have trained and experienced teachers qualified in language teaching and with Maltese study credentials. Learn the Maltese language, the culture, lifestyle, cuisine, traditions and about the amazing history of this magnificent Mediterranean island. Classes at: HORSLEY PARK - SEVEN HILLS - LUDDENHAM For more information and enquiries Call Mary on 9601 2189 Or email: malteselanguageschoolnsw@hotmail.com Supported by the Minister of Education and Training And the NSW Community Languages Schools Programme. Member of the NSW Federation of Community Language Schools of NSW. Member of the Federation of Maltese Language Schools of Australia. Supported by 16 Maltese associations affiliated with the MCC of NSW. The Maltese Language School of NSW is a Not-For-Profit organisation. 24 The Voice of the Maltese Sports Tuesday January 6, 2015 Australia A-League Perth Glory’s run ongoing; Sydney winless in 7 F Balzan sign top striker altese-Australian Anton Tagliaferro, the M main sponsor of Balzan FC (formely Balzan Youths) has reportedly been instrumental in financing the deal that enabled the Maltese Premier League side to secure the signature of 28-year-old Montenegrin striker Bojan Kaljevic from Mosta for a sum reportedly being in the region of €50,000. This will most certainly be the top transfer deal in the January window. Kaljevic (above) had been playing for Mosta since they signed him from the Montenegro Division I side, Mladost in 2013. In his first season with Mosta the striker scored 12 goals in 24 matches. He has also he scored seven so far this term. Mr Tagliaferro, a leading financial services practitioner in Sydney is the investment director of Sydney-based Investors Mutual Limited (IML) Malta Premier League ollowing three rounds of matches in the A-League since our last issue, Perth Glory managed to extend their lead at the top by three more points to 32 after beating nearest challengers Melbourne Victory 2-1 in Round 13 at the Simonds Stadium in Geelon. Monday night they were also involved in the Round 14 home tie with Adelaide. RESULTS: Round 14 The Glory went into the match on a Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets 0-0 nine-game unbeaten run. They had suf- Wellington Ph v Brisbane Roar 3-0 fered their only loss of the A-League Central Coast v Melbourne C 2-0 campaign this season in Round 3 Perth Glory v Adelaide Utd ?-? against Adelaide United. Western Syd. W v Melbourne V. (Jan 6) The match was ongoing as we finRound 13 ished the current issue of the magazine. Newcastle Jets v Melbourne C. 2-5 The teams were level at 1-1. Brisbane Roar v Sydney FC 0-0 In the previous round against the Vic- Melbourne V. v Perth Glory 1-2 tory, Perth paved the way for success by Adelaide Utd v Wellington Ph. 1-3 scoring after eight minutes and taking a Western Sydney W v Central Coast 0-0 2-0 interval lead. They then suppressed Round 12 the Victory’s reaction to seal an imporSydney FC v Adelaide U 0-3 tant triumph away from home. Melbourne C v Perth Glory 1-1 Melbourne Victory play their 14th Central Coast v Brisbane Roar 3-3 round match on Tuesday (January 6). Melbourne V. v Newcastle Jets 1-0 In other matches, after their fourth win Wellington Ph v Western Syd. 1-0 on the trot, Wellington did themselves Standings P W D L F A Pts the world of good and have managed Perth Glory 13 10 2 1 24 11 32 to leapfrog over Melbourne Victory Wellington Ph 14 9 1 4 28 14 28 though with a game more. Wins over Melbourne V 13 7 4 2 26 14 25 Western Sydney, away against AdeAdelaide U 13 7 2 4 20 13 23 laide and their home clash over BrisSydney FC 14 4 7 3 15 15 19 Melbourne C. 13 4 4 5 20 24 16 bane have seen to to their success. Brisbane R. 13 3 3 7 14 19 12 Melbourne City’s best spell of the Central Coast 14 2 6 6 12 21 12 Hyundai A-League season continued Newcastle J. 14 1 5 8 12 28 8 for two matches, by first holding West.Sydney 11 0 4 7 6 16 4 league leaders Perth Glory to a 1-1 draw and then beating Newcaslte Jets failed to score in any of their last four away, but their run was halted at Cen- games. First they were comprehensively beaten 3-0 at home by Adetral Coast who beat them 2-0. Fresh from beating fierce rivals Mel- laide, then held 0-0 by Brisbane and bourne Victory in the derby in the pre- Newcastle. Sydney’s fans were fearing the worst, vious round, the City were aiming to make it three wins in succession aga- that is, the prospect of seeing their inst Perth, but after taking the lead, team tumbling out of the top six by the Perth conjured an equaliser out of end of the busy festive season fixture nothing - scored by former City player list. However, Melbourne City’s loss Richard Garcia - to escape with a to Central Coast helped them escape the prospect. share of the spoils. The A-League now takes a short break Sydney FC's A-League woes continued as their winless run has now ex- as Australia hosts the AFC Asian Cup. It tended to seven games. They have also resumes on January 24. New Year kicks off with goal bonanza At the resumption of the league following while Floriana scored four. Five more goals were the stoppage for the festive season, Hiberni- scored in Valletta’s 3-2 narrow victory over Qormi, ans continued where they left off at the end having come from two goals down. of 2014 to kick off year 2015 with another Hibs also came from a goal down before obtaining comfortable victory over wooden-spoonists their easy victory over Ûebbu©. Ûebbu© to maintain their 15-point lead at the Surprisingly, dwspite all these goals, no hat-tricks top of the placing RESULTS: were registered, though there Round 17 over joint runners-up were four doubles. Hibernians v Ûebbu© R. 5-2 Valletta and Birkirkara Jorge P. Silva, Rodolfo Soares, Jonathan Pearson, EdiStandings P W D L F A Pts who both also regis- son Luis dos Santos, Andrew Cohen; Carlo Monti (2)(Z) Hibernians 17 16 1 0 56 8 49 Valletta v Qormi. 3-2 tered easy wins. Valletta 17 11 1 5 41 14 34 Hamza Barry (2), Ian Azzopardi (V); The New Year started Frank Temile, Zoran Levnajic (Q) Birkirkara 17 11 1 5 34 17 34 Balzan 17 6 7 4 24 21 25 5-1 with a goal bonanza Birkirkara v Mosta Rafael Ledesma, Haruna Shodiya (2), Ellinton AC Floriana 17 6 6 5 29 32 24 with 32 goals scored in Morais, Paul Fenech (B); Sasa Jovanovic (M) Sliema W 17 6 4 7 19 22 22 the first programme of Balzan v Tarxien R. 5-0 Mosta 17 6 2 9 17 35 20 Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (2), own goal, Steve 2015, an average of Bezzina, Naxxar L. 17 4 5 8 21 28 17 Gianmarco Piccioni 5.3 goals a match. Qorm1 Floriana v Naxxar L. 17 4 5 8 18 29 17 4-1 17 3 7 7 16 29 16 Three teams, Hibs, Steve Pisani, Gary Muir, Douglas M. Cobo, Matteo Tarxien Piciollo (F); Uchenna Emenike Mbachu (N) Pieta H. 16 3 5 8 13 27 14 Birkirkara and Balzan Sliema W. v Pieta H. 2-1 Ûebbu© R. 17 1 6 10 20 43 9 each scored five goals, Andrea Pisanu, Trevor Cilia (S); Luke Micallef (P) Australia hosts the Asian Cup T he Asian Cup, the oldest, biggest and the most reputed football tournament in Asia takes place in five cities in Australia from January 9 to 31. The venues are: Sydney Stadium, Newcastle Stadium, Canberra Stadum, Brisbane Stadium and MelbourneRectangular Stadium. The 16 nations taking part in the tournament, divided into four groups are: GROUP A Australia, Korea Rep., Oman and Kuwait GROUP B Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Chona PR and DPR Korea GROUP C Iran, UAE, Qatar and Bahrain Group D Japan, Jordan, Iraq and Palestine